Heart Pounding Mission in a Steamy Hot Spring

1: Being Too Polite Would be Impolite

note

Every chapter title is an onsen related idiom. It's hard to get across, so I went with whatever works.

Chie: I'm sorry to call you out here so suddenly, Ellen-san, Yui-chan.
Yui: Don't worry about a thing! For you, Chie-san, I'd come running through hell or high water!
Ellen: That's right, Chie.
Chie: I'm glad to hear that then.
Ellen: It doesn't sound like you called us here to play around. Is this a mission?
Chie: That's right. Someone needs to suppress aradama that have infested a hot spring.
Ellen: Oh! A hot spring?
Yui: Count me in-!
Yui: First we can wash off the tiredness from getting there, then we can wash off the tiredness from getting rid of the aradama!
Chie: About that, from the sound of things, the aradama have taken up in the source of the springwater.
Chie: Because of that, they can no longer maintain the spring, so no one is allowed in.
Yui: Oh no!
Ellen: No one can enter the springs...? That's big trouble!
Chie: It seems like it. This month is the busy season for the inn, so the aradama are stopping their business.
Yui: ...I won't forgive them.
Yui: A hot springs inn without a hot spring is just an inn!
Yui: We have to stop these aradama as soon as possible!
Chie: It's a bit of a long trip, so why don't we meet back up after getting our things together? Would that be alright?
Ellen/Yui: Sure-!
Chie: Let's see... Mm, that should be everything. I'm all set.
Chie: "I'm finished here. How are things with you two?" Sent.
Chie: ...Ah, they already replied. Hmm, oh, it seems like they'll take a little longer.
Chie: That leaves me with some free time, but... What to do?
Chie: I ended up coming to the meeting spot early. Well... It's better than showing up late.
Mihono: Huh, Chii-nee? What're you doing with that suitcase?
Mihono: Are you going on a trip?
Chie: Just a bit of a long distance mission that came up.
Chie: It could end up taking the rest of the week, so I needed a few changes of clothes.
Mihono: Ehh!? So you won't be here this weekend!? That's too bad...
Mihono: I wanted to go on a sweets tour with you... But I guess we can't now?
Chie: Nnn... When you use those puppy dog eyes of yours, Mihono-chan...
Chie: But... I'm sorry. No matter how much I hurry, I probably won't be back before the weekend is over...
Mihono: Really... Okay! Since it's a mission, I know you can't help it!
Mihono: Who are you going with?
Yui: That'd be me!
Ellen: And me too!
Mihono: Yui and Ellen-san! Huh, I wouldn't expected you guys to get grouped together.
Yui: Think again, Mihono-chan! You see, Ellen-san and Chie-san both have an overwhelming motherly nature in common!
Chie: Mmm, I don't think I'm much of the motherly type. I'm an onee-san after all...
Yui: No no, look, you two have such huge motherly attributes right there!
Ellen: I see, our breasts, huh. I think you'd get along with Nene, Yuiyui.
Yui: I've heard the rumors too. I'd like to have a nice long chat with Nene someday!
Mihono: Looks like a fun team though, Chii-nee.
Chie: Fufu, I agree.

2: Neither Doctors nor Springwater (Can Cure Lovesickness)

