Episode 2: “The Steamy Hot Spring Romance Case Files ② ~At the Hot Spring Inn~”

Sunday, November 21st.

On the morning of our family trip’s first day, all four Majimas left the house together—a rare occasion indeed. Dad and Miyuki-san walked ahead with their arms linked affectionately. At the same time,      Akira and I followed behind them toward the station.

Honestly, I was pretty nervous, and the reason was simple: Akira’s outfit today suited her far too well.

It was the first time I’d seen her like this—a stylish beret perched atop her head, a warm crocheted knit cardigan that looked impossibly soft, a skirt that hit just above her knees, and even cute shoes and accessories she would normally never wear. From the top of her head to the tips of her toes, her sense of style was shockingly good. It suited her well—no, it suited her too well. Having her walk beside me dressed like that was enough to make my nerves go haywire.

Apparently, she’d gone out and bought everything specifically for this trip.

Come to think of it, the last time I went out with Akira when she was dressed up like this was when we went to that cafe during summer vacation…

I’d gotten used to seeing her in her school uniform, but it seemed I’d need to get used to her casual clothes all over again. Getting “used to her cuteness” is a weird way to put it, but right now I didn’t even know where to look. Part of me wished she’d dress like this all the time, while another part thought I was less nervous when she was her usual self. Although, the fact that I liked both probably just made me greedy.

As I was mulling that over, Akira leaned close and whispered to me.

“Should we link arms too?”

Before I could respond, she slipped her arm through mine, catching me completely off guard.

“Wh—!? Knock it off! Our parents are right there, you know?”

“We’re brother and sister, so it’s fine, isn’t it?” she replied with innocent logic.

“Even if siblings are close, do kids our age actually link arms like this?”

It’s not like I had any data on what siblings—let alone step-siblings—were supposed to be like, so I honestly had no idea. But still, it was embarrassing.

“Why do you want to link arms so badly anyway?”

“Because Mom and Dad are being unfair, don’t you think?”

“They’re not being unfair. They’re married, so it’s normal for them to—”

“Shouldn’t they be embarrassed, flaunting how lovey-dovey they are in front of their kids?”

“They’re not embarrassed because they’re married—ah, look, the station’s in sight. Come on, let go.”

“Then just ten more steps like this, please?” she bargained with a sweet smile.

“Fine, just ten more steps. One, two… nine, ten. There are      ten steps. Now let go.”

“Nope, don’t wanna~”

“That’s not what we agreed on!”

This secret little exchange between siblings didn’t seem to reach the happy couple ahead of us, and our journey continued on smoothly.

＊　＊　＊

We transferred from the local line to the Shinkansen. We managed to get seats in a non-reserved car—my parents took a three-seat row while Akira and I settled into the two-seat row across the aisle.

For a while after boarding, Akira and I chatted about school and games. At some point, we started showing each other photos on our phones, but—

“Ah, this is a screenshot of my high score in a game. Man, this takes me back~”

“And this one?” I asked, scrolling through her gallery.

“The status screen from an RPG. Oh yeah, look at this! This is from a limited-time gacha!”

“Um, what about this one?”

“A photo of Koto-kyun! Isn’t it a great shot? So cuuute~, ehehehe~♪”

Akira had been endlessly saving screenshots of gacha game score screens and maxed-out status displays. You could really feel the love she had for her Nakazawa Koto figure.

But isn’t there something… more? Like photos with Hinata or everyone from the drama club…

“Akira, don’t you have anything, you know, cuter?”

“Cuter? I just showed you Koto-kyun, didn’t I?”

“No, I meant something else.”

“Then here’s my pride and joy—voila!”

I jolted when I saw the screen. “Akira, this is a picture of me!”

And I was sleeping, no less.

My sleeping posture is awful! What the hell is going on here?

“The title is ‘Swan Lake,’” she announced proudly.

I looked closer. It did sort of resemble the moment a prima ballerina leaps gracefully across the stage—

That’s not the point! Stop taking pictures of me!

“I went to wake you up, Aniki, and managed to snap this miraculous shot ♪”

“Don’t say ‘miraculous shot’ in that happy little tone…”

I told her to delete it, but she was adamant, insisting “Absolutely not.” I ended up letting her keep it on the condition that she never shows it to anyone. By the way, what could I have possibly been dreaming about to strike that ballerina pose?

“Your turn. Show me your photos, Aniki.”

