A public bathhouse near the Hiratsuka residence.
"Asakura."
As Asakura held the disposable underwear and compressed towel he had bought from the convenience store (bathhouses actually provide towels, but Asakura usually preferred bringing his own) and prepared to enter the men's bath, Hiratsuka Shizuka suddenly called out to him and handed him a hundred-yen coin.
Asakura looked at her, somewhat confused.
"If it's for a blessing, five yen is enough."
"What kind of weird nonsense are you talking about?"
"No, I think the weird thing is your behavior, Hiratsuka-sensei."
"This is for a drink. After you come out, remember to buy a bottle from the vending machine by the entrance. Consider it my treat."
"If it's for a drink, why not just go to the convenience store..." Asakura said, puzzled.
While vending machines were convenient, the convenience store had the advantage in both variety and price, and this public bathhouse wasn't far from one...
"First!" Hiratsuka Shizuka held up a finger.
"Never act on impulse?" Asakura chimed in naturally.
"Absolutely not! Don't just interrupt me with random lines!"
The older beauty rolled her eyes at him.
"I see you really don't understand, Asakura. Drinking an ice-cold beverage immediately after a bath is the true essence of bathhouse culture! By the time you walk to a convenience store, your body has already cooled down, and it's no different from drinking one normally!"
"I see."
Actually, Asakura had felt the same way before, but he knew that if he admitted it now, she would become incredibly smug. So, he didn't say much and simply gave a seasoned "straight man" nod of agreement.
"Another reason is that this bathhouse has been open for many years. While the technology certainly can't compete with those new luxury bathhouses, they still insist on using traditional bath salts and boilers, which makes for a truly different experience. For the people around here, this is the place of their memories. Also, to take care of the regulars, their fees are very cheap and they barely make a profit. They rely on selling drinks and other value-added services just to break even."
Hiratsuka Shizuka continued: "So buying a drink from the vending machine here after a bath is a sort of unspoken agreement among the locals who come here."
"I see..." Asakura looked at her with a meaningful gaze.
"Why are you looking at me with that weird look?" Hiratsuka Shizuka shifted uncomfortably.
"I just wanted to say, Hiratsuka-sensei, you really do love meddling in other people's business..." Asakura said pointedly.
"Say whatever you want." Hiratsuka Shizuka was clearly self-aware regarding her meddling nature and had no intention of arguing with him.
"But that's a great trait. I quite like it..." Asakura grinned, giving her a thumbs-up.
"Gross (Kimochi)! I feel like I'm getting goosebumps!" Hiratsuka Shizuka rubbed her arms with a look of disgust.
"Is this how you treat a good student trying to have a heart-to-heart with you?"
"It would be nice if you had the self-awareness to be a 'good student' in your daily life."
"I think compared to a certain Yukinoshita who shall remain nameless, I'm actually quite well-behaved."
Asakura flicked the coin back into the washbasin Hiratsuka Shizuka was holding. "Besides, I can pay for the drink myself."
"That won't do."
Ignoring his resistance, Hiratsuka Shizuka forcibly shoved the coin back into Asakura's hand. "Since I just said all that, letting you pay now feels like moral kidnapping. But if it's my own money, there's no problem. Since I'm treating you, I get to decide where the drink comes from!"
"So you're the type who would rather spend a little more money just to have peace of mind..." Asakura sighed as he accepted the hundred yen.
"Just consider it a surplus of self-consciousness..." Hiratsuka Shizuka said dismissively.
"It's not so much a surplus of self-consciousness as it is an overactive sense of morality..." Asakura grumbled under his breath. "When you're old, I'm going to come sell you health supplements..."
"Hmph, I'm not a woman who is easily fooled."
"They'll have Kart and Beta printed on the packaging."
"Shut up and take my money!" Hiratsuka Shizuka prepared to cough up the cash without a second's hesitation.
"Aren't you incredibly easy to fool..." Asakura mocked.
"Oh no, I lost my head for a second. Is this what they call the 'collaboration business model'..."
Though teasing Hiratsuka Shizuka was fun, Asakura was here to bathe. After agreeing to meet in the lounge area in half an hour, he took his towel and headed into the men's bath.
The bathhouse wasn't large, but Asakura spotted a sauna in the corner. Along with showers and bubble baths, the facilities were unexpectedly complete. Following Japanese custom, he washed his body and hair at the shower station before settling into the bath.
The hot water made his skin tingle slightly at first, but after getting used to it, it became incredibly comfortable—he even had the illusion that his whole body was stretching out and relaxing. The water was clear and had a faint citrus scent; it was clearly changed regularly, unlike some unsettling hot springs. It was no wonder this place held a special spot in the hearts of the residents.
"Yo, you're a new face, young man."
An old man soaking in the same bath greeted Asakura. "First time here?"
"Yes..." Asakura nodded.
"Hmm?" The old man leaned in closer, his eyes suddenly widening as if realizing something. "Wait, I think I saw you outside just now. Are you the boy who came with Shizuka-chan?"
"Shizuka-chan? Do you mean Hiratsuka-sen... Miss Hiratsuka?"
"So you really are Shizuka-chan's friend." The old man's eyes lit up. "Even though she's always complaining about her failed matchmaking sessions, it looks like things aren't that bad after all."
"Cough, it's not what you think..." Asakura tried to explain awkwardly.
"Haha, it's fine, it's fine, no need to be shy. Let me tell you, even though Shizuka-chan is always a bit rowdy, she is absolutely a top-tier girl."
Like a free-sample promoter at a supermarket, the old man enthusiastically began pitching Hiratsuka Shizuka to Asakura. "Just spend some time with her, and you'll see her good points~"
The old man's words drew the attention of others. The surrounding regulars of the bathhouse crowded around, chattering away—one moment gossiping about the relationship between Asakura and Hiratsuka Shizuka, the next moment trying to sell him on her.
It was hard to say whether this meant Hiratsuka Shizuka's character was highly respected, or if "being unable to get married" had simply become her defining label...
If that older beauty teacher (unmarried) knew about the current situation, she certainly wouldn't be happy.