I Was Cheated on by My Girlfriend but My Devilish Junior Now Yearns for Me - Chapter 41

Chapter 41   Hot Spring Trip 1

The hot spring inn “Kayoshimi” is located two and a half hours away by express bus. While the surrounding area is mostly mountains with few houses, the hot spring town itself is bustling with people, indicating its fame as a popular destination.

It’s early March, and the weather is starting to warm up. Today is the day of my hot spring trip with Ayaka.

We met up around noon and are now on the bus, swaying gently as we pass the time. I’m still feeling fully energized after casually playing on my phone and chatting occasionally. Once we arrive, the plan is to check in at the inn, drop off our luggage, and then explore the hot spring town.

“We’re almost there,” Ayaka said, gazing out the window beside me.

I put away my phone game and looked out the window too, peeking over Ayaka’s shoulder to check the scenery.

As we traveled along the right side of the three-way intersection, the mountains gave way to glimpses of inns and eateries, and soon enough, the view matched what I had seen in the travel brochure.

“It’s got a nice vibe,” I commented quietly, causing Ayaka’s ear to twitch.

“You’re too close.”

“Oh, sorry.”

Without realizing it, I had leaned in too close, and her face was right in front of mine. Not metaphorically—literally.

After returning to my seat, Ayaka chuckled softly.

“You got so into it, you lost track of where you were.”

“Surprised myself too. I didn’t expect to be this captivated by the view.”

The speed of the passing scenery gradually slowed, and the announcement came, letting us know we were nearing our destination.

For someone like me, who had never lived in the countryside, this old-fashioned hot spring town looked entirely fresh and new. It had a charm quite different from the bright, dazzling lights of city illuminations.

“We’ve arrived. Let’s go.”

As the bus slowed to a stop, Ayaka stood up.

We were seated near the front, close to the driver, so by getting up early, we’d be among the first to get off the bus. Or so I thought.

“Whoa!”

Just as I stood up, the bus came to a full stop, and I lost my balance, staggering toward the window. Ayaka quickly reached out and steadied me.

“Be careful.”

“You’re like a hero…”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I adjusted my posture and sat back down to gather myself, noticing that the aisle was already filled with a long line of passengers.

Everyone was heading to the same hot spring town. There were families, elderly couples, and all kinds of people waiting in line. Since the inns in this area were rather upscale, there didn’t seem to be many students around, which probably explained why the line was moving unusually slowly.

“We missed our chance. It doesn’t look like we’ll be able to get out for a while,” Ayaka commented.

“Yeah, sorry about that,” I replied.

“No, it’s my fault for rushing. We really shouldn’t have stood up before the bus fully stopped,” Ayaka said as she sat back down. The recliner seat offered just the right amount of resistance as she leaned into it.

Even through the window, I could see that the hot spring town was bustling with people. The place looked like something straight out of a Ghibli movie, with grand old inns lining the streets. I couldn’t wait to get out there and explore.

“You two lovebirds, why don’t you go ahead?” a voice called from the aisle.

Both Ayaka and I turned at the same time. An elderly couple had stopped and were kindly offering to let us pass.

“Are you talking to us?” I asked, only to feel Ayaka lightly smack my shoulder.

“Of course they are, dummy. Hurry up and get up,” she urged.

“Oh, right.”

Quickly standing, we slipped into the space they’d made for us in the line. Since we were close to the exit, we were able to get off the bus right away. Once outside, we waited for the elderly couple to join us.

The couple was dressed in elegant clothes, exuding an air of sophistication.

“Thank you very much,” Ayaka said, bowing her head politely. I followed her lead, expressing my gratitude as well.

“Thank you. It was really kind of you to stop and let us in line,” I said.

At that, the elderly woman chuckled warmly.

“No, not at all. It was my husband who insisted we let the young couple go first,” the elderly woman said with a smile.

The old man, dressed in a fine-looking jacket, chuckled bashfully. As I struggled to think of how to respond, Ayaka spoke up before I could.

“Thank you for being so considerate as soon as we arrived. It’s such a lovely place, this hot spring town,” Ayaka said.

She didn’t deny being a couple, which surprised me a bit, but I understood. If admitting it helped avoid awkwardness, it was easier for both sides to enjoy a pleasant conversation.

The elderly woman nodded happily at Ayaka’s words.

“Yes, this is our fourth time here. It’s such a luxurious place, like Japan’s best qualities all gathered in one spot.”

Just as she was about to continue, her husband smiled wryly.

“Come now, dear, we shouldn’t steal more of their time. Unlike us, their youth is precious. We who have little time left shouldn’t slow them down.”

“Oh, don’t worry, I know that. But our time is precious too, you know—since we don’t have much left,” the woman said, and the old man laughed, agreeing with a “You’re right about that.”

Their exchange hinted at a depth of time and experience I couldn’t fully imagine. With a light bow, the elderly couple bid us farewell.

“Well then, enjoy yourselves. May you be happy together for a long time.”

“Ah, thank you very much,” I replied as Ayaka and I bowed back.

The couple slowly made their way toward the inn. Encounters like this—moments of serendipity—are part of what makes traveling special. Meeting such a lovely couple right at the start felt like a good omen.

“It would be nice to end up like that, wouldn’t it?” Ayaka murmured beside me.

“Huh?!” I blurted out in surprise.

Ayaka turned to me with a look that said “What?” but then, realizing what she’d just said, her face flushed red.

“N-No, that’s not what I meant, not with you or anything!” Ayaka said, flustered for once.

It’s funny how seeing someone more rattled than yourself tends to calm you down. For a moment, her slip made me wonder if maybe she hadn’t denied us being a couple for a different reason than I originally thought. But when I composed myself and brushed it off with a casual “I’m just kidding,” the suspicion disappeared.

Ayaka stared at me. Though I had seriously misunderstood at first, I was confident she hadn’t caught on to that in her current flustered state. I began to wonder if this was how Shinohara teased me sometimes—though there’s no way to know for sure, I felt like it might be.

“Hmph, how cheeky…” Ayaka muttered, turning her face away abruptly before taking a deep breath.

When she turned back to me, she had her usual expression, though her red ears gave away that she was still trying to compose herself.

“Come on, let’s get going,” she said.

“If we leave now, we’ll catch up to that couple, and that’d be kinda awkward, wouldn’t it? Let’s hang around here for a bit.”

“Well… you’ve got a point there,” Ayaka agreed.

I stopped and looked up at the sky. It was still a bit chilly for spring, but the clear blue sky seemed to welcome us.

“Glad it’s sunny,” I remarked.

Ayaka nodded. “The real fun will be tonight when we get to the meal and everything, but yeah, it’s always better when the weather’s nice.”

She looked up at the sky too, squinting against the brightness, and I found the sight of her like that strangely heartwarming.

Behind us, I could hear the bus starting to pull away. That bus was our only link between the peaceful luxury of this secluded place and the hustle and bustle of the city. Being here, away from the noise of everyday life, lifted my spirits in a way I hadn’t expected.