Chapter 126
3. The God of Hot Spring Cures
Before I could think, I reached for the elaborately latticed sliding door of Tengu-an.
The moment I opened the door, a young person in a black kimono was waiting, as if expecting me. A pale face devoid of blood, and long, ink-like hair loosely tied. It reminded me of a ghost painting.
"Welcome back."
The voice was lower than I had imagined. I glimpsed an Adam's apple on the neck between the black hair and flinched again. A man.
The long-haired man gave a smile on his Noh mask-like face.
"Unfortunately, our inn is reservation-only, and we are fully booked today."
The monotone voice was eerie.
I puffed out my chest and spread my feet shoulder-width apart to not lose in spirit, putting on a sour expression.
"Unfortunately, I'm not a guest. I've received a report that this inn's promotional claims are false. Apparently, it claims to cure all diseases."
"......And who might have said that?"
The man continued smiling without the slightest sign of intimidation.
"I can't disclose personal information."
"You're not a guest, are you? Everyone who has visited our inn understands. It's not a lie."
At that moment, another pale face sprouted from around the man's neck. I instinctively stepped back, and a woman who looked exactly like him peeked out from behind. So there were two of them.
The woman moved her gaze expressionlessly and spoke to the man as if I didn't exist.
"Tsuruyasan, don't keep the guest waiting."
"Yes, Mother."
Even their flat voices were identical. The man bowed exaggeratedly and disappeared down the long corridor.
Once their footsteps faded, Umemura tapped my shoulder.
"Creepy. Kind of like Ryoko."
"If you were watching, you could've at least backed me up."
When I brushed his hand away, Umemura shrugged.
"I thought they were siblings, but they're parent and child. Not that flattery would work on them anyway."
Prompted by Umemura, I left Tengu-an.
Esato was nowhere to be seen. Looking around, I spotted a thicket off to the side of the slope, with a small river flowing through it.
I saw Esato smoking a cigarette at the foot of the red bridge.
"Don't slack off so blatantly."
When I glared, Esato shook their head wearily.
"It was a mistake to bring me on this investigation. I have neither the knowledge nor the skills."
"I don't either. At least pretend to try."
Esato blinked and looked gloomily downward.
"Gotta start with appearances, I guess."
"What?"
"You're starting to sound like Kirima."
I was caught off guard and fell silent.
In the silence, we stood around a rusty red tin stand ashtray, smoking cigarettes.
When I averted my eyes from the soot-stained paint in vain, I noticed thin steam rising from the sparsely stoned stream. Must be a hot spring source.
The misty water surface reflected the light of small lanterns and out-of-season purple flowers. If you came here unaware, it might feel like a nostalgic travel scene.
"So we're both slacking off in the end. Smoking at a healing spot—how unhealthy."
When I looked up at the voice tinged with amused exasperation, Umemura was carrying a paper bag stamped with a hot spring bun advertisement.
"You're slacking off too."
"Replenishing sugar before a bath is medically sound."
As if it were natural, Umemura offered buns to both me and Esato.
"I also booked a place. It's right behind Tengu-an, so we can keep watch."
"Umemura, you're amazing."
"This is what happens after half a year of babysitting someone."
I gripped the black bun. Its warmth spread through my palm.
I heard light footsteps from across the bridge. A girl in a pink poncho was crossing. The girl we met in front of Tengu-an.
"Hey, mister!"
As the girl ran toward us, I hastily threw my cigarette into the ashtray. Esato hesitated, then kept some distance with a cigarette still in their mouth.
Umemura caught the girl as she nearly stumbled forward.
"Not mister—call me big brother. Where are your mom and dad?"
"Talking with the inn people!"
The girl fidgeted and looked up at me.
"Thank you for earlier."
"Hey. Are you okay walking alone? You might get sick again, right?"
"I'll be fine once I soak in the hot spring! I can finally dance again!"
"Japanese dance?"
"Yeah. No one could carry on my mom's dancing, but now it's all okay!"
Thinking of her concern for her parents at such a young age made my chest ache again, overlapping with Rei.
"That's something to look forward to."
When I replied, the girl smiled shyly and spun around, spreading her poncho like a flower.
