Let's Build a Bath!
"Alright, Grey. First, I'm thinking we dig a hole like this."
"Kyu."
"Then we'll put wooden boards here."
"Kyu… kyu kyu?"
"Oh, right. It'd go like this…"
Since early morning, Grey and I have been outside the cabin, staring at the ground.
We've drawn a diagram there, tossing ideas back and forth to create a rough blueprint for something.
"Kyu. Kyu kyu, kyu?"
"Yeah, you're right—this might leak water… Grey, can your threads help with that?"
"Kyu… kyu kyu!"
"Oh, that could work? Then maybe here too?"
"Kyu!"
I sketch the diagram with a stick, while Grey scratches the ground with its sharp front legs.
Bit by bit, a blueprint takes shape.
"Alright… now, just a bit more—"
As I'm about to add a final line to the blueprint, a sudden gust of wind blows from behind.
Turning around, I see Filmera-san, her butterfly-like wings spread, landing on the ground.
"Oh, Filmera-san!"
"Yes! Yukiya-sama, good morning. As promised, I'm back—Eek!?"
The moment Filmera-san touches the ground, she seems to trip over a pebble, stumbling forward.
"Dangerous!"
I reach out to help her.
Filmera-san grabs my hand but, with too much momentum, ends up crashing into my chest.
Her face and upper body press against mine.
Filmera-san isn't petite, but she's a head shorter than me, with a slender build. Her body is delicate, slim, and fair-skinned.
Instinctively, I put my hands on her waist to steady her, and even through her clothes, I can feel how remarkably slim and curved it is.
Her face is hidden by a mask and hood, but being this close, her floral scent tickles my nose.
"U-Um… Yukiya-sama…?"
Filmera-san looks up at me from my chest.
Her eyes are slightly teary, her pupils dilating and contracting, and I feel her hand, still holding mine, growing warm.
I snap back to reality.
"Oh, s-sorry! That was uncomfortable, right? I'm so sorry!"
I quickly let go of her hand and step back.
Filmera-san lets out a soft "Ah…" and reaches out slightly, grasping at the air before pulling her hand back to her chest with her other hand.
"N-No…! It wasn't uncomfortable, and I didn't think it was bad at all…! Thank you for helping me. I'm really grateful!"
She meets my eyes, her gaze shyly darting, speaking softly with a slight bow.
It's a habit of hers—tugging and releasing the hem of her miniskirt, like I've seen before—thanking me in a faint voice.
"By the way, what are you and Grey-sama doing…?"
"Oh, right… Well, this is—"
"Kyu! Kyu kyu!"
As I start to explain, Grey hops onto my shoulder, pointing a leg at Filmera-san.
It's almost like a protest, and Filmera-san, singled out by Grey's leg, tilts her head in confusion.
"Uh, Grey-sama…?"
"Kyu!!"
When Filmera-san says Grey's name, it points at her again, as if making a point.
"…Could it be you don't like being called Grey-sama?"
"Kyu!"
Grey nods, affirming her guess.
"That's amazing… Yukiya-sama, you understand Grey-sama's words?"
"No, I don't really understand. I just… kinda get what it's trying to say."
We've only been together a few days, but I can communicate with Grey.
I don't understand its words, but I pick up on its expressions, tone, movements, and poses—vaguely, but enough.
"W-Well… Is it okay if I call you Grey-chan, then…?"
"Kyu!? Kyu kyu…"
Called "-chan" for the first time, Grey jumps in surprise.
After a moment's thought, it raises both front legs, forming a circle as if saying, "Fine, I guess."
"Looks like Grey-chan is okay with that."
"Really? That's a relief. Nice to meet you, um… Grey-chan?"
"Kyu!"
Grey raises one leg in response, then points the other at Filmera-san.
It's like asking for a handshake. Filmera-san, though puzzled, gently pinches Grey's leg, sharing a brief handshake.
"Hehehe. It's surprisingly cute, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it's endearing, or something like that."
Grey is my emotional oasis.
Its mascot-like appearance, adorable movements, hard-working nature, and understanding make it a true companion.
"So, what were you and Grey-chan doing?"
"Oh, right, we didn't finish that. We're making a blueprint for something."
"A blueprint…?"
I show Filmera-san the diagram on the ground.
But it doesn't seem to click, as she tilts her head curiously at our sketch.
