I don't want to be one of those people who overthink those silly/comedy plots, but how is sleeping together a nono while this is perfectly fine?
Well, regardless, I too bet this is just a bait. Still, a lot of baits nowadays go in a less obvious direction so I'm curious how that'll solve itself.
I think traditional Japanese culture views bathing, particularly same-sex bathing as more of a social or bonding thing rather than 100% sexual. I mean, they definitely know the implications (see: every manga scene where this happens), but I think that's part of the intended charm. Manga certainly has childhood friends having bathed together when they're young quite a bit. Which, at least for where I'm from, would still be pretty unthinkable except for siblings.
In this case, it's like a loophole. "Oh, we can't see each other naked because I'm underage and it's wrong to do that with prurient intent, but if we're just bathing together (in a wholesome and socially accepted way for girls and women to bond together)...and, I mean, you can't bathe with clothes on, now..."
Obviously, the extent to which you or I (or a court of law) see a substantive difference, well...
last edited at Aug 14, 2023 3:06PM