According to Busujima Murasaki's directions, she said that once he left the main residence, he would be able to see the indoor hot spring. When Kamiyā Yuu arrived at the back courtyard, it was exactly as she said. He quickly found the hot spring building. A structure almost as large as the main house itself had a sign hanging over the entrance with the Japanese word for "Hot Spring." Unless someone was eight hundred degrees nearsighted, they could spot it immediately.
"Clatter~!"
Kamiyā Yuu examined the building for a while before walking over and pulling open the old Japanese sliding door. Inside, the lighting was soft, and the decorations resembled a luxurious Japanese hot spring inn. Following the signs through a long corridor, he finally reached the indoor hot spring area at the very end. The indoor hot spring, nearly the size of a swimming pool, adopted a design similar to a Chinese-style garden. Even indoors, there were artificial rock formations and green trees everywhere, with brightly colored, unknown flowers blooming among them.
Just like the Japanese tea ceremony, Japanese hot springs also possess their own unique hot spring culture. The most famous—and best known to outsiders—was probably the so-called "mixed bathing." In ancient times, Japanese hot springs were relatively small, so men and women bathing together became a tradition born from habit. Combined with the low social status of women at the time, in the eyes of men soaking in the hot springs, the women bathing together were merely scenery and conversation companions. As for whether things would develop into indescribable activities, that depended on one's interpretation.
Thus, what Japanese people considered a rather elegant custom was seen by most others as immoral and indecent. After entering modern society, the trend of "mixed bathing" gradually faded away. Even if such places still existed, aside from battle-hardened old ladies, most people probably wore swimsuits or similar clothing.
Looking at the luxurious Japanese elegance built into the indoor hot spring, Kamiyā Yuu could not help sighing inwardly:
"Damn, rich people."
After admiring the indoor hot spring, Kamiyā Yuu found the changing room. Before Uehara Etsuki moved in, this place had apparently also served as a public bathing area for servants. The changing room clearly showed signs of renovation. The overly spacious room had been filled with potted plants and decorative ornaments, while neatly arranged drink shelves lined the edges of the room. Curious, Kamiyā Yuu walked over to check the production dates and found that nearly all the beverages had been produced within the last month.
"Looks like professional staff was hired to maintain this indoor hot spring. At this scale, the annual maintenance costs alone must exceed ten million yen."
Kamiyā Yuu picked up a bottle of hot spring milk and looked at it. Drinking a bottle of coffee milk after soaking in a hot spring was practically a national Japanese habit.
He placed the milk into his locker, removed his clothes reeking of alcohol, tossed them into the basket, and wrapped a white bath towel around himself before returning to the indoor hot spring area.
······
"Murasaki, go prepare a change of clothes for Miss Kumamoto and the others."
The moment Busujima Murasaki exited after settling Yūki Chinatsu and the others, she encountered Uehara Etsuki entering while carrying a tray. The tray was filled with special anti-hangover drinks. Although they were served in traditional Japanese cups, they were actually expensive modern hangover remedies purchased from the market. Uehara Etsuki reasoned that hangover soups and similar remedies worked too slowly and did not eliminate side effects, so modern products were simply more practical. Compared to preserving tradition and Japanese aesthetics, she was more of a pragmatist.
"Understood. I'll notify the main household staff."
Busujima Murasaki nodded obediently. Not long after leaving the guest room area, her footsteps paused, and a trace of hesitation appeared between her brows.
"Come to think of it, I still haven't informed Milady and the others that Mr. Kamiyā is using the hot spring. Hmm~ according to the proper order of things, preparing a change of clothes should come first."
After thinking about it, Busujima Murasaki chose to first notify the household staff to prepare fresh clothes. Normally, people prepared their clothing before entering a hot spring, and it would not take much time anyway.
Not long after drinking the special anti-hangover beverage, Morishita Aoi slowly woke up in bed and shook her somewhat dizzy head. Supporting her forehead with one hand, she looked around at the familiar surroundings and muttered:
"As expected, we're still at Etsuki's house."
"Every time you drink, you never know when to stop. At least consider your own health a little."
Uehara Etsuki helplessly supported Yūki Chinatsu beside her, woke her up, and handed her an anti-hangover drink.
Morishita Aoi stretched lazily and replied indifferently:
"Even Miss Busujima is rarely present this time, so isn't this perfect?"
"The one who brought us back this time was Kamiyā-kun."
"Yes~ yes. If I have to choose between troubling Yuu after fully enjoying myself and going home unsatisfied, then the former is obviously better. I feel sticky all over. Etsuki, can I borrow the hot spring? I haven't experienced soaking in the hot spring at your house for months."
