After the four of them changed into their bathrobes, they walked out of the changing room.
Just as they passed the front desk, they heard an attendant call out to them.
"Ladies, you can go to the dining room now."
"Dine?"
Miyajima Tsubaki didn't remember them ordering a late-night snack.
"Ah, it's fish."
Nanao Akane said, "It's the fish Kobayashi-chan caught!"
"He fishes?" Miyajima Tsubaki asked.
"Yes, if you praise the fish he caught, he'll be happy all day long," Nanao Akane giggled. "Even after getting into bed, he'll exclaim before falling asleep, 'Oh my god, that cast I made today—' that kind of exclamation."
After leaving the hot spring bathhouse, she felt much more energized, and she was radiating refreshment.
"O-oh, really," Miyajima Tsubaki said. In bed, huh.
It seemed they were already cohabiting and frequently staying together.
"Oh, so that's how it is. I've never heard Kobayashi-chan mention it," Miyajima Sakura smiled, hoping Nanao Akane would share more.
But facing Miyajima Sakura's smile, which could be called flawless, she froze, scratching the back of her head awkwardly:
"Y-yes, that's right."
Then she couldn't manage to squeeze out another half-sentence.
Miyajima Sakura's gaze dimmed slightly. She lowered her eyes, wondering what she was thinking.
And what about Kobayashi Ayaka?
Kobayashi Ayaka!
Sprint!
Destination! Dining Room!!
"Hey, Ayaka!" Miyajima Tsubaki couldn't stop her at all.
Wah ha ha ha ha ha, the chance to raise my favorability rating has come again!
Kobayashi Ayaka was overjoyed.
She had been staying at the inn for a few days and easily found the dining room. The dining room wasn't large, but it currently seemed especially empty, as it wasn't mealtime.
After she pushed open the traditional paper sliding door with a bang, the only two people inside cast their gaze toward her at the entrance.
On one side was Hayato.
On the other side was Kurashiki Reina.
The two of them were sitting opposite each other, each on one side of the long table.
In between them, on the table, lay freshly grilled fish, emitting a pleasant charred aroma.
"O-only you guys?"
But the moment Kobayashi Ayaka saw Hayato... especially when the latter looked at her with an exceptionally cold, deadpan gaze, half of her momentum deflated.
"Hayashi Hidemichi went to buy drinks."
Kurashiki Reina picked up a wooden skewer and left a thin teeth mark on the fish, "The variety of drinks at the inn is too limited, so he drove down to the convenience store to buy some."
"Watch out for bones," Hayato warned.
"Oh..." After Kurashiki Reina replied, she realized this was a warning from Hayato. Her expression changed slightly, but she softly agreed again, "Oh."
Feeling that her demeanor wasn't strong enough, she added, "...I'm not a child, you know."
Kobayashi Ayaka's beautiful eyebrows twitched.
Just now, she was annoyed that Hayato looked at her with indifference.
Now she started hating—don't you dare only look at her!
Talking to Kurashiki but ignoring me? Fine! You're really something!
Kobayashi Ayaka turned her attention to the plate of fish.
Fish! Such big fish!
The earnest teachings of "Master Nanao" echoed in her ears.
She pondered her wording and began to praise:
"This, this fish, it's alright. Who, who caught it?"
Praise shouldn't be direct praise. Kobayashi Ayaka was well-versed in this tactic, so she took a roundabout approach, pretending she didn't know who caught the fish, which would make her praise seem more sincere.
"I did," Hayato said.
He responded! Kobayashi Ayaka was excited. Just as she was about to offer two more sentences of praise, she felt two unusually sharp, sword-like gazes directed at her.
"'It's alright,' what does that mean?"
"It means... uh, it's not bad."
"'Not bad'?" Hayato's voice started to rise at the end. "If you say that, Ayaka must be deeply familiar with the art of fishing, right?"
"Th-that's natural," Kobayashi Ayaka said loudly. "With my skill, catching a few fish like this might not be as hard as reaching the heavens, but it's certainly effortless!"
"Is that so? Then I'll have to properly learn a thing or two from Ayaka some other day," Hayato said flatly.
Kobayashi Ayaka narrowed her eyes, returning an equally sharp gaze: "You're welcome. I just worry you'll be too embarrassed if you lose."
"Lose? The word 'lose' doesn't exist in my fishing career," Hayato said. "I'll just use a bamboo fishing rod to compete."
"Fine, you use a bamboo rod, and I'll use a bamboo rod too."
Kobayashi Ayaka was standing.
Hayato was sitting.
Their gazes, one high and one low, clashed, seemingly emitting flashing electric sparks.
"Wow, what big fish!"
Behind Hayato, the door was still open.
Miyajima Sakura had followed them over. She covered her mouth and gasped softly, "Kobayashi-chan, did you catch these? That's amazing! I don't understand fishing at all."
Hayato turned his head, and his fierce gaze instantly vanished, replaced by a kind and benevolent look.
"Senior Miyajima, do you want to learn? I can teach you."
"I'd love to~~~" Miyajima Sakura smiled sweetly. She happily pressed her palms together, though her fingertips were slightly splayed.
Kobayashi Ayaka suddenly realized something.
She looked at Hayato, then at Miyajima Sakura, and then thought back to her own words.
She suddenly covered her face and squatted in the corner.
"A-Ayaka-senpai?" Kurashiki Reina was startled by this action.
"Don't call me!" Kobayashi Ayaka yelled sharply.
I'm an idiot, truly, the purest kind of idiot. Kobayashi Ayaka said internally.
Seeing the young man, Miyajima Tsubaki was reminded of the marks on Nanao Akane's prominent backside, and her expression became strange.
Actually, Hayato had thought about this earlier when he was in the room, but since they weren't going to bring up such a private matter, he decided to act as if nothing happened. His skin was always well-maintained, especially his face—his facial skin was especially thick.
"Kobayashi-chan~~~~"
Nanao Akane pressed against him softly, her whole body limp, her hands wrapped around Hayato's neck. She quickly whispered a quiet accusation into his ear: "This is all your fault."
Most likely, only Hayato could hear it.
He patted Nanao Akane's head with the back of his hand: "Eat the fish first, Senior Miyajima, and Miss Tsubaki, please take your seats too."
What about me?
Kobayashi Ayaka looked back, but Hayato still didn't look at her, only speaking softly to the hanging Nanao Akane: "Is your hair dry already?"
"Mmm~ Miss Tsubaki helped me blow it dry."
"Did you thank her?"
"Yes."
"Thank you, Miss Tsubaki," Hayato still said to Miyajima Tsubaki.
"...Mmm." Miyajima Tsubaki looked at the soft hanging charm again. This girl... she didn't seem like it before, but she's too good at acting spoiled. Compared to her... her daughter is...
Miyajima Sakura was completely composed after taking her seat.
"Do you want some fish?" Hayato asked.
"Yes~~"
"Eating grilled fish so late... have you gained weight recently?"
Her sore spot was hit instantly, and Nanao Akane was a little annoyed.
She wanted to go on a diet immediately to show her attitude.
But, "Grumble grumble," how could she resist such a fragrant grilled fish?
"No↑~ ~" Nanao Akane choked on her saliva, making a sound (wanting to eat) grilled fish.
------------------------
There are already 70+ chapters available on my Patreon!
The story will continue to update 1 chapter per day on Webnovel,
while early access chapters are posted on Patreon.
Maybe it's not worth it today but it could be later
[email protected]/Kazenova223
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"