The innkeeper led us to our room and slid open the door.

It was a two-bedroom suite with a private onsen. The main room had tatami mats and low furniture. Two separate bedrooms were off to the side, each with futons ready.

But the best part was the back. A glass door opened to a wooden deck with a small, rock-lined hot spring. Steam rose from the water. It looked out onto a quiet, green garden.

"Wow," Kotoha said, staring at the bath.

"It's nice. But Souta-kun, this must’ve costed a lot." Hikari said worriedly.

“I splurged a bit since it’s our first trip together.”

I certainly picked a nice place for my first time with Kotoha. For something like this, it was all about the mood.

Kotoha turned, her face excited. "Stop sweating the small details, mom! Can we get in the onsen now?"

Hikari smiled. "Let's unpack and change first, Kotoha."

“Okay~”

I smiled at the mother-daughter pair. “Then, I will go change in my room over there.”

I went into my room to change into the yukata that was provided by the inn.

Since the walls were thin, I could hear the two bickering from the other room.

Would this thin wall cause any problems later? I’ll just think about it later.

“Kotoha, why are you brushing your teeth now?”

“I was just sleeping earlier and my breath stinks now!”

“Hurry up, I need to use the bathroom too.”

“Just wait for your turn, mom!”

When we gathered in the living area, both women took my breath away.

They wore matching navy yukatas that somehow looked completely different on each of them. Their hair was piled up in loose buns, exposing the delicate nape of their necks.

Hikari's yukata strained against her body. The fabric pulled taut across her full, heavy breasts, the collar dipping just enough to hint at the deep shadow between them.

The obi cinched her waist dramatically, emphasizing the lush curve of her hips and the mature swell of her backside. Every movement made the fabric shift and cling.

Kotoha's slender frame looked equally devastating. The yukata draped over her petite frame, hinting at perky breasts and the sweet curve of her hips without revealing too much.

The way the collar gaped slightly when she moved showed the pale skin of her collarbone and the beginning slope of her chest.

"Doesn't it feel like we're at a summer festival?" Kotoha smiled happily.

"We should go to one together."

"I would love to!"

"Hikari-san?"

"I don't want to intrude..." She looked away.

"Come on, Mom!"

"If you insist." A helpless smile touched her lips.

I unpacked Kotoha's lunch, laying out the utensils on the low table.

"You should eat before the hot spring."

"I guess I should. I'm getting a little hungry."

I turned to Hikari. "Will you go in first? I'll stay with Kotoha."

"I'll go first then."

Hikari slid open the glass door to our private onsen. Steam billowed out, obscuring everything beyond. Not that I would look. I wouldn't make her uncomfortable.

Kotoha picked up her chopsticks and nibbled on her rice like a small animal.

"Souta-kun! Sit next to me!" She patted the floor mat beside her.

"Sure."

I sat and she immediately snuggled against my chest. "I finally get you to myself..."

"We've been together all day."

"But still. I need to recharge my Souta-battery!"

"Okay. Recharge all you want."

"Hehe~"

She ate her now-cold lunch while leaning against me.

"So about tonight... do you remember..?" Her voice dropped to a whisper, face flushing.

"About sleeping together?"

"You said it so casually..."

"I'm nervous too. Did you talk to Hikari-san?"

"Not yet... It's hard to bring up. Maybe I should just sneak out... hehe~"

"I'd prefer if you talked to her first."

Sneaking out wasn’t the problem. This was about planting seeds for our future for the harem I was carefully building.

"Since you insist. Maybe I'll just get her drunk tonight!"

"I didn't know you were such a bad girl."

"You made me this way, you know?"

"Then I suppose I have to take responsibility."

Kotoha licked her lips. "How will you take responsibility?"

"By taking care of you tonight."

"Hehe~"

She finally put her chopsticks down.

"All done! Thanks for the meal! I'm going in now!"

"Don't slip."

"Souta-kun, don't you want to join us?~"

"I wouldn't want to make Hikari-san uncomfortable."

"For some reason, I think Mom wouldn't mind."

With that, Kotoha disappeared through the glass door into the steam.

Was that what you would call a woman's intuition? Nothing was certain with Hikari yet, but Kotoha's sense told me I was on the right path. Once I fully claimed Kotoha, she wouldn't mind my relationship with Hikari. Hikari deserved happiness too.

While they bathed, I went to buy milk from the reception. Nothing beat cold milk after a hot spring. Imagining their happy faces warmed me.

They returned from the bath refreshed, hair damp, yukatas clinging tighter to their bodies. A deadly sight for a man with eyes only for them.

I imagined how refreshing it would be to drink milk straight from Hikari after her long bath. Kotoha could join too.

"Welcome back. I bought you milk."

"Thank you, Souta-kun. Very considerate." Hikari held the bottle to her chest with a kind smile.

Hikari-mama, have you ever tasted your own milk? Or would you prefer to drink mine?

"Souta-kun, have I ever told you how good you are at taking care of people? Hehe~" Kotoha giggled.

"Only for you two."

"Oh my... Souta-kun, you can’t hit on two people at once." Hikari brought a hand to her lips.

"Gosh..." Kotoha flushed to her ears.