Ch.118118. Hot Springs Are Best Enjoyed as a Pair

It took exactly 1 minute to change clothes. In that short time, I came out wearing a bath robe and headed toward the living room where the open-air bath was located.

-Slide.

Opening the sliding door that connected to the outside, the first thing that caught my eye was the expansive view of mountains and greenery.

This place, which would normally be a veranda, offered a panoramic view of lush nature. Considering how the open-air bath was also positioned to face outward, it seemed like a thoughtful design by the construction company.

“The scenery is nice.”

It’s not like there aren’t open-air baths in Korea, but places where you can enjoy them while taking in nature are quite rare. Well-designed hot springs like this are usually only found in Japan, their country of origin.

I made the right choice coming abroad despite my busy schedule.

“Phew.”

I took off my bath robe, folded it neatly, and placed it on the table. Then I slowly dipped my feet into the steaming open-air bath.

As soon as my feet touched the water, a pungent smell hit my nostrils. It was probably the sulfur from the hot spring… Since I wasn’t used to this smell, I unconsciously furrowed my brow.

But that slight discomfort soon disappeared completely.

“W-wow…”

As I fully submerged myself in the sulfur hot spring with its subtle aroma, the warm water enveloped my entire body. At the same time, a wave of relaxation washed over me, creating the illusion that all my accumulated fatigue was instantly melting away.

With a bit of exaggeration, it felt like my whole body was dissolving. Of course, if that actually happened it would be disastrous, but that’s how good it felt.

“Phewww…”

A hot sigh escaped me without my realizing it. It felt so good that I might sink to the bottom if I stayed like this.

I stretched my shoulders, rested my arms on the edge of the bath, and leaned my back against the wooden backrest. Soaking my entire body in the open-air bath while gazing at the clear sky and trees was absolute paradise.

“…I feel a bit guilty enjoying this alone.”

She told me to go in first, but I wondered if it was okay for me to enjoy something this nice by myself.

Hwa Nabi must be tired too, so I hoped she would come and soak as soon as possible. For some reason, she was taking longer than expected.

“She said something about preparing…”

Is that why she’s late? But what is there to prepare? She just needs to change clothes and come.

…Just as I was thinking that.

-Slide.

I heard the sound of the sliding door connecting to the living room opening.

“Siwoo, you came in first?”

Hearing that lovely voice behind me, I reflexively turned around at her long-awaited appearance.

“Ah, yeah. I wanted to check the water temperature…”

I was about to recite my prepared excuse when I suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

Hwa Nabi had finally appeared, wearing only a bath towel—a very simple outfit… which did nothing to hide her figure.

Despite being covered by the bath towel, the curves of her chest were clearly visible, along with her slender waist and long legs below.

Looking at her again, I was reminded of what an incredibly attractive woman stood before me.

“…”

I don’t even understand what I just said. The fact that I’m having these useless thoughts shows how flustered I really am.

But that’s understandable… the sight before me was that breathtaking.

We’ve spent quite a lot of time together, so I thought I’d gotten used to it by now. Apparently not.

“…Siwoo, is there something on my face?”

“Huh? Yeah. Ah, no. There’s nothing. Why do you ask?”

“Because you were staring so intensely. I thought maybe something was on my face.”

“Never mind then. But why are you so flustered-” Hwa Nabi muttered quietly as she carefully walked over and came close, and only then did I notice something else.

“…Nabi. You changed your hairstyle?”

Hwa Nabi was holding some kind of zippered bag, but that wasn’t the important thing.

Her hairstyle had changed in the short time since I’d last seen her. Until just before entering the open-air bath, she had long straight hair with slightly curled ends, but now she had tied her hair into pigtails on both sides.

It was quite different from her usual image, making it feel unfamiliar. But that unfamiliarity wasn’t bad at all—this style was cute in its own way.

“Yes. I tied it up so it wouldn’t get in the way while bathing.”

Don’t people usually tie their hair up when bathing? I was about to point that out but decided against it. Nabi must have had her reasons for styling her hair that way.

She bent her knees slightly, put the zippered bag down by her feet, and looked at me. I closed my stretched shoulders and shifted my hips to make room for her.

“That style looks pretty on you too. Come on in.”

“…Thanks.”

Holding the upper part of her bath towel, she shyly tucked her hair behind her ear and slowly dipped her feet in. But after submerging her calves, her movement suddenly stopped.

