Haruto and Mari gazed at the traditional Japanese ryokan, its serene wooden architecture nestled against a backdrop of steaming hot springs, added with yellowish ginkgo trees that surrounded it, it was such a beautiful and peaceful place.
Mari clung to Haruto's arm, her face lit up with excitement.
"Wow, I can't believe we're actually on vacation together," she exclaimed.
It was rare for her to go on vacation with a friend, moreover with her boyfriend, just the two of them.
Her mind was full of the possibility of the things that they would do, enough to make a little blush to her cheeks.
"Yeah, well, getting here felt like a battlefield," Haruto replied, sighing as the memory of the tense encounter with her parents resurfaced.
Mari's father, Mr. Hayasawa, a renowned politician, was fiercely protective of his only daughter.
Haruto could still picture the man seated stiffly, flanked by two menacing Dobermans, his sharp gaze drilling into him as though deciding if Haruto would leave the room alive.
"If my daughter comes back with so much as a bruise or a heartbreak," Mr. Hayasawa had warned, "you'll disappear, and no one will ever find you."
Those words haunted him even now. Thankfully, Mari's mother had been a lifesaver—her warmth and reasonableness helped ease the tension and eventually convinced Mr. Hayasawa to let Mari go.
"That wasn't that bad," Mari said, chuckling.
"My father's really kind once you get to know him. He's just a little protective."
"'A little protective'?" Haruto gave her an incredulous look.
"That man wanted to feed me to those dogs. But anyway, let's go in—I'm starving. I want to see if their food lives up to the hype."
Mari laughed and let Haruto lead the way inside. Staff in elegant kimonos greeted them with bows, and the soothing scent of tatami mats filled the air.
While Mari relaxed in the lounge, Haruto approached the receptionist to check in.
As he accepted the room key, a light touch on his shoulder made him freeze.
Turning around, his heart sank when he saw her—long, silky brown hair, piercing emerald eyes, and a familiar, sultry smile.
"Asuka," he muttered, forcing a smile. "What a surprise."
She leaned closer, her gaze a mix of amusement and annoyance.
"Fancy meeting you here, Haruto. I thought you said you were too busy working to take a vacation together with me?"
Haruto's mind raced as she spoke, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
'Oh fuck, what a bad luck,' He inwardly cursed his luck.
The last time Asuka crossed paths with his other women, Chiyo, their exchange had been a masterclass in passive-aggressive banter.
Asuka's words had been sharp and cutting, but Chiyo held her ground, matching wit for wit.
However, Haruto knew Mari was different.
She wouldn't stand a chance against Asuka's, her ex-bosss, sharp tongue, and worst of all, it would hurt them both—especially Mari, who was still navigating her youth.
The idea of sharing a partner was undoubtedly foreign to Mari, a high school student still cherishing the simplicity of pure love.
"Oh, yeah, about that," he stammered, "I came here with my friend Enji. You know how insistent he gets—I couldn't refuse him."
"Enji?" Her eyebrow arched, clearly unimpressed.
"And where's this important friend of yours now?"
Enji sighed, clearly accustomed to Haruto's predicaments.
"Well... not exactly, but it's close. Look, I need you to come here. I'll even book you a free ryokan room for three days. What do you say?"
Enji groaned, the sound of resignation evident. "Fine. You're lucky I'm a good friend. Send me the address."
Haruto's relief was immediate. "You're a lifesaver, thank you! Get here as soon as you can."
After wrapping up the call and securing another room for Enji at the reception desk, Haruto finally made his way to the buffet to join Mari.
It didn't take long to spot her. She was at a table piled high with plates, enthusiastically sampling everything.
"Wow, someone's excited. Is the food really that good?" Haruto chuckled as he took a seat across from her.
"It's amazing! Especially the belly tuna—it's the best!"
Mari exclaimed between bites, popping another piece of sashimi into her mouth.
"You are right, protein needs to be a priority in this kind of buffet," Haruto grinned as he stood up to fill his own plate, returning shortly with an assortment of meats and seafood.
The two enjoyed their meal, chatting and laughing as they worked their way through the buffet.
The food lived up to its reputation, and they left the dining area feeling thoroughly satisfied.
Back in their room, they decided to relax and take in the stunning view. The luxurious space featured a private hot spring in the backyard, overlooking a picturesque mountain range.
However, Mari sat on the edge of the room, nervously texting her friends for advice. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, her cheeks flushed with uncertainty.
Yet, instead of offering helpful suggestions, her friends filled the chat with teasing remarks that only made her situation worse.
'Ugh... what should I do? Should I ask him first?' she thought, burying her face in her hands.
'Why can't they be useful in moments like this?!' Mari silently cursed her friends as they continued to playfully torment her. Find more to read at empire
Haruto, however, noticed her discomfort. Despite the breathtaking view of the mountain range outside, Mari's attention remained glued to her phone.
Her tense shoulders and darting eyes were a clear sign that she wanted something. It didn't take much for him to figure out what was on her mind.
She wanted to have sex!
Clearing his throat, Haruto casually asked, "I'm going to soak in the hot spring. Want to join me?"
Mari jumped at his sudden question, nearly dropping her phone. "A-Ah!" she exclaimed, frantically catching it before it hit the ground.
Flustered, she brushed the screen, stammering, "Y-Yeah! I'll... I'll catch up in a bit!"
Haruto's lips curled into a sly grin as he stood. Without hesitation, he slid his yukata off his shoulders, letting it fall gracefully to the floor.
Beneath it, he wore nothing, and the sudden reveal left Mari completely flustered.
"Wha—!" she squeaked, immediately covering her eyes with both hands. "W-Why did you just—?! Haruto!"
Haruto burst into laughter at her reaction. "Why are you so shy? You've seen me naked twice already, haven't you?"
"B-B-But it's still embarrassing!" Mari stammered, her voice muffled behind her hands.
"You're too funny, Mari," he chuckled, running a hand through his hair as he moved toward the hot spring.
Before stepping in, he turned back to her with a playful smirk.
"Why don't you come over and help me scrub my back before we soak?"