"Then I'll leave it to onee-san, I'm going to change into my swimsuit."
Mutsumi did not refuse and walked out of the bathroom with a composed expression.
"Hoo…"
Togawa Sakiko let out a soft sigh, her gaze shifting to Kitahara Makoto, and then she flushed as she locked the bathroom door.
The door had to be locked securely; she absolutely did not want anyone to suddenly burst in.
"Kitahara-kun, can you change your swim trunks yourself?"
Togawa Sakiko asked softly.
Although Mutsumi said Kitahara Makoto was silent and unresponsive, she still had to ask him personally.
"…"
Kitahara Makoto looked down at the ground, silent. Although he could hear Togawa's words, his willpower was fighting against an overwhelming sense of self-destruction, and he didn't want to answer any questions at all.
Togawa Sakiko pursed her lips and softly said:
"Kitahara-kun, if you can change your swim trunks yourself, I can give you a lap pillow."
Kitahara Makoto: "…"
"No, you're testing a cadre with this?
It's just a lap pillow, what cadre can't withstand such a test?!
The omnipotent exchange coupon hasn't been used up yet; you can exchange for a lap pillow anytime, alright?!"
Seeing that Kitahara Makoto's eyes only moved slightly before becoming still, Togawa Sakiko's pretty face flushed slightly, and she whispered, "I can also help scrub your back."
Togawa's back-scrubbing service had indeed not been unlocked yet. Kitahara Makoto's eyes flickered as he fought against the pain, slowly saying, "Not enough."
Togawa Sakiko pursed her lips: "Then what does Kitahara-kun want to do?"
Kitahara Makoto's voice was low: "Repay a debt of gratitude."
"Eh? Eh? Eh?" Togawa Sakiko's pretty face flushed. She quickly pulled her skirt closer and said shyly, "Of course not! Mutsumi and everyone else are outside!"
If everyone found out when she was repaying the debt, she would only be able to hold her breath and commit suicide!
Kitahara Makoto frowned, fighting the pain: "Sakiko… help me."
Togawa Sakiko: "…"
Her thoughts were pulled back to a while ago. That night, Togawa had heard too many sweet words and, in a daze, had indeed taken action to repay the debt, but that was in the middle of the night, with the two of them closing the door and hiding in the bathroom, not the current situation!
"I'm sorry, I cannot agree to that." Togawa Sakiko's pretty face was burning as she shook her head and refused.
"It's so uncomfortable…" Kitahara Makoto silently lowered his head to look at his toes.
Togawa Sakiko: "…"
When you wanted me to repay the debt just now, you didn't show any expression of discomfort or pain!
"Hoo…" Togawa Sakiko exhaled lightly, her gaze quickly firming.
Repaying the debt was definitely not possible. Firstly, everyone was outside changing clothes, so there wasn't enough time. Secondly, the bathroom environment was also unacceptable.
Since that was the case, she could only help him change into his swimsuit…
Togawa Sakiko's pretty face was flushed crimson, her pearly teeth lightly biting her lower lip. Then she turned her head away, nervously extending her right hand towards Kitahara Makoto's shorts.
(Stay calm.)
(Don't panic.)
(It's not like I haven't seen it before; just keep a steady mind…)
Togawa Sakiko took a deep breath, held it, and began to help him change his swimming trunks.
It had to be said that once Togawa made up her mind to do something, her efficiency was actually quite high.
"Stand still, don't move."
"Lift your right foot."
"Okay… next is your left foot."
"…"
Togawa Sakiko's instructions echoed continuously in the bathroom.
In just over a minute, Kitahara Makoto had been completely "unarmored."
"Hoo…" Togawa Sakiko let out a soft sigh, glanced at a certain place, then quickly turned her burning pretty face away and instructed, "Go sit on the small stool."
It was indeed very shameful, but Togawa Sakiko had already discovered that helping him undress was clearly within her acceptable range.
(Sure enough, a person's threshold can be developed little by little. If it were when I first met Kitahara Makoto, I probably wouldn't have been able to do this much, right?)
Togawa Sakiko quickly shook her head.
Not "probably," but definitely unable to do this much.
Although she had left the Togawa, the upbringing of a young lady from childhood had permeated her bones. If it weren't for love, she would never have been able to do this.
"Next is shower time…" Togawa Sakiko took the showerhead, let out the cold water first, and after confirming that hot water was coming out, she held the showerhead to help him wash.
The most difficult "unarmoring" hurdle had already passed, so helping him shower naturally posed no difficulty at all.
Splash, splash.
Accompanied by the sound of the shower, Kitahara Makoto's back and neck were quickly cleaned.
"Kitahara-kun, close your eyes." Togawa Sakiko instructed, squeezed out shampoo, and helped him wash his hair.
