Chapter One Hundred: An He’s Origins

When Sagiri Amamiya returned, the two in the room were already sitting obediently on the bed.

For some reason, she felt their expressions were a bit strange, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint what was off.

Shaking her head, Sagiri decided not to dwell on it. She casually picked up her phone from the table, glanced to confirm no photos were left behind, then handed it over to Saori Amamiya.

“Here, take it. I’ll let it slide this time, but if there’s a next time…”

Sagiri’s eyes narrowed slightly, flashing a dangerous look; the unspoken warning hung in the air.

Meeting her gaze, Saori shivered and hurriedly took the phone, nodding like a little chick pecking at grain.

“Yes, yes, I promise, I won’t do it again.”

Sagiri merely responded with a soft “hmm,” then turned her attention to An, who had been quietly observing from the side.

An’s heart skipped a beat when she looked his way, but he forced a smile and asked casually,

“What’s wrong?”

Sagiri opened her mouth, intending to ask what he and Nobue Itou had done today, but she ultimately kept quiet and shook her head gently.

“Nothing, just a bit hungry.”

[The other party is trying to hide something; though they say they don’t mind, deep down, there’s discomfort. If left unaddressed, it will only fester into something worse. Perhaps you could try comforting her in your own way…]

An unusually serious voice of narration echoed in his mind.

Though An could already tell Sagiri wasn’t feeling right, the words gave him a nudge of clarity.

One-sided love or suffering never lasts; love is always mutual.

But how to make it up to Sagiri?

An pondered silently.

At that moment, hearing Sagiri say she was hungry, Saori, her tear-streaked face brightening, suddenly perked up. Her eyes sparkled as she raised her small hand high and suggested,

“Let’s go out to eat! I remember there’s a barbecue stall not far from here, and there’s an onsen inn nearby. After eating, we could soak in the hot springs!”

An’s eyes lit up at the mention of an onsen.

He recalled that when they first talked about visiting Mount Fuji, Sagiri had specifically mentioned wanting to soak in hot springs.

Looking at her, sure enough, Sagiri’s expression visibly softened upon hearing those words.

Seizing the moment, An made a decision.

“Let’s rent a room at the onsen inn first, put our things away, then head out for barbecue. After dinner, we can come back and soak in the hot springs.”

“Yay!”

Saori cheered, raising her hand enthusiastically, and even Sagiri smiled faintly.

With everyone agreeing, An stood up to gather their things. Originally, the sisters planned to change out of their miko outfits, but after An’s compliments, they decided to keep them on, only adding down jackets outside.

Once everything was packed, the three arrived at the inn’s lobby. After returning the key to the landlady, they stepped out together.

The sun had fully set, and the dazzling nightlife of Yamanashi Prefecture was just beginning.

People bustled through the crowded streets, the aroma of various delicacies tantalizing their senses. Vendors called out their wares, eagerly attracting passing customers.

Music, chatter, and car horns blended into a unique symphony.

Though they had seen this scene before, Saori remained excited. If not for An’s restraint, she might have bought another heap of useless things like yesterday.

After weaving through the crowd for some time, the trio reached the onsen inn Saori had mentioned, with the much-anticipated barbecue stall right across the street.

Seeing Saori drooling with anticipation, An chuckled and suggested,

“If you’re hungry, go ahead and eat first. I can handle renting the room by myself.”

“Really?”

Saori’s big eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Of course.”

An took the handbag she was holding, then looked to Sagiri.

“You should come along too. Just give me your stuff. I’m worried Saori might get into trouble on her own.”

Sagiri hesitated briefly, then nodded.

“Alright, we’ll order some food and wait for you.”

With that, Sagiri hung her handbag around An’s neck and tugged Saori along, who pouted because An had called her unreliable, and headed toward the barbecue stall.

Watching them leave, An turned and entered the inn’s lobby.

Behind the counter sat a balding man in his fifties, wrapped in a quilt. Hearing the noise, he stood with a servile smile but immediately lost it upon seeing the young man and lazily sat back down, crossing his legs.

“Room for the night?”

“Yes.”

An nodded, unfazed by the man’s attitude. Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.

[Waiting like a hunter for prey to bite? No surprise he’s disappointed to see a guy first, but he won’t expect two prime targets to show up shortly. Perhaps you can find the three hidden cameras he stashed—those recordings will be quite interesting.]

What? A shady inn?

An raised an eyebrow and discreetly studied the balding man.

The man was engrossed in watching videos on the computer, paying no attention to An’s approach.

An considered and cautiously asked,

“Do you have any extra rooms? There are two girls with me, and it’s inconvenient for us to share one room.”

At that, the man abruptly raised his head, his eyes shining.

“Two others?”

“Yes.”

An nodded and lifted the pink handbag as if to explain, “My girlfriend and my sister.”

The man’s breathing grew heavier, a smile spreading across his face. He picked up a ledger and pretended to examine it, then said,

“There are two rooms left—one single, one double. Since you have two girls, let them share the double room. You don’t look that old anyway.”

His tone shifted into that of an elder lecturing a youngster, as if threatening to call the police if An refused.

By now, An was certain the man had ulterior motives.

Recalling the narration about three cameras, An’s eyes flashed. He didn’t confront the man outright but proposed,

“Can you show me the rooms first? I want to put my things down.”

“No problem.”

The man agreed without hesitation, leading An to the second floor corner with a key in hand. An followed quickly.

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