Can’t You?

"Why, can't you?"

As the door cracked open halfway, Shinichi paused and asked hesitantly.

"Wait, I didn't say I couldn't..." Nino refused to let her awkwardness drive him away, but her body still curled up and clung to the side of the bathtub.

"D-Didn't you just refuse? Why do you suddenly want..."

Shinichi was helpless. "I didn't refuse. I just said, 'That's not the main goal,' and you interrupted me."

"Eh..."

Hearing his words, Nino remembered that Shinichi's recent answer was indeed correct, she immediately entered the bathroom without listening to what he said.

She then asked, "So, what does that mean? 'That's not the main goal'?"

"Well, the main goal is to help you get rid of the flu quickly and avoid catching a cold. As for the secondary goal..."

Shinichi admitted his wolf-like ambition.

"As you said, I brought you here because I wanted to get closer to you."

"But, even though there's protection here, the final step is waiting until my career starts and I can afford to raise a child. I'll do my best to support it. If you don't like it, I won't force..."

He said something nonsensical, but Nino had long stopped listening.

Just hearing the previous sentence alone made her heart feel sweet, the upper part of her body swaying causing splashes of water.

"So, have you taken off your clothes?"

"I have. Your clothes and mine have been handed over to the housekeeper to be washed and dried. Just wear your bathrobe when you come out. It won't take long."

Great!

Nino clenched her fists, then slowly relaxed them, stretching them out to her palms and said, maintaining a casual tone:

"In that case, come in. You're more soaked than I am. If you catch a cold, don't blame me for occupying the bathroom."

"Impossible."

Shinichi stood outside the door and mentally prepared himself before fully pushing the bathroom door open.

Then as he entered, he saw a pair of eyes hidden among the wide-open fingers, staring straight at his body, like a lascivious woman peeking in a bathhouse.

"What are you doing?" Shinichi closed the door.

"Hot water for your face." Nino laid her hand down and turned her face away, "By the way, where did you get the swimsuit? You're wearing a swimsuit while bathing. It's really strange."

"I found it in the closet. It costs five hundred yen. I'll have to pay for it later when I check out." Shinichi picked up the shower head and turned on the hot water. "I thought you'd be embarrassed if I entered naked, but afraid if I didn't wear a towel, careful when loosening it, so wear it like this."

"Hah, then I really appreciate your attention."

Nino angrily slapped the water's surface, feeling her previous nervousness was in vain.

But even though pretending not to be interested, she still used Shinichi to shampoo while lying on the edge of the bathtub, with a red face, openly admiring his figure shrouded in hot water.

She splashed water on her face forcefully.

(How annoying, like a stray cat in spring! Even if you bathe with a man you like, you can't turn yourself into a prostitute!)

(You must calmly show your mature attitude and easily conquer him...)

"What's wrong?" Hearing the movement, Shinichi turned back.

"Nothing." Nino calmly replied.

"You have a pretty strong figure, and you definitely look like a nerd."

"Besides, I've been trained hard by Yotsuba." Shinichi smiled and said at the same time as he rushed forward, "I used to be a weak person who would faint if I bumped into someone after running hundreds of meters. The Hell Yotsuba's training results are very good, not to mention my muscles, running with you is also troublesome."

"Well, then shouldn't we all thank Yotsuba?" Nino teased, "Thank her for giving energy to our boyfriend to cheat. Is it okay to hug multiple people at once?"

After saying this, she blushed.

Besides, the word 'hug' also means 'do' in Japanese, she clearly just wanted to mock him, but she accidentally told a dirty joke.

Fortunately, Shinichi seemed not to notice, and continued to say:

"If you're okay, you can also ask Yotsuba for some exercise tips to strengthen your body. Anyway, good health is the most important thing. Actually, I'm a little worried about Miku..."

"You're overthinking!" Nino slapped the water to stop him from continuing, "This is a love hotel bathroom, please don't talk about disappointing things, okay?"

"...Makes sense."

Shinichi turned off the tap, tidied his hair, wiped the water off his face, and looked at Nino in the bathtub.

"Well, then, come and start the business."

His voice suddenly became deep, emitting a dangerous aura.

Nino was surprised and said, "Huh?"

Shinichi looked at the girl raising her head in front of his swimsuit, showing a pure smile.

"It seems the inside is big enough, do you mind if I come in and bathe with you?"

"..."

After understanding what he said.

Slowly, the color red colored the girl's face from her neck, and even her exposed shoulders turned a charming shade of pink.

Nino turned her face away for a moment, then snorted.

"In that case, come in. After all, you're the one paying for the rent. You can do whatever you want."

With a trembling tone, she slowly moved her body to free the right side.

"Thank you."

Shinichi stepped into the bathtub, letting the water that was eighty percent full overflow immediately.

But at this moment, no one cared about such a trivial matter.

Nino hugged her knees to her chest, turned to the side, closed her eyes tightly, and didn't move.

She had prepared mentally for a long time, but when they were both in the same bathtub and the distance was less than an arm's length from her naked body, Nino was still too nervous to move for fear of being seen by him.

(What does it mean to be so shy like this! Brave, brave...)

Nino slowly relaxed her arms. The next moment, she was confused whether she should turn her back on him or face him.

(Damn, why didn't I bring a bath towel? At least it could provide a little buffer...)

Out of frustration, Nino now realized that Shinichi had carefully considered the reason he came in wearing a swimsuit.

He said he wanted to tease her, but even at the first step to be honest with her, she was very confused.

Start with conversation and continue with the atmosphere.

At this moment, she heard the sound of something moving in the water.

"Nino, come closer."

Shinichi reached out his hand and pulled her stiff body towards him.

After doing that, Shinichi lowered his head and whispered softly beside Nino's ear.

"Don't be afraid, I won't go too far."

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