♥Futarigurashi♥Kotarou lives Alone♥

Chapter 06 - Taking care of others

"Nee-chan, Kotarou won't come near me. Why is that? Is it because I smell? I don't think bathing in the sink is a good idea..." Because the public bath's boilers were under maintenance, bathing at the bathhouse wasn't an option. This was trouble for those living in apartments that did not have a bath or a shower.

"I don't think he thinks you smell." She saw Kotarou this afternoon. She didn't get so much as a hi because Kotarou ran away from her. He didn't even come in for breakfast for the past few days either. Rio guessed the kid must think he smells and he didn't want others to hate him because he couldn't bath.

"Nee-chan, how will you bath? The sink is too small for you."

"Don't worry about me. Anyone with a brain and friends will figure it out." The public bath's boiler maintenance was a bother but it didn't impact too negatively on Rio or Ruri; Rio could either ask her customer or Mizuki if she could borrow their shower.

"What about Shin-chan?" 

"Come on, Ruri, you really think that guy will be bothered by not bathing? I bet he's waiting out on the public bath to fix itself before he even tries to bath himself."

"That does sound like something Shin-chan will do." 

Their doorbell went off and Rio looked at her sister. 

Ruri smiled and she held up a rubber duck, "Nee-chan, go and answer the door. I'll just be here playing with Mr. Ducky and the Mr. Chicken." 

"Okay. Don't get out on your own. Call me when you're done playing." 

"Hm! Mr. Ducky and Mr. Chicken don't understand each other. One goes 'quack quack' and the other goes 'buck buck'...they don't understand me either because they don't speak Japanese."

Rio answered the door and it was Karino. "Hm. I wonder why is it that every time I badmouth you, you always appear." 

"You're not supposed to talk about badmouthing someone behind their backs to the very person you are badmouthing, you brat." Karino sighed a little but he was honestly not surprised to hear that from her. "You know about the public bath situation, right?" 

"I hope you're not asking me where I am bathing. I am fine."

"Oh. R-right..."

"Is this it?" 

"The kid is self conscious about himself. He thinks if he's not clean, we will all hate him." 

Rio kind of saw this coming somehow. "Is that so? Kotarou..." Like Mizuki, Rio deduced Kotarou must have went through days where he's unable to bath himself. It's humiliating when your body smells and other people could smell it. People will always think why won't the person put more effort into basic hygiene but they never think about the reason why basic hygiene wasn't met. Did Kotarou ever experience people tell him to go away because he smells? 

"You think we can cheer him up a little? I don't know? Get together, play some games, eat some snacks, and talk?" 

Rio smiled at him as she leaned against the wall, "You're really good at this whole taking care of him thing, huh?"

"I don't know if he's happy with strangers doing a parent's job, but...I feel like it's wrong if no one do anything."

Rio smiled at his words. "Old man, you're kind." 

"Don't call me names and then insult me at the same time." 

"I'll tell you some good news: The public bath will open tomorrow." 

Karino smiled a little, "I already know that. Heh, want to go together?" 

Rio stared at him." 

"Just kidding- I meant walking there together-"