Hot Spring

After spending a day at Naniwa University without her identity being exposed, only a few neighbors and some close old friends of Jun were aware of who Hana really was. Thankfully, these people weren't the gossiping type, so news about Hana and Jun had spread only within a small circle, leaving their lives relatively undisturbed.

One day, Jun received an invitation from the Tokyo Literary Association. Established decades ago, it was a prestigious and exclusive organization filled with retired professors from well-known academic institutions. Jun was a member himself, and knew many people in the circle.

Every year, the Tokyo Literary Association had a tradition of organizing an all-expenses-paid trip for its members, who could also bring along their family. Jun was hesitant upon receiving this year's invitation, and consulted Hana about it.

Hana looked surprised, "A trip with the Literary Association?"

Jun softly replied, "Yes, I skipped it last year. This year, some friends specifically messaged me, hoping I could attend. We hardly catch up otherwise. What do you think? Are you free to come along?"

Hana laughed, "Free? I'm an unemployed young woman playing games all day at home. What else would I be doing?" She glanced at the digital invitation Jun was holding to check the address. 

It was close by, at a wellness eco-farm at the foot of Mountain Fuji near Tokyo.

"Of course I'd love to go. Have you been to these wellness farms before?" Hana casually inquired.

Jun shook his head, "Not every year. I've been a few times. In earlier years, we went farther, even abroad. But after an incident in a desert in China, where some older friends fell ill and nearly lost their lives, the association decided to stick to shorter trips."

Despite the older members' zest for life, safety had to come first. Locations that were too dangerous or too far had been vetoed. Some members were dissatisfied, but their families were consulted, and no one objected afterward. So, nowadays they usually went to hot springs, fishing villages, orchards, or mountain resorts.

At least it was a way to relax. While packing, Hana thought of something and asked Jun, "Will anyone on this trip know about our situation?"

Jun said, "A couple of friends know." As he spoke, he helped Hana by neatly folding the clothes she had stuffed into her suitcase.

Hana simply tossed the underwear she had picked up onto his pile and turned to search for her jackets. Jun had mentioned that the farm in the mountains would be chilly, and the weather had indeed turned colder recently, so they needed to pack some warm clothing.

"So, are you going to tell them that I'm your wife?"

Jun hesitated, "Well, I mainly worry it might annoy you. Knowing about our situation, I doubt many on my end will bother you. But you're young, people will be curious about your story. So, when the time comes, you can decide how to present it based on your own feelings."

Hana turned to look at him, "Why do I have to make all the choices?"

Jun calmly imparted some wisdom, saying, "Only you can make choices for your own life. No one else has the right, even if I'm your partner."

Hana had nothing to say. Ever since she arrived, Jun had shared many things and would offer advice on certain matters, but he never intended to make decisions for her. This showed respect, yet it also made Hana feel he was too polite towards her. Perhaps Jun did have feelings for her, but this subtle distance made her felt a bit frustrated sometimes.

Maybe it's because during their brief year of married life, she had gotten used to being pampered. Like a puppy that wags its tail and licks your face every time it sees you, when you leave for a long time and come back to find an old dog, you know it still longs for you, yet the fervor is gone. Even as you pet its head and it looks up at you with loving eyes, you miss the lost intimacy.

The "old dog" looked puzzled as his young wife suddenly frowned, dropped her half-packed suitcase, grabbed her umbrella, and left.

"What's wrong?"

Hana kept a straight face, "I'm going to buy a chicken to make soup for you tonight."

Jun a obviously very puzzled.

On the day of the Tokyo Literary Association's trip, the weather cleared up. It was now September, and the onset of autumn was apparent. Everyone gathered and took a bus to the countryside farm. Exiting the urban area, they entered a world of lush and colorful plants, and the air instantly became remarkably fresh, lifting everyone's spirits.

Hana rolled down the window, letting the fresh air brush against her face while staring far at the mountain on the horizon. With the slight bumpiness of the ride and the murmur of Jun's conversation with others, she felt tired.

The two men sitting near Jun and talking with him were around his age and were the same two people who knew about Hana. So, as soon as she boarded the bus, she greeted them following Jun's introduction. Not everyone takes well to someone who's time-traveled forty years. One of the older gentlemen looked a bit stiff and uncomfortable, while the other couldn't help staring curiously at her. To avoid making them uneasy, Hana decided not to join in their conversations and slept through the entire ride.

After she quietly fell asleep, Jun carefully took a blanket from the seat next to him and covered her with it. He closed the window, leaving only a small gap, and lowered his voice while talking with his friends.

