Aya Sasaki's point of view.

I didn't know you lived in this town.
　I scurry about in a way that is unusual.
　Beautiful city!

McAllen, the city of water. In the meantime, let's go to the Adventurer's Guild.
'I see there's a canal running through the city. Lovely.
'Aya, you're going to bump into people if you get too excited.

　As Lucy warned me, I almost bumped into a passerby and oh!　So, I avoid it with a start.
　I almost bump into it and avoid it again. Avoid. Avoid. Fun!
　For the first time in this world, I'm in a normal human city!
　I ran around like a child, weaving my way through the crowd.

'You have great reflexes,'
I guess I just grew up in the Great Maze after all.
　Takatsuki-kun and Lucy's voices came from behind me.
　Oh?　Are you dumbfounded?


　◇


Makoto-kun!　I've missed you so much!
　As soon as I entered the Adventurer's Guild, a beautiful blonde lady hugged Takatsuki-kun!

Lucius, Lucy who's that?
It's Marie. I'm the receptionist for the guild that wants Makoto.
　He told me, sulkily.

'Heh, I see,'
　Hmmm.....
　Takatsuki-kun, you're very popular in this world.

I don't know.　Where's your boy?
I'm Aya Sasaki. Nice to meet you.
"I'm Marie, an employee of the McAllen Adventurers' Guild. It's nice to meet you. Are you newly registered as an adventurer?
　She moves away from Takatsuki and puts on a work mode face.
　She's a clean-cut beauty.

'Marie-san. I've already registered as an adventurer in the town of the labyrinth, Sa-san. It's a party with me and Lucy, so I'm here to report that.
'Really?　Okay, I'll register the party. Can I see your adventurer's card?
Yes, this way.
　I hand the adventurer card Fujiwara made for me to Marie.

Aya Sasaki. Are you from another world just like Makoto-kun? I have no achievements as an adventurer. It's Stone Rank. As for the rest, there are no problems............eh?
　Marie's eyes widen.
　Yay!　How do I know you're not a monster?

　But it wasn't so.
　The cool Takatsuki-kun unusually approached Marie-san in a very rare moment.

''Isn't Sa-san's status amazing?''
''........This status is lightly above the Gold-ranked adventurers. If you're free, there are probably more than 20 parties you'd like to recruit.
　Takatsuki-kun and Marie are sneaking around, their faces close together.
　Isn't the distance between them kind of close?

'By the way!　I knew you brought a girl from the Great Maze. Makoto-kun's a liar!
No, I didn't make any promises.
Shut up!　I won't let you sleep in today!　You should show up at the guild at night.
　Takatsuki-kun was in a headlock by Marie.
　That was, I think, a chest hitting his face........

'Lucy!　You're back?
　I turned around to see a girl with brown hair and loose-fitting clothes approaching Lucy.

'Emily, we just got back. Aren't you going on an adventure today?
You're helping out at the church today. Apparently a lot of people have been attacked by demons lately and hurt themselves. So, what can you tell me about the Great Maze, if you've got the time?
'Okay. I'll let you hear about my exploits!
You've been giving Makoto a lot of trouble, haven't you?
'No, it's not!　Be amazed at my new magic 'meteor shower' story!

　It's a lot of fun.
　I was introduced to her, and she said she's a monk girl named Emily.
　She said she has had adventures with Takatsuki-kun and Lucy-san.
　Lucy-san has gone somewhere with Emily-san.

''Well then, Sa-san. I'll show you the city.''
　Apparently the Adventurers Guild's party registration is over.
''Uh-huh.''
　I'm alone with Takatsuki.
　Maybe Lucy was paying attention to me.
　A date!
　Gladly, I followed.

　◇

'This is the main street. It's the busiest street in McAllen.
They serve great food. We'll go there later.
'One back street is the restaurant district, I guess. It's quiet this time of day, but at night it gets crowded with bars.
I'll stop by Fujiyan's later.
And that one, it's more of a nightclub, I guess.

　Takatsuki shows me around the city in a familiar way.
　There are many stylish brick buildings in the city.
　It has a nice atmosphere.
　The town of McAllen has canals everywhere, and boats come and go in the canals.

Can't I get on that boat?
'You can ride for a fee, but it's faster if I use water magic to get you around.
　Come to think of it, I remember Takatsuki-kun had a spell to move on water.

'Then what's that big building?'
　I pointed to a stone building.

'Oh, that's a hot spring. McAllen says there's a hot spring nearby.
Wow!　The city is beautiful and it's a nice place, even a hot spring!
I hear the hot springs are a major industry in town. I've never been to one.
　I couldn't afford the luxury, Takatsuki chuckled.

　He's aloof, as usual.
　He looks the same as usual....

(He looks a little down.)

　That was it.
　It's Takatsuki-kun from junior high school who was depressed because the sequel to the popular RPG he'd been pre-ordering and looking forward to for months was like a sugoroku game due to lack of budget........
　Well, I heard it was fun in its own way when he tried it.

　I wonder what happened?
　Takatsuki is a friend of mine from middle school and a recent benefactor.
　If you're having trouble, I want to encourage you.

Let's go to the hot springs.
　I'm going to be brave enough to ask her out.

