Here we are… at an onsen. O.N.S.E.N!
For those unfamiliar, an onsen is a traditional Japanese hot spring bath, a place where people relax in naturally heated water. Sounds great, right? WRONG. This is bad news for me.
I’ve been living in this female body for months, so seeing myself naked isn’t new anymore. But seeing other women naked in front of me? In a steamy bath? That’s a whole different level of suffering!
I nervously glance at Keiko, and just as I expected, her face screams get me out of here.
“I present to you a free onsen, guys! OMG, I’ve always wanted to try this with friends!” Aki bounces excitedly, completely unaware of the internal war Keiko and I are going through.
Ruka and Miko are already thrilled. “This is gonna be so relaxing!”
Meanwhile, Keiko and I stand frozen.
“Hey, Ryuko! Keiko! Why do you two look like someone just told you your pet goldfish died?” Aki yells, noticing our lack of enthusiasm.
“W-Well… hooray?” I weakly attempt.
Aki glares. “Tch. Can’t you be more sincere?”
Keiko, on the other hand, doesn’t even bother pretending. “Sorry, Aki. I’m not a fan of this, so I won’t join. Happy Birthday. I’ll take my leave now.”
“NO, NO, NO! You’re not escaping, Keiko!” Aki grabs her wrist like a demon dragging its victim into the abyss.
Keiko’s eyes scream for help. But what can I do? I’m also doomed.
After we check in and get our towels, Aki gleefully announces, “Don’t worry! I booked a private bath, so it’s just the five of us!”
Oh, great. No strangers to judge me. Just friends who will never let me live down my inevitable embarrassment.
Before I even process what’s happening, Aki’s already naked and happily marching into the bath. Sigh. Why am I not surprised?
Then Ruka and Miko strip too.
I shouldn’t have looked. I should not have looked.
Oh my god, Ruka has an amazing body.
My face goes red. I turn away immediately. Nope. Nope. Nope. Abort mission. Danger ahead.
“C’mon, Ryuko! Keiko! What’s taking so long?” Aki yells.
“Don’t be shy!” Ruka and Miko chime in.
We are not being shy. We are trying to survive!
Keiko and I exchange a panicked glance.
“I really can’t do this,” she mutters.
“I can’t either,” I whisper back.
Keiko glares at me. “Don’t be a pervert to us. And don’t look at me.”
“I’m not! I was just—” Before I can finish, she smacks me.
“Ow! I’m shy too, you know!” I protest.
But then, before I can prepare, Ruka walks over to us. Her very naked presence makes my heart race.
“Uh, R-Ruka—”
Before I can finish my sentence, she grabs my towel and yanks it away like she’s unveiling a magic trick.
“IN YOU GO!”
She throws me into the bath.
Aki and Miko burst into laughter.
I resurface, sputtering. “WHAT THE HELL, RUKA?!”
“You were taking too long,” she shrugs, grinning.
They start teasing me. “Why so shy, Ryuko?” “Are you weak to girls?” “Is this too much for you?”
I have never felt so attacked in my life.
Then I make the biggest mistake of the night—I look at Keiko.
Oh no.
She’s naked.
She’s blushing.
And now Ruka is dragging her in too.
My brain short-circuits.
Is this heaven? Or hell? I can’t tell anymore.
“Ryuko, your face is red,” Miko points out.
“You were only in for two minutes, and you’re already dying?” Aki teases.
I am in DANGER.
Keiko notices my suffering and quickly jumps in to save me. “Ryuko said she wasn’t feeling well just now.”
Bless you, Keiko.
“Oh really?” Aki squints suspiciously.
“Y-Yeah. I think I should go.” I start getting up.
Keiko follows. “Me too. Sorry, Aki. Thanks, though.”
“You guys are no fun!” Aki pouts.
Just as we’re about to escape, disaster strikes.
Keiko slips.
I try to catch her.
But I lose my balance too.
We fall.
HARD.
And when I regain my senses—
I am on top of Keiko.
Naked.
Our bodies pressed together.
Her face inches from mine.
My brain explodes.
Oh god. Oh no. Oh no no no.
Keiko isn’t moving.
She’s just lying there, blinking, her face redder than the setting sun.
Then—
“OH MY GOD!”
Aki, Ruka, and Miko scream in unison.
Their shrieks jolt me back to reality.
I scramble off Keiko like I just touched a live wire.
“A-Are you okay?!” I ask, panicking.
In a panic, I accidentally placed my hands on Keiko’s chest while trying to get up, immediately gasping and blurting out, "I-I'm so sorry, Keiko!"
She doesn’t respond. She just stares at me, still processing our… situation.
Meanwhile, Aki is smirking.
This is NOT good.
“You guys okay?” Miko asks, but she’s also stifling laughter.
“I’M FINE! WE’RE FINE! NOTHING HAPPENED!” I yell, grabbing Keiko’s hand and dragging her away.
“Just enjoy your onsen! We’re leaving!” I told the others.
---
Once in the changing room, I finally breathe. Dear god, that was a disaster.
I start cleaning up, but Keiko hasn’t moved. She’s sitting there, frozen.
After finished, I kneel in front of her. “You okay? Did you get hurt?”
She finally speaks. “…I think I hurt my foot.”
I check and see her right ankle is red. “Let’s cleaning up and get dressed first. I’ll help you after.”
I help her up, but she loses balance again.
She stumbles.
I catch her.
And suddenly—
Our faces are way too close again.
Our bodies pressed together again.
I can’t take this anymore.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
I slowly leaned in, giving in to her, my heart pounding as our faces grew closer.
And before I stop myself, I kiss her.
Keiko’s eyes widen.
I brace for her to push me away. But she doesn’t.
Instead—
She kisses me back.
Heat rushes through me as I deepen the kiss, guiding her toward the bench.
I pin her gently against the wall.
Her hands clutch my arms, and for a moment—
Everything else fades.
Just me and her.
As we finally break apart, breathless, I whisper—
“…Happy birthday, Aki.”
Keiko stares at me, confused.
I blink.
WAIT.
WHY DID I SAY THAT?!
Keiko bursts into laughter. “Idiot.”
I groan, hiding my burning face.
Yep. This is my life.
Anyway, thank you, Aki.