Remember the mixed bath scene?

Yeah, one of the most discussed scenes when it got revealed in the previews.

But they opened their eyes to a new world after being Ouroboros.

However...

What would happen if they took their last mixed bath...?

Hell yeah, Enjoy.

(At the hot spring)

"Ah…this place does have an effect on aching bodies…" Noah sighed, as he submerged himself into the warm hot spring.

"Told ya, isn't it, Taion?" Lanz said with some pride in him.

"Well… Yes. But it would've been better if Eunie didn't chuck me in…" Taion groaned.

"Sorry about that, Taion, but I really wanted you to relax in this place. Heh, but you seem to enjoy this place!" Isurd laughed.

"Hmmm… Yeah… And looks like the girl who chucked me in is also enjoying this hot spring too…" Taion said, gazing at the other side of the spring. The girls were in there. The spring was pretty big, so if they were on the opposite side of the spring, they could gain decent privacy.

"Yeah, not like a good bath on an aching day… Hmmm…speaking of it… It's been quite a while since we've done separate baths, eh?" Said Lanz, leaning back to the ledge of the spring.

"Yeah… I still remember the day when our eyes viewing the world completely changed…" Said Noah.

"Huh? When did that happen? Why didn't I get informed of that…?" Taion scratched his socked fluff.

"Oh yeah, right, you weren't in that event when that happened. Should I…tell him that, Noah?"

"Well… Uh…It wouldn't be bad to tell him that… But… Hmmm… I'm not really sure…" Noah tilted his head.

"Ah, screw it, I'm gonna tell him." Lanz snorted.

"Oh? A story, eh?" Isurd blurted out.

"Looks like the mate Isurd is interested, too, Noah." Lanz chuckled.

"Great… I'll leave it to you then, Lanz…." After saying that, Noah completely relaxed, closing his eyes.

"Got it, mate. So, it starts when Ethel allowed us to enter Colony 4…."

(Story Time)

(Colony 4)

"Ugh…" Eunie groaned, patting her shoulders.

"You okay, Eunie?" Noah asked his winged friend with a concerned face.

"Yeah… Just…the casual aches… We did have a big fight back then…"

"We sure did, I never thought we would literally fly that high," Lanz said as he chuckled.

"Totally, this whole Ouroboros thing literally rocks! ….Anyway… Uh…guys… How about we…go to the bath a bit earlier…? I think I need some warm water on my aching limbs…" Eunie suggested, now spinning her shoulders.

"Sounds great! I also thought of doing that, too… You in, Noah?" Lanz asked.

"Definitely, I think my arm got dislocated when I cut the flame clock… Mio did help me, but… Dang, it was pretty harsh." Noah snorted.

"Oh? Really? Then I'll give you some massage in the bath then. You know my hands do some neat magics to aching limbs." Eunie smirked.

"Thanks, Eunie, you're a lifesaver."

"Oh yeah baby!" Eunie laughed.

(In the bathhouse)

"Uagh… Wha….. Dahh… Ngah….."

"Lanz…? What are you…?"

"Oh, yeah, sorry mate. Just…damn…it was a hard day… Never thought life outside the army would be harder than life in the army…"

"Hmmm…. Yeah… Guernica was right… The whole world became our enemy, and we lost our homes…" Noah sighed.

"And we have to fight. Keep on fighting even if we don't want to. Because the enemy wants to fight…"

"True… But thank the flames that Ethel and her colony let us in… I was downright terrified when I saw her being hostile to us…."

"Silvercoat Ethel being our enemy? No thanks. Hey…by the way… Isn't Eunie being pretty late?" Lanz asked, leaning back to the ledge.

"Oh, Eunie? Yeah…where would she…"

"Surprise!" Eunie exclaimed, busting open the door of the bathhouse.

"And there she is. Mate, what took you so long?"

"Oh, that? Just had to go to the latrine, that's all. And…ah….I feel like I'm melting…" Eunie moaned, as she fully submerged herself into the hot water.

"Feels good, right?"

"Defo… Nngh… I hope that we could rest like this forever…." Eunie sighed. After fully making herself drenched in the essence of warmth, she sat upright and faced Noah and Lanz.

And that…

Was the moment when the absolute silence swallowed the bathhouse.

The bathhouse was supposed to be a noisy, fussy place. Since it was the place where the tired soldiers had their rest, and where the entire colony assembled after a hard day, it was almost inevitable for the place to be noisy. And that wasn't an exception for the Keves Trio. Heck, the bathhouse was a place where they bickered the most. Mostly it was Eunie and Lanz, talking about who did better in today's battle.

But today…

They stayed silent.

Even the bathhouse was empty.

