Although the morning's haunted house had given them quite a scare, the two decided to obediently continue their plans for the day. To play it safe, Kagura selected only harmless attractions in the afternoon.
Even though the afternoon's activities weren't particularly exciting or scary, Rudolf-ojousama seemed to enjoy them greatly, and naturally, Kagura, accompanying her, had just as much fun.
"Phew... It's nice to go out and relax like this once in a while. Kagura, how did you find today?"
"Very happy! Seeing Ojou-sama having fun and relaxing makes me even happier."
"That's good. Today was meant for you to relax too. If I was the only one having fun, it wouldn't feel right."
Rudolf gently stroked Kagura's head, breathing a soft sigh of relief. It seemed like she wasn't too bad at taking care of someone after all.
Kagura indeed had a wonderful time, but she was still a bit puzzled. The day was almost over, and yet the extra set of clothes she'd brought still hadn't been used. Clearly, this amusement park didn't have any water attractions like flume rides or anything similar, so she was still wondering why she'd been asked to bring these clothes.
"By the way, Ojou-sama, earlier you specifically asked me to pack a change of clothes—what was that for? I thought you were planning on taking me to a water ride or something."
"This morning, when I went home to get the amusement park tickets, our head maid told me she won a prize while shopping a while ago. Kagura, you've seen those prize drawings while buying groceries before, right?"
"Mm... yeah. So, what prize did the Head Maid-san win?"
"The grand prize—tickets for a hot spring inn. She said she and the others didn't have any need for it, so she gave it to those of us who've been busy and need some relaxation. She ended up passing the tickets to me."
Saying this, Rudolf took out two shiny golden tickets and handed one over to Kagura.
Kagura froze for a second. Having been active around the shopping street, she'd heard about this prize, though she'd never participated herself. She'd thought grand prizes were practically impossible to win, yet someone had actually won one and handed it over to Rudolf.
"I figured you've been working yourself to exhaustion lately, Kagura… Since today I was already taking you out to have fun, I thought we could go relax at the hot springs afterward. Initially, I asked Trainer-san to join us, but she said she's busy dealing with the rookies right now, so she couldn't come."
"Ah… thank you so much, Ojou-sama, for always thinking about me."
"No need for thanks. Compared to how much you always take care of me, this is hardly one percent of that. If anyone should be thanking anyone, it should be me thanking you."
Rudolf smiled, lightly tapping Kagura's forehead as she replied.
Kagura had certainly heard about hot springs before. Tokyo actually had quite a few, but she'd always been too busy to ever visit one herself. She hadn't expected that her first trip to a hot spring would be arranged by her own Ojou-sama.
"I've already asked someone to come pick us up by car. Kagura, you've been walking around with me all day today, so don't even think about suggesting running there because it's close."
"Okay… I understand."
...
"Kagura-chan, Ojou-sama, the hot springs here are quite comfortable and relaxing. Please enjoy yourselves~ I hope you both have a pleasant night~"
After dropping them off at their destination, the Head Maid who drove them waved goodbye before turning back, entering the car, and driving away.
These hot spring inns generally weren't very large at first glance, matching the impression Kagura had gotten from various online ads and introduction videos. Peering inside, she saw the lobby radiating an old-fashioned atmosphere—rustic, yet neat, bright, and quite refreshing.
"Welcome, are you two... ah! Rudolf-sama!"
"Ah… sure enough, if I don't disguise myself, everyone immediately recognizes me wherever I go."
Before the receptionist at the front desk could finish her greeting, she excitedly shouted Rudolf's name.
Rudolf gave a helpless smile. It seemed that her performance at the Yayoi Sho had made her far more famous than she'd anticipated.
"Wow! What a cute little sister! And this is Rudolf-sama's…?"
"My race just ended recently, so I'm on break these few days. Today I'm taking my little sister out to play. Since we received these tickets from the shopping street a few days ago, I thought I'd bring her here to relax."
