Chapter 756: Lets Go Fishing with Anima ⑤ (1/2)

After deciding to stay overnight, I continued fishing with Anima, and in the evening, we cooked and ate fish together in the kitchen inside the log house.

Afterwards, on Anima's recommendation, I went to the bath first, and am now soaking in the warm water.

The bathtub of this log house, which is similar to a cypress bath, had greatness different than an onsen. There's no scenery to look at, but the wooden walls and bathtub have a warm atmosphere, and the smell of wood wafting in the air is pleasant.

Moreover, as expected of a very expensive log house, the bathtub is spacious enough that it could even hold several people, so I can take a relaxing soak.

As I was relaxing, thinking that baths really are nice, my peace was broken by a loud voice.

[Master! Excuse me!]

[……Huh?]

[I'm sorry that I'm a little slow in making up my mind and to have kept you waiting!]

[…………………………Eh?]

When I turned towards the direction of the voice, I saw Anima with a towel wrapped around her body, looking like she was ready to take a bath. No, no, wait! What the heck is going on!? I tried looking back at her just to make sure, but seriously, why in the world is this happening!?

[A- Anima!? Eh? W- Why?]

[Hahh! I've heard that there's a rule that those who become Master's lover must bathe together with Master to deepen our relationship!]

I almost reflexively shouted that there was no such rule but…… What came to my mind was the many mixed bathing experiences I've had. I- Indeed, I had taken mixed baths with my lovers…… No, wait, I haven't taken a mixed bath with Sieg-san. I didn't, right? Rei-san tried to get me to bathe together with Sieg-san, but it just ended up being an attempt, so no, I didn't.

[……Anima, who in the world told you such a ridiculous story?]

[Alice-dono did. In Master's world, naked socializing was apparently a traditional practice between lovers……]

[…………………….]

I'm definitely going to smack that woman later.

While I was burning with anger at Alice for putting strange things in Anima's mind, Anima somehow came near the bathtub, scooped some of the hot water in the tub and poured it over herself…… She then brought her hand on the towel wrapped around her body……

[Anima, stop! What are you doing!?]

[Hahh! Because one shouldn't soak in the bath while wrapped in a towel, I was trying to remove it…… Mhmm, should I have removed the towel first before pouring hot water onto my body? My apologies, I don't usually wrap a towel around me when I bathe……]

She is a former Black Bear, so it's no wonder she isn't familiar with proper bathing etiquette. When she's a Black Bear, she would probably have just bathed herself in water as she was.

Well, this isn't really an onsen, so she can just wash her body afterwards, and doesn't have to worry too much about towel etiquettes…… but this isn't about etiquettes!

[……Anima, you can just leave the towel on.]

[H- Hahh…… Understood.]

The situation got troublesome. What was even more troubling was that Anima had already poured hot water over her body, so it became difficult to clear up the misunderstanding and ask her to leave.

No, I'm sure Anima will listen to me if I properly explain it to her, but I don't feel comfortable asking her to get out of the tub when her body is already halfway wet.