Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 18 - Chapter 3.04

  Gold and Silver

With the second match ending early, everyone made it back to Tokyo or Osaka on the same day. I, however, stayed at Arima. Just to be clear, it wasn’t to take a bath with Charlette. It was because I had business at the building on the other side of the road from the venue.

And who should I find here but―――

“Kuzuryu-sensei. Welcome to the Yashajin Group’s health resort.”

“You guys own way too much of Kobe ......”

Akira Ikeda greets me at the door.

She is both Ai Yashajin’s trusted bodyguard and faithful assistant, not to mention the president of the Yashajin Group’s construction company, Lolihome.

Yes, she has many faces, but most definitely loves to watch grade schoolers.

“If Ai wants to talk to me, why not ask me at home? Why’d she come all the way out to Arima and not even stop by to watch my match ......? Even little devils have standards, you know?”

“My lady is busy entertaining some business partners.”

Entertaining? Ai Yashajin?

“If she’s working, I’ll head on home. I don’t want to disturb her.”

“There’s no need for that. Please, indulge in the hot spring in the meantime.”

That must’ve been a signal of some kind, because a small army of buff men in black suits show up from who knows where and take my suitcase right out of my hands.

Resistance seems futile. I’m used to it, though.

“I’ve already spent enough time in a hot spring to make my fingers wrinkly for a week ......”

“Lady Ai merely wishes for you to indulge in all that Arima has to offer. Are you aware that there are two types of hot spring water here?”

“Gold and Silver, right?”

“Indeed. The Silver bath is a transparent, carbonic water. Fairly standard for hot springs.”

Akira leads me further into the building with a satisfied nod.

“The Gold bath has a high salt content with iron infused sodium, which gives the thicker water a rustic hue. The ability to experience both of these baths in one place is what truly makes Arima Onsen extravagant. The hot spring spas in this very building draw from both water sources!”

“Are you planning to venture into the hot spring market as well?” I ask with an annoyed tick as I try to keep up with her.

Lolihome has secured contracts to remodel both Shogi Association buildings: Kanto in the east and Kansai in the west. They are even set to sponsor the Women’s Placement League, which is in the works.

The Yashajin group has started seeping into the Shogi world through both the container and the content. Their chief executive is my apprentice, but even I can’t tell exactly what she’s trying to achieve.

“We purchased an inn recently. A property in Kanto, to be exact.”

“......”

“Should you wish to know further details, you may bring it up with my lady whenever you please. On a side note, we intend to make vast improvements to the lodging available within the new Shogi Association buildings. I would love for you to test them out, Kuzuryu-sensei ...... with your young apprentices, of course!”

It’s easier to get information out of Akira because she doesn’t hold her cards anywhere near as close to the vest as Ai Yashajin, but I can see how she survived so long in the dark underbelly of society. She read me like a book.

―――A Shogi nerd like me wouldn’t stand a chance against her ......

“The main bath is just through these doors. A change of clothes has been prepared for you. We shall have your current outfit dry cleaned, so leave it on the floor of the changing room, if you please.”

“Alright.”

With that, Akira takes her leave.

I briefly consider making a run for it right here and now, but I wouldn’t get far. The better choice is to take a bath here for a while and listen to what Ai has to say.

“And I’m pretty tired anyway ...... Ah, here it is.”

There isn’t a soul around as I slide the big door open.

It seems like this place doesn’t separate the men’s and women’s baths. Then again, that might be normal for these health resorts, so I don’t worry about it and get undressed. Now in the buff, I open the second door, which leads into the bathing hall.

And what a hall it is! I’ve got this place all to myself! Except, I don’t.

“Huh ......?”

There’s something in the steam ......

“Tell me, Ryuo-san, is it this Gold bath you want to enter?”

The elegantly smooth Kyoto dialect is coming from an equally elegant beauty soaking in the back of the tub. Her skin is slightly pink but those mind-bending curves of hers are impossible to miss.

I can’t see any other details because the water is too thick ...... but that actually makes her look even more racy!

An there’s someone else―――

“Or is it the Silver one? Agghhh?” says the beauty with an attitude sitting in the clear Silver bath.

She’s leaning back in a pose like an athlete or supermodel. With her looks, she could pull off either one. Wow, she’s hot!

They sound just like the goddess that showed up in Aesop’s fable about the honest woodcutter but ...... That goddess wasn’t anywhere near this sexy!!

I yell, naked as the day I was born.

“MACHI?! RYOU?! Wh-Wh-What’re you two doing in the hot springs?!”

“Don’t get all choked up, Trash. I’ve got a towel on, see?”

“I’m choked up because I DON’T!!”

I quickly hide behind the blinder wall by the bathing bowl, but that just makes me seem like more of a pervert.

“I happen to be towel-less as well. See? ♡”

“You don’t have to get out just to show me! I already know!!”

Something very similar happened during our cram writing session at Amanohashidate! Looking back, it was nothing short of a miracle I didn’t make a move ...... And, as Keika said, miracles don’t happen twice!

“Wh-What are you two doing here in the first place?! The Yashajin family owns―――”

“Yeah, and one of ’em invited us. Your apprentice, actually.”

“Ai did?”

Then she’s going to be entertaining ...... these two?!

“Yaichi and Ayumu, a title in the balance. As lifelong friends of both, O-Ryou and I were talking and decided that we should swing by the arena. It just so happened Ten-chan offered us a free hotel room as well as transportation to and from Arima.”

“Actually, it was ’cuz that company with the messed up name is a sponsor for the association now.”

Lolihome, no doubt. Now I’m starting to feel bad.

“It was a proposal to discuss match operations and regulations for the Women’s League in the near future between Women’s Title Holders. As I had a veritable mountain of questions pertaining to the Women’s Placement League, I had no reason to reject the offer ...... Thus, here I am.”

“Free food, free booze and a chance to use the best supercomputer on the planet to analyze your match with Ayumu. Now that’s a sweet deal. The little gremlin still hasn’t shown her face, though.”

That’s when the bath door opens.

“Kugui-Yamashiro Ouka. And Tsukiyomizaka-Women’s King.”

Akira calls out to them.

“Lady Ai will see you now. Please make your way to the cafeteria once you have a chance to cool down.”

“Ah, at long last.”

“Tch! Couldn’t be bothered to come get us herself, eh?”

The two stand up like they’re all out of patience. Whoa! Whoa! WHOA!!

“......!!”

But Ryou gets up with so much velocity that her towel couldn’t keep up ......! I slam my eyes shut, but I’m pretty sure I saw something jiggle before my eyelids closed!

And Machi is, well, Machi. My eyes are shut tight, but I can tell her well-endowed boobs passed right in front of me. Those things bend the air to their will. W-Wow ......!

I curl up in a little ball in the corner of the bath hall. Akira then calls out to me from behind my back.

“Please enjoy the bath privately at your leisure, Kuzuryu-sensei. This shouldn’t take more than five hours.”

“Ah, sure.”

The sliding door snaps shut, and I’m left with a conundrum to solve.

“............”

Whose leftover water would be the correct choice ....... Ryou’s silver or Machi’s gold?