Chapter 115 Enjoyment Through Pain and Pleasure
"Alright, Hiyori."
"Ehhh—?!"
Ichinose Honami let out a surprised, drawn-out cry. "How can Hikigaya-kun call a girl by her given name so easily?"
Even Shiina Hiyori was surprised; she looked at him with a mix of shock and joy.
"..."
"Practice makes perfect? Uh, I mean in my dreams." Hikigaya told the truth.
"Is Hikigaya-kun's dream lover Shiina-san?"
To be precise, she was his dream wife. However, saying that would likely cause an even bigger misunderstanding, so he decided to keep quiet.
"In that case, I'll call you... Hachiman-kun?"
Shiina Hiyori used a boy's given name for the first time, her face showing a hint of shyness.
Hikigaya nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Why can you be so casual about it? It's like... like you're an old married couple..." Ichinose Honami felt she didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Ichinose-san, your retorting skills are getting quite good," Hikigaya remarked.
"Um, can Hikigaya-kun call me by my name too?" Ichinose Honami looked up and stared at him.
"That might not be a good idea..." Hikigaya appeared somewhat troubled.
"So far, I haven't dreamed about Ichinose-san yet."
"I've been defeated..." Ichinose Honami showed a face of defeat.
"Alright now~ Hachiman-kun, stop trying to change the subject. We still have to go for our SPA together."
'How did you find me out again!' Hikigaya was deeply distressed. It seemed there was no escaping it tonight no matter what.
SPA originates from the Latin "Solus Per Aqua" (Health through water), gradually developing into modern hydrotherapy, encompassing beauty, wellness, stress relief, and various other functions.
The SPA center on the cruise ship was located on the top floor. Upon entering, one could smell a very pleasant fragrance. Most satisfyingly, since most high school students didn't know this place existed, it was very quiet.
This gave Hikigaya, who disliked noise, some measure of comfort.
"Do you like it, Hikigaya-kun? Hoshinomiya-sensei brought me here once before," Ichinose Honami said with a smile.
"Uh, if you're asking if I like it, I've never been here before, so I wouldn't know," Hikigaya replied, speechless.
"I haven't been here either, so I'll have to trouble Ichinose-san to lead the way." Shiina Hiyori seemed very interested.
"Um... Shiina-san, can you let go of Hikigaya-kun now? He probably won't run away anymore." Ichinose Honami offered a kind reminder.
'Wait, why does that phrasing sound so familiar...'
"Ah~ I'm so sorry, I accidentally copied Ibuki-san again." Shiina Hiyori finally let go of his arm.
'Was that intentional or an accident?'
They arrived at the front desk. Ichinose Honami stepped forward to register their information.
"Are the three of you together?" the receptionist asked.
"Yes, just arrange for us to be in the same room. We want to be able to chat, thank you."
What? They're going to be in the same room?! Hikigaya's eyes widened. Even though he had never been to a SPA, he had heard about them. It seemed you had to take off your clothes...
Hikigaya turned his neck stiffly toward Shiina Hiyori, hoping to hear a refusal from her. To his surprise, she had no objection at all and even gave him a small smile.
"I also want to talk more with Hachiman-kun~"
Both of their reactions were so normal that it made Hikigaya doubt himself. Or rather, had he misunderstood, and there was no undressing involved at all?
The three of them entered a room with soft, low-key lighting. The indoor air conditioning was set to a comfortable constant temperature. Waiting for them were three female therapists dressed in thin, pink gauze long dresses.
Hikigaya's heart remained unruffled by this. In terms of looks, Shiina's "moonlight" was truly beautiful. In terms of figure, while saying Ichinose was worth three people might be an exaggeration, saying she was worth two was more than enough!
The therapists signaled them to sit on their respective beds and began with simple stretches to relax their limbs and bones.
"The next service is an essential oil massage. Guests, please remove your clothing."
As expected, they had to undress! However, before that happened, the therapists pulled screens shut between the beds. Yet, through the light shining on the screens, one could still clearly see the silhouettes of the two girls undressing.
Hikigaya felt his face and ears turn red. He forced himself to stay calm as he took off his shirt and trousers, leaving only his close-fitting boxers. Then, he quickly lay face down on the bed...
The therapist seemed long accustomed to this and didn't even bat an eye. She began pouring essential oil onto Hikigaya's back. The sudden chilly sensation sent a jolt through his body, causing his muscles to tense up.
From the beds to his left and right, the moans of the two girls echoed simultaneously.
"Ah!" "Eek!"
Hikigaya was startled, his legs immediately snapping shut.
"Guest, please relax your body." The therapist placed her palms on his back and began kneading skillfully.
Hikigaya gradually relaxed from his initial stiffness. Honestly, once you got used to it, it was quite comfortable. The therapist's pressure was just right, and the aroma of the essential oils was refreshing. Hikigaya felt much of his physical fatigue fading away.
"Mm~ how does it... feel? Is it comfor-table... Hikigaya-kun~ mmgh~~"
'I know you're asking about the massage, but could you please not talk while moaning?'
If it weren't for his great willpower, he would have "raised the banner" long ago!
"It's alright, I don't feel as tired anymore." Hikigaya relaxed his entire body.
"Nngh~ iyaaa~~ My armpits are... a bit... ticklish..." Shiina Hiyori's voice was soft and waxy. She bit her lip, trying hard not to make strange sounds.
'However, enduring it like that without making a sound actually makes one want to bully her more, doesn't it?'
"Guest, please turn over. We need to massage the front as well."
"..."
Hikigaya froze instantly. In his current condition, could he even turn over?
The therapist smiled slightly, seemingly having anticipated this. She skillfully took a towel and laid it flat over Hikigaya's lower back and abdomen area.
While I appreciate the thoughtfulness, could you please use a thicker towel if possible?
Only then did Hikigaya gingerly turn around, trying his best to adjust his posture. But sometimes, "hardware performance" is not something that can be controlled through micro-management.
The therapist's eyes clearly faltered for a moment, but she quickly grabbed another towel to cover the area. Well, it didn't look quite as prominent now, but it still didn't completely hide it!
Hikigaya's expression was incredibly awkward. Finally, he simply closed his eyes, figuring that if he couldn't see it, it didn't exist.
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