Chapter 82:
Serai-san In Sorrow
Serai-san is always cheerful and full of energy. While her over-the-top enthusiasm can be a bit much at times, just having her around brightens up the atmosphere. Seeing her sad side awakened my protective instincts.
I wanted to help her regain her usual cheerfulness. However, I'm not the charming guy who can comfort and uplift a downcast girl with clever words. After all, I've been a non-charismatic guy for years, so I'm well aware of my limitations.
"Have you eaten already?"
[shivers]
"I see. How about we go grab some ramen then?"
"Yeah… (nods)"
So, all I could do for her was treat her to a meal. We spent about an hour dining at a local ramen shop. Serai-san ordered a Chinese rice bowl, while I, having already eaten dinner, opted for gyoza to pass the time. For Serai-san's feelings, I chose shiso gyoza with lots of shiso leaves instead of pungent garlic or chive gyoza.
[munching sounds]
Now, Serai-san had changed into her sleepwear, and we both prepared for bed by brushing our teeth together. Our actions resembled a couple, yet our relationship was rather peculiar. Serai-san was my girlfriend's best friend, and I was the boyfriend of Serai-san's best friend. To share a room, we brushed our teeth together.
I wore gray sweatpants with a black tank top, while Serai-san wore gray sweatpants with a light peach-colored t-shirt. Although Serai-san could have returned home, her overnight set remained in my room. I had set up a luxurious feather duvet that became exclusive to Sekirai. I couldn't help but think about Serai-san as she went to take a shower.
[It seems she gave quite a response to the stalker situation and even met with a lawyer afterward, so she must have been quite stressed.]
I'm probably a fool. Because of my childhood failures in building relationships, I've become accustomed to being disliked and facing hostility negatively. So, no matter how much others disliked me or directed their hostility towards me, I developed a rebellious spirit, or perhaps stubbornness, that said, "So what?" That led me to become a loner for many years.
But Serai-san is different. She's bright and socially adept. So, she's not accustomed to being disliked or facing hostility. She encountered some issues related to dungeons, but it didn't seem too severe.
Therefore, considering my somewhat twisted personality, I might lack the ability to empathize with Serai-san's sensitive side. But even so, when it comes to someone I have feelings for. I want to be kind. I wonder if there's something more I can do to cheer up Serai-san.
[blowing sounds]
Serai-san, fresh from her bath, was drying her hair with a hairdryer. I watched her from the loft in a semi-meditative state.
[whirring sounds]
She was refining her aura, converting it into magical power—a training method. Lately, I have been practicing manipulating skills individually, using my left hand for [Salt] and my right hand for [Slime]. Not a divine hand but rather a salty left hand and a slippery right hand. Who would have thought that could be so versatile?
"Hey, master… How's everything going on your end? In terms of things other than romantic matters, I mean."
Serai-san stopped the hairdryer, while using her fingers to tidy her hair, and asked me this. Since she probably heard about my romantic situation from Ruu, she must be inquiring about other aspects of my life.
"Well, school is going fine. I'm diligently absorbing what I'm learning."
That's the truth. Even someone like me has become stronger thanks to leveling up in dungeons. So, with my high abilities, if I study seriously, knowledge is absorbed quickly, and technical learning becomes extremely easy.
"I see…"
"Well, if you'd like, I could show you the results of my studies…?"
I'm not a popular guy. The most I can do is treat someone to a meal. But I'm also learning techniques to heal the heart and body at a massage school. And these skills are gradually taking root within me.
"Is that the kind where you crack people's bones…?"
"No, I'm also studying regular massage techniques to release muscle tension."
While I'd like to give a massage to Serai-san to help her relax, it requires direct physical contact, so I can't do it without her consent.
"Well, if you're not comfortable with it, that's fine. After all, it involves direct physical contact."
"Then… maybe I could ask you… (blushing)"
"Huh?"
"Because… even when you say it involves direct contact, Ezuki-san already touches my chest and butts during measurements, right…?"
"Ah…"
That's right.
…..
I was to give a massage to Serai-san.
Right now, I see the beautiful figure of Serai-san lying on top of a luxurious down comforter in front of my eyes.
Serai-san seems a little nervous, but I am also nervous. We had lived in the same room and had talked with each other nearby. However, we never touched each other for a long time.
The only exception was when I massaged her before bed.
I would get a massage from Serai-san as a thank-you for letting me stay over, but tonight was the first time I was giving her a massage. I was a bit nervous even though our positions were reversed.
"Well, I'm going to go…"
"Yes, please…"
[Su ~~, Sawa ~~ … Su ~~, Sawa ~~ ]
"Mmm… mmm…"
First, spread out from the back to the shoulders and hips as if you were pushing them apart with your hands. That's a good way to determine the degree of tension in the muscles and distortion of the body.
"Serai-san has good posture, so there is little distortion in your spine."
"Hmm, is that so?"
[Soo~~~, so soft….]
The light pink T-shirt has English letters printed in white. The front is more pronounced, but there is a print on the collar in the back. I rubbed the area from Serai-san's collar to her shoulders. I felt a stiffness in the neck and shoulder area.
"Oh…that feels so good…"
"You seem to be more stiff than usual. I'm mentally tired today."
[Groggy, Groggy, Groggy…]
"Oh, Master… that's so good, it feels so good…"
"Well, if you say so, it's worth all the work I put into it.
I grab Serai-san's shoulder with my male hand and cover it with both hands. I felt that Serai-san's shoulders were quite broad, but when I touched her like this, I realized she was much thinner than I thought.
[Gnick, gnick, gnick…]
I got up on one knee beside the prone Serai-san and rubbed her back toward her waist. She was not wearing a bra, as she was getting ready for bed. I rubbed her back not by pushing vertically but by pushing it horizontally.
I rub her back.
"Oh…what…this? It's not even like an oil massage… Ugh…"
"Hmmm…interesting. The pressure points on the human body are concentrated in the area that borders when you lie down on the sand (Giggle, giggle, giggle.)
"Ah…! There! It's hurts… But it feels so good…!"
"Okay, then I'll change my position and give you a more forceful thrust."
From kneeling on one knee on the side, I straddled Serai's body and moved into a kneeling position. But the sensation of being on top of a woman's body made me sexually aroused.
"Ugh….my dick….it's so hard! Master…please massage me more…"
What… Serai-san is so naughty. The way she says things while getting massaged. When she says that, I feel like I'm having sex with Serai-san without laying on her skin.
Huh…! Maybe it's the same for you, Serai-san!
"How does it feel, Serai-san? (Gu~gu, gu~gu, gu~gu…)"
"Higu…it…feels…good…master…!"
Massage to relieve Serai-san's mental and physical fatigue.
But such a massage also made my body temperature go up.