Hot Spring Holiday![]
Chika wins a trip to a hot spring and takes Aqours along.
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Story 1 |
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| You: Good morning, Riko!
Riko: Good morning, You. It's cool out today, isn't it? Chika: Good morning, you two! You: Morning, Chika! Chika: Mu, ha, ha. Heh, heh! Riko: Someone's in a good mood. Chika: That's because... No, wait. I'll tell everyone after school in the club room. Riko, You: Huh?? Yoshiko: Yes... Yes, I see it. Outside your room, Ruby... There awaits a monster with the head of a rabbit, the body of a frog, and the limbs of a human! Ruby: Eek! Whaaaaaaaaaat?! No, no way! I can't go home today! I'm too scared! Hanamaru: Yoshiko, how did you manage to get such a big crystal ball in here? Kanan: How'd you do on the test? I think I did pretty well, myself. Dia: No trouble at all. I know it hasn't been graded yet, but I'm sure I passed. Mari: That's our Dia. Nothing for you to worry about! As for me... It's a secret. Dia: Why're you acting so high and mighty for? Don't tell me... Did the impossible happen?! You: Oh, everyone's already here. Kanan: Yoo-hoo! You're late! Riko: Sorry. Homeroom went over. Chika: Everyone, I have an announcement! Hanamaru: What's up? Chika: Heh, heh. Yesterday, I tried my luck at the shopping district raffle! Riko: Raffle? They're doing a raffle in the shopping district? You: Yup, it hasn't been going on long. I had a ticket too, but all I won was a packet of tissues. Kanan: The big prizes were really extravagant, if I remember right. Did you actually win something? Chika: *Giggle* Bingo! Taa-daa! First prize! Ten tickets for an overnight stay at a hot spring ryokan inn! Ruby: First prize?! Mari: Amazing! Yoshiko: What otherworldly luck... I'm so envious I can't even... Dia: It's amazing enough that you won first prize, but for that prize to be ten nights at a hot spring... That's a very hefty prize. Chika: Why don't we all use these and go on a trip? Riko: A trip? Mari: Great idea! Relaxing in a Japanese hot spring, submerged all the way up to my neck! I wanna go, I wanna go! Ruby: A trip... I've never gone on a trip with friends that wasn't a school trip. This is exciting! Yoshiko: This is a chance for Yohane to expand the territory under her control. I shall entice even more little demons at our travel destination! Dia: Wait just a moment. We can't just drop everything and go to a hot spring. We've got school and practice to think about! Kanan: Aww, what's the problem? We've been doing nothing but studying and practicing for a long time now. Let's take a little time to relieve some of that stress. Hanamaru: We'll soak in a hot spring, eat delicious food, and look at beautiful scenery. If you think of it as a reward for our hard work, we'll be more motivated when we return. You: If it's a two day, one night deal, we can do it without missing any school, right? Plus, going to a new place can give us inspiration for our school idol activities. Dia: Hmm... I suppose you have a point. Traveling to an unfamiliar place to see new sights and experience other cultures is good for broadening one's horizons. Mari: Must you be so stuffy, Dia? I'm going to use this trip to crack that diamond-hard expression of yours until your face is jiggly with delight! Dia: Wh-What're you going to do to me?! Chika: Yay! I'm so glad everyone liked my idea. Let's pick our dates! When can everyone go? Kanan: It'd have to be a weekend. Mari: This weekend! Dia: That's a little too soon. We at least need to make it next weekend, if not later. Ruby: I'm good next week. Actually, I'm free this week, but I'm worried I won't have time to pack and get ready. Next week may be better. Hanamaru: I'm free, too. Going away for a weekend trip feels like something adults do, zura! Yoshiko: Why is a weekend trip an adult activity? Hanamaru: I saw a magazine at the bookstore the other day that said "Leave for a weekend trip on the way home from work!" Yoshiko: If you read enough of those magazines, maybe you'd stop saying "It's the future, zura..." Chika: I don't really have plans either. It sounds like next weekend works best for everyone. Any issues? You: Nope! Next week, though... It's gonna be tough to wait that long! Ruby: What should we bring? A change of clothes... Oh, a camera! I want to take lots of pictures with you all. Hanamaru: We'll need to bring lots of treats, zura! Mari: Remember, this is a vacation! We'll need parasols, tanning oil, swimming rings... Dia: Where do you think we're going? This isn't a trip to some tropical island. Kanan: They'll have ping-pong, right? We all need to get ping-pong paddles! You: Ping-pong! I can't believe I almost forgot. Does everyone have their own paddles? Yoshiko: O-Our own? Ruby: I'm sure the ryokan will have them... Riko: Chika... Chika: Hmm? Riko: Chika... are you sure about this? I mean, a vacation to a hot spring ryokan inn... Chika: Just like the one your family runs. Riko: Yeah... We'd all be able to enjoy it like any other guest, but I thought maybe it might be different for you. Chika: Thanks for thinking of me, Riko. But there's no need to worry! I can't wait to go! I wouldn't have come up with this idea if I didn't want us all to go together. Chika: I know we'll have a blast with all nine of us there! Plus... Riko: Plus what? Chika: I want to be a guest, too! I want to be on the receiving end of hospitality for once! Riko: *Giggle* I see. We're going to have a great trip. |
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Story 2 |
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| Chika: Mari! Kanan! Over here!
