I held my breath, quietly watching the scene unfold.
If I had to compare it to something, it was like a lost paradise—Eden, perhaps.
To clarify: it wasn't some wild, lust-filled orgy with naked men and their wives, fluids flying everywhere in a chaotic mess of desire. No, this was something gentler—a tender, affectionate closeness between people who still had their wits about them.
Under normal circumstances, you'd expect a "what the hell, now it's my turn!" kind of situation, right?
You'd think it'd go straight into the mess I just mentioned.
But whether it was sheer willpower keeping things in check, or the dignified composure of the legal wives, the man seemed to be surviving the situation just fine.
Let's rewind a bit.
I showed up right on time for check-in—only to be told I was "too late."
Apparently, there had been some kind of free hug incident during the day, but I arrived too late to witness it firsthand. A tragic misstep on my part.
I later got the full story from the "investigative team" who'd actually been there, and the details were shocking enough to make me want to cry blood.
Showing up exactly at the scheduled check-in time in the evening only to be told, "Yeah, that's too late," hit like a truck.
The scene of the infamous incident was, unsurprisingly, the inn's signature hot spring—"Bijin no Yu" (The Beauty's Bath), their biggest and most accessible bath. I figured I should head there, but when I arrived, it was so packed with women hoping to be the next lucky catch, it felt more like a sushi box than a bath.
I panicked and bailed, retreating instead to a much quieter, more secluded bath at the far end of the inn.
That brought me to this one—called Iwato no Yu, or "The Grotto Bath." It's a cave-style hot spring with a mild, neutral pH. Supposedly good for fertility and regulating the nervous system, but those claims always seem exaggerated. I didn't take it too seriously.
By now, it was already dark, and the bath's soft lighting gave the place a unique atmosphere. Once my eyes adjusted, I looked up and could see the moon and stars while still soaking in the water. It was surprisingly beautiful.
"Huh…"
The water wasn't too hot or too cold—just the right kind of lukewarm that makes you want to stay in forever. I found it quite lovely in its own way.
"Oh wow, is that a Starlink satellite train? That's rare."
I couldn't help but murmur aloud as I spotted a string of evenly spaced satellites gliding through the night sky.
These Starlink satellites are part of a next-gen internet system. Rather than laying cables on land or sea, they just use satellites. As a result, space is getting more and more crowded.
Sometimes one explodes in an accident and sets off a bit of a Kessler syndrome chain reaction, but thanks to RAID-style backups, most people don't even notice.
There are hundreds of thousands of satellites orbiting above us at any given time, but in the city, it's hard to see them through all the light pollution.
That's what makes this rural retreat so special. I could float in a hot spring and gaze at the stars in peace.
"Honestly, just seeing this makes the whole trip worth it."
It was a small moment of happiness, but it hit me in an unexpectedly profound way.
It wasn't the main goal of the trip—not by a long shot—but experiences like this are what make life beautiful.
I shifted from a full-body soak to a floating position, just resting my head on the edge while staring up at the stars.
In the water, even my annoying chest floated nicely, so floating like this was pretty comfortable.
"How's the water~?"
The sudden voice made me glance in its direction.
"It's really nice," I replied, keeping my answer neutral. I didn't want to sound weird by saying "the stars are better."
"Oh? You're still alive?"
A splash echoed as someone entered the bath, waves rippling across the water. That comeback was... unexpected.
"I'm definitely alive, thank you very much."
I sank back into the water, adjusting my posture. Pushing back my wet hair, I made sure I could see clearly again, pouting slightly. Being mistaken for a drowned body is not exactly flattering.
"Well, this place is pretty deserted, and it's dimly lit, so I get it," the other person said.
Fair enough, I guess.
"It's pleasantly warm, and the stars are amazing. I was just floating and enjoying the moment."
"Yeah, it's a beautiful night sky."
The voice responded gently, also looking up at the stars.
Turning to look, I saw the newcomers: a pair consisting of an elegant woman and a much smaller girl.
Even in the dim light, the woman's beauty was clear—her figure perfectly balanced and well cared for.
The smaller one, hiding slightly behind her, had a sharper gaze and a flatter figure overall. But from her curves and body hair, it was obvious she wasn't a child. Just a very petite young woman—and a beautiful one at that.
"That main bath was absolutely packed."
"Even for women, that was a bit much."
"Apparently, everyone's trying to be the next lucky catch. But with so many people, wouldn't it be tough for any guy in there?"
"That's exactly why I went for the underdog and chose this quiet one."
"Quiet is an understatement…"
Until these two arrived, I'd had the place completely to myself. I already figured I'd drawn the short end of the stick.
"So, did you get to experience... that?"
"Oh, definitely."
"It was amazing."
They answered in unison, dreamy smiles spreading across their faces. Yep. Shameless.
"Well, good for you."
"Very good, actually."
My tone turned a little sharp, both in voice and gaze, but they didn't seem to mind at all—still basking in their post-ecstasy glow.
Author's note :
Yozora Kurai
A gloomy, science-minded introvert.
She has long jet-black hair, but it's a bit unkempt, giving off a slightly unfortunate vibe.
Large breasts pull her into a slight hunch.
Good with computers and not actually bad at communicating—just shy. Believes people who can't function as adults don't deserve partners, so she works hard and takes care of herself.
She's the one who did the image analysis earlier.
Honestly, given she came to the site alone this time, it's a stretch to call her a shut-in.
With her bangs down, her eyes get hidden and she looks dull, but when she lifts them, she's quite the beauty.
Her floating-in-the-dark-hot-spring moment? Yeah, anyone would mistake her for a ghost or a drowned corpse. Can't blame them.