Today, a Japanese-style beauty with short black hair, wearing a business suit and a slender gaze, arrived at Izumi.
"Kyoka, long time no see, how has work been recently?"
Mrs. Izumi smiled as soon as she saw her and began to chat.
"It's alright, just a bit busy. I promised to come earlier, but it kept getting delayed until today. I'm truly sorry."
The moment she spoke, Izumi Kyoka's seemingly serious image disappeared.
She had a very good relationship with Sagiri's birth mother, and it was even because of her efforts behind the scenes that the two families became in-laws.
"Aunt."
Izumi Chihiro quickly stood up and greeted the Japanese-style beauty who had entered.
"Chihiro, long time no see. I've heard that your career has been smooth sailing recently, and Sagiri is also doing well, finding her own direction to strive for."
Izumi Kyoka looked at the two sitting on the sofa watching TV and said with a smile.
"Hehe..."
Rarely praised by her aunt, Sagiri's small face clearly showed a touch of shyness.
"Kyoka, you're here."
"Ni-san..."
Izumi Kotetsu happened to come down from the second floor, and the two exchanged smiles and greeted each other.
Dinner began.
They started chatting.
Because of their usual busy work, such opportunities were rare.
After chatting, Mrs. Izumi originally intended to have her stay the night, but Izumi Kyoka still refused.
"Chihiro, if your work has a chance to be animated, you can designate our company to produce it. At that time, I, your aunt, will definitely do my best."
Before leaving, Izumi Kyoka patted his head and instructed.
"Then I hope that day comes a little sooner."
Izumi Chihiro said with a smile.
"It definitely will, Ni-san! And one day Ni-san's name will be famous throughout the country!"
Sagiri shouted from the side.
"The country? Too small! The whole world! In the future, the name Izumi Masamune will be known worldwide!"
Seeing this, he made a joke.
Sagiri pouted her small mouth.
I'm serious, okay! Ni-san, you baka!
...
After an interlude, time gradually came to summer vacation, and the temperature reached its hottest point.
"Haa."
On the sofa, Izumi Kotetsu stretched.
Because he had just completed a large contract for the company, the company had recently arranged a not-so-short vacation for him.
"It's rare to have free time, how about a family trip? It's really too hot to stay at home."
Mrs. Izumi suddenly suggested.
"Hmm, that sounds pretty good. Why don't you ask the children for their opinions?"
Izumi Kotetsu thought for a moment and replied.
"Of course it's yes!"
Sagiri clenched her fist.
"I don't mind; Kasan, you can make the arrangements."
Izumi Chihiro didn't refuse to spend time with his family.
"Will it disturb your work?"
Mrs. Izumi was only worried about this.
After all, the young man's career was on the rise.
"As long as I have my laptop, I can work anytime," Izumi Chihiro said, shaking his head.
And so, his parents decided on a hot spring trip, not to a famous place, but to a secluded village.
In the countryside, there were still many hot spring inns. Although they were sparsely populated due to their lack of fame, and many things weren't as convenient, these requirements weren't strictly necessary.
They boarded the train.
From buildings to forests, from forests to golden wheat fields…
Sagiri looked at the constantly changing scenery outside the window, a hint of envy in her eyes. "So, this is what pastoral scenery looks like. It's so beautiful…"
She had never been to the countryside before, and being quite reclusive, she often stayed at home, seeing only tall buildings. The scenery she now witnessed felt like an exotic landscape.
The young girl firmly imprinted this scenery in her mind so that if she ever needed to paint, she wouldn't have to go out to find inspiration.
Actually, the Izumi family of four had come to a village where Mrs. Izumi had once painted and sketched.
"I came here once for inspiration, and I stayed at a hot spring inn run by an old lady. I wonder if she's still running it now…" Mrs. Izumi led the way, a nostalgic look in her eyes.
However, when she followed the old path to the hot spring inn, she found that the proprietress had been replaced by a woman in her twenties.
She recognized this girl; she was the old lady's granddaughter.
After asking around, she learned that the old lady had passed away two or three years ago, and her granddaughter had given up her studies for certain reasons, deciding to inherit the hot spring inn.
Although it didn't make much money, she could live a self-sufficient life in this rural area.
Everyone has their own choices and lifestyles. Mrs. Izumi didn't inquire further, only sighed softly, and then chose to check in.
The young proprietress returned after tidying their rooms, looking a bit awkward. "I forgot to tell you, because of the heavy rain earlier, several rooms were affected and haven't been repaired yet, so there are only two usable rooms."
Mrs. Izumi and Izumi Kotetsu exchanged glances, then turned to look at the stunned siblings, smiling. "Sagiri and Chihiro, is that okay?"
I'll
Regardless of whether it was okay, it was already evening, and it was impossible to move to another hot spring inn. Moreover, it was possible this was the only hot spring inn still operating, so the two had no choice but to agree.
Although they had lived under the same roof for over a year, this was their first time sharing a room.
What's more, they weren't truly siblings, so they both felt a hint of nervousness.
After putting their luggage in the room, they each made their beds. They exchanged glances, and Sagiri averted her gaze.
The atmosphere was inexplicably awkward.
"Let's go take a bath first. This is a rare hot spring trip," Izumi Chihiro finally broke the silence.
"Mm, Ni-san," the girl's reply was barely audible, as if she had returned to their initial awkward interactions, very shy.
Izumi Chihiro wasn't as calm as he appeared. Sleeping in the same room with a girl was also a first for him, and Sagiri was nominally his younger sister.
Although, there was no blood relation, of course.
Perhaps it was because of this relationship that such a rift had formed in their hearts.
After Sagiri left, Izumi Chihiro didn't overthink it. He took a white yukata and entered the men's bathhouse.
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