108 – Blues in a Dark Alley
Follow Shiraishi, who is humming a song. I don’t know what’s so fun about it, but the person I live with has so many things to worry about that I’m almost exhausted.
“What kind of place is this?” My heart is pounding… !”
For Shiraishi, everything he saw and experienced was his first time. It all seemed like a fresh experience.
Three people living crowded together in a small house.
Preparing dinner or doing housework. We also go to the bathhouse together at night.
As expected, it was awkward in many ways for men and women who were not family members to take turns using the bathroom.
This was the answer I found.
“Have you ever been to a place like this, Elena?”
“I have washed outside with water from a drum… “This is her first time using a public bathhouse.”
“I see! “Then this is our first experience for both of us!”
No, what kind of life have you led….
She glanced at Elena, who was walking silently carrying a bag containing bath supplies, but she decided not to ask any more questions.
“Here.”
“Wow… ! “I’m really looking forward to it!”
This is where we diverge. Walk through the entrance marked ‘Men’.
“…… For a moment.”
I looked back at Shiraishi and Elena who were following behind me.
“Minsu? “Why are you doing that?”
“What’s the problem?”
“Of course it is.”
Why are you following me?
He pushed their shoulders and pointed to the entrance marked with a female sign.
“Because there are no mixed baths.”
Shiraishi’s cheeks turned red as he covered his mouth at those words.
“Ah… Ah… ! Yes! “You were mistaken!”
Well, if it’s your first time visiting a place like this, you might not know much about it.
Elena had a calm expression on her face, as if it didn’t really matter, but I’m in trouble.
“Now, go in with Shiraishi.”
“…… All right.”
Only after I saw them enter, I sighed and entered the entrance to the men’s bathhouse.
It’s been a while since I’ve been to a place like this.
I was worried about Shiraishi, but I thought it would be okay since Elena was there.
Get your key from the counter, take off your clothes, and go inside.
Perhaps because it was late, there were not many people.
While sitting in front of the shower and pouring hot water on my body
“Wow… ! “It’s as big as the bathroom in our mansion!”
Shiraishi’s booming voice came from the opposite wall.
Is there a women’s bath right next to it?
I shrugged my shoulders at Shiraishi’s shout coming from beyond the wall.
“Ahahahahaha… ! “The water is really hot!”
That’s right.
But, can you just be quiet?
For some reason, I cautiously stepped into the bath, feeling embarrassed.
“Huh? Elena, hasn’t it grown bigger than before?”
I submerged my face in the water and spouted out bubbling bubbles.
“It’s a growth period.”
“Ohhohoho…” ! Elena too! If she had married early, she would have had a daughter as tall as me… “Ugh!”
Why are the walls so thin here?
Shiraishi and Elena seemed to be right across from us, their voices echoing and coming through the wall.
“What are you doing!? “I almost drowned!”
“That’s what happens when you mention her lady’s age.”
“I know! Elena is looking for her marriage partner and choosing her match… Whoop whoop!”
“Who spread it? I will find her and kill her.”
Musher.
She opened the sauna door, telling herself that she would pretend not to hear anything.
After that, I overheard Shiraishi’s various reactions through the wall and heard the sound of her diving in the bath, and after washing her body, I left the place.
After putting on her clothes, drying her hair, he goes outside first and waits.
I knew that women usually take a long time, so I waited for her to come out, cooling her body in the cool late night breeze.
***
After getting dressed, I went to the counter and looked around her.
I couldn’t see Elena, who came out first, so I sat down and waited, but she didn’t show up for a while.
“…… Elena?”
I can’t even look at the bathroom.
I searched everywhere, but I couldn’t find it anywhere.
Could it be that he went home first?
She thought it was strange, but after returning her keys, she came out.
“Ah… Shiraishi. I’m here?”
“Mr. Minsu….”
He looked back at me and asked, but there was no Elena around.
“Have you not seen Elena?”
The person approached me slowly and held out something to me.
“Oh, I went first. Just because I forgot to turn on her washing machine and hang out her clothes.”
“Aha….”
This is an uncharacteristic mistake for Elena.
I took the bottle offered by Minsu and held it.
“Drink.”
“Milk… Is it?”
“Yes. “I usually drink it after taking a bath.”
I opened the cap of the cold bottle and took a careful sip.
Drinking cold milk on a hot body was very delicious. Because I didn’t want to be seen undignifiedly drinking a bottle in front of that person.
“…… Phew.”