Rudolf handed over the tickets to the receptionist as she spoke. She'd gotten quite used to smoothly making up this excuse. Kagura didn't bother overthinking the 'little sister' matter either—since it made things simpler, she had no issues being Rudolf's sister temporarily.
After confirming the tickets, the receptionist returned to the counter, completed their registration, took the room key, and walked back over, conveniently carrying a pen.
"Oh! Wonderful! Please follow me—and by the way, Rudolf-sama, could I have your autograph?"
"Of course, gladly."
After signing an autograph for the receptionist, she led them further inside.
The place matched Kagura's impression from various anime she'd seen—a modestly sized inn, with the receptionist (apparently the owner herself) handling front-desk duties, and occasionally passing by a cleaning or maintenance staff member in the hallway.
"This is your room. If there's anything else you need during your stay, please just use the phone in your room and dial the extension."
After escorting them to their room, the rather youthful-looking receptionist glanced curiously at Kagura and Rudolf again. Kagura felt she was probably trying to find some resemblance between them. Obviously, since she wasn't Rudolf's real sister, they looked nothing alike. The Symboli family's chestnut-colored hair with ancestral highlights was simply too iconic—compared to that, Kagura's pure black hair stood out noticeably.
"Kagura, leave your stuff for now. Let's go soak in the hot spring."
Rudolf placed her belongings in the room, getting ready for the hot springs. For some reason, she felt oddly excited, though thinking carefully, she couldn't figure out exactly what she was excited about. She'd soaked in hot springs with her family when she was younger, so logically there shouldn't be anything particularly new about it.
"Okay!"
Kagura also felt herself getting excited. On their way here, she hadn't felt much anticipation, but now she was oddly looking forward to it. After all, visiting a hot spring inn was something she'd experienced very few times. Plus, she'd checked reviews online during their trip, and the inn had impressively high ratings.
——Hehehe, hot springs… I haven't experienced this in a long time. Never imagined following you would bring me to places like this.
Eclipse-san's words popped up and disappeared on Kagura's phone screen. It seemed she was also quite excited. Though, imagining a ghost soaking in hot springs felt somewhat surreal. Kagura suddenly found herself curious about what Eclipse-san would be wearing while enjoying the hot spring.
...
"Phew…"
Wrapped in a bath towel, Rudolf sank into the hot spring, leaning against the edge. She stretched comfortably, exhaling a long sigh.
Enjoying moments like these occasionally isn't bad at all…
After leaning there for a while, Rudolf heard footsteps coming from outside—someone walking barefoot across the wet floor, gently, unhurriedly.
Turning her head, Rudolf saw Kagura entering the bath area, also wrapped in a towel, her long hair tied up neatly, padding over to her with tiny steps.
"Ojou-sama, you got in so quickly. Isn't it too hot?"
"No, it's fine. Though maybe it's just me having higher heat tolerance. Kagura, you'd better test it first."
Saying this, Rudolf lightly patted the water beside her, inviting Kagura to sit.
Kagura carefully approached the water's edge, cautiously dipped a small foot in to test the temperature, then slowly sat down, immersing her legs first. After adjusting, she finally submerged fully into the warm water.
"Ahhh~ So nice~"
Kagura sighed happily, eyes narrowing comfortably.
Smiling softly, Rudolf almost reached out to pat Kagura's head, but reconsidered upon noticing the wet hair. Her eyes drifted downward instead, unintentionally drawn to Kagura's snowy-white skin peeking just above the water. Glistening droplets rolled gently across that smooth skin, flushed faintly pink from the heat, surely soft and delicate to touch.
Gulp…
For some inexplicable reason, Rudolf suddenly felt uncomfortably warm. She forcefully pushed down the strange impulse to embrace and caress Kagura.
What's wrong with me today? Why do these improper thoughts keep popping into my head? She's a… Why is my mind filled with such nonsense?
Unable to comprehend herself, Rudolf lowered herself slightly, turning her flushed face away and soaking quietly for a bit, trying to calm her racing thoughts.
Kagura, completely oblivious to Rudolf's internal struggle, leisurely swayed her head side to side, humming a little tune she couldn't quite remember.
