CH 24

After the festival was over, we came home.

“… I kind of feel relieved.”

“Hm?”

“Ah, my summer festival date with you was a lot of fun, but … I feel at ease here at home, the most…”

“Hahaha, indeed.”

I chuckled and said.

“Hiyori, you can go ahead and take a bath.”

“Huh?”

“You’re sweating, aren’t you? Ah, …….”

I realized something and suddenly felt embarrassed.

“…… A-anyway, after you.”

“Hidetsugu-san ……”

Hiyori called me without reserve and cupped her hands in front of her chest.

“…. I want to go in with you.”

“Hiyori?”

I turned to look at her and she was staring at me with earnest eyes.

“I-I …. want to take a … bath with you, Hidetsugu-san.”

“No, but that’s …”

“P-please….”

Hiyori’s words were feeble, but her eyes kept staring at me. I could feel the strength of her words in her soft eyes.

“……, me and Hiyori, we are lovers, aren’t we?”

“Y-yes.”

“That’s why… that much… is n-normal… isn’t it?”

“Y-Yeah…that’s right. “

“All right, let’s go in.”

I said boldly, and Hiyori’s face turned bright red.

“Ha, yes!”

She nodded strongly.

******

Chapun,  came the sound of water droplets bouncing.

“Wow, it’s quite … huge!”

“R-really?”

“Yes, it’s really big. Hidetsugu-san’s… back.”

Hiyori said, I was embarrassed to say the least.

“I-I guess, it was worth having a good physique.”

“I-It’s not like that.”

“I mean, do you really want to wash my back?”

“O-Of course. This is something I have wanted to do for you for a long time.”

“Then….please “

“Yes.”

Hiyori said in a shy but cheerful voice and began to wash my back with a sponge.

“D-does it hurt?”

“Don’t worry, it feels good.”

“G-Glad to hear that.”

Hiyori was scrubbing my back hard with her thin arms. Thinking about it, I was feeling genuinely grateful rather than having lewd thoughts.

“Yoisho, Yoisho”

“Hahah, Hiyori, you’re so adorable.”

“R-really?”

“Yes, Hiyori is adorable when she tries hard.”

“Hauuh~ …”

Then Hiyori tried her best to wash my back until the end.

Then…

“Ah, then I’ll leave first. Hiyori, please take your time.”

I said and tried to leave the bathroom.

“W-wait a minute.”

“Eh?”

“W-why don’t…we get in together?”

“But Hiyori …”

“P-Please, ….”

Hiyori stared at me with moist eyes. My reasoning pillar shook lightly.

“… well, just for a little bit”

“R-really?”

“I mean, I really wanted to do that too.”

“I-I’m glad.”

Hiyori and I soaked in the bathtub together.

“….W-What? Why are you staring at me?”

“Hidetsugu-san… your chest is also quite firm.”

“I-Is that so?

“Well, um,…, may I touch it?”

“Huh?”

“E-even Hidetsugu-san touched my b-b*****s…so it’s fine, right?”

“W-when you put it that way, it’s hard to argue.”

I simply conceded.

“Okay.”

“Okay, then. ….”

Hiyori gently touched my chest.

“… ah.”

“W-what?”

“It’s so ….firm.”

“T-thank you?

“I-I…was always hugged by this strong chest, huh”

Hiyori looked a little emotional.

“… Hidetsugu-san. Please hold me.”

“Buha! Hi-Hiyori?”

“Ah! I don’t mean that… I want you to hug me tight…”

“Ah, I see. ….”

I couldn’t stop my heart from pounding.

“Hidetsugu-san……”

“Hiyori….”

I hugged her. The water surface was rippling.

“…I-I’m so happy, I might die.”

“I don’t want that. Shall I let go then?”

“Just a little bit more. ….”‘

“I understand. ….”

For a while, I held Hiyori in silence. Eventually, Hiyori and I suddenly locked eyes.

We kissed again.

“Hiyori, I …..”

“Hidetsugu-san, …”

If only the yukata hadn’t been a rental at that time. I wonder how far we would have gone? I mean, even now, if only I can muster up the courage—

“Hiyori,…, can I do more than kiss you?”

“Heh?”

I said nothing more and silently looked at Hiyori.

“Ah …… p-please be gentle …….”

If I could, I would have done it properly on the futon, but … I couldn’t stop. I touched her shoulder a little tighter.

