Chapter 333

Ishikawa Hayato's discouraging words made Ikuyo pout and sit back down.

However, he added, "We'll be arriving in Beppu soon, so remember not to miss the scenery then."

Ikuyo recovered quickly, and she smiled, "I know! I must see this snow-covered city with its hot spring steam rising from the ground."

Having traveled far away, Nijika, in a much better mood, looked at the two of them with a gentle smile.

Before eating, they had already transferred to the JR high-speed rail, and now they were very close to their destination.

Not long after Ikuyo made her tourism declaration, Nijika suddenly shouted, "Everyone, come quick!"

As soon as she reminded them, not only Ikuyo, but also Hitori from next door squeezed in, only Ryo didn't join in the fun.

In the small space between the train seats, the two standing people were squeezed together, with Ikuyo's leg pressing down on Ishikawa Hayato's leg.

The four of them pressed their faces together, looking out the car window.

In winter, darkness falls quickly, and at this moment, the sky carries the last rays of sunset before it completely darkens.

Ishikawa Hayato's gaze spread from near to far.

Just a hundred meters from the high-speed rail tracks lies Beppu City. Nearby are several quaint Japanese-style tiled houses, their roofs sloping and covered with snow.

Not only these old-style buildings, but also various low bungalows, are all covered in white.

Meanwhile, thick white mist rose from between houses and from chimneys; that was steam from the hot springs.

Under the city's red and yellow lights, the steam seemed to carry the white snow to the sunset on the horizon.

Sunset, white mist, snow, streetlights, low-rise buildings.

A warm and peaceful city lay before them.

Stepping out of the bullet train carriage, Ishikawa Hayato first felt a bit cold, then smelled a faint sulfurous odor in the air.

"It already smells like hot springs."

He walked a few steps out, dragging his suitcase, and then spoke to the girls.

"It seems like it really does exist."

Ikuyo and Nijika looked up and sniffed, but their sense of smell wasn't as exaggerated as Ishikawa Hayato's; it was mostly psychological.

Liang ignored all of that. As she left the warm carriage, she wrapped her scarf tighter, pulled her sleeves longer, and, dragging her suitcase, said with a look of utter disdain.

"I'm exhausted, let's go soak in the hot springs."

Although the seven-hour journey didn't require much physical activity, it was still quite tiring.

A middle-aged man who had come out with them was stretching and loosening his muscles as soon as he got off the bus.

This journey is a bit tiring for young people, but it's torture for middle-aged people.

Ishikawa Hayato glanced at Hitori, who was also exhausted, and said.

"Let's go then, let's quickly enjoy the hot springs and delicious food first."

As they exited the station and walked to the plaza in front of it, the five passed a statue that looked frightening, with its hands raised in a strange pose.

Ikuyo looked at the statue with a puzzled expression and asked.

"What is this?"

Ishikawa Hayato continued walking without stopping, explaining, "Aburaya Kumahachi is someone who has provided significant support to Beppu hot spring tourism."

"Then why are you striking such a strange pose...?"

Hitori asked in confusion.

Ishikawa Hayato shrugged. "Maybe it makes me seem more approachable."

As he spoke, he looked around the roadside and saw a shuttle bus with their hotel's name written on the side of the door. He pointed over there and said.

"That's the car."

The four followed him.

After confirming that they were the people he was picking up, the driver quickly got out of the car, helped them load their luggage into the trunk, and opened the car doors for them.

Ishikawa Hayato also lent a hand when carrying the luggage.

The girls stared in silence at the seemingly high-end shuttle bus.

This is called a shuttle bus, but it's actually a high-end business vehicle used to transport guests.

Nijika tugged at the cool hand.

"Hey, how much does this car cost...?"

"I don't know." Liang didn't know much about cars either. "But it seems quite expensive."

The fact that the cold drinks were quite expensive made them realize the level of the car.

Nijika lowered her voice and said.

"Hayato-kun is wasting money again... This is what happens when I let him pick out hotels..."

"Well... since we're already here, Nijika- senpai, don't be angry."

Ikuyo smiled apologetically and waved his hand to comfort him.

"Hmm... Falcon probably wants a nicer hotel to stay in so he can be more comfortable..."

Hitori continued.

Just then, Ishikawa Hayato finished helping and came over. He put his arm around Nijika's shoulder and whispered something.

"Don't worry about money when you're out having fun, I'll give you a piece of my mind when we get back..."

"No matter what you say... it's not like that..."

Nijika lowered her head, and Ishikawa Hayato took advantage of the situation and pinched her cheek.

I pinched it once and there was no reaction, so I pinched it twice more.

Nijika raised her blank gaze.

He then smiled and pushed the group into the van.

The hotel that Ishikawa Hayato booked was located in the mountains, which meant that the group, who had just gotten off the high-speed train, had to continue traveling by other means of transportation.

