Chapter 23 - Waking Up Completely
"Wait! You! Don't just aim for my eyes!?"
"What's wrong with aiming for weak spots?"
I sat on the far left edge of the stone to distance myself from Toak and Aisha, who were fiercely splashing water at each other on the right side.
I wouldn't mind participating in a light water fight, but when it reaches that level of seriousness, I'd rather decline. They were seriously aiming for each other's eyes, noses, and ears.
Instead of joining that kind of battle, I'll cool off peacefully with Flora.
"Ei!"
"Uwa!?"
Just as I thought that, cold water hit my stomach, and I let out a surprised cry.
When I hurriedly looked toward where the water came from, there was Flora with a mischievous smile on her face.
I didn't think Flora would splash water on me.
Just like with the Pico Fruit earlier, her true personality might be a bit mischievous and seeking affection.
"You did it, didn't you?"
While feeling happy to see a different side of Flora, I also splashed water back at her.
"Kya! Ei! Ei!"
Flora let out short screams as the cold water hit her. Then, as if in retaliation, she swung her slender arms and splashed water back at me.
While blocking the water hitting my face with my arms, I splashed water back at Flora, refusing to lose.
I wonder if I've ever played in a river like this before.
When I was a child, I was desperate just to survive every day, and I never thought about playing.
I didn't play like this during my time as an adventurer either.
I've camped near water many times, but I couldn't possibly make a noise because monsters might come. I also had my daily training.
Once the fame of being the kingdom's top A-rank party spread, dignified behavior was also required. Such actions were impossible.
However, now I am not the adventurer Aldred, but Aldo, a hunter living in Nordende.
Of course, there are manners and limits, but I can live as I please without worrying about anyone's eyes.
Just that much freedom makes me incredibly happy right now.
"Take that! And that!"
"Kya! This is payback!"
"Same here! ...Ah."
I was having a fun water fight with Flora, but then I suddenly noticed.
A large amount of water had hit Flora's clothes, and the blouse at her chest had become transparent, revealing the flesh-colored skin beneath.
The water caused the fabric to cling to her skin, and the wrinkles emphasized the swell of Flora's breasts.
S-She's surprisingly large.
I knew she had a certain size, but it was larger than I had expected. Flora might be the type who looks thinner in clothes.
The flesh color visible through the white fabric made me feel a sense of guilt and excitement, as if I were seeing something I shouldn't.
Flora's figure, with the lines of her body exposed by the fabric clinging tightly to her skin, seemed even more provocative than if she were naked.
"Eh?"
Perhaps noticing me staring blankly at her, Flora looked down at her own body.
"Kyaaa!"
Then, realizing her situation, Flora let out a bashful scream and quickly turned her back to me.
Perhaps because not much water had hit her back, her skin wasn't visible through the fabric there, but I could see her tightly cinched waist.
I thought I should look away immediately, and I did, but is it a man's sad nature that my gaze keeps wandering back?
Flora remained frozen, hugging her body with her back turned.
I wonder if she'll run away again.
"U-Um, it's okay. I-It's a bit embarrassing, but it won't be a problem once the clothes dry..."
While I was thinking that, Flora spoke while glancing back at me.
To avoid a repeat of last time, she was desperately enduring the embarrassment and even worrying about me.
Thinking of Flora's brave figure, I was able to easily pull away my drawn gaze.
"Daryaaa!"
"Abuh!?"
Where I turned my gaze, I saw Toak mercilessly performing a shoulder throw on Aisha.
...The battle over there is intense.
◆ ◆ ◆
"...Dammit. That Aisha, dragging me into it too..."
Standing in the stream, Toak wrung out his soaking wet clothes.
"It was a beautiful shoulder throw, but she was tough too."
I threw a towel I had brought from home to Toak, who was dripping water as he wrung his clothes.
"Thanks."
Toak caught the towel, gave a short thanks, and started wiping his body.
