The little souvenir shop smelled like cedarwood and sweet red-bean snacks. Wind chimes hung by the door, ringing softly whenever a customer walked in. Wooden shelves were packed with tiny Mt. Fuji charms, fox masks, and jars of local jam.
The moment we stepped inside, the group scattered like children in a toy store.
Hana tugged my sleeve gently.
"Ah, um… Kaito. Can you help me pick a charm…? I-I don't know which one is good…"
Before I could answer—
Akane slid in between us with ninja-like precision.
"Actually, Hayashi-kun, I wanted your opinion too. Pick something that suits me."
Mika popped up behind Akane like a jump scare.
"Kaito! Kaito! Does this fox mask make me look mysterious or stupid?"
"Yes," Akane replied for me.
"HEY!!"
Rei hovered nearby, pretending to look at the scarves but clearly glancing my way every five seconds.
Naoko was the only one calmly browsing… though she kept drifting closer every time the others got loud.
I exhaled.
Here we go again.
Hana held up two tiny Mt. Fuji straps—one blue, one pink.
"W-which one… suits me better…?"
Her voice was quiet, almost lost in the shop's music.
I looked at them carefully.
"The blue one. It's calm and gentle. Feels… like you."
Her ears turned pink instantly.
"O-Oh… t-thank you…"
Akane watched that from the corner of her eye with narrowed eyes.
She lifted a fox mask to her face.
"Well? How do I look?"
She was expecting confident praise.
I answered honestly.
"Intimidating."
She choked.
"W-What!? Intimidating how!?"
"Like you're about to chase someone through a shrine."
Mika burst into laughter.
"HE'S SO RIGHT!!"
Akane whirled on her.
"YOU—!!"
I stepped between them before a fox-mask war broke out.
Mika shoved a plushie shaped like a round Mt. Fuji into my chest.
"Kaito-kun!! Look!! It's you!!"
"…How is this me?"
"It's round! And soft-looking! And supportive!!"
I blinked.
"That's… surprisingly kind?"
Hana quietly whispered, "I-it is cute…"
Akane muttered, "More like surprisingly accurate…"
While the others bickered, Naoko approached me silently, holding a woven keychain.
"…This would look good on your bag."
I turned toward her.
"Oh? Really?"
She nodded, eyes focused but soft.
"…It suits you. You're… tidy."
I wasn't sure if that was a compliment, but coming from Naoko—reserved, observant Naoko—it felt unexpectedly warm.
"…Thanks."
She looked away quickly, but her ears were pink.
Rei finally gathered enough courage to call out.
"K-Kaito… this scarf—do you think… um… it fits m—"
The scarf slipped from her hand.
She dove to catch it.
I moved without thinking.
Our heads collided.
Bonk.
We both fell back.
"OW—! I-I'm sorry!!" Rei squeaked.
I rubbed my forehead.
"It's okay, it's okay—are you alright?"
She nodded furiously, face red from embarrassment… and maybe a little pain.
Akane sighed.
"Rei, you're hopeless."
Mika added,
"And clumsy."
Naoko whispered,
"…Cute."
Rei sputtered.
"D-don't say things like that!"
Somehow, by fate or misfortune, all five girls ended up handing me something at the same time.
"Kaito, pick this one for me!" — Akane
"Kaito-kun! This one! This one!" — Mika
"Um… Kaito… what do you think…?" — Hana
"…Your opinion… would be helpful." — Naoko
"K-Kaito… maybe this one…?" — Rei
I stared at the pile of charms, plushies, masks, scarves, keychains—
I was holding enough souvenirs to open my own shop.
"…Guys," I said with a flat tone.
"Please. One at a time."
They froze.
Then—
"All right, fine," Akane sighed. "One at a time."
Which, somehow, only made it worse.
But in the middle of all the bickering, shyness, and panic…
We left the store with:
• Hana's charm
• Akane's mask
• Mika's plushie
• Naoko's keychain
• Rei's scarf
• And one bag full of snacks "for the trip"
I exhaled as we stepped outside.
The lakeside breeze smelled faintly of water and pine.
Soft waves brushed the stones, and the late-afternoon sun painted the surface of Lake Kawaguchiko in gold.
"Wahhh~! The view is sooo pretty!" Mika sprinted ahead like an unleashed puppy, nearly tripping on a rock.
"Slow down," Naoko sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "You're going to fall."
"No I won't! I'm a profess—"
Mika stopped abruptly, but her momentum didn't.