Morishita Aoi tugged at her white shirt. Habitually brushing aside the hair near her ear, her crimson cheeks showed a silly smile. The effects of the alcohol clearly had not faded yet.
"Wait a moment. Murasaki will bring fresh clothes shortly," Uehara Etsuki nodded.
"Then I'll go soak for a while first and deal with the clothes later."
"Mm... wait, I can't pretend I didn't hear that. There's actually a hot spring? Then I'm going too. I haven't soaked in a hot spring even once this whole year!"
The awakened Yūki Chinatsu grumbled. After thinking for a moment, she smiled mischievously at Uehara Etsuki.
"Do you still have alcohol? Alcohol and hot springs go perfectly together~!"
Uehara Etsuki flicked her forehead with her finger and laughed.
"You've already had plenty to drink today. Hot springs are fine, but alcohol is prohibited for tonight."
"Ah... what the heck... what a mood killer."
Yūki Chinatsu rubbed her forehead in pain and sighed deeply.
"Forget it, hot springs are fine too! Hot springs are great as well! So then, where's the hot spring?"
She stood up dazedly and looked around. Judging from her foolish expression, she had clearly not sobered up completely.
Uehara Etsuki clasped her hands together and proposed happily:
"Then let's invite Sora and Miss Kumamoto as well. Everyone can go together."
For people of the same sex to soak in hot springs together was not uncommon in Japan. Friends and coworkers often did so, and like drinking parties, it also helped promote communication.
"Good! That's a great idea! Long live hot springs!"
Yūki Chinatsu, whose face was red enough to compete with a monkey's backside, raised both hands in approval.
After asking for Kamiyā Sora and the others' opinions, Uehara Etsuki found that since everyone had sweated somewhat or gotten stained with oil and alcohol during the celebration banquet, hearing that there was actually an artificial hot spring inside this absurdly huge Japanese mansion naturally earned unanimous approval.
······
"I've always wanted to experience Japanese hot springs. I never expected Director Uehara's house to actually have an artificial hot spring."
As the group arrived at the hot spring building, Kumamoto Alice looked around at the Japanese-style decorations with interest and admiration.
Leading the way ahead, Uehara Etsuki smiled and explained:
"They're all remnants from the family business in the past. Although we no longer operate hot spring businesses, we can't simply leave the facilities unattended."
"No, I think before ignoring them, there's something even harder to overlook. How much maintenance would a massive indoor hot spring like this even cost?"
Yūki Chinatsu was stunned by the unexpectedly extravagant scale of the indoor hot spring. It had already reached the level of a professional hot spring bathhouse.
Although Kamiyā Sora had also followed them over, she looked around hesitantly. Kamiyā Yuu, who should have returned after helping settle Morishita Aoi and the others, had somehow disappeared instead. Now that Morishita Aoi had returned, he himself was nowhere to be seen.
After drinking the anti-hangover beverage, Gogyo Ruri had mostly sobered up since she had not drunk much to begin with. Recalling what happened between her and Morishita Aoi during the celebration banquet made her feel depressed. Her first kiss, which should have been reserved for her destined contractor, had been mercilessly stolen—and by another woman at that.
However, after seeing the indoor hot spring environment, her mood improved slightly. Walking beside Kamiyā Sora, she softly asked:
"Sora, just who exactly is Director Uehara? A house like this definitely isn't something ordinary people can afford."
Kamiyā Sora shook her head, indicating that she did not know either.
After arriving at the changing room, everyone changed into white bath towels and laughingly headed toward the indoor hot spring. Just after finishing changing clothes last, Morishita Aoi noticed that Kumamoto Alice still seemed to be in the changing room and curiously asked:
"Miss Kumamoto, aren't you coming?"
Kumamoto Alice responded with a sound of acknowledgment, her expression slightly surprised as she looked at the basket inside the locker before her, containing a man's suit. She recognized the clothes as belonging to her superior, Kamiyā Yuu. Why were they here?
Unable to stop herself, she revealed a faintly gentle and sly smile. Looking toward Yūki Chinatsu and the others entering the indoor hot spring and hearing only exclamations over the decorations, she continued changing clothes. She placed her pale white modern Western-style dress into the basket, covering Kamiyā Yuu's clothes beneath it, then wrapped her ample figure tightly in a white towel before entering the indoor hot spring together with the others.
Before entering the changing room, she had already observed the indoor hot spring's layout. The existence of the artificial rock formations left nearly half the hot spring completely hidden from view.
······
Soaking in the hot spring, with the indoor air conditioning and the comfortable temperature of the water, Kamiyā Yuu inadvertently drifted into a light nap. When he vaguely heard chirping female voices, he still had not reacted. It was only after realizing what had happened that Kamiyā Yuu awkwardly discovered he seemed to have missed the ideal opportunity to leave.
