Chapter 72:
My Telekinetic Office Lady Girlfriend Is Way Too Powerful!
After parting ways with Yumi and the others, Ryoko and Shota took a taxi—about 10 minutes from the winery—to their hot spring inn in Isawa Onsen.
“Tonight’s room comes with a private open-air bath~♡”
“Nice! Sounds like the perfect way to relax.”
“We’re going in together, okay~? Shota-kun♡”
“Uh… that’s kinda embarrassing…”
“Hehe♡ I knew you’d say that. Don’t worry, this inn has special bathing clothes we can wear in the water♡”
The two were shown to their room by the proprietress. It was a spacious, modern-Japanese suite with a private open-air bath visible through the window.
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【—Ryoko and Shota changed into yukata】Ryoko wore a soft wisteria-colored yukata with a white sash. Her hair was loosely tied up with a decorative hairpin, and her skin peeked out from her neckline and wrists, pale and soft—she looked like she’d stepped right out of a hot spring poster.
“S-Senpai… that really suits you…”
“You think so?♡ If Shota-kun says that, I’d wear ten of these yukata~♡”
“No, one is more than enough… I honestly don’t know where to look…”
Ryoko giggled and gave the hem of Shota’s yukata a playful tug.
“Then… why don’t you tell me where you’re looking?♡”
“Ugh, that’s… um…”
“Hehe♡ If you lie, I might have to activate the Curse of Confessing the Truth in the Bath~”
“Nooo! Not that one! That one’s really bad!”
“Then let’s bathe together later♡ I’ll wear the proper bathing clothes for you~♡”
(Shota: …Why do I feel like my energy is being drained even though I should be relaxing…? Wait, did Senpai already hit me with a curse!? …But strangely… I don’t hate it at all… Actually, I might even like it…)
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【—After dinner, the two slipped into the private open-air bath】As they opened the door to the bath, night air and gentle steam drifted in. Beyond the tub, a stone lantern and small maple tree adorned the garden, the soft sound of water echoing peacefully.
Ryoko wore a light pink bathing wrap and had her hair loosely bundled with a towel wrapped gently around it.
“Senpai… that looks amazing on you too…”
“Hehe♡ If you stare too long, I might have to hit you with the Curse of Melting Eyes~”
“But I literally can’t look awayyy…”
They eased into the bath, warm water rising to their shoulders. Their distance shrank naturally, until Ryoko slid right next to Shota, their shoulders touching.
“It feels kind of surreal, huh… soaking like this together… Going on a trip, sharing a bath… it’s like we’re a real married couple♡”
“Well… I mean, we kinda already are married, right?”
“♡ That’s true, isn’t it. Then tonight… let’s do something even more married-couple-ish, shall we?♡”
“Wait, WHAT!?”
(Heart rate: THROUGH THE ROOF — and they’re in a bath!)
“Haha, you’re so cute♡ I seriously don’t need any powers to read you, Shota-kun~♡”
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【Talking About Shota’s Family】“But speaking of couples, Yumi and Mark are seriously doing the whole married life thing. They got married and had a baby in Australia, and now they’re running a winery in Kofu… Yumi’s incredible. Seriously gutsy and totally nuts.”
“Yeah, finding out that woman was actually my sister? That was a shocker lol.”
“No, I was the one shocked! I mean, I’d heard your sister’s name was Mayumi, but you didn’t even know where she lived!? What’s up with that, Shota-kun?”
“Well, I only heard about her surprise marriage announcement for our dad’s 60th birthday through a phone call with Mom. So today was actually the first time I saw her since she came back to Japan. I haven’t been home in like, three years, haha.”
“Don’t normal parents tell you to come back for New Year’s or something? I mean, my relationship with Masako is complicated too, but your family looks normal and still manages to be weird.”
“Can’t speak for other families, but mine’s kinda individualistic. If there’s no reason to interact, we just… don’t. Maybe that’s just how things roll in Kanagawa? Haha.”
“Anyway, once I found out Yumi was your sister, the thought of visiting your parents suddenly felt way less intimidating~♡ Like, I could probably drop in tomorrow lol.”
“Wanna actually go tomorrow?”
“Baka, that was a joke! We’ll go once we’re properly prepared♡”
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【The One Thing Shota Loves Most About Ryoko♡】—The view from the open-air bath now glowed under a brilliant full moon.
“Shota-kun, it’s such a nice vibe. Wanna have a drink in the bath~?”
With a flick of her finger, Ryoko used her telekinesis to levitate a tray, sake flask, and two cups from the room’s table. They floated gently over and landed perfectly on the tray atop the water’s surface.
“Oh, nice. Thanks!”
The warm sake and even warmer water quickly got them both tipsy.
“You know,” Ryoko began, slightly flushed, “Today, Yumi mentioned how people either freak out or try to use me when they learn about my powers.”
Shota frowned slightly.
“That was about your ex, wasn’t it?”
“Aww, Shota-kun’s jealous~? Cute♡ But yeah—what I realized today is, you and Yumi don’t freak out about my powers… but you also never try to use them.”
“Well, I can’t speak for Sis, but when things get embarrassing, I totally freak out.”
“That doesn’t count~♡ Seeing you flustered is the meaning of my life. But seriously, I’ve always wondered… why don’t you ever say, ‘Use your powers for me’? I could make you department head, heck, even CEO if you just asked. No joke♡”
“Noooo! Please don’t! I’d be terrible at that!”
“Then is there anything you do want? Get rich with gambling, manipulate the stock market—I can make anything come true♡”
Shota paused, slightly drunk, and answered honestly.
“I’m not like you or Sis—I’m just a regular guy. When we first started dating, I was totally overwhelmed by your insane powers. All I could do was be surprised. But recently… I’ve started trying to learn from your boldness, your careful planning, and use that in my work and life.
So what I’m saying is—what makes you amazing isn’t just your powers. And my favorite thing about you… is exactly what Yumi said was your worst: Your crazy-strong possessive streak, your sneaky, two-faced, selfish personality—that’s what I love most!! So no, I’ve never thought about what I’d want you to do with your powers—and I can’t answer that question!! 😤”
Ryoko, flushed and dazed, gazed at Shota and wrapped her arms around his neck…
“Shota-kun…♡ You’re an even bigger perv than I imagined… I’m never forgetting that answer, not in this lifetime♡
Now then… I think it’s time we do even more married-couple things tonight~♡♡♡”
“Whaaaaaat!?!?”
(Heart rate: NEW RECORD — even in a hot spring!)
＼The End／
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