You gulp, fingers twitching, reacting to the impulse to reach out and grab the corner of Renko's shirt. What do you want, really? The promise of water, cleanliness, to wash this filth and shame away. But, Renko is here. You don't want to be alone, alone with your own thoughts, alone with whatever horrible thing is twisting inside your mind.
There's another impulse there, a selfish one, something you shouldn't be acting on, something you don't want to accept about yourself, but the words start pushing their way out of your mouth and you can't stop.
"Can't we go in together?" You say, biting your lip.
Renko just blinks in surprise, opening her mouth to say something, but you keep going, turning redder with each word, twisting your robe in your hands.
"... I don't wanna be alone anymore... Ah I mean, uh, we can talk in the bath you know! " You try a smile at Renko, she just cocks her head.
"Just talk about things, not about what's going on, just... just about each other or... whatever you wanna talk about... it doesn't matter... it's just... please?"

Oh god. You sound so awkward, so needy, so weak and pathetic. She can see right through you, see your horrible core of selfish wants, see how useless you are. Why did you even say all that? Why did you do anything? You don't deserve her kindness.

"I ..." You mumble. Renko says nothing, but hands you a towel.
"Here."
You take it with trembling hands and turn on your heel, feeling your eyes getting hot and the lump growing in your throat.
"I'm ..." You gulp "I'm sorry!"
"Wha-" Renko starts, but you're already through the door.

------------------------------

You sit in the bath for a long time before she follows you.

The water is warm, but it can never make you truly clean. You sink in up to your neck, sitting against the side of the bath, hugging your knees to your chest.
Your robe and the towel are dumped by the edge of the bath, nakedness feels good for once, hidden beneath the water where nobody can see you. Your hair is wet, but you make no effort to move the strands of it sticking to your face.
"Hey." Renko says, somewhere behind you.
You don't say anything, just dip your head a bit lower. You don't want to shame yourself in front of her again, you don't want her to look at you.
Her footsteps get closer, then you see her naked feet as she walks around the bath. You glance up a little way. Her lower legs are bare, but she's got one of the towels wrapped around the rest of her body. You look back down again, not wanting her to see your face.
"So how's the water?" She says, tone surprisingly light. Did she not care about all that stuff you just said?
"Mm." You grunt. "S'warm."
You're not looking, but you feel the water ripple as she slips into the bath.
"Ahh. That's nice." She says.

You finally glance up at her face.

She's smiling back at you. Towel still wrapped around her, covering her right up to her collarbone. You don't have to try very hard not to look, you're not thinking about that kind of thing now. You just want the ground to swallow you up so you can stop embarrassing yourself in front of everyone.
"Hey there." She says.
"H-hey." You mumble.
"Always wanted to try communal bathing, eh?" She winks at you.
You bury your face back between your knees again, turning red. "Mmm."
You feel the water shifting again and Renko's voice is suddenly much closer.
"Though one usually keeps the towel on." She giggles.
"Eh?" You feel your pulse quicken. Oh god, how much can she see? Why didn't you think of that? Why are you such an idiot? Why is she still here, being so nice to you all the time?
"It's okay, the steam is pretty thick." She says, picking up on your mood. "Relax.
You feel her wet hand pat your shoulder lightly.
"Mmm." You grunt.

[ ] Say nothing, just sit there.
[ ] Say something [?]