Luke and Gakki-chan turned toward the voice in surprise.
How could someone recognize him?
Luke was confident his disguise was airtight. Even someone as close as Mr. Eisen might not have spotted him like this.
But he'd been found out? That didn't add up!
"Mr. Luke, I'm a huge fan. Could I get your autograph?" the man said, stepping forward.
When Luke got a good look at his face, he couldn't help but grin.
Wasn't that Taro Oki?
You know, the "Oki" who's a dead ringer for Jay Chou.
The Japanese actor famous for looking like the Taiwanese star.
He was a fan of Luke's?
"How'd you know it was me?" Luke had to clear that up first.
Oki pointed at Gakki-chan. "Your disguise is top-notch; I didn't clock you at first. But I recognized Ms. Aragaki and put two and two together. She's signed with your company and debuted with you in that GG ad. I figured the guy she'd be traveling with could only be you."
Hearing his explanation, it clicked for Luke.
He hadn't realized Japanese fans had dug so deep into his life and connections.
Talk about sleuthing—Oki was a pro at it.
With that sorted, Luke smiled, signed an autograph, and shook his hand. "You know, I'm actually a fan of yours too."
"Huh?"
Right now, Oki was still a professional boxer on the verge of retirement, with his best record being seventh in the national rankings.
Stuck in that awkward middle ground, he'd recently bitten the bullet and retired, leaving him at a crossroads, unsure of what came next.
Luke was a fan of his?
Had he watched his boxing matches?
Either way, getting encouragement from his idol lit Oki up. He bowed excitedly. "Thank you for the support!"
Luke didn't say much more—he was trying hard not to laugh.
Oki had no clue that his future fame would come in a totally different way.
So Luke just patted his shoulder. "Keep at it!"
Then he and Gakki-chan turned and walked off.
…
…
In Gakki-chan's car, heading to the airport.
"Last stop: Hokkaido for some hot springs," Gakki-chan said.
"Sweet. I've been looking forward to those hot springs," Luke replied.
…
…
By the time they got from New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido to the hot spring hotel perched atop Lake Toya, it was 10 p.m.
This was the final stop on Luke's Japan trip. Tomorrow, he'd fly back to New York.
Japan's known as the land of hot springs, with Hokkaido and Hakone being the most famous spots.
After a hectic schedule, soaking in a hot spring was the perfect way to unwind.
When Luke and Gakki-chan mentioned wanting to try an open-air hot spring for this trip, she'd jumped on it and made arrangements.
Gakki-chan had booked the best suite at the hotel, costing a hefty 300,000 yen a night.
Pricey, sure, but worth every penny.
The suite came with a private outdoor hot spring pool, where you could soak under the stars and take in the snowy view of Lake Toya from up high. Pure bliss.
Luke stripped down and stepped into the stone-lined hot spring pool.
The chilly outdoor air clashed with the steaming 130–140°F water, hitting him with an ice-and-fire sensation.
"Whoa," he couldn't help but let out a sound.
He leaned back against the rocks, letting his body relax completely. The quiet surrounded him, broken only by the sound of water and the faint whisper of mountain breezes.
All his exhaustion and stress seemed to melt away in the hot spring's warmth.
The rising steam blurred the scenery into a dreamy haze.
Then, through the mist, he saw a figure—a girl wrapped in a white bath towel—gliding toward the water and slipping in gently.
"Don't turn around. I'll scrub your back," she said from behind him.
A pair of soft hands pressed against his back.
Her slender fingers kneaded gently, her movements a bit clumsy but tender. Luke closed his eyes, feeling her palms glide over his back like a soft breeze.
"Thanks," he said.
"Thank you," she said.
They spoke at the same time.
"Pfft!"
"Haha!"
Latest updates at the source!
They burst out laughing together.
No words were needed—they both knew what the other meant.
"I heard you turned down a bunch of TV drama roles?" Luke asked.
"Yeah," she replied.
"Why? Don't want to do TV?"
"I don't want to do those idol romance dramas. If I did, it'd pull me away from you."
Smart girl—she knew getting close to other guys onscreen would mean drifting from Luke.
"You're a young actress. If you skip the idol romances, there aren't many TV roles left for you," Luke said.
At her age, Yui Aragaki wasn't ready for workplace dramas like Legal High or Unnatural. Movies were the same deal—her acting skills weren't there yet, and forcing her into big roles could backfire with bad reviews.
"Then I won't do them. I'd rather miss out on TV than have you push me away."
Luke sighed. "I'm not that petty. I'll write a script for you to shoot later."
"Really? Something that fits me?"
"Yeah, tailored just for you."
He was thinking of My Teen Girl's Seven-Day Swap, a TV drama perfect for her right now.
It's about a high school girl and her dad switching bodies, going from clashing to understanding each other through the ordeal. A fun, heartwarming story that suited Gakki-chan's age and would help her hone her acting chops.
"I won't say thanks," she said from behind him. Though he couldn't see her face, her tone was brimming with a smile.
"That's so un-Japanese of you! Come on, say 'Thank you, Oppa'—whoops, wrong line—'Thank you, Onii-san!'"
"You said I'm one of yours. Family doesn't need to say thanks!"
Luke thought back. Yeah, he might've said something like that when they first met, but still!
"Even in Japan, don't parents and kids say thank you? You're being way too casual."
"I don't want to be formal with you… at least not tonight."
Luke closed his eyes, savoring the gentle touch of Gakki-chan's hands.
"The moonlight's beautiful tonight," she said.
"And you're pretty gentle," he replied.
Under the moonlight, the vibe was warm and cozy.
Then, golden system text flashed before Luke's eyes:
[Host and Yui Aragaki have fulfilled the agreement to visit four temples: 2/4.]
[Please visit the remaining two temples in summer and autumn.]
[Upon completion, the host will receive a mysterious reward!]