Chapter 89 - The Swimsuit Bra

  The Space Cruise Ship had finally departed from the docks, its engines humming softly beneath the polished floors. A subtle weightlessness tugged at my stomach as we drifted into the starry expanse. Now, we were free to do whatever we wanted.

  Myrrh and I stood by the balcony, the cool glass railing pressing against our palms as we gazed out over the sprawling metropolis of Xyraxis. The city shimmered like a sea of jewels beneath us — skyscrapers spearing the sky, their glass facades catching the ambient glow of neon signs and traffic streams.

  After soaking in the view, we made our way to the upper deck. The outdoor pool sprawled before us, its surface shimmering under artificial sunlight that bathed the area in warmth. People lounged on deck chairs, their swimsuits catching the light as they basked in the rays, while others splashed about in the clear blue water. Despite the growing crowd, the pool still looked inviting, the water rippling softly as if beckoning us in.

  “Hey, want to play in the pool first?” Myrrh asked, a playful glint in her eyes and a smile tugging at her lips.

  “But I didn’t bring a swimsuit.” I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. “You never told me we were going to get wet.”

  “We can rent some from the counter,” Myrrh giggled, her fingers slipping around my wrist. “Come on!”

  The rental counter was tucked near the poolside, its sleek metallic surface reflecting the soft light. The swimsuits on offer were… uninspired — rows of identical designs neatly folded in compartments. At least they were free.

  I grabbed a plain pair of white swim shorts. Slipping into them felt a little awkward; standing there shirtless made me suddenly self-conscious. My body wasn’t exactly remarkable — no chiseled abs, no bulging muscles — just flat. Not skinny, not hefty… just me.

  Then Myrrh stepped out of the changing booth.

  My breath caught. She had chosen a pure white bikini, the color stark against her smooth, sun-kissed skin. The top struggled to contain her ample curves, and the delicate straps hugged her shoulders, barely holding on. Her hips swayed slightly with each step, the fabric of her bikini bottoms hugging her frame in a way that made my heart skip.

  Her long lime-blonde hair, usually tied back, tumbled down her back in gentle waves, catching the light like strands of silk. The artificial sunlight kissed her bare skin, making her glow almost ethereally, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

  I couldn’t help but drool inside my mind. My face burned, and I knew I was blushing hard just looking at Myrrh, but at this point, there was no hiding it.

  “Hey.” Myrrh placed a hand on her hip, her brow arched and a teasing smirk on her lips. “Are you just going to stand there fantasizing about me, or are we actually going to play in the pool?”

  “L-Let’s go!” I stammered, desperate to escape the moment. Without thinking, I sprinted towards the pool and leaped in, tucking my knees into my chest for a cannonball.

  “Hey!” Myrrh’s voice rang out behind me, but it was too late.

  I crashed into the water with a loud splash, sending ripples and droplets flying in all directions. As I surfaced, slicking my hair back, I saw Myrrh standing at the edge of the pool, hands on her hips and an exasperated pout on her lips.

  “Geez! You’re supposed to stretch first!” she scolded.

  “I know how to swim, thank you!” I called back, playfully waving my hand.

  Myrrh sighed, rolling her eyes before stepping back to limber up. What happened next felt like a cruel joke on my already flustered self. She started stretching, arching her back and raising her arms above her head, her body moving with a slow, almost hypnotic grace. Each pose seemed designed to make my heart pound faster — the way her hips swayed, the curve of her back, the gentle bounce when she shifted her weight from one leg to the other.

  Thank every star in the galaxy that half my body was submerged in the cool water because "Johnny" was definitely threatening to arise like an undead soldier. At least this way, she wouldn’t notice just how much she was affecting me.

  Finally, Myrrh stepped to the pool’s edge and crouched down like a pro. With a graceful push, she dove into the water, slicing through the surface like an Olympic swimmer. The sunlight shimmered off her skin as she glided forward, her body moving effortlessly beneath the surface. In a matter of seconds, she reached the other end of the pool, her lime-blonde long hair trailing behind her like a streak of light.

