April 29th — Sounkyo, Afternoon Adventures & Evening Indulgence
After thoroughly exploring the charming, steam-wreathed lanes of the Sounkyo hot spring town, the Kasumigaoka family's stomachs began to murmur in unison. Following a local recommendation, they found a cozy, wood-beamed restaurant specializing in a Hokkaido must-eat: Jingisukan—Genghis Khan barbecue.
The dish, of course, had no actual connection to the famed Mongol emperor. Its culinary roots were indeed traced back to Mongolian-style grilled lamb, but it had been thoroughly adapted to the Japanese palate.
A special dome-shaped skillet, resembling an upturned helmet, was placed over the gas burner at their table. Thin slices of marinated mutton were laid over the central peak, while an assortment of vegetables—cabbages, bean sprouts, peppers—were piled around the sloping sides. A savory-sweet sauce was poured in, creating a sizzling, aromatic spectacle that was part grill, part stew.
The novel cooking method was a delight, and the taste was exceptional. The mutton, tender and fragrant with barely any gamey note, melded perfectly with the crisp, sauce-infused vegetables. Paired with the crisp, cool mountain air of Sounkyo, the hearty meal brought a profound sense of warmth and satisfaction.
In short, lunch was a resounding success.
With contented stomachs, the family returned to the Kitahara Inn for a brief respite. Refreshed, they then gathered their gear—hiking poles, sun hats, and cameras—and set out to truly experience the natural wonders of Sounkyo Gorge.
They embarked on a trail that led them past a series of breathtaking waterfalls. The star attractions were the "Husband and Wife Falls." First, the Ryūsei no Taki (Shooting Star Fall), a powerful, thundering cascade that plunged 90 meters down a sheer rock face. The "boom" of impact echoed through the gorge, and the spray erupted like a thousand shattered diamonds, a display of raw, masculine power that left them awe-struck.
To its left flowed its counterpart, Ginga no Taki (Galaxy Fall). From a height of 104 meters, the water descended not in a single crash, but in dozens of delicate, silvery streams, like threads of starlight or a beaded curtain drawn across the rock. It was a vision of serene, feminine grace, and it left the deepest impression on their hearts.
But Sounkyo's beauty wasn't confined to its waterfalls. They marveled at the sheer, cathedral-like cliffs that rose like giant natural screens, and at the fantastical, wind-sculpted rock formations with names like "Ohako" and "Kohako." Each turn of the path offered a new, stunning vista that seemed ripped from the pages of a fantasy novel.
...
Time flowed as steadily as the river. By the time they wound their way back along the trails, the sky was beginning to stain with the deep oranges and purples of dusk. Bathed in the serene afterglow of the setting sun, the Kasumigaoka family returned to the welcoming warmth of Kitahara Inn.
Their first stop was the front desk. Following the customs of a true ryokan, they arranged for their dinner to be served in their room—there was no communal dining hall; instead, multi-course kaiseki meals were brought directly to the guests' private quarters.
Since the family had booked two adjoining rooms, they naturally wanted to dine together. They requested all meals to be delivered to the larger room where Kasumigaoka Eiji and Airi were staying.
****
Approximately Ten Minutes Later
"...My, my! So much food! This inn is truly generous!"
Kasumigaoka Airi watched with growing delight as the kimono-clad staff gracefully arranged a procession of exquisite dishes on their low table. Her eyes widened at the sheer abundance.
The feast unfolded before them: a starter of Wasabi-ae Tako (octopus dressed in wasabi sauce), a triad of colorful pickled vegetables, a stunning Sashimi Moriawase platter gleaming with fresh Hokkaido seafood, sizzling Salmon Teppanyaki, a crisp Yasai Salad, fragrant Miso-yaki Sakana (miso-grilled fish), a tempura platter piled high with crisp, golden vegetables and prawns, a refreshing fruit platter for dessert, and of course, steaming bowls of rice and comforting miso soup. To accompany it all, two large mugs of frothy, house-brewed draft beer were set down.
The table, designed for four, was nearly overwhelmed by the culinary bounty. (Touji-kun and Utaha-san, being underage, had their beers substituted with elegant glasses of fresh-squeezed local juice.)
"Indeed," Touji-kun agreed, surveying the spread with an appreciative nod. "Compared to some places that are stingy with portions, this is remarkably conscientious."
His father, unable to contain his pride, puffed out his chest. "The quality and quantity of the meals were a major factor in my selection! A proper ryokan experience is defined by its hospitality at the table."
With a reverent "Itadakimasu" from all, they began. Eiji-san immediately reached for his beer mug, tilting his head back for several long, satisfying gulps.
