"I don't care if you guys are still going or not—but Hikari isn't."
Sora's cold voice filled the limo like an ice storm.
Kaito leaned forward instantly, refusing to accept it.
"But why? We can't just go without her—"
Before he could finish, Sora shot him a side glance. A single, sharp glare. It was enough to make Kaito freeze and slowly sink back into his seat like a scolded child.
"Something important came up," Sora said, his tone calm but firm as steel. "I have to leave, and I won't be there to protect Hikari if she goes. So she's staying. That's final. The least I can do is drop you guys off. Now…" He paused, his hands tightening on the wheel.
"…Make up your minds. Are you still going or not?"
The car fell silent.
Hikari lowered her head, sadness clouding her voice.
"It's okay, guys… you can go without me, I'll—"
"Like hell we will!"
Her words were cut off by Sato's sudden outburst. Everyone's eyes shot to him.
He was leaning forward, glaring at Sora with a frown that could almost be called brave… if not for the sweat dripping down his forehead.
"With all due respect… and please don't kill me for this—but this crap didn't just ruin my morning for you to say Hikari can't come."
The limo was dead silent.
"I wasn't even part of this hot spring plan!" Sato continued, his voice shaking but passionate. "Hell, I silenced my phone last night 'cause that's ALL they were talking about! Hikari worked her butt off for this."
Sora opened his mouth.
"You're—"
"I get that you have an important meeting!" Sato interrupted, his tone rising as he pointed at Sora. "I'm not stopping you. I know how mafias roll… but Sora, I know you're not like that."
The words hung in the air like a challenge.
"You have a heart. And a brain. Enough to understand what's right. So I'm asking you… trust Hikari in our hands."
For a moment, Sora just stared at him in shock—then, slowly, his lips curled into a small, amused smile.
The guy was sweating buckets, trembling like a leaf… but his eyes held something rare. Courage.
"Yeah," Sakura added, smirking from the front seat. "And besides, I'll be with them. You can count on me to protect her."
Hikari blinked, her cheeks turning pink as she stared at Sato in awe.
The four of them sat silently, waiting for Sora's verdict.
Finally, he sighed and scratched the back of his head.
"A heart, huh? You guys just spit out the biggest load of crap I've ever heard…"
Then, his voice softened.
"…But fine. I'll trust you with her. For now."
Before anyone could process, Hikari lunged forward and hugged Sora tightly, tears spilling down her cheeks.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"Y-Yeah… well, don't thank me." His voice was gruff, his face turning slightly red as he fought the urge to smile. "If you wanna thank someone, thank Sato."
Hikari turned toward Sato, ready to shower him with gratitude—only to see him pale as a ghost, shaking violently.
"I-Is it over? Am I dead?" he whispered.
"We're losing him," Kaito said dramatically as he pretended to hold Sato's soul back from leaving his body.
"Sato! Nooo!" Hikari cried.
Meanwhile, Sora just smirked faintly and started the engine.
As the car sped off, Sora's voice reached Sakura quietly from the front seat.
"Sakura… that Sato guy. What do you think of him? Do you think he can…?"
Sakura's smile widened knowingly.
"He ain't got the balls… but he does have the guts."
"…I see." Sora muttered as the limo picked up speed.
[A Few Minutes Later – The Hot Spring Entrance]
The limousine rolled to a stop in front of the onsen. Sato stepped out first, jaw dropping as his eyes scanned the place.
"So this is a hot spring, huh… Why does it have that haunted house vibe?"
Sakura turned in her seat with a wicked grin.
"That's because this hot spring is haunted."
Hikari froze, her entire body trembling.
"W-Wait… she's joking, right? Please tell me she's joking…"
"Don't mind her," Sato said, glaring at Sakura. "She's obviously trying to freak you out."
"Actually… she's not," Kaito chimed in casually, pulling out his phone.
"This place still keeps its old appearance because of a legend. A hundred years ago, it was the best hot spring around. Owned by an old couple. But…" He smirked.
"…They were greedy. Wouldn't share it with anyone. So one night, someone drowned them while they soaked in the spring. Since then, people say their spirits haunt the place… drowning anyone still in the water after dark."
Kaito's grin widened as all three of them went pale.
"WHY would you take us somewhere haunted?!" Hikari cried, clutching her bag. "I wanna go back!"
"D-Don't worry," Sato stammered, shaking in his boots. "Sakura will protect us… right?"
He turned to see Sakura hugging herself, trembling worse than anyone.
"A-Ahhh! I was just joking earlier! But they're real! We should leave now! I HATE ghosts!"
Kaito burst out laughing.
"Relax, it's fake. Just a story the owners made up to attract visitors."
"That's what they WANT you to think!" Sakura shot back, glaring at him.
TAP. TAP.
A knock on the window made them all scream and cling to each other like characters in a horror anime—only to see a smiling staff member standing outside.
"Uh… sorry to disturb you, but could you park your car in the proper spot? And feel free to tip for extended stays," the worker said cheerfully.
Sora sighed from the driver's seat, utterly disappointed in the group. Are these really the people I'm trusting Hikari with?
"I'm not staying long," Sora said coolly. "Just dropping them off."
"Oh, I see! Then park right there for easy exit," the staff replied with a smile.
Sora parked, the four climbed out, and he gave them one last sharp glare.
"If so much as a scratch appears on Hikari… you're dead."
The car zoomed off, leaving an awkward silence behind.
"Okay, ladies," Kaito clapped his hands. "Your bathhouse is that way. Sato and I will take the other route. Let's meet at the dining hall by noon, alright?"
"Got it!" Sakura said, dragging Hikari along as she waved at Sato.
"Bathhouse?" Sato repeated, blinking in confusion.
[Boys' Bathhouse]
Minutes later, Sato stepped into a steamy room filled with men in nothing but towels. His face turned crimson instantly.
"K-Kaito! Why are the guys stripping?! W-What's happening?!"
Kaito, already wrapped in a towel, looked at him like it was obvious.
"Huh? Oh. Before you soak in the hot spring, you relax in the bathhouse first. Take off your clothes and join us. Trust me—it's the best."
Sato hesitated… then swallowed hard and removed his clothes. Sliding into the warm bath, his muscles instantly loosened. A relaxed sigh escaped his lips.
"Who knew taking a bath could feel this nice…"
For the first time that day, Sato smiled in peace.
Next: The Girls' Bathhouse…