Mari: Good morning, everyone. Kanan: Good morning. We sure got great weather for our trip. Yoshiko: Of course we did! I spent all night performing a ceremony to keep the rain away! We won't see so much as a wisp of a cloud for the next two days. Riko: I thought you seemed pretty excited. It must be because of the all-nighter. Ruby: I was too excited to get much sleep, too... Dia: Yoshiko, Ruby, shame on you. You need to make sure you get enough sleep at night. Sleep deprivation is a major contributor to poor health. You: We're still missing Hanamaru. Hanamaru: Hey everyone! I'm sorry I'm so late! Chika: Good morning, Hanamaru! Don't worry, you're not late at all. Riko: That's a lot of luggage. Hanamaru: It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, zura. I'm prepared for anything, zura! Yoshiko: I'll say... What did you bring? Chika: That's everyone! C'mon, girls! We're off to the hot spring ryokan inn! You: Oh, no! The bullet train's about to leave! Hurry, hurry! Hanamaru: Eek! Th-These stairs are so long, zura... Dia: Hanamaru, can you pick up the pace a little? Ruby: *Screech* Kanan: Yikes! You okay? Can you stand? Mari: Your suitcase fell down! Yoshiko: *Groan* If I could just use my wings, I could fly straight to the ryokan. Forget the stairs, I wouldn't even need the train! Chika: *Pant* *Pant* M-Made it... Riko: Whew... Oh, we're moving. We really cut that close, didn't we? Is everyone here? You: Let's take a roll call.Dia: It's fine. We're all here. Kanan: Let's get to our seats. It's open seating, so we just need to find some open spots and grab them. You: Oh, over there! There's a whole block of seats. Wanna sit there? Chika: Nice! Now we won't have to split up. Yoshiko: Zuramaru, you're sweating like a pig. I'll put your luggage up. Hanamaru: Thanks, Yoshiko. But wait, let me take some things out first. Yoshiko: Take what out? Riko: We've got one transfer on the way to the hot spring. We'll be traveling about two hours total. Kanan: That's a long trip... Oh well. The journey's one of the good parts of traveling, too! Hanamaru: Does anyone like fried dough? Chika: I do, I do! I'll open up some of the chocolate I brought. We can trade! You: Do you want to move your seats? I think there's a pedal underneath that'll let you turn it around. Chika: Hmm... Is this it? Hrr... Oh, whoa! It turned around! Hanamaru: Welcome, Chika! Chika: Happy to be here. Wow, Hanamaru. That is a lot of sweets. *Gasp* Is that what I think it is? Hanamaru: *Giggle* Yep! Bananas make an excellent snack! Yoshiko: So all those suitcases are full of food. Dia: Ruby, are you all right after that fall? You're not hurt, are you? Ruby: No, I'm fine. Mari: It looks like you skinned your knee a little. Pain, pain, go away... Ruby: Eek! Th-That tickles! Chika: We're are the station! *Sniff* *Sniff* The air even smells different from Uchiura. It smells like the mountains! Dia: Well, we are pretty far inland. It makes sense that we can't smell the sea out here, but that's quite a nose you've got there Chika. Kanan: Nngh... Sitting for so long made me all stiff. Ruby: Hanamaru, did your luggage shrink? Hanamaru: Yup! It'll be easier to walk now, zura. Yoshiko: I think your stomach grew to make up the difference. You: Now we're supposed to ride a bus to the ryokan, right? Chika: They send a shuttle bus. It stops at... Lemme see... Chika: This bus transfer station is huge! Where the heck are we supposed to wait? Riko: I wonder if it has the ryokan's name on the side or something. Mari: Oh! That's it, right? C'mon, everybody! Let's go! Dia: No, that's a tour group bus! Mari! Come back! Kanan: Huh? Hey, that's our bus, right? The one that just pulled in. Chika: Oh, you're right. Man, why did it have to stop so far away? C'mon, we gotta hurry! You: Right! Wait a sec... Aren't we short a couple of people? Where'd Dia and Mari go? Hanamaru: They just ran off in the opposite direction, zura... Oh, here they come! Dia: *Pant* *Pant* P-Please stop jumping to conclusions and running off, Mari... Mari: *Pant* *Pant* Sorry, my bad... Chika: The hot springs await, everyone! Dig deep! We've gotta make one last sprint! Together: Yeah! Dia, Mari: Y-Yeah... |
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Story 3 |
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| Chika: This room is huge! And look at all the pretty foliage out the window and the river down below! Talk about gorgeous mountain scenery.