So…

Only the sound of water flowing remained.

And after some minutes in that awkward silence…

They started to get conscious of that silence.

"Hey," Lanz was the one who broke the silence.

"Hmmm?" Eunie answered, with her body almost completely submerged in the water.

"Got anything to say?"

"….Why…?"

"Well… Since…this entire atmosphere? Here? Was making me feel kinda awkward…" Lanz shrugged.

"…So…?"

"I just… Ah, I don't know. Noah? Got anything to say?"

"Me…? I…uh…"

"Man, since when we got this boring? We were never like this before, Hey, throw some topics, will ya?"

"Topics…?" Noah scratched his head.

"Ah, bollocks, just shut up, Lanz. Can't you just stay quiet for a minute?" Eunie sighed.

"Y…You what? Hey, don't you remember you were the main chatterbox back in the colony?" Lanz said, facing Eunie.

"I… Since when?!"

"Like always? If you were a bird like those little wings on your head, you would be the loudest bird ever! Hah!"

"You…you what!?"

"What? Did I say something wrong?"

"Don't you call my beautiful, majestic wings, little. Can't you see this angelic beauty in the shape of wings?" Eunie said, as she flapped her wings.

'Wait, she's focusing on that?" Noah flinched.

"Oh yeah? Then how about…now!" Lanz said, as she splashed some water on Eunie's head.

"Agh! What the…my…wings! You…you muppet!" Eunie shouted, as she stood up in fury.

"Ha! Gotcha, oh, now we're going to the point, ain't it?" Lanz smirked, as he stood up to face Eunie.

"Not this again… Guys, why are we doing this? Like…why do we sparking create something to bicker about when we're enjoying some peace, huh? Calm down, you two." Noah said, as he stood up to grab Lanz and Eunie's shoulders.

"Noah…!" Lanz and Eunie both said, as he held their shoulders.

But after that…

They completely froze.

And…

Their face started to burn up.

"….Whoa!" The trio both exclaimed as they separated from each other.

"A…hahaha… Noah's…right…! Ehehe… We…you know…shouldn't… Wah!" Eunie almost fell down, as she dropped her head down to avoid the boy's eyes. She started to stumble, losing her balance inside the water.

"Whoa, Eunie, you alright…?" Said Noah, grabbing Eunie's hand as she staggered.

"Yeah, tha… Dah!" Eunie flinched again, as she looked up to face Noah.

But this time, Noah followed her, too.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Noah, you almost fell down to your head! What was that?" Lanz said, as he held Noah's back.

"Uh…it's…you know… It's…" Noah stuttered as his face started to redden.

"What? What's up with… Wait…what is…." Lanz froze, as he got to see Eunie over Noah's shoulders. She was curled in a ball, trying to cover her body with her limbs.

"Oh… So…uh…yeah… I think I feel you, mate…" Now Lanz started to blush.

"Told you….."

"Ah…hahaha…. Uh, Eunie, mate, sorry, but… I think we had a decently long time here! Hahaha…. Noah here is starting to get dizzy, so… Mind if we…left…a bit earlier….?" Lanz said, trying to avoid Eunie's gaze as possible.

"Uh…actually… I think I have to go to the latri…" Eunie slowly mumbled out, her eyes only facing the water.

"Hey, you visited there like a minute ago! You stay here for a while, you know, massaging your…aching arms…? Or stuff…? Hahaha…" Lanz let out an awkward laugh.

"Yeah, uh… We had a good time here, so… Uh…see you when you finish your bath, Eunie!" Noah added, as they slowly exited the bath, and reached the door. After they opened the door, they almost ran from the bath, and quickly reached the locker room in a hurry.

"Hah…hah…hah…sparks… What was that?!" Lanz panted.

"I don't know… But…I just couldn't handle staying in there longer…" Noah said.

"Ugh…man… Let's just…dress up and get out, eh?" Lanz suggested.

"Yeah…we…really should…" Noah said, as he walked towards his locker, where he put his clothes.

Which was…

Empty.

"Oh, crap. Yeah, we…did put the clothes to the cleaning… Sparking desert! Why does this place have sandstorms and shit?" Lanz complained.

But little did they know…

That they were expecting a guest.

A…big one, to be exact.

"Heh, you'll never be stronger if you complain about your surroundings, Lanz."

A female's voice was heard from a close place.

It was…

The Silvercoat herself.

'ETHEL!?' The boys were now internally screaming.

"But you do have a point here, getting our clothes all stained up with sand truly is annoying. Ah…can't wait to get into that water… By the way, why are you guys out here? Aren't you guys supposed to be in there, enjoying some relaxation? I did say to make yourself at home." Ethel said, as she started to remove her clothes.

