On Mount Tate, nestled in the heart of Central Honshu, stood a luxurious resort situated near its base.
This wasn't just any resort — it was one that Chika's grandfather had purchased especially for her. Why? Because, in her words, "It looked fun to live in!"
As the sound of helicopter blades whirred overhead, Chika sweatdropped while stepping out of a sleek, black helicopter. Beside her stood Kenichi, calm and composed.
She turned to him with a slight pout. "Ken-chan... why didn't we just take the train? Or at least a bus?"
Kenichi scratched the back of his head, cheeks dusted pink. "Well... I just wanted to spend every second of this date with you. If we came by helicopter, we'd have more time together."
He gave a sheepish smile before turning to his pilot. "Come pick us up at 6 p.m., alright?"
"Yes, sir!" the pilot responded with a bow before taking off.
Chika stood there, cheeks warming as she muttered to herself, 'No, no, no! You can't just drop cheesy lines like that and expect me to blush! I'm the Love Detective Chika! I don't fall that easily!'
She pumped her fist by her side, silently hyping herself up.
Kenichi looked at her with curiosity. "You okay?"
"Of course!" Chika grinned brightly and grabbed his hand, pulling him forward. "Come on! I'll show you around!"
She animatedly led him through the path toward the main resort building, practically bouncing with every step. "This place has everything! Hot springs, private cabins, snow fox sightings, karaoke, and even a mini onsen waterfall! I made sure everything would be perfect!"
Kenichi smiled as he followed along. "You really went all out, huh?"
"Of course I did," she said proudly, puffing her chest out. "It's my test date, after all!"
When they reached the reception area, a sharply dressed butler stepped forward with a polite bow. "Welcome, Sir Kenichi, Miss Chika. Your rooms are ready."
He gestured toward the hallway. "This is the room you will be staying in, sir. And the room beside it is yours, Miss Chika."
Chika sweatdropped again.
Why did that sound scripted…?
Her eye twitched as a sudden memory from yesterday replayed in her mind:
Flashback
On her phone screen, her father appeared, yelling into a Bluetooth earpiece with veins popping out of his forehead.
"I don't care if he's the son of the richest man alive! I will not lose my baby girl to anyone!"
In the background, he could be seen holding a Glock in one hand, an AK-47 in the other, pacing dramatically.
"Make sure they don't get close! If that boy so much as breathes near her bed, I want him buried under the resort!"
His maniacal laughter echoed through the call before a feminine voice shouted, "ENOUGH!" followed by a loud thwack.
Moments later, Chika's mom appeared on screen, forcibly tying him to the sofa with several belts.
Flashback End
Chika sighed internally, slapping her forehead in exasperation. 'Dad's seriously insane and overprotective...'
If it weren't for her mom's intervention, she was certain there'd be FBI agents disguised as spa staff crawling around the entire resort while her Dad was hiding in a secret room with guns in his hand, with many snipers pointed at Kenichi.
Kenichi and Chika placed their luggage in their rooms, the atmosphere finally starting to relax.
Kenichi looked out at the snow-capped peaks from his window and took a deep breath.
'This is it… I can't mess this up. I have to make every moment count. I'll make her smile so much she'll forget to ever say no.'
Their first stop was the game room, a massive arcade hall filled with glowing lights, retro sounds, and an entire wall of prize machines.
Kenichi and Chika made a beeline for the whack-a-mole machine. As the game began, the two fiercely competed, slamming down their mallets at the blinking targets.
"Take that! And that!" Chika grinned wildly, her eyes sparkling with competitive fire.
Kenichi was focused, lips pressed in determination—until he felt something brush against his side.
"H-Hey!" he yelped, jumping slightly as Chika's free hand snuck to his ribs and tickled him mid-swing.
"Oops~ Did I do that?" she said with a devilish grin.
Without missing a beat, Kenichi karate chopped her forehead with a dull bonk.
"Cheating again, Chika?" he deadpanned.
"Owwww! That hurt!" she wailed with comical tears in her eyes, pinching Kenichi's cheeks in retaliation. "You big meanie!"
Kenichi tugged her hands away, sighing. "You always cheat when you're about to lose."
"W-What do you mean always!? I was just helping you have more fun!"
"By sabotaging me?"
"Exactly!"
They both laughed before moving on to the billiards table for a game of pool.
Chika stepped up, chalking her cue with mock elegance. "Watch and learn, peasant."
Kenichi chuckled, leaning back with his arms folded.
With a crack, Chika hit the cue ball... but it suspiciously nudged the black 8-ball, and moments later, she secretly nudged the two red balls into the pocket with her stick when she thought Kenichi wasn't looking.
With ninja-like reflexes, Kenichi reached out and caught one of the falling red balls mid-air.
He raised an eyebrow. "Chika…"
She looked away, whistling. "What? Gravity's a mystery, Ken-chan."
He narrowed his eyes. "You're incorrigible."
"I prefer creative," she smirked.
After playing several rounds—and somehow managing to laugh through every "accidental" cheat—they finally made their way to the dining hall, where a luxurious five-star meal awaited them.
The table was overflowing with masterfully crafted dishes: sashimi, wagyu steak, delicate desserts, and exotic fruit arrangements.
And yet…
"Hey! That pudding's mine!" Chika growled, stabbing her fork toward Kenichi's plate.
"You already had two!" Kenichi countered, shielding his plate with his arm.
They glared.
Then it started.
A grape flew through the air like a cannonball.
Chika gasped, then launched a retaliatory scoop of rice straight into Kenichi's face.
Within seconds, the grand dinner devolved into an all-out food war.
"Die, traitor!" Chika shouted, flinging a dumpling.
"Not until justice is served!" Kenichi hurled a tempura shrimp.
As laughter filled the air, the chefs fell to their knees, tears streaming down their faces.
"We... we worked for days…" one cried, collapsing.
"All those imported truffles… wasted…" another wept, clutching the edge of a chair for support.
Chika and Kenichi? They ignored them completely.
After the mess was cleaned up (by the traumatized staff), the two headed to the hot springs, separately of course.
Steam rose gently from the water as they each soaked in peaceful silence. An hour passed.
They met again at the lounge near the entrance, both refreshed and in casual clothes.
"Look at this," Chika said, holding up a pamphlet she picked from the resort's shelf. "See this temple here on Mount Tate?"
Kenichi leaned closer, peering at the image of a centuries-old shrine nestled among the snowy peaks.
"We should go there today," she said with a smile. "It's supposed to be super mystical or something."
"Sounds fun," Kenichi replied, nodding.
So, they got up and walked toward the gondola lift at the back of the resort. The cable car waited patiently as they boarded, slowly beginning its climb up the mountain under the cold evening sky.
As the lift rose steadily, carrying them toward the mysterious temple, neither of them realized that their fate was about to change forever.