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Yoshiki lets out a content sigh, basking in the warm water as she submerges herself deeper, head leaning against the wall. The water level comes up to just above her lips, air bubbles rising to its surface as she blows through her mouth. It’s… probably not the most sanitary thing to do, germs and all, but then again, baths are proven to be less cleaner than showering, and yet here she sits, submerged in a bathtub.
She then lifts her head so her whole face is no longer in the water, and stares up at the ceiling, thinking about nothing.
“It’s just been one thing after another, huh?” Yoshiki mutters to herself. “Hikaru’s nature, that granny’s sudden unexplained death, and then, that housewife who thinks I’m in danger…”
She closes her eyes and exhales out another sigh. “No, I’ll think about all that later, when my mind is clearer. Right now, I can barely make sense of my own thoughts.”
Her eyes gaze back up to the ceiling again, but for a moment, she imagines it’s ‘Hikaru’ she is looking at instead. “Hikaru… What are you, exactly—”
The bathroom door slides open with a loud slam just before she can finish the thought. Her arms cross over to cover her chest, startled at the sudden intrusion, as she sits upright in the bath. “W-Who—!?”
“Ah, Yoshiki, so you were here!”
Nothing could’ve prepared her for what had just happened. Steadying herself against the doorframe, panting and catching her breath, with an almost relieved look in her eyes, was none other than—
Yoshiki’s face flushes a deep red. “H-Hikaru?”
‘Hikaru’ doesn’t say anything, only lets out a satisfied hum before she begins undressing herself.
“Wait, what are you—!”
Before she can even say anything, ‘Hikaru’ is already cannonballing into the bathtub, splashing water everywhere. Yoshiki doesn’t even react, too stunned in place to process what’s going on.
‘Hikaru’ makes herself comfortable on the opposite end of the bathtub, an easygoing smile on her face as she pulls her knees to her chest. “Hehe, hope you don’t mind me joining you,” she grins, like she didn’t just walk in on Yoshiki bathing and undressed right in front of her immediately afterwards.
If Yoshiki’s brain isn’t already fried with this past week’s happening, it surely is fried now.
“What.” Yoshiki finally finds her voice, after a long pause. “What are you doing here.”
“Ah, so this is what happened,” ‘Hikaru’ claps her hands together. “You see, I read this one manga the other day, and it showed two people bathing together! And not only that, but one was also helping to wash the other person’s back. So then, I saw that and thought—”
“You came here,” Yoshiki interrupts. “Came all the way to my house, barged in on me bathing, took your clothes off right in front of me, then got in here, all because of that?”
‘Hikaru’ snaps her fingers. “Bingo!”
Yoshiki thinks half her soul just departed from her body. God, this girl is going to be the end of her. “So, what now? You want me to wash your back?”
‘Hikaru’ shakes her head wordlessly, still smiling at her. ‘Nope, I wanna wash your back.”
A normal person would have shooed her out the moment she slammed the bathroom door open. A normal person would have yelled at her to get out the moment she began lifting her shirt over her head. And, a normal person would most definitely not go along with her request. There is absolutely nothing normal about ‘Hikaru’s actions, and Yoshiki has every right to chase her out.
Except, she doesn’t.
“... You know, Hikaru,” Yoshiki begins. “People might get the wrong idea if you do this.”
“Eh, why?” She tilts her head. “Isn’t it normal for girls to bathe together?”
Yoshiki takes a deep, steadying breath. “No, that’s not my point,” she moves from her spot, towards the other girl. “My point is…”
She reaches a hand towards ‘Hikaru’s face. And then yanks on her cheek harshly.
“You don’t just barge into people bathing, and then undress right in front of them without a word!” Yoshiki scolds, pinching down on ‘Hikaru’s cheek harshly. “People’ll think you’re a creep for doing that!”
“Ah, Yoshiki!” ‘Hikaru’ whines, tugging on her wrist to stop. “Stop, you’re gonna pinch my face off!”
“Good! It’ll help you reflect better,” Yoshiki counters.
“Ahh, you’re so mean…”
She eventually releases her cheek after a good ten seconds.
“Man, your grip is insanely strong…” ‘Hikaru’ pouts, rubbing one hand against her cheek, nursing it. “What am I gonna do if you damage my perfectly beautiful face?”
“Oh, cut the crap already. Can’t you heal yourself anyway?” Yoshiki scoffs.
“Mmm, you’re so mean…” ‘Hikaru’ whines, wiping away a fake tear from her eye as she brings her knees up to her chest. “Is there any way I can make it up to you?”
Yoshiki makes the mistake of meeting her eyes, even for a brief moment. The usual edge her eyes have is completely absent; not even her red pupils look that intimidating right now. The monster sitting in the bathtub with her suddenly doesn’t seem like a monster, but rather a sad dejected puppy.
Fuck.
“W-Well,” Yoshiki stammers, folding her arms, “you can make it up to me by—”
By getting out of here and letting me bathe alone in peace, is what she would have said if she didn’t like girls.
