Chapter 160: I'd Like To Test Something
The rhythmic sound of a body scrub gliding over damp skin reverberated through the steamy air, mingling with the soft splashes of water. The heat of the bath wrapped around them, thick and intoxicating, amplifying the sensation of every touch.
Three figures occupied the bath.
Seated on a stool, Kouhei's body was enveloped in a rich, foamy lather. The scent of soap and warm water clung to the air as two women tended to him with careful, practiced hands. The gentle pressure of the body scrubs against his skin left a tingling sensation in their wake, the friction sending small shivers coursing through his body.
It had all begun when Yuuna approached him earlier, her voice carrying a teasing lilt.
"Kouhei-kun, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
He hadn't questioned it, merely nodding in agreement. But just as he prepared to respond, she had added with a playful tilt of her head—
"Hmm, but I was thinking of taking a bath as well. Why don't we continue our conversation there?"
There had been no reason to refuse. After all, they had shared the bath countless times before, their interactions in this space far from innocent. To suddenly grow flustered now would be laughable.
But before stepping into the bath, Yuuna had taken notice of Aria. The girl had just finished training, her body glistening with sweat, strands of damp hair clinging to her flushed skin. More importantly, Yuuna had seen it—that fleeting moment when Kouhei's gaze lingered on Aria, his interest clear.
A knowing smile curved at Yuuna's lips.
"You too, Aria. I think it would be best if you joined us."
And now, here they were.
Aria knelt behind him, her delicate fingers gliding the body scrub across his back in slow, deliberate strokes. The cool liquid soap met the heat of his skin, creating a stark contrast that sent a sharp, pleasurable chill through his spine.
At his side, Yuuna worked just as diligently, her soft hands lathering his arms, the sensation both soothing and intimate.
The thick foam swirled between their bodies, the scent of lavender and vanilla filling his senses, making the air feel even heavier.
Then, Yuuna's voice, smooth and deliberate, broke through the warmth.
"Kouhei-kun, I heard from Misuzu that Chihiro has approached you."
A pause, her fingers tracing over his arm with calculated ease before she continued.
"Tell me, what do you think of her? Do you believe it would be better if you were placed under her and her brother's custody rather than mine?"
The question barely gave him pause.
"I don't believe I would."
His brows knitted slightly.
"Wait, why are you even asking that, Yuuna-san?"
Yuuna exhaled softly, her movements slowing.
"I am merely wondering whether you intend to switch sides."
Her fingers dipped into the lather once more, the soap clinging to her skin as she pressed the scrub against his arm. The sensation sent tiny rivulets of warmth through his body.
"Of course, I wouldn't mind if you did. It wouldn't be a betrayal, nor would I hold it against you. If anything, I would be relieved knowing you were under capable hands, somewhere safe."
A momentary silence, then—
"But… I suppose it's something even I would struggle to accept."
Her voice, usually so unwavering, faltered ever so slightly. The motion of her hand stilled, her expression shifting, a small, self-deprecating smile forming on her lips.
Kouhei's jaw tightened, something heavy pressing against his chest.
"Yuuna-san… Even if I were to align myself with another demon faction, I doubt my safety would be guaranteed." He exhaled, turning slightly to meet her gaze. "Besides, I feel far safer under your protection than anywhere else. Even if another faction were to offer me something tempting, I wouldn't leave you."
Yuuna's crimson eyes softened, her lips curving into something warmer—something more genuine.
"That's very sweet of you…" she murmured, her voice like silk against his ears.
Then—
A hesitant, almost trembling voice cut through the warmth.
"M-Me as well…"
Aria.
Her hands, still coated in soft bubbles, rested against his back. Her voice was barely above a whisper, her words carrying the weight of something unspoken.
"I… I don't know if I could bear it if Kouhei-sama were to leave us."
The confession, though quiet, was deafening.
Yuuna's eyes flickered toward her, a knowing glint dancing in their crimson depths.
"My, Aria… I never expected you to say something like that."
A sly smile ghosted across her lips, amusement laced in her tone.