As I turned my gaze and rubbed the corner of my mouth, I saw him looking at me and giggling.
I unconsciously became embarrassed and turned away.
“Okay, then let’s go…” !”
“Yes.”
Maybe the reason my face is hot is because I took a bath. Or maybe it was the fault of the person walking quietly behind me.
I couldn’t tell, but I realized that right now it was just the two of us.
“……… “Mi, Minsu.”
My steps have slowed down.
I spoke to the person standing next to me.
“Thank you so much.”
“…… What?”
“You also showed me a new place.”
The person scratched his cheek with an embarrassed smile.
I even liked that look.
Because I like seeing that person smiling at me.
“Should I say I informed you…? “Because public bathhouses are places that anyone can use.”
“That’s not true. “If I hadn’t known Minsu, I would never have known about this place.”
“…… Is it.”
The corners of my mouth also became soft.
First of all, I should also thank Elena for returning home.
Even though I’m staying at his house, I rarely spend time alone like this.
Even this time will only be a fleeting memory to me.
The cultural festival is just around the corner.
When the time came, I planned to say goodbye to everyone and leave this place.
So, the time I spend now is the last day with that person.
Thinking like that filled me with joy and sadness at the same time.
The two mixed together gave me the feeling of not knowing what was going on, so I just kept my mouth shut.
Bright street lights illuminating the night.
Crying grass bug.
I wanted to spend this time savoring and cherishing it, but without saying anything, the road home got closer and closer.
Minsu, who was silently walking next to me, opened his mouth.
“Shiraishi.”
“Ah… yes.”
“It’s been a while. Shall we take a short walk and then go back?”
“Ah… ….”
The person who made that suggestion looked at my complexion as if he knew how I felt.
“I can’t help it if Shiraishi is tired, but…” .”
“Oh, of course it’s good!”
I was in a hurry, wondering if he might change his mind, so I grabbed his wrist and led him.
“Wait a minute… Shiraishi….”
“Let’s go!”
“You don’t have to pull it like that….”
I know. This is a simple walk.
I know that nothing will happen between me and him.
Minsu simply understood my feelings and was considerate.
It was like that from the first time we met.
From the day you came forward to help me and Yuuki-sama.
Why is that?
Why does this person care for me and help me so much?
Is that simply due to personality?
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Or is it because I am a friend of Yuuki-sama and Haruna-san?
A friend’s friend is also my friend.
Is that why he guided me?
There is no point in considering this now.
Do people need a reason to help others?
Or should there be a special reason for people to like others?
I may have been destined to fall in love with you from the beginning.
Even if there is no such fate or relationship, even if I have definitely seen you somewhere else… I would have fallen in love with you.
I even had that thought.
While my pounding heart and non-stop head were leading me dizzy and pushing me into such vain thoughts…
“The wind is cool.”
Before we knew it, we were walking through the park.
Continue without saying anything.
While I was thinking about fate.
Even at the moment when I wasted the time I was with him.
Time continued to pass.
“…… “Shiraishi.”
I raised my head.
Is it because of his mood that his expression seems urgent?
I couldn’t understand the situation and asked back in confusion.
“…… Yes?”
“Come here.”
“Ah, ah… !”
At that time, the person holding my hand hurriedly ran somewhere.
“Mr. Minsu… Uh, where… ?”
Even if I asked that question, he had no answer. The person who pulled me with an urgent look for no reason and hid in a dark place
“Quietly….”
He stretched out his hand and covered my mouth.
“What… Mushun… !”
A dark and gloomy alley. Minsu and I were facing each other, stuck in a narrow gap that could barely fit one person.
Very close. With your body in close contact.
“Please don’t say anything.”
I nodded at the earnest look in his eyes.
He lowered his hand covering his mouth and looked across the alley.
What is there? He tried to turn his gaze to follow him, but
“Hyaaah….”
I moaned involuntarily at the feeling. When he raised his head, Minsu opened his eyes wide and put his index finger above his mouth.
What the hell is this….
I didn’t know what the situation was, but right now, Minsu and I were holding our breath in a dark alley, clinging to each other.
I don’t think so, but… Mr. Minsu….
He looked down at me with extremely serious eyes.
The sweat on my forehead runs down the tip of my chin.
I slowly closed my eyes.
I hoped that our first experience would be under a beautiful night sky, in a romantic bedroom, facing each other and whispering love.
In this dark alley… Stuck together….
I stuck out my lips towards that person.
And then I felt a warm touch through my lips.