Chapter 51: I want to make it up to you
We ate a quick dinner, accompanied by a movie available on the internet. At Kaede’s request, we chose a mecha anime that had been revived as a theatrical movie after a 10-year absence. The story was about the hero, whose survival has been rumored during that time period, coming back to life and carrying out his last mission. New aircraft were also introduced, and it was just a very exciting work.
“Only those who prepared to be shot at were allowed to shoot. This is a very cool line…”
“I am surprised that Kaede is a fan of this work.”
“The character designs were made by a manga artist I liked, so I thought I’d give it a try. Then I found it very interesting and got hooked. Do you like it too, Yuya-kun?”
Of course I do! It’s one of my top 10 favorite anime. I like it so much I watch it on loop over and over again.
“I never thought I would be able to talk about my favorite anime with Yuya-kun. Then what is your favorite drama? I like—”
What started as a simple conversation, turned into a very enjoyable time. After I told Kaede that I liked her, I started wanting to know more about her. I wanted to see more of the different sides of Hitotsuba Kaede that only I know of. Is it selfish of me to think so?
“It’s nice to talk about these things once in a while. Oh, I have to take a bath soon, it will be late before I go to bed. What do you want to do? Do you want to go in with me today?”
“… Kaede. It’s not something to be said lightly…”
Of course I want to get in! I’ve been able to withstand the temptation with my steel self-restraint until I confessed my feelings for her, but when we officially became lovers, hugging and kissing left my self-restraint in shambles. I don’t know what would happen if I were asked to take a mixed bath at that moment! I understand that what I’m saying and what I’m thinking don’t match, but I can’t just nod my head.
But this day Kaede was different from usual. Normally, she would stick out her tongue and tease me saying, “I’m just kidding,” but tonight her face was red and she looked up at me and said.
“I’d like to take a bath with you, Yuya-kun. … I’d like to soak in the bathtub while you hug me. I’m lonely because we had less time together than usual for two days. Besides…”
Kaede cut off her words there. I was also feeling lonely because we had less time to spend together. It made me happy to know that Kaede felt the same way. And I could probably guess what she was going to say next.
“I was really sad that I couldn’t be with Yuya-kun that night when he told me he loved me.”
Oh, I knew you were just like me. I was also disappointed that I couldn’t spend that night with Kaede. It was my fault, I was so focused on confessing under the stars that I didn’t think about what would happen afterward.
“Besides, … that night, Yuya-kun said, ‘I’ll make it up to you when we get home’. You have to fulfill that promise!”
No, I did say I’d make it up to you, but! I did say that, but that’s mixed bathing, and I think that’s a little strange, Kaede!
“Or. Yuya-kun, do you not want to be… with me?”
“No, I don’t mind it!”
The only option was to be honest with her when she was looking at me with moist eyes! I’m embarrassed to admit it, but being able to bathe with Kaede was a man’s privilege, a privilege that only I am allowed! I’m not going to give it to anyone else!
“Ehehe. I did it! I’m going to take a bath with Yuya-kun! I’ll go get ready right away then!”
“Oh, ok. I’ll see you soon. I’ll take care of the dishes…”
‘Thank you’, Kaede said, and skipped off to the bathroom. Even though it was nighttime, the tension was at an all-time high. Even though she was in a happy mood, it was typical of Kaede that she carried the dishes she used to the sink.
“I agreed to it on the spur of the moment, but I don’t know if I can handle it…”
As I washed the dishes, I came back to myself and tried to think calmly, but it probably wasn’t going to work. I’ll just have to close my eyes and count the prime numbers to get by when the time comes.
Kaede came back to the living room, even though it was very late for her to wash the bath. I resumed watching the movie we had stopped halfway through, but my mind was already too occupied. With each passing moment, I prayed that the bath would not be ready.
But my prayers went unanswered, and I heard a light melody announcing the completion of the bath.
“Here we go! It’s time for a fun mixed bath, Yuya-kun! I’ll be on my way in a little while, so go ahead and soak in the tub. Oh, and don’t run away when I get in, like you did the other day, okay? Okay?”
“I know, I know… I’m not running away today. I’m going to be… ready for that.”
Open up, me! We’re just taking a bath together! As long as I keep my eyes closed and my back to her, it won’t matter! As long as I don’t look directly at the naked body of the goddess, my reason won’t be blown away. I’ll be fine! I can get through this!
I washed myself carefully and opened the lid of the tub. I put in the bath salts that were placed in front of the door of the tub. The clear water in the tub turned cloudy white.
“Let’s see. I think I can manage this…”
It seems that Kaede wasn’t a baka. That was a relief. It was nice to be able to stretch my legs and take a bath after a long time.
“Yuya-kun. How’s the water temperature?”
“Ah…, it’s the best. Kaede, come quickly.”
“Okay, I’m coming. I’m coming.”
The door slowly opened with a squeaky sound. I swallowed my spit with a gulp.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Yuya-kun.”
Kaede, with a towel wrapped around her body, stood there with her cheeks dyed red.