Even more unfortunately, because he had been curious about the hot spring's scenery and layout, he had explored around before choosing to rest behind the innermost rock formation in the hot spring, completely unaware of what would happen outside.
"—A manga-style fanservice scene... how exactly should this be handled?"
"Judging by the voices, Sora should also be here. If possible, I'd rather not let her see a scene like this."
"It would have been best to stop them before they came in, but now that they've already entered the bath, choosing to appear now would be far too suspicious."
"They don't know I entered first."
"Besides, this situation can basically be judged as Busujima Murasaki's mistake. Her attitude toward this matter is also questionable."
"Forget it. One should not look upon impropriety. If they don't leave, then I'll just keep soaking here."
Between being discovered and causing unpleasant consequences versus potentially remaining undiscovered and letting the matter pass, Kamiyā Yuu chose the latter. What if he were discovered? With his clothes in the changing room, there was basically no need for him to panic. He could simply say he fell asleep while soaking.
However, things did not go as planned. While he was deep in thought, the noisy sound of the hot spring water and the women's voices completely prevented him from noticing that a petite snow-white figure had already quietly swum behind the rock formation. Upon seeing Kamiyā Yuu deep in thought, she froze and could not help letting out a startled cry:
"Ah~?"
The sound was neither loud nor soft, but just enough for Uehara Etsuki and the others to hear. Confirming something, Kumamoto Alice tightened the white towel around herself and smilingly spoke first:
"Director Yūki, what happened?"
"Yuu—no, I was just thinking that Etsuki's bath is really huge. I came to take a look around this rock formation."
Yūki Chinatsu blurted out the first word before suddenly noticing Kamiyā Yuu hurriedly raising three fingers while silently mouthing:
"Three conditions."
Realizing that the price for losing that bet back when she joined the company last year was finally about to be paid, Yūki Chinatsu's mind spun rapidly. While forcing a stiff smile and crouching down, she awkwardly replied.
Her thoughts were a chaotic mess:
"Wh-why is Yuu here!?"
The steam from the hot spring prevented the others from noticing her abnormality. Walking behind the rock formation, Yūki Chinatsu pressed one hand against Kamiyā Yuu's cheek and forcefully fixed his head facing sideways to stop him from seeing her body, then viciously whispered:
"Director Kamiyā, what exactly is going on here?"
Kamiyā Yuu innocently spread his hands.
"What do you mean? What's going on? I entered first to soak in the hot spring. When I woke up, I discovered all of you had come in. Just pretend you didn't see me. I'll stay soaking over here while you all stay over there."
"So this is the kind of development you see in manga! Great. Everyone's over there right now, wai—eyes... don't turn your eyes over here!"
Completely sobered up after two shocks in a row, Yūki Chinatsu snorted unhappily. Seeing Kamiyā Yuu's eyes trying to turn back, she hurriedly moved her hand upward to cover them. Once she confirmed he could not see her, Yūki Chinatsu instead unconsciously lowered her head curiously for a glance. When she noticed that part was also covered by a white towel, she immediately felt disappointed.
"First of all, I'm not interested in little kids. Second, from the moment you saw me and didn't shout, you already became my accomplice. Adding in the two conditions from our previous bet as compensation. Honestly, I'm troubled by this too. Getting dragged into this for no reason."
Keeping his face turned away, Kamiyā Yuu sighed softly. He would rather leave this kind of fan service to manga protagonists. Once exposed, not to mention anything else, there would definitely be unnecessary awkwardness in his future interactions with the other employees.
"Sorry for not having a figure worth looking at then!"
Before Kamiyā Yuu could finish speaking, Yūki Chinatsu finally released his cheek. Covering her own flat chest with one hand, she glared at him pitifully.
"I'm going back now and pretending nothing happened. You absolutely can't peek! Absolutely, absolutely!"
"I also don't want things to develop in the worst possible direction."
After receiving Kamiyā Yuu's confirmation, Yūki Chinatsu finally left the back of the rock formation while repeatedly turning back to look. Once she left Kamiyā Yuu's field of vision, she unwillingly touched her flat chest before glancing at the soft, snowy curves floating not far away in the hot spring and viciously muttered a curse:
"Damn big-breasted monsters!"
"Phew~!"
After Yūki Chinatsu left, Kamiyā Yuu finally let out a long breath. Fortunately, the person who discovered him was Yūki Chinatsu. If it had been someone more mature like Uehara Etsuki or Kumamoto Alice, he truly would have been left dumbfounded.
The situation had not improved in the slightest. Instead, just like developments in manga, the more he tried to cover it up, the darker things became. After involving Yūki Chinatsu, he became even less able to let anyone else discover the fact that he was inside the hot spring.