Mihono: Hmm, what do I do now...
Kiyoka: Good morning, Hono-chan.
Mihono: Ah, morning, Kiyoka.
Kiyoka: I heard you groaning back there. Did you forget to do your homework?
Mihono: Nah, I finished all of it this time. But that's not it, Chii-nee left on a long assignment yesterday.
Kiyoka: Oh, I heard about that from Yui-chan.
Kiyoka: She said "There's a big aradama infestation, so it could take until the start of next week! Sorry, I won't be able to play with you this weekend!"
Mihono: Did you have plans to do something with Yui?
Kiyoka: No, we didn't talk about anything.
Mihono: Ahaha, that's Yui alright.
Mihono: Actually, I was thinking of going somewhere with Chii-nee this weekend!
Kiyoka: Oh, so that's why you looked so disappointed.
Mihono: Yeah. What were you going to do this weekend, Kiyoka?
Mihono: Have you made any plans yet?
Kiyoka: I was planning on visiting a hot spring with a senpai from my school.
Kiyoka: We started talking about it a long time ago.
Mihono: A hot spring!
Mihono: Sounds nice. Do I know that senpai of yours? If it's okay with you two, I'd want to tag along!
Kiyoka: Mmhm, you know them. It's Juujou-san.
Kiyoka: If you want to go with us... It doesn't hurt to ask, so why don't we go talk to her together at lunchtime?
Mihono: Okay!
Kiyoka: Juujou-saaan!
Hiyori: Kiyoka? I was looking for you. There's something I wanted to ask...
Mihono: Hey, it's Kaoru-san.
Kaoru: I'm guessing you two wanted to talk about the same thing. You want to go to the hot spring too?
Mihono: Yep, that's right! Are you going too?
Kaoru: Ellen was busy and I had nothing else to do, and that's when I heard about this trip.
Mihono: Hey, we're totally in the same boat! Hot springs are the best, aren't they?
Mihono: You get to soak in the water, and eat great food, and play table tennis.
Kaoru: Table tennis... I'm pretty good at that, you know?
Mihono: I'm not about to lose either!
Kiyoka: ...Umm, the hot spring we were planning on visiting doesn't actually have table tennis there.
Mihono: Ehh!? There's no table tennis...
Mihono: But I still feel like competing, so why don't we play it now?
Kaoru: Pass. Listen up, Mihono. Table tennis is always fun when there's a hot spring to get in nearby.
Kaoru: But if we do it here, we'd only be working up a sweat.
Mihono: Isn't working up a sweat a good thing?
Kaoru: It's just tiring. Without a hot spring to cure that tiredness, table tennis loses half its appeal.
Mihono: Isn't that a different appeal though? But if they don't have table tennis, we can always think up some other kind of exercise.
Kaoru: A bigger workout gets another pass. Table tennis is just barely at the acceptable level of exercise. Ideally, it should be something we can do in our room.
Mihono: Then... How about a pillow fight?
Kiyoka: I think we'd need a few more people than just the four of us for a good pillow fight.
Hiyori: We can think about what we'll do later. For starters, we need to tell the inn we're bringing more people.
Kiyoka: Please do... Ah, what about ghost stories?
Hiyori: Ghost stories? I've never done that before, but is telling scary stories really that interesting?
Kiyoka: It's interesting because it's scary! And aside from ghost stories, we can talk about love too!
Hiyori: Talk about love...!?
Kaoru: That's about as standard as it gets, but... Does any of us even have a partner?
Kaoru: Just putting this out there, but I don't.
Hiyori: A-As if I have someone like that!
Mihono: I don't think I do either. Besides, what's more important now is our duty as toji!
Hiyori: That's right, well said, Mihono!
Kiyoka: I don't either... So I guess we should tell scary stories after all.
Mihono: Ughh... So that's how it'll be. I'm not great with scary stories...
Kiyoka: Fufufu, get yourself ready, Hono-chan. I'll have a lot of scary stories in store for everyone!

