"You really shouldn't push yourself." Zuikaku said as she dip a towel into a bucket full of icy water. "If it's too hot for you, you could just say so. Summer could suck for some of us. We'd understand."

"I'm not pushing myself." Kaga said, her face as stoic as ever.

"Oh, stop trying to hide it. Your attempt to stay dignified is starting to get old."

Kaga kept silent, but Zuikaku knew she's just hiding her bruised pride behind that emotionless facade. A futile attempt seeing how she's currently lying on a mattress on the floor, barely able to feel her fingers because of dehydration.

"It's not your fault that you were made with no regards for ventilation systems. You don't need to try to compensate for anything."

"I don't-"

"Just open your clothes, please."

Kaga stared at Zuikaku with a challenging look, clearly not liking being ordered around. Zuikaku returned the favor with her deadpan face.

"Do you want me to strip you?"

Kaga opened her mouth, but whatever word she was about to say was halted when Zuikaku suddenly kissed her.

"Look, I care about you, okay? And your pride is making this difficult. Just for a while, can you please let someone help you?"

Kaga lay frozen for a while, looking at Zuikaku with a conflicted look. But soon she sat up and loosened her robe.

"Thank you." Zuikaku said.

After putting Kaga's discarded clothes away, Zuikaku pulled out the wet towel from the bucket and gave it a good twist, before slipping it between Kaga's armpits and over her chest. Well, at least she tried to.

"Damn. The towel isn't long enough."

Zuikaku thought that the length would be sufficient, but her senior's breasts were a bit larger than she had thought.

"Wait here. I'll see if I can get another one."

Zuikaku began to stand up, but then she felt something tugging on her sleeve. She looked down and saw Kaga holding on to her clothes.

"What is it?" Zuikaku asked, giving out a polite smile.

"Ah." Kaga gasped, seemingly as confused as Zuikaku. She probably did not mean to actually grab Zuikaku, but people could act without thinking after a heatstroke.

"I…" Kaga paused, thinking of her next word carefully. "Don't go."

"What?"

Zuikaku wondered if her senior was being delirious.

"I don't need it...the towel."

Zuikaku sighed. "Still trying to play the tough girl, huh? That's bad for someone your age, you know? At least allow me to wipe you off."

"Huh?"

"It'll help to cool you. You're soaked with sweat anyway. Might as well clean up. Come on, sit up."

Zuikaku encountered surprisingly little resistance as she pulled Kaga up by the hand, exposing the usually white skin of her back, now red from irritation and heat.

"Hm, you kinda smell, Kaga-san." Zuikaku said jokingly.

"S-shut up."

Slowly and carefully, Zuikaku began to use the towel to scrub sweat off her senior's body. She began from her back, using both hands to press the wet towel hard onto her skin. She had to move Kaga's hair out of the way, since the usually tied hair now hang loosely like a black waterfall.

"Lift your arms, please."

Kaga obediently raised her arms, exposing her armpits. Zuikaku worked fast here, since she knew from previous experience that Kaga was pretty sensitive around these areas.

"I'm going to clean your breasts now, okay?" Zuikaku asked for permission, which Kaga responded with a barely noticeable nod.

Zuikaku used one hand to lift Zuikaku breasts, one at a time, while using her other hand to wipe under them. She could feel Kaga squirming as she cleaned between the folds of her flesh.

"Heh." Zuikaku chuckled, amused. "For all your posturing you're surprisingly vulnerable."

Before Kaga could talk back, Zuikaku put her index fingers and thumbs around Kaga's nipples, baiting a gasp from the older carrier.

Zuikaku kept on teasing. Kaga's back went limp, making her fall closer into Zuikaku. Zuikaku found this quite amusing until Kaga's back pressed against her chest and she realized how hot her senior was getting.

"Whoops. Probably shouldn't have done that." Zuikaku apologized half heartedly as she stopped her shenanigan and continued cleaning Kaga's body.

"You…" Kaga bit her lip, not sure of what to say next. "...ass."

Zuikaku just responded with a naughty grin.