Chapter 11: A room for two

Thursday, 1 May, 20XX - Part 5

“It seems that Japan is going to be tested again next week,” I said.

Yui nodded in agreement. “There is a chance that society will break down for good next week.”

Looking at our phones, there were already protests in Tokyo, demanding the government release more information. The protestors believed that because the email specified Japan Standard Time, the government might somehow know more than we did. For now, it was a peaceful protest.

I sat back in the seat, looking out ahead through the windscreen.

“What should we do?” I sighed.

We were a step ahead of everyone else, having left the city with money and supplies, but what should we do now?

“I have a few ideas,” Yui said, raising a hand slightly.

“What do you have in mind?”

“If society breaks down, we could use rice to buy our way to safety if we’re ever in danger. Staples like rice, bottled water and alcohol should be in high demand in the future right? We can get ahead of everyone by stocking up.”

“Ah – that’s a good idea.” I pursed my lips. “But I feel bad buying up essentials when we know they are going to be in short supply.”

“Haruto.” She gave me a stern look. “We need to take care of ourselves first. I know it sounds harsh, but fundamentally we’re just two kids all the way out here. We need to use whatever advantage we have.”

“Yui…”

She was right. I did think the same before.

Students were tied to their parents, their parents tied to their jobs. We had the unique ability to act quickly and independently.

In our situation, no one was going to help us if we didn’t help ourselves. There was no one we could rely on besides each other.

“F-Fine. But let’s buy in moderation.”

“Okay~”

We drove to a large supermarket next to the road. I pushed the cart while Yui walked in front, loading up whatever she thought was necessary.

“Yui, I think the cart is going to break.”

“It’s fine~ It’s fine~” she said as she loaded up the fifth sack of rice.

She also decided to buy three cases of bottled water.

“I don’t think this will all fit in the car.”

“We can just put them on the backseats, no?”

“I guess, yeah.”

“Then let’s do that.”

She skipped ahead, scanning the shelves for anything that might be useful and could easily be stored. She was humming.

Oh well.

She seemed to be having fun at least.

Afterwards, we drove aimlessly through the countryside until we found an onsen inn. The sun was setting. We only had an hour of daylight left.

“Haruto, stop! Let’s sleep here tonight.”

“I thought our plan was to sleep at a manga cafe.”

“I can’t stand it anymore. I need a bath. Please, let’s stay at the onsen inn, okay?”

She clapped her hands together and looked at me with pleading eyes.

Honestly, I thought staying at a fancy onsen inn was a waste of money – but, we had money and plenty of it. We had both gone through many tough years, so maybe it was okay to splurge a little.

And since the world was going to end next year anyway, we might as well enjoy ourselves.

Checking in was a problem.

“There is a chance they might have been notified by the police to look out for a runaway like you,” I said.

“That’s true…but I really wanna take a bath.”

Checking in required IDs, and Yui’s ID might trigger red flags.

But–

Yui’s parents didn’t know that I was with her. Even if they did, they didn’t know my full name or the car’s registration.

“I can go in and ask if they have a room. I’ll check in on my own, and then when the staff aren’t watching, I’ll smuggle you in.”

“Oh! That sounds like a good idea.”

Yui was smiling, clearly looking forward to taking a hot bath.

I parked the car outside the onsen inn, then walked into the lobby alone while Yui waited in the car.

“Welcome!” the staff behind the counter greeted me.

However there was one major flaw to this plan.

As a lone guy, it will definitely be suspicious if I request two rooms when there is only one of me, and when they ask who will be staying in the second room, I’m unable to give a clear answer. And if I told them my friend is staying with me, they will likely want to see Yui’s ID too.

“Do you have a room available for tonight?” I asked.

“Certainly. We have a room for one.”

“Oh, uhm…do you have larger rooms?”

“Of course. We have the economy twin room, as well as the deluxe twin room and one family room.”

Which room should I choose? Since I was with Yui, I should pick the largest room possible, right?

“The fami – “ Wait, no. If I choose the family room while having no one with me, it would be suspicious. The staff are probably aware that it’s possible for people to smuggle outsiders in.

In that case…

“The deluxe twin room, please. I’m on my own, but it’s nice to treat myself to something nice for Golden Week.”

“The deluxe twin room, understood. Please fill out this guest card.”

The staff member barely paid attention to what I said. Maybe I should’ve gone for the family room after all.

After getting the keys and checking out the room, I sat down in the lobby. An hour later, there was only one staff member behind the counter. It didn’t seem like they were going to move. Maybe they’ll be here for the entire night shift. There was no way I could smuggle Yui inside without them seeing.

“Excuse me,” I said.

“Yes?”

“The drinking water machine in the male bath is broken…”

“I’m very sorry, sir. I will go take a look at it.”

The staff member came out from behind the counter and went to the male bath, located deep inside the building, far from the entrance.

“You can come in now!!” I texted Yui.

A moment later, Yui stepped into the lobby, her eyes shining with excitement.

“Quick, follow me.”

We snuck up the stairs and into the room.

“Whoa! It’s so big! There’s even a separate living room! You can look at the moon from the terrace. Haruto! This is amazing!”

“I figured since we we’re finally staying at a nice place, might as well go for the best room.”

“Mh! You have good taste.”

And that’s how we ended up sleeping in the same room.

Friday, 2 May, 20XX - Part 1

“Good morning. Hnghh~” Yui stretched as she got up from the futon. The morning light caused her long black hair to glow. I could hear her stretch. I lay in the futon next to hers with my back turned to her.

I didn’t dare to turn around, out of fear I’d see something I shouldn’t.

“Good morning,” I muttered.

“I slept well~ I’ll go take a bath. I’ve never spent the night at an onsen inn before.”

“Me neither.”

“I haven’t slept so well in years,” Yui said as she gathered her things to go take a bath.

I barely slept a wink, I thought, but didn’t say that out loud.

Come to think of it, we already slept next to each other in the car. But somehow, sharing a room felt different.

Yui left to take a bath. I let out a deep breath.

Hargh…

I hope I didn’t snore in my sleep. That might be embarrassing.

My phone rang.

“Hmm?”

I peered at the screen.

There was a reply from that email address.