3: A Waste of One's Efforts

Hiyori: We can't go in the spring?
Landlady: I'm very sorry. Because aradama appeared in the source of the springwater, we can't maintain it anymore...
Kiyoka: But we came all this way... What should we do?
Hiyori: There's nothing to think about. We should just exterminate those aradama.
Mihono: I agree with Juujou-san!
Mihono: And after we beat the aradama, we can get in the hot spring. It's two birds with one stone.
Kiyoka: ...You're right. We came this far, so we can't leave without getting in the water!
Kaoru: You all look like you made your minds up.
Hiyori: Are you against this, Kaoru?
Kaoru: It seems like a lot of work.
Kaoru: ...That's how I feel, but somebody's got to do this. I'll go along with you guys.
Hiyori: I've never seen you put up that little resistance before.
Kaoru: It'd be way more annoying coming out here and not even getting in a hot spring, after all.
Kaoru: Seems like a lot of work though.
Hiyori: Then that's settled. Where is the spring's source?
Landlady: It's up that mountain...
Hiyori: Ah, that way? Good, we can leave now.
Mihono/Kiyoka: Yeah!
Nene: Ne-!
Landlady: P-Please wait. It's dangerous if you leave right now. The sun will be setting soon, and the forecast said the snowfall tonight will be terrible.
Mihono: Snow up on a mountain at night...
Kiyoka: I'm worried that we won't be able to stop the aradama.
Kaoru: It can be dangerous up on a snowy mountain if you're not used to it. What do you want to do?
Hiyori: Let's see...
Landlady: U-Um, three toji had already set out to suppress the aradama before you arrived...
Hiyori: What?
Landlady: I'm sorry, I should have told you right away.
Landlady: They took care of the aradama in town yesterday, and today they went to the spring's source...
Karou: If there's already toji dealing with it, why don't we just wait here and see how things go tonight?
Kaoru: They might even be suppressing the aradama right now.
Hiyori: I can't deny that, but... What do you two think?
Kiyoka: I think we should do what Kaoru-san says and wait here tonight.
Kiyoka: Fighting in the dark and snow... It sounds sort of scary...
Mihono: If I had to say, I think I'm with Kiyoka on this.
Kaoru: It's three against one, Hiyori.
Hiyori: I-I never said I was against waiting here!
Hiyori: We'll stay here at the inn tonight! Got that!
Kiyoka: This is something that actually happened to my mother... It was in... That's right, it was an inn just like this one.
Mihono: Gulp.
Kiyoka: My mother went on a trip with some friends to a hot spring. They got in the spring, ate a good meal, and relaxed... Before they knew it, it was 10 at night.
Kaoru: Hey, that's almost just like us here.
Hiyori: D-Don't make unnecessary comments in the middle of the story!
Kaoru: You getting scared-?
Hiyori: N-N-N-Nobody's scared! Kiyoka! Just keep going!
Kiyoka: "The water was so nice, wasn't it?" "Want to go get back in?" As they chatted like that into the night, they heard a voice from the other side of the sliding door.
Kiyoka: "Would any of you guests like a massage?"
Kaoru: That's sexual harassment.
Kiyoka: No, apparently it was a woman's voice. My mother refused, and they didn't hear from the voice again.
Kiyoka: But... It was strange.
Mihono: Wh-What was?
Kiyoka: They heard the voice from the other side of the sliding door, right? But on the other side of that... There should have been a locked door.
Hiyori: Eek...!
Kiyoka: My mother and her friends quickly realized it. "Eh? What does that mean? We did lock the door, didn't we?"
Kiyoka: "...Should we go check?"
Kaoru: Oh, there's a death flag.
Hiyori: ...Gulp.
Kiyoka: They found their courage and slid open the door. But there was no one there.
Mihono: Th-The lock! Did they lock the door or not!?
Kiyoka: It still seemed to be locked. They looked out through the peephole and couldn't see anyone in the hallway.
Hiyori: W-Well then there wasn't anyone there, was there.
Kiyoka: My mother and her friends thought the same thing, and started feeling safer. But, at that moment, they heard a knocking at the door.
Kiyoka: Like...
Hiyori/Mihono: GYAAAA-----!!
Kaoru: Who's at the door this late? Did you attract a real ghost by telling scary stories?
Hiyori: A-A-A-As if something like that could happen! Ghosts are just a silly superstition!
Kaoru: If they're not real, then you go answer the door, Hiyori.
Hiyori: W-Wait! R-Rock paper scissors...! We'll decide who answers it with rock paper scissors!
Mihono: I can't afford to lose...! Where there's a will, there's a way!
Kiyoka: I don't think you need to be so serious about this...
Kaoru: Then, here we go... Rock paper scissors!
Everyone: Shoot!
Kiyoka: Ah, I lost. I'll be right back.
Kiyoka: Hello, who is i... KYAAAAAAAAAAA!!
Hiyori/Mihono: UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!
Yui: Kiyoka-chan, you're so waaaaaaaaaarm!
Mihono: ...Wait, Yui!?

4: Something's Better than Nothing

--Several hours earlier.