Kaito, who was crouching down to put his bag on the ground, never stood a chance.
WHUMP.
"W—wait—NO—"
Kaito slipped and fell straight into the lake.
"KAITO!!"
Naoko panicked instantly.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no—he can't swim, right!?" Rei was already leaning forward to jump.
Akane had one foot up on a rock, ready to dive in and pull him out.
Hana had her phone out, thumb hovering over 119.
Mika: "I DIDN'T MEAN TO!! I SWEAR!!"
All four girls were in chaos—talking over each other, pushing, trying to save him first—
Until…
Bloop.
Kaito resurfaced slowly.
His hair was plastered to his face, expression completely deadpan.
He pointed to the shore with the calmest voice imaginable:
"…okay.
First of all.
WHO pushed me?"
Everything froze.
Mika raised her hand, trembling.
"…me?"
Kaito: "I knew it."
Then—
Naoko started laughing first.
Rei followed, shoulders shaking.
Akane dropped onto a rock because she was laughing too hard.
Hana had to cover her mouth.
Mika: "I SAID I'M SORRY OKAYYYY—!!"
Kaito just gave her a look from the water.
"Someone please help me up—? I'm freezing."
Rei rushed forward to grab his hand, nearly falling in with him.
Naoko handed him a towel from her bag, her expression caught between worried and trying not to laugh again.
"Seriously, Kaito… you scared me just now," she said, cheeks slightly warm.
Kaito pointed at Mika. "I scared you?"
Mika: "I'M SORRY!!"
The whole atmosphere softened—late-afternoon sunlight, gentle ripples, and everyone laughing together.
By the time we reached the inn, the sky had already shifted into that soft, fading-orange glow—
the kind that made everything feel a little calmer…
and a little more embarrassing, considering I was still half-damp from my unexpected swim.
We stopped in front of a traditional ryokan tucked between tall maple trees.
Paper lanterns glowed faintly outside, and a warm scent of tatami drifted through the sliding doors.
I exhaled.
Finally.
Somewhere warm.
Mika pointed excitedly at the sign. "We're here! We're here! Kaito, cepat masuk! You're gonna get hypothermia!"
"…Mika," I muttered. "You're the reason I almost got it."
She froze like a guilty squirrel.
"Ehehe… sorry?"
Rei stepped closer, her voice soft.
"Hayashi… are you sure you're feeling okay? Do you want to take a hot bath first?"
Before I could answer, Akane smirked.
"Oi, oi. Rei, kamu kedengeran kayak istri yang khawatir, loh."
Rei nearly tripped over her own shoes. "W–What!? N–No— It's not— I didn't mean—!!"
Naoko smiled quietly, taking my bag from me with one smooth motion.
"You shouldn't carry this while you're soaked. I'll hold it for now."
"Thanks, Naoko. Sorry for the trouble."
"No trouble," she said softly—but her gaze flicked toward the others, almost… proud?
Hana opened the door for us. "Let's go check in before the temperature drops further."
Inside, the inn was warm enough that my glasses fogged up instantly.
"Ah— can't see," I muttered, lifting them.
Mika giggled. "Cute."
"…Don't call me cute," I mumbled, but it was too late—Akane and Rei were already holding back laughter.
We reached the front desk, and the elderly innkeeper welcomed us with a bow.
I bowed back—carefully. Last thing I needed was slipping again.
Ever since the lake incident, my dignity was hanging by a thread.
We got our room keys—three rooms.
Girls' room.
Another girls' room.
And my room… at the very end of the hallway.
Far away.
Suspiciously far away.
Akane grinned. "They really don't trust you alone near us, huh?"
"That's not— I didn't— It was YOUR friend who pushed me into a lake."
"Hey!!" Mika puffed up. "I said I was sorry!!"
The innkeeper chuckled quietly, probably used to this kind of noise from student groups.
Rei tugged my sleeve lightly. "Hayashi… make sure you dry off properly, okay? If you get sick… I'll—"
Her voice trailed off.
I waited.
Naoko finished for her, hand on Rei's shoulder.
"We'll worry."
For a second, the noise around me faded.
It was warm—warmer than the bathhouse behind the lobby doors.
"…I will," I said. "I'll be careful."
Then Mika ruined the moment:
"KAITO, LET'S GO TAKING A BATH FIRST TOGETHER—"
Akane smacked the back of her head. "Not. What. She. Meant."
The innkeeper coughed politely.
