As they walked towards the hotel where they'd spend the night, the streets of Fukui were bathed in a serene quietness, punctuated by the occasional hum of traffic.
Hori, trying her best to carry the plentiful luggage Haruki assigned to her, she walked trailing behind him.
Haruki broke the awkward silence that had settled between them, initiating a conversation.
"So you're sure you can't go to the police for some help?"
He referred to Hori's situation, Haruki had previously asked this question but Hori vaguely avoided it. Surely men in uniform should be able to help her reunite with her father, unless Hori was a wanted criminal.
"It's.... A long story." Hori said dejectedly. Remembering the station she received the news of her so called "Death"
She didn't want to think of the fact that even her "corpse" was confirmed, she simply wished to meet her father and find some answers, but no one would believe she was the Prime Minister's daughter.
Haruki on the other hand was wondering what exactly happened between Hori and the police, you woke up in a new place with dyed hair, but you can't report to a station?
"Is she on the run or something?"
He accidentally said out loud. Hori didn't hear tho, he cleared his throat and continued.
"So.... what's your family like?"
Haruki asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Oh...I have no relatives except from my Father." Hori said.
"Woah, that's the same with me, I had only my mom." Haruki replied.
"So were you guys rich? cause your grammar sounds.... expensive." Haruki rose a brow, observing Hori's manners and grammar so far meant royalty.
"I mean, I was privileged enough to not lack anything in life... so I guess you could call us rich."
Narrator felt frustrated from Hori hiding information about herself. She told the voice in her head she couldn't reveal such things yet.
Haruki continued his interrogation as they walked.
".... so you said you just woke up with dark blue hair?"
"That is correct..."
"And you were in some abandoned warehouse?"
"That is also correct..."
Hori wore a sad expression on her face.
"But I have come to a decision! I will be joining the Sin Hunting Organization and become a Priest! Once I do that, I'll aim to become the best of the best, a Bishop. That way I might get a chance to speak with my father!"
Haruki went silent for a bit, he let out a happy smile as if dismissing a bad thought. "Welp, after we get some sleep we're gonna go straight to SHO to enroll!" He yelled.
"....we?" Hori asked.
"You got that right! I'm coming too!" He gave a thumbs up, he was creepily supportive.
"But enrolling at SHO is very dangerous! I wouldn't want you to get hurt, Haruki-san." Hori said worryingly.
"Yeah yeah, stop worrying about me...I just wanna do it."
"... Is that so..." No normal person just chooses to enroll at SHO. The death count for examinees taking the entrance exams were extremely high.
Haruki was quite the strange one.
"You sure those luggages aren't heavy?"
"Not at all Haruki-san! This is nothing!" She walked past him to show they weren't heavy.
Haruki smiled and increased his pace.
---------------
After a long walk, they arrived at the hotel, its opulent facade illuminated by elegant lighting. A gleaming 4-star sign adorned the entrance. Upon entering, Hori took a seat while Haruki approached the reception desk to check-in.
The female attendant thought to herself. 'Ooooh~ These people must be a couple~'
She glanced at Hori, shocked seeing such a young girl with the fabled Haruki Maru. Hoping it wasn't what she thought it was.
"Were gonna be staying for just one night." Haruki told the attendant. He filled in the necessary details and made the payment, receiving the key to room 28.
"I've booked our room let's go." He told Hori.
"Okay!" She followed him, her eyes fixed on his back as they climbed the stairs to their room. The moment they entered, Hori scanned the area with a neutral face, staring at the opulent decor, the lavish furnishings and intricate designs a testament to the hotel's luxury status.
'Bet she's impressed with how good the room looks~' Haruki maliciously thought peeping at Hori.
A warm smile spread across her face as she took in the suite's lavish decor, reminiscent of her own room back home at the Kantei. However, her expression subtly shifted as she dropped Haruki's luggage, her fingers fidgeting with nervous energy as she grappled with the awkwardness of sharing a room with a boy.
Haruki asked if she was going to bathe first. "If that would be okay with you Haruki-san." She almost instinctively bowed.
".... how long are you gonna keep adding 'san'?" He asked walking.
"Well.... you are my senior, by the way, you haven't told me your full name." Hori suddenly turned curious. "Is Haruki your first name or family name?" She asked with seriousness.
Haruki asked if that was really important, he wondered why Japanese were so bent on respect.
He let out a sigh and finally answered.
"My name is Maru Haruki!Haruki is written with the kanji 春樹, meaning 'spring tree,' symbolizing growth and new beginnings. And Maru is written with the kanji 丸, representing unity and wholeness. Nice to meet'cha!"
An outstanding introduction.
Hori applauded his lovely charisma.
She then stared at the floor in despair. ".... so..... I've been using your first name?" Hori said in disbelief.
"What's the big deal?! You anime girls make a fuss about simple stuff like that all the time!"
He playfully bonked her head. Assuring her he didn't need such politeness from her. Haruki himself always used first names when referring to even strangers.
"Besides...It shows we're close!"
He said leaning towards Hori. She turned red as their eyes locked.
"I mean why else would you spend a night with a guy."
Haruki said jokingly as he laid on the bed.
He was surprised at the soft texture as he sunk in.
Given such an expensive price for a single night, the foam the bed owned was extravagant.
"Anyways let's get some sleep! We're enrolling at SHO tomorrow!" Haruki ordered, tomorrow was going to be a busy day.
Hori bowed and began to excuse herself. "Then I'll be heading to my room." But Haruki's response halted her. With a mischievous grin, he said, "Actually, there's only one room....."
Hori paused then said.
"Oh, then I shall sleep in the living room." She bowed again about to leave.
