Bathroom Confessions (1)
Ronari Sharino had just returned from the library. After lunch, she'd stopped by for a quick read, but now rain was pouring down. It seemed like a passing shower, so she planned to wait it out, but even after a long while, it showed no signs of letting up. In the end, she decided to make her way back to the room somehow. No umbrella, but she could use the corridors as far as they'd take her. She couldn't avoid the rain completely, but she'd just have to huddle under her bag. With that in mind, as she walked the corridor, snickering laughter drifted from up ahead. Upperclassmen, by the sound of it.
"Whoa, check those two out."
"What're they even doing? They're not kids anymore."
Ronari glanced in the direction the upperclassmen were staring. Two students were dashing through the downpour. She recognized them instantly. Ilsea and Belica. Soaked to the skin and a total mess, but splashing through the muddy puddles amid the thick mist, they looked like they were having the time of their lives.
So he can make that face too, huh. The thought crossed Ronari's mind as she watched Ilsea chasing after Belica. She'd seen Ilsea smile a few times before, but the one lighting his face now was something he'd never shown her. It was beautiful, she thought. Both the one being chased and the one doing the chasing. The world around them felt like a finished painting, or a story already complete.
'And now the two vanish into the rain, never to return, living happily ever after.'
Like they were heading straight for an ending just like that. Which made it impossible for her to even imagine wedging herself between them. She couldn't fathom a reason to, not in her current state.
"...For a delinquent, he's got a surprisingly childish side."
Ronari muttered to herself, letting out a soft chuckle. The laugh left a strangely bittersweet aftertaste.
She tore her eyes from the fading pair and kept walking. No doubt the living room hallway would be a flooded mess when she got back, thanks to that Ilsea guy. She'd give him an earful. But just as she reached the Second Lecture Building and started up the stairs to the dorm room, a familiar voice rang out.
"Why'd you come back looking like that?"
"The dorm's water got cut off 'cause of the rain! I'm freezing—move it!"
"Ugh... Achoo!"
Climbing the stairs and rounding into the hallway, there they were: Ilsea and Belica, squared off in front of the door.
"Bel?"
Ronari called out, and Belica bolted straight to her, wrapping her in a hug.
"Eek...! Bel! You're freezing!"
"My savior! My goddess! Save me! That stingy, thick-headed blockhead delinquent won't let me in... Waa."
"But this is our room..."
"Still, like, just hear me out...?"
Belica clung to Ronari, whining pitifully. Her clothes were getting ruined too, but Belica didn't give her a moment to protest.
"See, 'cause of that dummy Ilsea, I'm soaked through like this...? But the dorm building's water's cut from the rain—only muddy sludge comes out..."
"Uh, yeah..."
"So I just wanna borrow the bathroom real quick, but that cold-blooded jerk absolutely won't let me... He's not even human..."
"Man, it's 'cause this isn't just my room..."
Ilsea's voice cut in from behind, but Belica breezed right past it.
With damp eyes (mostly from the rain, no doubt), Belica gazed up at Ronari.
"You wouldn't turn me away at the door, right, miss...?"
Chase her off now, and she'd be the cold-blooded monster. Especially someone as soft-hearted as Ronari—she couldn't bring herself to refuse Belica.
"...Sigh. How'd you end up soaked without a single plan. You catch cold already? Get in here. Hey, you—cold-blooded! Move from the door."
"..."
With Ronari's okay, Ilsea had no choice. He stepped aside.
Ronari dragged the still-clinging Belica inside.
"Waa... Goddess... You ever think about marrying me?"
"What're you on about? Hurry up and get in."
Ronari finally pried her off and shoved her toward the bathroom. Glancing back, Ilsea was at the kitchen table, shirt-sleeved, toweling his wet hair.
"Hey, you water-frolicking delinquent."
Ilsea looked up at her.
"?"
"Don't you dare peek. I mean it."
"Do that, and Ruda'd grind me to dust."
"You'd get smashed by me first."
Ronari threw a few punches at the air. Then she headed into the inner bathroom.
Belica was already fumbling with her soaked clothes.
"Eww... Damp, soggy, sticky..."
Her outfit was drenched clean through—she was struggling with her shirt. Ronari tugged the sleeve to help.
"Thanks, miss... Ugh, achoo..!"
"Cold, huh? Hold on, I'll run some tub water."
"Mm. My goddess as expected... Love you..."
Ronari twisted the faucet. Water gushed like a mini waterfall into the tub's recessed drain. Good—hot water flowed fine. She shook the dampness from her hands and stepped out.
"Make yourself comfy. Tub'll take a minute, but the shower's good to go."
As she turned to leave, Belica snagged her wrist.
