Chapter 349 Antonio's Unfortunate Accident

Anna listened intently, absorbing Suzuka’s words with a nod of understanding. She appreciated the way Suzuka was being real with her, grounding their excitement with a dose of reality.

“Yeah, I get it. You have a lot going on, and it makes sense that you need to focus on your town. It’s a big dream, and building something from scratch takes time.”

She shifted slightly in the bath, letting the warm water soothe her.

“I admire your dedication, you know? You’re not just talking about it; you’re out there doing it. I can’t wait to see what you create! And I promise I won’t get too sad about it. We’ve had plenty of great times, and I know more adventures are waiting for us in the future.”

With a small smile, she added, “So, while you’re off building your dream, I’ll be here cheering you on and keeping the home fires burning. And who knows, maybe I can even come visit your town one day and see all the amazing things you’ve done. Just don’t forget about me, okay?”

"Don’t worry, I could never forget about you! You’ll always have a place in my adventures, even if it’s just in spirit for now. I’ll be sure to send you all the updates and maybe even some little souvenirs from my town when I start getting things going!”

With a glint of naughtiness in her eye, she added, “Plus, when I build that town up, I’m definitely going to need someone who can make sweets. So you better be ready to whip out those cooking skills of yours! I will even build a bakery for you, just wait.”

Anna’s eyes widened with excitement, a grin spreading across her face.

“Promise? If that’s the case, I’ll polish my cooking skills even more! Just wait until you taste my new recipes! I’ve been experimenting a bit, trying to make dishes that would impress even the pickiest eaters!”

She wiggled her fingers in the air, mimicking a chef's flourish.

“I’ll have everything from scrumptious pies to savory stews, and maybe I’ll even throw in some fancy desserts! You’ll be begging to come back just for my food!”

Suzuka flashed a cheeky grin, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Alright, alright, my little chef-in-training! We have a deal but I think it's time to wrap up this luxurious bath session before the boys come charging in like a bunch of curious puppies. We don’t want them getting any funny ideas or peeking at us, do we? Just imagine, Antonio dropping his jaw so hard he’d trip over it!”

Anna giggled sleepily, her enthusiasm dimming as exhaustion caught up to her. They stepped out of the tub, steam swirling around them like playful ghosts. Just as they were about to reach for the towels, the door to the bath suddenly rattled.

The door swung open with a dramatic creak, revealing Antonio standing there, a picture of confusion and sleepiness. He looked like a sleep-deprived bear caught rummaging through a honey pot - hair tousled, eyes half-closed, and his mouth covered with one hand as he tried to stifle a yawn.

“Yawnnnnnn...” The sound echoed in the small room. He took a lumbering step into the room, still lost in his world, but then froze mid-stride. His eyes widened in disbelief, and the yawn hung in the air.

Antonio’s mouth dropped open as his gaze locked onto Suzuka, who was standing there, fresh from the bath, her hair glistening with droplets of water like a waterfall in the sunlight. The steam enveloped her, adding an ethereal glow, but all Antonio could think was, “What in the world?!”

Suzuka, with a playful glint in her eye, took a step to the side covering Anna while simultaneously striking a dramatic pose that highlighted her stunning figure. Her wet, long black hair cascaded down her back with a violet sheen, glistening like silk in the soft light. The droplets of water glimmered on her tanned skin, accentuating her athletic physique that seemed to blend grace with strength. Her curves were perfectly balanced, embodying both femininity and power, while the gentle sway of her hips added an undeniable allure. She left just enough to the imagination, framing the moment like a scene from a romantic painting.

With a flick of her hair, she smirked at Antonio, her voice dripping with playful mockery.

“Well, well, talk about the devil. But, just to be fair, I can’t blame you for walking in on us; we forgot to lock the door! But if you stare too long, I might have to hit you with a memory wipe hammer. You know, just to help you forget this… enchanting view.”

Antonio blinked rapidly, still dazed by the sight before him. His eyes roamed over Suzuka, taking in her beauty as if it were a mesmerizing spell that he couldn’t quite shake off. His cheeks flushed just a tiny bit, and his brain stumbled over its thoughts, trying to form a response.

“Uh… I-I mean… Wow, Suzuka, you… uh…” he stammered, looking directly at her, a goofy smile breaking through the haze of confusion.

“I didn’t expect... uh, someone in the bath, it's a bad time, right? Wait… am I still asleep?”

Anna, still tucked away behind Suzuka, muffled a giggle. Suzuka couldn’t help but laugh at Antonio’s flustered state, fully relishing in the moment.

“A bad time? Oh, don’t worry, Antonio! Just a friendly bath between the girls. Nothing to be alarmed about, right?”

With that, Suzuka tilted her head, adding, “But if you’re looking for a place to cool down, you might want to take a step back before you get too heated.”

