"I-I'm tired..."
On the way back from training.
I am walking through Rukongai, dragging my body which is exhausted in both body and mind.
The passersby seem to wonder what is wrong with my staggering state, but I do not have the composure to care about such things.
"Really... I'm grateful to the landlady..."
Where I am heading right now is the only bathhouse in District 1—a communal bath or sento.
Apparently having read my mind, the bundle the landlady gave me contained a change of clothes and the bath fee, and she even told me, "Go take a bath on your way back."
Even though I have to stand in the shop at night, scattering the smell of sweat like this would be unhygienic. Perhaps telling me to go take a bath and wash off the sweat had that meaning too.
In any case, I am grateful for it right now.
Because it is a bath, a bath!! There it is! The bathhouse!!
I pay the money at the bandai (attendant's booth), throw off my kimono, and now, to the bath!
...Before that, I have to wash my body.
I scoop hot water with a bucket and first rinse my body lightly. Next, I carefully scrub off the grime from my whole body with a towel, pour hot water over myself again to wash off the dirt, and finally, I enter the bath.
It is manners not to put the towel in the hot water, right?
"Phew..."
The warmth of the hot water seeps into my tired body. It feels good...
It is not like I hadn't washed my body until now, but I was only washing with well water.
The feeling of soaking in hot water is exceptional. Since it is a large bath, I can stretch my arms and legs too.
"Ah, excuse me."
"No, no, don't worry about it."
Oops, that wasn't good; I let my guard down too much.
It seems my stretched leg kicked a gentleman who was in the bath with me. He said not to worry, but I must apologize as a matter of courtesy.
...Hmm? Yes, it is mixed bathing. Apparently, old Japan was basically mixed bathing.
So, when in Rome, do as the Romans do; it is a little embarrassing, but we are taking a bath together like this.
Naturally, we are naked. Both men and women are naked, everyone exposing everything without even trying to hide it.
This is quite a sight. What happened to public morals?
If it were before I died, it might have been a happy sight, but I am a woman now. I am not particularly happy or anything... no, I might be a little happy.
Suddenly, I realized the men were staring at me with devouring eyes. The women also look at me occasionally.
Everyone seems to have their own thoughts. Well, with this body...
Thinking that, I lightly place my hand on my chest.
Breasts so large they cannot be contained in one hand. I have touched them several times until today, but their size is simply overwhelming. Is this also, in a way, proof that I am a resident of this world?
I suppose I have no choice but to accept it as something like a celebrity tax...
Now then. While surrendering myself to the relaxing situation, I ponder about the future. It also serves as a review of what I have been thinking about whenever I found free time these past few days.
First of all, what I have to think about is—
I only know the story halfway, and in the first place, I don't even remember it properly... Umm, if I recall correctly...
Ichigo receives Soul Reaper powers from Rukia, Rukia gets taken away to the Soul Society, Ichigo and his friends go to save her, it is revealed that Aizen was the mastermind, they fight the Arrancars...
And then?
From around here, my memory becomes even more vague.
From the flow, I know Ichigo defeats Aizen. But how did he defeat him? I don't remember anymore. After Aizen is finished, next... surely... they fight the Quincies, right? I kinda know that.
But I'm clueless about the details... I don't remember the timeline... but it is troubling that I remember weird settings.
Ah, jeez! If I knew this would happen, I should have read it enough to memorize all the chapters!!
...Eh? Then why did I know about Bambietta Basterbine? That was just from knowing information scattered on the net.
I know what she looks like. But I know almost nothing else.
"Based on this knowledge—"
I will become a Soul Reaper. For that, entering the Spiritual Arts Academy is absolute. No problem up to here.
The first problem is which division to join... Should it be the 4th Division after all? If I recall correctly, in my memories, Captain Unohana was the First Kenpachi, right? I remember she went to the Quincies' base.
At that timing, I will make a connection with Harribel! For that, I have to become strong enough to be taken to Hueco Mundo!! Since Harribel and Bambietta are in a hostile relationship, I need strength to deal with that too!!
At least enough to become a Vice-Captain!!
"But, the current me is..."
It is difficult to become that strong... I was made to realize that in today's training...
It would be great if I could become strong enough to defeat a Great Demon King in three months... but it has been proven that I don't have such talent...
I have no choice but to study under someone strong and level up.
...Ah! Come to think of it, did I see somewhere that Captain Unohana is actually strong? In that case, maybe I can manage if I ask for her teachings.
Besides, rather than joining a division of a Captain I don't know well, it would be easier on my mind to join the 4th Division, which I know even a little!
In the first place, a healer is treasured in any situation.
That's it! Maybe I can heal them after defeating the opponent and create a connection from there!! If I can take Harribel and Bambietta in that direction skillfully!!
Thinking about it this way, choosing the 4th Division is not a mistake!! Rather, it is the correct answer!!
"Um, are you okay? Airi-chan."
"...Eh?"
Being called out to, I interrupted my thoughts. When I noticed, someone I had seen at the shop was looking at me with concern.
"You were muttering something for a while now, so I was curious. I thought maybe you had heatstroke or something."
"A, ahaha... I'm okay. I was just thinking a little."
Oh my, that wasn't good. It seems it came out in my voice.
"Well, I was doing something like... physical labor during the day, so I am tired though."
"What!? That is tough. If you are tired, I could massage your shoulders or lower back—"
"N! No, no! It's okay!! I soaked in the hot water and feel completely better!!"
Sensing a disturbing atmosphere, I hurriedly got out of the bathtub and left the place as if running away.
That was close... What would have happened to me if I had stayed like that...
While shivering as I wiped my body with the towel and changed clothes, suddenly, I realized.
"...Ah, I see. Massage is... an option..."
What for? As a means to grope boobs.
Because it means loosening up the body. Naturally, you touch bare skin with bare hands.
Instead of waiting for an opportunity, they will come to you.
To add to that, since we are the same gender, there is no need to hesitate.
As long as there is the magnificent justification that it is a treatment, I can touch anywhere and everywhere as much as I want.
There probably aren't many things that match my objective this perfectly.
It is no exaggeration to call this a divine revelation.
Could it be that my true calling was a massage therapist!? Should I change jobs even now... No, no, that's no good!! Then I can't meet Orihime, Rangiku, Harribel, or Bambietta!! That would be meaningless!!
Didn't I decide to reach out for the summit of the heavens that should have been out of reach!! Was my determination to grope those boobs a lie, me!?
"Anyway, there's no time like the present!"
Quickly finishing my preparations and returning to the izakaya, I begged the owner and landlady and decided to learn the skills of osteopathy—or in the terms of this era, amma (massage).
Fortunately, there was a masseur in the neighborhood, so I visit and study whenever I have free time.
And what I learned is—
"How is it, Landlady?"
"Oh my, it feels good... The pain in my lower back is going away..."
"How about you, Owner? Is there anything wrong?"
"I'm fine. Thanks to you, the stiffness in my shoulders disappeared like a lie."
—And, like this.
For now, I am demonstrating it to the two of them and relieving their fatigue. The reputation is excellent.
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