The Beginning of Summer

Part 6 - Taking A Bath Together

I turned on the hot and cold water in the bathtub and waited for it to be filled. After it was filled, I called Hajime and told him the bath is ready. I went in the shower and closed the sliding door and undressed. I turned on the shower and was soaked in the water.

I hear the water splash a bit. I guess Hajime got in the bath. He took a long and deep sigh, then it went silent a bit.

"Kyo," His voice echo throughout the bathroom. "When Mr. Ai said that you are not good with emotions, what does that mean?"

I turned off the shower and applied shampoo to my hair. "Well, you see, I can't really understand if people are like, I don't know, flirting with me or if they are feeling something that they don't imply. I can at least try and read the room in some situations and it would work, but there are times where I can't tell if a person likes me or is angry with me unless it's visible and not implied."

"Ahh, I get it," He replies. 

"I feel like I am a robot for not being able to tell what feeling is what. One time, I accidentally drove someone away because of this."

"May I know what happened?"

I turned on the shower. I talked loudly so that Hajime could hear my words. "Well, when I was in junior high school, there was this girl who I became friends with. Apparently, she likes me because she keeps buying me stuff I didn't ask for every time we hang out."

"Oh yeah, she really likes you."

"That's the problem! I don't know that she did because I'm a robot."

"I don't think you're a robot," He says.

That made me look up. "Really?"

"I just think that as a kid, you were probably not taught about feelings and affection. As a result, you are oblivious to it. Personally, I know someone who was like that. He grew up alone without any parental figure so he was not thought about it."

"Just like me," Yeah, that sounded like me.

"I'm sorry if I reminded you of that."

"It's fine. It's true though. I grew up without someone teaching me about feelings and emotions that I'm basically a robot."

I heard him got off the bath and the water draining from the tub. "Don't worry. We're here to help you with that."

I turn off the shower and smiled. "Thanks."

I heard sounds of ruffling of clothes. It seems that he got dressed. "I'm off now. Thanks for lending me the bathtub!"

"No problem!" The door opened and closed. 

I got out after and got dressed.