pdf-ebookys Chapter 314 Speaking of the seaside, that naturally includes swimsuits and hot springs!
Chapter 314 Speaking of the seaside, that naturally includes swimsuits and hot springs!
"Welcome to Izumo-Yu Village Onsen. This hot spring has a history of 300 years and uses a super-grade A water filtration system. The slightly alkaline, pure hot spring water moisturizes the skin..."
A misty haze drifts from the top of the bamboo wall, and amidst the faint sound of water, one can hear the receptionist explaining things to other customers.
Knock-knock-
The clear, resonant sound of tapping echoed through the forest, the bamboo tube device cycling between overflowing and pouring, this mechanical rhythm adding an infinite Zen-like quality to the mountain spring water. Suddenly, a gentle breeze rustled through the trees, the bamboo shadows swaying, as if ancient scholars of old were sitting and discussing chess in the woods, leisurely and content.
The early summer evening in Izumo was slightly cool, and the crimson clouds had just been washed away by the moonlight. According to Uncle Hanzawa, now was the perfect time to enjoy the hot springs and leisurely pace of life, however—
"Mr. Sami, that's enough, stop asking!"
"Black Gate, are you going to show off again?" a trembling, angry voice questioned.
"I won't say anything more... It's not a big deal, it's not worth bothering them!" the restrained voice pleaded.
"Is that... Kuromon-kun and Manager Sami?"
The increasingly loud argument could be heard through the curtain of the men's changing room. Ran, Sonoko, and Kosaki, who had just changed into their yukatas and were about to clean themselves beforehand, calmed the worried receptionist away and looked at each other through the curtain.
"Conan, what happened?" Ran Mouri approached the door, looking uneasy.
"Ran-neechan, please help us persuade him!" Conan shouted, as if he'd heard a savior. "Kuromon-kun is planning to go to the hot springs while injured. He's being so irresponsible!"
"No, I know my own situation perfectly well!"
For the first time, Manager Sami swore: "What the hell do you know?!"
"You first, Conan, let go of my pants!!"
"No, I won't let go!"
What started as a serious argument suddenly became childish and escalated. More and more guests gathered in the corridor, some looking for vending machines, others making calls with their phones turned off, all curiously watching.
Ran Mouri sighed, Ran Mouri frowned, Ran Mouri clenched her fists tightly in Sonoko's cold sweat, making a cracking sound, she could no longer bear it!
Boom!
The solid granite wall trembled as it was pounded, and the entire corridor fell silent instantly. "Alright! No matter what, all of you better mature and get dressed and come out here right now!" Turning around, the Valkyrie instantly transformed into a Yamato Nadeshiko, bowing apologetically to everyone around her, "I'm so sorry to have disturbed you all."
Gulu.
The sounds of them swallowing saliva were perfectly synchronized.
"No, no, it's okay." "Right, right."
The crowd scattered like birds and beasts, and after a moment, "whoosh," the curtain was reluctantly lifted.
Water droplets dripped from her hair, falling like spider silk into the abyss, hanging with a string of clear light as they flowed down her collarbone into her chest and disappeared into the gaps in her bathrobe.
In the high humidity, a layer of moist film covered his fair and flawless skin. Kuromon Haruya adjusted his collar, and Asano Minami walked out beside him, the two hanging their heads, refusing to look at each other in a huff. Behind them followed a helpless-looking Conan.
Sonoko put her hands on her hips, her worried gaze shifting between the two of them: "Conan, you tell me, what were they just discussing? Where's Mr. Hanzawa?"
"Brother Fanze can't take a bath because he has a cast on his arm, so he and Uncle Renzhi went back to their room first."
"By the way, tell me about Brother Heimen!"
Conan stood on tiptoe and reached out to pull open the arm that Kuromon Haruya had hidden in her sleeve, revealing it to everyone. After several hours, the hideous purplish-blue blood stasis had spread out, and the spiderweb-like patterns were clearly visible. Although it was no longer swollen, seeing it again was still shocking.
Ran Mouri gasped, anxiously peering closer at the wound: "Such a serious bruise... Kuromon-kun, how did you get hurt like this? You need to get it treated right away!"
Having achieved some success in martial arts like karate, Ran Mouri has inevitably suffered injuries during training, and with her experience, she can immediately tell the severity of such injuries.
"Ran, don't worry, I'm fine." Avoiding eye contact, Kuromon Haruya raised his hand and gently placed it on the back of Ran's hand, slowly shaking his head. "It just looks scary."
"How could you be alright! I remember your arm was fine this morning. What happened? I've only ever seen these kinds of patchy bruises in professional karate matches," the answer to the mystery blurted out. "Could it be when you were testing Mr. Kyogoku at noon...?"
Ran Mouri's face immediately darkened, and a feeling of dislike for Makoto Kyogoku welled up in her heart.
"You guessed it." Kuromon Haruya forced a wry smile and withdrew his hand.
