April 29th — Sounkyo Onsen Street, The Inn
The hot spring ryokan that Kasumigaoka Eiji had booked was the epitome of traditional charm. From the weathered wooden exterior to the interior decor, it was a testament to classic Japanese simplicity—or, depending on one's perspective, a study in rustic minimalism.
The room assigned to Touji-kun and Utaha-san was spacious, airy, and almost starkly furnished. No Western-style beds were in sight; not even the folded futons had been laid out yet. The heart of the room was the smooth, fragrant tatami matting, upon which sat a single low table surrounded by plush zabuton cushions.
A lone tokonoma alcove held a simple but elegant ikebana flower arrangement. Beyond that, there was… nothing. It was a space that demanded one to slow down and breathe.
"Haa… it does feel a bit colder in here, doesn't it?"
As Touji-kun stowed his suitcase in the wooden closet, he heard his sister's observation. Her voice held a slight, melodious shiver.
"Well, we are in the mountains now," he replied casually, pulling out his phone. A quick check of the weather app confirmed it: 5°C outside currently, with the nighttime low predicted to dip to a crisp -2°C. No wonder the air in the room held a distinct, clean chill.
Kasumigaoka Utaha, with her hands clasped delicately behind her back, paced softly across the tatami. The fine black stockings covering her slender legs whispered against the woven straw with each step. She came to a stop before the large window, her gaze drinking in the view.
Outside, a wide, crystal-clear river rushed by with energetic grace. On the opposite bank, a smattering of traditional buildings nestled against vast, rolling hillsides covered in dense, verdant maple forests. The scenery was a postcard of serene, untouched beauty.
"It must be absolutely wonderful to come here in the height of summer," she murmured, her voice full of genuine appreciation.
"Do you really need to state the obvious?" Touji-kun teased, walking up behind her.
Without ceremony, he opened his arms and wrapped them around her, pulling her gently against him so they could share the vista. The river, he recalled from his mental map, was likely the Ishikari—Hokkaido's greatest and most celebrated "mother river." This appeared to be its very upper reaches.
He could see the smooth, water-worn stones lining the riverbed through the astonishingly clear water. A vivid image sprang to mind: swapping the cool spring air for summer heat, changing into swimwear, and wading into that refreshing current. It promised an experience rivalling, perhaps even surpassing, a trip to the ocean.
"Let's see how things are during summer break," he mused aloud, his chin lightly resting on her shoulder. "We could come back to Hokkaido, or maybe try somewhere completely new…"
"We'll decide when the time comes," Utaha-san replied, her tone noncommittal but not dismissive.
It was then she felt a certain pair of hands, which had begun resting innocently at her waist, start to wander with deliberate curiosity.
Thump.
She drove a light elbow back into his ribs. "Nii-san. Hands to yourself, please."
"Hands to myself?" Touji-kun echoed, his voice the picture of wounded innocence. He didn't retreat an inch. "What do you mean, 'behave'? I was merely conducting a preliminary survey! I need to gather firsthand data before I can present my comprehensive findings and honest impressions to you, my esteemed Onee-san."
As he spoke, he leaned in slightly, inhaling the familiar, subtle fragrance that was uniquely hers—a blend of shampoo, faint perfume, and just Utaha.
"…A little brother who resorts to such cheap tactics won't be popular with anyone, you know," Utaha-san said, a faint, involuntary twitch at the corner of her lips. An expression that was equal parts exasperation, amusement, and something warmer flickered across her face. Her wine-red eyes, glancing back at him over her shoulder, held a distinct, challenging allure.
In one fluid, practiced motion, she rose onto her tiptoes and shifted her weight back half a step.
Tap.
With unerring accuracy, the heel of her shoe came down squarely on Touji-kun's instep.
Years of sibling rivalry—or perhaps, years of finely honed communication—had refined this move into an art form. For Kasumigaoka Utaha, stepping on her brother's foot from any angle, in any posture, had transcended conscious action. It was a reflex, a skill etched into her very soul.
