Feeling the vibrations of the car's engine through the seat, I turned to my father with a question.
"Why are we going to a hot spring?"
"Healing, I'd imagine. It's been said for centuries that hot springs have the power to soothe both body and soul," my father replied, as if he'd anticipated my question all along.
Our destination, arranged by Irena, was a hidden hot spring in Gifu. When I first heard we were going to a hot spring, I assumed we'd be heading to a popular place like Atami. But it turned out there were less conventional options to consider.
Still, a hot spring seemed an unusual choice for mental healing. Hot springs might be relaxing, sure, but they weren't exactly the go-to remedy for someone suffering from deep emotional distress.
Sensing my unease as he navigated the winding mountain road, my father glanced over at me.
"Even the soothing power of hot springs is based on reason. They're located along the earth's ley lines," he explained.
"Ley lines?" I echoed, unfamiliar with the term. I'd heard about it in video games, but the real meaning was something I wasn't sure of.
"Ley lines refer to channels of energy flowing underground. Hot springs emerge where this energy bubbles to the surface. You already know that magic power is essentially life force, don't you? So it stands to reason that being near a place brimming with energy would help replenish depleted magic power."
"So a hot spring is... basically a place to recharge magic?"
"That's the simple explanation, yes."
It sounded almost like something out of a video game.
"As you've probably noticed, wounds heal faster when magic power is high. That's because magic power is diverted to enhance your body's natural healing."
Not really, I thought to myself. Recently, I'd been relying on healing spells for injuries, like when I fought against that demon actor.
But if magic power is akin to life energy, then restoring it could plausibly speed up the healing process. It was all coming together in my head, piece by piece.
There was still one part I couldn't quite understand: wasn't all this just for physical healing?
That lingering question made me turn to my father again.
"So... will going into the hot springs really help Nina-chan recover faster?"
"I don't know for certain," he replied. "But I imagine Irena wants to believe in something, to hold onto some hope. I can understand that feeling."
Faced with that response, I found myself at a loss for words.
Considering everything Irena had done for Nina—sealing her memories, moving to Japan, and involving me in Nina's protection—it made sense that she'd want something to rely on.
"We're almost there; that's the place," my father said.
I looked out the window and saw a large inn nestled along the riverbank.
Irena had organized this entire trip. She'd invited our family and also reached out to Aya-chan's family, the Shimotsukis. Initially, the invitation was just for us, but I suggested inviting Aya-chan as well, thinking a familiar friend might help Nina relax.
So here we were, three families gathering for what could loosely be called a "trip." Whether to call it a vacation was debatable, given that the primary purpose was healing.
As our car rolled into the inn's parking area, I got out with Mom and Hina, leaving Dad to park. A staff member was already waiting at the entrance.
"Welcome, Kisaragi-sama. Please, this way," she said, guiding us.
As we stepped inside, I was greeted by a subtle, pleasant fragrance—different from the artificial sweetness of a room fragrance, softer and more natural.
I glanced around for support, catching Aya-chan's eye. She gave a small, determined nod and stepped forward.
"Nina-chan! Why don't you join me?" she said brightly, taking Nina's hand from where it clung to my sleeve.
"But..."
"It'll be fine! You'll see Itsuki-kun right after!"
Between Aya-chan's confidence and Irena-san's gentle nudge, Nina was slowly coaxed away toward the baths. I let out a sigh of relief. Nina didn't resist too strongly; she'd shown restraint from the beginning. Despite her inner turmoil, she had enough self-awareness to respect others' space.
Aya-chan, likely informed of Nina's situation by Renji-san, had acted with kindness and sensitivity, sensing Nina needed a soft push.
"Itsuki, shall we go too?" my father prompted.
"...Yeah," I replied, waving as Nina glanced back over her shoulder, watching us until the very last moment.
"Dad... do you think Nina-chan will be okay?"
My father's expression darkened, the usual calm in his face replaced by a hint of tension. He didn't respond right away, choosing silence over false reassurances.
Perhaps to fill the silence, Renji-san offered some insight.
"Healing in a hot spring can speed up recovery, but it's no instant fix. Especially not for wounds of the heart."
"...Yeah. Dad told me."
"All we can do is trust that she'll find her own strength."
That word—"trust"—lingered in my mind. It felt both comforting and elusive.
"Alright, let's not clog up the lobby forever. To the baths, then?" Renji-san said cheerfully.
"Yes!" I nodded, falling in step behind my father as he led us toward the rooms.
Renji-san, falling into stride beside me, continued with a lighthearted tidbit.
"By the way, this place has five different saunas."
"Saunas? In a hot spring?"
I recalled a sauna craze in my past life, and apparently, the trend hadn't waned. Renji-san continued.
"Yep! Saunas are a hit nowadays, especially with exorcists."
"Exorcists like saunas?"
"It's stress relief. Alcohol's not really an option when you're always on call, and neither is smoking—too dangerous to fight demons if you're drunk or winded, you know?"
"Oh, that makes sense..."
Renji-san smirked, shrugging.
"This place has five different sauna types. Quite the selection, huh?"
He seemed more excited about it than I'd expected. My curiosity was piqued, but I found myself thinking out loud.
"...Is it still a hot spring at that point?"