Javelin, Z23 and Kalk are walking to the baths.

  Javelin stretches her arm up. "This practice really wore me out." She lowers her arms. "That was exhausting."

  "It was." Z23 agrees.

  "Ugh, so much training..." Kalk slumps over.

  Z23 pats Kalk's back. "But we do have to keep on top of it."

  "I really need a shower." Javelin says.

  The three enter the dorms to find Manjuus running around, repairing something in the baths.

  Ayanami, Laffey and Hobby are watching the little birds work.

  "Can they fix it?" Ayanami questions.

  "I don't know." Laffey responds.

  "Hobby hops so." She responds.

  The other three approach.

  "What are you three doing here?" Javelin asks.

  "The boiler is broken." Laffey informs.

  Kalk whines. "Whyyyyyyy?"

  "It's broken?" Z23 questions.

  "Does that mean I can't take a shower?" Javelin asks.

  Ayanami motions to the Main Bath sign, which has a do not enter sign over it. "The main bath is out of order for a while."

  "Oh, no! I wanted to rex somewhere with a lot of space!"

  .

  .

  Z23, Javelin, Hobby and Kalk walk down the halls of the dorm.

  "I want to take a shower!" Javelin cries out. "I want to take a bath!"

  "I do too!" Kalk fps her arms as she shouts.

  Suddenly several Manjuus, carrying a rge bundle of wood, walk past them.

  "What's that?" Javelin questions.

  The four follow the birds outside and find them building something with Zuikaku supervising.

  The six girls watch the construction.

  "That's good!" Zuikaku calls out.

  "Zuikaku-san, what's going on?" Javelin asks.

  "Oh, this is an outdoor bathing kit." Zuikaku informs. "We bough this from Akashi and had it in storage until now."

  Z23 sweat drops. "Akashi really does sell everything.

  "Thanks to this, we'll be able to bathe even with a broken boiler."

  "Is this going to be an open air bath?" Ayanami asks.

  "I figured if we're doing it, it might as well have style." Zuikaku says.

  Laffey walks forward. "I want to take the first bath."

  "Hey, no fair!" Javelin runs forward.

  "No, I want it!" Kalk runs forward.

  "Um, it's not done yet." Zuikaku informs, making Laffey, Kalk and Javelin stop. But then she winks. "But if you help us out, you could get dibs on going first."

  "Alright, let's do this so we can all get in the bath!" Javelin cheers.

  The group spends the rest of the evening building the bath, until it's finished.

  "We did it!" Javelin shouts as everyone looks over the new complete outdoor bath.

  "Wow, it's so amazing~" Hobby observes.

  "You can see the scenery too." Z23 observes. "It's got a nice atmosphere.

  "I really want to get in with you guys." Ayanami says.

  "Me first." Laffey takes off her clothes and starts walking towards the bath.

  Javelin begins to panic.

  "Hey, there's no hot water in there yet!" Zuikaku informs.

  The other look over and spot the naked Laffey.

  "Hey, why are you taking off your clothes?!" Z23 shouts and she grabs Laffey's clothes and shoves them back on her, with the help of Zuikaku. "Put them back on!"

  Shoukaku walks over. "Zuikaku, is the bath all done?"

  Zuikaku turns to her older sister. "Since everybody helped, we're done!"

  "It's very nice." Shoukaku bows to everyone. "Thank you all for your help." She then puts a hand on Zuikaku's head. "You too, Zuikaku. Great job!"

  "Hey, don't treat me like a kid, Shoukaku-nee." Zuikaku says.

  Shoukaku smiles. "That's a perk of being your older sister.

  'I wish I had a sister...' Kalk grows slightly sad.

  Shoukaku puts her hands together. "I know. To thank you all for helping us make this open air bath, I'll bring you something nice ter."

  "Something nice?" Laffey questions.

  "Hobby wonders what it is." She says.

  "You won't be disappointed." Zuikaku cims.

  Ayanami walks up. "The water is ready."

  "Then let's all get in." Z23 says with excitement.

  "We made changing rooms, too, so you can all change there." Zuikaku informs.

  .

  .

  All the girls come out, wearing towels. Hobby has her long hair done up in a bun.

  "Oh, this looks so great!" Javelin smiles.

  Then they all go off to the side and wash themselves. Kalk scrubs herself hard.

  "Get all the sweat off..." Kalk mutters, but them she feels hands on her back and starts to blush.

  "Hobby will wash your back, Kalky~" Hobby rubs Kalk's back.

  "O-okay!" Kalk grows beat red.

  After they all wash themselves they get ready to go in, but Zuikaku stops them.

  "The water might be too hot, so you should get used to it first by pouring it over yourself." Zuikaku puts steaming hot water onto her legs. Then she climbs into the bath and takes off her towel. "Make sure you don't put your towels into the tub."

  Zuikaku sets her towel to the side.

  "Okay." Everyone responds as they walk over. They all get in the bath as they take their towels off and put them to the side.

  Everyone sighs in content.

  Shoukaku walks out from the changing room, in nothing but a towel, and several Manjuus follows her. They are carrying ptes with food and drinks on them.

  "Thank you all for waiting." Shoukaku calls out. "I've brought drinks and tempura for you."