"Where? Let's wash together."
"...Huh?"
"You're soaked too. You'll catch cold. Come on in~?"
The sudden pitch made Ronari avert her eyes on reflex.
"Uh, y-yeah? But..."
"It's fine, just us girls~"
Belica smoothly peeled off Ronari's outer layer. Sleight-of-hand worthy of a ghost. Hard to believe she'd just been wrestling her own clothes.
"Y-you can go first...?"
"Doesn't that mean we can go together? C'mon, no need to hold back~"
Illogical on paper, but from Belica, it somehow rang convincing.
"Ah, ahh..."
In a flash, both bare as the day. Belica nudged Ronari deeper into the shower area, mirroring what Ronari had done earlier.
Belica cranked the faucet—warm water cascaded from the showerhead. Ronari stepped cautiously under the spray, only for Belica's body to shove her forward.
"Eek! Bel...!"
Now they stood pressed together under the stream.
"Whoa~ So warm~"
Wall ahead, Belica behind—no wiggle room. Ronari shut her eyes and endured the deluge. The hot water finally chased away the chill and grime.
But eyes closed, she felt Belica hugging her from behind. The body heat, the gentle pressure, the faint skin scent mingling with the water... soft curves and all.
"Haa... Feels so good..."
Belica's breaths, woven into the spray, stirred something odd in her.
"Bel...? Mind letting go now...?"
"Mm... Just a little longer? Hugging something this soft... it's like the scratches that idiot outside clawed into me are healing..."
"What? What'd Ilsea do to you?!"
Belica loosened her arms and spun Ronari around.
"Yeah. Something awful. Right here. Nearly died..."
Her fingertip pointed to the center of her own chest.
...Some high-level metaphor?
A crude joke, utterly unrelated to Ilsea or even Ronari herself, popped into her head. Her face burned.
"W-what'd he do exactly...?! That jerk outside didn't...!"
"Ehehe. Miss, you're too serious. Imagining something naughty?"
Ronari's cheeks went double scarlet.
"Th-then what did happen...?"
"Mm... Well..."
Belica's voice turned faintly wistful.
"...An eternal secret."
But her demeanor flipped in an instant. Eyes widening at Ronari's body, she closed in again.
"Oh my god...! What's this?!"
"Bel...! Ahh...!"
Belica eyed her up and down like she'd unearthed treasure.
"Never knew miss was hiding something this amazing... Guess you are the type that looks slimmer dressed...?"
"W-what're you talking about...!?"
"But I've never seen anything so pretty. I'm pretty confident myself, but... kinda threatened now..."
Splash.
Right as Ronari was cornered, the sound of overflowing water hit.
The tub was brimming over.
"Whoops."
Ronari rushed to shut off the faucet.
"Phew..."
Perfect timing—the flood had bought her an escape from Belica.
But as she crouched by the tub, another wave crashed over her face.
Splashhh.
"Wah! Warm! Tub's huge! Best!"
"..."
Belica's cannonball drenching her again, Ronari nursed a flicker of resentment.
Not that it mattered to Belica, who yanked her hand.
"C'mon in! C'mon! This is amazing~ Three could fit easy!"
Gazing at the innocently beaming Belica, Ronari sighed despite herself.
"Sigh."
Truth was, she'd always thought so. Belica's charm lay in her total lack of restraint, her zero common sense.
A prim, boundary-respecting Belica who humbly declined favors? That wouldn't be Belica at all. Treating her that way would probably hurt a ton of people.
No helping it—Ronari sank into the tub.
Facing her across the water, Belica drowsily rested her cheek on her knee, eyes half-lidded.
"Mmm... Bliss..."
Her voice was languid too.
"Thanks, miss. You saved my life..."
"Mm."
Ronari met her gaze, replying awkwardly.
Come to think of it, this was probably their first time chatting so up close. Same class last year, Belica friendly with everyone... but chances to talk like this? Few and far between.
As if reading her mind, Belica's soft voice murmured:
"Y'know, us... sitting this close and talking? It's been forever. Maybe a first."
Ronari blinked in mild surprise, but that was it. Typical Belica—somehow, it eased her tension.
"...Yeah. Kinda weird."
"Right~? Wonder why."
Maybe too relaxed. The words slipped unbidden from Ronari's lips.
"'Cause you're always with Ilsea."
...Oops.
An offhand slip. Regret hit instantly, but no taking it back.
Belica's sleepy eyes now fixed steadily on her.
Ronari scrambled for an excuse.
"Ah... Didn't mean it bad. Just..."
But Belica cut her off.
"Miss."
"Huh...?"
Belica smiled warmly, affectionately—then dropped the bombshell.
"You were watching us earlier, right?"