"Well, doing it here would probably make us lightheaded or cause someone to slip, so let's move over there. One at a time, please."
I raised my voice slightly so everyone could hear and moved from the bathhouse to the changing area.
This hot spring has a mildly alkaline composition, often referred to as a "beauty bath." The alkaline water slightly dissolves the outermost layer of skin, making it smooth, but it also gets a bit slippery, increasing the risk of falls.
"But you sure are bold, jumping into a swarm of crocodiles like that."
Yata-chan laughed.
"I'd like to live up to expectations, after all. Besides, if anything happens, we have Hachikuma-san here too."
As I spoke, Yata-chan casually tossed me a canned sports drink. I caught it effortlessly, popped it open, and—
"Thanks for the drink."
—I downed it in one go.
"That hit the spot."
Almost immediately, sweat started pouring out, a good sign that my metabolism was working just fine.
Hachikuma-san held out a hand. "I'll take that."
I handed over the empty can, and with a clatter, it landed in the trash bin.
"You know, wiping off might actually lower your appeal."
I had just reached for a towel when Yata-chan dropped that remark.
"You mean, like this?"
"Exactly."
For some reason, both Yata-chan and Hachikuma-san nodded in unison, looking oddly in sync.
"Alright, let's test that theory."
Feeling a bit mischievous, I turned to the nearest still-naked Hachikuma-san and threw myself at her, drenched in sweat.
She reacted instantly, catching me in the perfect position—without even the slightest sign of discomfort.
"That's just a reward, isn't it?"
Yata-chan egged me on with a teasing grin.
"Well then, you're next."
I loosened my grip, and as soon as Hachikuma-san released me, I turned to Yata-chan and embraced her as well.
Just to reiterate—everyone here is still completely naked.
Unsurprisingly, Yata-chan caught me effortlessly.
"Honestly, your sweat alone could probably be bottled and sold as perfume."
"That's a bit extreme. Who would even want that?"
I quipped back while still clinging to her.
And just then, the door slid open.
At the sound of the bathhouse door opening, I slowly pulled away from Yata-chan. We both knew there was more to come, so there was no hesitation in our movements.
"Um… are you sure this is okay?"
The girl at the doorway had been the first to step forward, but she still seemed unsure if she was really allowed to go through with this.
Well, if I saw a cute girl offering free hugs in the middle of town, I'd probably think it was a prank too. So I didn't blame her for hesitating.
I spread my arms with a welcoming smile.
"Of course. Come on in."
Just to remind you—everyone here is still stark naked.
Nothing was hidden by towels. Everything, from the freely swaying parts to the more battle-ready components, was fully visible.
For my part, I was thoroughly enjoying the sight of a young, beautiful, and completely bare body up close. If anything, this was a win-win situation.
"You can go ahead and just jump in, like in the Nanmage commercial."
Yata-chan backed me up with a reference to Gekko Edo Village's mascot—one famous for free hugs. Instantly, a certain commercial played in my head. Maybe history really does repeat itself.
"Um… okay… here I go!"
After shifting her gaze left and right, she finally made up her mind and dove into my arms.
"Welcome."
I whispered in her ear as I wrapped her in a tight embrace.
Her body trembled slightly.
"You know…" Yata-chan muttered, half amused.
"Maybe we should've done this over there instead. Otherwise, she might end up peeing herself in excitement."
A single drop of liquid—whether it was water, sweat, or something else—fell onto the floor.
Author's note:
Nanmage: A deformed version of Namahage with a topknot, serving as Gekko Edo Village's rare official mascot known for offering free hugs.
The Nanmage ni Tobitsukou commercial features people enthusiastically leaping onto the mascot, to the point that there's even a record of someone breaking their bones in the process.
His catchphrase: "Come back soon, Nanmage!"
Since only bodybuilders can endure the impact of people flinging themselves at him, but even they struggle to withstand it, many have argued that investing in shock-resistant suits should be a higher priority.
And in case it wasn't obvious—the original inspiration was Nyanmage from Nikko Edo Village. If you're unfamiliar, go look it up.