Chapter 8
Weak to People Who Try Hard (2)
Shio was inserted.
The intelligent expression Shia-Yun-san had just shown me out in the hallway was completely gone now. Her whole face was red, and she was fidgeting, speaking while looking down.
For the first time since I grew up, I was seeing the bare tip of a woman’s chest right before my eyes, and honestly, I had no idea how I was supposed to act.
Anyway, unless I asked what she meant by all this, I couldn’t do anything.
“Uh… um, what exactly do you mean by that…?”
“I—I was wondering if you would let me wash your back…”
When she raised her face and met my eyes, her gaze was so straight and serious that I lost my breath for a moment.
I still didn’t really understand the values of this world, but it was clear that, out of some sense of duty or responsibility, Shia-Yun-san was doing her best. That earnest feeling pierced right through me.
I’ve always been weak to people who are trying their hardest.
That’s just the kind of person I am. Even back when Rika struggled with math, I cheered her on. Whenever classmates or friends were giving something their all, I couldn’t help but support them as if it were my own challenge. I’d always want to do whatever I could to help.
Honestly, something like letting her wash my back wasn’t a big deal. And besides, being alone only made me think about Rika even more.
When I said, “Sure, that’s fine,” Shia-Yun-san’s stiff expression instantly blossomed into a bright smile.
—Ah. That’s it. I’m done for. That smile is cheating. My heart has officially switched into support mode.
Resigned, I finally handed her the towel already foaming with soap.
To anyone experienced, this must look ridiculous—an inexperienced older woman and an equally inexperienced guy, both stark naked and blushing in a bathhouse, fidgeting awkwardly.
But, well, it’s not like anyone’s watching. If washing my back helps her somehow, even a little… then I guess it’s fine.
Looking happy, Shia-Yun-san stepped behind me and began to wash my back.
It surprised me a little. We weren’t touching skin directly, but even through the towel, the warmth and gentleness of her hands somehow eased my heart.
—I guess I’ve been really tense all this time.
Considering how suddenly my entire environment had changed, it made sense that I’d been unconsciously on edge.
The way she carefully, carefully scrubbed me showed how sincere and earnest she was.
And in this situation, there was nothing improper toward Rika.
Even though she dumped me, the resolve I’d made just a while ago—to treasure her for life—wasn’t something that could just vanish so easily.
“Ah, um…”
When I said that, Shia-Yun-san stopped her hands.
“I’ll… do the front myself.”
“I’m sorry. I got carried away…”
—Please, not “I’m sorry.” Not right now.
I thought that, but I just took the towel from her and continued washing on my own. Well, if that made her feel satisfied, then fine.
Feeling a little relieved that I’d done a good deed, I glanced to the side—Shia-Yun-san was washing herself now. Ah. I see.
After rinsing off the soap with water from a small bucket, I sank into the bath. Shia-Yun-san also entered, sitting across from me in the wide tub.
I wasn’t sure exactly what she meant earlier by “offering her body,” but since I’d already said “it’s fine,” there wasn’t really much I could say now. It didn’t feel like there was a real problem anyway. Just… incredibly awkward.
Well, for now, I should just relax both body and mind in this warm bath. I’m glad this world has baths, even if it feels like I’m in a hopeless situation.
“So, uh… how do they heat this water?”
I asked suddenly, partly because I was curious and partly because I couldn’t stand the silence between me and a beautiful woman I’d just met, while we were, well, sharing a bath.
“This water is…”
Shia-Yun-san scooped some up in her pale, graceful hands and gazed into it for a moment, her words momentarily catching in her throat.
“It’s heated through Princess Lifa’s sorcery…”
Oh! Now that’s a topic I want to hear more about. Sorcery—nice. Learning about how this world’s systems, civilization, culture, and technology work would definitely be useful.
“Could you tell me a bit more about that sorcery part?”
In response to my question, Shia-Yun-san began to explain calmly. Her tone was smooth and easy to understand. She was clearly a very capable person.
Even if, right now, she was sitting completely naked and blushing in front of a younger man.
