Technically, it wasn't impossible to get back to Itomori that night. As long as they had enough money, they could flag down a taxi and ride all the way to the Miyamizu household's front door.
But the price of a taxi... especially at night was far steeper than during the day.
It wasn't something the average person could casually afford. With late-night surcharges added on top, the cost of sending the four of them back would run into tens of thousands of yen. In that case, it was far more reasonable to stay in Nagoya for the night. Especially when Mitsuha's face was practically glowing with excitement at the idea.
"Since we already missed the last train, it's not like staying one night will hurt, right? There's nothing pressing waiting for us in Itomori anyway, and traveling at night isn't safe. So why not stay in Nagoya and head back tomorrow instead?" she suggested brightly.
Beside her, a thoroughly exhausted Yotsuha had no strength left to argue. All she wanted was to find a place to rest. Compared to the others, her child's body couldn't keep up. She clutched Haruto's hand limply, occasionally glancing up to make sure she hadn't grabbed the wrong person, before lowering her head again.
Tired as she was, she didn't complain. She just followed quietly alongside her brother and sister.
"Then let's find a place to stay. I'm getting tired myself," Haruto said.
He pulled out his phone, searched for nearby inns and hotels, compared a few prices and services, then led his sisters and Sayaka to a hotel. At the front desk, he used his ID to book rooms.
"Two rooms?" Mitsuha blinked at him, startled.
"What else?" Haruto asked flatly.
"Two rooms will require two IDs, sir. May I ask if anyone else can check in?" the receptionist added politely.
"..."
Mitsuha glanced at Haruto. Haruto looked back at her in silence. Neither of them expected Yotsuha's grade-school ID to be of any use.
"Don't look at me," Mitsuha said quickly. "I didn't bring mine."
"You bought your train ticket without using a student ID?" Haruto frowned.
Student discounts usually required showing one, after all.
"Too much hassle, so I left it."
"What about you, Sayaka?"
"I... I don't have mine either," she admitted, fidgeting.
"..."
Haruto rubbed his temples. These two never thought about saving money, did they? With a sigh, he resigned himself to booking only one room.
"A twin room, then?" he asked.
"We have a deluxe double. Very spacious," the receptionist replied cheerfully.
"..."
Haruto pinched the bridge of his nose. That smile felt strangely irritating. But there was no helping it. He nodded.
Sure, there were cheaper inns that didn't require registration, but those came with their own dangers. Such places were often used by people trying to hide their identities. Staying there was asking for trouble. For safety's sake, those weren't an option.
"Here's your room key. Room 6016," the receptionist said, handing it over. A bellboy led the four of them upstairs.
Mitsuha was practically bouncing with excitement. Yotsuha looked around wide-eyed, clearly impressed by the new surroundings. Sayaka stayed close to Mitsuha, shy and uneasy. Haruto followed at the rear, already dreading how this would turn out.
At the room door, the bellboy demonstrated the card key before handing it to Haruto.
"Thank you."
"If you need anything, just ring this bell."
"Understood."
"Then I wish you a pleasant evening."
With that, the staff member left, and the four of them stepped inside. Mitsuha immediately began exploring. Yotsuha, though tired, couldn't help peeking around curiously. Sayaka lingered nervously at her side. Haruto sat heavily on the sofa.
"You three take the bed. It should be fine for all of you. I'll sleep on the sofa. If anything comes up, just call me," he said, closing his eyes.
"Eh? The sofa?" Mitsuha exclaimed. She hurried over and poked his cheek.
"What now?" he muttered.
"The bed's huge! Four of us could easily fit. You don't have to sleep on the sofa."
"You might be fine with that. But what about Sayaka?"
"Uh..." Mitsuha faltered.
"I-I don't mind!" Sayaka blurted. "Really, it's okay! And I can help cover the cost too!"
"I'll take the sofa," Haruto said firmly. "If your mother found out, she'd be furious. You three can share the bed. I'll be fine here."
He waved them off, already lying back down. Mitsuha bit her lip, staring at him. Her chest tightened with a tangle of emotions.
"Then I'll sleep on the sofa too!" she declared, plopping down beside him and pressing into his side.
Haruto opened one eye, baffled. "What are you doing?"
"If you won't sleep in the bed, then neither will I!" she huffed.
"..."
"Then... then I won't either," Sayaka stammered, cheeks pink. She edged closer, sitting at the other side.
Even Yotsuha, barely keeping her eyes open, dragged herself over and flopped into Mitsuha's lap, wordlessly siding with them.
"..."
Haruto gave up. With no choice left, he herded them all onto the bed.
