Chapter 38: As If Something Had Been Forgotten

The soft, boneless little hand gently pressed against the muscles of his chest, and the pleasant sensation made Haruhi want to let out some strange noises. Fortunately, reason triumphed over desire, and he managed to hold himself back in the end. Otherwise, his dignity would have been utterly lost.

His right hand naturally fell between his legs clad in yoga pants, a burning sensation spreading along his arm—he wondered if others had ever felt this way. After the massage, it was time to stretch.

Haruno sat on the yoga mat, legs extended, struggling to touch his toes with his fingers. Flexibility was rarely a strong suit for young men, and he hadn’t stretched in ages, so sitting up proved quite the ordeal.

To help him, Eri Momotani pressed her upper body tightly against Haruno’s broad back, pushing him forward with all her strength. The miraculous sensation on his back, coupled with the aching stretch in his thighs, gave Haruno a taste of heaven and hell all at once.

Half paradise, half torment.

Thighs: Back, I’m so jealous of you!
Back: Brothers, your effort won’t be forgotten—the organization will remember your contributions!
Thighs: Weren’t we supposed to share in both pleasure and pain?
Back: Your third brother enjoys himself every day without sharing it with us. I hardly ever get a moment like this!

...

Haruno endured the seated forward bend for three minutes before Eri Momotani instructed him to lie facedown on the mat. She then sat on his thighs, grasped his arms, and pressed her little feet against his back.

With a bit of force—

“Crack, crack!”

The crisp sound of joints mixed with Haruno’s groans.

“Ah, ah! That hurts!”

Haruno felt as if his entire back was being torn apart, the sharp pain shooting straight to his head.

“You young people really should exercise more,” Eri Momotani said, looking at the exhausted Haruno sprawled on the mat. Her cheeks were flushed, and she clapped her hands, nodding in satisfaction.

Tiny beads of sweat glistened on her slender neck, trickling along her delicate collarbones into the white camisole—one drop, two drops, three drops—soon forming a damp patch.

Though helping Haruno stretch wasn’t physically taxing, her body felt a bit overheated.

Haruno felt like a battered victim, his soul soaring but his body unwilling to move even a finger, all his muscles entering a state of fatigue.

And the culprit responsible for his suffering, Eri Momotani, was beside him, practicing yoga poses.

Watching her, Haruno’s gaze became transfixed.

Backbends, splits, rising, a perfect leg extension! Her routine flowed seamlessly.

Her devilish figure revealed stunning curves, and today, Eri Momotani hadn’t worn a proper yoga top, just a tiny camisole. This meant that with every challenging pose, she had to hold her clothes in place—otherwise, the languid high school boy on the floor would have been in for a treat.

Even so, Haruno feasted his eyes, and he was shocked to discover that Eri Momotani seemed not to be wearing anything underneath. Maybe it was just an illusion—he couldn’t quite tell.

“Madam, let me help you,” Haruno offered, seeing Eri Momotani struggling with the seated forward bend due to her curves.

“Alright, thank you, Haruno,” she smiled, biting her lip, and nodded her consent.

Delighted, Haruno quickly got up, placed his hands gently on her fragrant shoulders, and mimicked the moves she used on him, applying just enough force.

Her waist bent smoothly, and from the side, Haruno nearly had a nosebleed. He’d seen plenty with Kazumi Uehara, but this scene was a bit much—imagination would have to suffice.

He hurriedly recited a calming mantra in his mind. After finishing the stretch for Eri Momotani, a virtual screen appeared.

[Event triggered.]
[Madam, can I help you with a massage? Eri Momotani has helped the player greatly in fitness; out of a desire not to owe favors, the player thinks it’s only fair to help her relax.]
[Event details: Please help Eri Momotani with a full-body massage, anytime, anywhere.]
[Reward: Mysterious gift.]

Seeing the sudden quest update, Haruno instinctively voiced his desire to help with a massage.

But Eri Momotani glanced at the time and waved him off, declining.

She said she needed to go home and cook, and they’d talk about it another time.

For the first time, Haruno’s request was refused. Based on his previous gaming experience, it was likely due to insufficient favorability.

Fortunately, the quest had no time limit; he could take his time to raise her affection.

[Eri Momotani’s favorability: 40 (Friend)]
[Current status: Feeling relaxed and happy (strong), thinking about going home to cook for her daughter (strong)...]

A favorability of 40 was indeed low. This was no game after all; time, place, and the character’s thoughts all mattered.

With Kazumi Uehara, it was just a lucky coincidence—if he tried again, things wouldn’t be so smooth, and might even fail.

The convergence of timing, location, and rapport had allowed Haruno to quickly clear Kazumi Uehara’s story. Of course, their tale was only just beginning.

Last night’s workout left them both sweaty, but Eri Momotani had no intention of showering at the gym. They donned jackets and left together.

When the door to the members’ lounge opened and Eri Momotani emerged, cheeks flushed, everyone glanced at Haruno with envy.

He shrugged and followed her out of the gym.

Eri Momotani had driven, and conveniently dropped Haruno off on her way home.

After scheduling their next gym session, Haruno returned to his rented apartment, took a shower, changed clothes, and felt a wave of relaxation.

Thinking about tomorrow’s day off made him happy. He grabbed a clean apple from the fridge, bit into it, turned on the TV, and collapsed on the sofa, savoring a rare moment of leisure.

The apple was delicious—juicy and crisp.

Reflecting on his busy afternoon, he couldn’t help but shake his head and smile.

But something felt amiss.

His gaze landed on the clothes rack by the sunny window, where two Shin-chan boxers hung fluttering in the breeze.

Oh no! Seiryo-san!

He barely had time to finish his apple, quickly grabbed his phone in silent mode, and opened LINE.

Seeing dozens of messages, Haruno felt his scalp tingle.