I handed my phone to Akira. Most of my pictures were of historical buildings—shrines, temples, and landscapes featuring them. I tried to explain what each photo was, but…

“Oh, they’re… interesting, I guess? I’m sure someone who’s into this stuff would think they’re really…”

“You have something to say, don’t you? Spit it out.”

“Um, they’re kinda… old-mannish.”

“Hey, you’re one to talk…”

Prejudice is bad, I know, but I really think Akira should take a good look at the photos she saves and do a little self-reflection.

Suddenly, as Akira was looking through them—

“Huh? Aniki, what’s this picture? An essay?”

“An essay? Aah!? That one’s off-limits!”

I hurriedly snatched my phone back from Akira.

“Ehh!? What is it, what’s that essay!?”

“This is… well, an essay I wrote back in elementary school…”

“What’s the big deal? It wouldn’t kill you to let me see—”

“Y-Yes, it would! It’s super embarrassing… My handwriting is messy, my writing is awful, and the content is a total train wreck…”

I was this close to having Akira read that mortifying essay. I’d found it before Akira and Miyuki-san moved in, back when I was cleaning out Akira’s room with Hinata and Kousei. I’d put it away and forgotten all about it, but I happened to find it again recently and took a picture. Because even if it’s mortifying, it’s still important to me. I have the original stored away in a cardboard box in my closet.

“Hmm. Something you’d be embarrassed for me to read, huh…?”

“What’s that supposed to mean? You have something like that too?”

“Wh—!? N-No way! I’ve always been careful not to leave any evidence behind!”

“That sounds like something a criminal would say…”

Whatever. The important thing was that Akira didn’t read it. I was safe.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I glanced over at my parents. They must have been tired from work, because the couple was fast asleep.

“Anyway, I’m glad they liked our gifts.”

“Yeah.”

Looking at our parents, Akira and I met each other’s gaze and chuckled. Right now, scarves were wrapped around both their necks—gifts Akira and I had bought with the money from our part-time jobs. An early Labor Thanksgiving Day present. Yesterday, I’d given one to Miyuki-san, and Akira had given one to Dad. They were both so happy their eyes teared up. As for Dad, probably because the gift was from Akira, he started crying even before Miyuki-san did.

In any case, I was just glad they liked them. Seeing them wearing their scarves together, looking so happy, made me feel like the part-time job had been worth it.

Suddenly, Akira’s small hand rested on mine, which was on the armrest. Her slender white fingers gradually intertwined with mine until we were holding hands like a couple. Lately, this had become her signal for when she wanted to be affectionate.

“What’s up?”

“They’re both sound asleep… so just let me stay like this for a little bit…”

Akira rested her head on my shoulder. Maybe because our parents were sleeping right next to us, my heart was pounding harder than usual.

“Aniki…”

“Yeah?”

“Someday, I want to go on a trip with just the two of us. Would that be okay?”

Come to think of it, Akira and I had made a similar sort of promise during the Kanon Festival. Tell me you’ll marry me, even if it’s a lie—that was the promise.

I hesitated. It’s not that our parents would say no, but the fact that my first instinct was to worry about what they’d think meant I probably lacked the resolve.

Then, Akira loosened her grip.

“But, you know… Y     ou don’t actually have to keep your promises to me.”

“Huh?”

“Just the fact that we made the promise is enough to make me happy.”

“But in that case—what would you do if I broke it?”

“I’d probably just think, ‘Oh well, it can’t be helped,’ I guess?”

“Akira…”

Akira smiled as if to tell me not to worry, but to me, her smile seemed somewhat reserved, almost resigned.

“Aniki, you’re always thinking so much about me and everyone else, and you do       so much for us. I’m not going to start hating you just for breaking one little promise.”

With that, Akira lifted the armrest separating us and gently buried her face in my chest.

“So please, Aniki… you can break your promises to me without worrying…”

There’s no way I could do that.

I squeezed Akira’s hand tightly.

“I’d never do that. When I make a promise, I keep it.”

“That’s what’s so stuffy about you, Aniki. You could be a little less serious when it comes to me, you know? I’m your little sister, after all.”

“That kind of logic will make people think you’re just being convenient, you know? I’m your older brother. I can’t let my little sister see my uncool side.”

When I said that, Akira seemed to relax and snuggled deeper into my chest, as if trying to merge with me.

“What, are you recharging your batteries?” I asked jokingly.

“Nope,” she said softly.

“This is for your batteries, Aniki. There’s so much I want to give you.”

