Chapter Text
I feel my face grow hot. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if I’m as red as she is. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know,” I say.
Ayaka laughs. “You couldn’t have known. This isn’t your fault.” She takes my hand and leads me inside. “But having a bath’s not a bad idea. We can still do that.”
“You mean here? In your home?”
She smiles. “Thoma, be a dear and run us a bath, will you?”
I don’t see Thoma, but I hear him respond, “Right away, milady.” I hear scuffling, then the sound of a faucet turning on. Ayaka takes me into the bathroom, where a wooden bathtub is being filled with water. Steam rises from the water and fills the room. I find myself getting anxious for the bath to be full so I can get in. To distract myself, I rest my head on Ayaka’s shoulder. Her hair smells like sakura blossoms.
After what feels like an eternity, the bath is ready. “Your bath, miladies,” says Thoma. “Is there anything else you need tonight?”
“No, thank you,” says Ayaka. Thoma nods and excuses himself from the room.
Ayaka turns to me. “Shall we?”
She’s being unusually forward tonight. Perhaps it’s the excitement for the upcoming summer festival. Not that I mind, of course.
Ayaka steps behind a screen. The light from the overhead lamp shines in such a way that I can clearly see her silhouette. I subtly avert my gaze as she begins to undress. (We are not at that stage in our relationship yet.) Right before she steps into the bath, she motions for me to come forward. I come behind the screen, and she turns away so I can undress in relative privacy.
As I step into the bath, all the nervousness from today’s meeting melts away almost instantly. I let out a satisfied sigh and lean back until the water barely licks my ears. Ayaka lets her hair down and runs her fingers through it. “Can you pass me the conditioner?” she asks, pointing to a white bottle on my side of the bath. I pick up the bottle and hand it to her. She pumps a small amount into one palm and slowly works it into her hair. When she’s done, she takes another pump from the bottle. “Your turn.”
I undo my ponytail and let my hair cascade onto my shoulders. She combs her fingers through my hair to work the conditioner in, with difficulty at first-- it has been too long since I properly combed my hair, it seems-- then with no trouble at all.
One of her fingers brushes against my neck. I shiver at her touch. She notices and does it again. “You’re still so tense,” she laughs. “The bath is meant to relax us.”
Am I really that tense?
Ayaka places her hands on my shoulders. “Perhaps your body just needs a little more coaxing.” She begins to massage me, loosening knots I didn’t know I had.
Thoma enters the bathroom again, carrying two sets of robes and towels. He sets them down on a bench, then leaves.
“Is it time to get out already?” I ask. I feel like we just got in the bath.
“We mustn’t stay in for too long,” Ayaka says. “The water is too warm, even for a Pyro-wielder such as yourself.” She releases my shoulders and gingerly steps out of the bath, picking up one of the towels and gently patting herself dry. I reluctantly follow suit.
My towel is delightfully warm and fluffy, like it just came out of a clothes dryer. I cannot resist the urge to caress my cheek with it. “Be sure to pay Thoma extra for his service tonight,” I whisper.
Ayaka puts on her robe and hands me mine. “Oh, I will.” She picks up our clothes from behind the screen, carries them out the door, and hands them to Thoma. No words are exchanged this time. He simply nods and carries them off, I assume to be washed.
I follow Ayaka into her bedroom. She lies down on her bed and motions for me to do the same.
I wasn’t planning to stay overnight, but it’s late, and I don’t really want to walk home. Chinju Forest is dark and creepy enough in the daytime. I choose to lie next to Ayaka instead. Father knows I’m busy with the upcoming festival. He won’t be worried that I’m not coming home tonight.
Ayaka wraps her arms around me and pulls me close. I lean into her embrace. I allow my eyes to close. There is nothing else in the world I care about right now. It’s only me and her.
I can hear her breathing. From the sound of it, she has fallen asleep.
Soon after, I do, too.