The new item at my shop was a refrigerator with glass on all four sides. The glass probably messed with the refrigeration’s efficiency, but it was made that way so you could easily see the products inside.
“What is this box? There’re a lot of differently colored bottles inside.”
“It’s called a refrigerator,” I told Minerva. “It’s a device that chills whatever you put inside it. And this is great! It’s already got two different kinds of drinks in it!”
Product name: Ramune
Description: A soft drink. A soda with a citrus-like flavor. Drinking it regulates the flow of mana within the body.
Price: One hundred rims
The term “ramune” seemed to have originated from a mispronunciation of the word “lemonade.” It had started as “lemonade,” then got shortened to “lemone,” before arriving at the word “ramune.” I had always loved this stuff. As a kid, once I finished drinking a bottle, I’d always open it up to take out the marble.
“Yusuke, are those other colorful ones medicine or something?”
“That’s Nikki,” I said. “It’s a sweet drink flavored with cinnamon. It stings your tongue and your throat, but it’s tasty.”
“It looks like there’re three kinds. Are they all different flavors?”
“No, it’s just their colors that are different.” These things reawakened vivid memories of my friends and me showing each other our brightly colored tongues dyed by the artificial food coloring.
Product name: Nikki
Description: A soft drink that contains cinnamon extract. Drinking it reduces fevers.
Price: One hundred rims
It was great that I had cold drinks in stock now. My shop hadn’t felt like a proper dagashi-ya without them. Now if I could just get some Hiyashi Ame or Mikan Water too, then it’d really be perfect.
“A drink that regulates the flow of mana within the body sounds interesting,” said Minerva. “Give me one of those Ramune things.”
“How about you drink it after you get out of the bath then?” I suggested. “It’ll taste even better that way.”
The cold Ramune would definitely refresh our bath-heated bodies.
“I see. That’s a good idea.”
Minerva and I played the Continental Conquest game, and some other things like the dartball game that came out as a prize, while waiting for the girls to return.
“Whew, that was a great bath.”
“We could completely relax in there!”
Meryl and Mira had emerged from the bath. It was cute how their faces were flushed from the heat. Maybe the hot spring had a skin-beautifying effect because their faces were glowing. They were holding the Squirt Guns they had bought from my shop.
“How were those?”
“They were amazing!” Mira exclaimed, uncharacteristically excited as she explained. “I had been suffering from stiff shoulders for so long, but thanks to these, I’ve finally found relief. I’m so glad I bought them!”
It seemed that the Squirt Gun’s massaging effects were the real deal.
“Glad to hear it,” I said. “I’ll give it a whirl myself then.”
“By all means! I highly recommend it!”
I picked two orange Squirt Guns from my shop.
“All right, let’s go in.” I invited Minerva along and headed toward the bath. However, he didn’t move a single step.
“What are you doing?”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Minerva looked at me with a blank expression.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Like I said, let’s hurry up and take a bath.”
“...Together?”
“I mean, that was my intention.”
He suddenly began to tremble. What’s the matter?
“Oh,” I said, “do you not like other people seeing your body? In that case, you can go in before me.”
Fellow men or not, there were people out there who didn’t want to be seen naked. There was no need to force him to go together. It wasn’t like I was dying to see him naked either.
“N-No, it’s fine... Let’s hurry up and go in...”
His voice was still somewhat tremulous, but he briskly entered the bathroom. What was that about?
“Well, we’re gonna go inside,” I told the girls. “There’re some cold drinks there, so feel free to help yourself. I’ve got Ramune and Nikki.”
Leaving Meryl and Mira there, I too headed into the bathroom.
✦ ✦ ✦
The sound of splashing water resounded throughout the bathroom, and the water’s surface rippled. Even looking at it all again, I could only conclude it was an extremely relaxing bath.
I began quickly taking off my clothes.
“All right, let’s get changed so we can go in...” Then I paused. “What are you staring at?”
Minerva gawked at me, frozen. He wasn’t saying a word.
“Hey, don’t stare at me so much,” I said, beginning to feel uncomfortable. “Just because we’re both guys doesn’t mean I won’t get embarrassed.”