"See you!"
The girl waved and left. Judging from our past investigations, the spring's effect only made people believe they were healed. It was less dangerous than other Territorial Divine Offenses, but still not something to ignore.
Before I noticed, Esato had returned and muttered.
"......Why is it a tengu, I wonder?"
Umemura chimed in.
"Maybe because tengu are equated with ascetics who brought medicine. They're also used as motifs for medicine boxes."
"Tengu are also known for kidnapping people."
"You barely speak, and when you do, it's something unpleasant..."
At my words, Esato still looked unconvinced.
Just as Umemura said, the inn was right behind Tengu-an.
The tiled building, quietly nestled as if hiding in the shadow of the luxurious inn, looked terribly run-down.
The elderly landlady, in stark contrast to the eerie pair at Tengu-an, had a casual demeanor and welcomed us like visiting relatives.
When we slid the door open, a worn-out tatami room with an old desk, an electric pot, and some modest tea sweets greeted us.
Three guys in the same room?" Esato grumbled, and I replied, "Budget cuts.
I pushed aside the low hanger rack and opened the curtains. Through the window, I could see Tengu-an's hedge. I could faintly hear the voices of guests. It did seem suitable for surveillance.
In the small garden were a pole with towels hung out, broken clothespins, and a potted aloe plant—everything looked rural and shabby.
The landlady opened the sliding door with her foot and said,
"I'll get dinner ready, so go ahead and take a bath in the meantime."
Umemura whispered softly.
"She's like a mom."
I braced myself again, resisting the temptation to relax. I reminded myself this was part of the investigation.
When we passed under the bath curtain, the same wood sign with 'nu' from that morning hung on the sliding door.
"Umemura, think it's okay to go in?"
"The landlady said it was fine, so it should be."
After hesitating, I opened the sliding door, and a wave of heat hit me. The bath seemed ready. In the dressing room with a green scale and a still fan, I shoved my suit into a wicker basket.
When I opened the glass door leading to the bath, a merciless chill struck me. It was an open-air bath.
Outside air flowed in from beyond the bamboo fence into the stone-lined bath, and steam slid over the water.
I gave in to the cold and jumped in, and the hot spring's heat bit into my skin.
"What are you, a kid?" Umemura laughed as he entered the bath. The skinny Esato entered after, barely disturbing the water's surface.
As my body adjusted to the heat, the fatigue melted away all at once. I could hear the voices of travelers echoing in the distance.
The crisp night sky blurred, and stars bled into my hazy vision.
This isn't right, I thought. I was here in place of Kirima and the others—I shouldn't be enjoying the benefits in comfort.
As a droplet fell from the silver handrail attached to the bath, Esato muttered.
"Uyuu's gotten thinner since the first time I saw him."
"You're one to talk."
"You barely ate the soba earlier. You're probably wondering if it's right for you to still be alive when Kirima's gone."
Before Umemura could stop me, I impulsively jabbed my finger into Esato's rib-exposed chest.
"What do you know?"
Esato didn't get angry. Instead, they looked at me with their usual eyes full of resignation.
"I was the same after my younger brother was chosen."
I caught my breath. Esato's younger brother became a Human Pillar for the God of the Calling Tide. Until we ruined the ritual, what kind of thoughts did Esato live with every day?
"I know that no matter what others say, some things won't change... Do you think Kirima would be happy to see you so crushed you can't even eat?"
Esato rinsed their face with the hot water and weakly wiped their mouth.
"That's all I can say. I'm getting out."
With droplets falling from their unruly hair, Esato stepped out of the bath. Their dark-skinned back vanished into the steam.
Umemura rested his cheek on the stone surrounding the open-air bath.
"Damn, that person's actually the grown-up here."
I pressed my forehead to the silver handrail, now fogged with condensation. The icy chill cooled my overheated head.
What should I do?
From the direction of Tengu-an, I heard a muffled voice, like it was echoing underwater.
A high-pitched voice calling out, "Daddy, Mommy." That girl again.
She's probably still playing in the bath right now.
It should've been heartwarming, yet for some reason, my chest felt unsettled.