The Asahi Bathhouse

It's been a week since Morfonica's live concert, and the buzz around it refuses to die down at school. My classmates can't stop raving about it.

"Did you hear Mashiro's voice? It's like she's singing straight from the heavens!" one of them exclaimed, his eyes shining with admiration.

"Right!? She's like an angel!"

"Mashiro was amazing, but let's give credit to the entire band. They all owned that stage!"

I agree, They are indeed angels.

But amid the excitement, there was another band that kept popping into my mind.

Now that I think about it... I swear there's another band that my classmates were talking about too... What was it again?

"Are you guys serious? Raise a Suillen is way better than Morfonica!"

"Raise a Suillen totally outshines Morfonica!"

"Hey, let's not get into a heated debate. Both bands are incredible in their own right."

Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed, preventing a potential argument from erupting.

And then it hit me – Raise a Suillen! I haven't seen them perform live on the CirCLE stage yet.

"Hm? What's wrong? You look like you just got hit with a ton of bricks," Soumei said, strolling over to me with a cardboard milk carton in hand.

"It's nothing," I muttered, trying to brush off his concern.

"Really?" He arched an eyebrow, taking a sip from his carton before tossing it into the trash with practiced ease. "Boom~" He grinned mischievously, clearly amused by something.

I eyed him suspiciously. "What's that smirk for?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing," he replied, feigning innocence. "Just wondering when you're going to grace us with your guitar skills again. It's been ages since I've heard you play."

I shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know about that."

"Really? Hmm, well, that might be my fault," he admitted sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"What do you mean by that?"

Soumei's grin widened as he leaned in closer. "Well, you know that upcoming festival? I may or may not have signed you up to perform without asking first."

My jaw dropped in disbelief. "You what...?"

"Teehee~" he chuckled, shrugging playfully. "Oops?"

"Soumei...!" I exclaimed, a mixture of frustration and exasperation bubbling within me.

"Hey, hey, don't be mad! It'll be fun, I promise!" he said, attempting to placate me with a charming smile.

Don't you have any idea WHY I stopped playing!?

I sighed heavily, "Fine. But you owe me big time for this."

"Deal!" he chirped, flashing me a thumbs-up before sauntering off, leaving me to grapple with the sudden realization that I was about to perform in front of a crowd, whether I liked it or not.

I gazed up at the ceiling, lost in thought about playing the guitar again.

"I wonder if I still have time to get my guitar repaired," I mused aloud, the words escaping almost unconsciously.

"Hmm? What was that?" Soumei's voice interrupted my reverie.

"Nothing important. Just thinking out loud," I replied dismissively, waving him off.

"Alrighty then. Back to my spot, I go," he chuckled, returning to his seat.

As the school day dragged on, I found myself counting down the minutes until it was finally over. When the final bell rang, signaling the end of classes, I let out a sigh of relief and began gathering my belongings.

"Hey, you heading to work now?" Soumei sidled up to me, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Yeah, got a shift," I confirmed, adjusting my bag.

"Oh, I see. Well, I've got a hot date lined up, so I'll catch you later," he said with a wink, his grin growing wider.

I rolled my eyes, unable to resist a playful jab. "Don't rub it in my face about your girlfriend, alright?"

"Don't worry, You'll get one sooner or later!" he teased, before walking out of the classroom.

As I approached the CirCLE, anticipation for another day of work filled my thoughts. But as I neared the entrance, confusion gripped me. 

"Huh? Closed?" I muttered to myself, puzzled.

 The Livehouse was closed, its windows dark and its usual lively atmosphere absent.

just then, Marina emerged from the side entrance, "Hey there, Part-timer-kun!"

"Marina-san, why is the Livehouse closed?" I asked, furrowing my brow in confusion.

"Oh, sorry about that! I forgot to let you know. We're getting a day off today!" Marina explained, rummaging through her bag before producing a ticket with a flourish. "Ta-da! We're going to Asahi Bathhouse!"

"Asahi Bathhouse?" I echoed, peering at the ticket she held out to me.

"That's right! It's a fantastic bathhouse not too far from here. The owner wanted to treat us all to a day of relaxation, so she arranged for a day off and even paid for everyone to enjoy the baths," Marina elaborated, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I couldn't help but feel intrigued by the unexpected turn of events. "Well, that's certainly unexpected."

"Exactly! And who are we to turn down a free day of pampering? Plus, it'll be a great chance for us to unwind and recharge," Marina exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious.

"Alright, count me in. A day off sounds like just what I need," I agreed with a smile.

"Great! Let's go make the most of it!" Marina grinned, leading the way towards the bathhouse as we eagerly anticipated the day of relaxation ahead.

As Marina and I made our way to Asahi's Bathhouse, the anticipation bubbled within us. It wasn't often that we got the chance to enjoy a day off, especially one that promised relaxation and rejuvenation.

"By the way, Have you been to a bathhouse before?" Marina asked, breaking the silence as we walked.

I shook my head. "No, this will be my first time. How about you?"

"Really? I've heard great things about it from some of the regulars at CirCLE. (A/N: What Marina meant about Regulars is that means It's the girl's band)

As we approached the bathhouse, the sight of the traditional Japanese architecture and the inviting warmth of the building filled us with a sense of serenity. We stepped inside, greeted by the soothing aroma of essential oils and the gentle sound of running water.