My heart raced. A warmth spread through my chest, and I felt my own heart being filled. I didn’t care if Akira could hear it pounding. I wanted to stay with Akira like this forever—it was too embarrassing to say out loud, so I hoped my heartbeat could convey the message for me.

And so, after letting Akira recharge me for a while, I realized the Shinkansen had begun to slow as it approached our station.

＊　＊　＊

After transferring from the Shinkansen to a limited express train for about two and a half hours, we got off at a station called ‘Fujimi no Saki Onsen.’ The area in front of the station was bustling with people in yukata, and when I took a deep breath, the unique fragrance of a hot spring town drifted on the wind.

As we started walking toward our inn, we passed a long line of souvenir shops and restaurants stretching from the station front. The sweet smell of confections, the rich aroma of seafood, the savory scent of grilled meat—delicious smells wafted from all directions, making both my and Akira’s stomachs growl audibly.

It was nearly three o’clock. We’d eaten station bento boxes on the Shinkansen for lunch, but we were just starting to feel peckish.

“Oh yeah, there’s a stall up ahead that sells some great meat—ah, there it is.”

Perhaps noticing that Akira and I were hungry, Dad bought us each a meat skewer. Delicious. When I took a bite, savory juices burst from the salt-and-pepper-seasoned meat, filling my mouth and empty stomach with bliss.

“Mom, try a bite! This is really good!”

“Just a little then. Oh my! It really is delicious~”

Seeing Akira’s and Miyuki-san’s happy faces, I glanced at Dad. But he just smiled and demurred. “I’m good.”

“Told you it was good, right? In exchange, maybe you can wash my back in the onsen later?”

Dad always seemed to take      satisfaction from watching me enjoy my food. It was past lunchtime, so he was probably hungry too, but he just kept making jokes to make Miyuki-san and Akira laugh, laughing along with them, all while conveniently not eating a thing himself.

“Seriously though, Akira, if you keep eating so much beef, you’re going to turn into a cow, you know?”

“Hey, that’s mean, Taichi-san! Beef is my favorite food~”

“See? I can hear you ‘moo’-ing already! Hahaha!”

That’s how Dad had always fed me. He always prioritized filling my stomach over his own. Even if everything he did seemed shady and self-centered, he was always thinking about his kids, and      his family, trying to do right by them.

Dad is a worrier. That’s why, even when he was a workaholic who was never home, I never said childish things that would trouble him, like “I’m lonely,” or “I wish you’d pay more attention to me.” By working, Dad was trying to ensure I could live without want. I couldn’t get in his way. He was trying to fulfill his “duty” as a parent.

Duty, service, obligation, huh…

In that case, my “duty” as an older brother is—

I offered the last third of my meat skewer to Akira.

“Akira, you can have the rest.”

“Eh!? Are you sure, Aniki!? Yay!”

Watching Akira smile innocently with a meat skewer in each hand, I felt a natural smile spread across my own face.

So this is what it’s like, I thought.

＊　＊　＊

“Alright, we’re here. This is it.”

The place Dad led us to was a classic-looking old hot spring inn with a sign that read ‘Itou-ya.’ The exterior had a wonderful atmosphere. When we passed under the noren curtain and stepped into the entryway, a woman in a kimono came out and set out slippers for us.

While Dad signed the register, Miyuki-san stood beside him, smiling and chatting with the inn staff. With time to kill, Akira and I started talking about the drama club.

“I wonder if Kazusa-chan and the others have gotten to their inn yet?”

“Who knows? Oh yeah, they picked a hot spring too, didn’t they?”

“Yeah. They’re staying at an inn run by Amane-chan’s relatives. I’m so jealous~”

Akira had told me that the request for travel funds was ultimately rejected. So, they decided to find cheaper lodging and ended up at a hot spring inn run by Ito’s relatives.

“Huh, Ito-san’s relatives… Wait. Ito-san?”

“What’s wrong, Aniki?”

“Ah, it’s nothing…”

I’d like to think it was impossible, but my gut feelings are usually wrong.

“This place is called ‘Itou-ya,’ isn’t it…?”

“Don’t tell me you think everyone from the drama club is here, do you, Aniki?”

“I don’t want to think so either, but… ahaha, I’m just overthinking it, right?”

“Totally, you’re just overthinking things~”

Akira and I laughed, but for some reason, I had a sinking feeling. No, but there’s no way we’d end up in the same place as Nishiyama and the others—

“We’re here~! Wow, what a lovely atmosphere~!”