Dia: Indeed. This is the kind of landscape where one can appreciate all four of Japan's seasons. Dia: Well, what should we do now? We've got plenty of time before dinner. Chika: Let's go shopping for souvenirs! Riko: Already? We just got here. Chika: I wanna see what kinda stuff they have for sale! Mari: I wouldn't mind taking a trip around the inn to see all the amenities. You: Our two hospitality industry pros are raring to go. Dia: Just don't do anything odd or sneaky. We don't want to be labeled as suspicious characters. Ruby: I'd like to see the souvenirs, too. Hanamaru: Hmm... I think I'll stay behind, zura. I need to organize my luggage. Yoshiko: Me too. It's going to take some time for the local spirits and Yohane's dark magic to adjust to each other's presences. You: Hey, we should hit the hot springs at least once before dinner. I really wanna see what kind of baths they have here. Chika: Okay! I'm in! I'm curious too. I wanna check out the size and benefits of their bath and also see what the view's like from there! Mari: The hot springs are one of the major selling points for this ryokan. It makes total sense to combine that with the great view and capitalize on the synergistic effect! Kanan: Such practical reasons... Chika: Excuse us! Riko: This isn't someone's house... You: No one's here. We've got the whole place to ourselves! Hanamaru: What a huge bath, zura... I can stretch my legs all the way out! Ruby: It looks really hot... Yoshiko: Yohane shall judge whether this water of the fired of Hell are hotter! Come! Chika: No! Yoshiko, stop! Yoshiko: Wh-What? Chika: At public baths and hot springs, you're supposed to rinse and cleanse your body before entering the main bathing area. Yoshiko: Rinse and cleanse? Basically purifying myself first? Chika: Exactly. You have to scrub all the dirt off yourself so that you're nice and clean before you go in. Chika: It's not just about cleanliness either. It also gets your body used to the water temperature. It can really mess you up if you jump right into a hot spring. Chika: Start with your feet, and make sure both your mind and body are very, very quiet. Mari: It'd bother the other guests if we were all horsing around and splashing in the water, after all. Dia: Mari actually jumped straight to the point... Kanan: I wonder if it'll snow tomorrow? Mari: You're so mean! Chika: The proper way to enter the bath is to go in on the side furthest from where the hot water comes in. Riko: Wow. There are a lot of customs when it comes to hot springs, huh? You: It's finally time! The main event of the trip is here! Kanan: This is exactly what we came for! Hanamaru: They're super pumped, zura... Ruby: I've never played ping-pong outside of gym class... I hope I can do it. Mari: The first game is Chika vs. Kanan! Chika won the pre-game rock-paper-scissors, so she serves first. First to three points wins! You: Go for it, you two! Chika: Get ready, Kanan! Haa! Kanan: Hup! Chika: Hoop! Kanan: Hmph! Chika: Eek! Ruby: What was that?! Hanamaru: It was so fast, I couldn't even see it, zura... Kanan: I'm not gonna go easy on you just because we go way back! Riko: That's so... immature. Dia: *Grunt* Not bad, Riko! Riko: You too, Dia! Dia: I won't lose that easily, though. The world of school idols is all about competition, and as long as I'm a part of it, I'll win any and every battle I fight! Riko: I don't plan on losing here either! Dia: Too slow! Riko: Argh! Kanan: Game, set, match! Dia wins! Mari: Congratulations to our first inaugural Aqours ping-pong tournament winner... Ruby Kurosawa! Ruby: Th-Thank you very much! Kanan: Talk about a dark horse of a winner... Hanamaru: Ruby, I had no idea you could play like that, zura! Riko: The way you returned each shot so accurately while closing your eyes and screeching at the top of your lungs... If that wasn't a miracle, I don't know what is. Yoshiko: Apparently our Ruby is a ping-pong wolf in sheep's clothing. Chika: What a riot! I don't think I've ever had that much fun playing ping-pong before. You: Me neither! In fact, I've still got some pep to spare. Anyone care to play another round? Dia: I'm afraid it's almost dinner time. Let's head back to the room. You: Okay then. The rematch is on after dinner! |
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Story 4 |
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Chika: Ohhh... Laying in a futon bed someone else made for you. This is the life... 
