The Great Search for Hot Springs! (Part 1)
The battle just over, Kiana kept watch on her surroundings, and only after confirming it was safe did she finally let out a sigh and pat the dust off herself.
“We finally shook off those annoying things… Mei, you're not hurt, are you?”
Kiana cast a considerate, caring look at Mei beside her, trying to boost her favorability rating. But at that moment Mei was holding her sleeve up to her nose, her brow furrowed in dismay.
“Mei, what's wrong? What are you sniffing at?”
Kiana couldn't help asking, watching Mei's odd behavior.
“Ah! No… it's nothing…”
Noticing Kiana's gaze, Mei hastily pulled her hand back, feigning composure.
“Mei does smell a little bit like zombies, but Bronya doesn't mind at all.”
“Ngh! So there really is a smell!”
Just as Mei was about to cover it up, Bronya's remark blew her disguise. She hurriedly grabbed Bronya's clothes and asked in a fluster.
Sensing something off, Kiana curiously leaned her face close to Mei's body and gave a tentative sniff.
“Ngh!”
She'd barely taken half a breath before Kiana sprang back as if electrocuted, pinching her nose shut tightly…
“Is it really that bad?!”
“Mm… well~ it's still bear… bearable~ Did you get splattered with zombie blood during that fight just now?”
Kiana hurriedly forced out a smile to console Mei.
“Please, don't say any more…” Mei hugged her knees and sank into a shut-in mode. “If only there were somewhere to bathe right now — I feel like my whole body's about to rot…”
“Mm-hm! Come to think of it, we really haven't bathed in ages… I'd love to soak in a hot spring!”
Seeing how listless Mei looked, Kiana hurriedly changed the subject to try to cheer her up. But to Mei, that kind of comfort only deepened the grudge in her heart, and her expression grew even gloomier…
“What's a hot spring?”
Bronya, however, hadn't picked up on any of this and simply asked away.
“Put simply, it's a water source that bubbles up from underground, but because of geothermal heat its temperature is a bit higher than normal water.”
“An underground high-temperature water source. Bronya understands.”
With that, Bronya stood up.
“Bronya, where are you going?”
“To find a hot spring.”
“Huh?!”
Kiana was thoroughly confused by Bronya's sudden move, and just then Mei stood up too.
“Hot springs aren't that easy to find. We should get a move on and keep going.”
“Huh?!”
Bronya and Mei stood back to back, like two children in a sulking match. Squeezed between them, Kiana still hadn't grasped the situation and could only keep letting out startled little yelps, at a total loss.
“Mei doesn't want a hot spring?”
Bronya stood with her back to Mei, hugging Homu. Though nothing in her tone sounded off, the atmosphere had turned somehow delicate.
“Of course I want one! But how could there possibly be a hot spring here?!”
Huh?! What is going on with this situation?!
Kiana felt a pressure she'd never experienced before. She wanted to do something to ease the mood, but she wasn't good at this sort of thing, and now she was caught in an unbearably awkward spot.
“Mei's wish is Bronya's wish. Bronya's mech is equipped with a geothermal detection device. Using this device, we should be able to find a hot spring very quickly.”
Bronya laid out her idea. Mei instantly fell silent, her body trembling faintly, as if something were about to erupt.
Kiana hurriedly stood up. For the first time she felt how crucial her position was — compared to the situation now, that earlier horde of zombie felt as light as a feather.
“Mei, calm dow—”
“Bronyaaaaaaaaaa!!”
Just as Kiana was trying to smooth things over, Mei spun around and flung herself onto Bronya, hugging her tightly and rubbing her cheek against Bronya's. Bronya, startled by Mei's action, stood frozen on the spot.
“Bronya, you're just amazing!!! Then let's hurry and go find a hot spring~~ okay~ okay~~~”
Mei was as happy as a child. Kiana stood dumbly beside the two of them, dark lines streaking across her forehead, as if all her earlier inner turmoil had suddenly become dirt cheap…
Wait!
Kiana suddenly realized something!
“Don't tell me we're actually going to go looking for a hot spring?!”
And one hour after Kiana let out that exclamation, they had already set out on their journey in search of a hot spring…
“Geothermal reading detected ahead.”