Chie: Those must be the aradama holed up in the spring's source.
Ellen: There's a lot more of them than I expected.
Yui: We can handle that many no problem! Just have to wipe 'em out with a BANG!
Yui: And when we get back, the hot spring will be waiting!
Chie: ...What do you think, Ellen-san?
Ellen: We don't have to push our luck here. Snow, night, and the mountains would be a bad mix.
Chie: I agree. We located the aradama, so we should head back for today.
Chie: So we returned here, and the landlady told us more toji had arrived.
Ellen: And I was surprised to see you, Kaoru! Why did you come?
Kaoru: Just a coincidence. Me and Mihono joined in on the hot springs trip Hiyori and Kiyoka planned.
Yui: Ehh, you didn't tell me anything about that.
Kiyoka: Eeep! Don't look at me!
Yui: But, now I have Kiyoka-chan with me, so all's well that ends well!
Yui: Warm me up, Kiyoka-chan! Pant, pant, sniff, sniff!
Kiyoka: I don't want a hug-!? Just- let- go- please-!
Hiyori: ...Is it okay to let her do that?
Mihono: Kiyoka and Yui are really friendly, so it's okay!
Mihono: Anyway, I'm glad it wasn't a ghost. Right, Juujou-san!
Ellen: A ghost?
Hiyori: I-It's not important!
Kiyoka: Uuu, they forgot about me... Somebody, helppp...
Hiyori: Anyway, it's good to see that you three were the toji they sent out.
Hiyori: We'll be joining you tomorrow.
Ellen: That'd be a big help! We were worried about what to do, since there were so many aradama!
Chie: Fufu, we can take care of them together and then all join in back at the hot spring.
Ellen: Sounds nice, Chie! Nothing takes off the fatigue like a hot spring!
Yui: Hooray-! They say good things come in pairs, and I see plenty of pairs around me!
Chie: [peaceful sleeping]...
Ellen: [heavier sleeping]...
Yui: [homosexual sleeping]...
Mihono: They're all asleep.
Kaoru: They had to march their way through a mountain in the snow. They must be worn out.
Kiyoka: ...Yui-chan was actually tired.
Kiyoka: Um, is there anything we can do to help them?
Hiyori: Besides going to eliminate the aradama together?
Kiyoka: Yes! Like, for example... Getting a nutritious meal ready for them!
Kaoru: We're at an inn, you know? I'm sure the people here can make something better than us.
Kaoru: Why don't we ask them to make their favorites for them at least?
Kiyoka: That sounds nice too...!
Mihono: Also, why don't we take care of the aradama ourselves?
Mihono: That's what we were going to do at first anyway, right?
Hiyori: We hadn't decided on that yet... But no, that could work.
Hiyori: Should we do that?
Ellen: Nnn... Kaoru... That's not a kanpyou maki... That's chikuwa.
Kaoru: What kinda dream is that. Anyway, why don't we all just go together?
Kiyoka: ...I agree with Hono-chan and Juujou-san.
Hiyori: Heh, three against one, is it?
Kaoru: Fine then, I'll go.
Ellen: It's a beautiful morning! Wake up, Chie, Yui!
Chie: Yawn... Morning, everyone... Hm? Where's Mihono-chan?
Yui: Bad news! Kiyoka-chan and them... They asked the landlady to make our favorite food, then went ahead to deal with the aradama!

5: All Things in Moderation

Mihono: I wonder if the landlady made their favorite foods after all.
Kiyoka: I don't think we have to worry about that. It was short notice, but I'm glad she was willing to hear us out.
Hiyori: Agreed. I'm sure they're eating their fill right about now.
Kaoru: Yawn... If we were back at the inn, we'd be in the middle of breakfast now, huh. Never thought I'd be getting up this early on a hot springs trip.
Hiyori: You can take all the time you want in the spring after these aradama are cleared out.
Hiyori: Let's keep moving.
Kiyoka: According to the map, this should be the source, but...
Hiyori: They're all over.
Mihono: Ten... Twenty... Thirty... There's too many to count!
Kaoru: Way too many. Too much for us to deal with by ourselves.
Hiyori: ......You're right. Instead of acting cool, we should send a message back. ...Does anyone have signal?
Kaoru: Just barely, but I can get through.
Hiyori: Good. Kiyoka and Mihono, you should move around softly so the cold doesn't get to you.
Mihono: Okay!
Kiyoka: Uuu, it's so cold, Hono-chan. If only we'd brought some hot tea with us.
Mihono: I know, right? When it's this cold, you... Ah... Ah...
Kiyoka: Ah?
Mihono: ACHOO!!
Kaoru: Idiot! Why'd you have to go and sneeze at a time like this!
Mihono: Ughh, I'm sorry-!
Hiyori: Tch, they noticed us!
Kiyoka: Wh-What do we do now!?
Hiyori: We don't have a choice... Kiyoka, stick with me!
Kiyoka: Ah, o-okay!
Kaoru: So that means you're with me, Mihono.
Mihono: Got it!
Kaoru: Come on, here we go!
Nene: Ne-!
Chie: We should have told them just how many aradama there were.
Ellen: Even if it's a little dangerous, they were only worried about us.
Chie: I'm glad they felt that way, but... As an onee-san, there are some times you have to get angry.
Yui: They said they'd hide out and wait for us to get there, so it's not like you have to get mad at them, right?
Ellen: A good call! That was smart of them, wasn't it!
Chie: ...Did you hear something just now?
Ellen: I did. It sounded like someone was fighting...
Yui: No no no! It didn't sound "like someone's fighting", that is someone fighting!
Chie: We have to hurry!
Mihono: There's just too many aradamaaa...
Kaoru: Watch your head, Mihono!
Mihono: Awawa!
Kaoru: Damnit, where'd all that energy you had at the start go?
Mihono: Sorry... I ran out of concentration...
Kiyoka: Hyaah-!?
Hiyori: Tch! Hang in there, Kiyoka!
Kiyoka: Uuu... I can't do anything, against all of them...
Ellen: Oh! Looks like a hard fight! Chie, let's back them up!
Chie: Ellen-san, you go to Mihono-chan and Kaoru-san. Yui-chan, you come with me!
Yui: Right!
Ellen: Kaoru-! I'm here to rescue you-!
Kaoru: Ellen? We're saved!
Yui: You okay, Kiyoka-chan?
Kiyoka: Chie-san! Yui-chan!
Chie: Juujou-san, leave Kiyoka-chan to Yui-chan and I.
Hiyori: Alright, watch after her. HAAAH!
Kaoru: Guess that's the end of them. Ahh, I'm beat.
Ellen: That's a big win!
Kiyoka: Thank you, Chie-san.
Chie: Fufu, I'm your onee-san after all. Don't mention it.
Hiyori: Thanks... Ellen, Chie, Yui. You saved us.
Yui: Think nothing of it! Let's just race back to the spring!
Mihono: Yeah-!

