Novel "Hello from Crescent Moon Bathhouse" Episode 3 (15 episodes total)
Previous episodes
・Episode 1 is here
・Episode 2 is here
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Episode 3
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"Good morning."
As I slid open the frosted glass door, I was greeted by a young woman's voice. I had unconsciously assumed an elderly man would be sitting at the reception desk, but instead, a petite woman with a very short haircut and round glasses was sitting there. Trying not to show my surprise, I headed toward the desk.
"It's 520 yen for one person."
"Yes... excuse me, do you sell towels?"
"We lend them out for free, so please feel free to use one."
I was handed two mint-green towels. Was that Baroque music playing in the background? The elegant sound of a harpsichord was resonating.
"Body soap, shampoo, and conditioner are inside, so please help yourself."
"Thank you."
As I was about to head toward the women's bath, the cover of the book the woman at the desk was reading caught my eye. Federico García Lorca's "Blood Wedding." I widened my eyes. It didn't seem like the kind of book to read first thing in the morning. I like Lorca, and it's not a book I dislike myself, but it didn't feel like the right book for this time of day.
As I stood there unable to move, the woman at the desk looked up.
"Is something wrong?"
"Oh, no..."
The woman looked back down at her book. Her profile, hidden by her mask, had a strange, translucent quality—both youthful and mature. Trying to shift my focus, I passed through the noren curtain of the women's bath. It was a traditional changing room. I opened a low locker, slowly got undressed, and took off my mask. Holding one towel to cover myself, I opened the door to the bathing area.
"Huh...?"
I was surprised by the otherworldly scene that spread out before me. What lay ahead wasn't the usual painted mural of Mt. Fuji found in public baths, but a vibrant, geometric mosaic I had never seen before. The windows near the ceiling were made of colorful stained glass, and fragments of red, blue, and orange light danced on the bathwater. The edge of the tub rose in irregular curves, also inlaid with mosaic tiles. The floor of the bathing area was covered in square tiles with a white base, featuring contrasting light blue and orange flowers.
I was confused. From the vibrant tiles, the color scheme, and the brushwork, I immediately knew it was Spanish. And I could vaguely tell that the design of this bathhouse was based on an homage to the Spanish artist Antoni Gaudí. What is this bathhouse? Why must I soak in hot water amidst such an intense Spanish atmosphere?
While feeling confused, I took my washbasin and chair and sat down in front of the faucet. The washbasin was an old-fashioned yellow one with "Kerorin" written on the bottom. The imbalance between this strange space and the Kerorin basin only deepened my confusion. What on earth is this place? Is it a designer public bath? ...No, I had never heard of such a stylish public bath in North Mikazuki Town. Then, did it just open? ...No, the exterior walls and the mosaic tiles in this bathroom show plenty of signs of aging. I started turning my strategic brain for the first time in a while as I splashed water to wash my head and body. The rinse-in shampoo and body soap were pale pink and had a faint scent of roses.
I wrapped my head in a towel and soaked in the bath. I was the only customer. The bathtub was divided into three types: a large one, a medium-sized one with yellow-green bath salts, and a small cold water bath. I submerged myself in the large bathtub. It seemed I was the only one in it. I let out a deep breath. At the bottom of the tub, bright green 2-centimeter square tiles were lined up neatly. I stretched my arms out in the hot water. Ripples spread through the water, making the green tiles sway. How long had it been since I had soaked in a bath so leisurely? I recalled that since the beginning of this year, there were times I would just collapse on the floor and fall asleep... Days had continued where I would take a shower in the morning, force my head to clear up, and head to the shop.
I gazed at the stained glass near the ceiling. It was designed with seasonal flowers of Japan. It didn't seem like everything was in a Spanish style. Well, that's fine. Anything is fine. Right now, I don't have the physical or mental strength to think about difficult things. I closed my eyes and rested my head on the edge of the bathtub, which formed an irregular curve. Perhaps it was designed so that you could rest your neck and head on it. The hot water gently caressed my body. Ah, it feels so good. I scooped up the hot water with both hands and splashed it on my face.