Chapter 51: I want to make it up to you
We ate a quick dinner, accompanied by a movie available on the internet. At Kaede’s request, we chose a mecha anime that had been revived as a theatrical movie after a 10-year absence. The story was about the hero, whose survival has been rumored during that time period, coming back to life and carrying out his last mission. New aircraft were also introduced, and it was just a very exciting work.
“Only those who prepared to be shot at were allowed to shoot. This is a very cool line…”
“I am surprised that Kaede is a fan of this work.”
“The character designs were made by a manga artist I liked, so I thought I’d give it a try. Then I found it very interesting and got hooked. Do you like it too, Yuya-kun?”
Of course I do! It’s one of my top 10 favorite anime. I like it so much I watch it on loop over and over again.
“I never thought I would be able to talk about my favorite anime with Yuya-kun. Then what is your favorite drama? I like—”
What started as a simple conversation, turned into a very enjoyable time. After I told Kaede that I liked her, I started wanting to know more about her. I wanted to see more of the different sides of Hitotsuba Kaede that only I know of. Is it selfish of me to think so?
“It’s nice to talk about these things once in a while. Oh, I have to take a bath soon, it will be late before I go to bed. What do you want to do? Do you want to go in with me today?”
“… Kaede. It’s not something to be said lightly…”
Of course I want to get in! I’ve been able to withstand the temptation with my steel self-restraint until I confessed my feelings for her, but when we officially became lovers, hugging and kissing left my self-restraint in shambles. I don’t know what would happen if I were asked to take a mixed bath at that moment! I understand that what I’m saying and what I’m thinking don’t match, but I can’t just nod my head.
But this day Kaede was different from usual. Normally, she would stick out her tongue and tease me saying, “I’m just kidding,” but tonight her face was red and she looked up at me and said.
“I’d like to take a bath with you, Yuya-kun. … I’d like to soak in the bathtub while you hug me. I’m lonely because we had less time together than usual for two days. Besides…”
Kaede cut off her words there. I was also feeling lonely because we had less time to spend together. It made me happy to know that Kaede felt the same way. And I could probably guess what she was going to say next.
“I was really sad that I couldn’t be with Yuya-kun that night when he told me he loved me.”
Oh, I knew you were just like me. I was also disappointed that I couldn’t spend that night with Kaede. It was my fault, I was so focused on confessing under the stars that I didn’t think about what would happen afterward.
“Besides, … that night, Yuya-kun said, ‘I’ll make it up to you when we get home’. You have to fulfill that promise!”
No, I did say I’d make it up to you, but! I did say that, but that’s mixed bathing, and I think that’s a little strange, Kaede!
“Or. Yuya-kun, do you not want to be… with me?”
“No, I don’t mind it!”
The only option was to be honest with her when she was looking at me with moist eyes! I’m embarrassed to admit it, but being able to bathe with Kaede was a man’s privilege, a privilege that only I am allowed! I’m not going to give it to anyone else!
“Ehehe. I did it! I’m going to take a bath with Yuya-kun! I’ll go get ready right away then!”
“Oh, ok. I’ll see you soon. I’ll take care of the dishes…”
‘Thank you’, Kaede said, and skipped off to the bathroom. Even though it was nighttime, the tension was at an all-time high. Even though she was in a happy mood, it was typical of Kaede that she carried the dishes she used to the sink.
“I agreed to it on the spur of the moment, but I don’t know if I can handle it…”
As I washed the dishes, I came back to myself and tried to think calmly, but it probably wasn’t going to work. I’ll just have to close my eyes and count the prime numbers to get by when the time comes.
Kaede came back to the living room, even though it was very late for her to wash the bath. I resumed watching the movie we had stopped halfway through, but my mind was already too occupied. With each passing moment, I prayed that the bath would not be ready.
But my prayers went unanswered, and I heard a light melody announcing the completion of the bath.
“Here we go! It’s time for a fun mixed bath, Yuya-kun! I’ll be on my way in a little while, so go ahead and soak in the tub. Oh, and don’t run away when I get in, like you did the other day, okay? Okay?”
“I know, I know… I’m not running away today. I’m going to be… ready for that.”
Open up, me! We’re just taking a bath together! As long as I keep my eyes closed and my back to her, it won’t matter! As long as I don’t look directly at the naked body of the goddess, my reason won’t be blown away. I’ll be fine! I can get through this!
I washed myself carefully and opened the lid of the tub. I put in the bath salts that were placed in front of the door of the tub. The clear water in the tub turned cloudy white.
“Let’s see. I think I can manage this…”
It seems that Kaede wasn’t a baka. That was a relief. It was nice to be able to stretch my legs and take a bath after a long time.
“Yuya-kun. How’s the water temperature?”
“Ah…, it’s the best. Kaede, come quickly.”
“Okay, I’m coming. I’m coming.”
The door slowly opened with a squeaky sound. I swallowed my spit with a gulp.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Yuya-kun.”
Kaede, with a towel wrapped around her body, stood there with her cheeks dyed red.
