Chapter #5Hot Spring Sponge by: Unknown A late summer storm had damaged the outer building, and as a result, the hot springs had been closed for the past couple of days. It was somewhat fortunate that the rush of guests from the summer had long decided to go home, and the few that were still there, were quite understanding about the situation. A man had been called out from the local repairs company, a shy person who kept his head ducked down whenever anyone would speak to him, and worked steadily throughout the day to get the exterior fixed before another storm had the chance to hit.
It was starting to get late into the evening, and Yukiko's eyes were starting to feel gritty. She sighed, raising a hand to rub at one of her dark eyes, looking down blearily at the pile of homework that she had just finished. It was difficult, balancing top grades while helping her mother run the inn, but it was quite simply something that was expected of her. She had helped serve tea after getting in from school, and had then retired to a side room to finish off her homework. A glance to the clock up on the wall told her it was just past nine, and as she stood up to brush down the knees of her kimono, she heard the door slide open to her side.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take so long," Yukiko began to say, only for her eyes to widen on seeing the repair man stood there awkwardly, "Oh my! Is there something I can help you with?" The man looked her up and down, almost anxiously, before shaking his head, and holding his tool bag tighter in his hand.
"It's finished," he finally spoke, his voice low and almost otherworldly, "Your mother suggested that you try it out first." Yukiko blinked a little, touching a hand to her chest as she gazed through the open door almost longingly. She really had missed just soaking and relaxing in the hot springs, and her neck was starting to hurt from where she had been so focused down on her work. She gave a little determined nod to herself, a shy smile creeping across her lips.
"Alright. Thank you for-," she cut herself off in surprise on seeing that the man had gone without a word, leaving her talking to an empty doorway.
On reaching the changing room, Yukiko stepped out of her kimono, hanging it up neatly on the peg provided. She wrapped the towel tightly about her slender frame, holding it in place at the fold before tucking it in more firmly; whilst there was no-one else in the hot springs at that time of night, she didn't want to risk flashing herself to anyone who might happen to be around. Her bare feet padded onto the wooden decking, the water looking warm and inviting, with spirals of steam coming up off the surface of the water. Yukiko smiled, her toes curling up a little in anticipation, before sitting down on the edge of the deck, and slipping slowly into the water.  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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