"Oh, yeah… Actually…we decided to leave…a bit…early…?" Noah stuttered, avoiding Ethel's gaze.

"Really? Even though your clothes' cleaning is like 40 minutes left?" Ethel smirked.

"…What's that you say!?"

"Don't be like that, Noah. Enjoy some relaxation when you can! You would not have the same opportunity out in the open." Ethel said. She was now finished with removing clothes.

"That's true, but…."

"Now, I know that you're in a hurry because of your certain Agnian member. But getting some proper rest is equally important. How about we enter together? Eh? Sounds good, isn't it?" Ethel smiled.

"W….what!?"

"Well, what are you waiting for? Follow me, and I'll take care of your aching muscles if I can!" Ethel said, flexing her arm muscles.

"Uh…but…"

"Ah, since when did you get so tedious, Noah? Let's just go! Lanz, you're going too!" Ethel said, grabbing the boys' hands.

"Wait, Ethel…? There's…Eunie…in there…!"

"Then it's better! I wanted to hear about you trio's stories in there." Ethel giggled.

"No, that's not…"

Noah tried to stop her…

But she was Silver sparking Coat Ethel.

She was already opening the door, dragging Noah and Lanz towards it.

"Hey! Eunie! I heard that you were in here!" Ethel greeted her, as she entered the bath.

"Ethel? Didn't expect you to be here. Wait… Who told you that I was here…?"

"Oh, that? These guys," Ethel chuckled as she chucked Noah and Lanz into the water.

"Whaa!?" Eunie shrieked as the boys made a big splash.

"Uh…. Hi…Eunie….?" Noah made an awkward smile.

"Ah…Eh…Uh…"

"Uwaaah!" Eunie shouted, as she bolted up and ran towards the door.

"Hmm? Where are you going, Eunie?"

"SorryEthelbutIthinkIneedtogotothetoiletdon'twaitlongevenifItakelongsorry!" Eunie's tongue worked hard to form that sentence.

"Oh, the restroom? Okay, then. I'll wait for you while I have some conversation with these boys." Ethel smiled.

'What….!?' Noah and Lanz internally screamed.

"So…Noah, Lanz."

"Y…yes…?" They replied, with a slight blush.

"Tell me your story, anything. I'm so curious about what happened after we first met! Oh, you grew so much…." Ethel giggled, patting their heads.

The two stayed silent.

"Noah….?" Lanz whispered.

"Yeah…?"

"We're screwed, right….?"

"Yeah…." Noah sighed.

"Hey, don't whisper! Say it loud so that I can hear it!"

'Oh god….'

They were certain.

It's gonna be a long, long bath.

(Omake)

"So…that was your last…bath with Eunie…?" Taion asked, frantically fixing his glasses.

"Yeah, dang, it was awkward." Lanz chuckled. Noah nodded, still his eyes closed.

"I never knew that happened…."

"Yeah, since you guys were busy in the marker, feeding the hungry Sena," Lanz said.

"Mmm…. Yeah… I think I remember that…."

"You guys did have an interesting experience." Isurd nodded.

"Well, if you call it 'interesting'…. Hah… nevermind…." Lanz shrugged.

"Uh…by the way… Lanz, can I…ask a question?" Taion said, slightly avoiding Lanz's eyes.

"What is it?"

"How….Uh…How…did she look like when you…saw that in there…?" Taion stuttered, word after word. His face was now burning with embarrassment.

"….Uh…serious, mate?"

"Ah…..?" Noah opened his eyes, staring at Taion.

"….Uh…forget I said anything! I…I…cancel that question!" Taion exclaimed.

"Haha, I see you underwent some changes, Taion." Isurd laughed, patting Taion's back.

"Commander…..!"

"Man, Taion, you sometimes can't be…helped, huh….?" Noah sighed.

"I…Sparks…why did I even say that!?" Taion shook his head after putting his head inside the water.

Meanwhile…

"Achoo!" Eunie sneezed, flapping her wings.

"Whoa, Eunie, you alright?" Sena said, floating to Eunie.

"Yeah… I just….felt someone was talking about me…" Eunie said, rubbing her runny nose.

"Should we…exit…? We can't make you get sick…" Said Mio, handling her long hair.

"No no no, I'm not sick. Don't worry. Just…you know…I felt something str…."

"Str?"

"Achoo! Achoo! Achooo!" Eunie started to violently sneeze. As she sneezed, she moved quite a bit, making some waves.

"Wait, wait, wait, Eunie, Eunie!" Sena shouted, as she sank after getting hit by the waves.

"Ah…sorry…Sena… A…CHOO!"

"Eunie….?"

Eunie, you sure you ain't got COVID...?