The bath water must be ready.
As I approached Chiyu’s place, I generated a wooden screen using my Craft Ability.
As soon as I arrived, I arranged the stone tub surrounded by the wooden screens.
It was more for privacy than anything else. “Sousuke, you’re so kind.”
Chiyu noticed this and said in a flat but somehow soft voice. “It’s nothing.” “You can peek if you want to.”
”…I’ll pass. Also, I made soap, so use it.”
I also prepared a wooden bucket to scoop the bath water and a clay dish to place the soap.
“Soap…! Sousuke, I love you.”
Chiyu took the soap and held it up like a treasure. “You’re welcome.”
It was a joke, so I could just brush it off.
Well, it made my heart flutter a little, but I could pretend to be calm. “Then… a clothes basket?”
“Yeah. Oh, right, use this as a towel. And you don’t have to worry about changing clothes.”
I offered Chiyu the former inner now towel while talking about ways to clean clothes.
Chiyu listened to me, but she didn’t react. She seemed frozen.
After a few seconds, she suddenly hugged me.
Her hands went around my neck, and her ample chest pressed against my chest.
The scent of sweat and her own fragrance tickled my nostrils. “Sō-kun, you’re a genius.” “Really?”
No, I wouldn’t want to put on sweat-soaked clothes after a bath either.
It’s not unreasonable for Chiyu, as a girl, to be happy that she could avoid that. “Ah.”
Chiyu pulled away from me, her cheeks flushing. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m happy that you can clean my clothes.” “Yeah.”
“But… it’s a little embarrassing to be seen by Sō-kun. Like, underwear.” Indeed, that’s understandable.
If Chiyu asked me to take her newly removed underwear, I’d feel embarrassed too.
“Well, I’ll try not to look, and I can store them without touching them directly, so you can feel at ease.”
Chiyu looked embarrassed and glanced up at me with her eyes lowered. ”…You’re not going to smell me?” “Smell you?!”
I couldn’t help but interject, and Chiyu, unusually, giggled. ”…Then, should I touch you?”
“Touch me? No way! If my childhood friend was a pervert like that, Chiyu wouldn’t like it either.”
“If you really want to, though, I guess it’s okay.”
”…N-no, I’m not going to smell you or touch you.”
This childhood friend of mine had a very wide range of humor, which made it hard to know how to respond. She was far too easy-going.
Of course, if I were to start saying things like “Yay! Sniff sniff!” she would probably be put off.
I set up a wooden laundry basket and placed a wooden barrel and a stand next to the bathtub, so I could add water to it.
The barrel had a cork-like lid on it, which I had to remove to get the water out.
”…Are you really this considerate, Souchan?”
Chiyu seemed a little surprised.
“No, with this ability, I just can’t help but want to make all sorts of things.”
「…If someone finds out I’m such a gentleman, I’ll be popular.」
Her voice sounded like a joke, but there was also a hint of anxiety.
「If I go back to Japan, won’t my abilities disappear? Then I’ll be back to being an unpopular guy.」
If you return to Earth from another world, your abilities sometimes remain the same, so there’s a possibility they could still be useful, right?
「Souchan’s charm isn’t from his abilities, you know.」 “Haha, thanks.”
I took her words as encouragement and stepped out from behind the screen.
「It might be embarrassing out in the open, but if you take off your clothes, just put the basket outside.」 「Roger.」
I confirmed that Senyuu had given me a crisp salute, lifted the screen, and set it up. Now I couldn’t see her.
「…Should I stock up on grilled mushrooms while I have the chance?」
Since the ‘Inventory’ doesn’t progress over time, being able to keep them fresh is a strong point.
I put the clothes she had pulled out from behind the screen back into the ‘Inventory’ to clean them and then returned them to the basket, but I felt oddly tense.
As if to dispel any impure thoughts, I gazed at the fire and sank into my thoughts.
The bath with a thousand cures was quite long, but thanks to the “Crafting Ability,” I didn’t get bored.
After all, to make all sorts of things, it’s probably better to collect everything.
Also, since the recipe unlocks seem to be influenced by my image, it would be great to have a companion who can help with knowledge.
What else do I want? Perhaps combat or hunting abilities?
We do have some simple weapons now, so they might be somewhat useful in dealing with people… but…
When it comes to hunting, there’s the bow… but it seems difficult to handle, so maybe a crossbow?
Since I can’t unlock any recipes, there must be something missing.
What material do you use for strings in nature?
It’s only the first day, so I can still hold out, but the desire to eat meat will only grow stronger.
I don’t think I’ll suddenly be able to hunt, so for now… fish, maybe? “Souchan, I’m done.”
Before I knew it, my childhood friend had come out of the bath, wearing a clean uniform and shoes.
Her wet silver hair shone brightly in the light of the campfire, and her slightly flushed skin was irresistibly alluring.
「Oh, yeah, right. I guess I’ll come in too.」 「Sure. Here’s a towel.」
She handed me a towel she had used to dry her skin.
I took it without thinking, but I realized later that I should have put it in my Inventory without touching it. I quickly put it away.
Now that I’ve reorganized it, it will appear in a dry state without any moisture. 「You can eat dinner first if you want.」 「You haven’t started yet?」 「Yeah, I was thinking about my abilities.」 「Then I’ll wait for you.」 「Got it. I’ll be quick.」 「Enjoy the leftover bathwater of your childhood friend.」
「You always have to say things like that…」
Of course, when you say something like that, I can’t help but notice.
I can’t just keep getting teased all the time, so I start thinking about how to get back at them.
“Since you’re Chiyu, I’ll let you peek if you want.”
Chiyu nods like it’s obvious, as if she already knew. “I know. I’ll definitely peek.” “Hey.”
“And I want to borrow your clothes, Souchan. I want to smell and wear them.”
“Who would lend them to you! Besides, I didn’t smell or wear your clothes!”
I might not be able to beat this childhood friend.
I headed to the bath to get away.
While she came to peek as she said she would, and I screamed.
After finishing the bath, I ate dinner with Senyuu.
I dried the towels by putting them in storage and then taking them out again several times, and Senyuu and I dried our hair thoroughly, using the power of the fire as well.
“This is probably the most fulfilling first day on an desert island for just us.”
“I didn’t hear everyone’s answers, but I think that’s probably true.”
There’s someone who got the ability to produce food, so we might lose out on that front, but in terms of quality of life, we’re probably the best off.
By the way, I wonder what kind of aircraft the guy who asked for a plane got.
Assuming he can fly it and take off, can he actually return to Japan?
Given the lack of information, it seems quite risky.
Still, it can be used as a base, so it’s not completely useless. “All thanks to you, Souta-kun.”
“I did my best with your magic too, so we’re even, right?”
My childhood friend shook her head at my words.
“That’s not it. You held my hand back then.” ”…Oh, that.”
I didn’t know that if our hands touched, we could transfer together.
Perhaps my impulsive action worked.
“I thought it was just a dream back then. Even in a dream, you helped me.” ”…”
By the time I noticed, the sun had set and it was night. “It’s time to sleep.”
She looks at me as if she’s waiting for my response.
Her eyes are wet with tears, reflecting the firelight like a gemstone. ”…Yeah.”
I swallow hard and nod.
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