Chapter 152: The Warmth of You
The room was quiet after the little accident earlier, but the air still felt heavy with awkwardness. The image of the fallen lingerie was still fresh in my mind, and judging from how Keiko sat curled up on the bed scrolling through her phone, it was stuck in hers too.
I sat stiffly on the sofa, pretending to focus on the TV, though I couldn’t even tell what show was on. My mind kept drifting—should I talk? Should I lighten the mood? Or should I just give her space until she felt less embarrassed?
Just as I was weighing my options, my phone suddenly rang, the sharp ringtone startling me so badly my heart skipped a beat.
I glanced at the screen—Junpei.
I groaned inwardly. “Seriously, now of all times?”
I hit decline.
A second later, the phone lit up again. Same name.
Decline.
Then again.
Decline.
I clenched my teeth. “Damn it, give me some privacy!" I muttered, flicking the phone off completely and tossing it aside on the sofa.
Keiko, of course, noticed my restless tapping and rejecting. “Who’s calling? Why you keep rejecting it?” she asked, her tone casual but her eyes a little too sharp.
“Oh, it was Junpei,” I answered with a forced smile.
“Really? Then why didn’t you answer?” she pressed, raising a brow.
I tilted my head. Her voice was even, but I caught a faint edge of something there. Suspicion? Jealousy?
“I didn’t want to add chaos when I’m with you now,” I said, putting a hand on my chest in fake sincerity.
Her expression softened just a little, but she only gave me a small “oh…” before looking back at her phone.
Oh? Just “oh”?
That tiny reaction gnawed at me. Was she actually jealous? The thought made me grin.
“Who do you think called me just now?” I leaned closer, teasing.
Keiko’s cheeks turned faintly pink, and she avoided my eyes. “Who knows…” she muttered.
“Were you jealous?” I teased, stretching the word out.
She coughed and sat up straighter, clearly flustered. “Not really… e-ehm…” Then, as if changing the subject was her only escape, she blurted, “A-anyway! I’m going to the onsen now. Bye!”
She bolted out of the room before I could even reply.
I chuckled, shaking my head. “That girl…”
Of course, I wasn’t about to let her get away that easily. So I followed.
By the time I slid the door open, Keiko was already half-undressed, her yukata draped loosely around her shoulders. She gasped loudly the moment she spotted me.
“Gyaaahh~! R-Ryusei!!” she squealed, scrambling and practically diving into the hot spring like it was her last hope of salvation. “Why are you following me?!”
“What do you mean?” I said casually, stepping in like it was the most natural thing. “You wanted an onsen together, right?”
Her face peeked barely above the water, red as a tomato. “R-right…” she mumbled, sinking until only her eyes showed.
Without hesitation, I undid my clothes. She whipped her head in the opposite direction immediately, sputtering.
“D-don’t just strip like that!”
I laughed softly, ignoring her protest as I slipped into the steaming water. The heat wrapped around me instantly, loosening the tension in my muscles. I sighed. “Ahh… this is the life.”
Keiko was pressed in the farthest corner of the bath, shoulders stiff, pretending to admire the scenery outside the window. The steam rose around her, catching the soft glow of the lanterns, making her look almost ethereal.
I swam closer and sat beside her. She startled slightly at the sudden closeness.
“Why are you still so shy?” I asked with a grin.
She bit her lip, glancing down at the rippling water. After a pause, she admitted in a small voice, “I-I didn’t know… it just came at me, and I felt embarrassed again.”
I chuckled warmly. “That’s really like you.”
Her pout deepened, but I caught the tiniest smile tugging at her lips.
Gently, I reached for her hand under the water. She flinched but didn’t pull away, letting me gently guide her until we were both facing the same way—toward the wide glass window and the open view beyond.
The scenery stretched endlessly before us: the night sky painted deep blue, stars scattering faint light above the silhouettes of the mountains, and the soft mist rising from the hot spring blending with the distant forest.
Keiko’s eyes widened, her lips parting slightly. “Woahh… Ryusei, look. It’s really beautiful.”
I didn’t look at the sky. My gaze lingered on her instead.
“Yes,” I whispered, leaning closer, “it is.”
She turned her head, confused by my tone, only to find me inches away. Before she could react further, I leaned in, capturing her lips in a slow, gentle kiss.
She froze, eyes widening, then gradually relaxed, melting into the warmth. The initial tension faded, and her arms subtly lifted, resting against my shoulders.
The world quieted around us—no awkwardness, no phone calls, no teasing banter. Just the sound of rippling water and our soft breaths between kisses.
When I finally pulled back, Keiko’s face was pink, her eyes hazy.
“You always surprise me,” she whispered.
I smiled and rested my forehead against hers. “Then let me surprise you more… for a lifetime.”
Her breath hitched, and she buried her face against my chest, hiding her blush. “Idiot…” she muttered, but her arms wrapped around me tighter, her warmth mingling with mine under the rising steam.
And in that moment, sitting together in the onsen with the world fading into quiet stars, I thought—maybe Junpei’s annoying timing wasn’t so bad after all.