I felt my body warming up as I drank the heated milk.
As I silently sipped the milk and stared blankly, Claudia chuckled and pulled a handkerchief from her bosom, wiping my face.
Her touch was careful and delicate, as if handling porcelain.
Perhaps because it had been kept in Claudia's bosom, the handkerchief was slightly warm.
...And it seemed to carry a hint of her body scent.
A scent that felt healthy yet comforting.
My cheeks flushed slightly at the strange fragrance.
Claudia, who had been watching me, gave a mischievous smile.
"Were you hoping for my lips instead of the handkerchief?"
"...Nonsense."
After wiping the milk stain from the corner of my mouth, Claudia's next destination was the bathroom.
She scooped me up in what's called a princess carry from where I sat dazed after drinking milk, left the bed, and opened the door.
No matter how much I squirmed in this absurd situation, I couldn't escape Claudia's grasp.
Fortunately, there was no one in the hallway.
...I swayed, feeling the warmth of her chest pressing against me.
Somehow... I felt strange.
Ever since I clearly realized I was originally 'Asha,' it seemed like Claudia had been pressing her chest against me more often.
...Had she noticed all the glances I'd been stealing?
Unlike me, groaning in self-reproach, Claudia seemed to be in a very good mood.
It was clear from the way her ears, peeking over her chest, fluttered.
'...What is she so happy about?'
For no reason, yesterday's events came to mind, making me shiver, and before I knew it, we had arrived at the bathroom. Though empty and quiet, it was filled with warmth from the hot water.
As I lay dazed in her arms, Claudia's voice reached me.
"Aren't you going to get up, miss? Or are you waiting for me to undress you...?"
"...You're a bit... I was just dazed from being suddenly brought here, so just put me down."
"Keke, as you command."
Today, Claudia's atmosphere felt slightly but somehow strange. I couldn't pinpoint what that sense of incongruity was, though...
Since we were in the bathroom, I supposed we had to bathe.
Stepping onto the floor, I sluggishly began to undress, and from beside me came the rustling sound of clothes being removed.
When I glanced over, Claudia was raising her arms to take off her top, and her ample chest rose and fell with the movement of her clothes and arms, swaying heavily.
Gulp.
I swallowed unconsciously, shook my head, and entered the bathroom.
...I hope she didn't hear me swallow.
'How embarrassing...'
As I let out a deep sigh, Claudia followed me into the bathroom with steady footsteps.
I wet my body with warm water, lathered soap, and meticulously washed myself.
No... saying I was meticulously scrubbed would be more accurate.
Claudia lathered soap on my body with a thoroughness that bordered on obsessive.
Her calloused, firm hands meticulously worked through my hair, face, neck, arms, armpits, back... every part.
'...Why is she doing this?'
It felt almost like cleaning a butchered animal before eating it.
'...Ugh, what am I thinking?'
There were various reasons for that thought, but the biggest one was simple.
Usually, if she had this chance... she'd grope my chest... or gently scratch my nipples... or rub against me to induce sexual stimulation.
...But today's Claudia showed none of those movements.
Though she gave me a sly look as if sensing my strange feelings, her touch was utterly plain.
As if... her sole purpose was to wash me clean.
So, was it any wonder I felt this incongruity?
It's not like I was disappointed that those large breasts were idle.
Claudia scrubbed my body until it made squeaky, clean sounds.
Her firm fingers moving freely between my toes... felt really weird.
Even though it's a part that obviously needs washing.
'...Have I been thinking of Claudia only in that way?'
Now it felt like I was the one getting heated and hoping for such acts, bringing a strange sense of shame.
...Well, it's good for me if nothing happens.
Warm water poured over my head.
The white lather Claudia had applied slowly rinsed from my body.
A fragrant scent rose.
Claudia, having rinsed the lather from me, patted my waist and said,
"Get in the bath first."
Turning my gaze, I saw warm water rippling, giving off a sweet fruity scent as if scented oil had been added.
As I was about to enter the bath, I looked back at Claudia.
She must have some purpose, but since she washed me, shouldn't I return the favor...? That's what I thought.
Turning my head, Claudia's beautiful body was clearly visible.
Her deep black hair, having absorbed water while washing me, clung heavily, and her skin, smoothed by the lather, emitted an aura of health and a strange allure.
Her ample breasts, contrasting with her well-toned, firm body, accentuated her charm.
Then, I met Claudia's golden eyes as she was soaping herself.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, nothing..."
Somehow, feeling like I might be drawn into those eyes, I swallowed my offer to wash her and got into the bath.