Bronya stopped in her tracks. This was the tenth time she'd issued such a warning.
“Is this detector of yours really reliable? Why is it always either a biogas pit or a natural gas line?”
Kiana stood off in the distance with an impatient look, not wanting to get caught up in any more mysterious out-of-nowhere explosions. Incidentally, the process of these so-called mysterious explosions went like this—
“Target confirmed…”
A dazzling glow shone from the shoulder of the mech Bronya had summoned, its laser cannon's muzzle aimed at the high-geothermal bearing shown on the radar.
“Fire.”
A beam of intense light shot out, and amid a huge blast and a sky full of smoke, an enormous crater appeared at the target point.
But that seemed to be about all…
“See? Nothing here this time either… Well, at least it's a blessing it didn't blow up a gas main or something.”
Kiana spread her hands helplessly and turned to leave. But just then the ground beneath her feet gave off a dull rumble and began to shake as if in an earthquake!
“Huh?! What's going on?”
Kiana lost her footing and plopped down on her behind, and only then did she feel the surrounding ground giving off the same rumbling.
Rumble, rumble, rumble…
BOOM!!!
With one huge crash, a thick column of water gushed up from underground, bursting through the earth like a great dragon!
“Wahaaa~~~~~ It really is a hot spring!!!! Amazing!”
Seeing the water burst from the ground, Mei leapt up in delight! But the next second her enthusiasm was doused…
The column of water wasn't a hot spring — it was ordinary tap water. Or rather, the earlier cannon blast had ruptured the underground water main, which was why it had produced such a massive gush…
“So basically, finding a hot spring in a city like this is just impossible…”
Watching the dejected Mei, Kiana couldn't help patting her on the shoulder. Mei watched the crater they'd just blasted slowly fill with cold tap water, then crouched on the ground, saying nothing…
“There's still a way.”
At this, Bronya showed no sign of giving up. She walked over to the big water pit and ordered the mech to crouch down.
“Minimum output. Fire.”
The mech's muzzle glimmered faintly, and with a “pong,” a ball of deep-blue light emerged from the laser cannon's mouth, glowing like a flame.
“Output increase, 10%.”
The blue light at the muzzle gradually brightened. The mech aimed the muzzle at the pool and fired the beam straight into the water, producing a series of sizzling sounds, and layers of steam began to fill the air.
Watching the scene before her, Mei's dejected expression gradually broke into a smile. The whole water pit became like a natural bathtub, the water inside slowly heating up, and in a few moments a man-made hot spring had formed!
Mei danced about in delight, taking Bronya's hands and spinning her in a dance, while Kiana buried her face in her hands where she stood…
“So if we were just going to do that, what was the point of searching everywhere for a hot spring…”
The Great Search for Hot Springs (Part 2)
The crisp sound of flowing water trickled amid the curling mist. Neatly folded girls' clothes set beside the “hot spring” gave off an air of youthful freshness.
“Ahh~~ so nice, I haven't enjoyed myself like this in so long~~”
Mei stretched out both arms, letting the warmth spread through her whole body. Crystalline droplets slid down from her neck, and the water's warmth seemed to melt the fatigue from her body.
“Mm-hm! This temperature, this water quality! It's the best~~”
Kiana broke into a mischievous grin.
“Stop staring at weird places!”
“It's fine~ In a fanservice scene like this, with the Paladins and Monks standing guard, I'm the only one who gets to see it~”
Kiana slowly stood up, her fingers locking onto Mei and wriggling like an octopus's tentacles.
Sensing danger, Mei hurriedly hugged her arms across herself and turned to the side.
“Honestly~ Mei, don't be so shy~”
“That's enough… Oh, right — Bronya, aren't you going to come in and soak? It's really nice~”
Mei hurriedly changed the subject, turning to look at Bronya on the bank nearby, who was holding Homu in her arms and seemed to be hesitating over something, deliberately keeping a distance from the water.
“It's all right… Bronya's functions are currently in good condition. No dust-removal operation is needed.”
Bronya buried her head behind Homu and said quietly.
“Dust-removal operation…” Hearing that phrase, Mei couldn't help frowning, and her tone turned serious. “Bronya! You're not a machine — you're a human. A girl should take good care of her own body!”