Rei nearly died on the spot.
I sighed.
Yeah.
Typical day with them.
"Alright," I said, heading toward the hallway. "Let's settle down first."
And just like that, the warm, cozy chaos of the trip continued.
I dried off just enough to not drip everywhere, but I still hadn't changed clothes.
My shirt was damp, my hair stuck to my forehead, and every step I took made this uncomfortable squish sound in my shoes.
Perfect look for strolling around an elegant traditional inn.
I slipped away from the girls' chatter while they were busy arguing about who would unpack first.
A little silence sounded… nice.
The hallway was quiet, lit by warm lanterns that made the wood floors glow softly.
Every step echoed gently.
Maybe I should find the bathhouse…
Or at least a towel that isn't suspiciously floral-patterned.
I reached a small side hallway that opened into a tiny indoor garden—
bamboo rustling softly, a stone lantern glowing faintly, koi fish drifting in a pond.
Peaceful.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"…man. Today has been insane."
Falling into a lake.
Almost giving them heart attacks.
Getting teased the entire walk here.
Being treated like luggage by Naoko.
Rei fussing like a worried… something.
Mika being Mika.
Akane being worse than Mika.
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
"…and I didn't even change clothes."
A gust of cold air from the garden blew at my damp shirt.
"—ngh. Cold."
I rubbed my arms and kept walking.
The floor creaked lightly, and I realized—
I must look suspicious as hell right now.
A drenched high-school boy wandering around a fancy ryokan at dusk.
Great.
As I turned the corner, a staff member passed by and stared for a second.
I bowed quickly. "S–Sorry, I'll change soon, I promise—"
The staff smiled awkwardly and hurried away.
Nice. I officially looked like a runaway guest.
I kept walking along the hallway, hands in my pockets, until I reached a small observation deck overlooking Lake Kawaguchiko.
The evening breeze rolled in.
Chilly, but refreshing.
The lake reflected the dimming sky, and Mount Fuji's silhouette hovered like a quiet guardian in the distance.
The scenery was so peaceful, I almost forgot how chaotic the day had been.
Almost.
Because the moment I leaned on the railing, I remembered something important:
Naoko's worried face.
Rei tugging my sleeve.
Mika nearly crying.
Hana trying to call emergency services.
Akane pretending she didn't freak out.
"…I really scared them, huh."
I sighed.
If I had been a little slower…
If my foot had hit the wrong rock…
If—
"Nope," I muttered. "Stop overthinking."
But that protective instinct—
the thing I didn't ask for, the thing my mom's voice always stirred—
Someone will depend on you someday.
It tugged at me again.
"…I have to be more careful."
A second later—
creak
The deck door slid open behind me.
Soft footsteps.
Someone was coming.
The footsteps were light.
Soft.
Careful.
Not the energetic hop of Mika.
Not Akane's confident stride.
Not Rei's hurried shuffle.
These steps were quieter—almost hesitant.
I turned my head slightly.
Naoko stood there.
Her hair was a little messy from the wind, cheeks faintly pink from the walk, hoodie sleeves pulled over her hands like she always did when she was nervous.
"…There you are," she said softly.
I blinked. "Oh—Naoko. Sorry. I wandered off."
She walked over, not too close, but close enough that we both leaned on the same railing.
"You didn't change clothes," she pointed out.
"Yeah," I sighed. "I figured I should explore before I freeze to death."
Naoko's lips twitched—half smile, half worry.
"…You scared us, you know."
I looked away at the lake.
"I know. Sorry."
"No," she shook her head lightly, "not just because you fell. You—"
She hesitated.
"You laugh it off. You act calm. But you're… always like that."
I frowned. "Like what?"
"Like everything's fine. Even when you're tired, or hurt, or… soaked in lake water."
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
"I don't want to bother anyone."
Naoko's eyes softened.
The kind of look that reached deeper than I expected.
"Kaito… you're allowed to lean on people too."
I froze.
That line—so close to what Mom used to say—hit something inside me before I could block it.
I forced a laugh.
"Yeah, well… someone has to keep all of you alive, right?"
Naoko puffed her cheeks a little.
"You're impossible."
Her sleeve brushed my hand—not a grab, not even a proper touch.
Just a whisper of fabric.
But it felt… warm.
We stayed like that for a moment.
Silent.
Peaceful.
The wind brushing across the deck, the lake glowing as the sky turned orange to deep blue.
Then—
KREEAK.