Glug, glug, glug—
Thud. He set the heavy mug down with a contented sigh, wiping a fleck of foam from his lip. "Ahhh…! The house draft is exceptional. The foam is creamy and persistent, the mouthfeel is smooth with no unpleasant bitterness, the malt and hop balance is perfect… a truly refreshing brew!"
"That was another one of the deciding factors, wasn't it?" Airi-sama teased, glancing at him with a knowing smile.
"Ahaha… well, it certainly didn't hurt," Eiji-san admitted with a good-natured scratch of his head, not even attempting to deny it.
Across the table, Touji-kun and Utaha-san exchanged an amused look before turning their attention to the delicious feast before them.
****
After Dinner, in the Siblings' Room
With dinner concluded and pleasant fatigue from the day's explorations setting in, Touji-kun and Utaha-san returned to their own quiet tatami room.
Shortly after, a staff member arrived to prepare their futons, laying them out side-by-side with practiced efficiency on the fragrant straw matting.
As the staff left, Touji-kun settled against a cushion, pulling out his phone. He exchanged a few messages with Kani Nayuta, sharing some of the day's most breathtaking scenic photos. Her responses were filled with impressed emojis and a palpable, playful envy that bordered on threatening to buy a last-minute plane ticket.
'Calm down, calm down!' he typed back quickly, smiling. 'I promise we'll all come together in the summer. Save your yen!'
While he was texting, Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had been sitting quietly at the low table, suddenly spoke.
"Nii-san."
"Hmm?"
"Come play with my feet."
Touji-kun's thumbs froze over his screen. He slowly looked up. "…Play with your feet?"
His gaze travelled to where she sat. As if to emphasize the request, Kasumigaoka Utaha wiggled her toes slightly within her black stockings. The subtle movement was an undeniable, silent invitation.
Touji-kun's eye twitched. He gave her a long, sidelong look. "How about… I play with you instead?"
"How greedy," she replied, her lips curving into a tantalizing smile. She leaned back, bracing her weight on her hands planted on the tatami behind her, arching her back slightly. "Mom and Dad are right next door, you know. If Nii-san isn't afraid of getting caught, then by all means…"
"Actually, I've been thinking…" Touji-kun said, his voice dropping to a thoughtful murmur. He set his phone aside on the table and rose to his feet. He moved to kneel beside her, then reached out, his fingers gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her cheek before cupping her fair, smooth face. "…Even if we were discovered, it wouldn't be the end of the world."
He leaned closer, his breath a warm whisper against her ear. "After all, we are in a relationship now. It's perfectly normal for lovers to do such things, isn't it?"
"…Eh?"
Utaha-san's wine-red eyes blinked once, twice. For a full two seconds, she was utterly still, processing his words. Then, a thrilling, electric current of excitement—part danger, part illicit delight—coursed through her, making her heart pound against her ribs.
Normal? Yes, it was normal.Awkward beyond belief if caught? Also yes.But…
She looked up at him, her gaze lingering on his confident, teasing expression. The temptation was fierce, a sweet fire in her veins.
Yet, now was not the time. It was still too early in the evening. And crucially… they hadn't even enjoyed the main event of the trip—the hot springs.
Sensing the shift in her resolve, Touji-kun didn't press further. Instead, he simply sat down beside her. Gently, he took one of her feet, still clad in the sheer black stocking, into his lap.
"Let's start with a proper massage then. You must be tired from all that walking."
He found the sensitive hollow near the center of her sole with his thumb and began applying firm, circular pressure.
"Ah—! L-Lighter… please, lighter…"
A violent shiver ran through Utaha-san's entire body. She instinctively tried to pull her foot back. Her toes, plump and adorable even through the stocking, curled in on themselves defensively. Her voice came out as a breathy tremble.
"This amount of pressure is perfect for this spot. I'll be gentler when I move to the area just below the inside of your ankle," he explained, his tone infuriatingly clinical even as his hands performed such an intimate act. He continued massaging the delicate arch of her foot with skilled, unwavering pressure.
Utaha-san's hands clenched and unclenched against the tatami, grasping at empty air. She bit down on her lower lip, her eyes growing moist as she stared at him—a mixture of protest and surrender. Her leg twitched occasionally at the intense sensation, but gradually, the initial shock melted into a deep, spreading warmth. A soft, almost drunken smile began to relax her features.
Touji-kun devoted five steady minutes to the center of her sole before shifting. His thumb pad moved to the soft depression beneath the inner ankle bone, rubbing there with a much gentler, soothing touch for a minute. Then he slid slightly higher, to the groove between the inner ankle and the Achilles tendon, and resumed a firmer, five-minute massage, just as he had on the sole.
Only after thoroughly attending to one foot did he finally switch, taking her other foot into his lap to repeat the entire, meticulous process anew…