As for the front… a simple rinse would suffice.
"Finally, it's done." Togawa Sakiko let out a light breath, a small sense of accomplishment inexplicably rising in her heart, as if she had cleared a level, about to pass the final stage.
"First, simply wipe your body, then put on your swimming trunks, and you can go out…" Togawa Sakiko pursed her pink, moist lips and took a clean towel.
Before putting on swimming trunks, of course, she had to simply wipe off the water from Kitahara Makoto's body.
His back and limbs were easy to deal with and were quickly wiped clean. However, when she wiped his front, Togawa Sakiko's movements suddenly became slower and slower, her pretty face full of hesitation: "Or… let's just forget it?"
"Anyway, he's going to the swimming pool soon, so it doesn't matter if he's not completely dry."
"Then let's forget it."
"…"
Togawa Sakiko comforted herself in this way, preparing to skip a certain part and then help him put on his swimming trunks.
Unfortunately, ten-odd seconds later, Togawa Sakiko silently bit her lips and put the swimming trunks back.
(I… I can't do it…)
(If he goes out like this, water will definitely drip from his body, and the floor outside will definitely have very unsightly water stains…)
Togawa Sakiko had always been a clean freak, especially unable to accept water stains left on the floor.
Although this was a hotel and not her own home, the thought of Kitahara Makoto dripping water all over the floor still made her feel incredibly uncomfortable.
If she didn't want to feel uncomfortable, she could only help wipe him clean.
"I've already helped him shower, so wiping him clean shouldn't be a problem, right?" Togawa Sakiko silently found an excuse for herself, and with a flushed pretty face, she picked up the towel again.
"…First, wipe it clean."
Togawa Sakiko had initially thought wiping would be simple, but she quickly realized she was wrong.
Just a light touch, and a terrifying change occurred. If it was a hibernating python before, now it was an awakened anaconda!
"You…" Togawa Sakiko turned her pretty face away in shame, "Don't move!"
"I didn't move." Kitahara Makoto's voice was innocent. "That's instinct."
Togawa Sakiko bit her teeth: "You said it was super painful, but you… could it be that you're lying?"
Kitahara Makoto's voice was low: "Even after a person is hanged on a gallows, they still have physiological reactions. Clearly, the body has its own ideas."
"You wipe yourself."
"I can't move."
"You have the strength to speak, so wiping your body shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"So painful…"
"…"
Seeing Kitahara Makoto acting like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, clearly unwilling to do it himself, Togawa Sakiko had no choice but to endure the shame and continue helping him wipe his body.
"That's enough." Togawa Sakiko quickly tried to get up and move away.
However, a hand suddenly reached out and grasped Togawa Sakiko's wrist.
"Sakiko, help me." Kitahara Makoto's voice was low.
"You said you couldn't move?" Togawa Sakiko glared back in shame.
"Cough, cough…" Kitahara Makoto coughed twice, a pained expression on his face: "The feeling of falling into boundless darkness has worsened. Now only Lady Sakiko can save me."
Togawa Sakiko clenched her teeth: "You said so many words in one breath; it hasn't worsened at all, has it?"
"…"
Despite her complaints, Togawa Sakiko didn't dare to gamble.
She had personally experienced that pain before; although it was only for a few short seconds, it still left a terrifying psychological shadow. Kitahara Makoto had endured it for so long, so the situation might indeed have worsened.
If anything were to happen to Kitahara Makoto, she would definitely regret it to the point of being unable to breathe.
So… Togawa Sakiko bit her lower lip tightly, silently turned her flushed, burning pretty face away, and then, with unfamiliar movements, began to help create happiness.
The bathroom quietly fell silent.
Only the dripping sound of the showerhead remained.
Before long, Togawa Sakiko felt her arm ache, and the shame in her heart was like a volcano on Sakurajima, overflowing to the point of eruption.
(Why… why did it turn out this way…)
(He just did that with Soyo yesterday; I should be super angry right now, but I'm actually helping… I must have gone crazy, right?)
In a daze, a cold, pleasant female voice suddenly sounded outside the bathroom: "Sister, are you two done washing?"
Togawa Sakiko was startled, her right hand recoiling as if from an electric shock.
"Hiss…" Kitahara Makoto let out a soft groan.
"Don't speak!"
Togawa Sakiko's pretty face was flushed, and she shyly let go of his hand, giving him a warning look, then took a deep breath and said, "It'll be ready soon, two minutes at most!"
"Okay." Mutsumi's voice was clear, cold, and pleasant. "I'll wait outside for onee-san and Makoto-kun."
"…"
Togawa Sakiko turned her head, looked at Kitahara Makoto, and bit her teeth as she ordered, "Lift your left leg!"