The deck door slammed open.
"KAAAITOOOO!!"
Mika came barreling out like a missile.
"There you are! We thought you got lost again!"
"I didn't—"
"Ada snack gratis di lobby! FREE SNACKS!! Why are you still here!? LET'S GOOO—!!"
She grabbed my wrist with both hands and started dragging me like I was a sled.
"MIKA—wait—!! My clothes aren't even—!"
Naoko sighed behind us, but she was smiling.
A second later Rei showed up, slightly panting.
"W-wait!! Kaito! You shouldn't be outside with wet clothes—!"
Then Hana walked in last, calm as ever.
"…I told you he wandered off. You all panicked for nothing."
Akane popped her head in from the hallway doorway.
"Oh hey! Found our lost puppy."
"I am NOT—!!"
Too late.
They all circled around me like hyperactive satellites.
And just like that—
The quiet evening moment shattered into the familiar chaos of traveling with them.
But… somehow…
I didn't mind.
In fact, standing there surrounded by their noise and ridiculous energy…
I felt warm.
Even in wet clothes.
"Come on, Kaito!" Mika insisted, tugging harder. "FREE SNACKS!!"
Naoko just shook her head.
Rei hovered close, still checking if I was cold.
Akane smirked knowingly.
Hana pushed her glasses up like she was above all this madness.
And me?
I let them drag me away.
"…Fine, fine. I'm coming."
Somehow, the warmth in my chest felt stronger than the cold in my clothes.
The snack chaos ended about as expected:
Mika stole three pudding cups.
Akane pretended she wasn't stealing any but definitely did.
Rei panicked because she thought "Take One Only" was a rule (it wasn't).
Naoko took one neatly and bowed to the staff like she was in a period drama.
Hana pushed her glasses up like she was above all this madness.
Me?
I was still damp.
Actually… soaked.
Every movement felt like wearing a cold, clingy towel.
So when the others kept arguing about who took the last dorayaki, I cleared my throat.
"I'm gonna head to the hot springs first," I said.
All five heads turned to me at once.
"Oh, right! Your clothes are still wet!" Rei gasped.
"You should've changed ages ago," Naoko added.
"Your immune system is in danger," Hana concluded, dead serious.
"Kaito, go warm yourself before you become a ghost," Akane said casually.
"I WILL JOIN AFTER SNACKS!!" Mika declared, pudding in her mouth.
I sighed.
"Yeah. I'll go clean up first."
We headed down the hallway. The inn was quiet at this hour, lantern lights giving everything a soft orange glow. I opened the door to the shared bedroom the staff assigned to us. Six futons neatly arranged. Girls' luggage on one side. My stuff on the far end right corner—strategically isolated, probably for safety.
I put down my towel, grabbed clean clothes, and—
Then I saw the map on the wall.
There were three hot springs on the map, not two.
Which, honestly, made way more sense.
One was labeled clearly:
男湯 — Men's Bath
Next to it:
女湯 — Women's Bath
And below those two…
混浴 — Mixed Bath
I stared at the last one.
"…Why does this place need a mixed bath?"
Nope.
Nope nope nope.
I tightened the towel around my neck and immediately turned toward the Men's Bath hallway like my life depended on it.
The women's bath was further down the opposite corridor—
which meant if I didn't hurry and the girls finished grabbing snacks—
Yeah.
I'd prefer not to be found standing between the signs "Women's Bath" and "Mixed Bath."
That would look… very incriminating.
"Okay," I muttered, walking briskly.
"Men's bath. Quiet. Safe. Zero chaos."
Probably.
"…Yeah, no."
Absolutely not.
I could imagine it already:
Mika: "KYAA KAITOOO WHY ARE YOU HERE!?"
Akane: "Oh? Fate?"
Rei: dies
Hana: "We should call the police."
Naoko: "This is… bad. Very bad."
I was not going to invite that kind of chaos into my peaceful evening.
Men's Bath it is.
I exhaled in relief just picturing the silence and privacy.
"Alright," I muttered, adjusting the towel around my neck. "Shower, warm water, new clothes… should be simple enough."
From the hallway, I could hear the girls still bickering as they approached their own room.
"After snacks, hot spring!" Mika announced like it was a battle plan.
"You can't run in the hall," Naoko warned.
"I'm not running, I'm SPEED-WALKING."
"Those are the same—" Rei started.
"Let her," Hana sighed. "She'll trip anyway."