After spacing out beneath the water for about half a minute, Rudolf suddenly felt a small splash hit her face. Turning, she found Kagura smiling sweetly at her:
"Ojou-sama, why's your face underwater? You'll overheat like that, you know?"
"It's nothing… I—I just thought my face felt a bit cool…"
Truthfully, Rudolf could feel her face burning hot. It was far from being cold, but since she didn't know what else to say, she nodded awkwardly and raised herself up a bit. Because of their height difference, Rudolf had to lower her head slightly to look Kagura properly in the eye.
"…!"
Looking downward, Rudolf immediately shifted her gaze away again. She had to admit—despite Kagura's petite frame, aside from her chest area, the girl really did have an excellent figure. Rudolf wasn't sure if it was curiosity or something else entirely, but she felt an irresistible urge to personally pinch Kagura's slender waist.
"What's wrong? Ojou-sama, why are you staring at me?"
Kagura, noticing Rudolf had been silently staring at her for a while, tilted her head in confusion.
"N-no reason… It's just, Kagura, you really have such a nice figure…"
"Ojou-sama… Are you teasing me? Look down at yourself—what figure could a shorty like me possibly have?"
Hearing this, Kagura's first reaction was to assume Rudolf was joking. Though admittedly, even she recognized her own figure was pretty "2D"—the ideal image of a petite yet nicely proportioned little girl.
"No, I'm serious… A good figure is all about proportions. Every age has its own ideal proportions."
Sensing she'd found a safe conversation topic, Rudolf quickly jumped into the discussion.
"Really? I always thought someone with your figure was the ideal type, Ojou-sama."
Saying that, Kagura playfully swam closer to Rudolf, poking her lightly on the shoulder.
"You'll definitely grow too, someday. Who knows, you might surpass me. Maruzensky-san is always teasing me about looking like a man…"
"Pfft—Maruzensky-senpai isn't completely wrong. You're totally the cool, handsome type who'd look amazing in boys' clothes. But that doesn't mean you actually look like a man!"
"You little rascal…"
Rudolf laughed helplessly, feeling her mind calming slightly with Kagura's familiar teasing. But just as she thought her troubled mind had settled down—
Kagura suddenly did something that completely shattered Rudolf's composure. She swam a little closer, stood up in front of Rudolf, and stretched her arm towards Rudolf's head:
"Haha, Ojou-sama, were you spacing out that much? You didn't even notice a big leaf fell on your head?"
"Ah…"
Even wrapped in a towel, Kagura's delicate body outline was clearly visible, and the suddenness of this gesture caused Rudolf's eyes to widen involuntarily. Kagura quickly removed the leaf from Rudolf's hair, smiling as she held it out for Rudolf to see:
"What's wrong? Ojou-sama, you seem kind of distracted today."
"I…"
There's nobody else here… It's just me and Kagura…
This time, Rudolf clearly felt a powerful surge of impulse within her. She subconsciously reached out and gently grasped Kagura's right shoulder, an instinctive urge rising to just pull Kagura close and pin her against the edge.
No… NO!! Rudolf, what are you thinking?! What are you trying to do to the junior who has always wholeheartedly supported you?! Snap out of it!!
Thankfully, Rudolf's willpower remained strong enough. Before she could actually act, reason regained control, and she quickly released Kagura's shoulder.
"What is it? Ojou-sama, you suddenly tapped me—did you want something?"
Kagura blinked her clear, innocent eyes, looking curiously at Rudolf. Seeing Kagura's pure, lake-like gaze staring at her, Rudolf felt overwhelmed by guilt over the improper thoughts she'd just had.
"No, it's nothing… I was just thinking about my schedule for the upcoming races."
"Hehe, Ojou-sama, since we've come here specifically to relax, don't worry about all that right now. Trainer Tojo and I will handle it for you. All you need to do is focus on your running, and bringing your dazzling victories to everyone eagerly awaiting you."
"Kagura… I… you… haah…"
---
T/N: OOOOOH RUDOLFFFFFFFFFFFFF
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