  "Oh, yeah!" Zuikaku cheers. "Shoukaku-nee's tempura!"

  Ptes float in front of everyone, and Zuikaku immediately starts eating.

  "So yummy!" Zuikaku cheers.

  "Oh, I love tempura!" Hobby cheers.

  "It tastes even better than normal." Laffey cims.

  Shoukaku sits in the bath next to Zuikaku. "Isn't it funny?"

  "Javelin, Niimi, do you want some, too?" Zuikaku asks.

  "Just a little." Javelin says and she takes a bit of the tempura alongside Z23. "It does taste better, because we're eating it in a unusual setting!"

  "Oh, this is soooo good~" Kalk giggles.

  "It is, but we shouldn't overeat." Zuikaku informs.

  "That's right." Shoukaku agrees. "The key is to savor it while taking in the charm."

  "That's right, charm is important." Zuikaku downs a gss of water and she shakes.

  "Was that the charm?" Z23 asks.

  "Try not to think too hard." Ayanami says. "Just enjoy it."

  "You don't get something like this every day."

  "More please." Laffey calls out.

  Zuikaku stands up and sits on the edge of the bath, using her towel to cover herself.

  "I am getting rather hot, though." Z23 says.

  "Then why don't you get out for a bit and let the air cool you off?" Zuikaku suggests.

  "When the breeze comes it feels nice, and you'll feel that charm." Shoukaku informs.

  Hobby stands up and sits on the edge of the bath with a towel covering her. "Ahhhh~"

  Z23 stands up. "Then..." She covers herself with a towel and sits on the edge of the bath. She smiles and closes her eyes as a breeze blows. "The charm, huh? This really does feel good when your body is overheated." She looks over to Laffey. "Laffey, are you okay?"

  Laffey starts to nod off.

  "Let's take a break together." Ayanami suggests.

  "But I feel kind of balmy and sleepy." Laffey informs.

  Javelin slides over to Laffey. "Laffey-chan, you can't sleep in the bath." Laffey almost falls in, but Javelin stops her. "And one... Huh?"

  Laffey falls over, dragging Javelin with her under the water. The two sink to the bottom of the bath.

  Everyone gasps in shock.

  The group takes the girls out of the bath and sets them on the wooden floor. Laffey is fast asleep, but Javelin is knocked out.

  "Oh, Laffey always falling asleep." Kalk sighs.

  "Are you two okay?" Z23 asks.

  "I guess they got dizzy because they're not used to long baths." Zuikaku ponders.

  "We should let them rest in a nice, cool pce." Shoukaku picks up Javelin.

  .

  .

  The group gets dressed and they bring the two girls inside, getting them dressed as well. Shoukaku sets Javelin in Laffey's bed.

  Javelin opens her eyes. "Where..."

  "Are you okay?" Z23 calls out, and Javelin looks to the side and sees everyone. "You got dizzy in the bath."

  "Looks like you were in there a bit too long." Shoukaku states.

  "Are you okay, Javelin?!" Kalk fps her arms.

  Javelin sits up. "Yeah, but is Laffey-chan okay?"

  "She woke up right after that." Shoukaku informs. "It seems like she really did just fall asleep."

  Javelin slides to the edge of the bed. "I'm so gd!"

  Shoukaku walks to the window and looks out to the baths. She opens the window. "It looks like the other ships are also really enjoying the open air bath."

  Ayanami and Javelin enter the room.

  "Is Javelin awake?" Ayanami asks.

  "She just woke up." Hobby informs.

  Laffey holds out a gss of water. "I brought you some water, Javelin."

  "Thank you, Laffey-cahn!" Javelin stands up and grabs the gss of water.

  "I'm sorry. It was my fault."

  Javelin drinks the gss of water. "I just wasn't used to it. I'll be fine next time."

  Laffey smiles.

  "How about we go to a real hot spring next, so you can have enough time to fully rex?" Shoukaku suggests.

  "Yeah!" Kalk fps her arms.

  "To a real hot spring?" Javelin questions. "I really want to go!"

  "But you'll have to make sure to take breaks and hydrate, so you don't get this dizzy again."

  Javelin smiles. "I will."

  .

  .

  .

  .. -- --- ..- - --- , / .--. .-.. . .- ... . , / ..-. .. --. .... - / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .... .- .-. -.. . ... - .-.-.- / - .... .. ... / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / -... . / -.-- --- ..- .-. / --. .-. . .- - . ... - / -.-. .... .- .-.. .-.. . -. --. . / . ...- . .-. .-.-.- / .. / -.. --- -. .----. - / .-- .- -. - / - --- / ... . . / -.-- --- ..- / -.. . .- -.. , / -... ..- - / ... .... . .----. ... / ..-. --- .-. -.-. .. -. --. / -- . / - --- / .... . .-.. .--. / .... . .-. .-.-.- / .--. .-.. . .- ... . , / ..-. .. --. .... - / -. --- - / .--- ..- ... - / ..-. --- .-. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .-- --- .-. .-.. -.. , / ..-. .. --. .... - / ..-. --- .-. / -- . .-.-.-

  .

  .

  .

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  12-28-2023

  1698 words