"Oof—! Cheap, you say?" Touji-kun grunted, but his grip didn't loosen. In retaliation, he nudged her gently with his knee. "I have absolutely no idea what my dear Onee-san is implying."
His logic was flawless: if he never admitted to anything, then her accusations held no power!
"..."
After collecting this small, familiar toll of sibling friction, the two made their way to the adjacent room where their parents were staying.
Pushing the sliding door open, they found the Kasumigaoka couple also standing by the window, admiring the same majestic river view.
Hearing the sound, they turned. Kasumigaoka Airi smiled warmly. "All settled in, you two?"
"All unpacked," Touji-kun confirmed with a nod.
"Good. Then let's go out and explore," Kasumigaoka Eiji suggested, his tone gentle but eager.
It was still early, not even 10:30 AM. The perfect time to wander the hot spring town, soak in the atmosphere, and perhaps scout options for lunch. Their ryokan provided breakfast and dinner, but today's midday meal was left to their own devices. They could, of course, pay extra to have lunch at the inn, but where was the adventure in that? Part of the joy of travel was sampling the local flavors.
The family of four soon found themselves strolling along the quiet, bluestone-paved paths of the onsen street. The ambiance was one of timeless charm. At intervals, they passed small, roofed rest pavilions. Beneath these, steam curled invitingly from sunken ashiyu—public foot baths—their air carrying the distinctive, mineral-rich scent of sulfur.
A few relaxed tourists sat on the benches, pants rolled up, feet submerged in the steaming water, faces smoothed by pure contentment. The Kasumigaokas hadn't brought small towels for drying feet, nor were they wearing easily removable slippers.
Furthermore, both Airi-sama and Utaha-san were wearing tights, making a spontaneous foot soak impractical. With a shared glance of slight regret, the group moved on.
As they walked deeper, the scenery underwent a dramatic shift. Several imposing, modern structures rose before them, nestled dramatically against the lush green mountainside. Their design subtly borrowed from the grand lodges of North American mountain resorts.
"This area was developed to mimic a Canadian Rockies resort," Kasumigaoka Eiji explained, having done his research. "It draws over a million visitors every year."
"Fascinating! It certainly has a very different, modern grandeur to it," Airi-sama remarked, tilting her head to admire the way the sunlight glinted off the large glass windows.
"Nii-san," Touji-kun asked offhandedly, "why didn't you book us in here? Was it fully booked?"
He couldn't help but think of their charming yet extremely traditional ryokan. The lack of an en-suite bathroom meant trips down the hall to a shared toilet and washing area—a minor inconvenience he felt keenly. When it came to accommodations, his preference leaned heavily toward modern hotels with comprehensive amenities.
"It wasn't fully booked, actually…" Eiji-san began, then shook his head. "But these large hotel complexes get very crowded. The communal baths turn into a battlefield. Jostling for space with a horde of other guests isn't my idea of a relaxing hot spring experience."
He puffed out his chest slightly, a hint of proud discernment in his expression. "When it comes to the quality of the soak, the 'Kitahara Hot Spring' annex at our ryokan is one of the finest on this entire street. They have two simple springs and one sulfur spring, all of a generous size, and—most importantly—they are for guests only, not open to the public."
He looked at his son meaningfully. "The main reason we're here is for the hot springs. Compared to securing a truly premium bathing experience, slightly more Spartan living quarters are a trivial compromise."
"Alright, alright, when you put it that way, the small inn does have the advantage," Touji-kun conceded with a shrug.
Still, his personal ideal remained clear: a ryokan that offered a kashikiri-buro—a private, reservable bath. Such places invariably also provided the modern comforts of private toilets and showers. A private bath was the ultimate luxury!
And perhaps, a mischievous thought whispered in the back of his mind, if one had a private bath… certain mixed-bathing scenarios with a certain Onee-san might not be entirely out of the question…