The night sky above Hokkaido was a breathtaking canvas of deep blue-black, studded with countless diamond-bright stars. Their light wove together into a dazzling, shimmering curtain, like the very Milky Way had descended to grace the mountain valley. It was a scene of dreamlike, celestial beauty.
Yet, for Kasumigaoka Touji, at this very moment, the most captivating scenery was not above, but right before him.
It was the figure known throughout Toyosaki Academy as 'Kojima Kana.'
She outshone the starry sky itself.
His gaze was drawn to skin like freshly fallen snow, a figure even more breathtakingly proportioned than Kasumigaoka Utaha's, complemented by a posture that was both defensive and unconsciously alluring…
Overwhelmed, Touji-kun slowly sank deeper into the hot spring waters until they reached his chin.
Ahem… I need to say something. Anything.
"Uh… Sensei," he began, his voice a bit strained. "How long had you been soaking before I got here?"
If he didn't divert his attention with conversation, things were going to get very awkward, very fast.
"About… about ten minutes or so. I came in almost right at ten o'clock too."
Pressed against the rough surface of the artificial rockery, still maintaining her protective posture, Kojima Kana replied in a voice barely above a whisper. Her face was flushed crimson all the way to the tips of her ears.
This is so mortifying!
She never, in her wildest dreams, imagined she would one day find herself sharing a hot spring with a male student from her class.
This… this practically constituted mixed bathing!
And she had just… 'briefly'… assessed his physique as well…
Kojima Kana felt her professional integrity crumbling under a wave of sheer, unadulterated shame.
"Generally speaking, it's best not to soak for more than thirty minutes at a time…"
Touji-kun couldn't help but express concern, slipping into a practical, almost clinical tone. Overdoing a hot spring session wasn't beneficial; it could lead to adverse reactions like dizziness, heart palpitations, chest tightness, and in severe cases, even fainting or muscle cramps…
Kojima Kana was aware of this as well, and a shadow of worry crossed her already flustered expression.
Now, she could only hope that the only other people coming to the sulfur spring were those in the shower room, and that they wouldn't decide to soak for an extended period.
Touji-kun leaned his head back against the warm stone rim of the pool. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a middle-aged man, a towel slung over his shoulder, stroll into the open-air area humming a tuneless song without a care in the world. The sight was… visually challenging. He quickly averted his eyes, his gaze instinctively seeking refuge by landing back on Kojima Kana.
Kojima Kana felt her skin prickling under his continued stare. The sensation was unnerving. Blushing even harder, she hissed in a low voice:
"Kasumigaoka-san, a glance is enough! It's very impolite to stare!"
If she hadn't heard the arrival of the other bather, she would have splashed water at him to snap him out of it.
What are you looking at?Is your teacher's body some kind of exhibit for you to study?Honestly, where is your respect for your elders!
Although…
A secret, entirely unprofessional thrill did flutter in her chest. The fact that he couldn't look away was… undeniably flattering. It was confirmation that she still possessed a potent, undeniable charm.
Take that, 'Kojima the Demon'! It's 'Kojima the Angel'!
"Ah… sorry!" Touji-kun apologized with an embarrassed smile. "I just… looked elsewhere and found it a bit… harsh on the eyes. I couldn't help but look at Sensei to, uh, cleanse my visual palette."
It was rude to stare. Chastised, he tilted his head back to look up at the magnificent sky.
Hokkaido was indeed famous for its stargazing. The celestial display was truly brilliant! The last time he'd seen a sky this dazzling was in the town of Gokase in Miyazaki Prefecture—another renowned spot for astral observation.
For a moment, he was lost in the cosmic spectacle.
Kojima Kana, for her part, found herself accepting his "eye-cleansing" explanation. A small, involuntary smile touched the corners of her lips.
Then, her own gaze drifted. It landed on the defined line of Kasumigaoka Touji's collarbone, the subtle movement of his Adam's apple as he swallowed. She found herself momentarily captivated.
