Chapter 19: The Misadventure of the Misguided Massage

The air in Room 204 is damp and sticky with humidity.

Wearing a sweater soaked with tears streaming from her eyes and sweat dripping from her body, clinging tightly to her skin.

Strands of hair stick to the saliva around her mouth.

I quietly stare at the ‘shy guest,’ trembling pitifully, lying half-fainted on the bed, and think.

‘How… How did it come to this…??’

She looked exhausted today, so I only wanted to give her a ‘massage.’

But the scene before me now.

Even someone as oblivious as me can tell.

“Hoh… Uhk—♡”

This is not the reaction of someone who received just a ‘refreshing massage.’

To understand how we got here.

We need to go back twenty minutes, to when I first offered her the massage.

Twenty minutes before ‘that incident.’

“Yes, customer! I’ll come to your room shortly!”

The shy guest agreed to my offer of a massage as room service.

After nodding in acknowledgment, she turns and heads to her room.

I return to the counter to make thorough preparations.

‘…Alright. This is my chance. Let’s make sure the shy guest is completely satisfied.’

It might sound surprising, but I’m somewhat skilled at massages.

Before I ended up here, I had a hobby of learning about massages through various videos.

Things like ‘where to press to relieve full-body tension.’

Or ‘what posture to use to ease fatigue.’

I studied and memorized these alone in my room.

A weird hobby? Sure, you could think that.

But I had a ‘solid reason’ for making massages, stretching, and self-massage my hobby.

The reason is simple: no matter where I went or who massaged me.

I never once felt the ‘refreshing’ relief from muscle pain or stiffness.

“Huff… Huff… Customer… Why is your body so… I’m sorry…”

“Customer, is your body made of steel(?) or something? If you don’t feel anything when I press here, there’s nothing we can do…”

“This… It shouldn’t be this hard…? Hold on, doctor!!”

I visited renowned massage parlors and stretching studios.

But all I got were stupid questions about whether my ‘normal human’ body was made of steel.

I never felt the refreshing relief I sought.

‘That’s why the shy guest’s massage yesterday was so special. It was the first time I felt ‘refreshed’ in my life…’

So, I chose to self-study massages through videos.

It’s not professional-level, of course.

But when I massaged myself, it felt refreshing enough.

If I use all this knowledge to give the shy guest the perfect massage…!!

‘Satisfaction and favorability? It’s only a matter of time.’

Enough reminiscing.

Now, I need to prepare the ‘perfect massage’ for the shy guest based on my memorized techniques.

‘First, the shy guest is a delicate woman, so pressing too hard or doing painful stretches will make her uncomfortable.’

The most important thing is to ensure the massage doesn’t hurt.

So, I rule out intense ‘dry massages’ and ‘joint stretches.’

A soft, relaxing oil or aromatherapy massage would be ideal, but.

Naturally, this motel doesn’t have massage oils or aromatherapy supplies.

Plus, suggesting such an intimate(?) massage to someone I haven’t built favorability with would be the worst choice.

‘…Oh!’

While pondering, a great video comes to mind.

One of the more recent massage videos I watched before ending up here.

‘What was the title? Something… sensation… stimulation massage?’

I don’t recall the exact title.

But it wasn’t an intense full-body or joint-stretching massage.

Nor was it a complicated massage requiring oils or aromatherapy.

It was definitely something ‘soft’ and ‘gentle,’ that kind of vibe.

Plus, in the video, a male massage therapist was working on a female client…

And the female client looked quite happy(?), so…

No need to hesitate.

‘I’ve decided. This won’t hurt her and will make her feel good.’

I choose the perfect massage for the shy guest.

The title’s a bit unclear, but.

I clearly remember the massage techniques from the video, so it shouldn’t be an issue.

For the remaining fifteen minutes.

I review my memory and prepare for today’s ‘room service.’

Fifteen minutes later.

Fully prepared, I grab a ‘clean towel’ to wipe her sweat, a ‘spare blanket.’

