After a long day at Nishime Beach…
The group returns to their minshuku. One by one, they slip into their rooms, still carrying echoes of sunlight, salt, and laughter.
In his room, Starlin sits alone under the soft yellow glow of a paper lantern. Before him, a map of their route lies spread out, steam curling from a nearby cup of tea. He sips quietly, lost in thought.
Then, instinctively, he picks up his phone. The screen lights up with a photo of his daughter—rosy cheeks and a radiant smile. She and his wife are in New York, attending an Aerosmith concert.
The band has long been a shared passion between father and daughter. Starlin has always hoped to see them live—but the right moment never comes.
"Daddy, do you think HIMrs6 will ever be like this?" her voice chimes.
He smiles faintly. "That's still a long way off. We're probably on the path to obscurity by now."
"Well, keep trying, okay? Oh! And those photos you sent were adorable!" she giggles. Starlin rubs his forehead, trying not to smile too wide. "Teach me the drums when you're back, okay?"
Her voice fades into the roar of a concert crowd. He sets the phone down, heart unexpectedly light.
….
Meanwhile, in another room, Hiroki turns on the dim light beside the door and gently carries the sleeping Hikari in his arms. Her breathing is soft, warm against his chest.
Yuna follows in, exhausted. She leans against him, and he pauses, watching her weary face. Then he lays her down next to their daughter, placing Hikari safely into her embrace.
Just as he's about to rise, Yuna tugs at his shirt.
"Where are you going?"
"Just getting an extra futon," he whispers.
"Stay here."
Outside, summer cicadas hum their nightly chorus. The cool air rustles through the trees.
Hiroki lies down beside her, resting on his arm.
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm okay. Everyone's really friendly. Starlin's not as intimidating as I thought. And Jun... it's been so long since I saw her. Who's the girl she brought?"
"Someone she's known for years," Hiroki replies, remembering their quiet, intertwined moments.
"They're like sisters," Yuna murmurs. "Oh, and Hikari's totally smitten with Jun. Said she's pretty and gave her a Choco Monaka."
Hiroki smiles quietly. He is relieved that Yuna and Hikari are fitting in better than expected.
Choco Monaka, huh? He hasn't seen Jun snack on them in a while. Maybe her tastes have changed.
"Hikari also introduced me to her new best friends... what were their names... Ra—"
"Raven and Mallow."
"Right! They're hilarious. Remind me of Ririka."
Sweet memories trickle through Hiroki like a mountain spring. He gently tucks a strand of hair behind Yuna's ear, her skin faintly scented with jasmine.
"Get some rest. You haven't slept well on the train."
"Mm... Hikari moves around too much," she mumbles, pulling the blanket closer.
"Hang in there," he whispers, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
They are only halfway through their journey, and though no one shows signs of exhaustion, these quiet moments are needed—time to refill their spirits for whatever lies ahead.
In the next room, moonlight spills through the wooden shutters, casting a soft glow over two girls lying side by side on a shared futon. Mei invites Jun, but now it's Jun who struggles to stay calm. She squeezes her eyes shut, trying to control her heartbeat and pretend she's already asleep.
But how can she sleep when Mei is this close?
"Jun... are you awake?" Mei's voice is a whisper, as soft as a breeze rippling across still water.
"Hmm? What is it...?" Jun replies quietly, careful not to wake anyone.
"Do you think everyone's asleep already?"
"P-probably not..."
"Me neither," Mei giggles.
Under the moonlight, Mei's violet eyes shimmer, dreamy and wide. They remind Jun of glimmering glass, like a camel's lashes catching starlight. She wishes Mei could look directly at her—truly see her. But that light has been taken from Mei's world.
Jun scoots slightly closer, nervously. "You have beautiful eyes," she murmurs.
It's true. From the very first time they met, Jun—someone who cherishes beauty—has been utterly captivated.
