After our steamy (?) time at the hot spring, we returned to the room. I felt completely drained, but Ai was brimming with energy.
I desperately hoped that if anyone saw this, they wouldn't assume some kind of intimate encounter had taken place.
"Hehe~ That was an incredible hot spring, Yume~♥"
"Yeah, the water was definitely good..."
As I sat dazedly in the recliner, staring at the ceiling with no energy left, Ai approached and stroked my still-damp hair with a happy smile.
Well, I'm glad you're happy, but I wish you'd realize how exhausted I am.
"Yume, what should we do now?"
"Hmm, we've had our bath, so maybe we should get something to eat?"
"Yeah, sounds good~!"
Since I was getting hungry, we decided to have a meal, and Ai and I left the room for the restaurant.
Luckily, the restaurant wasn't far, and when we arrived, the first people I saw were, of course, the filming team who had been shooting us.
With liquor bottles vaguely visible as if for a company party, I thought it was nice they were here, so I approached them.
"Oh~! Yume! Here for dinner?"
"Yes. I see the filming team is eating too."
"Yeah~ Thanks to you, Yume, our team feels like we're being treated lavishly."
"Well, I can't say no to that. The team leader who seized this opportunity deserves a proper reward."
"Hahaha! I appreciate you saying that, Yume. I'll have more to brag about to my colleagues, wife, and daughter."
"Haha, really? If you need it later, feel free to take photos and get autographs from me and Ai."
Since he mentioned a daughter, he probably wants autographs. His wife must be an auntie who watches dramas, so she'd love to have our autographs.
Or maybe... I was just overthinking it.
"Thank you. Hahaha!"
It was quite enjoyable dining with people other than the Hoshino family for the first time in a while.
Not just me, but Ai seemed to have become friendly with the female staff too, chatting happily while eating, which made me feel oddly pleased.
Of course, I had a light drink, but since there was no filming, I indulged moderately for the first time in ages.
"Wow... Yume, you're quite the strong drinker... Hic!"
"Is that so?"
I didn't even drink that much. Should I have asked for whiskey instead?
The liquor bottles floating around were only about ten at most. Of course, I drank all ten of those, and including others, it was roughly fourteen bottles.
"Whaaaaaa~"
"Still can't hold your liquor, Ai."
After leisurely admiring Ai's red-faced mumbling, I scooped her up in a princess carry and held her in my arms.
Then I slowly walked back to the room. I couldn't tell, but was it just my imagination that this time felt incredibly peaceful?
"Yumeeeeeeee~"
"Yeah, yeah."
As soon as we reached the room, I laid her down. She stretched her arms up, flailed a bit, then slumped over, and Ai...
She started snoring.
"You always try to drink even though you're weak to alcohol."
I think it was similar when Ai first drank.
"Huhu, I can't remember the last time I sat so leisurely and looked out the window."
My small hobby, if you can call it that, is light drinking.
With a good view, I think I could drink all day without it being impossible.
This inn, despite being in the city, had a view of the mountain behind, and the current atmosphere was quite to my liking.
"Is there any leftover whiskey or whisky?"
"Yes, we prepared some whiskey in advance upon hearing you were coming. Should I bring it now?"
It was quite late in the evening, but the manager looked at me with eyes asking if it was okay.
"It's fine. If possible, could I have it now?"
I didn't need snacks, so I just wanted the whiskey, but...
"Yes, please wait a moment. I'll prepare some snacks to go with the whiskey."
"No, you really don't have to go to the trouble."
I mean it...
"It's our hospitality. Will you accept it?"
"Haha... If you put it that way, I have no choice."
I'm not foolish enough to refuse such kindness.
After waiting about five minutes, she returned with whiskey and cheese, handing them to me.
"I prepared some light cheese."
"This should make for a perfect snack. Thank you."
"Did you have a good day?"
"Yes. It was satisfying."
Actually, even the regular room was quite satisfying. I thought ordinary people would enjoy it too, and when I return to the company tomorrow, I can report that it's running well.
"I hope you'll bring your family next time."
"...Haha, really? I'll make sure to bring Aqua and Ruby then."
"You better, little one."
"Kind of ruins the mood at the end, don't you think, senior?"
"Huhuhu, what does it matter what this big sister says?"