Unfortunately, she does.
“You can make it up to me… by washing my back…” She says it with less resolve than she intended.
‘Hikaru’s face lights up like a lightbulb. “Wait, really?!”
“But,” Yoshiki holds a finger up, “just this once. The next time you do this, I’ll rip your whole face off.”
‘Hikaru’ is practically beaming, grinning from ear to ear. “Alright!”
Yoshiki sighs, before facing her back towards the other girl. She can sense ‘Hikaru’s grin only growing wider behind her, as she shifts closer to her.
I’m an idiot, an absolute idiot. Yoshiki tells herself, kicking herself internally. Instead of chasing her away, here I am indulging her instead. All because I like her. I must be an absolute freak.
A shiver runs down her spine as ‘Hikaru’ places her hands on her shoulders. She almost thinks it’s just nerves; how can anyone act normal when there’s a girl touching you in a bath? But then, Yoshiki pays more attention to her hands, and that’s when she realizes.
Her hands… they’re cold as a corpse.
“Hikaru…” Yoshiki looks over her shoulder, a mix of concern and horror etched on her face. “Your hands are so cold.”
“Oops, forgot to get my heart pumping, haha,” she jokes.
In any other situation, Yoshiki would’ve pulled on her cheeks in frustration. But this time, she’s too stunned to even react, even as ‘Hikaru’ circulates the blood in her hands to mimic human body warmth. She doesn’t say anything either when the other girl parts her hair over to her front, or when she dumps handful after handful of water onto her back.
Everything about this feels unreal, like a dream. Well, if this is a dream, then Yoshiki hopes she can wake up soon.
“... Hikaru, my mom and little sister are still in this house,” she finally speaks after a long pause.
“It’s okay. I’ll just quickly wash you, and I’ll be on my way!” ‘Hikaru’ beams.
Yoshiki wants to smash her head into the wall. “I’m not borrowing you any towels to dry yourself off later.”
“Huh?! You’re so mean!” ‘Hikaru’ punches her back weakly. “Then how am I gonna leave? I can’t put my clothes back on then if I’m soaking wet.”
“Then you should think twice before barging in on someone bathing next time,” she huffs, pulling her knees up to her chest. Yoshiki then adds in a much quieter voice, saying it to herself more than the other girl. “Honestly, I let you have your way too often. I should spoil you less…”
‘Hikaru’ suddenly leans against her shoulder, her warm breath fanning out onto her skin. Yoshiki stiffens at the sudden contact. “Wh-What is it?”
“I’m sorry, Yoshiki…” ‘Hikaru’ mumbles, lips pressed against the back of her neck. “It’s just that… I got excited and immediately thought of you when I saw that scene in that manga. And, seeing that I’m your best friend and that we’re both girls, I thought…”
A part of Yoshiki churns uncomfortably when she says ‘best friend’.
The monster sighs again. “... Sorry, I won’t do it again. P-Promise!”
Yoshiki relaxes her shoulders by a fraction, and turns to look over her shoulder. “You promise?”
“I swear, really!” ‘Hikaru’ exclaims. “Just—” She pauses, voice cracking, before resting her forehead against Yoshiki’s shoulder. “Please, don’t hate me…”
Yoshiki blinks, exhaling softly as she looks at the girl clinging onto her. Her chest tightens at the sight. ‘Hikaru’ brought this onto herself, and yet, why does she feel so guilty about this?
“Hikaru, I…” She sighs, lifting an arm to pat ‘Hikaru’s head. “You’re such a brat sometimes. How could I possibly hate you?”
“You don’t hate me?” ‘Hikaru’ sniffles.
“Of course I don’t. Though I should spoil you less from now on,” Yoshiki says. “You’ve been getting your way a little too often these days.”
‘Hikaru’ lets out a giggle despite her wavering voice. “Hehe, it’s not my fault I’m so cute,” she teases.
“W-Who says you’re cute?” Yoshiki stammers, cheeks heating up.
This has no business to feel so endearing, she thinks to herself.
“You know…” ‘Hikaru’ speaks after a beat of silence. “You really are such a kind person. Sometimes it makes me wonder if I even deserve it.” She presses her face deeper into her shoulder, exhaling out a sigh, before wrapping her arms slowly around her waist. “You’re really warm, Yoshiki. It’s almost like I’m touching your soul… Hah, this feels nice.”
With another sigh, she pulls on Yoshiki’s waist to get closer and—
Her boobs. Yoshiki can feel her boobs pressed against her chest. Warm and soft, another girl's chest, on her back. Girl pressed behind her. Boobs.
Her soul has now fully departed from her body.
The older girl shrugs ‘Hikaru’ off, much to her disappointment. “Yoshiki?”
“I’m—” Yoshiki stands up from the bathtub. “I’m done bathing now.”
With that, she staggers out of the bathtub, not bothering to shield her naked body from ‘Hikaru’s eyes. That’s enough bathing for today.