"You're making me shy..." Mei says with a sheepish grin, inching closer in return. Their proximity now makes it almost impossible for Jun to breathe.
"Even if I can't see, I can feel it... You're more beautiful than anything I've ever known."
Jun's breath catches.
"Not even a painting could capture your beauty," Mei adds, gently lifting Jun's hand and holding it like a priceless piece of art.
"You really mean that...?" Jun's voice trembles.
"I do. I even submitted a drawing of you... and got accepted to Osaka University of the Arts."
Jun's face lights up in astonishment.
After everything Mei has been through—the hesitation, the struggle of pursuing art as a visually impaired girl—she has made it.
"That's all you," Jun says softly.
"Not just me," Mei replies. "After meeting you, I saw colors for the first time. Every flower you gave me felt precious."
Her words ring with sincerity.
Jun's lips quiver. She longs to reach out, to feel Mei more clearly. But Mei feels like a fragile bloom, too pure to touch.
Just then, Mei takes her hand and places it against her chest.
Her heartbeat is rapid, louder than Jun's.
"Your heart sounds just like mine," Mei says.
Jun swallows hard. "Then... may I kiss you?"
When Mei nods, Jun cups her shoulder gently, leans in, and places a soft, featherlight kiss on her lips—like a wisp of milk blossom.
Mei breaks away with a bright smile, only to kiss her again.
"Your lips are so soft," she whispers.
Jun turns crimson, biting her lip. But before she can reply, strange noises echo from the end of the hallway.
Thuds. The creak of a futon. Muffled gasps.
Jun freezes. The unmistakable sound of chaos in the dead of night. It can only be... Raven and Mallow's room.
"What was that?" Mei asks, puzzled.
"P-probably... rats or something," Jun stammers, pulling her hand back.
The odd noises continue—more bumps, more voices. Could they really be doing that... right now?
Jun curses them silently. At last, the sounds die down.
"You're not going to continue...?" Mei asks sleepily, curling up against Jun like a kitten.
"C-continue what...?"
"I don't know," Mei whispers, holding her tighter. "But this is enough."
Jun wraps her arms around her with care. Yes—just holding Mei like this brings a peace deeper than anything she's ever known.
Even in darkness, Mei sees only her. And Jun only sees Mei. Their bond transcends everything. It's not about desire—it's about connection, and reverence.
Maybe this is something purer. Fiercer. A kind of Platonic love, gentle and enduring. Jun vows to protect that innocence, to show Mei the world—but never take away her wonder.
Meanwhile, five minutes earlier...
Pillows fly like missiles in the far room. Mallow takes cover behind a futon while Raven stands over him, eyes blazing.
"You seriously save that hideous photo of me?!"
"Don't worry! I won't post it—ow!"
A pillow smacks Mallow in the face, sending him sprawling. His phone tumbles to the floor. Raven lunges for it—but too late.
On the screen is a candid photo of her in a yukata, bare-faced and serene—nothing like her usual goth persona.
"That's not me!"
"Yes, it is. That's the Raven I want to keep," Mallow laughs, dodging another flying pillow.
The chase resumes. Cushions scatter across the room in a storm of feathers and giggles.
Tonight, apart from little Hikari, it seems no one truly sleeps.
Fourth Stop: Honshu – Promises Etched Within
The scene unfolds at a misty hot spring in Hakone, bathed in the golden hue of dusk.
Steam rises in gentle wisps, wrapping the mountain air in warmth and silence.
In the open-air bath, Hiroki and Starlin sit quietly. The only sounds are the soft ripple of water against the rocks and the whispering breeze through the trees.
Suddenly, Mallow swims over from the deeper end, casually draping his arm over Starlin's shoulder.
"So relaxing~ I wonder what the others are up to back there?" he says playfully, flicking water with his fingertips.
Starlin doesn't respond. Not a word, not a glance.
Hiroki's eyes shift—his calm expression fades, replaced by something harder to read.
