Nono Samejima works pulling rickshaws in Asakusa, Tokyo. One day she sees an ad for a small apartment with no bath, but free access to a bathhouse. She applies, and then meets another girl while walking a dog.
Nono and Kukiko invite Alissa to come to a sento. In Alissa's home country, women don't bathe together. She is ashamed to get naked. She does go with them, and changes into a towel, but cannot get up her courage just yet.