When he put down his phone, intending to continue studying, someone knocked on his door.
"Oh, are you studying?"
Kiryuuin walked in after opening the door. He glanced at the documents on the table, then scratched his head and said:
"The water heater in the shop is broken. Do you want to go to the nearby bathhouse with me? Aoi has already gone alone."
Hearing him say that, Kazuo also remembered that he had been busy all day, and taking a bath to relieve some fatigue would be a good option.
"That would be a pleasure."
"That's perfect. I also wanted to talk to you about that bastard."
Evidently, Kiryuuin had another motive for inviting Kazuo.
That bastard—
The only person Kazuo could think of was him.
"Ah-choo!"
Koji suddenly sneezed again.
Sitting at the bar counter, he shivered involuntarily, that indescribable chilly feeling appearing once more.
"See? Someone's thinking about you again, aren't they?"
Yoshida chuckled, taking a small sip of his vodka soda.
"No—a sneeze is just a nasal membrane's stress response. What's this 'thinking about me' nonsense?"
Koji gave him a direct glare, finding the old man's joke a bit exasperating.
Their teacher-student, friend-like relationship wasn't new, and sitting in this Chiba bar was a rare moment of relaxation.
This bar was recommended by Yoshida. With its retro decor and an old-fashioned phonograph playing a vinyl record, melancholic blues filled the entire bar.
It had the air of a medieval European pub.
The two of them sat at the bar, sipping their drinks. Originally, Yoshida had even taken the liberty of inviting Toujou Hana. However, with the Emperor's crucial race tomorrow, she didn't want her mood affected by such things. Moreover, compared to relaxing, she had more important matters to attend to, so she politely declined her teacher's invitation.
"I originally wanted to invite Tojo, but if she didn't come, it doesn't matter."
Yoshida said, putting down his glass.
He then turned sideways, his face uncharacteristically lacking that foxy grin, instead staring at Koji with a serious expression.
"You've been back for so long; shouldn't you tell me the reason now?"
Splash—
A basin of hot water poured over his head, the refreshing sensation in the misty steam felt like his soul was being purified.
Before entering the large public bath, one must first rinse their body. After Kazuo washed off the soap, he wrapped a towel around himself and headed towards the bath.
Although it wasn't a large amusement-type bathhouse like Oedo Onsen Monogatari, this type of public bath, specifically for citizens, was an excellent place to relieve the day's fatigue.
Of course, if one could enjoy an open-air bath in winter, that would be one of life's great joys.
Kiryuuin had already entered before Kazuo, leaning back against the water pipe with a towel on his head, closing his eyes as if in enjoyment.
Kazuo slowly sat into the hot spring bath, the warm sensation instantly spreading throughout his body. His pores seemed to expand with it, and as his whole body was submerged, the day's exhaustion was swept away.
"Oh~~"
Kazuo couldn't help but exclaim. No one could refuse the refreshing feeling of bathing.
Although Qing Dormitory also had such facilities, in terms of scale, these public baths were much more enjoyable.
"Feels good, doesn't it?"
With his eyes closed, Kiryuuin uttered this to him.
"Mm…"
Kazuo could only express his feelings with a single syllable.
However, besides this, Kazuo also noticed something else.
Although he considered his physique not too bad, he still paled in comparison to the Manager Kiryu-in beside him.
He hadn't noticed it when he was wearing a loose short-sleeved shirt, but now, naked in the bathhouse, he realized that the seemingly slender Manager Kiryu-in was actually quite muscular. Although his main job involved adjusting and maintaining specialized parts, he hadn't neglected his own training.
After all, it was almost ten o'clock, and after an old man got up and left, only the two of them remained in the bath.
"Is there anything you want to say about that guy?"
Still with his eyes closed, his tone was nonchalant, but—
"…This…"
What did he want to say about that guy Koji?
Kazuo thought carefully: lecherous, improper, unreliable, likes thighs, doesn't want to work—
A pile of faults came to mind… but—
"Koji… how should I put it… he seems to have his own worries."
Kazuo always remembered what Koji had said when he was drunk that day. Despite his usual frivolous demeanor, he seemed to have a deeper side.
"…Worries?"
Kiryuuin's voice showed no fluctuation, sounding indifferent.
"Mm… Koji, despite always seeming carefree and idle, once cried terribly when he was drunk."
"'I'm so sorry I couldn't help her achieve her wish…' something like that—"
Though easily overlooked, Koji must also be a very capable Trainer.
Kazuo had believed this from the bottom of his heart since he first met him.
"…Is that so? That bastard said that too…"
The atmosphere seemed to quieten significantly, and Kiryuuin lowered his head in thought.
"…I don't know what exactly happened to him. I only know that last December, he flew to America as the academy's representative to participate in the world competition. Afterwards… he narrowly lost in the final…"
"He returned to the country in early April, right? That means he stayed in America for at least over a month. During that time—what exactly did he experience in America… Ahua also doesn't want to bring it up. However, he clearly encountered some kind of difficulty. At least compared to his former self, he now seems to be avoiding something."
"Although I find him very annoying… but as his roommate, if there truly comes a day when he needs your help," Kiryuuin turned his head, opened his eyes, and replied earnestly, "I hope you can lend him a hand."
This was a request from a former classmate and best friend. Although Kiryuuin stubbornly refused to mention these aspects, he deeply cared about that guy.
This request was also conveyed here.
Kazuo looked at the request and nodded solemnly.
"Mm... I understand. If necessary, I will do my best."
This was also—
A request from Koji's former roommate to his current roommate.
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