Just then, a slender girl emerged from the room, her leafy green eyes scanning the room before settling on Marina. With slate blue hair framing her face, adorned with glasses.

"Huh? Marina-san?" 

"Oh? Rokka-chan! I knew you'd be here!" 

"M-Mhm..." Rokka's response was timid, her eyes flickering nervously between Marina and me.

Noticing my presence, Rokka's curiosity got the better of her. "Who is this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Hm?" Marina glanced at me before her face lit up with recognition. "Ahh! Him? He's Nakasone Kyo, the part-timer of CirCLE."

I offered a small smile in response, "Nakasone Kyo," I introduced myself with a slight bow.

Rokka returned the gesture, her demeanor shy yet sincere. "Nice to meet you! My name is Asahi Rokka!" Her voice held a softness that hinted at her reserved nature.

"It's nice to meet you too, Rokka-san," I replied, appreciating her genuine warmth despite her evident nervousness.

Marina seized the opportunity to tease Rokka, her grin widening mischievously. "Rokka-chan here practically lives at the Bathhouse. That's why it's called 'Asahi Bathhouse.'"

Rokka's cheeks flushed but she managed a shy nod of confirmation. "Y-Yes, that's right."

As the conversation shifted, Marina turned her attention back to me with a twinkle in her eye. "Oh~ By the way, Part-timer-kun~ Have you heard of the band called 'Raise a Suillen'?"

I nodded, recalling the conversations I'd overheard among my classmates. "Yeah, I've heard of them. They seem to be pretty popular, but they haven't performed in CirCLE, right?"

"Hmmm, you're not wrong but you're right."

Marina nodded, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "That's right and let me tell you that Rokka-chan is one of them! A guitarist of Raise a Suillen! She's a genius!"

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by Marina's revelation. "Rokka-san is part of Raise a Suillen?"

Marina nodded enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "That's right!"

Rokka's cheeks flushed crimson at Marina's words, and she glanced down, clearly embarrassed by the attention. "hiii~ P-Please don't say that, Marina-san... I'm not that amazing..."

But Marina ignored her protests, continuing to sing her praises. "Oh, come on, Rokka-chan! You're amazing!"

A genius huh... I guess I can't judge a book by its cover.

"More importantly, are you two here for the bathhouse?" Asahi asked, her tone curious.

"Yep! We're here to relax!" Marina chirped, flashing the ticket in her hand.

Rokka frowned, her confusion evident. "Ticket?"

"That's right! We got it as a gift from the CirCLE owner for a day off!" Marina explained enthusiastically.

Rokka took the ticket hesitantly, examining it closely. "Marina-san, this isn't a ticket for Asahi Bathhouse..."

"Eh...?" Marina's eyes widened in disbelief.

I felt a pang of concern as I watched the scene unfold, but I kept my expression neutral, except my face was completely blank.

"It's for Ruko Resort... and it's expiring tonight," Rokka said softly.

"T-Tonight? But the resort is too far!" Marina's shoulders slumped in defeat, her earlier excitement fading. "I guess I'm a failure, huh... I'm sorry, Part-timer-kun," Marina murmured, her voice filled with disappointment.

"Don't worry about it, Marina-san. It's not your fault," I reassured her with a gentle smile. "We can always plan another day to relax."

Marina looked up at me, her eyes brightening with gratitude. "Really? You're not mad?"

"Of course not. These things happen," I replied, offering her an understanding smile.

"U-Uhm... I know this is not much, but how about trying the bathhouse instead?" Rokka suggested tentatively, her voice soft but hopeful.

Marina's eyes lit up at the idea, her spirits lifting instantly. "Oh! That's a great idea! Rokka-chan's bathhouse sounds perfect! Let's go, Part-timer-kun!" she exclaimed, seizing my arm with excitement.

"Eh?! Wait! Marina-san! I'm a boy! A boy!" I protested, trying to keep up with Marina's sudden burst of energy.

Marina paused mid-step, her expression shifting to one of realization. "Oh, right! Sorry about that, Part-timer-kun. I got a bit carried away."

Rokka couldn't help but chuckle softly at the exchange. "At first, I thought you two were a couple."

My eyes widened in surprise, turning to Rokka with disbelief. "REALLY!?"

"E-Eh?! Y-Yeah," Rokka stammered, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"Right?! After all, Marina-san is the cutest!"

Marina's cheeks flushed even more at my comment, and she pouted slightly as she glanced at me. "Part-timer-kun? I know you compliment me a lot, but please stop embarrassing me," she murmured, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

"A-Ah! Sorry about that, Marina-san," I stammered, feeling a bit flustered myself. "Well then, thank you, Asahi-san." With a polite bow, I excused myself and headed to the men's section of the bathhouse.

The rest of the day was spent in blissful relaxation as Marina and I enjoyed the soothing waters of the bathhouse. 

As we soaked in the warm pools and indulged in the peaceful atmosphere, the stresses of school and work melted away, replaced by a sense of tranquility and contentment.

For the first time, that felt really great.