"I mean… they're probably having a great time too, right?" Mallow tries to backtrack, his voice faltering a little. Then he quickly ducks under the surface, bubbles rising awkwardly in her wake.
Hiroki lets out a quiet sigh, grabs his towel, and steps out of the water.
"You two stay. I'm heading back."
His tone is light, but the weight behind it cannot be missed.
Mallow blinks, watching his figure disappear into the hazy veil of steam.
"…Wait—was he mad?" he mumbles to herself.
….
Leaving the dressing room, Hiroki finds himself walking up a winding stone path that leads toward the hillside. He doesn't quite know why, but each step feels light—almost as if the earth itself remembers him.
At a bend shaded by an old tree, he hears barking. A golden Akita dashes around an older man in a worn jacket, who tosses pieces of bread to the eager dog.
The man turns around—perhaps the caretaker of this place.
"Hello there, are you—"
His voice falters.
Wait…
Hiroki recognizes the tone—those eyes, that face.
They both freeze.
"...Hiroki?" the man utters, his shoulders trembling as he grips the bag in his hand.
The dog stops barking and trots over to Hiroki, sniffing frantically. As if confirming an old memory, it wags its tail and barks joyfully toward its owner.
"He's someone I know... someone we both know," the man says softly. He kneels down to calm the dog, then stands up and embraces Hiroki.
"I'm sorry, son..."
The first words break through the years of silence. Hiroki's breath catches, disbelieving. But as the warmth of the hug settles in, he slowly relaxes, his hand reaching up to gently rest on his father's back.
"It's okay, Dad," he whispers, feeling their hearts beating in sync again.
This man has once been his only family. This reunion, once unimaginable, is happening now—proof that even after all the years apart, life has a way of bringing them back.
His father's voice wavers, "I haven't been able to contact you... and I didn't know how to start."
Hiroki just shakes his head slightly.
Their relationship has always been complicated. Each has lived his own life, giving the other space after too many scars and too much time.
"I've been doing okay," Hiroki says.
"Are you here for work?"
"Yes."
"Then... would you come to the house for a bit?"
Hiroki hesitates. He knows he should return to the others. But sometimes, a few minutes are enough to patch years of silence.
"...Sure."
The house is small, tucked behind a row of pine trees. It's simple but warm, unlike the cold, musty apartment they once shared. On the table are a jar of homemade liquor, half-smoked cigarettes, and a neatly hung coat by the door.
The Akita—Maru—wanders around Hiroki, inspecting him once more before settling calmly at the entrance.
"Take a seat," his father says, pulling out an old shogi board. He brushes off the dust and sets it on the bamboo table out on the porch.
The sight of the board brings back a flood of childhood memories. They used to play together for hours... and argue, and fall silent for years after one bitter match.
"Shall we play a round?"
They sit across from each other. No more words. Only the familiar tap of pieces moving.
Hiroki loses the first game—a reversal from the last time they played, back when he finally beat his father fair and square.
But today, somehow, his father's skills haven't faded. In fact, he predicts Hiroki's every move.
"Guess I lost," Hiroki chuckles.
"Want a rematch?"
"Of course."
In the second round, his father intentionally gives up a piece. Hiroki notices. He looks up, eyes filled with quiet gratitude, and accepts the win.
"Now we're even," his father says with a soft smile.
Neither asks for another game. They both understand—this isn't a rivalry anymore. This is a reunion. A chance to be father and son again, even just for tonight.
"No more games?" his father asks.
"Not tonight. But... this won't be the last one."
He nods. "Fate brought us together here. Just wait—we've got many games ahead."
When it's time to leave, Hiroki crouches to pet Maru. The dog's collar has a small, handwritten name tag.
"Good boy, Maru," he says.
Maru barks once and wags his tail, as if saying goodbye to a new friend.
Hiroki steps off the slope, carrying with him a long-lost warmth.
His life, once fragmented, begins to feel whole again. And now, only one thing remains...