'If you want to go, Sa-san, that's fine.'
Mixed baths!
　I'm embarrassed, but I'm patient.

　Takatsuki, who looked like a Chihuahua that had been hit by a pea gun, was a sight to behold.


　◇

- Takatsuki Makoto's point of view

　It's funny.
　What's going on here?

"Oh, hot water.
　A squishy, loose face is next to me.
　It's a classmate of hers, all dressed in a pristine outfit.
　No, it's not. That's not true.
　She's got a bath towel wrapped around her.

　But!
　I'm naked underneath it!
　...calm down.
It's a "clear water" skill. I need help!


　It was written that mixed bathing is available, but it seems to be called a family bath.
　You can rent out a small open-air bath.
　Naturally, the price is high, but with the prize money from defeating the Minotaur and Queen Harpy of the Great Maze, you have some room in your pocket.
　I'll do anything Sa-san asks of me.

"Oh, you're coming back to life!
'Oh, yeah...'
　When Sa-san stretches, hmmm, and stretches, the towel seems to come off....
　I look up, trying not to look in that direction.

'It's nice to be in a town with hot springs.'
Do you like hot springs?
"In the Great Maze, we didn't have a bath, so we would always bathe in the subterranean lake. You can't keep your mind off the fact that you might be attacked by a monster at any moment.
　That's certainly unsettling.

　For a while, the chatter continued.

''Come to think of it, Sa-san's figure is using the Change [Henge] skill, right?
'Yeah, your skin was blue before, but now it looks human, doesn't it?'
　And then he shows me his two arms.
　No, you don't have to show me so much.
　I blush.

''Next time, teach me your change 《へんげ》 skills. I'll teach you evasion skills and escape skills.
It's fine. But you're going to use the Transformation skill?

　What are you talking about?
　Isn't changing your appearance the basis of an assassin or ninja game!

Takatsuki's gaming brain is running wild again.
Rude.
　I won't deny it.

'How old is Takatsuki-kun at the level?'
I'm 21. You're losing to Sa-san by more than 10.
I thought you were supposed to keep the levels as high as possible?
　Sa-san even remembers my style of play very well.

'I raised it in the beginning. But my initial status was too low, and I didn't have much room to grow. Even when I leveled up, I didn't get much of a status boost.
So, you're not feeling well?
'What?　No, I don't care about that anymore. Right now, I'm enjoying increasing my proficiency in water magic. Now I just need to master spirit magic.
That 'master' thing you used to say, Takatsuki, wasn't it?
　He told me that he missed it.
　Was that right?

'Sa-san, you should level up. Unlike me, your initial status is high and you have a lot of room to grow. Moreover, the effect of the 'Action Game Player' skill will be increased by three times.
I'm not very good at leveling up, you know?
　It was.
　That's why I liked action games, Sa-san.

'Hey, Takatsuki-kun,'
What's up, Mr. Saunders?
Let me know if you have any problems.
...What?
You look like you're in trouble.
...I guess.
　You can't fool your friends' eyes, after all.
　I'll have to tell Sa-san about the Messenger of the Evil One sooner or later.

"Thank you.
No, you're welcome.
　After all, it's easy to talk to old friends.　　

　◇


All right!　Congratulations to Mako and Lucy on the return of McAllen!
　Lucas-san has gathered all of the adventurers together for a drinking party.

''Mako!　Tell me about the Great Maze.
　A drunken Jean gets involved.
'Jean, do you think Mako is okay with this everyday?　I said.
　Emily says with a grin.
'Oh, hey. Emily. What are you talking about?

Not much of an adventure.
Makoto I think you're lying to me.
　Lucy pokes at me when I'm too drunk to talk.

　Oh, the feeling.
　It's back to McAllen.
　I look at Sa-san to see if he's enjoying himself, and he's sipping his drink with great relish.
　Sa-san is a strong drinker, isn't he?　

What did you do today, Makoto and Aya? Lucy asks.
'Well, today I had Takatsuki-kun show me around town. We went to Fujiwara-kun's shop. We had lunch and then went to a hot spring. We also went to a hot spring,'' Sa-san replied.

""Huh?"

Aya, Aya... Aya..... You mean you went to the hot springs separately, right?
'No, we took a family bath together. Hey, Takatsuki-kun.
Yeah, I know.
　I mean, in this world, family baths are normal, right?
　There was a whole city full of them.

Well, Makoto...
　Why does Jean look at me in such awe?


　Emily's gaze is cold.

''.........''
　Lucy is frozen.
　Why?

Oh no.... I was supposed to be Mako-kun's first woman.
Marie?　What are you talking about?
Well, all right. I'll be the second one to go with you.
　Marie intertwines her arms around me.
　What is it?
　What am I doing wrong?

'Oi, Mako is a man now!　Everyone celebrate!
　Mr. Lucas?

f*ck! Explode! Let's play both ways! "Harlem parties are great.

　It's been a long time since I've been back at home, but I'm being abused by all the adventurers.
　Why not!


--The family bath.
　Young men and women who go there, without exception, are said to be there for a reason.
　It's a men's and women's pool.


　I don't know!　Such otherworldly wisdom!
　They didn't tell me that in the Water Temple!