As Suzuka flicked her hair dramatically and teased him again, Antonio’s brain slowly started catching up to reality. His face turned bright red, and he immediately looked down at his feet, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest.

“I… I didn’t mean to! Uh-oh crap, sorry!” he stammered, his words tumbling over each other.

He tried to back up, his hand fumbling for the door handle, but he missed it completely in his half-dazed state. His gaze darted awkwardly from the floor to Suzuka’s body, trying desperately to avoid looking at her again, but the image of her radiant figure was already burned into his brain.

“Uh, I was just… um, looking for… uh, just wanted to wash my face,” Antonio stuttered, clearly flustered and unsure what to say. His mind raced, but he couldn’t string together a coherent excuse for his intrusion.

Suzuka’s playful smirk and teasing words didn’t help his situation.

“Antonio, don’t act so shy now! You didn’t even get a good look, did you?” Suzuka laughed, crossing her arms over her chest, clearly enjoying his embarrassment.

“I mean, if you really wanted a peek, you could’ve just asked! But no sneaky bath raids next time, okay? Oh, and Antonio, don’t worry - next time, we’ll leave a towel by the door for you. Wouldn’t want you fainting from overheating now, would we?” She winked, making a mock-serious expression.

Anna, still giggling from behind Suzuka, chimed in, “Yeah, big bro! You might want to knock next time! But for now, how about getting out!”

“I-I didn’t mean to! It was an accident!”

Finally, he managed to turn around, bumping his shoulder against the doorframe in his hurry.

“I’ll just… uh… leave now. Forget everything. Didn’t see anything! Nope, not a thing! Sorry!” he babbled, finally finding the doorknob and slipping out of the room as he awkwardly retreated, leaving the door swinging behind him.

As soon as he was gone, muffled laughter from both Suzuka and Anna filled the room. With Antonio safely out of the room, Suzuka turned to Anna.

 "I guess we’ve had our fun with Antonio,” she said, giving her wet hair another dramatic flick.

 “But let’s not push our luck, huh? Knowing Nick, he might be plotting his own little sneaky move next. You know how curious he gets!”

Anna, still giggling from the earlier scene, gave her a playful nudge. 

“Nick? Oh no, not him too!”

Suzuka nodded with an exaggeratedly serious expression. 

“Oh yes, don’t underestimate him! He may look all sweet and innocent, but I bet he’s just waiting for the right moment to come barging in, all, ‘Oh, I’m just looking for a toy I left behind!’” She made a goofy face imitating Nick, widening her eyes comically and putting on a high-pitched voice.

Anna wiped a tear from her eye, still laughing. 

“You’re terrible, Suzuka! Now I won’t be able to look at Nick without imagining him peeking around corners!”

Suzuka chuckled, wrapping herself in a towel and giving Anna a playful nudge.

 “Exactly! So, let’s get out of here while we still can. We don’t need any more ‘accidental’ walk-ins, especially not from the pint-sized terror himself. Let’s save ourselves before we get ambushed by the curious little Nick.”

With that, both of them quickly gathered their things, still laughing, and made their way out of the bath before any other unexpected guests could strike again.

After leaving the bath, the warmth of the water still lingering on their skin, Anna yawned deeply, her eyes growing heavy with each passing moment. Suzuka, noticing the weariness settling in, smiled gently and nudged her.

“You’ve had quite the day, Anna. Why don’t you lay down and get some rest? You deserve it after all the fun,” Suzuka teased with a wink, her playful tone soothing.

Anna gave a sleepy smile in return, her eyes drooping.

 “I guess you’re right. I’d love to stay up and chat more, but honestly, I’m barely holding on,” she admitted, rubbing her eyes like a child on the verge of sleep.

As if on cue, Antonio reappeared in the hallway, carefully cradling Nick in his arms. The little boy was sound asleep, his soft snores a testament to the long, eventful day he’d had. Antonio gently carried Nick to his room, laying him down with all the care in the world, tucking the blankets around him with a tenderness that made Suzuka smile.

“He’s out cold,” Antonio whispered, glancing back at Suzuka with a smile. 

“Didn’t even stir once. Guess today really wore him out.”

Anna stretched, stifling another yawn, and waved sleepily.

 “I’ll be going to bed too. Honestly, I don’t think I can stay awake any longer if I tried.”

 She paused, offering Suzuka a tired but sincere smile.

 “Thanks for everything today, Suzu. It’s been... well, amazing.”

Suzuka nodded warmly. 

“No need to thank me, Anna. I’m just glad we had some fun. Now go on, get some sleep. You’ve earned it.”

With that, Anna shuffled off to her room, her steps slow and heavy, mumbling about how she couldn’t wait to drift off into sweet, peaceful sleep. She gave one final sleepy wave before disappearing behind her door, leaving the house in a quiet, restful state.