Noriko and Meyumi immediately went out into the corridor and chose the first available rooms nearby Makoto's, and only then did Meyumi's envy fully fade.
"Kasumi, help Makoto wash up and show her how the bathroom works," Kenshin said, then turned to the other two girls. "Noriko and Meyumi, follow me."
"Come on, little one; I won't hurt you," Kasumi said softly and opened another door that Makoto simply hadn't noticed until then. She just nodded and followed the mistress.
Entering this not-too-large room, Makoto was greatly surprised by the change in decor and immediately realized that such a magnificent shiny and smooth floor and walls could only be in hot springs or a bathroom.
"Look. This thing is for going to the toilet. You just sit, do your business, and press here," Kasumi said, pressing the flush button. Makoto watched every action with interest, trying to understand everything the first time and not disappoint the lord with her stupidity.
"Maybe after the long ride you need to use the toilet?" Kasumi asked, to which Makoto just nodded with a flushed face. "Here's the paper; just pull as much as you need, then tear it off. It's very convenient," she added, introducing the young girl to the delights of civilization.
"Alright, I'll leave you alone; call me when you're done," Kasumi said softly, and before going out the door, turned on the water to fill the tub.
Makoto curiously approached the large white thing, pulled down her simple linen pants, and sat carefully. She immediately felt the comfort of the soft seat and noticed the warm rim of unknown soft material protecting the skin from contact with the cold white stone.
After doing her business, Makoto remembered Kasumi's words and pulled the end of the white, incredibly soft paper. She couldn't even imagine paper could be this soft and thin, and the young short-haired girl happily pulled more and more until she suddenly came to her senses and then got scared that she would definitely be punished for wasting valuable things on fun. She knew how precious paper was and at that moment didn't think about why such a valuable thing was a consumable.
Worried about her blunder, Makoto quietly tore off a piece of paper and used it as intended, then folded the rest and set it aside, hoping to somehow compensate the lord for her stupidity. She wasn't afraid of being whipped, but it terrified her to her bones that the lord would be disappointed in her and stop being so kind.
The upset Makoto quietly opened the door and said, "M-Mistress, I'm done..."
Kasumi, sitting in the armchair, slowly rose from her seat and entered the bathroom. Seeing that Makoto had done everything right, she smiled until she noticed the roll of toilet paper lying on top of the main one. Her smile vanished for a moment, but Makoto interpreted it her own way.
"S-Sorry, mistress; I didn't mean to..." Makoto muttered apologetically.
Hearing the apology, Kasumi suddenly laughed and reached out to her head, causing Makoto to timidly squeeze her eyes shut and shrink her neck.
"Silly girl, you have nothing to apologize for. This is your room, and you're the full mistress here. You need to remember one thing: in the Nakayama Family home, no one will hurt you," Kasumi said tenderly, and instead of the expected slap, Makoto felt a gentle stroke.
Makoto opened her eyes in surprise and looked at Kasumi joyfully. She really liked this mistress and grew more convinced in her assumption that such a kind, beautiful, and young girl could only be the daughter of a kind lord.
"Good, now let's give you a proper bath. Do you like bathing, Makoto?" Kasumi asked with a smile. She involuntarily began treating her like a child, completely forgetting that Makoto was only five years younger.
"N-No, mistress..." Makoto whispered. She really hated the washing procedures that all the girls from the flower house were herded into. In those moments, being completely naked among many girls with no way to hide, Makoto was often subjected to bullying and mockery for her underdeveloped body.
"There's nothing scary about it. I'm sure you'll love the tub, the pool, and the sauna. All girls adore water treatments; it's comparable to the best hot springs, only all this is at your home, and there are no strangers here," Kasumi said, recalling her first sauna visit. After steaming her overstrained muscles, she slept like a baby for the first time in a very long time, and the next morning felt reborn.
For the next few minutes, Kasumi taught Makoto how to use the faucet, shower, soap, and shampoo, each time delighted by the young short-haired girl's surprised reaction. And although soap existed in this world, it was far from this quality and fragrance.
"Good, now let's bathe you," Kasumi said softly and helped the blushing Makoto undress.
Makoto was very ashamed of her underdeveloped, childlike body. She didn't want it to cause disappointment in the mistress, but to Makoto's surprise, Kasumi didn't wince or laugh upon seeing her painful thinness and complete lack of breasts.
"Poor girl... Didn't those bastards feed you at all?" Kasumi asked irritably, stroking Makoto's head.
"Th-They fed us, but Fuji never got full on one portion, so she often ate mine too..." Makoto muttered, recalling the very fat and scary thirty-five-year-old woman. Shivers ran through her body at the memory, but realizing she would never see her again, Makoto felt great relief and strengthened her resolve to do everything required of her to not disappoint the lord.
"Don't be afraid, little one. Sooner or later, those scum will get what's coming to them," Kasumi declared resolutely. She planned to discuss this with Kenshin and convince him of the need to eradicate all slavers, rapists, and scum.
Then Kasumi helped Makoto climb into the bathtub, and couldn't stop delighting in her childlike wonder at everything happening. Makoto was sitting in such a large container of hot water for the first time, and within just a few minutes, she had melted into complete relaxation, barely holding back from falling fully asleep before the bathing procedures were done.
After Kasumi had rinsed what seemed like a ton of dirt off Makoto, she helped her dry off, then carried the already sleeping girl to the large, warm bed, deciding to let her nap a bit before dinner.