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“Thank you, Yuki-chan,” Tamao sighs. “I can’t believe I managed to let this happen to me.”
“Hey, come on now, it wasn’t your fault in the slightest. Things like this just happen. I’m just glad it’s only a strain, and not anything permanent.”
Sighing again, Tamao returns to massaging the wood-stiff tendons on her left shoulder. She was supplied some pain relievers and medicinal cooling gel from the infirmary, but the pain hadn’t subsided in the slightest. Usually she was quite skilled at putting on a brave face, but between her low pain tolerance and how her girlfriend—ah, wait, it’s fiancée now, she remembers with a smile—has coddled and cared for her for years now, she feels altogether pitiful.
“I ought to skip the trip entirely, shouldn’t I? I can barely turn my head, let alone lift anything higher than my navel. Having me along would surely drag everyone down.”
“Are you kidding?! You of all people need this trip most of all!” Tamao hears Yuki’s strong footfalls approach until she comes into view. She sits down beside her on the couch, replacing Tamao’s kneading hand with her own. “And you won’t be dragging anyone down. I promise.”
Even at her grown age, Tamao finds a childish whine escaping her. “If you say so.”
It may have been simply because it’s easier to massage someone other than oneself, but Yuki was doing a much better job at soothing the tightness of her shoulder than she was. Yuki’s hand was as warm as her fiery spirit, and Tamao leaned into her gentle yet resolute touch. She witnesses a smile stretch Yuki’s mouth.
“See? I can tell you’re already feeling better.”
“Only because I have you.”
“All the more reason for you to come. I won’t be leaving your side, so there’s no need to worry.”
Tamao blushes. “Oh, you...well I suppose I—Ouch!” A jolt of pain sears her neck; in her distraction, she’d turned her head at the exact angle she’d been trying to avoid.
“Gah, poor thing...” Yuki rubs her back while she tries to relax into a painless position again. “Here, why don’t we try to put some more of that gel on?”
As Yuki quickly grabs the tube of medicine, Tamao pulls down the shoulder of her top. Warm body pressing against her back, Yuki gently sweeps her wavy, uncombed hair up into a ponytail. Her warm breath tickles her nape and makes her shiver. Unfortunately, the good shivers turn into bad shivers as Yuki applies the cool gel to her skin. Tamao pouts.
“There. Hopefully it’ll work a bit better today.” Yuki rests her chin atop her good shoulder.
She reaches up to pet her cheek, trying to envision her face without being able to look at her. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
“Of course,” Yuki pulls back, only to softly brush her lips against the baby-hairs beneath Tamao’s ponytail. “Anything for you.”
A small tremble shakes her before she can offer a response, and Yuki hums out a devilish laugh. Oh, dear. Testing the waters once more, Yuki presses one, two more kisses to her nape. Tamao’s breath flutters.
“I’ll admit,” Yuki’s low voice resonates through her body, “I like having a good excuse to take care of you.”
“I’m sure you do,” she tries to muse unaffectedly.
“And,” strong, warm arms wrap around her midsection; strong, warm hands tease at the bottom hem of her top, “I’ve got plenty of ideas of how I could take care of you right now, just like this.”
Tamao swallows. “Well, perhaps you should wash your hands first.”
“...Oh, yeah, huh. That’d be...well, I mean, maybe...this stuff could be—”
“No.”
“O-okay, okay! ...Seems like someone’s eager.”
“Yuki-chan!”