Setting Off Again

Asuka and Hotaru remain at the safe haven onsen town for a few more weeks. During their stay, they meet many people. Most of them fled there by coincidence after the nearby town became overrun with violence. Others had come from far, like them. There was even a girl from the Philippines had gotten stranded in Japan after taking a trip before the planes had stopped coming.

Asuka really likes it there; They have a system where newcomers have a chance to enjoy the facilities like they were paying customers for a few days before they are integrated into the society and take care of maintenance along with having a place to stay and food to eat. Everyone had their jobs: chefs, engineers, and the militia, to name a few. The militia was strictly volunteer work, and no one was forced to do it. Asuka had eventually been in charge of general maintenance like setting up futons and carrying food trays while Hotaru learned how to replace propane canisters for the lamps outside.

Despite how wonderful it all is, Asuka becomes a restless as the days go on. The end of November inches closer, and with it the deadline to complete Kyo’s bucket list.

“Hey, Hotaru,” she says one day after they come back from a bath, “I’m thinking of leaving soon.” Hotaru stops in the middle of trying her hair, it looks like a shiny black veil after being washed.

“When?”

“In two or three days,”

“What for?”

“I still have to finish the bucket list for Kyo,” Asuka declares.

Hotaru stares at her before coming to sit with her. “Look, I know how important this is for you, but this place is perfect! We can spend the rest of our days chilling instead of trotting around getting assaulted by random losers!”

Asuka just shakes her head. “He’s the reason either of us are here in the first place. If it wasn’t for him, you’d still be stuck with your parents.” Hotaru feels like she should be upset, but know Asuka is technically speaking the truth.

“…you don’t have to come with me.” Asuka’s voice was low, but she meant it. Of course she wants to be with Hotaru, but there’s no way she can make her leave this paradise for her own selfish plans. Kyo’s bucket list was her burden, her undertaking, her sacrifice to him. If she didn’t finish it….

Hotaru remains silent. She searches Asuka’s eyes, before getting up to leave the room.

Asuka makes up her mind the next day. That morning she tells the rest of it going to the people who she had been working with for the past few weeks and informs them of her decision. They tried to dissuade her, saying it’s not safe and there’s no reason to throw herself away to danger, but she remains firm. She spends the next few days preparing with their help.

After their talk last night, Asuka and Hotaru had been seeing less of each other. Asuka tries to pretend she much be busy with the tasks she had been given by the village, but even their conversations at the end of the workday don’t last very long anymore. Their words are awkward; the air between them tense. Asuka mentally kicks herself maybe she’d been too harsh bringing up Hotaru’s family. She had tried finding the words to apologize to her many times, but they always failed her.

On her last day at the onsen, her coworkers treated her by taking over her tasks. They would be down a pair of hands soon, after all. She takes the time to enjoy the baths one more time, alone. But she is further surprised when they throw her a little party. They laugh and joke and eat food together, Kagura even brings out celebratory sake, allowing her to have a little sip from a traditional sakazuki cup to bring her good luck. It’s all bittersweet without Hotaru around, though. She made sure to say goodbye to everyone she’d met and thanked those who’d helped her for what they’d done.

The next morning, Hotaru is gone before Asuka wakes up. Her heart sinks into a black pit. She had been hoping they would at least be able to make up before she left. She remains in bed for a while longer before getting up. Removing the yukata, she solemnly gets ready to set out for her mission one last time.

Everyone sees her off at the front entrance, some are still trying to convince her not to go. She is gifted with supplies and more clothing for her journey. They leave her to continue their roles while she waits for the militia to come back during the shift-change so they can take her back down the mountain.

Asuka kicks rocks, waiting. A hole grows larger in her chest as the time goes by. Then she sees her. Hotaru slowly walks up the path. Asuka can barely believe it, but what really gets her is the clothes she’s wearing. The bag on her back was packed and she was rolling the bike beside her.

“Hotaru…are you…” she can’t even finish the sentence, not knowing what she would do if she was wrong.

“I didn’t even need to think about it, I just wanted you to feel my pain before making me leave Shangri-la to go back to hell.” Asuka laughs in spite of herself. Hotaru bites her lip in embarrassment before saying her next words, “there’s no way I can just leave you to go on your own like that you crazy bastard. How can I enjoy the rest of my days here if I do?”

The idea of Hotaru not coming with her had actually made her feel like a part of her was getting ripped off. She can’t help the emotions that flood forth and turns her head in a meager attempt to hide from the other girl. Hotaru smiles gently as she walks toward her, holding her against her.

They wait for the truck while taking one last soak in the foot bath. “I’m really gonna miss this place.” Hotaru sighs.

“You still have the chance to stay,”

Hotaru looks at her and then throws an arm around her, “Please. There’s no way you’d survive without me,” she was joking, of course, but Asuka knew she was right.

Finally, they board the car and watch the idyllic village disappear behind the trees as they are escorted.

The militia drops them off about 3 miles out from the road leading to the entrance of the onsen. They can’t go too far, or the village will be unprotected and left vulnerable. Everyone in the truck who wasn’t driving waved goodbye to the two of them as they drove off.

Hotaru groans, “here we are, back in the shithole,” she gestures around them. They’d been left

“Oh, stop complaining,” Asuka sets up the bit they’d managed to keep away from the gang members during their last scuffle. “Come on, partner, times-a wasting,” she can’t believe she just said that, but she’s giddy enough not to care.

Next stop, Tohoku.