Sonoko Suzuki covered her face, tears welling in her shaken eyes: "Oh my god, how could this happen... You're so badly injured, Kuromon-nii, you must be in so much pain!"
Just last month, she scraped her leg while cycling with Ran and stayed in bed for a week, huddled in pain, before finally daring to go out. If it were her, Sonoko would have been grimacing and burying her face in Ran's arms, constantly whimpering and complaining. Yet, Kuromon hasn't shown a single sign of discomfort even after all this time...
Ugh, if it weren't for testing me, Kuromon wouldn't have done it! Sonoko Suzuki hates this feeling of dragging others down with her.
Warm fingertips landed on her forehead. Following the instructions given to her by Kuromon Haruya in an emergency, Asami gently smoothed the space between her brows: "Don't make such a sad face, Sonoko-san, it hurts us to see you like that." Then she turned her reproachful gaze to Kuromon Haruya, "Kuromon, you too, there's no need to be so stubborn."
Yoruichi Kuromon rolled up his sleeves and lowered his eyes helplessly: "I was planning to wear a towel on my arm while soaking in the hot spring so you wouldn't worry. Who knew Conan would be so quick-witted and see through it right away... Sorry for scaring you."
Sonoko wiped her eyes: "Are you really alright? How can you go to the hot spring like this?"
"It's nothing, it's nothing~" He winked playfully with his right eye and struck a bodybuilder pose. "My body is special, and the hot spring water actually helps with recovery. I didn't need similar injuries when I was doing photography before, and I got through it this way! See, there's no problem at all!"
"Really?" Asagi Shinobu casually poked him, immediately causing him to shudder—everyone present could see that he was forcing a smile.
Sonoko's fingers clenched unconsciously; at that moment, she seemed to glimpse a black cat huddled in a corner, licking its wounds: "But..."
“I was too reckless.” Kuromon Haruya suddenly interrupted, a shadow of self-reproach cast on his eyelashes, making his brokenness even more apparent. “After seeing him parry the other people’s moves, I knew he was exceptionally skilled, but I still insisted on testing his strength. He was just reacting instinctively. Sonoko, don’t hold a grudge against him because of this. I can feel that he is a good person who genuinely wants to protect you.”
The victim then shrugged, feigning nonchalance, saying, "It's all my fault for not knowing my limits."
"..."
His attitude in admitting his mistake was so proactive that everyone felt it was neither good to criticize him nor good to remain silent.
In the silence, Kosaki curiously changed the subject: "Who is this Mr. Kyogoku you're talking about?"
"Just thinking about him makes me angry!" Sonoko said angrily, briefly recounting her day's events.
“It is indeed suspicious.” Kosaki frowned, adding another member to the anti-Kyogoku Makoto alliance.
His sharp gaze shifted to Kuromon Haruya, "Kuromon-nii, I'll reluctantly forgive him this time for your sake!"
Ha! I'll see if this "kick-playing nobleman" is worth Black Gate's injury and trust!
Satisfaction ignited the fighting spirit in Sonoko's eyes, and Kuromon Haruya winked at Asano Minami as a signal.
The latter coughed lightly, straightened his makeshift bathrobe, and smoothed things over, saying, "Alright, alright, we're here to relax in the hot springs tonight! I'll keep an eye on Kuromon for a while, so everyone can enjoy yourselves!"
The girls cast pitying and expectant glances at him. Their eyes, coded with unreadable secrets, somehow circulated a strategy before they suddenly relaxed their tone: "Okay."
With their own thoughts and purposes in mind, the three men and three women exchanged a few final pleasantries and instructions before turning and entering their respective private hot spring rooms.
In the next half minute, the noise coming from the direction of the women's bathhouse grew louder and louder.
Under a clear night sky, the stars twinkled. Sonoko's vivid description was interspersed with Ran's supplementary explanations, and occasionally, Kosaki's gasps of surprise could be heard.
As Kuromon Haruya leaned against the stone wall by the pool, listening to the rising and falling cries of "That's too much!" and "There's definitely something wrong!" from next door, the corners of his lips curled up almost imperceptibly.
Asano Makoto: "Ahem, Mr. Kuromon?"
"Hmm?" Kuromon Haruya turned around.
"Sir, since you begged me with 3000 points, I'll only do it this once."
Seeing that his wandering thoughts had been pulled back, Asagi, in a low, strained voice, lowered his eyes and feigned sadness under his questioning gaze, his shoulders swaying, and covered his left arm as he whispered:
"Mr. Kyogoku didn't do it on purpose."
Before he finished speaking, he plunged into the water and swam to Conan's side.
"..."
An unusual silence descended, even the summer insects fell silent.
Asano hypnotized himself to remain composed, slowly turning his head—Kuromon Haruya's smile remained unchanged, only his head was tilted, serene and peaceful, without a trace of murderous intent!