—right…?

I heard a familiar voice, but it must have been an auditory hallucination… yeah.

“Okay, let’s check in and hit the outdoor baths—wait, huh…?”

Sadly, it wasn’t just my imagination. I could see Nishiyama, Hinata, Ito, and the other members of the drama club. Maybe the fact that I was now having visual hallucinations meant I was seriously exhausted.

In fact, Akira didn’t seem to be seeing or hearing anything either—

“Ah—! Kazusa-chan! Everyone!”

Whoops. Never mind, she saw and heard them loud and clear. Which means—

“This is our training camp spot—!?”

“This is your family trip spot—!?”

Nishiyama and I yelled as we stared at each other in the entryway. The inn staff were giving us strange looks, but I was too preoccupied to care.

＊　＊　＊

“Wow, to think we’d end up at the same inn by coincidence! It must be fate!”

In the inn’s lobby, Nishiyama was grinning from ear to ear next to me. She seemed so happy she couldn’t stop smirking, but I couldn’t share her enthusiasm.

“No, it’s more like a curse. At least for you and me…”

“You’re actually happy, you just won’t admit it,” Nishiyama said, slapping my shoulder repeatedly. I didn’t even have the energy to say, “That hurts, stop.”

At the next table, Akira and Hinata were holding hands, overjoyed. It was like two long-lost best friends finally reuniting, but the last time they’d seen each other was two days ago, on Friday.

Well, they’re good friends, so that’s fine. The problem is this one.

“Don’t tell me you missed me so much you followed me here, senpai?”

“Stop making me sound like a stalker. Our family trip was planned first.”

“It’s not like we followed you here either, you know?”

“This is the inn run by Ito-san’s relatives, right? I know…”

The Ito in question was waiting for my parents to finish checking in—and right on cue, Dad finished up and came over with Miyuki-san.

“Hello, Nishiyama-san, was it? I’m Majima Taichi. I’ve heard a lot about you and the drama club from my kids. Thanks for always looking after them.”

“Nishiyama Kazusa! It’s a pleasure. We’re the ones who are always in Ryouta-senpai and Akira-chan’s debt!”

Nishiyama bowed politely.

“Kazusa-chan, do you remember me? It’s Miyuki.”

“Of course! Thank you so much for doing my makeup during the Kanon Festival!”

“Oh, don’t mention it. More importantly, your ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was amazing! It was so full of youthful energy, it even perked this old lady right up ♪”

“You’re not an old lady at all, Miyuki-san! You don’t look your age in the slightest! You’re so beautiful, your husband is a lucky man!”

“Right? My Miyuki-san is so beautiful, she’s way too good for me~”

“Oh, stop it, you’re embarrassing me in front of the kids~”

Miyuki-san squirmed, though she clearly didn’t mind the compliment.

Well, what can I say? It is what it is.

I felt extremely out of place. I wanted to cut the conversation short and get to our room, but Nishiyama was happily chatting with my parents, and Akira was lost in conversation with Hinata. The other drama club members—Takamura, Hayasaka, and Minami—were having fun together as usual, off in their own little world.

At times like this, it’s best to just wait for the storm to pass…

A little while later, Ito finished checking in and came over.

“Hello, Majima-senpai.”

“Hey, Ito-san.”

I felt a small sense of relief that Ito had come over to talk to me.

“Still, to think we’d both end up in Fujimi no Saki.”

“I’m sorry that our destinations overlapped…”

“And that we’re even staying at the same place—”

“I’m sorry, my relatives run an inn and…”

“No, it’s not your fault or your relatives’ fault at all, so you really don’t need to apologize…”

Now I’d gone and made Ito worry for nothing. Her reserved personality is a virtue, but maybe she’s a little too reserved. If you could somehow average her personality with Nishiyama’s, you’d get someone just right. But without a mediator, isn’t it hard on her, too?

Come to think of it, as things stand, I’m probably the only one who can stop Nishiyama when she gets out of hand…

I glanced at Nishiyama, who was happily talking with my parents. I wish that smooth-talker would learn a little about the trouble she causes for others.

“Kazusa-chan, shouldn’t we be heading to our room soon?”

When Ito spoke up, Nishiyama replied cheerfully, “Yeah, you’re right,” and stood up.

“Ah, I’m just gonna use the restroom—” “Oh, me too!”

