Written by L.Wood
You jog out the school gates after Izumi, the sun was still high in the sky, casting a warm glow. Izumi was already far ahead of you, her quick long strides most likely a result of her just wanting this day to be over. "Hey, Izumi," you called out. "Since we're both getting out early, would it be okay if I walked you home?"
Izumi turned to him. "Why do you want to do that? Shouldn’t you be going home to rest?" Finally catching up to her you stop to catch your breath, “I can always do that after, and either way is a little company and conversation so bad after the day we’ve had?” Izumi looked off in thought smiled softly. "That's sweet of you. Sure, you can walk me home. I just need to pick up some groceries before I head home" Relieved, you fell into step beside her.
Looking behind her you can’t help but notice that her backpack looks close to bursting, and filled with what looks like every textbook the school gave to its students. “Can I carry any of those? You look like you’re going to snap in half!” you ask concerned. Izumi just looked at you unamused, “That better not be an innuendo.” She said flatly. You mentally slap yourself, “Your Books, I meant your books.”
You said gesturing to her bag. “That would be nice,” she sighed “especially with everything else I have to pick up.” She dropped her bag and began handing you many, MANY very big and very thick text books before putting her bag back on, obviously relieved at the lessened weight.
The walk to Izumi’s home was the epitome of the word ‘hard’, these book where HEAVY! Using every ounce of strength you had to make sure the tower didn’t fall over, you screamed and cursed internally, If your backpack was big enough you would’ve tried to sneakily shrink some of the worst offenders while putting them in, but your backpack was actually pretty small and was already at capacity with your things. But you had to stay quiet, Izumi had worried about you so much already, you didn’t need to get her worked up all over again…
While Izumi’s house was around the same distance from school as you house, the tower of learning material you were carrying made it feel 10 times the length… But that was before the groceries…
On top of the tower of text book, you now had 2 laden shopping bags hooked on each arm, you’d complain but Izumi had 4 on each arm… You really needed to find time to work out or something because this was ridiculous… AND HOW BIG IS HER FAMILIES FRIDGE?!?!?!
By the time you reached her home your arms feel as if they should’ve fallen off 2 blocks ago, and watching Izumi fumble with her keys to open the door was torture for you, but relief finally arrives as the door swings open and using the last of your strength you carefully dump both the books and the bags on the kitchen table. “I’m impressed Shujin, I’m genuinely surprised you managed all that.” Izumi said as she too placed her bags down. You huffed, catching your breath, “Yeah… I’m pretty good at holding ‘Heavy Thing’.” You say as you jokingly flex. Izumi cracks a smile at that, her whole face lighting up. Hopefully that means she’s feeling better now.
+3 Body score
Right… That’s how that works…
You take out your phone to check the time, before see Izumi role her shoulders and begin rubbing her back. “Izumi, you okay?” You ask genuinely concerned, "Yeah, just a bit sore is all” she said still rubbing her shoulder. You then realized, she’d walked all the way home without a bra on, i.e. with absolute no support at all! At her size that must’ve been as bad on her back as the books alone!
More unintended consequences to you decisions… Great.
That did give you an idea though, try and make the best of this while pushing you relationship with Izumi that much farther… here goes!
You hesitate for a moment before speaking. "You know, I used to give my sister back massages when she had similar issues. If you're okay with it, I could try to help you out." That was a complete and total Lie, you’ve never had a sister and you don’t even know if you have a sister in this universe.
Izumi looked to you with nothing but surprise and shock as her face turned beat red. By her utter lack of any other reaction you could only guess that you shorted something in her brain, and thinking about it you did just say that right out of nowhere.
(((Shujin, I’m going to be frank with you here, you should probably say something to sooth her sudden shock or else you’re probably going to be literally kicked to the curb with all this lovely progress you’ve made be wasted!)))
“Though your shirt!” you hastily add raising your arms in self-defence, “Just lay on your bed or the couch, wereever your most comfortable, and tell me where it hurts the most and I’ll do my best, if you want.” You quickly add.
Izumi looks at you with a mix of surprise and reluctance, her blush not weakening in the slightest. "I don't know, Shujin. It's kind of awkward, don't you think?” you smile reassuredly, "It's really no trouble, I just want to help. You’ve been through enough today because of me."
Izumi hesitated, weighing your offer. Hopefully the thought of relief was tempting enough. "I appreciate it, but... I don't know.", "Trust me," you say. "If it doesn't help or if you feel uncomfortable at any point, we can stop immediately. I promise." After a moment of contemplation, Izumi sighed and nodded. "Alright, but just for a few minutes. I really don't want to be a bother."