Chapter 346: Don’t Take Off My Pants!

That annoying butt finally rolled away!

Himekoji, who’d been holding his breath for the longest time, felt a wave of relief wash over him as if he’d narrowly escaped death.

He quickly strained his body, pushing himself out of the hole.

Oxygen!

He needed oxygen!

So, no doubt—his top priority was putting the straw in his hands to good use.

The straw’s length was totally nice, more than enough!

Himekoji shoved one end of the straw into his mouth at lightning speed while quietly pushing the other end above the water’s surface.

Take a breath!

He needed a breath right now!

…

“Look, Sis Yukino, it’s not a fish. It’s a straw,” Komachi said excitedly, having barely finished her sentence.

Huh???

Wait!

Himekoji suddenly realized the straw he was holding… had vanished!

It was now in Komachi’s hands!

“Sis Yukino, Sis Yukino, it really is just a straw!”

Holding onto his lifeline, Komachi revealed her small fang proudly, shaking her head as she showed off for Yukinoshita.

Darn it, give it back!

His mind screamed, but a sudden wave of dizziness washed over his brain—too much time without oxygen.

No way!

If he didn’t get a breath soon, he’d suffocate!

No choice… given the situation…

He had to stick his head above water!

Screw it!

For now, Himekoji could only pin his hopes on his skill, “Hidden Aura Little Stealth.”

C’mon, don’t fail me now!

He prayed desperately.

Getting caught before seeing anything?

That would be a total waste!

…

Splash!

Desperate for air, his mind foggy, at times like this his body could only obey its basic instincts—surfacing over and over.

Surfacing was the only thought in his head. Nothing else.

So naturally, he couldn’t afford to be careful anymore.

When Himekoji’s head abruptly broke the surface, his rough, impatient movement exploded into a giant wave of water.

Splash!

That loud splash sounded shockingly clear, cutting through everyone’s voices.

“Who’s there?”

Immediately, everyone’s eyes shot toward the spot where he’d just surfaced.

Yet Himekoji only gasped rapidly for breath.

Had they spotted him?

Too bad. He might as well accept his fate.

…

“But it’s just… a pair of Goggles?”

Komachi, closest to him, reported immediately to the others.

Hadn’t they found him?

Seemed like “Hidden Aura Little Stealth” had kicked in. They saw the Goggles floating, but nothing else.

Oxygen filled his lungs again, and his brain snapped back to life.

Realizing what had happened, Himekoji mentally sighed: So close!

Holy crap, this skill’s amazing!

Seriously, if it’s this cool, why had the System bothered giving him the Straw?

No need to hide underwater so awkwardly. He could just join them openly for the bath!

Stare at whoever he wanted, wherever he wanted. Maybe even touch them without being noticed.

Awesome! Awesome!

Himekoji was about to mentally give the skill some thumbs-up…

That’s when—

Beep!

[Ding!]

[Respected user, your trial version of “Hidden Aura Little Stealth” expires in one minute!]

[Click to renew if you wish to continue.]

The sudden flood of messages caught him completely off-guard.

What the?!

This was just a demo version?!

Damn it, he should’ve known something was up!

Since when had the System ever been nice?

“Yes! I’ll renew it!”

Himekoji saw Komachi moving toward him and yelled frantically at the System in his mind.

Not renewing it? Then death in 60 seconds.

He’d get caught for sure!

Himekoji had no other options left!

Beep!

[Ding!]

[Sorry. The renewal function is currently under maintenance. Use is temporarily halted.]

“Then why say anything?!”

Himekoji finally saw the truth—that stupid System had fooled him again!

Although he wanted to curse a thousand times inside, Himekoji obviously had no free time right then.

Because Komachi had already come close to him!

Right at arm’s reach, the girl’s slender, fair arm was reaching out toward him!

Had he been spotted?

No, the invisibility effect still had one minute left.

The System might be sneaky, but it wouldn’t lie about this kind of thing.

So, was Goggles Komachi’s target?

Exactly!

Komachi reached out and grabbed the Goggles directly.

“Huh, weird, why can’t I pick it up?”

Nonsense!

Because I’m still wearing it!

While mentally grumbling, Himekoji didn’t dare delay and quickly pulled his Goggles off, pushing them toward Komachi.

Then he waved his hands frantically at the girl, even though she couldn’t see it.

Go away, go away!

Himekoji looked like he was shooing away a pest.

This was necessary, after all, he had to find a new hiding spot within one minute.

“Huh, it comes off now.”

Komachi held up the Goggles, shaking them at Yukinoshita and the others to show it was just Goggles.

“Why are there Goggles and a Straw in the pool?”

“Maybe they were left by the earlier group who soaked in the Onsen?”

“If that’s true, then the cleaning and care of this pool are really worrying.”

The girls talked over each other, sharing their opinions.

Himekoji didn’t dare breathe loudly over here.

He could only hope Komachi hurried back to the group, far away from him.

Go, go!

I’ve given you both the Goggles and the Straw, you should be satisfied now, right?

He urged mentally over and over.

However, his urging seemed to backfire.

Sharp-eyed Komachi stared in Himekoji’s direction, her eyes suddenly brightening—

“Eh?! There’s a swimming trunks too!”

Komachi pointed underwater, toward Himekoji’s lower body,

“Wow wow, the front of this swimming trunks is bulging out! So strange! It’s sticking up a lot!”

Like she’d found a new continent, Komachi kept calling everyone over to take a look.

“Why is there a swimming trunks left in the Onsen by someone else? The cleanliness seems awful… Suddenly I don’t feel like soaking anymore.”

As if her mood was ruined, Yukinoshita said as she stepped out of the pool.

Her body, once submerged, instantly rose above the water’s surface.

“Splash.”

The moment she emerged, water droplets scattered everywhere.

Under the moonlight, the girl’s pure white, delicate body was completely bare.

……

Holy crap, she was giving away a free show!

Himekoji’s eyes drew toward the sight on instinct.

His gaze crawled up from Yukinoshita’s fine, round ankles and straight, pale calves.

Looking up, and up some more…

Wow, this peeping was paying off well…

Himekoji followed his male instincts; it couldn’t be helped, because his eyes were out of control, staring hard over there without blinking.

He was still staring intently—

Huh?

Wait!

Himekoji suddenly realized something was wrong.

Why was Yukinoshita facing away from him?

Come on, turn around for a moment!

From Himekoji’s angle, he could only see her smooth, soft butt cheeks and her slim waist.

Water drops dripped down her bare, pale skin.

It was exciting enough, but still…

Hadn’t he missed seeing something important?

……

“Oh? That swimming trunks is bulging out more now!! Look look! Everyone look!”

Komachi’s shocked cry snapped Himekoji back to reality in an instant.

Holy crap, was I staring at boobs?

No, not even boobs could be seen!

This was no time to relax!

The one-minute alarm wasn’t over yet!

……

“I’ll fish out that swimming trunks!”

Komachi seemed hooked on salvaging things; after the Straw and Goggles from Himekoji, she wasn’t satisfied and now wouldn’t let the swimming trunks go…

……

Grandma, please don’t!

Seeing Komachi dive down, charging furiously toward his swimming trunks.

Himekoji’s entire face darkened!

Damn it! Are you a robber or what?

Forcing me to give up the Goggles and Straw was one thing.

But please, at least leave my swimming trunks alone!

……