With a sudden thud, I was tackled with great force.
Startled, I turned to see what was going on—only to find Yata clinging to me.
"Good morning," I greeted her for now.
"Morning," she replied curtly, though she kept pressing herself against me, rubbing against me insistently.
Uh… what's going on?
I glanced at Hachikuma-san nearby for help, but she just shook her head as if to say, "I have no idea." Looks like I'd have to figure this one out myself.
Being clung to like this was a bit much, so I lightly poked her twice as a silent request to loosen up. As soon as her grip slackened, I shifted my posture and embraced her in return.
Even through the thin fabric of her yukata, I could feel Yata-chan's body heat.
That seemed to be the reassurance she needed, as she immediately hugged me back.
Somehow, I found myself treating her like a child in need of comfort, gently patting her back in a slow, rhythmic motion.
As she gradually relaxed, her grip loosened even more, but… letting go now felt a bit lonely. So, I held her a little longer.
"So, what's up this morning?"
Now that she had calmed down, I decided to ask.
"I was feeling a bit lonely," she admitted. "So, I thought I'd mark my territory."
For Yata-chan, she seemed oddly subdued. Though the fact that she could say it outright still showed her usual strength of character.
"And why's that?"
"I just had a bad dream, that's all."
"That sounds rough," I replied lightly without thinking.
"By the way, don't I smell a bit off right now?"
A question that came far too late.
Thanks to our… activities this morning, I was well aware that I reeked of sweat and that distinct chlorine-like scent. There was no need to spell it out—anyone familiar would know exactly what I meant. Less of a chestnut blossom smell and more like a swimming pool… the bleach-like scent before things get truly unpleasant.
"It's still fresh, so I don't mind," Yata-chan answered immediately after sniffing me a few times, showing no sign of discomfort.
"I'd like to say that's a relief, but honestly, I can't stand it myself. I'm gonna go take a bath."
Even if she was fine with it, I certainly wasn't.
"Then I suppose I'll join you."
She didn't hesitate in the slightest before adding herself to the bath party.
"By the way, isn't there a lot of people here?"
Even near the lobby, there were noticeably more guests than usual. The entire inn had taken on a livelier atmosphere compared to yesterday.
"Word about you spread online, and the quick-footed ones caught wind of it. Thanks to that, reservations for the next two months filled up overnight."
Yata-chan chuckled as she strolled leisurely through the hallway. Hachikuma-san, on the other hand, widened her eyes in shock.
"That's… fast."
Considering this all happened just since yesterday, it was downright unbelievable.
"So, the ones with both fast ears and fast feet rushed over first?"
Wasn't that a bit too quick?
"Is that okay, though?"
I was already starting to feel the weight of all the eyes on me. Not enough to be overwhelmed, but it was definitely noticeable.
"I never promised them anything. The only thing that happened is the inn's rates mysteriously went up while bookings filled up. No harm done."
"Uh… right."
Was that really fine?
"The type who'd show up before an official announcement are just here to catch a glimpse. If they happen to get a small interaction, they'll be over the moon. A little service, and they'll be thrilled."
"Service…?"
How much were we talking about here?
"You know, like the hugs from yesterday? That level should be enough."
Yata-chan, always one step ahead, gave a clear example right away.
"I see…"
Did that really match up with the price they were paying, though?
"Besides, your immune system still isn't fully adapted to this world, and you haven't finished all your vaccinations. Toki put a medical stop on unnecessary interactions, so you don't need to worry about it."
"I see…"
With an external restriction in place, my choices were naturally limited. A relief in some ways, though a bit disappointing too.
"Once you're done with the bath and breakfast, go see the doctor for your follow-up and vaccinations. Toki already headed out."
"Well, I did sleep in quite a bit."
Seeing others already up and working did make me feel a little guilty—probably the ingrained mindset of a corporate worker.
One way or another, my schedule kept filling up.
"It can't be helped. You're sick. A sick person's job is to get better. No need to feel guilty about it. And…"
Yata-chan gestured broadly around us.
"With the number of guests your presence has brought in, you're already doing an excellent job as a marketing mascot. We've more than recouped our investment in you."
She flashed me a sly grin.
"Well, glad to hear that, at least."
With that, we arrived at the entrance to the large public bath.
The moment we stepped into the changing room, every pair of eyes snapped toward us in surprise.
"This is… a bit intimidating."
It was the same energy as when a woman accidentally wanders into a mixed-gender hot spring filled with predatory stares. Except this time, I was on the receiving end. The pressure was real.
This novel has been lovingly translated by https://www.patreon.com/Jenuinez_translation