Even though it's past the warm spring season, your body temperature will drop if you're hit by the wind. It would be a problem if he caught a cold.
Toak had submerged Aisha in the stream with a brilliant shoulder throw, but Aisha didn't go down for nothing. As she was being slammed into the water, Aisha immediately kicked the leg of Toak, who was in an unstable balance after the throw, and successfully tripped him.
It's difficult to connect to the next attack while receiving one yourself, so I'm impressed by Aisha's athletic ability and quick judgment.
I think people who live tenaciously like that are suited to be adventurers.
She might be a woman too good to just be a grape farmer.
That grape farmer's daughter was sitting on a stone in the stream, splashing water with her feet.
"...Haa, that was refreshing."
Aisha murmured with satisfaction as she brushed her wet hair behind her ear.
"Aisha, aren't you embarrassed? Your clothes are wet and clinging to your body, you know?"
Flora, who was cooling off beside her in the same way, asked timidly.
Just as Flora said, Aisha was soaking wet from head to toe, so her red one-piece dress was clinging to her body.
Since she wasn't wearing a white blouse underneath like Flora, her skin wasn't visible, but the lines from her swelling chest and waist to her hips were emphasized, making it quite provocative.
The droplets of water trickling down her skin and the way her wet, glossy red hair clung to her made her healthy, wheat-colored skin look alluring.
"My clothes are different from your blouse, Flora; they don't show the skin through. This much is fine."
"I-I see..."
It might be fine for her, but it's hard to say it's fine for us men.
Honestly, I'm at a loss for where to look. I should give them a towel and have them wipe the water off their bodies quickly.
Thinking that, I approached Flora and Aisha with a towel.
"...By the way, Flora's legs are white and beautiful."
Due to Aisha's casual murmur, my gaze naturally drifted toward Flora's legs.
"T-That's not true. Aisha's legs are much healthier and more beautiful!"
Perhaps feeling my gaze, Flora became embarrassed and started fidgeting, rubbing her legs together. I think it was a gesture to escape my gaze, but the way her smooth, well-shaped legs moved was a bit provocative and made me look even more.
No, no. It's rude to keep staring at a woman's legs right in front of her.
"...Here, a towel."
"Oh, thank you."
"A-Thank you very much."
When I handed over the towel as if to shake off my worldly desires, Aisha accepted it with a grin, and Flora accepted it bashfully while hiding her chest.
Judging by that teasing smile of Aisha's, the previous conversation was probably intentional.
I don't know what she's up to, but it's bad for my heart, so I wish she'd tease Toak instead.
"Hey, Aldo. We're moving to start fishing soon."
While I was thinking that, Toak, who seemed to have finished drying off, called out.
There are no fish to be seen around here, and even if there were, they would have been startled and fled by the sound of our water play earlier.
"Got it! We're moving to fish, but what will you two do?"
After replying to Toak, I asked Aisha and Flora.
"Hmm, we'll cool off here a bit longer before coming to watch."
Flora also smiled in agreement with Aisha's words.
"Aisha, you're soaking wet, are you okay?"
"I'm happy for the concern, but I'm fine. I won't catch a cold in this warm season. There have been many times I've gotten soaking wet while taking care of the grapes in heavy rain, and I haven't caught a cold once. My body is sturdy."
Aisha said, waving her hand as if it were no problem.
While being surprised by the hardships of a grape farmer, I thought she was like a boy. Perhaps what supports that sturdy body is eating plenty of nutrient-rich grapes.
"Understood. Then, I'll do my best to catch some by the time you two come."
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Catch a lot and share some with us—"
Hearing Flora and Aisha's voices behind me, I picked up the fishing rod and bucket I had left on the ground and joined Toak.
"Where are the fish usually?"
"Let's see. At this time, there are many fish eating insects and moss downstream. If we go there, we'll catch them whether we like it or not. After that, we can just catch any schools we see swimming on the surface."
Toak started walking downstream, seemingly having a place in mind where fish gather.