"Okay, we'll take those two rooms, sir," Aoki said, turning back to the old man.
"Good!" The old man scribbled something on a notepad, his fingers moving quickly.
"Two rooms, two beds each, lunch, dinner, breakfast tomorrow, all together... this much." The old man stated the price, at which point the old man peered at Aoki through his thick eyebrows.
Aoki nodded slowly, at which point Aoki opened his leather pouch and pulled out several Ryo notes.
The metal clanged against the table, the glitter of the coins reflecting off the lantern light. The old man counted quickly, then nodded.
"Here are your room keys," the old man said, handing over two bronze keys on wooden hangers.
Aoki took one and held the other out to Mei, who accepted it with a slow nod.
"Your rooms are on the third floor, according to the number on the keychain," the old man said, gesturing toward the wooden staircase beside the reception desk.
The stairs creaked, defiant, awaiting the weight of their footsteps.
Aoki turned to his friends, raising the key in his hand.
"Let's go," Aoki said softly. The sound of the waves crashing outside could still be heard.
...
...
...
Then Aoki and the others walked up the wooden stairs beside the reception desk.
The midday sun shone through a small window in the corner of the hallway, bathing the steps in a warm light that reflected off the old wood, which had cracked gently at the edges.
The shimmer made the dust particles floating in the air sparkle, like shards of light dancing with each step.
The steps creaked softly under their soles, breaking the silence of the narrow hallway, whose walls were lined with old, faded paintings.
The creaking sound of wood mixed with the slow, rhythmic sound of footsteps, as if each step carried a heavy burden on their shoulders.
The air inside the inn felt slightly stuffy, pressing against their chests with the scent of damp wood that had endured the rainy season for too long.
The smell of half-extinguished candles lingered in the hallway, mingling with the scent of barely dried sheets.
Aoki walked at the front, his shoulders slumped slightly, his eyes occasionally glancing toward the window whose frame was peeling. The shadows of the trees outside moved lazily in the breeze.
Behind Aoki, Mei held the hem of her sleeve, while she fanned her neck with her bare hand, her cheeks flushed in the musty air.
They continued up the stairs until they reached the third floor, a narrow hallway lined with dark brown wooden doors whose paint was starting to peel at the edges. Some of the doorknobs were rusted on their hinges, giving off a faint metallic smell that Aoki could smell as he approached.
Daylight streamed in through a small window at the end of the hallway, shining directly onto the thin, faded carpet. Dust in the air glistened in the light, dancing with the breeze that passed through the loosely-sealed window, creating a subtle rustling sound in the worn lace curtains.
Arriving at their respective rooms, Aoki reached for the doorknob, feeling the cold metal suck the heat from his palm.
Aoki's fingers pressed lightly on the handle, hearing the faint squeak of an old spring.
Mei stood beside him, checking the room number with a small sigh, as Mei smoothed the hair that had stuck to her forehead from sweat.
Mei rubbed her temples with her fingertips, then patted her own cheeks lightly, trying to shake off the drowsiness that had crept up on the stairs.
Aoki and Tetsu would share a room, while Mei shared a room with Ajisai. The rules were simple: men with men, women with women. Everyone agreed; no more words were needed, just a brief, understanding look.
________________________
[Note: 555+ latest chapters have been added! For Just 3$ You Get Access To Chapters Way Ahead,
Now you can access the chapters before Webnovel And Scribblehub by following,
Just become a patron on Patreon:
Pa*treon.com/Alex_Fabianoki]