The Joy of Raising a Daughter
Inside the bathroom, warm steam hung thick and white in the air.
Amidst the luxurious scent of floral shampoo, the pleasant, squelching sound of rich lather being worked up echoed softly.
Squeeze, squeeze—
"My goodness, Raon. How is your hair this incredibly soft?"
The two of them sat one behind the other on small plastic bath stools.
Himari whispered affectionately as she worked up a rich lather in the wet, black hair of Raon, who sat meekly in front of her.
"Did you go to a special salon back in Korea? Every time I touch it, it puts me in such a good mood."
"O-Oh, no... I just wash and brush it normally, that's all."
As Raon sheepishly bowed her head, her silk-like hair, heavy with water, slid smoothly over her snow-white nape.
Himari gently ran her fingers through the strands, combing them back.
"Really? My goodness. Having hair like this without any special care is just cheating, sweetie. You could easily be a shampoo model right this second!"
"...Y-You flatter me. A model? No way."
"I'm serious! You know that classic commercial where they whip their hair around and look back? You'd look perfect doing that. Want me to be your manager?"
Whether it was from the steam or sheer embarrassment, Raon couldn't hide the deep blush spreading to the tips of her ears. She let out a soft, airy giggle at Himari's playful teasing.
At that adorable reaction, a warm, fond smile naturally spread across Himari's face.
Whoosh— a stream of warm water washed away the remaining lather.
Himari lightly wrapped Raon's wet black hair in a towel, twisting it up, and whispered mischievously:
"Alright, hair is all done. Next up is washing your body, right?"
"Ah! Um, thank you for your help. I can wash the rest by myself..."
"Uh-uh, where do you think you're going? Stay right there, my sweet niece. Your auntie is going to scrub you squeaky clean from head to toe."
"What?! Ah, wait, Auntie! I'm really fine... Eek?!"
Just as Raon tried to turn around in a panic, Himari let out a sultry chuckle—"Ohoho"—and wrapped her soapy arms around Raon from behind.
Sliding down Raon's smooth shoulders, Himari's hands slipped right under her slender armpits before she could even think of escaping.
"Oh my, your skin is like freshly made tofu, sweetie. It's so incredibly soft and tender."
"Kyaaa...! Auntie, ah, t-that tickles! Ahaha! Seriously, I can do it myself...!"
"Oh, is Raon ticklish there? Not only is your skin gorgeous, but your reactions are just too cute!"
"Hya! Ahaha...! Auntieee...!"
Startled, Raon shivered and shrank her delicate shoulders.
As Himari's smooth forearms pressed snugly against her, Raon's cheeks instantly flushed the color of a ripe peach.
Clear, bright laughter rang out through the steam-filled bathroom.
She certainly didn't seem to dislike it. It was a cute, endearing struggle as she tried to resist. Watching her niece squirm helplessly from the tickling, completely defenseless, brought a happy smile to Himari's face.
Oh, seriously!! Sorry to my sister, but... can't I just keep her as my own daughter? She is just way, way too adorable!!
"Hehehe, your reactions are so cute, it just makes me want to tease you even more."
"Au-Auntie—ahaha! Okay, okay, stop it already!"
They were pressed flush against each other, Himari hugging her tightly from behind. Her soapy palms slid down Raon's soft sides, tracing her slender waistline before playfully poking her soft lower belly.
After their little play session, Himari was meticulously washing off the remaining soap with a soft sponge when her hand suddenly paused. Her eyes widened slightly as her gaze locked onto a specific spot.
"Oh my?"
"Is... something wrong, Auntie?"
"Raon, do you get hair removal treatments or something?"
"Huh? No, I've never done anything like that..."
"But you don't have a single hair on your body. Your underarms, your arms, your legs... they're completely smooth and hairless."
At Himari's question, Raon curled up a bit more in embarrassment, her voice barely a whisper.
"Well... I think it's genetic. I just haven't had any body hair since I was little..."
"My goodness, that is an absolute blessing! Are you sure you didn't just fall from the moon, Princess?"
Rinsing Raon's body gently with the showerhead, Himari took another close look at her niece's appearance.
Her jet-black hair, heavy with water, clung elegantly to her skin, and her complexion was as translucent and white as fine jade.
And finally, her mysterious, deep blue-violet eyes, beautifully contrasting with her cheeks flushed rosy from the steam.
It felt new every time she looked. The more she stared, the more Raon resembled a fairy-tale princess—a true hime-sama—rather than a real, living person.
"Raon, do you know the story of Princess Kaguya?"
Himari asked out of the blue, washing away the remaining soap on Raon's shoulders with warm water.
"Princess Kaguya? Um, I think I've heard the name..."
"It's an old folktale. Once upon a time, an old man split open a glowing stalk of bamboo, and inside, he found a tiny, beautiful baby girl. She grew up to be so breathtakingly gorgeous that she stole the hearts of every man in the world."
Gently tucking Raon's wet hair behind her ear, Himari continued in a soft, soothing voice.
"When I first saw you, I immediately thought of Princess Kaguya. I couldn't believe someone could be so incredibly lovely and beautiful."
