The flow of events had taken a strange turn. Before I knew it, I was being swept along by Anima’s sheer enthusiasm, and we found ourselves heading to the bathroom to bathe together.
Luckily, the dressing room was equipped with a simple sliding partition, so changing wasn't an issue. When I finished, I found Anima waiting, wrapped in a single towel. She had an incredible figure, and even though I’d anticipated this, seeing her like that made me more than a little nervous.
Anima, however, seemed to have prioritized her mission over her modesty. She didn't seem particularly bothered, and she had already gathered various supplies, including what looked like a sponge, in a mesh bath basket.
"Anima, are you alright? You aren't feeling too embarrassed?"
"Hah! It is not a problem! To ensure that I do not repeat my previous failure, I have prepared a larger towel and secured it firmly in place with an application of Status Preservation Magic."
"I-I see. That’s a relief... I guess?"
I assumed the "previous failure" she meant was the time she had accidentally shown me the base of her tail. I wasn't entirely sure how that related to pinning her towel down, but I supposed it would at least prevent any awkward slips while she was washing my back. Shiro-san’s Blessing was always a concern, but I had already confirmed its magic cancellation effect didn't apply to Status Preservation Magic. Still, since Anima had "applied" the spell in her own way, I decided to be extra careful not to touch the towel, just in case.
"Oh, wait. Is that a new hairpin?"
"Yes. I purchased it specifically for the bath, anticipating a situation like this. I couldn't bear to let the precious hairpin you gave me get wet, Master, but I also didn't want my bangs getting in the way while I washed your back. I have taken every precaution."
Anima currently had her hair pinned back with an orange hairpin. Usually, she wore the one I’d given her, which was made from one of Magnawell-san's scales, so this seemed to be a temporary substitute.
"I see. That color looks really cute on you."
"Hahih... T-Thank you very much."
When I told her honestly what I thought, Anima’s body twitched before she replied with a slight blush on her cheeks. Her eyes darted around restlessly for a moment, but she took a deep breath and regained her sharp, composed expression.
"Now then, Master. I shall wash your back at once. Please, this way."
"Yeah. Thanks."
This was probably the reality of the situation: it wasn't that she didn't feel embarrassed; she was just suppressing it with a sheer, iron-clad will to succeed. I decided to let her take the lead for now to avoid breaking her focus. Following her inside, I was greeted by a bathroom that felt remarkably tropical. Bright white tiles served as the backdrop for a large circular bathtub in the center, accented by several lush, ornamental plants. I had only hit the switch for the water from the dressing room, so seeing the actual interior was a pleasant surprise.
"This is quite the beautiful bathroom."
"Indeed. One would expect nothing less from a cottage catering to the elite. Master, look—there are flowers here."
"Flowers? Oh, are they for the bathwater?"
"It appears so. There are multiple varieties, and brief descriptions of their scents are provided."
A basket with a lid was placed near the wall, and inside were pastel-colored flowers like those seen in movies, meant to be scattered into the water. I tossed a few into the tub before settling in so Anima could get to work.
"I shall now begin washing your back."
"Sure. I'm counting on you."
As Anima began to wash my back, her touch was exquisite. The pressure was so perfectly calibrated it provided an almost addictive level of comfort.
"Master, how is the pressure? Is it to your liking?"
"It’s great. Actually, it’s remarkably precise."
"To be honest, I practiced extensively so I would be ready for this opportunity. My technique is now flawless."
"Practiced?"
"Yes. Cara was kind enough to assist me... I ended up grating the skin off her back and leaving her a bloody mess three times, but I have finally mastered it!"
"I-I-I see."
That was terrifying! If she "grated" Caraway’s back, that meant she literally shredded her skin with sheer physical force. I shuddered at the thought. Anima certainly had the strength for it... I made a mental note to give Caraway a very sincere thank-you when we returned.
Serious-senpai: "Honestly, I feel like any of his lovers could probably liquefy a person's spine if they put their minds to it."
Machina: "...I want chocolate."
Serious-senpai: "What? Where did that come from?"
Machina: "Based on the narrative flow, the bath ends next, the subtitle changes, and then they start flirting, right? Maybe the flirting even starts next time. It’s inevitable."
Serious-senpai: "True. It’s a sickeningly sweet future, but it’s inevitable. And?"
Machina: "I want to have a chocolate fondue. So, I’ve decided I want you to turn into chocolate."
Serious-senpai: "...You really don't have a human heart, do you..."