You: Hee hee. You're always making beds for others. Yoshiko: Zzz... Zzz... Ruby: Yoshiko's already passed out. Hanamaru: She was so gung-ho about staying up, too. She went on and on about how night makes her demonic side come out. Riko: What time do we have to check out tomorrow? Dia: By eleven. We'll be pressed for time to learn about this new place and broaden our horizons. Hanamaru: So we have to make sure not to oversleep. Kanan: For sure. And if you try snoozing, all the effort that went into waking up gets wasted. Dia: I agree. I'm sure we're all still sleepy when we first wake, but if you spring right out of bed, the feeling will naturally pass. Hanamaru: I-I'll do my best, zura! Mari: I'll throw my sleepiness so far, it'll go from mountain to shining mountain! In fact, there's a nice mountain right nearby. Let's give it a toss! Dia: Mari, you have the oddest way of saying things... Kanan: You're supposed to say from sea to shining sea. But throwing stuff in the sea would be dangerous. Dia: Huh? Mari: I've got perfect control. I won't miss! Locked on target! Strike three! You're out! Goodbye sleepiness! Kanan: It's still dangerous! What is a whale eats it? Its poor stomach would get upset. There are flatfishes too! Dia: Strikes? Whales? What planet are you two on? Mari: Let's have a rematch! Come on! Kanan: I'll say it again. That flounder... will eat it! Dia: They're... asleep?! That was all sleeptalk? Hanamaru: They're speaking so clearly you can't even tell, zura. Riko: If you ignore what they're actually saying, they sound like two waking people having a conversation. Riko: Don't they say not to answer someone who's talking in their sleep because it's their soul that's speaking? Hanamaru: Yes, it's believed that the soul leaves the body when it sleeps and sleeptalk is the soul speaking. Hanamaru: If you respond, the soul will be unable to return to the body, and that person will never wake up, or go mad. It's an old superstition, but one many still believe in. Hanamaru: Oh, but there's a scientific reason why you're not supposed to respond, too. Hanamaru: You know how we have light and deep stages of sleep? People don't speak clearly during light sleep, zura. Hanamaru: It's because the brain is still somewhat awake, but the body's in a state of rest. If you talk to someone, their brain will respond, and they won't get proper rest. Hanamaru: People in deep sleep are just the opposite, with their brains asleep but their bodies somewhat awake. Sleep talk in this stage is often quite understandable. Hanamaru: Sleeptalk's more common in the lighter stages, but since Mari and Kanan were speaking so clearly, I bet they were in deep sleep. Dia: And it's all right to respond to someone in deep sleep, correct? Riko: (I'm getting sleepy...) Yoshiko: Yohanehh... Nnn... Nederworld... C'mon... *Groan* Chika: Huh? Ruby, what's that you're holding? Ruby: Eek! You: Hmm? A stuffed animal? Ruby: Yeah... I got it as a birthday present when I was really little, and I've kept it by my pillow when I sleep ever since. It's very special to me. Ruby: When I look at it, I'm reminded of how warm and happy I felt when I first got it, which puts me at ease. Ruby: Oh, gosh, this is so embarrassing. I'm in high school, and I still sleep with a stuffed animal... Chika: It's nothing to be ashamed of. There are lots of people who can't sleep unless they have a certain pillow. You're not different from them. Ruby: Pillow? Y-You think so? Chika: Totally. Who's to say what's important to you has to change or get thrown away just because you're older? Chika: There's nothing shameful about treasuring something important to you. You: In fact, I think it's more impressive that you've held on to those feelings all this time. That's not easy! Ruby: It's not? You: It's only natural for your likes and dislikes to change as you grow. Sometimes, I'll open a drawer and find something I used to really care about. You: And I'll find myself wondering "Why did I care about this old thing so much?" Chika: Oh, me too! I was organizing the storeroom one day, and I found a bunch of iron sand. Ruby: I-Iron sand?! Chika: It was in one of the jars we use for preserves. I had totally forgotten that I used to be crazy about collecting iron sand with a magnet. Chika: And for the life of me, I couldn't remember what I liked about it so much. You: Yup. It happens. When it happens to me, I can't help but feel a bit sad. I realize I've forgotten the happy feelings of loving and caring about my old treasures. Ruby: I see... I wonder if someday... I'll forget about... My stuffed... *Yawn* You: Ah... Ruby's nodded off. Chika: Heh, heh. We'd better get to sleep, too. Dia's gonna yell at us if we oversleep. You: Dia's voice is more effective than any alarm clock. Chika: I'll say! You: Ah, ha, ha, ha! Chika: You. You: Hmm? Chika: I've changed a lot over the course of my life, but I think there are some parts of me that'll never change. You: Same here. Chika: When I won these tickets, my first thought was that I wanted to take all of you. Hee, hee. In fact, whenever I want to do something, I want you all to be a part of it. Chika: So I just know that no matter what happens, the bonds we've formed as Aqours are going to live on in my heart forever and ever. You: Yeah... Me too. Chika: ........................... You: Goodnight. |