"Ugh, y-you're exaggerating, Auntie..."
"Hoho, and the princess is humble, too."
An absolute barrage of compliments. Raon's cheeks burned hotter than the steam.
But Himari's doting was only just getting started.
"And what do you mean, exaggerating? My eye for beauty is never wrong. You're so gorgeous, sweetie, that for the upcoming spring festival, I'm going to find the most beautiful kimono in existence and dress you up myself. I guarantee you, the local boys will be taking numbers just to stand in line for a glance!"
And that wasn't all. How breathtakingly beautiful would she be when she grew up and wore a pure white shiromuku wedding kimono? Himari secretly clenched her fist.
She didn't know how long Raon would stay in Japan, but... 'I am absolutely not letting any half-baked, good-for-nothing punks have her...!!'
As she made this solemn vow in her heart, Himari's eyes practically overflowed with infinite affection for her niece.
Oblivious to her aunt's intense inner resolve, Raon simply kept her eyes cast down in embarrassment, her cheeks flushed as she let out a soft, lovely giggle.
"Alright, you must be getting cold. Now that we're all washed, shall we get in the tub?"
Having rinsed themselves clean, the two of them stepped toward the fairly large wooden bathtub situated at the back of the bathroom.
The moment they approached, the rich, fragrant scent of hinoki cypress washed over them. Inside the neatly crafted wooden tub, freshly drawn hot, clear water sent up billowing plumes of steam.
It was spacious enough for two adults to stretch their legs out completely. As Raon carefully dipped her toes in, a soft, languid sigh escaped her lips.
"Wow... this is amazing. Are all bathtubs in Japanese homes this big and beautiful? And it's made of such luxurious wood..."
"Of course not. Most houses just have standard, white plastic unit baths."
Himari, who had gotten in first, chuckled softly as she gently pulled Raon's hand.
"My husband is incredibly serious about his baths. When we built this house, he said he'd compromise on everything else, but he absolutely insisted on a hinoki tub. Thanks to him, our bathroom ended up a bit special."
"I see..."
Splash— with a pleasant sloshing of water, Raon carefully lowered her body into the tub.
The warm water lapped right up to her chin. As the tension melted out of her body, a sweet, relaxed sigh escaped her rosy lips.
"Haa... This is heaven. The scent of the wood, the warmth... it feels like all my fatigue is just melting away."
Resting her cheek near the surface of the water, Raon closed her eyes contentedly like a little kitten.
As Himari watched this innocent, peaceful scene with a fond smile, her gaze naturally drifted down below Raon's chin.
"……!!"
In that instant, Himari barely managed to choke back a gasp.
Below her delicate collarbones, two breathtakingly full, voluptuous mounds floated buoyantly, bobbing gently on the rippling surface of the water and asserting their presence with undeniable force.
She had known, of course, that Raon possessed an extraordinary figure even when clothed or out of the water. Yes, she had definitely known, but...
My god... is that really the development of a seventeen-year-old?!
Th-That's impossible! Himari stared at her niece with wide, dazed eyes.
Himari herself had lived her life proud of her own figure, confident that she was a certified beauty who could turn heads anywhere, regardless of being in her forties.
But the chest of the seventeen-year-old niece before her was at a level of marvel that threatened to shatter the pride she had fiercely guarded as a mature woman.
Contrasting sharply with her pale skin, it was a devastatingly full, almost aggressive volume. Where on earth had she been hiding such incredible mass under that slender waist and those delicate shoulders?
Wait a minute. If I remember correctly, Raon's dad was...
As she stood there dazed, the image of her Korean brother-in-law—Raon's biological father—whom she had met long ago, flashed through her mind.
A man who stood nearly two meters tall. With shoulders as broad as a mountain range and a thick, sturdy neck. A man who looked like he could wrestle a wild mountain tiger with his bare hands—a true giant of a man.
Himari clutched her chest at the sudden, dizzying thought and secretly let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness, thank goodness. The maternal genes definitely won the battle for her looks."
"Huh? Did you say something, Auntie?"
"Oh, nothing, nothing! I was just thinking how proud I am that our Raon isn't just blessed in the face. I'm so glad my sister's genes did such a spectacular job, rather than her father's side."
Not understanding the context, Raon simply smiled, her eyes crinkling into lovely crescents.
Such pure innocence, completely unaware of the devastating weapon she carried.
Faced with a pure charm that could bewitch even another woman, Himari let out a helpless chuckle and gently scooped warm water over Raon's shoulders.
"There, there. Keep your shoulders under so you don't catch a cold."
"...Thank you, Auntie."
Himari admired Raon as she enjoyed her bath with flushed cheeks. A deep, immensely proud smile hung on Himari's lips, impossible to hide.
It was a smile that went far beyond mere fondness—it was pure, unadulterated satisfaction. Even though she wasn't the daughter she had given birth to...
She had a beautiful face. A kind heart. And on top of that, a blessed figure. A cozy bath time with such a wonderful niece.
So this is the joy of raising a daughter~~!! Himari was absolutely, blissfully happy.
