Chapter 63: Kamishiro Hisui (Hot Spring Inn)

After walking past the shopping district and into the area clustered with inns and hotels, we finally arrived at the hot spring inn run by Hisui’s relatives.

"Mind letting go of my hand now?"

I’d rather not greet Hisui’s relatives while still holding hands.

"…It’s a shame, but I guess I have to."

Hisui released my hand.

We stepped through the automatic doors at the entrance of the charming hot spring inn.

"Welcome… Oh my, if it isn’t little Hisui! It’s been so long!"

Greeting us in the lobby was the inn’s proprietress—Hisui’s aunt. She was the younger sister of Hisui’s late mother, a graceful beauty in a kimono, and you could easily imagine Hisui looking just like her in the future.

"It’s been a while, Auntie."

"My, you’ve grown into such a lovely young lady. You’re the spitting image of your mother when she was your age. If you’re already this grown-up, I suppose it means I’m getting old too."

"Not at all. You’re as beautiful as ever, Auntie—I really look up to you."

"Oh stop it, flattery won’t get you anything from an old lady like me. So, is this your friend over here?"

"Nice to meet you. My name is Kisaragi Alice. Thank you for having me."

"Alice is a friend from school. She’s a returnee from overseas."

"My, your Japanese is so good. That’s a relief. When Hisui-chan told me she wanted to stay here with a friend, I was worried it might be a boy she was bringing along."

"I’d never do something like that."

"I thought for sure she liked that boy who came with her last time. Did I get that wrong?"

…No, you didn’t.

"That was true, but… I just got rejected the other day."

Hisui stuck out her tongue as she said that.

"Oh dear, I’m so sorry. So this is a heartbreak trip then… Honestly, any boy who turns down a sweet girl like you must be blind."

"Right? Don’t you think so too, Alice?"

"…Uh, yeah. Totally."

Please don’t ask for agreement from the very guy who did the rejecting.

…This is beyond awkward.

"I’ve got a really nice room ready for you two, just for Hisui-chan. Take your time and relax today, alright? I’ll even go all out on dinner."

"Thank you so much for accommodating us on such short notice during a busy season. Here, this is from my father."

Hisui handed her aunt a gift.

"Why, thank you for being so thoughtful… Now then, let me show you to your room."

We followed the proprietress down the inn’s hallway. As soon as we stepped into the room she showed us, I couldn’t help but let out a voice of admiration.

"Wow…"

Right at the entrance, we slipped off our shoes and slid open the paper doors to reveal a traditional eight-tatami mat room with a full view of the courtyard. In the center of the garden was a genuine rock-built open-air bath, filled to the brim with steaming water.

It was a breathtaking sight.

『…This is amazing』

"This is our pride and joy. You won’t find an indoor bath this nice anywhere else around here."

"It’s wonderful! Thank you so much, Auntie!"

Hisui was unusually excited for her. No surprise—truthfully, even I hadn’t expected the room to be this impressive. Last time I stayed here, it was a shared room for four with everyone sleeping side by side on the floor, and the bath was a large public one.

“I’m glad to see it suits your tastes... Dinner will be brought at seven, so please relax and enjoy yourselves until then. Now then, I’ll take my leave.”

The proprietress bowed with elegant, fluid movements and stepped out of the room. We hurriedly straightened up and bowed in return.

She knelt down and slid the inner sliding door shut. A short pause followed, then the sound of the heavy iron door at the room's entrance closing reached us.

I set down my luggage and sat on one of the floor cushions around the low table in the center of the tatami room. Right in front of me was the steam-filled indoor bath.

“Still... this really is incredible.”

『It’s beautiful... The layout is clearly designed with harmony in nature in mind. From here, it looks just like a painting.』

The mountains visible behind us were tinged with autumn colors, making it clear this was a resort tucked deep in the mountains.

“Well then, how about we get in the open-air bath right away? Alice, you can go first.”

“Thanks, Hisui!”

I pulled out my bath set from the bag and headed to the changing room. I quickly undressed—faster than usual—and tossed my clothes into the laundry basket. After wrapping my hair in a towel, I made my way to the bath.

I rinsed my body off quickly at the washing area connected to the changing room. Since I’d probably be bathing a few times, I decided to leave the rest for later.

Finished with the quick rinse, I headed toward the long-awaited hot spring. The crisp autumn air brushed against my bare skin, sending a shiver through me. I slowly dipped my foot into the natural rock bath.

The water was a bit on the hot side, and it tingled slightly. After a short while, I got used to the heat and gradually lowered myself into the bath.

Once fully submerged, I sat on one of the natural stone ledges built into the tub.

I leaned my head back against the rocky rim of the bath and stretched my arms and legs out, letting my whole body relax in the water.

“Ahhh... this is heaven...”

『This is... quite the pleasant experience indeed.』

Overhead was a clear blue sky, and I felt a deep sense of release welling up from within. The only sounds I heard were the gentle flow of water and the rustling of leaves in the wind—so peaceful that it felt unreal compared to the bustle of the shopping street earlier. It was almost like I’d been transported to another world.

“How’s the water?”

The door to the changing room slid open, and I heard Hisui’s voice.

Was she just checking in on me?

Thinking that, I turned my gaze toward the entrance—then immediately looked away in a panic.

“Hisui!? Why aren’t you wearing anything!?”

I’d only caught a glimpse, but Hisui was completely naked, her bare skin an overwhelming flash of color that burned itself into my brain.

“Obviously, because I’m getting in the hot spring too.”

Hisui said it like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“But I said you could go in first, didn’t I!?”

I could hear the sound of water running at the washing area. She was washing herself, it seemed.

“Yeah, that’s why I came in after you.”

Apparently, Hisui had intended to bathe together from the start.

“You can’t... I mean, this is me and you we’re talking about!”

“We used to take baths together all the time, didn’t we?”

That was back when we were still in single digits...

“And besides, we’re both girls now, right? I don’t mind if you see me.”

“If you’re going that far... I guess it’s okay...”

I had seen some skin back when we went to the pool, but I’d never seen her completely naked. So ever since I started becoming aware of things like sex and physical differences, this was the first time I’d ever seen another girl naked—outside of family, anyway.

And of all people, it was Hisui, someone I’d known since we were little...

...I hadn’t even been in the hot spring that long, and I already felt like I was about to faint.