“Next — jacuzzi.”
“Got it.”
We went to the jacuzzi in the elevated indoor area. Despite the venue being busy, this section was lucky-empty.
“Warm, great.”
“Like a full reset on accumulated fatigue.”
Between finals and conferences I’d been wrung out — the jacuzzi was salvation. Kano had been in a college exam hours ago — even more so. We were sprawled, full chill mode.
“Doesn’t this remind you of the family bath in Hakone?”
“Yeah, a little. The situation’s different though.”
The Hakone bath was when she blackmailed me with the ero-manga titles I’m still not sure how she got and forced co-bathing. She smirked at the memory.
“Not naked this time — endure.”
“Endure what? Why would I want —”
“You took a long look at my chest a while ago, though.”
“That was a water slide incident, can’t be helped.”
“You stared at me for a long time, was the impression.”
“A split second. Don’t invent memories.”
“Honestly — sweat the small stuff and girls won’t like you.”
“That argument is unhinged.”
We bantered through the jacuzzi cycle.
“Time to get out — going to overheat.”
“Got it. What’s next?”
“Hmm — long water slide.”
The long one was her target. The chance of another bikini incident was low, but —
“Tie the strings properly — last time was bad.”
“Tied tight this time. But — check it for me?”
“Sure.”
“Oh — and don’t get so worked up you try to untie the strings.”
“I would not do that.”
I said it firmly. She pouted. I pretended not to notice and checked. Yep, properly tied.
“All good.”
“Okay, going.”
We joined the long-slide line. As expected, lengthy.
“You’re going to sit this time, right?”
“Flat, obviously.”
“Right after that?”
If it had been me I’d absolutely have just sat.
“Same mistake won’t happen — I learn.”
“You always do.”
“Praise me more.”
We chatted as the line crawled. Our turn.
She launched first, with extra push for momentum — speed-pursuit as always.
I lined up, got the signal, and went.
“Ow?!”
Halfway down, my right calf cramped. Bad luck. And worse: at the landing, my left calf cramped at the exact same intensity.
Both legs cramped, panic, water rushed in. I started going under.
“Yuito?!”