Fortunately, it's not far, only a ten-minute walk.

They also took the opportunity to admire the city from the car.

When I looked at Beppu from the outside, it felt very strange, but once I got into the city, all that remained was the novelty of being in an unfamiliar city.

The buildings in the city weren't dramatically transformed, and the streets weren't as steamy as they appeared from the outside.

Thick white fog only rose from some people's homes and large buildings.

"People from Beppu must have grown up soaking in hot springs."

"Looking at the white mist rising from the buildings ahead," Ishikawa Hayato said.

The driver responded, glancing at the rearview mirror before speaking enthusiastically.

"That's not all. We Beppu people can get all our food and drink from the hot springs. There's a saying: 'Those who live by the mountain eat from the mountain, and those who live by the water eat from the water.'"

Ishikawa Hayato couldn't help but smile, "That's a Chinese proverb, isn't it?"

"Yes." The middle-aged driver stared intently ahead, but his smile was inexplicably bitter.

"When Chinese guests came before, they asked if Beppu had an onsen (hot spring). I said no, unlike in Sichuan where everyone raises pandas, we just have a lot of onsen. And then..."

Ishikawa Hayato laughed.

The driver's sudden pause and Ishikawa Hayato's laughter piqued Ikuyo's curiosity.

"What's wrong?"

Ishikawa Hayato glanced at Ikuyo. How could this person not know? He then looked at Ryo, who had a faint smile on her face, Nijika, who looked somewhat helpless, and Nijika, Hitori was full of question marks.

He spoke using a series of impossible assumptions.

"Actually, not everyone in Sichuan can raise pandas. If you can learn to fly and dive, kill a bear, and bring its paws to the adoption hall to eat, you might be able to adopt a panda."

Ikuyo was stunned, her eyes blinking rapidly.

"Is it a real brown bear?"

The driver listened to Ishikawa Hayato's words, glanced at him, and chuckled without exposing him.

However, there are still those who stand firmly on the path of justice.

"Ikuyo-chan, you've been tricked by Hayato-kun again."

"I knew it! What exactly happened?"

During the conversation, the group soon arrived at the hot spring hotel located in the mountains.

As they got out of the car, all the girls except Liang stared at the hotel, completely stunned.

Their first impression of the hotel was that it must be a resort for some super-rich tycoons; it was so grand that they were almost afraid to step inside.

The hotel features a European architectural style, but also incorporates a lot of Japanese elegance.

An air of luxury emanates from the entrance floor tiles, the pebble decorations on the walls, the pillars at the door, and the transparent window sills, creating an atmosphere that makes one feel hesitant to approach.

Behind them, Ishikawa Hayato, accompanied by the driver, took off his suitcase. When the driver bowed and wished him a pleasant stay, he nodded and smiled in response.

After the driver left, he pulled everyone's suitcases over to them and said something.

"Let's go in."

"How much did you spend, Hayato-kun?" Nijika, her heart pounding as she looked at the door.

"It's not too exaggerated, it's just a place that an ordinary employee could get to if they grit their teeth and pay it."

Nijika didn't say much after hearing this. She was determined to make Ishikawa Hayato confess all the expenses later.

However, Hitori problem arose.

"Hawk... Hawk, how are we going to get in here?"

"Why don't we just walk in?"

Ryo couldn't wait to rest, so he took the suitcase from Ishikawa Hayato and walked forward.

Ikuyo's smile also betrayed a hint of nervousness, and she added empathetically.

"Is Ichiri-chan saying that this place doesn't really suit us?"

Hitori nodded quickly.

Liang stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at the group of people who were about to start their antics again.

Ishikawa Hayato stroked his chin.

"Or you could pretend I'm from a very wealthy family, and you're my girlfriends whom I brought along for a vacation?"

Liang stared at him, her mind filled with questions.

Hitori nodded hurriedly when he heard that Ishikawa Hayato would stand in front of him.

"Uh-huh!"

"Even though many parts are correct, why does it feel so awful..."

There's nothing to criticize about Nijika.

Ikuyo looked at the luxurious European-style resort hotel again, feeling that going in like this would definitely make her look like a country bumpkin, so she agreed.

"Well... let's try it like this..."

A group of people appeared in the hotel lobby a dozen seconds later.

A super handsome young man with a carefree and nonchalant look, wearing sunglasses, walked behind several girls, his arms outstretched and resting on their shoulders.

Several girls, some shy and some uneasy, nervously glanced around.

He looked exactly like a spoiled rich kid taking his girlfriends out for fun; his movements and expressions were so perfect that it left people speechless.

Liang wasn't among them; she disdainfully stayed far away.

"I feel even more embarrassed..." Ikuyo said in a low voice, her face flushed.