"Yeah but you'll catch a cold, without sheets" Haruki cuddled in the bed as he spoke still smiling.
Hori stood there analyzing the situation. Her face quickly turned red. "I'm not sleeping with you!!!!!!!" She shouted with a flustered face after realizing Haruki's intentions.
"C'mon!" He said opening the sheets.
"Heavens no! It's too indecent!!!"
She yelled with more embarrassment.
"If you don't come here I'm sending you to sleep outside!"
He tried threatening.
"That is much better!" It didn't work. Hori began walking out, amazed Haruki had such thoughts about her.
"Okay wait! Please just c'mon~! I won't do anything!" He quickly grabbed her hand before she reached the door. Not with too much force but with enough to stop her.
Hori winced slightly as this was the first time a boy held her.
She stood there for some seconds and finally agreed.
She was homeless not too long ago so accepting a bed with the opposite sex shouldn't be too much of an issue.
"Please allow me to bathe first..."
She said with a voice barely audible, Hori suddenly became shy.
Haruki gently let go of her hand, smiling warmly she trusted him enough to spend the night together.
"Excuse me...." She shuffled away from Haruki and went to the bathroom, occasionally peeking to see him staring.
--------------------
The feeling as she dipped in the tub was heavenly, even better than that of Matsumoto Springs.
This was a 4 stared western themed hotel after all, different from the luxurious inns you could find in Fukui.
The total size of the room was as big as a small house. With a large parlor and clean bathroom, honestly couldn't be called a hotel anymore.
Hori slowly took her bathe, making sure to stall until Haruki had slept off.
She was relaxing but was suddenly disturbed by that nagging voice.
Narrator - I'm just gonna say it this is sus.
The meta entity commented.
"Narrator! Where have you been?!" Hori half yelled.
Narrator - Don't expect me to be talking all the time.
Hori sunk deeper in the tub and said, embarrassed. "Oh... Narrator, I'm really nervous, I—I haven't slept with a boy before!What if I snore?! or mistakenly touch him! or.....fart.....!"
Hori panicked sinking in the bath.
Narrator - Everyone farts.
She assured her. Narrator wasn't helping.
Haruki knocked on the door, asking if she were near to finish.
"Almost, are you planning on taking a bath as well?!"
"Yeah!" He replied.
"Okay! I'm finishing up!"
Hori stood up from the tub and left the bathroom in a white towel, she had finished bathing a while ago but dipped just to stall.
Her physique was unconventionally attractive despite her age, her slightly tanned skin glowing from the rooms golden light.
She passed by Haruki trying to cover her body as much as possible.
Haruki slightly checked her out then returned his face.
He spoke as he casually started undressing, removing his shirt first. "I got us some nice robes. You should wear them, their on the bed." He dropped them on the bed, guests for the first class treatment get matching quality night robes.
Hori cautiously thought, wondering what she was going to change into after bathing.
"Thank you Haruki-san." She bowed and went to grab it.
Hori dressed into it, owning a simple yet elegant sky blue color, she wore it whilst carefully checking if Haruki was out of the bathroom, making sure he didn't see her naked body, when she was done she sat down on the side of the bed.
"Haruki-san sure is kind, I must find a way to repay him for all he's done for me." A faint smile appeared on her face, wondering if her friend was an angel sent to aid her. Hori's nights of homelessness and hunger were officially over.
---------------
Some time passed and Haruki was also done bathing but had changed in the bathroom.
With his blood red hair loose and damp, Haruki's features took on an even more majestic quality, his beauty transcending mere prettiness to become truly stunning.
Hori was left staring foolishly.
Haruki sat down besides her on the bed, there was an awkward silence between them.
"...feels like we just bathed to do something lewd, doesn't it?" Haruki teased, his eyes sparkling with mischief. Hori's face flushed as she tried to play it cool. "Not at all!" she said, attempting a casual tone.
Haruki chuckled and leaned in, his voice low and playful. "Come on, you were totally thinking about it!" Hori's eyes widened, and she shifted back, "I was not!" Haruki laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and leaned back, enjoying the banter.
"...well.... good night, Haruki-san."
She turned and laid down on the far side of the bed. It was quite large.
The dopamine inducing feeling of laying down on soft fabric after a tiring day. Hori had missed this.
Haruki turned off the lights with a remote and also laid down. The two, back faced against one another.
After some time in the darkness.
Haruki turned, now staring at the ceiling."....Hori, you asleep? Cause I can't..."
Hori also turned and faced the ceiling. "I too am finding it difficult to sleep." She confessed.
"I'm sure it's because your laying with a guy." He said casually.
"... perhaps...."Hori answered. She then turned to face Haruki.
"Haruki-san, I would like to thank you." She spoke softly.
Haruki asked for what exactly, since Hori appreciated A LOT.
She continued her current thanking. "....For everything, for taking me in on our first encounter, to believing my predicament....For taking me to the hot springs, to feeding me delicious sushi. Thank you, Haruki-san, I swear on my life to repay you for such hospitality."
Hori's eyes were watery, remembering her 7 days of being homeless. She would never wish that on even her worst enemy.
"Awwwn, you're welcome." Haruki said happily while turning to face Hori.
He was too kind for a normal person, since his reason for the hospitality was left as simply "stalling" Hori could never understand his generosity.
The two stared into each others eyes, not really saying anything, at least until Hori's face turned red for the gazillionth time.
"N—now that I've gotten that off my chest, good night Haruki-san!" Hori said, her voice nearly breaking from embarrassment. She quickly turned her back to him, unable to bear the intensity of his gaze. "Good night, Hori," Haruki replied softly, smiling at her back as he turned as well. And with that, they finally drifted off to sleep.