The way she shuddered was so sweet.

“Hiyori ….”

“Hidetsugu-san….”

We looked at each other and kissed again–

“……Ukiyuu~”

“Eh?”

I froze a little when I heard Hiyori’s slurred voice.

“O-Oi, Hiyori?”

I noticed that Hiyori’s face had turned bright red and she had passed out.

*******

In the dimly lit room, I was holding Hiyori’s hand as she lay on the futon.

“Are you alright, Hiyori?”

I asked.

“…I-I’m sorry, I just got a little overwhelmed.”

“It’s fine, it couldn’t be helped. Or rather, it’s my fault.”

I said, and Hiyori shook her head.

“Even though it was my long awaited with Hidetsugu-san…Waaa~..”

“Don’t worry about it. Also, anytime… No, it’s nothing.”

Ahhh, I am going crazy, Deep breaths, Hidetsugu.

I then gently fanned Hiyori’s burning face with an uchiwa fan.

“……, Hidetsugu-san.”

“What’s up? Want some water?”

I said and Hiyori shook her head again.

“I…I am really happy to be your girlfriend, Hidetsugu-san. I am so happy, I feel like you are wasted on me.”

“Thank you.”

“But … the truth is, I don’t want it to be just that.”

“What?”

Hiyori’s eyes were moist but she stared straight at me.

“I want to be ….Hidetsugu-san’s wife.”

I silently listened to her words.

“I …want to have a family.”

“Hiyori….?”

“I was never blessed with much love from my family, so I …”

She looked a little weak, and I gently took her hand in mine.

“So, I want to become your wife, and create a warm, loving home for our family…”

I hugged Hiyori.

“….I’ve been thinking about it for a while, too.”

“Hidetsugu-san,……?”

“If this girl becomes my wife…”

As I said this, a tear spilled from Hiyori’s eye.

I smiled.

“Let’s get married, Hiyori.”

Finally, Hiyori’s tear barrier broke. Tears flowed out endlessly.

“I’m sorry, I …”

“No need to apologize.”

I whispered into her ear as I hugged her.

“Of course, it can’t be right now, but … I can’t think about any other woman but you anymore. I can’t … imagine my life without you …. my Hiyori.”

“Hidetsugu-san……”

I took a tissue and wiped Hiyori’s tears away.

“… maybe it’s because I cried.”

“Hm?”

“I feel a little better.”

“I see.”

“So, Hidetsugu-san ……”

Hiyori raised her body and looked at me.

“Continuing from earlier,…, to the end.”

“Eh?”

I involuntarily let out a surprised voice. Considering her body, I shouldn’t push her here.

But …… I can’t ignore her heart.

Above all, my feelings ….

“…Are you sure you want to do this? It’s your first …… time, right?”

“Yes…I will dedicate my precious first time…to you.”

Hiyori looked at me with tear-stained eyes and said,

“It’s my first time, too.”

“R-really? I was certain you were experienced since you are so cool and popular. ……”

“I’ve never been that popular before. You’re the only one who says you like me so much. …. Hiyori”

“Hidetsugu-san ……”

I laid Hiyori down on the futon again.

“ah, ……”

“I’ll be gentle… Hiyori. But … I’m a man too. I wonder how much of my reason will hold up in front of the woman I love. ….”

I said pathetically and anxiously, and Hiyori giggled.

“It’s fine, Hidetsugu-san”

“Huh?”

“Mess me up…Your Hiyori”

–Where on earth did you learn such words? But that broke my rationale in half. I held her tighter than usual.

******

I found myself listening to the morning birds chirping.

“Hmmm… ….”

I leaned over to see her still sleeping next to me. Her sleeping face was so cute that I stared at it for a while. Then she slowly opened her eyes.

“….Hidetsugu-san?’

“Good morning, Hiyori.”

“Good morning. ….”

Hiyori was a little dazed and a little sleepy.

“Ah, ….”

Her face suddenly turned red as she remembered last night.

“U-um, I ….”

“Hiyori.”

I called out.

“You were cute, really cute.”

Hiyori widened her eyes and said,

“Hya~…”

She covered her blushing face with both hands.

“Hiyori.”

“Ye-yes ….”

“I love you.”

Then Hiyori slowly moved her hands away.

“… me too.”

And Hiyori hugged me. She was cute in every way, and I hugged her.