rubestie

Season: Autumn

Writer: Nishioka (feat. Akira)

Characters: Tori, Yuzuru, Hajime, Arashi, Mika, Ritsu, Mao, Anzu

Tori: You're kidding…?

Is there really an inn located at the top of this steep mountain!?

Yuzuru: Indeed, it seems like there is. Apparently this location used to be one of its selling points.

This place provides a relaxing time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Many guests would praise it and say coming here feels like taking a trip into a different world.

Tori: Ah, that sounds like something that would’ve been trendy a while ago. But recently, convenient and fast travel has become more popular.

Nowadays you often see ads about travelling overseas in just a few hours.

Hajime: You have to take time off from work in order to go somewhere on vacation, after all. I can definitely see why people would prefer shorter travelling times.

Arashi: I wonder if those changes in trends are part of the reason behind this inn’s decline in popularity.

Tori: Even then, the sheer inconvenience of travelling to this place is just strange. Of course people would stop coming here. Anzu, you think so too, right?

Mika: N~. Well, this place really is a ways off, but there’s supposedly a bus ya could take from the station.

Tori: Th…there’s a bus!?

Mika: Yup, sure is. I looked at the inn’s website before comin’ here, and there were loads of different services listed there.

Tori: Then why do we have to walk up this huge mountain on our own feet!? What’s the meaning of this, Anzu!?

Yuzuru: Hm, I see. To summarize Anzu-san’s explanation, this is what the program staff decided?

It seems they want us to completely understand what the current situation is like at this inn.

They must’ve thought that this experience would make us more excited for our competition.

Uuuhm… Is this them being considerate?

Tori: There’s no way this is their way of showing consideration! Those staff members~! They’re definitely just making fun of us!

I hate this~! The only ones who would like it this high up in the mountains are tengu~! I can’t take another step! I’ve contracted a fatal case of don’t-want-to-mountain-climb disease!

Ritsu: How pathetic.

Tori: N?

Ritsu: To think a small hill like this would be enough to make you give up. How childish.

Mao: Oi~. How can you say such arrogant things when you’re the one riding comfortably on top of my suitcase. Or rather, get off~! This hike is harsh enough without having to carry you all the way.

Ritsu: Comfortably? Ma~kun sure is underestimating the art of suitcase riding. It’s hard work to maintain balance while on top of this thing, you know?

This feat is only possible thanks to my extraordinary core strength. You should be praising me for it, if I do say so myself.

Mao: Instead of working hard on top of my suitcase, I wish you’d apply that energy to walking instead~

Tori: How convenient of you to tell me I’m being childish when you’re the one hitchhiking on someone else’s suitcase!

Arashi: Now, now. Standing around arguing won’t get us any closer to the inn. With this pace, we’ll arrive even later than scheduled.

Don’t you want to get to the inn as quickly as possible so we can soak in the hot spring? ♪

Hajime: Ah! The hot spring! This inn apparently has free-flowing hot spring water~. I’m really looking forward to it.

Tori: A hot spring… W, well, I guess I’m also kind of looking forward to that.

Mao: Then, let’s set those hot springs as a reward for ourselves and keep working hard a little longer.

hajime

Hajime: Ah. Tori-kun, Anzu-san, look over there. That’s a wild flying squirrel! Waa…. The way it’s eating that acorn is so cute…♪

Tori: Where? Lemme see.

! Incredible~! It’s real! I’ve only ever seen them in zoos or in picture books, to think I’d be able to see a real one!

Hey, Yuzuru! Quick, get your camera! Take a picture of that flying squirrel. I want to show it off to papa, mama, and my little sister.

Yuzuru: Of course, Bocchama. I’ll make sure to get it from different angles just in case.

Arashi: Mika-chan, what have you been looking at since earlier?

Mika: Look. There’re so many different colors out in nature like this.

Even though these colors normally wouldn’t go well together, these surroundings makes everythin’ mesh really beautifully.

Ya’d never think the color of this leaf would go well with somethin’ blue, right? But then, if ya hold it up against the sky… Look, it somehow works out.

Arashi: Now that you mention it, it sure does. Even though I would never want to match those colors when I’m coordinating my outfits.

Mika: Right? But when we’re out in nature, it somehow comes together real nice. It’s so strange.

It might be interesting ta try and use these kinds of natural colors for makin’ art with sometime.

Arashi: I’ll be coming to visit your next art exhibition as well. Looking at Mika-chan’s art always makes me feel happy, after all.

Mika: Really? Hearin’ Naru-chan say that sure makes me feel confident. Thank ya…♪

Mao: Haa….Fuuu…. This is getting exhausting~

Ritsu: Ma~kun you weakling~

Mao: You do understand the biggest reason why I’m so tired is because I dragged you up half the mountain, right.

Ritsu: I’m walking properly on my own now, though. Don’t get so stuck in the past. What’s most important is to keep looking forward.

Mao: Guuu…! That sounds so nice, but I don’t wanna hear it from Ritsu~

Honestly though, we’ve been walking for a long while, how far is this inn? I can’t help but understand why there are few customers coming when it’s this much of a walk.

Ritsu: That’s true. We should be getting close enough to see it any time now-

Aah, as soon as I said it, our destination finally entered our line of sight.

mao+ritsu