After the sports festival.
“I’m a bit tired.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Yuzuru and Arisa were in Yuzuru’s flat.
On the way from the stadium to Arisa’s house, they passed right by his building.
Since they were already there, Yuzuru had suggested they stop by his room for a short break before she headed home.
Arisa agreed without hesitation.
“I only ran a little… but somehow, I’m exhausted.”
At most, he’d run two hundred metres.
Even so, Yuzuru felt a faint fatigue.
Of course, he knew why.
He’d ended up running more seriously than he intended.
He’d been so happy that Arisa waved at him that he probably pushed past his limits.
Even he found that a bit embarrassing.
“By the way, Arisa… you waved at me, didn’t you?”
“Ah, yes… should I not have?”
“No, I was glad.”
Confirming that she had indeed been waving at him, Yuzuru felt slightly relieved.
If she hadn’t been waving at him—
Or if she’d simply been waving at everyone in their class—
He might have felt… a little jealous.
(…Not good. We’re not even dating.)
He forcefully suppressed the strange sense of possessiveness and jealousy rising within him.
“Yuzuru-san… you were cheering for me too, right?”
“Yeah. You were doing great.”
He had definitely been watching her run.
He just hadn’t waved back, since he didn’t want Soichiro and the others teasing him.
“Well… you must be tired too. You should rest for a bit. Shall I make some coffee?”
“Yes, please.”
Yuzuru went to the kitchen to prepare coffee.
This time there were no snacks, and since he was a little tired himself, he added milk and sugar to his own cup.
When he returned to the living room with the coffee—
“Mmm…”
Arisa looked slightly sluggish as she rolled her neck, occasionally tapping her shoulders with her fist.
“Arisa, I’ve made coffee.”
“Ah… thank you.”
She accepted the cup, blew gently to cool it, and pressed it to her pink lips.
After taking a sip or two, she set it down on the table and let out a soft sigh.
Then she rolled her neck again.
“Arisa.”
“Yes?”
“Are your shoulders stiff?”
“Huh?”
Her expression clearly said, how did you know?
It seemed that rolling her neck and tapping her shoulders had been half unconscious.
“Sorry… was it obvious?”
“Yeah, a bit… do you get stiff easily?”
At his question, Arisa gave a small nod.
She touched her shoulder as she answered.
“I’ve always been prone to stiff shoulders… especially after exercise or long study sessions. …Maybe it’s my posture?”
(…I don’t think your posture is that bad.)
He didn’t say it aloud.
But the answer was obvious.
Yuzuru’s gaze drifted to the abundantly rounded fruit on her chest.
She had a tracksuit jacket draped over her, but the front zip was open.
Perhaps because it was over a thin gym uniform, they looked even larger than usual.
Anyone would get stiff shoulders carrying that kind of weight while exercising.
“If you’d like… shall I give you a massage?”
He said it casually—
And immediately regretted it.
(Wait… would she mind a guy touching her shoulders? I hope she doesn’t take it the wrong way…)
He worried slightly that she might be put off.
But that concern proved unnecessary.
“Is that okay?”
“Well, if it’s bothering you… I might not be very good, though.”
“…Then I’ll take you up on your offer.”
Saying that, Arisa slipped off her jacket.
Then she turned around, presenting her small shoulders to him.
“…Excuse me. Tell me if it hurts or feels strange.”
With that, Yuzuru placed his palms on her shoulders.
The moment he grasped them, he could tell—she really was slender.
But that didn’t mean she lacked softness.
On the contrary, there was a gentle, distinctly feminine softness beneath his hands.
“I’m going to press.”
As he spoke, he dug his thumbs into her shoulders.
They resisted more than he expected.
Her muscles were clearly tense.
“Mm…”
A faintly alluring sound slipped from Arisa’s lips.
Through his palms, he could feel her softness and warmth.
And… a faint, slightly sweet scent of sweat.
“You can press a bit harder.”
“Alright, got it.”
“Ah… nng… that’s… ah—”
He was just massaging her shoulders.
And yet, for some reason, Yuzuru was starting to feel strange.
The pale nape of her neck drew his attention.
Just imagining that he could reach out and touch that soft skin made his body heat up.
When his gaze drifted slightly forward from her shoulders—
He caught sight of her legs.
She was sitting in what people called the “duck sit” or “girl sit,” her pale legs extending out from beneath her gym uniform.
They looked like they’d be incredibly soft to the touch.
“Ah… nn… haa… ah… ahn…”
“A-Arisa… is there anywhere else you’d like me to massage?”
Trying to distract himself, Yuzuru asked.
Arisa replied in a slightly breathy voice.
“Let’s see… mm… could you do my neck? And the base where it meets my shoulders…”
“…Yeah, got it.”
Yuzuru reached out towards her pale neck.
And then—
“Hyah!”
Yuzuru’s heart leapt.
“W-what’s wrong?”
“S-sorry… that tickled a bit.”
“I—I see.”
Composing himself, he applied pressure again.
Gently, gradually, he worked to loosen the tension.
Each time he pressed, Arisa let out small, breathy sounds—whether from ticklishness or pleasure, it was hard to tell.
Yuzuru pictured his pet dog and focused on the task, continuing the massage as if it were simple work.
About fifteen minutes passed.
“Mm… I’m alright now.”
When he pulled his hands away, Arisa stretched deeply.
Then she rolled her shoulders.
And turned back to face him.
“Thank you. My shoulders feel much lighter… shall I massage you in return?”
It was a kind offer.
Yuzuru’s shoulders were a bit stiff too—though not as bad as hers.
So he would have liked to accept…
But right now, that wasn’t really an option.
“I’m… fine. Actually, I need the toilet.”
“I see. Sorry for holding you up.”
Fortunately, Arisa didn’t seem to question him as he headed off.
Leaning slightly forward, Yuzuru hurried into the bathroom—
“…Haah…”
He let out a long sigh.
It took him several minutes to calm down.