The two old buddies watched his actions, initially teasing him with a laugh, but then couldn't help but let out a deep sigh.

It was hard to put into words how to feel about the situation. She had come back, which was good, but this seemingly timeless lover was also a source of bittersweet pain for their old friend. Some regrets are impossible to soothe.

Yet, no matter how emotional they got, as outsiders, it wasn't their place to comment. Only the people involved could truly understand the complexities of the situation.

The journey was peaceful. Jun and his two friends occasionally whispered a few words. The other passengers had only greeted them when they got on the bus, and while a few cast curious glances at Hana seated beside Jun, no one was bold enough to pry.

Finally, upon arriving at the destination, Hana woke up without needing to be called. She yawned, rolled up the blanket, and handed it to Jun.

As everyone got down the bus, a young student from another car, who had come with a teacher, enthusiastically offered to help Jun with his luggage.

"Sato Sensei, are you here alone this year? Let me carry your bags."

The enthusiastic student was named Hitomi. He had also attended this literary trip three years ago with his teacher, and was very caring towards him and the few other seniors who had come alone. Jun appreciated this bright and warm young man. Seeing him run over, he smiled and waved him off. "No need, just look after your teacher. I'm fine here."

Hitomi grinned, "You're too polite, Sato Sensei!"

By this time, Hana had already walked over, dragging her suitcase. Jun took one and was about to take another bag from her hand. Hana casually slung the bag over her shoulder, "I've got it."

Hitomi looked at Hana, slightly puzzled, then finally asked, "Ah, Sato Sensei, did you bring a student this time?"

Jun didn't answer, only pointed to a chubby old man in another car, saying, "Your teacher is calling you. Better go."

Hitomi could only smile at them before hurrying back. Halfway there, he turned his head to look at them again.

Hana and Jun each pulled a suitcase towards the lodging area in the farm. The modern suitcases were impressively designed with collapsible storage features, appearing small despite holding a lot of items. Moreover, dragging them required no effort, making it incredibly easy.

Their farm trip was set for three days, staying in log cabins. While the exteriors looked rustic, made of simple round logs, the interiors were quite comfy. They were mostly furnished in wood, fully equipped, and the rooms were spacious. Each room had two beds, a semi-separated small tatami living area with a fireplace, a bathroom with a wash area; the tub was a huge one with running hot spring water, set on a balcony that provided a view of the dense nearby forest, as well as the distant Fuji Mountain.

Hana and Jun were in the same room but slept in separate beds. After unlocking their room, Hana put away her luggage, took a quick stroll around, and then flopped onto the bed.

Jun sat on the other bed, looking a bit concerned. "What's the matter? You slept a lot in the car. Are you still tired? Did you catch a chill?"

Hana did feel a bit off, kind of tired despite having slept for quite a while. It might have been from sitting in the car for too long. She sat up and rubbed her face. "I'm fine, I've always been healthy. A little wind won't give me a headache."

"The air is good here. Look, there's even Mount Fuji outside." Hana perked up and pointed to the large floor-to-ceiling windows, from which they could clearly see the beautiful mountain soaked in the chilly autumn air. The nearby forest and orchard was part of the farm, said to cover dozens of acres, though most of the flowers had already withered this season. There should still be some juicy fruits drooping on the branches, though.

"Let's go check it out once we're rested," Jun suggested, fishing out a thermal flask from his luggage and offering her some hot water sweetened with honey.

Not long after, someone knocked on the door. It was a young man from the association, informing everyone that lunch was being served in the main hall.

It was past noon, and after a morning on the road, they were both indeed hungry. Hana and Jun got up and headed for the main hall. As they entered, they heard a spirited laugh from an old man.

The chubby, round-faced old man was chatting with someone. Spotting Jun, he waved, his hearty laugh echoing through the hall. "Jun, there you are! Come sit over here, you busy man. How long has it been since I've seen you? Finally willing to come out, huh? Oh, you may not know yet, Akira is also coming this year, but she's running late due to some matters. You must be thrilled, eh?"

The old man winked suggestively at Jun, eliciting a narrowing of Hana's eyes.

Jun frowned slightly and softly scolded the old man, "Don't talk nonsense."

Then he turned to Hana, pushed up his glasses, and hesitated. "There's no—"

Hana gave him a half-smile. "No what? I didn't even ask, and you're already saying 'no.'" With that, she walked into the main hall and found a seat to sit down.