When Touji-kun finally lowered his head and their eyes met again, she panicked. Instinctively, she changed the subject, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"Over there…" she nodded subtly toward the main pool area behind the rockery, "...how many?"
Touji-kun glanced past the rockery's edge. The middle-aged uncle was now settled in the water, eyes closed in blissful relaxation. He didn't speak, simply raising a single finger in answer.
Kojima Kana understood and gave a tiny nod.
A dry thirst was beginning to claw at her throat, but she felt she could endure a little longer. Her eyes met Touji-kun's briefly before she nervously licked her lips and looked away.
That simple, unconscious gesture—the flick of her tongue across her slightly parted lips—sent an illicit jolt through Touji-kun. Fortunately, he was, at his core, a relatively upstanding young man.
If he were of a more… unscrupulous disposition, his homeroom teacher might very well be applying for maternity leave by this time next year.
Wasn't there a saying?With enough audacity, sensei goes on maternity leave!
Whoa, dangerous thought!He was starting to have entirely inappropriate imaginings. Frantically, Touji-kun tore his gaze away and fixed it firmly on the blissfully soaking uncle, using the sight as a bizarre form of mental coolant.
...
Several minutes passed in the steamy, quiet enclosure.
Suddenly, Kojima Kana pushed herself up from the water. The movement was unsteady, her body swaying dangerously as if her legs had turned to jelly.
"Ugh…"
A soft groan escaped her as one hand flew to her forehead.
"Sensei…?"
Touji-kun sensed the shift immediately. He instinctively rose from the water. He was still hesitating—was it okay to reach out?—when Kojima Kana's balance gave way completely. She stumbled forward, directly into his space.
Acting on pure reflex, Kasumigaoka Touji opened his arms and caught her.
The sudden motion and soft splash from behind the rockery drew a curious glance from the soaking uncle. He peered over, his eyebrows raising slightly. But, deciding it was none of his business, he simply shrugged, heaved himself out of the pool with a contented sigh, and padded off towards the shower room, dripping water on the stones.
Behind the Rockery…
"Sensei, are you feeling dizzy?" Touji-kun asked in a low, concerned voice, his body tensing awkwardly as he tried to maintain a respectful distance while supporting her weight.
"Mmm… a little…" Kojima Kana murmured, her hands pressed flat against his chest for balance. Her lips trembled slightly with the admission.
Though her head was swimming, her mind was frighteningly clear. She was acutely, painfully aware of every point of contact, of the heat of his skin against her palms, of the solid muscle beneath.
She tried to gather her strength, to push herself upright and create space between his chest and hers. But the moment he'd steadied her, a strange lassitude had flooded her limbs. She felt utterly boneless.
If Kasumigaoka Touji were to let go now, she would undoubtedly slide right back down into the hot spring in an undignified heap.
...
A little?! You can barely stand!
Touji-kun glanced down at the stubborn, dizzy woman in his arms and offered a silent internal critique.
His ears, sharpened by tension, picked up the fading sound of the uncle's geta sandals on the stone path. They were alone again.
Taking a soft, steadying breath, Kasumigaoka Touji made a decision. He bent his knees, slid one arm under her legs, and in one smooth motion, lifted Kojima Kana into a princess carry.
"...Eh?!"
Kojima Kana stiffened in shock, then went completely limp in his arms.
Despite the vertigo clouding her senses, her eyes flew open, wide with disbelief. She stared up at the determined line of his jaw. "Kasumigaoka-san… p-put your teacher down…"
"You can't stay in the bath any longer, Sensei," he refused, his expression solemn and unwavering. He paused, listening. "That man has left. I'll carry you out in just a moment."
...
Kojima Kana offered a weak, token struggle before surrendering. She squeezed her eyes shut, adopting the strategy of an ostrich.
If I can't see it, it's not happening. If I can't see it, I won't feel embarrassed…
Yeah, right!
A furnace of humiliation blazed within Kojima Kana, hotter than any sulfur spring.