A Slightly Naughty Mishap?

A Slightly Naughty Mishap?

Since early morning, Grey, Filmera-san, and I have been working together on the bath tub.

It's not yet noon, but the tub is already taking shape.

There's still fine-tuning to do, but if I had to describe the current state in one phrase, it'd be "absolutely perfect."

"Yukiya-sama, you're so dexterous!"

As I saw logs Grey brought into wooden boards, Filmera-san praises me from behind, clearly impressed.

The boards, used for the bath's floor and walls, are uniformly sized, with smooth cuts despite being sawed by hand.

It's likely thanks to my [Master Artisan] skill, which enhances dexterity. Even I'm surprised at how perfectly the stack of boards has turned out.

"By the way, are you done digging the soil?"

"Yes, I think so. It's about 2 meters long, 1.5 meters wide, and 60 centimeters deep—perfect for stretching out and relaxing."

I explain the tub's dimensions to Filmera-san while cutting wood.

"It's sized for one person, but two could probably fit if needed. It'd be a bit cramped, though, and I doubt two people would bathe together, so I'm aiming for a spacious, relaxing feel for one."

"I see… Building something from scratch like this is exciting to watch. It kind of reminds me of childhood."

"Childhood" sounds a bit old-fashioned.

I don't know Filmera-san's age, but she's probably in her early twenties.

Yet saying it reminds her of childhood feels like something someone would say after years—decades, even—of adulthood.

Still, working like this does remind me a bit of playing house as a kid, so it's not that strange.

"…Alright, the wood looks good. Grey, can you handle it like the blueprint?"

"Kyu, kyu~!"

I toss a wooden board to Grey, who's finished lining the pit's floor and walls with its silky threads.

Grey catches the board with sticky threads, gluing longer boards to the floor and shorter ones to the walls.

"Kyu, kyu, kyu~"

Humming as if singing, Grey wiggles its rear, clearly enjoying the work.

Its skills are precise—trimming overly long boards with sharp legs or supplementing short ones with extra wood, deftly assembling the boards.

"I've thought this before, but it's really smart, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Smart, kind, and a reliable partner."

"Partner…?"

My words seem to catch Filmera-san off guard, her tone dipping slightly.

She makes a thoughtful gesture, as if pondering something.

"…Hypothetically, Yukiya-sama. If Grey were a dangerous monster… what would you do?"

"If Grey were dangerous…?"

I hadn't really considered it.

But it's true—Grey can hunt massive boars and birds, even snapping bird bones with its sharp legs to eat.

When I first met Grey, if I'd attacked it thinking it was a giant spider…

Even if it was starving, I might've been killed and eaten by now.

But even if that were possible…

"I don't think Grey would ever attack people. Sure, it's a spider, but it understands my words and Filmera-san's, trying to communicate despite not speaking. I can't imagine a compassionate creature like Grey being a dangerous monster. And…"

"And?"

"If Grey ever tried to do something bad, I'd give it a stern talking-to! You can count on me for that."

I thump my chest, declaring it.

Filmera-san lets out a small laugh, then giggles joyfully.

"Pfft, hehehe… Right. If anything happens, Yukiya-sama would handle it. Seeing how attached Grey-chan is to you, I'm a bit relieved."

She smiles brightly, her eyes narrowing.

That look alone makes my heart skip a beat.

It's almost like—

"Kyu kyu~!"

As I touch my slightly warm cheeks, Grey's voice calls from behind.

Turning, I see Grey, finished with its task, standing before a bath tub coated in shimmering white threads.

"Wow! It's looking great, Grey. Good job!"

"Kyu kyu!"

Grey raises a leg in response.

Touching the thread-coated interior, it feels smooth yet slightly soft, showing Grey layered the threads multiple times.

"Grey, you're a master craftsman. Or maybe a master craft-spider?"

"Kyu, kyu!"

"Haha, either way. This is incredible. No worries about leaks now, right?"

"Kyu!"

As if saying, "Obviously!" Grey nods repeatedly.

If Grey's this confident, I'm reassured.

I trust Grey's judgment completely—if it says it's good, it's good; if it's bad, it's bad.

Come to think of it, I rely on Grey a lot, don't I?

"So… Filmera-san, could you step inside and test it?"

"E-Eh!? M-Me…?"

"Yeah. I don't mind how it feels, but comfort matters, right? I think you're better suited to judge that than me."

