Soft trickle of bamboo shishi-odoshi — then clack.
But the water keeps steaming. The wind moves the maple leaves. Somewhere inside the ryokan, a wooden kachin echoes — a guest sliding a fusuma closed.
She picks up her phone again. Scrolls. Pauses over a message she hasn’t replied to in two days.
After a long pause, Misono closes her eyes. -DS- -21 - A Hot Spring Trip - Mizuhara Misono...
She nods once, small and firm.
She chews. Looks out at the dark garden.
She lets her head fall back against a smooth rock. Her hair floats around her like ink spilled in warm tea. Soft trickle of bamboo shishi-odoshi — then clack
(quietly, almost surprised) Ah.
She stays until her fingers prune. The moon rises behind the steam.
MIZUHARA MISONO (21, sharp-eyed but soft-spoken, wearing a yukata too loose at the collar) sits on the edge of the changing room deck. She hasn’t entered the water yet. Somewhere inside the ryokan, a wooden kachin echoes
(smiling faintly) Even you’re on vacation, huh.
She sets the phone back down. Picks up her chopsticks instead.
A private outdoor bath, steam rising off black stone. Maple branches overhang the fence, lit faintly by a red lantern.
(mouth half-full) Tomorrow — one more soak before checkout.