They started the new day by going to the bath. The baths had been swapped, so Kohaku and Hisako got to see the view Eiji had been praising the other day. It was the same view from a different angle—one that showed more of the mountainside they rested on. It was equally beautiful, but Hisako found the grounded view of the mountain helped make the ocean look friendlier.
At breakfast, Hisako took pointers from Nanae on teas and ended up trying barley tea alongside her rice and fish. As a treat, she went for some of the mochi Kohaku offered her.
While they cleaned their table and set their trays away, Nanae brought up the day's itinerary.
"I feel like working out before lunch," she said. "Are you two down to spar in the gym?"
"Whoa, really?" Kohaku piped up. "Can I watch?"
Nanae shrugged. "Not like I can show them anything they aren't meant to see."
Hisako chuckled nervously. "Aw, you'll be back and better than ever soon enough. I'm down to spar, though. The harder we train, the better the bath will feel."
"Ah, I'm in too, then," Eiji said. "I'm not as good as you two, but I've been practicing."
"Lead the way, Nanae," Hisako chimed.
Nanae either knew more about the facility than they did, or had gone wandering the night before. She led them along winding halls and down a ridiculously long staircase to another segment of the building.
The sparring gym was labeled with a curtain similar to the ones that denoted the baths, and segmented so each party had privacy and their own space. They ducked through two occupied spaces before reaching one for them—one Doorkeeper was going through unarmed katas, and two keepers were slowly walking through a choreographed fight.
The gym was as beautiful as it was practical; the floors and walls were padded, save for the exterior wall, which was a thick window overlooking the cliffside and the ocean frothing at the rocks below.
"You two go first," Nanae said. "I'll stretch and warm up."
Kohaku laughed. "Their fight is their warm-up to fight you?"
"That's fair," Eiji chuckled.
"Winner fights me," Nanae said.
"I'm not gonna go easy on you," Hisako teased.
"Please do," Eiji replied.
Hisako chuckled, bouncing on her heels to warm up. She twisted, stretching her arms and legs briefly before stepping to the center of the pads. Eiji did a more thorough routine before joining her.
"To the tap," Nanae said. "When ready."
Hisako dropped into her stance and offered a fist. Eiji analyzed it briefly, shifted into his own, and bumped her fist.
She lurched at him, flash-stepping into his space but not making any moves, curious how he'd react.
He reacted well, stepping past her on the outside, trying to grab an elbow to twist into a pin. He wasn't strong enough on his feet, though. She twisted a knee into his path, and he went sprawling onto the floor, barely catching himself and jumping back into a stance.
"Aw, man! Get him, 'Sako!" Kohaku cried.
Hisako gave Eiji a sympathetic smile. "Sorry, man. I gotta win in front of my favorite people."
"Am I included in that group?" he asked, carefully circling her.
"Yeah, but it's two on one, man," Hisako replied.
Before he could beg for mercy, she lunged again. He flinched back, guarding high, but she twisted, sweeping low. He yelped as her shin took out his ankles, then yelped again when she caught him before he hit the mats.
"Does that count as a tap?"
Eiji grabbed her wrist, trying for an arm bar without leverage. She dropped him and stepped in, tangling up his legs. With a twist of her hips, his legs threatened to bend unnaturally, and his hands flew to her knees to tap frantically.
"That counts," Nanae chuckled. "Okay, my turn."
"Hm. It actually feels good to lose," Eiji said as he rose and hurried off the mats.
Hisako and Nanae tapped fists, and Hisako immediately stepped back—just in time to dodge one of Nanae's advancing fists.
She punched twice, sending Hisako scurrying back, then, when Hisako was finally ready to block, she threw a leg from a standstill. A pure powerhouse mentality.
Hisako tried to check the kick, but Nanae was faster. The hit shot pain through her leg so intensely she almost fell, listing dangerously before recovering to dodge another sequence of punches.
Anticipating another kick, she automatically jumped the check when Nanae lifted her back leg, but instead of kicking, she flash-stepped forward and hit with her elbow.
Hisako managed to redirect the blow, but it left her arm open for a successful arm bar, which Nanea followed through with and shoved her to the ground.
"Agh," Hisako wheezed, face against the mats. "Again?"
Nanae pulled her up by her arm and stepped back, already ready for another bout.
"Aw, you did great, Hisako. You'll get her next time!" Kohaku cheered.
She didn't, but she did get further each time.
Nanae was just far more experienced. Even though Hisako figured out how to keep up with her, she was too sore and tired to do so, so she eventually called it a day and congratulated Nanae.
"Flawless victory," Hisako said, giving her a gentle clap on the back. "Can we hit the baths now?"
Nanae threw a towel at her sweaty face. "Sounds good to me. You going with Kohaku again?"
Hisako glanced at Kohaku, who was giving obvious puppy-dog eyes, and laughed. "Yeah. See you two for lunch?"
"I think I'm going to try the ice bath before getting into the onsen," Eiji bemoaned.
"You gotta stretch more or something, man," Kohaku said. "You only fought once!"
Eiji shook his head. "When you get to be my age—"
Kohaku put their hands over their ears and hurried out of the room. "No! I'm going to be freerunning at a hundred and two!"
Hisako giggled and chased after them, forgetting how winded and sore she was until they reached the stairs. She lagged behind Kohaku and didn't see them all the way to her room.
When she was done changing into her yukata, she stepped out into the hall to find that Kohaku had already left for the baths, door unlocked and room empty. She chuckled to herself and began walking, taking the time to look out the windows at the midday scenery.
Nearing the stairs up to the baths, she saw something sitting on one of the outcroppings. She paused and stared for a moment, unsure of what she was seeing.
