The timeline shifts back to the moment when Yuki Asahi headed for the open-air onsen.
Stepping into the mist-shrouded public bath area, the heavy scent of sulfur and warm humidity wrapped around his whole body.
As Yuki Asahi pulled aside the noren at the men’s bath entrance, a somewhat awkward argument sounded from inside.
“……Sorry, Miss, this is the men’s bath.”
A middle-aged male guest’s voice rang out, tinged with embarrassment.
“I’m a man!”
Saori Saiyonji’s voice trembled a little.
Yuki Asahi leaned inside and saw Saori Saiyonji standing beside the locker at the entrance, face flushed red.
He had just taken off his coat, wearing only a thin bathrobe, pale blue long hair clinging to his cheeks, his androgynous face full of embarrassment.
Across from him stood two unfamiliar middle-aged male guests, suspicion and confusion plain on their faces.
They obviously couldn’t believe the self-declaration of the beautiful “girl” before them.
“Um…”
Yuki Asahi quickly stepped forward, trying to defuse the situation.
“He’s really a guy. He’s our friend.”
With Yuki Asahi as witness, the doubt on the faces of the two male guests finally faded, replaced by deep embarrassment and apology.
After bowing and apologizing repeatedly, they almost fled into the pool.
Saori Saiyonji exhaled with a trace of grievance, faint steam and shame lingering in his light blue eyes.
“Seriously… it’s always like this.”
He muttered softly, lowering his head to untie his bathrobe.
“Mao-chan, not bad.”
Koji Hattori entered behind Yuki Asahi, grinning as he patted him.
“In a way, it’s a testament to your beauty! Come on, don’t just stand there…”
After cleaning themselves, the three of them sank together into the steaming open-air onsen.
The tranquil night of Lake Toya, the snow-capped silhouette of Mount Yotei in the distance hazy amidst the rising steam.
Cold air and warm spring water intermingled, washing away the earlier unpleasantness.
Because it was an infinity onsen, it felt as though they were soaking directly in Lake Toya.
Yuki Asahi stretched out his hand, letting a flake of drifting snow melt above his palm.
His body was enveloped in warmth, the fatigue of travel melting away with it.
After some idle chat, Koji Hattori pointed to the wooden Sauna Room steaming beside the pool.
“There’s a sauna over there. How about we compete to see who can last longer inside?”
His suggestion instantly drew a response from Saori Saiyonji—maybe wanting to prove he was a man too.
Yuki Asahi had no objections either.
Pushing open the door, scorching heat rushed out, like stepping into a furnace.
The three sat side by side on the highest wooden steps, the searing boards burning against their skin.
“Whoo… this temperature.”
Koji Hattori wiped his face with a towel, speaking first.
Saori Saiyonji squeezed his eyes shut, long lashes beaded with sweat, gritting his teeth to endure.
Yuki Asahi also found it hard to breathe, his heartbeat racing from the heat, but he silently bore it.
Seconds and minutes passed, until only heavy breathing remained in the cramped space.
Sweat dripped onto the scorching stones with a faint “sizzle”.
Saori Saiyonji began to falter first, his body swaying slightly.
Seeing this, Koji Hattori spoke up at just the right moment, also directing his words at Yuki Asahi.
“Hey, Asahi-kun.”
Koji Hattori’s voice blurred in the heat, carrying the tone of someone experienced.
“Sometimes, just waiting won’t get you the girl.”
Yuki Asahi’s heart skipped, sweat stinging his eyes.
“Especially with someone like Miss, who’s cold, deep, and… a bit awkward.”
Koji Hattori fanned himself with his towel.
“You need to let her clearly feel your presence—your resolve.”
“Being a Frog in Boiling Water probably won’t work on her. If you just keep simmering, the frog—oh no, the opportunity—will slip away.”
Saori Saiyonji, dizzy from the heat, still managed to open his eyes a crack and add softly.
“Yeah, if you’re too passive, you’ll just become a Background Board.”
He seemed to recall an even more painful example.
“Or be treated like a Younger Brother?”
Koji Hattori nodded vigorously.
“Exactly. You need some aggression—not to be a creep, but to have the courage to act when it’s time!”
“Make it impossible for her to ignore you, or to box you into the ‘friend’ or ‘junior’ safety zone.”
He paused, gazing at Yuki Asahi’s steam-flushed face.
“Asahi-kun, think about it. Someone like Miss is used to controlling the situation, used to protecting others.”
