"Let's go, Akira. Junko-nee looks busy again. Let's not get in her way."

Shouko glanced toward Mitsuto Junko, who was engaged in friendly conversation at the front desk, then gently tugged on Akira's hand, eager to head outside.

"Alright." Akira nodded and called out, "Junko-nee! Shouko and I are heading out!"

Junko paused mid-sentence, glanced back, and waved at them with a smile. "Okay—but stay close and don't wander near the back mountain!"

After promising her several times, the two stepped out of the hot spring inn, their hands still clasped.

"Where should we even go?" Shouko asked, looking around. Dense forest loomed on the left, while a small concrete road stretched ahead to the right—the same road they'd taken earlier in the taxi.

Akira checked his watch for signal and battery. Satisfied, he pointed down the road.

"There's a town a couple kilometers from here, right? Want to go check it out?"

Shouko immediately shook her head. Two kilometers each way? That sounded exhausting. If she used up all her energy walking there and back, she wouldn't enjoy the town at all.

In the end, having no real destination, they wandered around the entire inn grounds—every corner except for the four bathing areas.

Akira learned that his grandfather's inn even offered mixed-gender hot springs. Not that it mattered. He was sure Shouko would never agree to that. Not even if her life depended on it.

And honestly, neither would he.

Eventually, they settled on a corner sofa in the lobby, people-watching as travelers came and went.

Shouko, still drowsy from the long car ride earlier, had been fighting off sleep just to be with Akira. Now, with her head resting on his shoulder and the soft murmur of voices around them, she finally drifted off.

"Shouko?" Akira called quietly. No answer. That's when he realized—she had completely fallen asleep.

Careful not to disturb her, Akira raised a hand and motioned to Junko at the front desk.

She noticed, but instead of coming over herself, she sent Mitsuto Iori.

"What do you want?" Iori grumbled through clenched teeth as he walked over.

Akira ignored the attitude. "Could you grab me a small blanket? Shouko's asleep. I don't want her catching a cold."

Iori looked like he was about to refuse, but when his eyes fell on Shouko's peaceful face, he sighed and left quietly.

A few minutes later, he returned with a small pink blanket.

"It's my sister's," he explained preemptively, noticing Akira's suspicious glance. "She uses it for her afternoon naps. Don't get the wrong idea."

He sounded like he'd rather be mistaken for a weirdo than someone too soft.

"Thanks," Akira said genuinely.

Rather than wake her, Akira shifted Shouko carefully until her head rested on his lap. He draped the blanket over her legs and stomach. The lobby wasn't cold, but it was better to be cautious.

He glanced at her peaceful expression, then leaned back and picked up a book to read—something Iori had gotten for him earlier when boredom crept in.

At the front desk, Junko finally finished tending to the last guest. She stretched with a yawn, her shirt riding up slightly before she tugged it back down.

Noticing Iori staring off toward the lounge, she asked, "What are you looking at?"

She followed his gaze and paused.

Bathed in the warm glow of the lobby floor lamp, Akira sat silently with Shouko curled up against him, her small form rising and falling with each breath.

Her head nestled gently into his lap, while he held a book half open in one hand, the soft light from the pages casting dappled patterns across her back.

Without hesitation, Junko reached for her phone.

Click.

She blinked. That wasn't her shutter sound.

"Auntie—?"

"Shhh."

Miyamura Shizuka, Akira's mother, raised a finger to her lips from a nearby hallway.

Before Junko could react, Shizuka quickly angled her phone again, taking several quiet photos from different directions.

Not to be outdone, Junko joined her, quietly snapping pictures of her own.

Eventually, Akira noticed and shot them a deeply unamused glare.

He had thought about getting up to stop them—but he had miscalculated. After letting Shouko rest on his lap for over an hour, both legs had gone completely numb.

After trading their photos and giggling about their shots, Shizuka told Junko, "I'm heading to the kitchen to help your mom with dinner. If you need me, you know where to find me."

Junko nodded, and Shizuka disappeared into the back.

"Keep an eye on the front desk for a bit," Junko added, giving Iori a gentle pat on the head. "I'm running to the bathroom."

Without waiting for a reply, she made her way upstairs.

"Shouko, wake up. Dinner's almost ready," Akira whispered, gently nudging her.

No response.

He tried again. "Shouko?"

Still nothing.

After hesitating, Akira leaned in and playfully pinched her nose while covering her mouth.

Thirty seconds in—Shouko burst into giggles and slapped his hand away.

"Hey! That's cheating!" she huffed.

"You were awake this whole time, weren't you?" Akira narrowed his eyes.

Shouko pouted and shook her head. "No way! Just because you let me use your lap all afternoon doesn't mean you can accuse me without proof."

As she noticed him massaging his numb legs, she softened and reached over to help, gently rubbing his thighs.

Akira raised a brow at her suspiciously, but seeing her earnestly try to ease his discomfort, he decided to let it slide.

After all, she did feel a little guilty—and that was enough.

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1st Bonus Chapter - 150 POWER STONES

2nd Bonus chapter - 300 POWER STONES

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