"Um… what's this?"
"It's a blueprint for an open-air bath. We sweat a lot moving around all day, right? Sleeping like that feels unclean, so we're building an outdoor bath to wash up."
Yes, Grey and I are making a bath to refresh both body and mind.
Baths are great. They relieve fatigue and clear mental fog.
Regular baths are fine, but I love hot springs too. So I decided to build an open-air bath outside.
"A bath… like a hot spring, right? Is there a hot spring source around here?"
"No, we'll dig a tub and fill it with hot water."
"I see… Just plain hot water? Hot springs are for health or relaxation due to their properties, but I've never heard of using plain hot water for a bath."
Filmera-san studies the blueprint with interest, though she seems deep in thought.
From what she says, in this world—or at least in her understanding—hot springs are more common than baths.
Hot springs for health and relaxation seem universal, but baths don't appear familiar.
Maybe there's little demand for them.
"For cleaning, a water bath works, and if that's not possible, there's magic."
"Magic?"
"Yes. There's a holy attribute magic called 'Clean' that instantly removes dirt and odors from your body!"
Her explanation makes sense.
In my previous life, there was no magic. You needed plumbing for water, a gas stove or lighter for fire.
But this is a world of magic.
Water, fire, and even staying clean can be handled with magic.
Thinking that way, it's no surprise bath culture didn't catch on.
But I'm a Japanese man with a love for tradition. Even with convenient magic, I want to soak in a bath.
"Baths are wonderful. You can relax, and they reset your body and mind."
"I see, a reset for body and mind… That's something magic can't replicate. Now that I imagine it, it sounds nice. But can you just build one?"
"That's where Grey shines."
When I mention Grey, it hops onto me, places its legs on my waist, and puffs out its chest proudly.
Filmera-san, not quite following, puts a finger to her chin and tilts her head.
"We'll dig a pit and lay wooden boards. Then fill it with hot water. But water might leak or seep through the board gaps, right?"
"True."
"That's where Grey's threads come in. Grey, can you show her?"
"Kyu!"
Grey wiggles its rear, producing white threads from its abdomen and passing them to Filmera-san with its front legs.
"! This… it's like silk!"
"Exactly. And those threads repel water. We'll dig the pit, reinforce it with Grey's threads, lay the boards, reinforce again with threads, and fill it with hot water to make the bath."
"Kyu kyu!"
As if saying, "That's the plan!" Grey crosses its legs and nods.
Filmera-san, meanwhile, is captivated by the threads' texture, stroking them and pressing them to her cheek.
"To make such high-quality threads… as expected…"
"…? Filmera-san?"
"Oh! S-Sorry, I got carried away. By the way, Yukiya-sama, I have a small suggestion… Would you hear me out?"
Leaning forward slightly, Filmera-san asks.
Her slightly coy, almost unconsciously persuasive tone catches me off guard, making my heart skip.
"Y-Yes, what is it?"
"Looking at the blueprint, you're digging the ground, right? But I don't see any digging tools around. Is that okay?"
"Oh… I forgot the most important part."
"So, if you'll treat me to delicious food again like yesterday… I could offer something special?"
With that, Filmera-san draws a white magic circle in the air, and a pointed shovel pops out.
Then come a small pickaxe for breaking stones, a hammer, a saw for woodworking—various tools emerge.
"Uh, I appreciate it, but… those are your goods, right? Is it okay to give them to me?"
"Of course. We should use the tools we have, right? And personally, I'd love for you to be happy with this, Yukiya-sama… Was I overstepping…?"
She looks up at me, peering into my face.
Whether she's aware of it, her upturned gaze is adorable even with her face hidden, piercing my heart.
But her desire to help is genuine.
She's offering tools on the condition of a meal, likely to make it easier for me to accept without feeling indebted.
Honestly, getting all these tools for just a meal? Even I can tell she's being considerate.
Still, she doesn't say it outright, which shows how kind and pure-hearted she is.
"…Alright. I'll take you up on your offer, Filmera-san."
"! Y-Yes! Please, use them freely! I'll help however I can too!"
Filmera-san pulls out more tools from the magic circle.
Camping chairs, a small table, a lantern, a sunshade tent… It feels like she's giving me more than expected.
Feeling a bit guilty for her overwhelming kindness, I give Grey instructions, and the three of us—Filmera-san included—start working on the bath tub.
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