6: Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts

Ellen: Now for the hot spring!
Hiyori: We just came in from the cold, after all. We should warm up before we get sick.
Kaoru: Ahh, finally, we can get in. Come on, Nene.
Nene: Nene-!
Chie: Fufu, it's been a while since we took a bath together, Mihono-chan.
Mihono: I'll wash your back for you, Chii-nee.
Chie: Okay, I'd appreciate it.
Yui: Mihono-chan, behind Chie-san... Guhe, guhehe...
Yui: Kiyoka-chan, why don't we try that too?
Kiyoka: I refuse!
Yui: BWHAA-!
Mihono: Blood came spewing out of Yui's nose!?
Yui: Pant, pant... J-Just ignore that, l-let me wash your... BWHAA!!
Mihono: It did it again!?
Ellen: You might have a thin nasal membrane, Yuiyui. It's probably best if you stay out of the hot spring.
Yui: But that's too cruel!
Chie: Why don't you try calming down a little for now? Here, come here.
Yui: Chie-san's are... This close to me... BWHAA!
Chie: Kyaa!? Ellen-san, help me get her out of here!
Ellen: Got it!
Yui: I'm spent... Nothing's coming out anymore... Gagh.
Kaoru: That's fine, then you won't be getting your nosebleed in the water.
Nene: Nene-.
Kaoru: Ahh... Feels like I came back to life. Some kanpyou maki would hit the spot right now.
Mihono: Kanpyou maki... Should we ask the landlady for some?
Kaoru: Maybe later... Anyway, come on in, Mihono. The water's great.
Mihono: Okay! ...Ahhhh, it's so warm.
Kaoru: Feels better because of how cold it was out on the mountain. Makes it all worth it.
Mihono: Ahh, sorry I messed things up for us, back there.
Kaoru: Eh, all's well that ends well. No point overthinking it when we were gonna fight anyway.
Mihono: Okay, thanks, Kaoru-san!
Ellen: What are you talking about now, Kaoru?
Kaoru: Nothing much. Anyway, what happened with Yui?
Chie: She'll be fine; we spoke to the landlady. When she's feeling better she can join us.
Ellen: With that settled... Nnn-! Nothing beats an hot spring after a mission!
Chie: I know. Swinging an okatana around like that is always so hard on your back and shoulders, isn't it?
Hiyori: What are you talking about...? Phew, I can feel the springwater soaking in.
Kiyoka: ...Um, Yui-chan was sound asleep in the dressing room... What happened?
Mihono: It sounds like Yui has thin nasal membranes and needed some rest.
Kiyoka: Her nasal membranes...! Then I guess we should just let her sleep, right!
Chie: Anyway, you all gave me a scare this morning. I never thought you'd go and leave without us.
Ellen: I know! It's rude of you to leave your friends behind like that, Kaoru!
Kaoru: Hey, you know I wanted to sleep in. But Kiyoka here wouldn't stop until we did something to help you guys out.
Kiyoka: Awawa! I-I didn't mean for it to get out of hand like that, but you all looked so tired, so I just wondered if there was something we could do to help...
Ellen: Well, thank you very much, Kiyoka!
Kiyoka: You're welcome... (bubble bubble)
Mihono: Kiyoka... Are you embarrassed?
Kiyoka: ...Just a little, maybe.
Yui: I sensed something sort of yuri happening, so Yamashiro Yui is back in action-! Everyone, come let me wash your... BWHAA!
Ellen: So much for back in action.
Chie: Honestly, someone's going to have to keep watch over her.
Yui: Why does this have to happen to me... Just try a little harder, my nasal membranes-!!