The quiet inside the car was filled with a subtle tension.
To call it romantic didn't feel quite right... after all, Haru was seriously checking Megumi's injured foot.
But to say it wasn't romantic either… that was even less convincing.
Megumi's fair little face was already flushed red, as if the evening glow of the setting sun had been stolen and painted across her cheeks.
She obediently stretched her leg toward his hands, and her skirt, which normally draped neatly over her knees, had unknowingly ridden up just a little.
If not for the stockings she still wore on one leg, even the curve of her soft, rounded thigh might have been exposed.
"It doesn't look serious. Does it still hurt now?" Haru asked after his careful check, sounding relieved.
He wasn't a professional, but thanks to years of exercise and the occasional football match with friends, sprains weren't unfamiliar to him. He knew how to handle them.
"It hurts a little when I walk. But right now, it's fine." Megumi hesitated, then added softly, "For example… when you're holding it like this, it doesn't hurt at all."
"That's because I'm being careful. If I used even a little more force, you'd probably be crying by now." Haru grinned.
At that, Megumi finally managed to meet his gaze. Still, her eyes couldn't help but flick down to where his warm hand cradled her bare foot. The heat of his palm spread clearly across her ankle, at once soothing and strangely stimulating.
Her expression looked calm, but her heart was pounding like a drum. "So… what's the situation?"
"Just like you said resting a while should fix it. But…" Haru paused, his thoughts shifting, "…there's another method."
"What kind of method?" she asked cautiously.
"I could press the area for a bit. It might help it recover faster."
Silence descended again.
Megumi knew she should be embarrassed—but showing it would only make things worse. Besides, she could tell he was genuinely concerned about her, not thinking anything strange.
…Wait. Strange thoughts?
A sudden realization struck her... wasn't Haru rumored to be into legs and feet?
He never admitted it, of course. But after spending so much time with Yukino and Utaha, Megumi had overheard enough casual remarks to notice a pattern. They had both teased him before: Haru definitely had a weakness for beautiful legs.
So right now… did I just deliver my foot straight into a leg-and-foot fetishist's hands?
Megumi bit her lip, struggling to keep her composure. After a long pause, she asked in a whisper,
"You… want to massage it?"
"Not a massage. More like pressing certain points it'll help the strain ease up," Haru explained earnestly.
Megumi didn't answer right away. Her watery eyes fixed on his hand instead, a faint mist of shyness gathering within them. Each small shift of her gaze made that mist ripple, glimmering under the dim light.
She looked incredibly cute.
Haru couldn't help but think so. He didn't have any ulterior motives, but the way her expression shifted was mesmerizing almost like he was appreciating a work of art. At this moment, she looked even cuter than her usual quiet, well-behaved self.
"Do you… have a towel in the car?" Megumi suddenly asked.
"Yeah," Haru blinked, puzzled. "Why?"
Megumi deliberately averted her gaze, answering calmly, "I have a bottle of water in my bag. After you're done pressing my foot… you can wash your hands with it."
Haru was stunned, fighting the urge to laugh.
He couldn't deny it, this kind of situation really was bound to embarrass a girl.
But his senses were sharp.
Even in the closed space of the car, Megumi's bare foot carried no unpleasant scent at all. On the contrary, the faint fragrance of her hair and body slowly spread through the air, filling the space bit by bit.
Of course, washing one's hands afterward was just good hygiene. He wouldn't refuse.
With her permission given, Haru pushed stray thoughts aside and focused entirely on pressing her foot, helping the soreness ease away.
What he'd said earlier "helping your foot relax" was the modest version.
The truth was, ever since his body had been enhanced, even his perception, dexterity, and handling of minor injuries had gone far beyond professional standards.
Cradling her soft, white foot, he even found himself wondering: If Megumi had ever used that special skincare product I gave them, maybe her injury would've healed instantly. No… maybe she wouldn't have even gotten hurt in the first place.
Naturally, he kept such thoughts to himself.
His fingertips moved gently along her skin, and Megumi's already flushed face deepened in color until it looked like a delicate flower in full bloom. The warmth in his touch seemed to spread through her whole body, kindling a heat she couldn't quite contain.
Comfortable… yet overwhelming. Relaxing… yet intoxicating.
Her body went soft, until at last she couldn't suppress the tension anymore. With a sharp intake of breath, her legs tightened together, her muscles tensed, and suddenly her bare foot lashed upward in a reflexive kick.
The atmosphere collapsed into awkward silence.
Biting her lip, eyes shimmering with misty embarrassment, Megumi whispered, "Sorry."
"It's fine," Haru teased lightly, "you've got a pretty strong kick."
Her cheeks burned hotter. "That's… a little rude to say."
"Just a joke. Don't take it to heart. If you want, I'll apologize properly."
"…No need."
The exchange ended there.
Megumi's breathing was quick as she pulled her foot back and then blinked in surprise. It didn't seem to hurt anymore.
"You can try putting weight on it again, see if the pain's lessened," Haru said, as if expecting this.
She slipped her foot into her shoe, pressed down gently… and realized the sharp ache was nearly gone. After a few more tests, she looked up, a hint of delight in her voice. "It feels… almost completely better."
"Not completely. You'll be fine walking, but running is still off-limits."
"…Okay."
Her face still rosy, she tucked her bare foot back onto the seat. With the heater running, the car was warm, and she didn't bother with her sock. In truth, after all that, she wasn't cold at all her body felt hot, if anything.
She tilted her head, her voice soft. "I didn't know you knew medical treatment."
"Just a little," Haru admitted honestly.
But Megumi didn't believe him, her eyes fixed on his. "The study materials you gave me before... I've learned almost all of them."
"Study materials? Oh, you mean the Chinese textbooks? You learned that fast?"
"I even picked up some online slang."
"…Huh? Why would you learn that?"
"Because once, you and Yukino talked about it at club."
"…."
That caught him off guard. He couldn't even remember when he'd mentioned Chinese internet slang to Yukino. If he had, it must've been while teasing her.
Yet Megumi had remembered so clearly.
Trying to break the tension, he leaned in with a curious smile. "So, what did you learn?"
Lowering her head, she stared at her little foot, then spoke in halting Chinese with a slight accent:
"Suōsuō wǒ de." (Suck on mine.)
"…?" Haru froze.
As if oblivious to his baffled look, Megumi added softly, "You have a foot fetish, right?"
"…No," Haru sputtered, finally catching up. "Wait do you even know what you just said?"
"I know. I also learned 'Suck on your' "
Haru: "…"
Great. Of all the words you could've studied, you went and memorized the strangest, most absurd ones.
He recalled an old internet saying: if you want to learn a foreign language fast, the first things you'll master are curses and memes.
And after this demonstration, he had to admit the internet was right.
Megumi didn't press the matter. Instead, she pulled a bottle of water from her bag and handed it over. "Here."
"Thanks. I'll wash my hands outside," Haru said, pulling tissues from his pocket and stepping out of the car.
Just as he closed the door, her voice called after him.
"…Could you walk with me later?"
He looked back instinctively. Megumi's shy, glistening eyes met his, and in the softest tone she added, "Just for a little while."
~~~~~~~~~~
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