......, but it couldn't be so unthinking as to be so inconvenienced by the bathrooms of the inn run by a friend's family.

　I try not to look at Garnett in the changing room, and wash myself in the bathhouse with my back to him.

　I try to keep what's behind me out of my consciousness as much as possible.

　As I continue to silently clean myself without talking, just maintaining my normalcy, the quality of the noise behind me suddenly changes.

　The sound of washing up in a chair stopped and the sound of watery footsteps flattened out and approached, and then I felt the presence of a naked crouch right behind me.

'...... what's going on?'
No, no. It's just that this is a big deal, you know?

　Garnett's simple words are thrown at my bare back.

You see, even if you work out, you don't get much meat. That's why I think it's a good idea sometimes.

　Garnet's small hand touches my back.

　I almost felt my body involuntarily tense up from the tension, but I managed to suppress my reaction so as not to realize how upset I was.

　This was no longer a matter of willpower.
　It's not something I could ever show you, but it's not something I could ever show you, like an adolescent boy getting upset pathetically.

　You have to act calmly, with room to spare, and act like an elder (adult).

There are a lot of knights who are much bigger than me, right?
That may be true, but I don't want to look at anybody else's body. It's a good thing it's you.
'Don't say anything at all ...... that would make it difficult to respond.

　I was wary that he would stick to me from behind, hoping to embarrass me, but fortunately, he doesn't seem to be doing anything that can't be joked about like that.

...... oyah!

　I was caught off guard at the right moment, and a hand stretched out over my shoulder easily snatched the sponge for washing up from me.

'Ah!　Hey, what ......

　I turn around, startled by the sudden surprise.

　Garnet's shoulders and up into view.
　Her unraveled hair is soggy and wet from the hot water, a mischievous smile on her face, flushed from the heat of the bathhouse.

　I've already stopped moving my gaze downward, but reason has stopped me from moving it.

'I'll wash your back. I've not had a bath with another man since I was a kid. I've always wanted to do this kind of thing at least once.
...... Okay, can you do that for me?

　I can't very well say no to a reason like this if you mention it.

　Considering Garnett's upbringing, he would never have had the opportunity to do this with anyone else, including his family.

'After all, this is what normal families do, right?
'I don't know. At least in my case, I was in there with my dad when I was about a single digit in age, and I took care of putting my brother and sister in there when I was about ten.
Hmmm ...... sounds like fun, that one.
'It was just a pain in the ass, man. I mean, isn't it normal for knights and noble houses not to do this kind of thing?

　While we were talking for a while, leaving our backs to each other, our hands stopped washing our backs and hot water was sprayed on us vigorously.

　It wasn't long before I thought it was finally over.
　Again, my arm was stretched out over my shoulder, and the foam-covered sponge returned to my hand.

'Well, take over, then.'
What about ......?

　Without having time to ask back what the hell he was talking about, Garnett returned to his chair and turned his back to me.

　I'm speechless with my grip on the sponge, but when I'm standing in front of Garnett, who is clearly enjoying a back flush - something I've never even had a chance to try in my life - I can't say that I want to refuse for emotional reasons.

　I finally remind myself that I have a soft spot for garnet (this guy), and I slide the foamy sponge down my white, thin back.

　I don't put too much pressure on the delicate skin so that it doesn't hurt.
　From my shoulder blades to the hollow of my stomach along my spine.

　When I tried to wash my neck area, I noticed that my hair was in the way, so I used my fingertips to gather my hair back and tuck it up to expose the section (nape of the neck).

　Each time it was done, Garnett moved his body in small increments for some reason.

...... Hey, you're tickling me. You can do it harder and you won't get hurt.
'Oops, sorry. It's been a really long time since I've done it to anyone else: ......

　He protested with a troubled look on his face, so I washed his back with all my strength without hesitation.

'If you think about it like you're doing it to your sister or something, I'm going to blow you off later.
"Can you not read my head?
Okay, you'll remember that later.

　Oh - a really small back.

　Memories of previous battles pass through my mind one after another.
　The many battles related to the Demon King's War. The direct confrontation with Gandalf, the Demon King. The fight to the death against the Night Ripper.

　Garnett has always been ahead of me.
　I've been willingly exposed to fierce attacks, and she's been injured many times to protect me.

　--I've been protected by such a small and slender back.

　I would never say that I'm pathetic.
　That is an insult to Garnett, who is an active knight.

　Garnett has been given the title of Knight of the Silverwing Knights because he was recognized as capable of doing so despite his small stature.

　Unlike adventurers, it's not something you can become just by wanting to be an adventurer, but you shouldn't be able to become a knight unless you're recognized as physically and mentally worthy - I'm sure I'm an exception.

　But I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a rush of excitement when I saw the back of a naked garnet with no armor or protective clothing on.

　The division of roles between those who fight and those who heal, and the idea that one person's weaknesses should be compensated for by one's strengths are definitely a legitimate theory, and I will continue to work under this concept.

　However.
　For once, I couldn't hold back the emotions that were bubbling up.

Is it over?　Well, I think I'd better get into the tub--

　Garnett rinses the foam off himself and tries to get up.

　Just then, I was hugging Garnett from behind.

'--Heh?　Oh ...... Oh, ......!

　Garnett is confused and stagnant, making her voice rise to the top of her voice.
　I could clearly see the flushing up to my ears, right in front of my eyes and nose.

'I'm sorry ...... for now, let me think of myself as a pathetic guy. I'm a guy who can't even save his life without relying on this little body ......
You can't go to ....... If I didn't rely on you, I'd be dead already.　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who can do this.

　Garnett laughed dumbly and gently laid his hand on my shoulder as he grabbed my hand and lightly intertwined his fingers with mine, as if he was loving me.