Putting on swim trunks was naturally difficult, and Togawa Sakiko had no choice but to ignore it. It took several minutes before she finally managed to help him get dressed.
Letting out a sigh, Togawa Sakiko quickly opened the bathroom door, glanced outside, and saw that Mutsumi and several Kessoku Band girls were already waiting.
"Mutsumi, Kitahara-kun's swim trunks are changed." Togawa Sakiko hid behind the door, unwilling to let everyone see her embarrassed state at the moment. "You guys take Kitahara-kun to the swimming pool first. I'll just quickly rinse off."
"Okay."
Mutsumi never asked questions, doing whatever she was told. She quickly stepped forward, hugged Kitahara Makoto's arm, and pulled Kitahara Makoto out of the bathroom.
To be fair, after Togawa's 'repayment', the pain in Kitahara Makoto's body had significantly lessened.
However, since it was a rare opportunity to be surrounded by beautiful girls, he naturally chose to continue being an 'NPC' and let the girls do as they pleased.
"Everyone, help."
Mutsumi turned her head and said.
Looking at Kitahara Makoto, who was only wearing swim trunks, the few girls in the drawing were clearly a bit shy, except for Mutsumi in the drawing, of course.
"I'll do it."
Mutsumi in the drawing still had long hair, almost identical to the real Mutsumi, only slightly shorter. She stepped forward, hugged Kitahara Makoto's other arm, and tilted her head to look at Kitahara Makoto's clearly defined abdominal muscles:
"Want to touch."
Real Mutsumi: "You can touch. It feels very good. Makoto-kun won't be angry."
"Don't say strange things!" Beloved Togawa in the drawing quickly stepped forward to stop them, "Business first! Take Kitahara-kun to the swimming pool!"
"That's right." Soyo in the drawing gently advised, "Girls shouldn't do strange things."
"…"
The two Mutsumi, one on each side, helped Kitahara Makoto walk towards the swimming pool.
Upon arriving at the swimming pool, Kitahara Makoto found that not only was the area very large, but there were also various energy drinks and fruits on a table nearby. He could only say that the world of the rich was completely inaccessible to ordinary people.
Splash.
Kitahara Makoto entered the swimming pool and then let out a comfortable sigh.
In the hot summer, swimming indeed brings joy.
"Makoto-kun, do you want some fruit?"
Mutsumi tilted her head and looked over.
Kitahara Makoto lay on his back in the shallow water: "I want grapes."
"I'll go get some." Mutsumi in the drawing turned and left.
Kitahara Makoto then said:
"My shoulder is still a bit sore… Sakiko, please."
"Eh?"
Beloved Togawa blinked, then quickly walked over with a flushed face to massage Kitahara Makoto's shoulder.
Kitahara Makoto's gaze shifted, and he looked at Soyo in the drawing not far away:
"Soyo, the other shoulder is up to you."
"Okay."
Soyo from middle school had already developed a gentle personality. She obediently walked over and helped massage his shoulder with Sakiko in the drawing.
"Makoto-kun, open your mouth."
The clear, pleasant voice of Mutsumi sounded in his ear.
Kitahara Makoto opened his mouth, and a grape was quickly placed inside.
"It tastes good."
Kitahara Makoto looked up at the ceiling, eating grapes and enjoying the service of being surrounded by beautiful girls. He felt the pain in his chest rapidly dissipating.
He was indeed a common person; the happiness he sought was so vulgar.
There was no need to say more about what happened next.
After finding the correct way to indulge himself, Kitahara Makoto quickly gained a large amount of happiness, successfully dispelling his pain and returning to normal.
As the allotted time ended, the Kessoku Band girls returned to the poster one after another.
Kitahara Makoto then left the swimming pool with Sakiko and Mutsumi to fill their stomachs outside.
After eating, the three returned to the room and met Mutsumi's parents. Because all the pain had been transferred, Mutsumi's father had fully recovered. After learning the whole story, his attitude towards Kitahara Makoto finally became enthusiastic.
After a brief reunion, the couple became busy again. One was a famous actor, and the other was a comedian, so they were naturally extremely busy.
Fortunately, Mutsumi had long since adapted and didn't mind at all.
"Onee-san, Makoto-kun, shall we go back?"
Mutsumi's tone was calm.
Kitahara Makoto nodded: "Let's go back."
The three left the hotel, preparing to return to Tokyo.
On the way back, Togawa Sakiko suddenly pursed her lips:
"Wait, will Mutsumi's dad's depression relapse?"
"Most likely." Kitahara Makoto intertwined his fingers and turned to look over, "After all, what Hana borrowed was only pain, not depression… At that time, I'll still have to trouble onee-san Sakiko for help."
Togawa Sakiko: "…There won't be a next time!"