Chapter 111: Couple’s Bath Massage

Holy Mediator turned her back when taking off her clothes, appearing shy and timid.

Honestly, this contrast was incredibly cute!

The clothes were unfastened, falling to the ground one by one. Bit by bit, Holy Mediator’s smooth back, pale like flawless jade, was revealed to the air—skin like fine cream, faintly fragrant and rosy.

Himekoji’s heart skipped a beat. Flustered, he quickly looked away.

Luckily, eighteen… no, luckily the “twenty centimeters” was currently “in storage” with Rikka right now. Otherwise, at a time like this, it would definitely roar menacingly and show off mercilessly.

That would have been awkward.

These thoughts unexpectedly popped into Himekoji’s mind.

…

In no time at all, Holy Mediator was completely undressed. Holding her arms across her chest, expression blank, she swiftly and silently slipped into the bathtub.

Water covered her chest, leaving only a pair of smooth, pale pink shoulders exposed.

That dazzling springtime scene flitted past Himekoji’s eyes.

But Himekoji actually felt relieved.

Compared to the earlier embarrassment and awkwardness of not knowing where to look, he now felt much more relaxed.

“Sister, should I scrub your back?” Himekoji tentatively asked.

“Wash… just wash yourself.” Came the expected reply.

Himekoji felt a little disappointed.

Wait, no! Disappointed about what?!

Wasn’t he only doing this embarrassing “couple’s bath” thing to complete the choice in the first place?

Therefore, everything should be focused solely on fulfilling the option’s requirements!

He shouldn’t have any extra expectations beyond that!

Himekoji, remember, you are an upright and honorable pervert!

Strange, even though he was reminding himself, why did it suddenly sound incredibly awkward?

An upright, honorable pervert… was still just a pervert…

Forget it! Was there even any point nitpicking over this stuff?

Himekoji shook his head and stopped dwelling on it. Sitting on the small stool, he closed his eyes and scrubbed “Rikka’s body”.

He wouldn’t wash the sensitive areas; it was a matter of respect for Rikka…

Skipping the chest and lower body, as he scrubbed, Himekoji couldn’t help but admire his own self-restraint.

Truly, he was an amazing guy! A man who had managed to persist in being a pervert for over a year without breaking down – incredible! His self-discipline was top-notch!

“Rikka, didn’t you say you learned a new massage technique?”

Suddenly, Touka’s voice drifted gently from the side.

“M-massage?”

Oh crap, no way! Self-control has its limits!

“What? I-is it inconvenient? Then, forget it…”

“No! It’s fine! Absolutely fine!”

No matter what, Himekoji couldn’t refuse.

Because this must be the real reason Holy Mediator agreed to bathe with “Rikka”.

For her, it probably held extraordinary significance.

…

Rikka surely hadn’t done anything like this for her sister before.

…

“It’s been hard, hasn’t it… Sister…”

Himekoji stepped into the bathtub, his hands gently resting on Holy Mediator’s thin shoulders.

“H…Hard?”

The body beneath Himekoji’s hands trembled slightly.

“Hard…”

Holy Mediator murmured in an extremely low voice.

Touka Takanashi, a star in the gymnastics club during middle school, whose dream was to become a gymnast.

But because of their father’s death, she had to mercilessly abandon that increasingly unrealistic dream.

She gave up further education and learned cooking instead, just wanting to quickly master a skill, find work, and support her family.

Through extraordinary diligence and effort far beyond the norm, she became the head chef of a restaurant at a young age and took sole responsibility for raising her little sister Rikka, a duty she still carries to this day.

Had all of this been hard?

The warmth of the “little sister’s” palms soaked through her skin, warming its way deep into her heart.

So, she turned her back to her “sister”, and smiled gently.

“It wasn’t hard. Because Rikka was there.”

…

“Hmm…”

Himekoji opened his mouth, remained silent for a long moment, and in the end only let out that single sound.

…

Lies could truly be so gentle.

But lies spoken with sincerity were the gentlest of all.

Actually, Himekoji knew it. Of course he knew. The reality was the exact opposite.

Precisely because Rikka was there, it had become even harder.

…

“Sister, I’m starting, okay? The massage.”

“Yeah.”

Holy Mediator leaned against the edge of the bath, her usually icy face flushed bright red from the steamy heat.

Himekoji took a deep breath and focused his spirit. At this moment, he only wanted to give two hundred percent of his ability.

Massage didn’t just exist for the “drainage.” The true purpose of massage should be to help people relieve exhaustion and relax their body and mind.

Holy Mediator was tired. So tired. He could see it.

…

Yet, right at that moment, the System suddenly chimed in…

Hold on! How did this happen again?

Couldn’t you pay attention to the time and place?

Himekoji was going mad!

“Mmm… ah…”

The delicate body beneath his palm suddenly trembled.

A tingling electric jolt sparked where his fingertips touched her skin, wildly rushing through both of their bodies.

…

Water dripped inside the bathroom.

…

In the end, Himekoji and the Holy Mediator had to lean on each other to stumble out.

Damn, this “flood disaster” was almost as bad as the one in Kasumigaoka!

Two people’s worth really was terrifying…

“R-Rikka, where did you learn to do massages?”

The Holy Mediator shot him a weak glare.

“Ah… I-I read it in a book…”

Himekoji stammered, his face flushing as he hung his head low.

“I have work early tomorrow. I’m heading back to my room. Y-you should rest too… ah!”

As she spoke, her legs wobbled, nearly making her fall.

“Sis, slow down…”

“Mhm… mhm.”

Without even turning back, she hurried into her bedroom and—PONG!—slammed the door shut.

Standing in the living room, Himekoji stared blankly at the Holy Mediator’s door. After a long pause, he shook his head and finally entered Rikka’s room.

Picking up his phone, he saw several missed calls and messages—

[Akito, I’m starving! Fighting battles in the demon world requires loads of food! Requesting backup!]

[Akito, please respond if you get this!]

[Please respond!]

[What?! You’ve been defeated by the Holy Mediator? Hold on, Akito, I’ll rescue you!]

…

This Chuunibyou was really…

Himekoji rolled his eyes, then typed a reply—

[If you’re hungry, figure it out yourself! There’s food in the fridge! If not, eat instant noodles or order takeout!]

[Akito, you’re alive? That’s great!]

The response came instantly.

Reading it, Himekoji felt a headache coming.

That’s nonsense! Obviously I’m not dead!

[Akito…]

The little girl kept bombing his phone every five seconds.

Finally fed up, Himekoji decided to go downstairs and teach that Chuunibyou a lesson.

He opened the front door at the Genkan.

Click—the moment the door swung open, a lonely figure huddled by the doorway, hugging her knees, leapt into view.

“A-Akito?!”

Rikka, sitting on the floor, jerked her head up at the noise. Her familiar face instantly lit up with joy.

“I was gonna rescue you, but… the magic formation for the entrance was changed by the Holy Mediator.”

“Groooowl—”

Mid-sentence, her stomach grumbled loudly from hunger.