He sputtered. “S-Sorry! I’m simply unfamiliar with such a sight, so...”
Unfamiliar?
“Are there no public bathhouses in this country? Or is it customary to wrap a towel around your waist when you go in?”
When in Rome, do as Romans do, the saying went. For me, it was a given that you’d be naked when you went to a bathhouse, but I did want to respect this country’s customs.
“No, we have them. I don’t believe you need to conceal yourself with a towel either. This is just a me problem...”
Oh, I see. So, he isn’t used to going to places like this.
“Got it,” I said. “If it bothers you, I’ll wrap a towel around myself.”
“No, it’s fine!” he interjected. “Just stay like that. I think it’s for the best that I get used to it now...considering things later down the line...”
What’s that supposed to mean? Oh! That probably means he’s already thinking he’ll go to more public bathhouses in the future, and he wants to be prepared for it.
“All right, then I’ll go just like this.”
“Mm-hmm. Also, Yusuke?”
“What’s wrong?”
“For various reasons, I think I still can’t show you my face or my body. May I use a cognitive obstruction spell today? I do want to show you my everything one day, but...”
I didn’t particularly want to be shown his everything... I might get depressed.
“Do as you please.”
“Thanks.” With a wave of his hand, a large mosaic appeared, covering him from head to toe. I couldn’t tell what was what.
“Yep, I can’t make head nor tail of you now. I can’t even see the outline of your body.”
“I see.”
I left Minerva to his own devices and sank into the water first. It was a sensation I hadn’t experienced in a long time, so my skin felt like it was tingling.
“Hmm, the water feels great. You should hurry up and come in too.”
“Coming~! ♪”
“Huh?”
“I said I’m coming.”
“Sure thing...”
Minerva climbed into the bath next to me, not that I could see anything thanks to that mosaic.
“It feels great, doesn’t it?”
“Mm-hmm.”
It might’ve just been my imagination, but Minerva kept sneaking glances at me. Well, the mosaic made it hard to tell, though.
“We really gotta bring one of those hot spring chairs the next time we come down here,” I said. “I brought a bucket, but I didn’t have the foresight to get a bath chair.”
“If you’re okay with it being made of stone, I can make one for you.”
Minerva used some Earth Magic to immediately make a chair for me.
“Impressive as always. Well then, let me try it out.”
I got out of the water, settled on the chair, and aimed the Squirt Gun I had brought at my shoulder. I then pulled the trigger. The mana-charged stream of water squirted out with exquisite force to stimulate the pressure point.
“Whoa!” I exclaimed. “It really is effective!”
I forgot myself in the pleasure of the Squirt Gun, pulling the trigger again and again. With each squirt, I felt the exhaustion disappearing from my shoulders, my lower back, and my calves.
“You should try it, Minerva. It feels amazing.”
“Does it now...”
Minerva timidly came over and sat next to me. I couldn’t really see the details because of the mosaic, but I thought his skin seemed super pale. It looks like he has some decent pecs too...
From what I could see, Minerva aimed his own Squirt Gun at the nape of his neck, but that mosaic made it hard to tell...
The water rushed out as he pulled the trigger.
“Ooh...”
“How is it?”
“It’s really nice...”
“I know, right?! I was surprised that it was this good! Oh, right, here. I’ll get your back for you!”
“Huh? But...”
“Don’t be shy! You can’t really hit your own back, right? So do it for me later too. Okay, here I go.”
I moved behind Minerva and settled for a good spot to aim for, but as I took aim...
“No... No, no, nooo!” Why was he refusing so hard? It was in a kind of cutesy way too...although his voice was still as scary as always.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just...think we’re moving too fast...”
Was there such a thing as “too fast” when it came to shooting a water gun at someone? I supposed it wouldn’t be strange for this world to have rules I was unaware of. Well, the man said so himself, so I have to back off.
“I’m feeling a bit lightheaded...”
“Me too...”
“Let’s get out and drink some Ramune.”
“Yeah.”
We put our clothes back on and headed once more to the front room.