  “Wha…?” I blinked, barely processing what I’d just witnessed. Shaking off my surprise, I kicked off the wall and swam after her, but it quickly became clear that she was on another level. My strokes felt clumsy in comparison — each one a desperate attempt to catch up while she glided ahead, sleek and swift like a mermaid.

  No fair. How was she this good at swimming too?

  “I thought you were a good swimmer, but it seems I’m better. This is just a basic skill,” Myrrh teased, flicking her wet hair over her shoulder with a smug grin.

  “Nobody asked you to brag, and this isn’t a competition!” I shot back. Without warning, I scooped up a handful of water and splashed it right at her face. “Hiya!”

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  “Eeek!” Myrrh squealed, flinching as the water hit her. “Oh, you’re so gonna get it!” She retaliated with a wave of water, sending droplets flying at me.

  Laughter filled the air as we went back and forth, playing like kids in the pool, each splash earning a shriek or a playful taunt. The sun glimmered off the rippling water, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the universe.

  After a few rounds of our impromptu water fight, I decided to switch tactics. Leaning closer with a mischievous smirk, I lowered my voice like I was about to share a dark secret.

  “Hey, hey, Myrrh…” I whispered. “Did you know? According to statistics, one out of five people pee in the pool. Who knows… maybe I just peed in the water I splashed on your face.” I wiggled my eyebrows dramatically.

  Myrrh’s face twisted in horror. Her cheeks flushed a deep pink as she recoiled, spluttering. “W-What?! Ewww!” She quickly dipped herself lower into the pool until the water reached her collarbones, hugging her arms around herself as if trying to shield her body from contamination.

  I couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction. She looked so defenseless, like a cornered kitten. Seeing my chance, I struck again.

  “Hiyah!” I splashed another wave of water at her, aiming right for her face.

  “W-Wait, Zaft…” Myrrh whimpered, her blue eyes locking onto mine. They shimmered beneath the artificial sunlight, wide and vulnerable, like a lost puppy abandoned in the rain.

  My heart skipped a beat. I hadn't expected that look. Suddenly, the teasing didn’t feel so fun anymore.

  I immediately sensed something was wrong. The playful atmosphere shifted, and I stopped splashing, wading closer to Myrrh. “What is it?” I asked, my voice softer now.

  “I-It got lost,” Myrrh mumbled, glancing around nervously.

  “What got lost? Your dignity?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood. "I thought you did not bring any."

  “Stop joking around!” she snapped, her face burning red. She waved me closer, leaning in until her breath tickled my ear. “I lost my bra.”

  “What?” I whipped my head toward her, eyes wide. That’s when I noticed her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her hands pressing down underwater to cover herself. Before I could even process what I’d heard, a splash of water hit me square in the face.

  “Don’t look!” Myrrh cried, her face a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. “Go help me find it instead!”

  “Fine, fine!” I sputtered, turning away and rubbing the water from my eyes. I scratched the back of my head, scanning the pool for any sign of the missing bikini top.

  The pool had gotten more crowded while we played. Kids splashed around in the shallows, couples lounged by the edges, and a few adults floated lazily in inflatable tubes. As I searched, a middle-aged man drifted past on a bright pink pool float, humming to himself. In an unfortunate twist of fate, the float bumped right into Myrrh, pushing her forward — straight into me.

  "Oh! Sorry!"

  “Kyah!” Myrrh yelped, flailing before latching onto my back like her life depended on it.

  That’s when I felt it. A soft, warm sensation pressed against my spine. My heart practically stopped. Time slowed down. Myrrh’s bare breasts squished against my back, her skin slick with pool water, and — oh, god — I could even feel the soft brush of her nipples. She clung to me like a koala, arms wrapped tightly around my neck, her breath hot against my ear.

  Angel choirs may as well have been singing. This had to be the most divine sensation a mortal could experience. My brain short-circuited. Every nerve in my body went haywire, caught between panic and… other feelings I really shouldn’t be having right now.