Akane laughed. "Kaito better finish before us, or else he'll die if we bump into him near the entrance."
I froze for a second.
…Right.
Better move fast.
I grabbed my clothes tighter and headed for the men's bath.
Warm water, quiet atmosphere, absolutely no romcom disasters.
Perfect.
Probably.
The steam drifting from the Men's Bath entrance looked like salvation.
A hot soak. Fresh clothes. Zero chaos.
Perfect plan.
I slid the wooden door halfway open—
GRAB.
A hand snatched my wrist from the side.
"Huh—!? Hey—!!"
Before I could react, something soft—a towel—was slapped over my eyes.
"Eh—!? Wh—who's—!? Wait!!"
I struggled, reaching up, but the grip pulling me was surprisingly strong… and small.
Definitely a girl's hand.
"Don't yell!" someone hissed. "Just hurry!"
Hurry where!?
I was dragged a few steps—smooth wooden floors, the rush of hotter steam, the creak of another sliding door—and then plop, my legs dipped into steaming water.
"Sit! Sit here!"
I was shoved down into the bath—hot!—and the towel over my eyes was finally peeled away.
Light. Steam. Rippling water.
And—
Five girls.
In a mixed hot spring.
All of them completely frozen the moment my eyes opened.
Mika stood closest, stiff like an NPC that stopped rendering.
Akane held a towel over her shoulders, one eyebrow raised.
Rei had both hands over her face.
Hana looked like she was evaluating the legality of the entire situation.
Naoko was half-submerged, face bright red.
I instantly jumped up.
"NONONONO—THIS IS WRONG—THIS IS SO WRONG—!!"
Water splashed everywhere.
I nearly escaped—almost—when—
GRAB.
A small hand latched onto my arm.
Mika.
"Don't be dramatic, Kaito!"
"DRAMATIC!? YOU KIDNAPPED ME—!!"
She yanked me back into the water.
Splash!
"We wanted to bathe first, but the women's side was full!" Mika explained in a panic. "And since you were passing by, we just—"
"'JUST' WHAT!?"
I stared at her, horrified.
"This is a mixed bath! MIXED! How is this the solution!?"
Mika pointed at Akane immediately.
"It was her idea!"
Akane shrugged.
"Waiting takes too long. Might as well bathe together. Besides… it's not a big deal, right?"
A big deal?
This was the biggest deal of my entire life.
I glanced toward the exit.
Maybe, just maybe, I could still escape—
"Stay."
Hana said it like a judge issuing a verdict.
"…So I'm being held hostage?"
"More like a forced social relaxation session," Hana replied calmly.
I sank into the water until only my nose and eyes were above the surface.
…Someone save me.
The steam thickened around us.
I froze. The girls froze.
The only sound was the plop of a water droplet falling from the ceiling.
They weren't, uh—well, they weren't unprepared.
Each of them had on modest swimsuits under their towels — like they'd planned this from the start.
Meanwhile, me?
Just a towel around my waist.
Fantastic.
Truly the best possible scenario for a heart attack.
Mika was the first to break the silence.
"So, uh… nice weather, huh?"
"We're inside, Mika," Naoko said flatly, but even she was blushing hard enough to fog the air more.
Akane tilted her head, smirking.
"My, my. Didn't expect you to be this flustered, Kaito. You've seen swimsuits before, right?"
"I—Not like this!"
I turned away, staring intently at a completely uninteresting rock on the wall.
Hana sighed, pushing up her glasses again.
"At this rate, he's going to boil faster than the water."
"Don't tease him too much," Rei murmured quietly, half-submerged, cheeks bright pink.
"He didn't ask to be here."
Mika leaned forward with a grin.
"Well, technically he did—since I pulled him in."
"THAT'S NOT HOW CONSENT WORKS!"
They burst into laughter.
Even Naoko cracked a smile, muttering, "...You look like a lost duckling."
"Excuse me!?" I turned to protest—then instantly regretted it, spinning back toward the rock.
"NOPE—okay—eye contact with the wall. Forever."
Rei covered her mouth, stifling a giggle.
Akane tossed a splash of water at Mika.
Mika yelped, splashed back, and soon the steam was full of laughter, shouting, and chaos again.
I slumped against the edge, half-defeated, water up to my shoulders.
Somewhere between the heat, the teasing, and the laughter… I actually started to relax.
This… wasn't so bad, maybe.
Until Mika said, "Hey Kaito, truth or dare?"
I sighed.
"Oh no."