In my previous life, my parents' hobby led me to visit hot springs during my student years.

I soaked in rugged, rocky springs and slimy, mossy ones—so-called "secret springs." Because of that, I stopped caring about bath quality. A seat or no seat, even a drum can bath was fine.

As long as there's hot water, I'm good.

So for me, filling this tub with water would complete it. But since we've put in the effort, I want it to be as relaxing as possible.

That's why having someone like Filmera-san test it would give her feedback more weight than mine.

"…Alright, I understand… But I'll keep my mask and hood on, okay…?"

"…? That's fine by me."

"…Th-Then, excuse me…"

Lowering her face, Filmera-san unbuttons her light green jacket under her robe, pop, pop.

Then, hooking her fingers into the front-opening garment, she breathes heavily, shoulders rising and falling, and gently opens it.

Revealed is pure white underwear. And beneath it, a modest yet slightly pronounced, refined chest—elegant in size and shape.

I can't tell the size exactly, but probably around a B-cup, maybe less.

Her fair décolletage, stretching from her neck to her chest, is dazzlingly bright—

"W-Wait!? Filmera-san!? W-Why are you undressing!?"

"E-Eh!? B-But, we're getting in the bath, right…?"

"Y-Yes, but! I just meant for you to check the comfort of the tub…! You can totally keep your clothes on…!"

"! ~~~!"

Filmera-san frantically grabs her hood, covering her chest and crouching on the spot.

Grey points a leg at me, shaking its head as if to say, "What a mess."

"S-Sorry… I wasn't clear…!"

"N-No, it's my fault for jumping to conclusions…! And, and… I'm sorry for showing you something unsightly! Are you okay…? You're not feeling sick or anything, are you…?"

Filmera-san cautiously raises her face, asking nervously.

Here it is again. I love Filmera-san's kindness and consideration, but I can't stand her low self-esteem, always putting herself down.

So I step toward her.

Kneeling to meet her darting eyes, I grasp her delicate shoulders through her robe.

"Filmera-san, I've never once thought you were unsightly or anything like that."

"! B-But…"

"Whatever you think, these are my feelings. I don't know how you see yourself, Filmera-san. But to me, you're incredibly charming."

Hearing my words, Filmera-san, who was avoiding my gaze, looks straight into my eyes.

Her clear blue eyes, like a cloudless sky, are as beautiful as jewels. Slightly teary, they're overwhelmingly captivating.

"It was an accident, but I saw your… uh, chest, Filmera-san. You called it unsightly, but to me, it was…"

"…"

"Really charming, beautiful, and I couldn't take my eyes off it."

"!"

Filmera-san's shoulders twitch.

Tears well in her eyes, and she gently places her hand over mine on her shoulder.

"Filmera-san…?"

"S-Sorry… I'm sorry…! Really, really… No one's ever said that to me before…!"

A tear spills from her eye, trailing under her mask, down her chin, and wets my clothes.

Her figure is so pained, so anguished. It's as if something in her past—or even now—is tormenting her, stirring such emotional turmoil.

What could be hurting Filmera-san so much?

What shaped her to be this way?

I don't know. I don't know, but…

I want to support her. That's what I feel.

"…Yukiya-sama. Do you really think I'm beautiful? That you find me charming…?"

"Of course. I wouldn't lie. My words, my feelings—they're all true."

As I say this, Filmera-san's left eye briefly glows yellow.

But it's fleeting.

Her eye returns to its usual blue, and she smiles brightly, leaning her face toward my chest.

"You're… truly a mysterious person. Meeting you, Yukiya-sama, makes me so fortunate…!"

"F-Filmera-san!? F-Fortunate is a bit much…!"

I didn't do anything special, and honestly, seeing her chest by accident should've made her hate me.

Yet her gaze is warmer than before, her beautiful eyes glistening alluringly, and the sweet, floral scent from her closeness is bad for my heart.

Behind Filmera-san, Grey covers its face while forming a heart shape with its legs.

Then, for some reason, it darts off into the forest.

…So much has happened in such a short time.

But this fulfillment, this satisfaction—it's something I never felt in my previous life.

I don't know Filmera-san's heart. What she means to me, or what I mean to her—I don't know.

But seeing her sob softly yet smile gently up at me from my chest, my heart can't help but be moved.