After the blizzard stopped, the silver-white snow that should have covered the ground vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed. It was as if last night's storm was a hallucination. Perhaps the sun had melted it all away.
Even Alex felt nothing unusual. In this brothel deep in the mountains, there were still no other people to be seen, except for the beautiful hostess preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
Whether it was the Hihara "Spirited Away" legends, this strange brothel, or the secrets of the mountain... it was all still shrouded in mist. But Alex believed it wouldn't be long before the truth was revealed.
School was still in session, after all. Teacher Miki Takamine was probably about to explode with rage—he had run off right after her home visit.
"Are our guests leaving? What a pity," the hostess said, walking over in her kimono, her expression full of regret. "It's rare to have such an interesting guest. Are you leaving so soon?"
"I think 'hateful' is a better word than 'interesting,'" Alex said. Mila and Shiho stood beside him. As for Reina Hihara, she was acting distracted, her gaze wandering. Shiho looked at her daughter suspiciously. What's wrong with Reina... wait.
I didn't come back this morning... does she know what I was doing last night? Eek!
Whatever. She already saw it once in person anyway. If I'm not embarrassed, someone else will be. Shiho decided to just play dumb.
"Treating a brothel like a normal inn and even bringing your own women... the hostess must be annoyed, right?" Alex joked.
"Not at all. While we do offer special services, we have no problem with guests staying just for the room. If you like it here, you're welcome back anytime," the hostess said, her eyes sparkling seductively. "Even in the hot summer, it's cool here. A great place for a picnic."
"...Cool is one way to put it," Alex said. Given the blizzard yesterday, "cool" was an understatement. "If I don't get 'spirited away,' I'll be back."
"Spirited away? What's that?" The hostess blinked innocently. "You're always welcome. But... it would be even better if you came alone next time."
Whoosh—
Mila shot Alex a sharp look. He quickly gave her a secret pinch. "Don't worry, I definitely won't. I'll bring new women next time. Their charm won't be any less than yours, Ma'am~"
"..."
The journey back was smooth. Once they left the mountain, they could see the Hihara villa in the distance. Alex looked back at the forest and shrugged. "We didn't disappear. Maybe we were lucky?"
"I feel like you sound disappointed, Alex," Mila said, pulling him close. "Straight back to Tokyo?"
"I'll see Saki first. Mila, are you coming back or staying here?"
"Why would I stay? If you're going to Tokyo, I'm coming with you." Mila turned back. "Shiho, do you want to come to Tokyo with us?"
"I..." She hesitated.
"Let Auntie Shiho stay here. There's nothing for her to do in Tokyo, and she is a Hihara after all," Alex decided. "Anyway, we'll be back for summer break. Auntie Shiho, make sure you 'entertain' us well then~"
He gave a wicked grin.
I hope the 'entertainment' you mean is the normal kind... you little brat.
"Eh?! Alex, you... you're leaving?"
Inside a restaurant with the AC on, a beautiful girl with brownish-black hair sat on a window-side sofa in front of a giant sundae. Hearing the news of his departure, her eyes widened in shock. She knew he would leave eventually, but not this soon!
Her favorite dessert suddenly lost all its flavor.
Saki Yoshida put down her spoon, her exquisite face filled with sadness. She started to stutter. "I... I... no..."
She bit her lip so hard she left a mark. "Back to Tokyo?"
"Yeah. I have school, and people are waiting for me back home."
"Alex..."
"Don't look like that. It's not like I'm never coming back. Summer break is coming soon. I'll be back in Osaka then." Alex took a sip of his drink, but the girl across from him didn't move.
Intense emotions were surging in Saki's blue eyes, swirling like a storm. An unspeakable feeling burned in her chest, but she couldn't find the words. Finally, she chose action.
The shy, insecure, lonely girl—the one who had been an invisible "braid-and-glasses" student since elementary school—suddenly exploded with courage.
She stood up, leaned across the table, and kissed the boy right there in front of all the other customers.
"Mmm."
Their lips met. The warmth and her unique scent filled his senses. Every girl's kiss was different, and Alex could tell the subtle differences.
He was surprised by Saki's boldness. No one knew her better than he did. Perhaps it was because she already belonged to him, or because she had tasted sex, or because the fear of parting had triggered something.
But none of that mattered. Alex didn't say a word; he responded to her kiss, sliding his tongue into her mouth.
In this moment, being proactive was the best answer.
"Nngh..."
Their tongues tangled. It was sweet, intoxicating, and comfortable. She was immersed in his tenderness. However, the happier the kiss made her, the sadder the coming separation felt.
When the kiss ended, Saki's eyes were filled with tears. "Alex..."
"I don't want to be apart from you. Not for a second."
Alex never followed the rules; he did whatever felt best. His teachers described him in two words: "recklessly willful."
"If you don't want to be apart, come with me," Alex said with a casual smile, pinching her cheek. "You're mine now, Saki; you can't run. Transferring to a school in Tokyo is an option. That way... you can stay by my side forever."
If I could do that, I'd be so happy.
But Saki shook her head. "I can't just decide to transfer like that. My home is in Kyoto... and that would be too selfish."
She looked at him with intense longing. "At least wait until next semester... Alex, you have to come see me during the break. Or else... or else I'll go to Tokyo to find you."
"I will. I couldn't bear to leave a beauty like you here all alone," Alex chuckled, tilting her chin up. "Saki, one more time. I didn't get enough of that kiss."
"Eh? But, but... people are watching..."
Now you realize people are watching?
"Be a good girl~ stick your tongue out~"
"Nngh..."