“Oh… it’s hotter than I expected?”

“It’s a hot spring, of course it’s hot.”

“I know, but still. Hmm…”

Hwa Nabi seemed hesitant to come in.

Is she really hesitating because it’s hot? She’s not a child—this isn’t that hot. With a smirk, I grabbed her wrist.

“It’s still March, so it’s cold outside. Come in.”

“Siwoo, wait. I can do this myself… Ah!”

With one hand on my waist, I pulled her wrist firmly and sat her down next to me. She let out a sharp cry as she was submerged in the hot spring, and her body immediately trembled.

“Nngh!”

Worried she might try to leave, I pulled her in again. I wrapped my arm around her waist, pulled her into my chest so her back was against me, and locked her in place with both arms so she couldn’t escape.

Then, resting my chin on her shoulder to calm her, I said:

“Trust me and stay still for ten seconds. You’ll feel good, I promise.”

Of course, I had no intention of letting go even after ten seconds, but that’s what I told her. Hwa Nabi trembled at the shoulders but slowly took a deep breath.

Meanwhile, her lips were moving slightly as if she was actually counting to ten, which I found adorable and couldn’t help but smile.

“How is it? Feels good, right?”

After the promised ten seconds had passed, I whispered in her ear.

She mumbled something as if trying to speak, then let out a deep sigh and relaxed into my embrace.

“Really… Siwoo, do you know how forceful you can be sometimes?”

“Don’t worry. You’re the only one I’m like this with.”

“…That confession doesn’t make me happy at all, you know?”

Though her words were sharp, her mouth had relaxed considerably, suggesting she wasn’t really upset.

I spread my thighs so she could sit comfortably and tightened my arms slightly to pull her closer. She seemed to understand my intention and pushed her hips back to eliminate any space between us.

“Is this better?”

“Yes, it’s fine now.”

Holding Nabi tightly from behind, I let out a deep sigh. I was worried she might dislike it, but thankfully that didn’t seem to be the case.

It’s a bit ridiculous to worry after already doing as I pleased, but whether she dislikes it or not is a separate issue.

She gently stroked my forearm with her hand, then turned her head slightly to look at me.

“By the way, Siwoo. Shouldn’t we take some pictures?”

“Pictures? Oh, you mean for the report?”

“Yes. We need to take ten photos with our faces in them, remember?”

“Wasn’t it fifteen photos, not ten?”

“Is that so? Well, taking more doesn’t hurt anyway.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Nabi reached for the zippered bag she had put down earlier.

-Zip.

As the sound of the slider opening was heard, what she took out was none other than a mobile phone. Nabi manipulated the phone and opened the camera app.

“This is part of our trip too, so it should be fine if the background is the open-air bath, right?”

“The background doesn’t matter, but are we taking pictures like this, with no clothes on?”

“The water covers everything below the chest, doesn’t it? And it’s more convenient to take them together. There was no rule against using the same photos.”

“Well… do as you like.”

With my permission, Nabi held the phone up high and switched to selfie mode. The screen showed us pressed together, half-naked, which made me feel strangely embarrassed.

I’m a man so it’s one thing, but is it really okay to include photos showing the upper part of Nabi’s chest in the report? That doubt suddenly crossed my mind, but the photos had already been taken.

-Click, click.

After taking a few more shots from the same angle, Nabi examined the phone screen. Then, glancing at me, she said:

“Siwoo, we can’t use these photos.”

“Well, I guess not…?”

They weren’t just ordinary photos—they showed your upper chest. Of course they’d be too risqué to use.

That’s what I thought as I added another comment, but Nabi shook her head.

“No, my chest isn’t the problem.”

“Then what’s the issue?”

“The problem is that you look too sexy in them.”

I asked casually but received an unexpected answer. I was so dumbfounded that I couldn’t help but stare at her with wide eyes.

Nabi twisted her upper body around and placed her finger on my collarbone.

“Siwoo. You don’t know how sexy your body looks to women, do you?”

“…”

How would I know that?

While I was speechless, Nabi’s gaze traveled from my face to my collarbone, chest, and forearms in sequence.

After silently scanning my entire body:

“Your body isn’t for others to see.”

Like a snake eyeing a delicious prey, she slightly stuck out her crimson tongue and licked her lips.

“…It’s mine.”