After getting out of the bath and drying my body, I looked at the poster on the bulletin board while drying off. Notices from the Johoku Ward Public Bath Association, information about Johoku Ward's response to the Zeit virus... As I was looking at them mechanically, the handwritten words "Live-in help wanted" suddenly caught my eye. Live-in? I stopped drying my body and approached the bulletin board.
"Live-in help wanted
We are looking for someone to help out at Gengetsu-yu. Payment in kind: room and meals provided. If you are interested, please speak to the attendant at the front desk."
My heart wavered. I have to move out of my current company dormitory in four days. But for the past two weeks, I had been unable to move, just melting into my futon. I couldn't think about anything. If I could move here for the time being and think about what to do next, that would be more than I could ask for. Since it's payment in kind, I suppose there won't be a salary, but I have some savings, so I should be able to manage for a while. I quickly put on my clothes.
When I headed to the front desk, the petite woman from earlier was still reading "Blood Wedding".
"Um, excuse me..."
The woman looked up from her book.
"I just saw the notice for the live-in help position over there..."
The woman closed her book and stared at me. I felt as if her transparent gaze from behind her glasses was seeing through various things like an X-ray.
"What is your name?"
"I am Ichiko Yamaguchi."
The woman remained silent and kept staring at me. I gradually felt sweat seeping out from my armpits. The woman took something like a file from under the front desk. Then, she beckoned me over. The woman took a document out of the file and handed it to me. It seemed to have some notes written on it. I stared at the woman. The woman continued to speak while keeping her eyes on the file.
"Basically, I would like you to help between 8:30 PM and 10:00 PM. Also, from 7:00 AM to 7:20 AM before opening the morning bath, and from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM before starting the evening business. Also, twice a week, I would like you to be at the front desk for about two hours between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM. We are currently operating on shortened hours, and our business ends at 8:00 PM, but after that, we go in to clean the men's and women's baths. Breakfast is at 6:00 AM, lunch is at 12:00 PM. For dinner, you can eat what has been prepared as you see fit. As for the room, Room 7 on the second floor of the annex here is vacant, so please feel free to use it. It is a 6-tatami mat Japanese-style room. There is also a futon, so please use it if you'd like."
"Um...?"
"When can you come? Today? Tomorrow? Next week?"
"In that case... please let me start from tomorrow."
"Understood."
Then the woman stared at me. Her eyes, transparent like a baby's and like a bottomless lake, were looking at me.
"I am the third generation of this place, and my name is Izumi Wakatsuki. I live on the first floor of the annex here with my cousin. Until March, we had about three people living in, but they all left here due to moving or graduating from university. So, I am very grateful that you offered, Ms. Yamaguchi. We are currently affected by the virus, but since regular customers still come, we have switched to a morning bath from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM and shortened business hours from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM to keep the public bath open."
"I see."
"You are free to do as you please outside of the hours I ask for your help. Since we only provide payment in kind, you are welcome to do other work as well. Please feel free to use our bath."
"Thank you very much."
"What time will you arrive tomorrow?"
"In that case, around 11:00 AM before lunch."
"Understood. I will prepare lunch as well. Do you have any allergies or foods you dislike?"
"No, not in particular."
"Understood. Then, see you tomorrow."
The woman stared at me with her baby-like transparent eyes and bowed. Then, she lowered her eyes to "Blood Wedding" again. I was convinced that she had finished conveying all the necessary information. Then, I bowed to the woman at the front desk, took my wooden tag, and headed to the shoe locker.
Before I knew it, it had been decided that I would escape from my current room. As soon as I realized that I had to start preparing immediately... my head started to spin slowly. Oh no, I have to hurry and pack up.
(To be continued)
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Continuing story
- Episode 4 is here
- Episode 5 is here
- Episode 6 is here
- Episode 7 is here
- Episode 8 is here
- Episode 9 is here
- Episode 10 is here
- Episode 11 is here
- Episode 12 is here
- Episode 13 is here
- Episode 14 is here
・Episode 15 (final episode) is here