Warm water enveloped my entire body.
Soaking in the warm water, I stole glances at Claudia washing herself.
The smooth, firm body I saw earlier was now obscured by lather, leaving only her swaying tail.
However... grooming the tail seemed quite tricky, so I rose from the warm water and approached Claudia.
'...I should at least do this much.'
Then I reached out, took the soap, and grabbed Claudia's tail.
"Huh? What are you doing?"
"...I'll help you."
Claudia blinked her golden eyes, looking surprised.
Then she chuckled and said in a cheerful voice,
"Well, thank you. Could you do me a favor?"
"...Sure."
The lush tail swaying before my eyes.
Given where the tail was attached, Claudia's firm-looking buttocks shook slightly, making my face heat up.
'...Good thing Claudia's back is turned.'
If I had 'that,' wouldn't it have hardened already?
...Without the tail, her private parts would be plainly visible.
Brushing off the bizarre thoughts that kept popping into my head, I meticulously rubbed Claudia's tail.
Unlike her friendly personality, her water-soaked tail was lush but slightly coarse.
As I fidgeted my fingers and touched her tail, I inevitably had to reach near where the tail began, so Claudia and I gradually grew closer.
The soapy tail brushed against my body, tickling me.
It swept over my chest as if aiming, and tapped around my private areas. Feeling strange, I looked at Claudia's face, but only saw her back.
"Not done yet~?"
Claudia's carefree voice came along.
Is she doing this on purpose...?
Normally, I'd be 100% sure, but today's Claudia was different, so I hesitated to conclude.
Letting out a slightly ragged breath, I finished grooming her tail and hurried back into the bath.
Bubbles clinging to my body floated up on the water, so I pushed them away.
Swoosh!
Around that time, with the sound of pouring water, the lather on Claudia's body began to fall to the floor.
Not long after, the water sounds subsided, and footsteps were heard.
With a splash, water overflowed from the bath equal to Claudia's weight.
Claudia, now in the bath, finally seemed to show her true colors as she reached out and pulled me close. Thinking, 'Finally, it's coming,' my already hot face grew hotter.
But... perhaps Claudia had no such thoughts.
She simply held me from behind, soaking in the bath.
Her ample breasts pressed against me like cushions.
'...Or not?'
As I hesitated, unable to speak, laughter reached me.
"Perhaps Asha wanted to do something like that?"
"Wh-what do you mean, something like that...?"
"Playing dumb, huh."
Claudia hugged me even tighter and rested her face on my shoulder.
"Sometimes this isn't bad either, right?"
I felt a strange breath on my shoulder.
"Or... do you prefer that over this?"
"..."
When I glared at her as if asking what she meant, Claudia made an excuse and submerged her face.
After that, Claudia, as if insisting she really had no intention of touching me... just stuck to me clingily without any further action.
'...Was I too immersed in that kind of thing?'
No, it's... not my fault, but other people keep... Anyway, it's not my fault, right?
Anyway.
We enjoyed the bath without incident and dried our wet bodies.
While I spent a long time vigorously drying my hair, Claudia, already prepared, helped me.
"...Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
Anyway, contrary to my expectation that she'd do something lewd again, it was an ordinary bath.
But... as if signaling that today was just the beginning.
Claudia brought over some cloth and covered my eyes.
The steamy bathroom vanished, replaced by familiar yet unfamiliar darkness.
"Di, Dia?"
With my vision suddenly lost, I called Claudia in an uneasy voice and reached for the cloth covering my eyes, but was stopped by a familiar hand.
"Now, it's still a long way today, okay?"
As if mocking me for feeling relieved.
Claudia lifted me up while keeping my eyes covered.
Just like when we came to the bathroom, I was in her arms, but with my vision lost, I felt a bit scared.
It felt more sensitive because my body was floating in the air.
Unconsciously, I flailed my arms and clung to Claudia's warm body.
"Being proactive?"
"Proactive, my, my foot... hurry and take this off..."
"Bear with it a little longer."
Thus, with my eyes covered, I clung to Claudia's body as we moved somewhere.
The sound of footsteps in the hallway, the sound of skin brushing against skin and separating—sounds I hadn't noticed with my vision—now came clearly.
Even the sound of my heartbeat and Claudia's.
Soon, the sound of a door opening was heard, and I felt the light that had been asserting its presence through the cloth disappear.
My body was placed on something soft.
Claudia said nothing.
Meanwhile.
Click-clack... Snap.
A strange sound was heard.
Author's Note (Afterword)
Quality control incoming~