She was seeing a Door. A simple traditional door, slightly ajar. She squinted, not accepting that the Door was open, but, as she did, a slim hand slipped out and beckoned to her.
Her spine went rigid, a chill freezing her.
"It'll fade soon."
Hisako jerked, arms flying up in adrenaline-fuelled defense, only to see Okumura sitting in the frame of the door a few paces away.
"It's fine," she said quietly. "It'll go away soon."
"Why is it there?" Hisako asked.
"Kimura's having another slip in control."
Hisako's hair stood on end, breath trapped in her ribcage, as the hand retreated into the Door as it closed and then slowly faded.
"How long has that been happening?" she asked.
"Months. Soon, it'll open and won't close," Okumura sighed, turning to look at Hisako. "But we're prepared for that."
Hisako nodded slowly and, after a tense moment, hurried up the stairs. Kohaku was waiting for her at the bath entrance. Their smile didn't ease the blanket of unease that was enveloping Hisako's heart.
Kohaku led the way, and she had to hurry after them to undress and wash up before getting to the sliding door to the outside section of the bath. She rushed, only to freeze up at the sight she found.
Someone else was in the X-gender bath.
Hisako nearly stumbled at the sight of a masculine keeper lying on the stone edge of the outdoor bath, right on the precipice of the mountainside and bathhouse.
Their dark hair had already dried half-curly, half-messy, and their dark eyes were lidded, accentuated by thick lashes. Their tan skin was flushed from the bath, but their hand still drifted listlessly through the bubbling surface as they pawed at the water. He was about the age to start worrying about the odd gray hair, and he looked the sort to worry—a little too thin and a little too anxious.
Hisako made a soft noise of warning as Kohaku joined her outside, and the keeper jerked upright, covering up with the towel beside them.
"I didn't think anyone else used this bath," they said.
The anxiety and absentness were erased from their face for something friendlier and more welcoming. She would've found it fake-polite if it didn't look so non-performative.
They averted their eyes when they realized they were staring. Hisako took the moment to awkwardly cover herself up as best she could with the small face towel. Kohaku had no such qualms—they slid into the water and floated a few meters from the stranger, towel balanced in a ball on their head. Hisako hurried in after them, sitting between the two.
"If it helps, I wear some pretty strong glasses I left with my yukata," they joked.
"I'm Kohaku. I use they-them pronouns," Kohaku introduced cheerily. They gestured to Hisako. "I'm with her—she's one of you guys."
They straightened up, legs swinging into the water to lean in and converse. "Oh. They warned me about you." They chuckled. "You really walked into the lion's den, little one; this place means trouble."
"I'm told I mean trouble," Kohaku replied. "How else do you think I got here?"
They laughed. "I'm called Yasu. I'm using he-him for now." His eyes flicked to Hisako for a moment, squinting briefly to discern her face. "You're not Nanae Sasaki, are you?"
"I'm Hisako."
His face tightened in thought. When it arrived, the epiphany was almost exaggerated on his expressive face, only partially diminished by the thin scruff of a beard.
"You're Amajiki-san's new protégé," he concluded. "Mochizuki-san."
"Just 'Hisako' is fine," she replied.
He hummed and nodded. "I've been here for a while. News comes slow out here, too… Would you tell me—did they pass the vote?"
Hisako paused and glanced at Kohaku, who was listening curiously.
"They're fine. They're already in too deep," he said, waving dismissively.
The hairs on the back of Hisako's neck rose again.
"The vote is done, yeah."
"Would you kindly…"
"The next… They'll be chosen democratically."
Yasu took a long moment to internalize the information, face falling blank in surprise, then he laughed loudly, a barking, full sound. "My aunt is surely drunker than she's ever been before! That'll be the greatest news she's ever heard."
"Why's that?" Hisako asked.
"There are only a few families amongst the Doorkeepers that hold power, no matter whose favor they have."
Hisako glanced at Kohaku, who had perked up at the use of "Doorkeepers."
"And your aunt is in one of them?" Kohaku asked. "Are you related to a famous person, or something?"
He gave a playfully displeased face. "They call her 'the Demon Fox.'"
"The Demon Fox?" Kohaku echoed.
"Yeah, but not to her face. She's just about the most important woman in Japan," he replied. "I can't really say more than that, sorry."
The most important woman in Japan.
"She's a Kimura, isn't she? You're Yasu Kimura," Hisako asked. Her tongue turned to lead. "They warned us about you. You… Your Door is in the hotel. I saw it…"
He smiled. "Life wouldn't be life if it were a piece of cake," he joked as he stood. "I'll get it fixed soon, though." He waved as he passed by them, exiting the bath. "Enjoy your night."
He walked back into the changing area. Hisako watched as he put on a thicker green yukata and tied it with a black sash. It wasn't something from the hotel—it was too thick and vibrant. He lowered his gaze to put on a pair of round glasses, then he turned his back to them to leave the bath.
"He's the dangerous one? He didn't seem unstable."
Hisako looked at where Yasu had been near-dangling over the side of the mountain and recalled the blank look in his eyes.
"Nobody here means to be dangerous," she replied, "but they don't all have control right now, and that can be dangerous. I want you to be careful around Yasu, Kohaku."
Kohaku nodded slowly after a pause.
"He doesn't mean to," Hisako said, "but he's already out of control."
"Are you able to help him? Like you will with Nanae?"
Hisako blinked. "I… If he wants it, yes. If it gets worse, then definitely yes."
Kohaku beamed at her, and it was like the chill of the mountain had left to make space for their sunny expression. "Thanks, Hisako."