落とし穴１１５堀：コドモとオトナ (Part2)
My companions for the evening were none other than Eris’s daughter, Eria, and Rurua’s daughter, Sumire. Both of them were beauties who looked exactly like their mothers, but...
"Please read me a book."
"I want this one."
They held out picture books for me to read. ...Wait a second. What did I, Mikos, come here for again?
"Ahaha!! Kagura, you're fast, you're fast!!"
"Next is me—!"
"Big sisters, that’s not nice. Kagura-san and the others are guests, so..."
"Schans-sama. I-it’s fine. P-please, don't worry about it."
...I suppose it’s better than Kagura being used as a literal horse. And the ones doing the riding were none other than Weed’s future Queen, Sakura-chan, Deryu’s daughter, Yuyu-chan, and the healing rabbit-beastman, Schans-chan.
I mean, I was told this was a meet-and-greet with the children, so I suppose nothing is technically wrong here...
...Haha. Well, I know that reality is just like this. *Sigh.*
After that, Yuki-sensei and the others brought dinner, we all ate happily, and finally, it was time for a bath.
"Still, the food was delicious, wasn't it?"
"It was. I thought it was all over when Sakura-sama and the others told us to be their horses..."
"Hehe, they got scolded by their mothers when they returned, didn't they?"
Solo said with a rare smile. It was indeed more surprising than I expected. I thought they would be allowed to do whatever they wanted, but Seraria-sama had actually given the children a good rap on the head to discipline them. In a way, it was just a normal, everyday family. Eventually, the children looked like they were about to cry, and the rest of us had to step in to comfort them.
"Still, this is a great bath. Having an open-air bath at home is the height of luxury, isn't it?"
"Indeed. This is an incredible indulgence."
Kagura and I let out a sigh of relief, feeling healed by the hot water. The children were already asleep, and we finally felt like we could relax.
"Come to think of it, Amanda isn't here."
"No, no, Kagura. Don't go looking for her. Amanda and Eoid are sharing a room, so surely, right about now..."
"Ah..."
"Auu... *glub glub*..."
Kagura and Solo’s faces turned bright red as they imagined the scene. Man, I’m jealous of people who have partners. I’d love for Yuki-sensei to turn me into a mess, too, but I can't exactly do that here. Not with the kids around... As I was thinking that, someone entered the open-air bath.
"That's rare. Leaving aside Vilia and Hiiro, I didn't expect Dressa to be bathing with us too."
"W-w-what are you saying? It’s nothing. It’s normal. It’s always like this."
"Is that so?"
"Yuki-san, don't dwell on that..."
"Don't worry about it, let's just get in like we always do."
"It's cold. I'm getting in."
"Hey, wash your body, Hiiro."
Right on the other side of this thin wall—in the men's bath.
" " "!?!" " "
The three of us exchanged looks at the sheer absurdity of the situation and immediately formed a huddle to hold a strategy meeting.
"Hey. To my ears, it sounded like Yuki-sensei, Dressa, Vilia, Hiiro, and Eris-san just walked in next door..."
"I heard the same thing."
"Y-yes. I heard it too."
"I mean, Eris-san is one thing, but I’m shocked that Dressa and the others are with Yuki-sensei."
"Indeed. I thought Dressa wasn't the type for that kind of thing..."
"She's quite proactive, isn't she?"
Wait, wasn't that little miss supposed to be... well, not *that* kind of little miss? But my instincts as Mikos tell me that Dressa and the others are still innocent.
"Still, with everyone bathing together like this, it’s no different from a mixed bath."
"Sometimes Taizo or Taiki come by, so we only do this when it’s just Yuki, okay?"
"But Yuki-san’s point is also valid. It’s no different from a mixed bath, so let’s just open the partition door. Milly and the others will be done with their drinking party soon and come in, so let’s all get along."
As Eris-san said that, she approached the partition...
*Click.*
"Oh? Aren't you Kagura and the others? What are you doing?"
"E-er, we're taking a bath. Right, Kagura?"
"Y-yeah. That's right..."
"You're standing right next to the partition, it’s not very convincing..."
" "Ugh." "
But I need more information!! If I can gather intel on the enemy, I'll have the advantage!! Just as I was thinking that, Eris-san smiled at us...
"Oh, since it’s a mixed bath, you came over to join us, didn't you?"
" "Eh?" "
"It’s not like you get to enter the men's bath often, right?"
She gave us a wink. Does this mean...!! Is this my reward!! A front-row seat to Yuki-sensei’s birthday suit!!
"That’s exactly it!! Then, excuse us!!"
"Ah, Mikos!! Me too!! Thank you, Eris-san!!"
"Yes, yes. Oh, and don't dip your towels in the water."
" "We know!!" "
I’ve come this far, I’m not backing down now!! I mean, I should have been hiding with a towel from the start anyway!!
"Solo, I’ll give you the key to Eoid’s room later."
"Fueee!?"
Eris-san is truly terrifying. But, I thank you!!
"Wait, you’re just going to walk in? I’m here, you know?"
"I-i-it’s a mixed bath, so it can’t be helped!! Right, Mikos?"
"T-that’s right. It’s not often we get to enter the men's bath."
While making excuses, I checked out Yuki-sensei’s most important parts...
"Hiiro. I washed my body. *Thud.*"
"Hey, don't jump in. Get in quietly."
"Onii-chan caught me, so I’ll sit quietly on his lap."
"Even if I didn't catch you, just sit quietly."
" " "Aaaaahhh!!!" " "
Hiiro, you’re in the way!! You’re in the way!! I mean, I’m so jealous!!
"An unexpected betrayal..."
"Hiiro. Give up that lap to me."
"No. That spot is for Mikos-chan."
"W-well, I..."
"Yay."
That girl!! She’s a little devil!!
"What are you all doing..."
"It’s fun, isn't it? Or would you rather do it like usual with me and Milly?"
"I don't think that’s happening today. Let’s just relax."
"That’s true."
Damn it!? Is this what they call the composure of an adult!? But even among children, there are battles that cannot be yielded.
What is the difference between a child and an adult, I wonder? That’s what I found myself thinking as I wrote this.
Well, the story will move forward again from here. Look forward to gathering information from some unexpected people.