A Tired World

After entering the cottage, the pair of them went through the living room and down a central hallway toward three different rooms. Two of them were the bedroom and bathroom Valeria had used earlier, but there was one last room with a closed door at the end of the hall that she didn’t acknowledge.

Perhaps it belonged to a parent or sibling who wasn’t here?

She led him into her bedroom first. It was very orderly. A few books were scattered around, and some clothes lay draped over a chair, but overall, it was well-kept.

The wooden floor was partially covered by a large red rug with intricate patterns. The walls were painted a soft white, giving the room an open and inviting feel. A small window sat high on one wall, allowing a sliver of moonlight to filter in, and a dresser and closet lined the far wall. However, the centerpiece of the room was a large canopy bed, piled with plush pillows and a thick, soft-looking blanket. It was easily big enough for two people.

"Sleep," Valeria said simply, pointing toward it.

"Sleep?" Caelum echoed.

"Yes. Degl, sleep." She mimed washing herself, then pointed to the bed again.

"Degl…? Oh! Bath, right," he said, finally remembering the word from their earlier lesson. He could definitely use one. He hadn’t been able to shower prior to this, and he was still a little sweaty from work.

Val nodded and led him to the bathroom.

It was small, clean, and surprisingly similar to the ones he was used to in Japan. A sink with a faucet and mirror stood near the door; opposite it, a toilet was tucked away in a small, closet-like space, and in the center of the room sat a large bathtub with a floating crystal hovering above it.

Valeria pointed to the crystal. "Bath, water."

She waved her hand toward it, and the crystal pulsed. Suddenly, water began flowing from it and into the tub below.

Caelum stared in awe at the spectacle. He carefully reached out, letting the heated water run over his fingers. "Wow."

Valeria smiled, pleased with his reaction. She demonstrated how to use the sink and toilet before handing him a neatly folded towel and a set of clothes. "Clothes."

Caelum looked at the pile, then at her. "You’re… going to leave me alone to wash, right?"

He recalled how casually she had stripped earlier and how closely she had stuck to him since his arrival. A small part of him worried she might insist on staying.

"Lonely?" she asked, staring at him.

"Ah! No, no! Cael is good! Not lonely!" He made a shooing motion out the door and back toward the bedroom.

Valeria blinked, tilting her head confusedly before slowly nodding. "Val wait? Sleep?"

He exhaled in relief. "Yes. Wait. Sleep. Thank you."

She glanced at him once more before turning and leaving, shutting the door behind her.

He waited until he heard her footsteps faded before letting himself relax fully.

Turning back to the tub, he watched the steady stream of water. It was strange—such an ordinary task being performed by something so magical. The sight unsettled him slightly, but at the same time, it fascinated him.

After a minute of marveling at the magic, he stripped and climbed into the tub, sighing as the hot water enveloped him.

"…"

Man, it had been a long day, hadn't it?

Cael closed his eyes as he thought about what had happened prior to this.

He had woken up in his own world as usual, gone to school, and worked his part-time job; that by itself was exhausting. However, on top of all of that, he had then been transported to an entirely different world, met a strange girl, and struggled through a very difficult language barrier.

And now, here he was, bathing in a magical cottage.

The steaming water soothed his aching muscles and washed away all the built up tension. It felt good to be clean again.

He took his time enjoying the quiet comfort. Normally, he had to make do with public baths or the showers in manga cafés. This was much better.

The soap smelled faintly floral as he scrubbed away the day’s grime. Once rinsed, he emptied the tub and refilled it, hoping to soak for a bit longer. It took a few tries to stop the flow of water like Valeria had done, but he eventually figured it out and settled back into the fresh bath.

It wasn’t quite like a traditional ofuro, but it was close enough.

He let his thoughts drift off with the steam, but eventually, they focused again on a certain girl.

Valeria.

Who was she? What was her story? Did she have friends? Family? Or was she lonely, like him?

The house seemed empty aside from her. Maybe that was why she’d been so welcoming; she was alone too.

He frowned. No, that couldn't be right. Someone like her, who was bright, beautiful, and full of warmth, wouldn’t be alone or desperate for companionship. She probably had tons of people to dote on her.

And yet…

The way she had cried when he had said he was lonely, that moment stuck with him. It didn't look like her tears were out of sympathy; there was something more relatable in them.

Then he remembered how he felt when she resolved to help him. It had been an unfamiliar, but rather… nice experience. The way his chest had tightened, the way his heart had pounded, and the heat that had spread through him…

Was this what people felt when they talked about crushes?

He shook his head at the intrusive thought. "Okay, that’s enough, Caelum."

It was a silly thought. He barely knew her, and he would go home eventually. There was no point in getting attached.

Besides, everyone in his life always ended up leaving eventually; Val would be no different.

He sat up, water sloshing around him. It was time to stop thinking and get some rest.

After draining the tub, he dried himself off and changed into the clothes Valeria had left him. They were a bit large; the sleeves were too long, and the pants were loose at the waist, but they were soft and comfortable. He appreciated the gesture.

Once he finished his nighttime routine—thankfully, dental hygiene seemed to exist here—he stepped out into the hallway.

Just as he was about to call out to Valeria though, he saw her already in bed and curled up on one side.

"Valeria?" he whispered.

She gave no response, just the quiet, steady rhythm of her breathing.

He hesitated. Where was he supposed to sleep? The closed room was probably off limits for him, and the couch in the main area was too small.

His gaze flickered back to Valeria’s bed.

She seemed to be sleeping on the far side of it, and there was plenty of room left for another person…

He lightly slapped his cheeks with both hands and shook his head. No. That would be weird, and he wasn’t about to make things more awkward than they already were.

Determined to not let that intrusive thought win, he went to the living area and dropped onto the couch. It was too small, and there were no blankets, but it was the right thing to do.

Curling up tightly and getting as comfortable as he could manage, he closed his eyes and waited for sleep to take him.