"Got it." I grabbed the towel, quickly drying my chest and hair before wrapping it snugly around my waist. The damp swim trunks hit the floor with a soft slap. Umeda immediately averted her eyes as her body slid down to lie sideways on the bed with her back turned to me, making space.
I stared at her for a few seconds before shaking my head, "You know you can still back out of this. I'm not forcing you to bed."
Umeda hesitated, without turning to face me, she said. "I know, but... you look cold. And... I owe you. Just... make sure you keep the towel on and... Don't squeeze in too much."
"Alright. I'll jump out of the bed as soon as someone walks in." I tightened the towel and then slipped into the blanket and lay next to her. The mattress creaked under our combined weight as I settled beside her, leaving a careful inch of space between us.
The AC's chill immediately lessened, replaced by the warmth radiating from her blanket-shrouded body.
The girl visibly flinched as she couldn't help but turn her head momentarily to glance at me lying beside her.
Her eyes widened slightly at our proximity before she snapped her gaze forward again and hid herself under the blanket. Looking at her , she's like a small animal curled up inside its nest.
The narrow infirmary bed forced our bodies into unavoidable closeness and given that we're under the same blanket, it was inevitable that our bodies touched.
Of course, I behaved by lying flat on my back and covering myself up to my neck. Meanwhile, Umeda remained curled sideways, fidgeting restlessly at my side.
"Umeda, are you sure you're fine with this?" I murmured, keeping my gaze fixed on the ceiling. "You're trembling."
"I... I'm fine. It's just... I don't know how to act. This is my first time sharing a bed with a boy." Her voice emerged muffled from beneath the blanket cocoon.
Ah. That's right. I always seem to forget that, unlike me, most girls haven't shared beds with someone else before. And most aren't as shameless as I. Umeda's trembling wasn't just from cold or exhaustion, it was from pure and unfiltered nervousness. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel•fire.net
"I see. Should I tell a joke to calm you down?" I said.
"I don't take you for a joker," Umeda mumbled. Nevertheless, I could see the tension on her shoulder loosening slightly.
"Really? Same here, I don't think I'm a joker either," I replied, keeping my tone light. "But you see, won't it be more awkward if we just stay silent? Let's talk about something. Unless you prefer to take a rest..."
I paused for a moment before shifting slightly, "I can also lie sideways in this direction to give you more space."
Moments later, Umeda pulled the blanket down as she turned her head to me, revealing flushed cheeks and a wry smile. "It's fine... As if I can rest when I'm too conscious about us lying next to each other."
I met her gaze, noticing the faint tremor in her lower lip.
"Conscious? About what? Me being half-naked beside you?" My grin widened deliberately. "Or the fact that you're only wearing underwear under that blanket?"
Her blush deepened to scarlet as she hissed before covering herself up again, "Both! Stop teasing, Onoda-kun!"
"Alright, my bad. So, do you have a topic in mind?" I kept my tone gentle, shifting onto my side to face her blanket-covered form. "If not, then... I'll have to think of one."
The blanket mound shifted as though she was rolling to face my direction beneath the fabric. However, perhaps surprised at my body being right in front of her face, I heard a muffled gasp as she curled up further away. "N-no topic... But I'm curious, Onoda-kun."
Seeing how her head moved under that blanket, I reflexively placed my hand on top of her head, gently patting it. "Curious? About what?"
The girl was momentarily surprised by that gesture, but didn't stop me from doing so.
"You're not afraid to... be that intimate with girls." Her voice emerged muffled but clear enough. "Like earlier with Satsuki-san's kiss. Or... last week in the girls' shower room."
"Ah. That? Simple. Because I love them." I succinctly answered.
Umeda's form stiffened beneath the blanket. "Love? Is that all?"
"That's the simplest truth," I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. "Love makes intimacy easy. Like breathing."
"But Onoda-kun, it's not... normal. I mean, you loving a lot of girls at once?" Umeda's voice trembled as if she were hesitating to delve into this further. "That's why many rumors about you have been circulating."
"I never said it's normal. And the girls are also aware. As for the rumors, it's actually helping us, don't you think so? It's protecting them. I mean, we don't need to admit to anything. And everyone can just point at me for being close to many girls."
Since she's already aware of how intimate I could be with my girls, answering her questions wouldn't really hurt. Besides, Umeda seems genuinely curious. I guess she's taking notes for her own love life? Or perhaps she's just trying to understand me better.
Umeda remained silent for a moment before shifting beneath the blanket, freeing her head. Her damp hair clung to her flushed cheeks as she met my gaze with startling directness.
"Protecting them? By letting everyone think you're... a playboy?" Her brow furrowed. "Doesn't that hurt you?"
"Do I look hurt?" I asked before putting on a smile. "I don't mind being hated by the boys. As for the girls... well, my girls told me I'm so considerate that I may one day charm everyone."
Umeda couldn't help but burst into a soft giggle. "Charm everyone? That's... ambitious."
She paused, her expression turning thoughtful.
"But... what about the girls who aren't yours? Like me? Does your... charm extend to them too?" Her voice dropped to a whisper, fingers tightening on the blanket edge. "Earlier, when you carried me... and now sharing this bed..."
"Well, it depends, what do you think? Does my charm work on you?" I shifted slightly, just enough to close the small gap between us. Her face almost touched my chest and our legs brushed beneath the blanket.
Not knowing how to answer that, Umeda could only close her eyes and then hide herself under the blanket again. Her breathing became shallow and rapid against my chest. Still, she didn't pull away as if she were trying to check whether she'd be affected by this closeness or not.
I also didn't say anything and let the silence stretch, listening to her shallow breaths beneath the blanket.
A while later, I sensed her shifting again. She squeezed herself close to my chest, snuggling against me as if seeking warmth. Her arm slid around my waist beneath the blanket, pulling me closer.
"Are you cold? Should I..." My words trailed off as Umeda's damp hair brushed my neck. Her arm tightened around my waist, pulling herself flush against me.
The thin infirmary blanket did little to mask the heat radiating from her body or the soft press of her breasts against my chest.
Alright. What kind of situation is this?