  “Myrrh,” I croaked, barely able to form words. “Y-You’re… kinda… um…”

  “S-Shut up!” she hissed, burying her face in the crook of my neck, her whole body trembling against mine. “Just find my bra already!”

  While basking in the heavenly sensation of Myrrh clinging to me, I finally spotted something white floating about ten meters away. Squinting against the sunlight reflecting off the water, I realized what it was — her bra, drifting aimlessly across the pool.

  “M-Myrrh…” I muttered, trying to keep my voice steady. “If you don’t let go of me, I won’t be able to get your bra.”

  “D-Don’t leave me!” she whimpered, clutching me even tighter. Her body pressed closer, and I nearly choked on my own breath. “There’s a lot of people around… and they’ll see!” Her voice cracked, trembling with embarrassment. “C-Call someone! Call the lifeguard, or Batman, or the Avengers or something! Anyone!”

  Hearing Myrrh on the verge of tears tugged at my heart, even if part of me found her reaction absolutely priceless. Still, she had treated me to this luxurious cruise — maybe it was time I acted like a proper gentleman. Just for today.

  Sighing, I raised my hand and called out to the nearest lifeguard. “Excuse me?”

  The female lifeguard, who had been casually observing the pool, turned her head. “What is it?” she asked, her tone relaxed.

  I swallowed my pride and pointed toward the drifting garment. “C-Can you please grab that swimsuit over there?” My face burned with embarrassment. “My girlfriend lost it while we were fooling around.”

  “I’m not your girlfriend!” Myrrh squealed into my ear, but her grip on me only tightened. If she was trying to strangle me, it wasn’t working — all she managed to do was press her soft curves even harder against my back, which really wasn’t helping me think straight.

  The lifeguard raised an eyebrow but remained unfazed. “Oh, okay.”

  I let out a shaky breath. This was going to be a long day.

  The lifeguard skillfully fetched the floating bra with a long retrieval pole, guiding it back toward us. Myrrh, still clinging to my back like a limpet, reached out and snatched it with a relieved sigh. We made our way to the pool’s edge, where she could dive underwater to fix the troublesome clasp in private.

  When Myrrh resurfaced, her long greenish-blonde hair glistened in the sunlight, droplets cascading down her flushed face. She pressed a hand to her chest, ensuring the bra was securely in place, and let out a long breath.

  “Haaaa… I knew this swimsuit’s lock would come off,” she muttered, adjusting the straps with a slight pout. “It’s not big enough to contain my breasts.”

  “Haha.” I forced out a laugh, trying my best to look anywhere but at her.

  That’s when Myrrh leaned in, her face inches from mine, eyes glimmering with mischief. “Zaft? Are you okay?” she asked, tilting her head. “Your nose is bleeding.”

  “H-Huh?” My eyes widened, and I instinctively wiped at my nose, only to find nothing there. “What are you talking about? There’s no—”

  I froze mid-sentence when I caught the playful smirk curling at her lips.

  “I’m pretty sure you’re having a nosebleed on the inside,” she teased, crossing her arms under her chest, which only served to push her "assets" up further. “After all, you did just get a nice, long hug from my well-rounded, soft bosoms. It’s understandable. No need to hide the fact that you’re simping for me and my sexy body.” She batted her eyelashes dramatically.

  I felt my face burn hotter than the sun. “I never should’ve helped you get that bra back.” I shot her a glare, puffing out my chest mockingly. “‘Oh, Zaft! Don’t lEaVe mE! ThEy miGhT sEe mY hUgE tITs!’” I mimicked in a high-pitched voice, wiggling my arms around like a distressed maiden.

  Instead of getting flustered, Myrrh just laughed — a soft, melodic sound that somehow made my heart race. She flicked a few drops of pool water at my face, her expression softening.

  “Anyway,” she said, stretching her arms above her head, “I’m famished. Let’s go eat! My treat!”

  She grabbed my wrist, tugging me along like an excited child, and I followed, wondering if my heart would survive the rest of this cruise.