“So wanna get changed and relax for a while in the baths before lunch?” Kurt suggested as he walked around the table to grab his own pile of provided clothes, noticing with an amused smile that he too had been provided both animal and human sized Yukata.

“Sure, sounds like a great idea. That train ride here took forever, despite being on time.” Eva replied before she began to undress.

Kurt, blushing at the unexpected action, rapidly turned away and began to mumble. “What are you doing?”

“Hm?” She just hummed curiously. “It’s not like you’ll not see all this in the bath anyways.” The Kitsune replied, her smirk unseen by Kurt.

“I-I guess.” He replied reluctantly as he turned around, just to find his, presumably semi naked, friend hidden behind some bands of mist. Seeing the absurd mix of disappointment and relief on his face, Eva let out a roar of laughter.

“You really thought I’d just stand around in the nude did you?” She inquired a few seconds later after calming down.

“I mean yeah. If you are this good at illusions and stuff, why put on the actual Yukata in the first place?”

“Many reasons.” Eva replied as she began to count along on her fingers. “To get the full Onsen experience, because it looks nice, oh and because of this note saying illusory clothing is a no-go.” Eva said, handing over the small laminated note that had been under her clothes. Taking it from his friend, he read out loud:

“‘In respect of our patrons with the ability to see through illusions, as well as the ability of others to see through more mundane clothing, we require all patrons to wear the provided clothing everywhere on premise except the baths and their rooms.’ Huh, that makes sense I guess.” He then did a double take, reread the note then continued. “Wait, there are people out there that can see us naked whenever they want?”

“Apparently.” Eva said with a hesitant nod as she slipped her arms through the sleeves of the Yukata. “Though I would personally rank creeps that I didn’t know about slightly lower than crazy half cat girls flinging fire at you. Assuming they keep what they see to themselves at least.”

“I guess. I’ll be right back.” He said before he slipped into the small bathroom to get changed with some privacy.

Once she had finished tying her obi, which had taken two attempts to get it to fit right with her decision to show her trio of fox tails, Eva knocked on the door to get Kurt’s attention. “You need any help in there?”

“If you wouldn’t mind. I got my hands full with this Obi.” Came the prompt reply. Sliding the door open, she quickly lent him a hand to get him fully dressed.

Thus they were free to make their way down towards the baths.

The two Germans were pleasantly surprised when they stepped into the resort's courtyard, and the air was not as freezingly cold as outside the train station. While it was still a bit chilly, the Yukata they wore were more than warm enough despite being just a single layer of fabric.

Once they reached the small changing areas for the mixed bath they found the expected rows of small baskets to store their belongings in and a door leading on to an area to wash their bodies before getting into the bath proper. After they got undressed, they found that there were no showers or anything resembling one. Instead they reluctantly took the provided wooden buckets to rinse themselves off before moving further.

Past one final sliding door, they found a small corridor filled with a wooden staircase leading further down. The last few stairs proved to be a tad slippery, and Eva would nearly have slipped and fallen down on the very last one, if Kurt had not managed to grab a, rather painful, hold of her tails just in time.

“Thanks” Eva grumbled once she was standing firmly again, rubbing the base of the tail Kurt had held her up by.

“No problem, I hope it doesn’t hurt too much?” He replied with a small shake of his head.

Shaking her head she replied. “Nothing a good long soak in warm water won’t fix.” She said as she stepped out beyond the wooden wall to their left and stopped in her surprise.

They had reached a massive expanse of small bridges and what looked at first glance like piers crisscrossing to separate the lake before them into sizable square sections. With roofs held up by wooden pillars covering it all to give some protection from the weather. Wooden hooks were mounted on some of the pillars, which eva assumed might be used to hang towels from, or maybe to mount some temporary walls during very windy weather.

As they approached the closest section of the lake that had been squared of, they quickly noticed it wasn’t actually connected to the lake proper. And after quickly looking out to the edge of this structure, they realized all of them were actually separated pools raised just enough above the lake that water could drain into it. Leading down from the roof was a pair of pipes made of bamboo. Placing one of her fuzzy ears next to one, Eva heard the telltale gurgling of water.

A short while after they had settled into the pleasantly warm water, a young woman looking like a mirror image of the red Oni lady they had seen again on their way out walked past with a tray full of sake flasks and cups. Without saying a word, she placed a cup next to each of them on the wooden walkway behind them, then set a flask into the water to float before them.

With her walking off before they could ask any questions, Kurt and Eva looked at each other, before the Kitsune gave a shrug. “The old Lady did say the room always comes with an all you can drink package.” [1]

“Well then.” Kurt said as he filled both cups and handed one to Eva. “Prost”

“Prost” she replied in kind before they clinked the cups together and took their first drink of the day. [2][3]