It was already six in the evening.
The sky had gone dark, and stars shimmered brightly above. Tourists from across Tochigi Prefecture were preparing for the night ahead.
Tonight, a celebration was being held in Tochigi Prefecture, with a grand fireworks display as the highlight. Visitors to the hot spring town were already making their way toward the lake to find a good viewing spot.
Of course, Ren and the others were no exception.
However, rather than squeeze into the crowds, the hot spring hotel on the mountainside actually had a scenic overlook near the summit, offering a better vantage point for enjoying the show.
To reach this upper-level observation deck, they had to go through the corridor leading to the open-air hot spring.
The deck was spacious enough to accommodate over twenty people. A square table sat in the center, with seating on both sides. The ceiling lights were dim enough to highlight the food on the table without interfering with the night view outside.
"The environment here is really nice."
Upon arriving at the deck, Ren walked toward the edge. The surrounding area had no lighting, so guests could focus entirely on the view without distractions.
The location was perfect. From here, you could see nearly the entire hot spring town, including the celebration grounds near the lake at the foot of the mountain. Large crowds had already gathered there to secure spots for the fireworks.
As long as your eyesight was decent, you could take in the entire town from this spot.
During the day the view wasn't particularly impressive, but at night, the lights from the town glittered like stars, making the scenery breathtaking.
"Right?"
Chika leaned on the railing, her eyes sparkling as she admired the view.
"Even though we're a little far from the fireworks, it's better this way. You can only truly appreciate them from a distance. This place is perfect."
"And we get to eat while watching the fireworks. Wow~ This place is amazing. I've already decided—I'm coming here again next time."
As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Ren standing next to her.
Feeling her eyes on him, Ren didn't object. He also really enjoyed this hot spring trip.
"You should talk to Kaguya about that. She's the one who planned this trip."
Ren pointed to Kaguya, who was sitting on a chair behind them.
Chika immediately shifted her attention, and with her usual sweet and playful voice, she asked,
"Kaguya-chan~ Can we come again next time?"
Kaguya's face twitched. Once again, she was reminded of how shameless this girl was. Especially with that ridiculous body where all her nutrition seemed concentrated in her chest—when she leaned in and rubbed against her like this, it made Kaguya even more irritated.
But there was no way to push this clingy monster away, so she replied with restraint,
"Forget about going again anytime soon. We just had a hot spring trip. We should visit other places next."
"You can go for hot springs in spring, autumn, and winter, but in summer, you should go to the beach. You don't want every vacation to be at a hot spring, do you?"
No matter how enjoyable a hot spring trip is, it would feel dull if done too often.
Actually, Kaguya herself preferred the idea of going to the beach. The problem was, whether it was the beach or the hot springs, she wasn't exactly confident about showing off her figure… and it would be too easy for someone else to draw Ren's attention.
"That's true."
Chika nodded. She would also get bored going to the same place every time. Every season deserved a different destination.
While thinking about it, she glanced around at their small group and couldn't help but smile.
"No matter where we go, this group will never be boring."
That was for sure.
The Occult Research Club wasn't about ghosts or supernatural things—it was the group itself that was the real mystery.
They did completely different things nearly every weekend, sometimes even during regular classes.
So, there was no worry about ever being bored with this group.
"Everyone, it's time to start eating."
Once the waiter had finished setting the table, dinner officially began.
Everyone gathered around the long table.
As Ren sat down, he noticed that dinner tonight seemed to be his favourite cuisine.
It was different from lunch. Was it just to match the time of day with a change in style?
Or…
He subconsciously glanced toward Hayasaka, and happened to meet her gaze. Her lips moved slightly.
[Do you like it?]
After catching her silent question, Ren realized she had arranged it.
So when he craved it, he'd usually make it himself. He could manage thanks to those step-by-step recipe books. Still, while he could cook it, there was no telling how close the taste and texture came to the real thing.
[Thanks, love.]
Hayasaka understood the shape of his lips and smiled sweetly, heart full of warmth.
But just after Ren gave Hayasaka his thanks, he felt a sharp pain under the table.
Ren fell silent for a moment, then turned to look at Chika, who was sitting next to him.
She was casually looking elsewhere, but the guilty expression on her face said it all.
You can't hide from someone with the abilities of a Spectator. No wonder people said Spectators had to be nerfed—it made too much sense.
Apparently, no girl could escape the clutches of jealousy.
Ren now fully understood the pain of being too popular. Every girl's envy had to be carefully managed.
Bang!
Just then, the first firework burst in the night sky.
Everyone turned to watch.
Ren slowly pulled his gaze back and, looking around at the others, raised his glass.
"The fireworks show has started. Let's begin dinner."
(To be continued.)
***
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