Chapter 1802: Rest for the Hard Worker ⑪
Because of a strange flow of some kind, as if pushed by the motivated Anima, we both went into the bathroom together.
Fortunately, we were able to slide a simple partition into the changing room, so changing was no problem. When we finished changing, Anima had a towel wrapped around her body, and even though I knew she looked quite sexy because of her good proportions, I still felt a bit nervous.
On the other hand, Anima’s overflowing motivation seemed to outweigh her embarrassment, as she didn’t seem to mind it that much, having prepared various things, including a sponge-like item in a mesh basket that appeared to be for bath use.
[Anima, are you alright? Aren’t you feeling embarrassed?]
[Hah! I’m completely fine! This time, so as not to make the same blunder as before, I have also prepared a large towel and made use of State Preservation Magic to fixate it in place.]
[……I- I see, I guess we can be relieved…… right?]
The previous blunder she was talking about is probably that incident with trying to show the base of the tail, but that doesn’t seem to have much to do with fixating the towel in place…… Well, I guess it’s to avoid incidents like the towel coming off while washing my back?
Shiro-san’s blessing may have its precautionary effect, but it’s confirmed that the dispelling effect of Shiro-san’s blessing doesn’t apply to State Preservation Magic, so I think we should be fine in that regard. However, since Anima said “made use” just now, there’s a possibility that it may be affected, so let’s be careful not to touch her towel.
[Arehh? Come to think of it, are those hairpins new?]
[Ah, yes. I bought it for bathing, thinking we would do this again. I can’t let the hairpin Master gave me get wet, but there’s also the possibility that my bangs might get in the way while I was washing your back, so I’m ensuring everything is in perfect order.]
Anima currently uses orange hair pins to hold her hair in place. She normally wears a hairpin made from Magnawell-san’s processed scales that I gave her, and the current one she’s wearing seems to be a substitute for that.
[I see, hairpins of that color also look cute on you.]
[Yesh…… T- Thank you very much.]
When I honestly expressed my feelings, Anima’s body twitched, and blushing a bit, she thanked me. Thereupon, after her gaze shifted around nervously for a moment, taking a deep breath, her expression returned to a determined one.
[Well then, Master, I’ll now start washing your back. Please come this way.]
[Unnn. Thanks.]
……This is probably that, isn’t it? It’s not that she doesn’t feel embarrassed, it’s just that she’s suppressing it by overriding it with her strong will not to repeat the same blunder, so it seems she does feel some embarrassment about us bathing together like this.
And so, when she’s caught off-guard like just now, her suppressed embarrassment leaks out and she feels restless.
It would probably be better to just let Anima take the lead and not say anything until she finished washing my back. After all the effort she’s put in, it would be a shame if things go awry……
As I had such a thought in mind, Anima urged me to enter the bathroom….. and I found it to be a very tropical bath.
There’s a large circular bathtub in the center, and the interior of the bathroom has a fairly bright design with white as the base color. There are also what seem to be ornamental plants.
When I was preparing the bath, I just activated the magic tools installed in the changing room, so I didn’t look inside, but this was amazing.
[Well, this is quite the beautiful bath.]
[Indeed. I suppose it’s to be expected for a cottage aimed at the wealthy. Ahh, Master, they have flowers here.]
[Flowers? Ahh, could these be the ones that were made to float in the bathtub?]
[That seems to be the case. There are several kinds and a brief description of their fragrance.]
Near the wall, there’s a basket covered with a lid, and inside it, there are pastel-colored flowers reminiscent of those seen in movies, making me think of them being scattered on the bathtub.
After lightly scattering the flowers in the bathtub, I sat on a chair to have Anima wash my back.
[Well then, I’ll start washing your back.]
[Unnn. I’m in your care.]
Anima’s touch as she begins to wash my back is truly exquisite, providing a sensation of indescribable comfort……
[Master, how’s the strength of my scrubbing? Is this okay?]
[It’s alright. I mean, I feel it’s quite exquisite.]
[Actually, I’ve been practicing so that I’ll be ready when the opportunity arises, so my scrubbing strength should be perfect.]
[You were practicing?]
[Yes. I’ve had Cara accompany me…… There are three times when I kinda pushed on Cara’s back too much and things got bloody, but I got it perfectly now!]
[……I- I- I- I see.]
E- Eeehhhh!? Pushed on Caraway’s back too much and things got bloody, does that mean she applied too much for and ended up scraping off her skin? Hyiiihhh, just imagining that is terrifying.
No, Anima could actually do that much with her power…… b- but for the time being, let’s give Caraway a word of thanks for her efforts when we get back.
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [I mean, all his lovers could at least scrub off a person’s back if they wanted to.]
Makina : [……Chocolate would be great.]
Serious-senpai : [Huh? What are you suddenly saying now?]
Makina : [Considering the numbering of the chapters, the bath scene should be finished in the next chapter, and the subtitle will change and they will flirt with each other, right? Perhaps, as they were flirting with each other, things could lead to that, don’t you think?]
Serious-senpai : [Yeah, that’s a future I don’t really like, but it’s very likely to happen…… So?]
Makina : [I want to eat chocolate fondue, so I’m hoping you’d turn into chocolate.]
Serious-senpai : [……Did you lose your human heart somewhere……]