Chapter 764 - should we do?
After a brief stroll through town, we stumbled upon a fast-food joint that captured our youthful hearts. We returned with Hakone Burgers, a meal that felt wonderfully out of place in a hot spring tourist town.
Seven servings in total. As for the missing maid, if she didn't come back, either Toshiki or I would finish hers. And so, the mission to consume the luxury hamburgers—which, from a normal person’s perspective, were quite ridiculously priced—was a resounding success.
I was observing to see if the two ‘young ladies’ could handle the soul of youth (in its premium form) without a knife and fork, when Sora-san scolded me—
“Hm?”
Our stomachs were full. So, what next? The classic, no-brainer choice you'd make at a hot spring inn—let’s hit the onsen—was unanimously approved, and we temporarily disbanded.
Just as the girls left, a knock came at the door of the men’s room.
Toshiki and I had been gathering our things to head to the large public bath. We exchanged a look, wondering if someone had forgotten something. Since I was closer to the door, I went to open it…
“Oh, my. Welcome back?”
“Yes, I’ve just returned.”
Standing in the hallway was the maid who had briskly disappeared this morning. Her complexion was glowing for some reason. I wonder where she went.
…And,
“Umm… what is that?”
The moment I opened the door, a mysterious paper bag was thrust towards me.
I didn’t need to ask to know she wanted me to take it. I understood that much, but her inscrutable, beaming smile was so terrifying that I hesitated to reach out.
My voice laced with caution, I asked,
“Fufufu—it’s a present,” she said.
“Why do I have a feeling that a word that should sound wonderful is only making me more anxious?”
“Now then, I have some… arrangements to attend to, so would you be so kind as to accompany me?”
A foreboding response, followed by a complete and utter dismissal of my reaction. It was her usual pace, which meant I should be even more on guard…
“………Alright. My friend, I leave this to you. Go on ahead.”
“You don’t look like a guy who just got an invitation from a beautiful woman… Yeah, got it.”
It was painfully obvious that neither escape nor resistance was an option. After a deep breath, I turned back and showed my resolve, only to be met with an exasperated half-smile.
◇◆◇◆◇
—Where are we going?
—Somewhere nice.
After that wonderfully concise exchange, we were less than ten steps from the men’s room.
I mean, from a normal guy’s perspective, the room of a pair of beautiful sisters is definitely a ‘nice place’, but come on… I thought, shooting her a sidelong glance as I obediently followed her inside…
“Ah… honestly, Itsuki-san? What’s with the sudden—wha…?!”
Greeting me was none other than Sora-san, whom I had just seen off with the older girls. It seemed even my pushy friends had shown some restraint and hadn't invited the prim and proper young lady to the onsen, so her presence wasn’t surprising.
Her reaction, however, was beyond strange.
The girl, who had her back to me as she faced her luggage by the wall, spun around at the sound of her sister’s presence and let out a bewildered shriek, hastily crushing and hiding something.
I didn’t even catch a glimpse of it, so it remains a complete mystery. In fact, my first mistake was probably walking in so casually after the maid, who strode in without a hint of hesitation.
Judging by Sora’s reaction, she hadn't been told I was coming. And if I had just thought for a moment about Itsuki-san’s usual behavior, I should have anticipated that possibility.
So, about-face, turn right around—
“My, where do you think you’re going?”
“Anywhere that isn’t off-limits to men, for a start…”
But alas, my great escape was foiled. My collar was seized, and I was captured instantly.
Does this maid understand that depending on what Sora-san was fiddling with, this could have been a major incident? I wish she wouldn’t take a young man’s purity and consideration so lightly.
…Well, dithering about won’t get us anywhere, so…
“Um, what did you need me for? I was about to go take a bath—”
“Yes, that’s right. We were hoping you would join us for a bath.”
“…………Huh. …Huh?”
I’m not following. The rustling from the luggage had stopped, which I took as a sign that the tidying up was done. I turned back around, trying to read the situation as I surveyed the room.
In here were a confused me and a smiling maid. And Sora-san, her cheeks slightly flushed from agitation or something else, looking utterly bewildered.
And in my hand, the paper bag labeled a ‘present.’
And then, behind the girl who had turned to face us, peeking out from an open bag—likely because she had hidden it in a panic—was the edge of another paper bag of the same design.
“……………………”
I thought, I pondered, and then it all clicked.
I opened the gift that had been forced upon me and found a bundle of cloth. Oh my, what wonderfully water-repellent-looking fabric—
“Haaa… —Wait just a damn minute, Maid.”
“Rest assured, I have already obtained permission.”
“Permission for what?”
“Permission to bathe while wearing swimsuits.”
Even an idiot could figure out what that meant, with all the pieces in place.
“Pardon my rudeness, but have you lost your mind?”
“Well, I do believe the hot spring flows year-round, yes.”
“I’m not in the mood for maid jokes right now. This is taking the prank too far.”
“Oh my. Do you truly believe I would jest when it concerns my beloved ‘little sister’?”
“I………………………………………… do. Yes, you totally would.”
“Fufufu.”
“Don’t you ‘fufufu’ me, this is nuts—whoa, wait, seriously, wait, dammit!”
And so, the battle was joined. This time, I couldn't just let myself be swept along by the momentum. I lunged to grab her, holding nothing back… but my hands sliced through empty air.
Unfortunately, this was reality.
My stats here were less than zero compared to my avatar, and I had no skills. There was no way a layman like me could handle a maid who, based on her every word and action, was very likely some kind of real-life master.
Thus, the outcome was inevitable…
““……………………””
With a smooth slip, a soft thud, and a click of the door, Itsuki-san made her swift exit, leaving a boy and a girl to exchange terribly troubled glances in a scene straight out of hell.
As usual, we read each other’s minds, grasped the situation perfectly, and could do nothing but fall into a deep silence. But we couldn’t stay like this forever.
“…………”
“……………………”
“…………………………………”
“……………………………………………”
We couldn't, and yet. Neither of us could move. Neither of us could speak.
Seriously, what do we do? I get the dumb maid's mischievous intent, but this time she’s really gone too far. My head is so full of confusion and shock that I can’t think straight.
Right, I get the intent—in other words, she means ‘get in together,’ doesn't she?!
That’s not okay. No, it’s really not okay.
““—…………………………………””
It’s not… okay… but.
Why can’t I look away from her gaze?
Why is she, her face growing redder by the second, pinching the edge of the paper bag behind her back?
“...U-Um… j-just… for reference… I’d like to ask…”
This was probably the point of no return.
This very moment, if I had just turned around and reset the situation, was likely the last chance to avoid the heaven-and-hell scenario that was about to unfold.
“Haru… um… are you… w-well—interested in… my swimsuit, or… that kind of thing…”
It was as if I’d turned to stone.
“A-Are… you… interested… at… all…”
I couldn’t move.
And so, my answer, as I was slain in more ways than one, was—
It's still daytime, so it's wholesome.