This manager, who first guided us, was one of the executives like me, older than me, so I call her big sister, and her codename is...
"I truly enjoyed myself today. Company, big sister."
It was Company. The senior in front of me was a very active big sister in running this place.
"Well, enjoy yourself leisurely till the end. And take good care of the report, okay?"
Wink
With those words, I decided to leisurely walk back to the room, leaving Company big sister as she headed into the kitchen.
"Hehehehehehe."
"What dream is she having?"
I looked at Ai, who had taken over my sleeping spot, suppressing a laugh as I placed the whiskey and cheese on the table by the window.
Too lazy to even pour it into a glass, I drank straight from the bottle.
"Ah... Big sister really knows my taste."
She gave me whiskey that seemed pretty strong. That's probably why she suggested cheese to go with it.
"......"
I didn't say a word, just stared blankly at the scenery outside the window.
The city ahead was filled with bright lights, but right beyond the border, it was dark, yet the night sky was full of stars shining brighter than anything.
As I kept gazing outside...
"...Is that a shooting star? Rare to see one today."
After the city lights dimmed, the stars in the night sky became clearly visible, and at that moment, I could see a shooting star falling.
I used the GoPro next to me to film the scene outside the window.
Partly because I strongly felt this scene would be useful, but also because I wanted to share this beautiful moment with those who might have missed it.
"Today's going to be a day where the alcohol goes down smoothly."
Thanks to that, I went to the kitchen again to sneakily take about five bottles of big sister's prized whiskey... or not, and boldly got permission to take them.
"...Uncomfortable."
After finishing five bottles of whiskey and waking up from a nap, Ai, who had been far away, had somehow come close and was hugging my stomach while sleeping, which made it stuffy, so I woke up a bit early.
"Come to think of it, filming ends today."
While thinking about what to eat with Aqua and Ruby at home for the first time in a while, I gently shook off Ai, who was clinging tightly.
"...Should I go to the hot spring?"
I should soak leisurely in the hot spring and wash up.
By the way, it was now 7 a.m., and I had fallen asleep at 3 a.m. after drinking all the whiskey yesterday.
My physical condition? My body always maintains peak condition. I don't know why, but I guess some higher-up did something to my body, so I let it slide.
"Coming here alone makes me feel like I rented the whole place. Well, I actually did."
Being alone at the hot spring made me want to drink, but sadly, after about an hour, Ai must have woken up.
After finishing at the hot spring and returning to the room, of course, Ai was still asleep.
"Thought you'd be awake, but guess not."
Was it because she drank yesterday? I decided to wait for Ai to wake up while gazing at the mountain behind, just like yesterday.
And exactly one more hour of deep sleep later, Ai woke up.
"Ugh... My stomach hurts."
"See, you shouldn't drink alcohol you can't handle."
I handed over the hangover cure I had prepared in advance.
"Ugh... Thanks."
"Drink that and hurry up to wash. We need to finish the final interview shoot."
"Okay~"
After drinking the hangover cure, Ai staggered towards the hot spring, which was amusing to watch.
"Wow... Are you okay, Yume? You seemed to drink the most among us?"
"Yes, I'm fine. How about everyone else?"
When Ai finished washing up and came out after light makeup, the other filming team members seemed to be in rough shape.
Did they not drink that much?
"Well... Let's wrap up with the final interview shoot. Oh, Yume, did you get word that all cameras at your house have been removed?"
"Yes, I received confirmation without any issues."
Naturally, since Aqua and Ruby were supposed to return today, I got word that big sister had cleared everything out in advance.
Anyway, Ruby and Aqua should be at school now, so it shouldn't be a big problem.
Come to think of it, did Aqua finish his shoot well yesterday?
"Then, shall we start soon?"
"Yes."
"Okay~"
Ai and I successfully wrapped up filming with the final interview.
"Ai, how was the shoot?"
"Yeah. It was really fun. But..."
Ai didn't say the next words, but I could guess what she wanted to say.
"Someday, there will definitely be time for our family to do this together."
Even without specifying, Ai probably realized immediately.
"...Yeah, Yume! Let's go! We have to go wait for our kids!"
"Right."
No matter how long it takes.
No matter how many sacrifices there are, I won't care much.
Because it's for my 'family'.