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Volume 1 Chapter 7-2: Bathing Area

I see, so this is how it is. Beyond the door was a room around the same size as the changing room and on the opposite wall water trickled out of a spout.

Compared to the showers I was used to in Japan, the amount of water and the force of it were completely insufficient, but I wonder if in this world it was a luxury only those who were rich could afford.

For now I placed Sakura-chan on one of the shelves before taking a tub and letting the flowing water fill it. I placed my towel on the side of the tub and scooped up some water to wash my face.

Ahhh so nice! It wasn’t too cold and the water was fresh and clean. The refreshing feeling was far beyond what I expected, but it was no wonder since this was the first opportunity I had to wash my face in this new world.

With pleasure I wiped my face with the towel then soaked it and began wiping down my body.

「Ahhhhhhh….」

I couldn’t help but sigh. Thinking back, hardly a day went by without me entering a bath back in Japan. It seems like unbeknownst to me, the absence of the ability to clean myself off like usual had been stressing me.

Wiping down my body wasn’t enough, so I placed my head underneath the water and began scrubbing with my fingers. I wish I had some soap or shampoo, but as expected they wouldn’t provide that for me. In the first place I didn’t even know if they existed in this world. I should ask Sistina later.

Though I enjoyed bathing, I didn’t take too long.

Finally I wiped off my privates and squeezed the water out of my cold towel before wearing it and grabbing Sakura-chan to re-enter the changing room.

Sakura-chan conveyed her desire to try washing herself in water, but since it’d be bad if she rusted I had to tell her to wait until she learned how to become human.

In the first place I didn’t know how to make her grow but…

『Arms Appraisal』

『Sakura Rank: D+ Refining Lvl: 33 Essence Lvl: 47
Skills: Empathy Sense Presence Agility Correction
Accuracy Correction Magic Correction』

I felt like if I could raise the 『Refining Lvl』 then I could raise Sakura-chan’s rank.

I believe raising her level would also raise her combat effectiveness, so I wanted to give it a try before we entered the Tower.

Other than that was 『Essence Level』. I was completely mystified by it. I had to try various things from now on to figure it out.

I really wanted to speak with Sakura-chan properly.

I felt refreshed as I wore my clothes and I returned to the waiting room feeling content. I looked around a bit and indeed neither Hotaru-san or Sistina had come back out.

Hotaru-san didn’t have any actual experience bathing herself, but I think she should be fine…well since it was just soaking in water she should be alright.

More than that I was curious about how Sistina was actually doing the laundry. Could it be she was squatting naked in front of the wash tub and scrubbing them? I would love to see such a surreal sight myself.

As I thought those foolish thoughts, Hotaru-san approached leisurely.

「How was your first bathing session Hotaru-san?」
「n. This kind of thing isn’t bad at all. The bit of tension from pouring cool water on my flesh is quite interesting. I wonder if entering a hot bath would produce a relaxing effect…well my ability to experience that would have to rely on your resourcefulness Soujirou ja.」
「Well that is a grave responsibility indeed.」
「Hmm, it looks like Sistina will take a while yet. It would be a waste of time so why don’t we do some training?」
「Huh?」

We’re going to start training? Here? It looks like she had been serious about her promise of grueling training.

「Don’t worry too much. I’ll make it a bit enjoyable for you.」

Hotaru-san said before observing the surroundings.

「That should be fine. Half of this break room should be good enough.」
「Umm what will we be…」
「Fondle」
「Hah?」
「I’m saying you can fondle my chest ja. Based on how you went wild earlier you must have quite a bit built up inside you.」

Of course I did. Ever since we came to this world I hadn’t had a single moment to myself to ‘deal’ with things.

「You can use all that power to rub my breasts. However, I won’t let you get what you desire so easily…within this half of the room I will dodge you.」

Oho, so she was using those swaying mountains as bait in a game of tag. Alright, I have no reason to refuse. I’ll do my best to rub those peaks in this room.

「I accept the challenge!」
「Fufu, an immediate answer hm? But that’s good. Though there are not many people around this is, in fact, a public place. If you bump into anyone or we get warned then the contest is over. Of course, once Sistina comes out then the contest is similarly, over.」
「…I got it. So basically I gotta finish this quick.」
「Soujirou you really….well whatever. Once you try you’ll understand. Come whenever you want.」

I could no longer register Hotaru-san’s amazed face. My eyes were only for those jiggling 『peaks』.

The 『peaks』 were right before my eyes as I casually reached out my hand to grasp them. But the 『peaks』 smoothly slipped away. Tsk! I couldn’t help but smack my lips as I pursued. But those 『peaks』 always remained a certain distance away from me and swayed and dodged my hands.

Seemingly within reach but always unobtainable.

But even so I chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase, chase

As I continued chasing my lower half began to calm down a bit and I was able to focus my eyes on 『the one』 I was chasing rationally.

『They』 were moving calmly. They did not waver or shake. Looking more closely they were closer to the ground and their center of gravity was lower. As I was drawn forward by the movements my own center of gravity lowered. Ah that’s right! Lower my center and catch the ground as if throwing my body….the low gravity movement had taught me before.

Furthermore, the median line balancing and vertically stable sliding movement she taught me later. Once I became aware of it the 『chest』 came closer.

That’s right, this was Hotaru-san’s chest. Hotaru-san’s chest going Boi~ng boi~ng as it guided me in my movements. Match those movements and make my body go…

「Hey you! What the heck are you guys doing!?」
「Ah…」

The sudden voice caused something to suddenly snap in my thought process. My field of view widened again.

「I was wondering why nobody was coming out…you’re obstructing my business by distracting the customers!」

It looks like the attendant at the front was confused why the people who were going inside weren’t coming out and came to check.

There they had found Hotaru-san and I playing tag while the curious onlookers just watched.

「Well…I don’t think they were bothering us…right?」
「Yeah that’s true. Half of this place is still open and none of us got bumped into.」
「Ahh…even the guys who tried to get bumped into ended up getting dodged.」
「In fact they showed us something good. Those strange clothes and that body.」
「Right right! Seems like it’ll slip out, but it doesn’t. Looks like we’ll see it, but we don’t.」s
「Hahaha! That’s why you’re stooped over isn’t it?」
「Shut up! You should be hiding the tent you’re pitching too!」

After seeing the customers acting so lively and ridiculous the attendant rubbed their temple and sighed.

Since it was fairly late and most of the women had left already we hadn’t been stopped immediately.

This world didn’t have street lamps so when night fell it became dark quickly. For that reason many women returned home early and most of them bathed before dinner time.

「Fuu, it seems like that’s all for now Soujirou. I was worried how it’d be at first, but once you sublimated some of your worldly desire your movements weren’t bad. If you keep those movements in mind in your daily life then in combat you won’t make any unsightly movements.」
「….hahaha」

To use my worldly desires to get me to train…I couldn’t do anything but laugh. Rather than frustration or helplessness, maybe I should feel a bit happy that Hotaru-san understood and accepted me to such a degree.

「Umm…the two of you. What were you doing? We’re really attracting a lot of attention…」

Sistina asked as she emerged from her room with a pile of laundry and a suspicious look on her face.