It was truly massive... large enough for three adults, so four teens weren't an issue. Haruto counted as a half-adult at best, and the other three together barely equaled two.
After a quick wash-up, they arranged themselves in a crosswise pattern: Haruto and Yotsuha at one end, Mitsuha and Sayaka at the other. It wasn't crowded at all.
The only problem was the blanket...it barely covered four bodies. The two on the edges felt the draft.
"I'll ask for another blanket," Haruto said, standing again. A staff member delivered one shortly after, free of charge.
With that settled, he and Mitsuha ended up under the same cover. Just before lying down, Mitsuha turned and glared.
"No kicking!"
"I think you're the only one I'd worry about doing that. And don't even think about tickling me. If you 'attack' me again, you know what'll happen. You wouldn't want a repeat of what happened when we were kids, would you?"
"..."
Mitsuha's face darkened at the memory of being kicked out of the futon by Haruto when they were younger.
"Yeah... that really did happen, didn't it? Heh, heh, heh..."
"Don't start anything unnecessary. Turn off the lights."
"Hmph!"
She let out a disgruntled snort, sat up, and switched off the lamp. Then she burrowed under the covers, pulling them tight around her like armor, terrified that Haruto's foot might drift her way.
Sharing a pillow with Mitsuha, Sayaka glanced at her friend's reaction in the darkness, then at Yotsuha, who was already lying quietly without a sound. A faint envy stirred in her chest. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes.
I should rest too. Tomorrow we need to get up early.
The room settled into silence. Haruto, worn out after the long day, closed his eyes as well. Yet for some reason, sleep didn't come easily.
The pillow... it feels strange. Don't tell me I've grown too used to my own bed?
He rolled restlessly. Across the bed, Mitsuha was doing the same. She gnawed at her lip and silently counted sheep in her mind. She reached a hundred before realizing she was still wide awake.
Taking a deep breath, she turned her head. Sayaka's breathing was slow and steady; she was asleep. The whole room was quiet. Inch by inch, Mitsuha wriggled deeper under the blanket and began creeping toward Haruto's side.
The faint rustling was impossible to miss in the silence. Haruto, not asleep himself, immediately noticed the movement. He reached out under the blanket and brushed against long, silky hair that inched closer, closer... until at last, she was beside him.
He didn't need to open his eyes to know who it was. Still, he did.
In the darkness, with the curtains drawn against the moonlight, he could only make out her faint outline.
He shifted closer, until their faces were nearly touching, her warm breath brushing against his skin. In the faintest of whispers, he asked:
"Why did you come over here?"
His voice was so low it was like the hum of a mosquito, but Mitsuha heard it. She blinked, then pressed her palm against his chest and began tracing shapes with her finger.
'Can't sleep.'
That was the message.
At first Haruto thought she was messing around, but then he realized she was trying to write. He only managed to make out the last two characters, but the meaning was clear enough.
"Get some rest. We have to wake up early tomorrow," he whispered.
Mitsuha moved to write more, but Haruto's chest still stung from her earlier scribbling. Before she could, he caught her wrist firmly to stop her.
She tried to shake him off, but his grip held. Not wanting to wake Yotsuha and Sayaka, she leaned closer... just as Haruto tilted forward to hear what she was about to say.
Their faces collided.
Her lips pressed against his cheek.
"..."
Mitsuha jerked her head back instantly, her face twisted in disgust, as though she'd just gulped down bitter melon juice. Haruto froze, then let go of her wrist and rubbed the spot she'd kissed, his own expression equally sour.
Both of them wanted nothing more than to leap out of bed, run to the bathroom, and scrub themselves raw. But with two girls sound asleep beside them, neither dared move.
So they lay there in silent misery, forcing themselves to endure it.
Mitsuha glared daggers at his shadowy silhouette. Haruto rubbed his cheek one more time, then wiped it against the bedsheet.
"..."
Though she couldn't see him, Mitsuha could feel the slight movements, and her anger flared.
Haruto… actually looked at me with such disdain?
She was, after all, a girl in the prime of her youth. How could she possibly tolerate such humiliation!
Sliding closer, she opened her mouth and lightly bit down on his nose.
"hiss!"
Haruto, completely unprepared for such a bold move, froze in shock. He held his breath and immediately reached out with his left hand, placing it under Mitsuha's chin. Gently, he pinched her cheek, trying to coax her into releasing him.
"Open your mouth!"
His voice was soft, yet there was an unmistakable edge of frustration.
"Hmph, hmph—"
Mitsuha, still lightly biting his nose, let out a victorious hum, clearly refusing to let go. Haruto's temper flared.
His free right hand began to act—launching a counterattack of his own.
— — — —
~~~~~~~~~~
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