And a blindfold, just in case she gets shy again, and head to Room 204.

‘Phew… Don’t be nervous. It’s just room service.’

I tell myself not to be nervous.

But as I reach the room’s door, my heart races.

My flushed face quietly whispers that it’s not that simple.

And no wonder—when I received a massage, I had my eyes closed, so I managed.

But now, I’m the one giving her a massage.

The thought of massaging her soft, provocative body, barely covered by a plain ‘sweater,’ under the guise of a ‘massage’…

My barely-held-together reason might snap, and my hidden virgin instincts might surface.

It might even be my ‘destiny.’

But overcoming that destiny is my task, isn’t it?

My goal here is to build favorability, enjoy a ‘happy romance’ with a heroine, and achieve ‘pure love X.’

For that goal, I can endure this trial.

With that thought, my racing heart calms.

My flushed face cools, and I regain my composure.

Knock knock knock.

“Room service, customer!”

Steeling myself, I knock on the door.

Creak…

The door opens, and I finally face the shy guest.

“…Ah. Uh.”

“May I come in for a moment?”

“Come—in—”

“Yes, I’ll step inside then.”

Led by her hand, I enter the well-organized Room 204.

*

Thankfully, the interior of Room 204 is clean and tidy.

Just to be safe, I glance around for anything to clean up.

“Come—here—”

“Yes, got it!”

The shy guest, sitting on the bed, gestures for me to come closer.

I cautiously sit on the bed.

“—Still. Strange.”

She scoots closer.

Tilting her head, she curiously touches my wrist with her slender, pale fingers.

An awkward silence and wrist-touching continue for a minute.

“…Customer, may I start the massage when you’re ready?”

Unable to bear the awkwardness, I speak first.

“Massage—?”

“Yes, the customized room service you signed up for earlier.”

“Uh. Uhm—Okay—”

At my suggestion to start the massage, she nods and lies down on the bed.

Flop…

“…Customer?”

“Uh—?”

“You shouldn’t lie face-up. Please lie face-down.”

“This—isn’t—how?”

“…No.”

“Strange—”

Tilting her head again at my request to lie face-down.

She complies, turning over and lying face-down on the bed.

I can start the massage without issue.

“Here we go.”

“Ah. Uh—”

Press—

“Ah. Uh—?”

Press—!!

“Ah. Uht—!?”

Following the movements from the video, I gently press her pale arms.

The shy guest quickly covers her mouth to stifle a moan and glances at me.

“Customer? Is something wrong?”

“…What’s—this?”

“Oh, it’s a massage to gently relieve muscle tension for women.”

“…This—is—massage?”

“Oh, was it too strong? I can go lighter.”

“…Uh.”

Nodding slightly at my question, perhaps because it hurt, she buries her face in the soft pillow.

Her harmless, cute reaction eases my lingering ‘tension.’

With my nerves relaxed, the clutter in my mind fades, letting me focus more on the massage.

‘Alright, let’s do this again with focus…!!’

Press!!

“Ah. Hit—!?”

Press!!

“Uh. Uht—!?”

Press!!

“Ah. At—!?”

Just like in the video.

I alternate between her soft thighs and calves, pressing gently.

Her body trembles with faint moans.

Her breathing grows so heavy I can hear it, showing how refreshed she must feel.

She seems even more satisfied than I expected, so there’s no time to hesitate.

Next, her arms, which were trembling earlier.

Rub…

“Hit—!?”

Knead—!!

“Hit!? Hihit—!?”

Her body shakes even more as I massage her soft arms.

Her breathing grows rougher, suggesting her arms were the most tense.

‘Alright, now for the next—’

Smack!!

Just as I’m about to move to the next step.

The shy guest, her face flushed red, grabs my hand and says.

“Stop—it—Enough—now—”

“What do you mean?”

“Hngh…?”

“The massage hasn’t even started yet.”

But at that moment.

Focused solely on the massage, free of distractions, I don’t stop despite her plea.

The ‘perfect massage’ I prepared hasn’t even begun.