Chapter 5: Airing out the dirty laundry

Sometimes, when I was thinking back on my life, I would consider what it was that was the most challenging activity I had ever taken part it. For a long time I truly believed that the Holy Grail war would be the single most difficult experience life would ever throw at me.

Yet I find my assumption challenged right now. In the most unlikely of circumstances.

"Tohru, for the third time you can't wash the whites with the bright colours." I sigh in exasperation. When I agreed to teach a dragon how to perform basic housework I wasn't expecting it to be any easy task and yet this goes beyond my lowest expectations, she took to cooking so easily too.

Tohru's sense of superiority over me isn't helping much either "I thought you were supposed to be an expert on this? Wouldn't it just be easier to just wash everything at once?"

I cup my head in my hands and let out a long breath.

'She doesn't know any better Shirou, just be patient. She'll get there.

"Alright look at it like this" I pick up the nearest white shirt to me and hold it up "Kobayashi-san likes this shirt being white yes?"

Tohru nods and I take that as my cue to continue. I pick up a red shirt and hold the two together.

"If I were to wash this red shirt and the white shirt at the same time then the white shirt would turn pink and Kobayashi-san wouldn't be very happy" I explain slowly so that Tohru can understand what I'm telling her. For a brief moment I have a feeling of hope as a look of understanding passes through Tohru's eyes and she sports a proud smile.

"In that case I should just wash all the clothes individually in my mouth right!"

I hang my head and let out and resigned sigh "You can't do that either Tohru."

She growls at me and lets out a rather loud 'hmph' "Why is washing human clothes so difficult?"

'It's not the clothes that are difficult'

"Look" I'm down to my last strategy here before I seriously consider moving on to teaching her something else "If you learn how to wash clothes correctly in a regular human way I'm sure Kobayashi-san will praise your hard efforts."

Tohru suddenly smiles at me "Well why didn't you say so! Tell me how to wash clothes properly then!"

'I know you're out there laughing at this from somewhere Archer. Shut up, I hate you.'

After explaining for a fourth time how to wash clothes Tohru finally does a passable job at cleaning them with there just being one, minor problem.

"Geez, the weather forecast didn't mention it being cloudy today" I grumble as I take a look out of the balcony window and see the sky filled with grey clouds "We'll never be able to dry the clothes in this"

"So all we need to do is get rid of the clouds to dry out the clothes right?" Tohru says with casual ease that all we need to do is clear and entire sky full of clou-

'Wait a second'

"Tohru! Wait no!" Too late I realise what she is about to do as she barges past me onto the balcony before leaping up onto the roof. That growing feeling of dread is then justified when seconds later I'm greeted with the sight of multiple low grade Noble Phantasm level lazer beams scattering the cloud layer to reveal the sun.

I slam my palm into my face and hear Tohru drop down next to me "Now we can hang out the clothes right?" from her tone of voice I can tell she's got a care free smile on her face as if the consequences of using high grade magical attacks for the purpose of bringing about a bit of sun mean nothing to her.

'Who am I kidding. She's a dragon of course she doesn't care about discretion.'

I slowly remove my hand from my face and turn to Tohru with a mirthless smile "Yes. Tohru, we can now hang out the clothes."

While we wait for the clothes to dry I talk Tohru through the different types of detergent that are used for different fabrics and the general practice of checking the pockets for items like loose change before cleaning them.

After a few hours we bring the clothes in and I walk the maid-in-progress through the art of folding and ironing. She at least doesn't burn anything and her folding is acceptable for a beginner.

I hear the tell tale sound of the front door being opened and hear Kobayashi enter "I'm home!"

I turn to Tohru "You finish up with the folding the clothes I'll let Kobayashi how well you've done today" she sends me a bright smile as I stand up and make may way over to the front door to greet Kobayashi. I make it to the hallway that leads to the front door when greet eachother.

"Good afternoon Shirou-san" Kobayashi sends me a small smile she makes her way over to the main room "How was Tohru-san today?"

"Well she's alright but she's still-" I cut myself off when I notice her look of growing horror aimed at something happening behind me, I turn around to see what is so shocking and soon enough I realise what it was which was so concerning to Kobayashi-san "A work in progress…" I finish off my statement and assume my default position of the day with my palms placed firmly on my face.

There in the living living room is Tohru with her face buried in one of Kobayashi's shirts almost attempting inhale it with how deeply she's breath it in.

I turn around to face Kobayashi and pat her on the shoulder while giving her a look of resignation "Baby steps Kobayashi-san" my words break her out of her stupor and she looks to me with a expression to match my own.

"She'll get there eventually."

AN: Pretty short chapter this time but Next chapter will be longer.