A Nighttime Hot Spring, the Ichinose Sisters' Conversation / Kushida Kikyo Starts Looking Forward to Her Birthday

"What's wrong?"

Ichinose Honami turned around and asked.

"Miu forgot her ID at home, she needs to go back to get it now."

Mrs. Ichinose did not lose her composure in the face of this rather urgent situation; her expression remained calm.

"Sorry! I was too excited this morning and forgot."

Ichinose Miu's face. It was a rare family outing, but she had forgotten to bring her ID and tickets, which were in her backpack at home.

But the train is about to leave!

After checking the time, Ichinose Honami's face showed a thoughtful expression as she considered what the best solution would be.

"Okay, I'll take Miu home to get our documents, and we'll take the next train later."

Hashiba Hikaru made her decision. "Honami can bring her mother along first, and we can meet up at the hotel later."

"Wouldn't this be too much trouble for you, Hikaru-kun?"

Mrs. Ichinose looked at the boy's profile, considering the feasibility of the plan.

"It's alright, it's alright, this is the best solution, there's still plenty of time."

"Then let's leave it at that."

After everyone agreed, Ichinose Honami and her mother entered the station, while Hashiba Hikaru led Ichinose Miu outside.

To save time, Hashiba Hikaru booked a taxi using her phone. Before the car arrived, she and her sister bought drinks.

"What would you like to drink, Miu?"

"Green tea."

"What a rustic flavor!"

Just as he took out his wallet to pay, his phone suddenly rang several times. Hashiba Hikaru he took it out, he saw that it was a message from several girls.

Although the action lasted only a few seconds, Ichinose Miu, who was much shorter than Hashiba Hikaru, could clearly see three different names.

The slightly smaller, pink-haired girl, being precocious, instantly memorized those names.

"Look, this is green tea, it seems to have been heated."

Hashiba Hikaru handed her the drink.

"... Okay, I understand. Thank you, Hashiba- san."

Ichinose Miu held the warm box of green tea, her thoughts a jumbled mess.

446

Chapter 446 The Hot Spring at Night: A Conversation Between the Ichinose Sisters.

In this season when winter snow blankets the city, Ichinose Honami's family trip destination is a well-known tourist spot with hot springs. When Hashiba Hikaru brought Ichinose Miu to the hotel, the first thing they saw was a sign depicting a hot spring.

"I've already called Honami, she'll be down to pick us up soon."

Because Ichinose Honami and Mrs. Ichinose arrived earlier, by the time Hashiba Hikaru Hashima arrived, they had already checked in and were just waiting for the two of them to come and have dinner.

"Okay, I understand."

Upon hearing Hashiba Hikaru's voice, Ichinose Miu standing nearby, simply responded calmly. Her thoughts were still immersed in the discovery she had just made, and she was unable to return to the excited state she had been in before setting off.

"I heard the hot springs here are quite famous. Has Miu ever soaked in a hot spring before?"

Hashiba Hikaru struck up a conversation with her with a smile, after all, getting closer to her sister-in-law was key to family harmony.

"No."

Ichinose Miu shook her head. Because she wanted to save money, she hadn't participated in any school trips during junior high or elementary school, and this was her first time visiting a hot spring.

"Then you can really enjoy this experience. I'm sure I won't let Miu down."

"Um."

After a brief conversation, Hashiba Hikaru keenly sensed that the other person's attitude was a bit strange. Just a few days ago, she seemed to like him quite a bit, so why did she suddenly change her mind?

After the two stood together for more than ten minutes, Ichinose Honami came out of the hotel.

"Honami, over here."

After meeting up, the three of them went to the hotel to check in. As before, they only booked two rooms for this trip: one for Hashiba Hikaru Ichinose Honami, and one for Ichinose Miu and Mrs. Ichinose.

"Hikaru, do you want to go to the hot spring with me later?"

Ichinose Honami asked in a low voice, "Besides the large, integrated hot spring, I heard there are also small pools in the rooms."

"Sure, since we're already here, we should definitely experience the hot spring service."

Hashiba Hikaru smiled. Hot springs, as a service that can relax the body, are very popular in many places.

"Uh-huh."

Looking at the two walking side by side ahead, Ichinose Miu's eyes flickered. She had been thinking about how to tell her older sister about this. As sisters, this choice would not be surprising.

After the four of them finished their meal together, they returned to their rooms in pairs.

After changing into her bathrobes Ichinose Honami wanted to call Hashiba Hikaru, who was resting in her room, to join her in the hot spring, but just then she heard a knock on the door.

"Miu? Is something wrong?"

After opening the door, the girl saw her younger sister's pretty face.

"I want to soak in a hot spring with my sister."

Ichinose Miu spoke her mind directly, deciding to tell her older sister about it immediately, otherwise she didn't know how long she would keep it to herself.

"Uh... didn't Miu go for a bath with her mom?"

The girl hesitated for a moment; after all, bathing with her boyfriend was what she wanted to do most right now.