"Did your little date with Kouhei-kun leave that much of an impression on you? Well… I suppose it must have, considering how different your walk was the following morning."
The effect was instantaneous.
Aria's face ignited, her entire body trembling as if steam itself was rising from her flushed skin.
Yuuna chuckled, the sound light and melodious, yet undeniably teasing.
"Fufufu… It's been a while since the two of you last indulged, hasn't it?"
She leaned in, her voice dropping into a low, sultry whisper, her breath warm against his ear.
"So why not do it again?"
"R-Right now?"
Aria's voice trembled, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes widened in sheer disbelief, her face flushing an even deeper shade of red. The heat creeping up her neck wasn't just from the steamy bathwater—it was a reaction to Yuuna's bold suggestion.
The first time she and Kouhei had sex had also been the last. It hadn't been that long since their intimate encounter, but even so, it was something she had yearned to experience again.
Yet to do it here, now, while Yuuna was present…
Her heart pounded against her ribs, the weight of the situation pressing down on her.
"I think… it would be rather awkward for Aria-san to engage in something like that in front of you, Yuuna-san." Kouhei's voice was calm, yet his words carried hesitation. His gaze flickered to Aria, his expression gentle. "Don't worry about it, Aria-san. If you don't want to, there's no need to force yourself."
Aria parted her lips, hesitating.
The idea of having sex in front of Yuuna was utterly humiliating—so much so that just thinking about it made her body stiffen. And yet—
A sudden, undeniable warmth bloomed between her thighs. A subconscious response. A silent confession her body made before her mind could catch up.
"…I never said I didn't want to."
Her voice, barely above a whisper, felt deafening in the steamy, enclosed space.
Yuuna's crimson eyes gleamed with satisfaction, her lips curling into an amused smile.
"Then, I suppose you'll be quite occupied tonight, Kouhei-kun." She winked, the mischievous glint in her gaze leaving little to the imagination.
Kouhei swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing as he turned to Aria.
The idea of having sex with an audience wasn't foreign to him. He had experienced it before—threesomes, foursomes, even situations far more debauched. But for Aria…
This would be the first time.
And Yuuna wanted to watch.
Aria and Yuuna had endured countless battles together. She wasn't just Yuuna's right-hand woman—she was her most trusted confidante, the blade that struck down enemies before they could even think of striking first.
Like Yuuna, Aria had always been perceived as emotionless. She felt things, of course, but her emotions were subdued, hidden beneath layers of discipline and control.
In fact, the last time Aria had shed tears was likely during her childhood—a time that had long since faded into history, centuries ago.
Now, Yuuna was about to witness a completely different side of Aria—one she had never seen before.
Her anticipation was palpable, a slow, knowing smile creeping onto her lips.
"A-Aria-san… are you really…?"
Kouhei exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling as his gaze roamed over Aria's body.
She was a work of art—her form sculpted to perfection, each curve and muscle refined by years of relentless training. Her frame was lithe yet powerful, exuding both elegance and raw strength. Unlike some warriors whose bodies were hardened by bulging muscle, Aria's was lean, her toned figure retaining a distinctly feminine allure.
She gulped, her hands balling into fists at her sides.
Then, she saw it.
Kouhei's cock—thick, rigid, pulsing with undeniable arousal.
And the realization crashed into her.
His cock was hard because of her.
Something so simple, yet so utterly overwhelming.
Her thighs instinctively pressed together, a deep, unfamiliar heat pooling at her core.
"Kouhei-kun, I want to try something."
Yuuna's voice sliced through the charged atmosphere, her tone calm but undeniably intrigued.
"Would you mind if I masturbated while you had sex with Aria? I'd like to test something."
Kouhei blinked, momentarily thrown off.
He had expected Yuuna to tease them, to observe with amusement—but to openly pleasure herself while watching?
His mind struggled to process the audacity of it.
"W-What exactly do you want to test, Yuuna-san?" he asked, his voice slightly hoarse.
Yuuna's eyes locked onto his, unwavering.
"I want to see if we can achieve Love Link even if I'm not directly involved in the act—without having sex or receiving pleasure from you."