Akira and Miyuki-san headed for the restrooms. After watching the rest of the drama club members get led away by the staff, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

＊　＊　＊

Left behind, Dad and I sat at a table and talked, just the two of us, for the first time in a while.

“Man, who’d have thought we’d run into the drama club kids here~”

“Well, their club president is basically a high school girl version of you, Dad.”

If they think alike, it’s no surprise their destinations and timing would overlap.

“Are you trying to say I’m cute?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Still, she’s a really good kid, isn’t she?~”

“What makes you say that? I mean, she’s not a bad person, but…”

I was more or less tricked into joining the drama club. Part of it was my own fault for jumping to conclusions, but she has a way of saying and doing things that are designed to be misunderstood.

It’s been about a month and a half since I met Nishiyama.

I get the feeling she enjoys messing with me, but she’s the one person I still can’t figure out. Still, I’m grateful to her for discovering Akira’s talent for acting and helping her overcome her shyness.

“Well, kids that age are fickle. Their thoughts and feelings can change in an instant.”

“No, in her case, she’s consistently only thinking about what benefits her.”

“That’s not true. She was being considerate of everyone just now, wasn’t she?”

“What!? Her!? When!?”

“Hey, no need to be so shocked… That girl might not look it, but she’s surprisingly sharp, you know?”

“I’ll admit she’s cunning, but why do you think that, Dad?”

“Nishiyama-san was the first one to enter, right?”

“Was she? Well, she’s the type who likes to be in the lead…”

“Didn’t you see what she did after?”

“No…”

“After everyone had changed into their slippers. The girl who came in first stayed behind until the very end to close the door. Then she checked to make sure everyone’s shoes were lined up neatly.”

“What!?”

I was surprised. I never would’ve thought Nishiyama would do something like that.

“She gave the inn staff a proper greeting after that, too.”

“Well, that’s… pretty normal, isn’t it?”

“This place is run by Ito-san’s relatives, right?”

“Yeah…”

“That might be why. She gave the staff a box of sweets. Normally, guests don’t give gifts to the inn staff, you know. That girl’s really something else.”

Dad chuckled softly, but I couldn’t hide my astonishment.

“Dad, how did you even notice all that…?”

“Well, this is what you call the perspective of an adult with plenty of life experience—”

“How can you see all that, but be completely blind to what’s most important!?”

“What was that!?”

Nishiyama’s good points—well, let’s set those aside. Dad is completely oblivious to what’s going on between me and Akira. Has he noticed and is just ignoring it? No, no, he really seems to have no clue.

“What ‘important thing’ are you talking about?”

“It’s nothing…”

I’d rather die than tell him about my relationship with Akira. I need him to stay in the dark.

In any case, I suppose I’m glad I got to hear about Nishiyama’s good side. She can go overboard sometimes, but she’s a good person at heart, so I can’t bring myself to hate her. Hearing what Dad said made me realize I need to pay more attention to who Nishiyama really is.

No, not just Nishiyama. I should make an effort to watch all the other club members more closely from now on.

“So, Ryouta, spill it.”

“Spill what?”

“Is there anyone you like among them?”

“What!?”

This time, it was my turn to shout.

“Of course not!”

Just when I’d decided to observe everyone in the drama club more carefully, don’t say things that’ll make me self-conscious, Dad.

“Really? I just figured, in a club full of girls, there must be someone.”

“I told you, there isn’t…”

“But come on, they’re all cute, right? Hinata-chan, Nishiyama-san, and Ito-san are      real lookers, too. So are the other three. You’re in an environment like that and you don’t feel anything?”

I couldn’t tell if he’d left Akira out of the list on purpose or if he truly didn’t see her as an option, but I just shook my head.

“Besides, stop looking at the girls in my club like that.”

“Hahaha, what’s the harm~? When I see cute young girls, I can’t help but—”

“Alright then. I guess I’ll have to report this conversation to Miyuki-san—”

“Anything but that!? Seriously, that’s not even a joke!”

Unbelievable. This guy changes his tune so fast.

Well, at least it’s a relief to know that’s how much Miyuki-san means to him. More importantly, I don’t want family prying into this stuff. I’m a guy of a certain age; I don’t want to talk about romance with my dad.

“So there’s no one you like?”

“I told you, not really…”

“Man, you’re all dried up, aren’t you…”

“Hey, wipe that disappointed look off your face…”

As Dad and I were trading lighthearted jabs, he changed the subject with an “Oh, right”—but the conversation that followed would be the biggest shock of my entire day.