"I don't have much experience in this..." Saeko's voice carried a hint of shyness, her violet hair falling onto Zeroy's shoulder. "I can only try the techniques I learned during bridal training..."
She pressed her warm chest gently against Zeroy's smooth back, moving slowly up and down, beginning a unique style of massage.
Droplets of water slid down their closely pressed skin, shimmering silver under the moonlight.
"How... does this feel?"
Her voice was soft as a whisper, carrying a trace of cautious expectation.
"Mm... it's... it's okay..."
Zeroy lay face-down on a towel, her stammering voice sounding far from natural.
Her usually icy, flawless face was now tinted with a dazzling blush. Her emerald eyes flickered evasively, betraying her embarrassment.
Though this softened look didn't suit her at all, Zeroy herself knew that.
But the truth was, she had no experience in this either…
No—that wasn't right. Her theoretical knowledge was extensive.
…It was just her practical experience that was absolutely zero.
The first time being this close, body-to-body with another girl, she needed time to adjust.
Although this also had to do with her leaving tomorrow… Zeroy hadn't figured out how to handle the matter of feelings yet.
Otherwise, she should be the one taking the lead.
Compared to being on the receiving end, she preferred to take control.
—When Saya returned, this was the scene that greeted her.
Saya had come back after delivering Alice, but recalling her earlier suspicions, she lingered outside the door for a moment.
Then, peeking through the crack, the sight before her made her hold her breath instantly.
They weren't actually doing anything extreme, but this kind of massage... was definitely beyond the scope of an ordinary massage!
This was no proper massage at all!
Saya's earlobes turned burning hot. As a sixteen-year-old in the middle of adolescence, she had only seen such things in certain study materials.
But the scene before her was more overwhelming than any description—Saeko's tender, affectionate gaze, Zeroy's awkward response, all weaving together in the steam-filled room into a pink, intoxicating atmosphere that left her blushing furiously, unable to look away.
"Th-this is... shameless!"
She screamed inwardly, yet still couldn't stop herself from stealing more glances.
Such blatant seduction, such suggestiveness… it was even more heart-pounding than actually doing it outright!
And now came the real problem—what was she supposed to do?
At this point... surely, no matter what, she couldn't possibly join them, right?
They weren't doing a normal massage, and she wasn't into girls. Even if she were, doing this with Saeko would be far too bold.
Still... maybe watching for just a little longer wouldn't hurt?
"..."
In the end, they really didn't do anything more. Only an unusual massage, never crossing that final line.
It was only after this that Saeko had bent herself, making the decision to acknowledge her own feelings.
Jumping straight into everything would have been far too hasty.
Though considering that Zeroy might leave tomorrow and never return, Saeko felt that even if she wasn't mentally prepared, she wanted to go all the way.
Yet, Zeroy had refused.
...
No matter the reason, the fact was that Saya had stood Zeroy up.
She was the one who had gone with Saeko into the hot spring, saying she wanted to give Zeroy a massage, to help her relax.
Abruptly, halfway through, she had gone to deliver Alice and then disappeared.
In reality, she had been hiding outside watching for a long time, but from Zeroy's perspective, Saya had simply stood her up.
At the time, Saya hadn't even realized it.
In that moment, she hadn't been capable of clear thought at all—her mind was consumed entirely by the two figures through the crack in the door.
It was only when she returned to her room that she remembered.
So, Saya decided that after dinner, she would go to Zeroy's room to apologize and make up for the missed massage in the hot spring.
Of course, it would be a completely proper, normal massage!
Even though Zeroy was into girls, Saya wasn't afraid of going to her room.
After all, if Zeroy had really harbored any strange intentions, she wouldn't have openly revealed her orientation in the hot spring or insisted they all wrap themselves in towels.
And when Saeko had wanted to offer herself, Zeroy had refused.
She truly was a good person.
If she had been a man, Saya thought she might already have fallen for her.
As for Saeko-senpai being willing to go that far, it likely wasn't just gratitude—it was real feelings...
Even so, when Saya thought about going to Zeroy's room to apologize and give her a massage—
Her mind couldn't help but recall what she had seen in the hot spring.
Her memory froze on Zeroy's face—
Her long lashes trembling faintly, her pale skin tinged with a tempting pink, eyes that were usually sharp as blades now melted into spring water, and her restrained breath fermenting into a sweet, intoxicating air.
That suppressed, shy look stood in stark contrast to her usual cold, dignified aura.
"..."
Saya swallowed unconsciously, trying to ease the dryness in her throat.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, only to find that even her breathing carried a sultry heat.
Those images—ones she should have been too embarrassed to think of—lingered in her mind, dragging Zeroy down from an untouchable pedestal into a living, breathing girl who could blush and feel affection.
"—!"
'No—this isn't right!'
Saya jolted in shock.
She panted heavily, clutching her wildly beating heart, her face filled with panic and confusion.
'What's going on? Is this how a normal person reacts to another girl? That can't be right!'
Yes, Zeroy was beautiful, and with that expression, she was both adorable and alluring.
After understanding Zeroy's past façade, the coldness that once scared her now seemed handsome, even heartbreaking.
Especially when she had saved her mother—back then, Zeroy had descended like a demon god, terrifying yet magnificent. But now...
Falling from the sky, sweeping away everything, like a true superhero.
'God, that was so cool!'
'But... but…'
'Even so, my reaction right now shouldn't be this strange, right...?'
'This feeling... could it be…
'...love?'
Saya's eyes widened abruptly.
'Wait… don't tell me I've bent too? Am I also into girls?!'
...
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