"Mom is already asleep. She was very tired yesterday, so it's best not to disturb her."

Seeing the hesitation on her sister's face, Ichinose Miu glanced around the room and whispered, "Sister, come with me to the bar. I have something to tell you."

"Um?"

Hearing her sister say that, Ichinose Honami had no choice but to change her mind. She went into the bedroom and whispered an explanation to Hashiba Hikaru before leaving the room with her sister.

Inside the misty women's bath, Ichinose Honami and her younger sister were together. Their hair was the same color, and with equally exquisite features, they were clearly an enviable pair of sisters.

"Miu specifically called me here, is there something you want to tell me?"

Ichinose Honami gently wiped her younger sister's arm, a smile playing on her lips.

"It's... about Brother Hashiba."

Ichinose Miu knew, of course, that her older sister was very fond of him, to the point that she would never be separated from him, but from the younger sister's perspective, she had to tell him.

"Light? Did Light say anything to you?"

Upon hearing her boyfriend's name, Ichinose Honami immediately tensed up. She stared intently into her sister's eyes and pressed, "Has something happened?"

"It was just when we went home to get our documents."

Ichinose Miu slowly explained, "Midway through Hashiba- nii took me to buy drinks, and then..."

"And then what?"

"When I was paying, I saw Hashiba's phone light up; someone had sent him a text message."

Upon hearing the words "text message, "Ichinose Honami's expression darkened, and she subconsciously asked, "Did Miu see the name on it?"

"Of course."

Ichinose Miu sensed the change in her sister's emotions. Although nervous, she earnestly explained to her sister, "Because I'm much shorter than Hashiba, I just happened to be able to see the names on it clearly."

Who is it?

Ichinose Honami was able to sense her sister's inner turmoil, and at that moment, she calmed down.

There are three names.

Ichinose Miu took a breath, glanced at the women's bath shrouded in mist, and slowly uttered three names: "Kushida Kikyo, Sakayanagi Arisu, and Horikita Suzune."

"..."

After hearing all three names clearly, Ichinose Honami looked somewhat stunned.

The good news is that Sakura Airi, the actress from the previous photo, isn't in this one; the bad news is that Sakayanagi Arisu.

"Does your sister know these people?"

After noticing the change in Ichinose Honami's expression, Ichinose Miu became somewhat curious.

"Of course I know them. One of them is even my sister's good friend."

A smile tugged at the corner of Ichinose Honami's mouth.

"Friend?!!"

Ichinose Miu was instantly shocked. Although she was precocious, she had not been exposed to the delinquents in school, so her social circle was very simple.

"Does she know that Brother Hashiba and Sister Yujima are dating?"

"Know."

"So she's still sending private messages to Brother Hashiba?"

Ichinose Miu felt her worldview was shattered. How could her older sister be friends with someone like that?

"Yes, Kushida and Hikaru's relationship is indeed quite special."

Ichinose Honami slowly sank her body, gradually being covered by the warm water. Looking at her sister's strange expression, she asked softly, "Miu didn't tell Mom about this discovery, did she?"

"No."

"That's good. And you're not allowed to say that again, understand?"

"... Okay, I understand."

"Yes, that's a good child."

"Could you tell me about it, sister?"

Ichinose Miu's face immediately lit up with a gossipy expression. "What's the relationship between all these people and Hashiba- nii? Especially my sister's friend, I'm really curious."

"... Do you really want to hear it?"

"I want to hear it."

"Oh well."

447

Chapter 447 Kushida Kikyo begins to look forward to her birthday.

Inside the steaming hot spring, Ichinose Honami is telling his younger sister about how he met Kushida Kikyo, who then frequently appears by his side after meeting Hashiba Hikaru.

Ichinose Honami didn't have a good way to deal with this, since she wasn't the type of girl who would kick someone out. She asserted her dominance by conveying information rather than confronting them face-to-face.

About ten minutes later, after listening to the other person's story, Ichinose Miu's expression became quite complicated. As someone who had never experienced love, she now understood her older sister's thoughts even less.

"In that case, why didn't my sister just talk to her directly about it?"

Ichinose Miu frowned. "Even though Hashiba is your boyfriend, of course you should keep your distance from other girls!"

"Of course I know that, but the situation is a bit complicated, and it's not easy to explain to you in a short time."

Ichinose Honami stroked the warm water with her hand, her voice wistful, "There are some things I know, but I simply can't tell Hikaru."

"Why?"

Ichinose Miu couldn't understand.

"Because I can't restrict Hikaru's social circle. It's his freedom to socialize with whomever he wants. I can't just make him stop talking to all the other girls from now on, can I?"

This is part of the reason why Ichinose Honami pretends not to see it, but it's not the most important reason. The most important reason is that she is unwilling to take the initiative to uncover the truth, because the consequences might be unbearable for the young girl.

"Even so, isn't it strange that my Hashiba brother, as my sister's boyfriend, keeps in touch with other girls?"