“…Bronya will go patrol the surroundings and make sure the area is secure.”
But Bronya didn't relent at that. She turned around and walked off into the distance.
“Bronya…”
Mei watched Bronya's retreating back, wanting to say something but stopping herself. Just then she suddenly felt a tightness at her chest and realized Kiana had seized the opening! Mei shot up as if electrocuted and shoved Kiana away, her face as red as an apple!
“Kiana, what do you think you're doing?!”
“Aw, come on~ It's such a rare, relaxing moment, so don't make that stern face~ Honestly, I think that kid just plain hates bathing, don't you?” Kiana let out a few dopey giggles. “It's fine — once she comes back, I'll help her get a good scrub~”
“You really are…”
After all that fuss Mei's expression had, in fact, eased up. She let out a soft breath and sank back into the water — and just then a huge sound came from the distance!
“BOOM!”
“That sound—?! It must be Bronya running into the zombies!”
Mei, who had just sat back down, shot right up again. In a few strides she leapt out of the bath and dashed off in the direction Bronya had gone!
“Hey! Mei, wait! At least put your clothes on!!!”
Not far from the hot spring, drawn by the earlier blast, the surrounding zombies had gathered together and were moving toward the hot spring.
Bronya stood alone before the large horde of zombies, using her mech's cannon fire to force back their line by sheer power. But there were too many of them, and Bronya was gradually being drawn into their encirclement!
“I absolutely won't let you disturb Mei.”
Enduring the zombies' attacks, Bronya controlled the mech's greatsword in a sweeping arc, carving a bloody path out of the encirclement!
The zombies' bites had torn several rips in Bronya's clothes, and thin trails of red ran down her fair skin…
“Bronya, are you all right?!”
The voices of Mei and Kiana rushing over came from nearby. Bronya turned and reported in her usual tone.
“Targets cleared. Bronya's damage is minor, no cause for concern.”
“Whoa~ so impressive, taking down that many zombies all by yourself.”
Kiana couldn't help marveling at the battlefield strewn with zombie bodies. But Mei's expression was far from relaxed. Watching the battered Bronya, her worry was written all over her face.
“You silly girl! You're not a machine! You have to take good care of yourself!! Honestly… covered in wounds head to toe and still saying your damage is ‘minor’…”
As if the pain left on Bronya's body had transferred to her own, Mei hugged Bronya tightly.
“…I'm sorry.” Bronya lowered her head.
“Well~ this works out perfectly then~ You're all filthy, so let me give you a good ‘dust-removal’!”
Kiana said, patting Mei on the shoulder.
“Mei… Bronya requests a dust-removal operation. A bath.”
“Mm-hm~ Let's go~ Let big sis wash your hair for you~”
Mei took Bronya's hand and headed off toward the hot spring, leaving Kiana stranded where she stood.
“Hey! Wait, I want to bathe again too!”
Watching the two of them walk off, Kiana hurried after them.
“Kiana, be a good girl and patrol the area~”
“Huh?!”
The hot spring's warmth wreathed her skin, and shampoo suds slid across her cheeks as Bronya instinctively squeezed her eyes shut.
Mei gently stroked her hair, combing out strand by strand the locks that had gone a little dry from all the fighting, then rinsing them clean with fresh water.
“Splash~”
As a stream of water washed over her, Bronya's hair took on a lustrous shine. Bronya instinctively shook her head, flinging droplets from her hair onto Mei like a little animal.
Mei let out a silvery laugh and dried Bronya's hair with a towel. Her normally spiral hairstyle, once let down, turned into natural curls.
“Bronya, next time don't face danger all by yourself, okay~ Aren't we comrades? Lean on everyone's strength a little more.”
Mei combed through Bronya's hair as she murmured gently in her ear.
“But it's so rare for Mei to be this happy, and Bronya didn't want the zombies to disturb you…”
Bronya answered quietly too, like a child who'd done something wrong.
Could it be that Bronya had already known the zombies would attack, and wanted to stop them alone? Mei suddenly understood something. Looking at the wounds all over Bronya, her heart ached, and she hugged Bronya tightly from behind.
Their bodies pressed close together, as if the warmth in their hearts had passed between them too…
“Thank you, Bronya…”
