The sunshine was just right, the shadow of the rain shelter, dividing the platform in two, and the back-to-back rows of benches were also neatly split down the middle.

Dubian Che sat on the bench in the sunshine, his finished book and face mask beside him.

Leaning against the backrest, hands in his baseball jacket pockets, legs stretched out straight, ankles stacked upon one another, he waited for the train headed for Atami.

◇

Atami was a small town built on a hillside, filled with slopes going up and down.

After sending Dubian Che photos of her soaking her feet at the station and enjoying a leisurely soak herself, Xiaoquan Aonai put on her socks and left the station with Akiko and Miyuki.

Outside the station was the hot spring street, filled with various snacks, goods, and hot spring hotels.

One thing was really fun: the pastry shops' pots constantly emitted white steam, but when they came to the next source of white steam, they found it was just a neglected hot spring by the roadside.

"Do you think people here use the hot spring steam to steam snacks?" Akiko curiously asked.

"Is the hot spring water drinkable?" Xiaoquan Aonai looked towards the school doctor, Miyazaki Mieko.

"I'm not a geologist, how would I know?" Miyazaki Miyuki said, "But since you can bathe in hot springs, it's probably like toothpaste, better not to eat it, but a little bit won't hurt."

"Let's ask Che," Xiaoquan Aonai took out her phone.

"Why not ask Google? Someone just wants an excuse to contact her little lover," Akiko teased, snorting.

"No!" Xiaoquan Aonai blushed and put away her phone.

"All right, let's go to the hotel to drop off our luggage, then have fun hands-free!" Miyazaki Miyuki quickened her pace.

Akiko and Xiaoquan Aonai hurried to keep up.

Used to the bustling streets of Tokyo, the three of them wandered through nameless back alleys with a different kind of charm.

By noon, tired from their stroll, they dined at a restaurant with a view of the sea.

After ordering an assortment of fish sashimi platters, Akiko hid half her face behind the menu and whispered to the others:

"Shall we splurge a bit?"

"Hm? Is there something tasty?" Miyazaki Miyuki, seated by the window, covertly rested her chest on the table—she was truly tired.

"Braised Kinmedai," Akiko said seriously with a whole fish in mind.

"What's the price?" Xiaoquan Aonai quietly inquired while pouring tea for the three of them.

"Ten thousand yen."

"Um—" Xiaoquan Aonai placed a tea cup in front of each person, "It's a bit of a splurge."

"Just try it once in a while," Akiko pouted, "It's not like we eat this expensive every meal, every trip."

"Hopefully it's just this once, don't say next time 'it's only the second time, a few ten thousand yen makes no difference when buying an apartment,'" Miyazaki Miyuki picked up her tea cup.

"Did you agree?" Akiko asked eagerly, "What about you, Aonai?"

"Then let's order it," Xiaoquan Aonai said with a smile.

"Another braised Kinmedai, that will be all, thank you," Akiko told the waiter.

"Okay, please wait a moment."

Once the waiter left, Akiko sat cross-legged on the tatami, sipping tea and asked, "Aonai, didn't Che give you any money?"

"Why would he give me money?" Xiaoquan Aonai asked in surprise.

"Last night, Mayi Asuka came to dinner, and didn't she say it herself? Che bought her an apartment and gave her five hundred million yen. Why shouldn't you get anything?"

"Mayi Asuka cut off ties with her family and lives alone; Che gave her money to make her feel secure. I have a job, parents, and you guys—I don't need that."

"Don't you feel a bit resentful in your heart?" Miyazaki Miyuki asked.

"Of course, a little, but it's not like I absolutely must have it," Xiaoquan Aonai said with a smile, "Right now, I want to rely on myself. Later on when I have kids, I'll definitely make him pay."

"Ha, kids," Akiko chuckled, "are you starting to think about buying baby clothes, strollers, toys?"

"It's still early for that!" Xiaoquan Aonai blushed, but then couldn't help saying, "We'll go shopping together when the time comes."

With Che, along with the two girlfriends, all four shopping for children's clothes, picking and choosing—what a blissful thing.

She couldn't wait for such a future to arrive yet also wished it would come later. Just thinking about it made every day joyous.

"Whether or not to have children is your own business, but Aonai, since you've decided to have them, it's best to do it before you turn 30," Miyazaki Miyuki said.

"Why? Is there a medical reason?" Xiaoquan Aonai asked.

"The ideal childbearing age for women is from 23 to 30, and for men, it's 30 to 35," Miyazaki Miyuki explained.

"Aonai has just turned 26 after her birthday. Four more years for her; and Che, that kid, is only 17 this year, in four years... he will only be 21." Akiko said.

"By the time he's 30, Aonai will be 39," Miyazaki Miyuki said, "This is just the ideal childbearing period. It's fine to have a child outside this age range; it's just because Aonai has already decided that I suggest doing it before 30."

"Okay," Xiaoquan Aonai nodded seriously, "I will discuss it with Che."

"Have you two done it yet?" Akiko asked, curious.

"No! We've got to wait until he graduates, no matter what!" Xiaoquan Aonai quickly said.

"Jiutiao Meiji and Mayi Asuka have both been with him; be careful not to be neglected," Akiko laughed.

"Che isn't that kind of person!"

"He's a man," Miyazaki Miyuki sipped her tea and sighed contentedly, "If he's a man, there's no way he doesn't think about a woman's body."

Xiaoquan Aonai was about to say more when the server arrived with their food.

Their attention shifted back to the dishes on their table.

The braised kinmedai, priced at ten thousand yen, was served in a large, white ceramic bowl; half a fish was soaking in dark sauce, garnished with shredded ginger.

"Let me have the first taste!" Akiko said, holding the bowl in her left hand, chopsticks in her right, licking her lips eagerly.

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