I don't know if this should be something that should be bragged or
not… but I think I've had my fair share of bathroom troubles since I
came to this world.
There have been times when I felt like I'm about to lose my head, times
when I fainted because blood rushed up to my brain, and even times
when I got caught up when someone's self-destructing. That's enough
to make me think that I really am cursed by the bath…
But even I, with my disgraceful experience in bathrooms, don't know
what to do about the current situation.
I brought the unconscious Anima to the changing room and covered her
body with a large towel, but after that, I didn't know what to do.
No, of course, I theoretically know that it would be better to wipe her
wet body. However, rather than saying it's just too high of a hurdle… I
feel like doing such a thing would bring lots of troubles, in all sorts of
ways.
However, I couldn't just leave her like that. It would have been nice if I
could use some kind of reviving magic but… Ahh, no, wait.
[…Alice, help me out here.]
[I don't mind helping out, and I think me helping out here is a good
decision… but would you mind wiping yourself down and getting
dressed first? This pure, chaste Alice-chan can't look straight at such
things.]
[Ahh, unnn. Alright.]
Seriously, I'm glad Alice was here. Even though she is my lover, no
matter what reason one might say, wiping the body of Anima, who has
passed out in all her glory, makes me feel really guilty.
Grateful for the presence of the same-gendered Alice, I quickly wiped
myself down, changed my clothes, and saying one more thing to Alice, I
walked out of the changing room.
Just a few minutes later, the door to the changing room vigorously
opened and out came Anima, dressed in a casual outfit.
While I was relieved to see that she's well, with a flustered expression
on her face, Anima bent down while running towards me, and sliding a
little on the floor, she knelt down in a dogeza.
[My apologies!]
…Did she just pull off a sliding dogeza? When did she learn such an
advanced technique… Ah, no, that's not important now.
Errr, it's that, isn't it? This definitely is some kind of apology for
bothering me or giving me trouble.
[No, I was just being careless, or rather, I should have been more
careful.]
[N- No, it is I who————]
[Okay, stop.]
[————–Eh?]
I know Anima's personality well. No matter how much I follow her up
here, she won't stop insisting that this was her fault.
When that happens, we'll just end up arguing over who's to blame. If
that's the case, the best way to round out the situation is…
[I understand what Anima is trying to say. However, I feel responsible
for this situation too. That's why, let's just say that we were both
careless this time.]
[…Master.]
Yes, the best thing to do here would be to say that it was both our faults.
When dealing with the overly serious Anima, it's easier to convince her
with this than to say that she's not at fault.
And when dealing with Anima, it's best to be a little more forceful.
[And with that, I'm sorry too. There, end of story… That should be good,
right?]
[Y- Yes. If that's what Master says, I have no objections.]
[Unnn, then stand up there and… Errr, let's see. How about we go for a
walk to cool ourselves off?]
[Ah, yes! I'll go with you!]
It seemed that my intentions had been properly conveyed, as Anima
cheerfully nodded with a bright expression on her face.
As for me, it might sound like I'm composed, I can't really say that I'm
completely calm… and was in the mood to cool my slightly flushed face,
so basking in the night breeze should be just right.
Bringing my portable Lighting Magic tool, I went outside with Anima.
The riverside, far from human habitation, is quiet and the only sound
that could be heard was the soft murmurs of the stream, but the place
was wide enough that it didn't feel creepy.
[…Fufufu.]
[What's the matter, Master?]
[No, I just remembered something. It was that this Lighting Magic Tool
was the one I bought from Alice during that incident with Eta and
Theta…]
[That certainly brings back memories.]
Yes, as Anima said, it really brings back memories. Eta and Theta, who
were enemies at that time, have now become like family.
Looking back on it like this, I realized that many things have changed.
At that time, I didn't know that Alice's true identity was the Phantasmal
King, and I also didn't have any lovers.
[…Speaking of which, aside from Sieg-san, who had been guarding me
from the shadows, Anima was the first one to come running to me at
that moment.]
[That was just a coincidence though…]
[But your presence at that time made me happy and reassured me.
Thanks.]
[…It is an honor.]
When Anima said that with a wry smile, I don't feel the impatience that
I used to feel. How should I say this… It's nice feeling her growth like
this.
At that time, I honestly never imagined that Anima would become my
lover. But now, it's like our current relationship is just right, or rather, it
feels very natural to have Anima by my side.
With that thought in mind, I gently wrapped the nearby Anima's hand
within my grasp.
[M- Master!?]
[Did you not like it?]
[N- No, it's not like that… Rather, errr… I'm happy.]
When Anima squeezed back my hand while saying this, she was so cute
that I couldn't help but smile. She really has become attractive… No, I'm
sure she's always been an attractive and cute girl. It's just that I've
finally come to realize such a thing.
Thinking about it that way, I guess I could say that I've also grown up.
[…What a nice night.]
[Yes. The moon is also clearly visible.]
Moon huh… Come to think of it, although it was just something I
randomly thought, I remembered that there was a rather special phrase
used in situations like this. I never really really thought I'd ever have a
chance to use it, but sometimes, I guess it's alright for me to be a little
fancy.
[Ahh, "the moon is beautiful, isn't it?"… I really felt like saying that line.]
There is an episode where the great writer Natsume Soseki once
translated the phrase "I LOVE YOU" as "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?",
and from then on, these words… hides the meaning of love and
affection.
Does Anima know the meaning of this phrase? Well, they're words from
the world I was in, so I guess she really wouldn't know its hidden
meaning…
[…If I were to answer those words correctly, I should respond with "I
can die happy" but… Even if it doesn't mean the same thing, I've already
finished dying and have become reborn, so I'll respond with these
words instead…"I'm looking at the moon with you after all"…]
[! ? Anima… You knew the meaning of that phrase huh.]
[Yes, when Epsilon-dono told me about the other world… and hearing
Master tell me that… makes me really happy.]
Anima's response to my words "The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" was
another standard response to those words, which comes from the great
writer Shimei Futabatei, who translated the words "Yours" as "I can die
happy". They're words that hide the meaning "I am yours".
And after that, she changed it with the words "I'm looking at the moon
with you after all", which is also one of the standard responses,
although the origin of this phrase isn't clear… It has the meaning "Now
and forever, I want to keep looking at the moon with you".
How should I say this… It has become some kind of fancy exchange, but
we both knew exactly what each other meant… and all the emotions
within it were conveyed. But above all that… Anima's heartfelt smile
was much more beautiful and attractive than the moon in the night sky.