“If you’re always waiting for her signal, her favor, she’ll always see you as a junior who needs care—not as a man who can stand by her side, or even protect her.”
He leaned forward slightly, voice lowering with a hint of persuasion.
“Think about that so-called ‘Engagement’… do you really want Miss to be handed over to some random person?”
“But…”
Yuki Asahi finally managed to speak, his voice dry.
“Predecessor seems so wary. I’m afraid pushing too hard will scare her or make her hate me.”
“Actually… I already confessed to Predecessor…”
“Eh?”
The other two jerked their heads up, Saori Saiyonji’s exhaustion vanishing in an instant.
This was big news.
“But… I guess it was sort of a rejection?”
Yuki Asahi smiled awkwardly.
“She said she’d try to like me… that kind of thing… I don’t know if it’s out of kindness so as not to hurt me… or for some other reason.”
Even after confessing, he’d tried to act, but with little result.
Saori Saiyonji hung his head, then his eyes lit up.
“If that’s the case, why not take advantage of Egami’s tolerance towards you?”
“If she didn’t reject you outright, it means Egami’s acceptance of you is pretty high, maybe even that she actually likes you inside… but for other reasons didn’t give you a clear answer, and told you to wait?”
Koji Hattori nodded thoughtfully.
“That’s possible too… after all, Miss must know she has an Engagement.”
“For real…”
Yuki Asahi sounded unconvinced.
“Pretty likely!”
Saori Saiyonji said enthusiastically.
“If you want, I can go confess to Egami myself—you’ll see the difference right away!”
“I’ll kill you.”
“Just kidding, hehe.”
Koji Hattori wiped away his sweat and continued.
“See? The chance is here!”
“Heaven’s will (Hokkaido’s romantic snowy night), earth’s luck (Double Bed), and people’s harmony (Jiang Jian Yue doesn’t dislike you)!”
“Hesitate any more and even the gods will lose patience!”
The steam sauna contest ended with the Count of Numbers, Yuki Asahi, as the winner—the prize being a Hot Spring Bun.
On the way back to the guest room, Yuki Asahi recalled those two unfamiliar “Tourists”, and how Predecessor deliberately avoided his questions.
And most importantly, the “Engagement”.
Absolutely… can’t keep waiting like this.
***
The timeline returns to the present.
“Predecessor.”
Yuki Asahi’s voice sounded overhead.
Very close, carrying an unprecedented weight.
Not a question, but a declaration.
Jiang Jian Yue looked up, red eyes colliding with the burning determination in his gaze.
He looked down at her, so close she could see the trail of water droplets running down his cheek, feel his heated breath brushing her hair.
“Predecessor.”
He repeated it again, not loud, but each word hammered against her taut nerves.
“Look at me.”
The commanding tone made Jiang Jian Yue’s heart skip, a blend of anger and surprise tangling inside her.
You’re not Yuki Asahi! Give me back the soft Yuki Asahi!
She instinctively wanted to snap back, to shield herself with familiar coldness.
But her throat felt blocked, and only a short gasp escaped.
She bit her lip, fingers unconsciously clenching the soft bathrobe fabric.
What is happening?
Yuki Asahi didn’t give her time to retreat or think.
He lowered his head slightly, closing the last bit of distance.
Those eyes locked onto her red pupils, as if seeing through all her defenses and disguises.
“Predecessor.”
His voice was low and steady.
“I know you’re used to being alone.”
“And protecting others, hiding everything inside, treating me as a junior needing care.”
Jiang Jian Yue tried to turn away, but Yuki Asahi’s hand reached out, holding her shoulder—not forcefully, but firmly.
The touch carried the warmth of the onsen, and she froze.
“But, Predecessor… I don’t want to just be the one you protect, who needs your care, always standing behind you.”
He met her gaze, unwavering.
“From now on, that’s not who I am.”
The air seemed to freeze.
Even the cold of Lake Toya felt blocked out by this invisible tension.
Jiang Jian Yue could clearly hear her own pounding heartbeat, mingled with his unsteady breaths.
She had never seen Yuki Asahi like this—gone was the hesitant boy, replaced by stubborn resolve.
This sudden transformation left her at a loss.
She opened her mouth, searching for her voice.
She wanted to break the runaway situation with a cold “You’re overthinking” or “Let go”.
But Yuki Asahi gave her no chance.
“Sorry.”
“Mm!”
***
The wind and snow over Lake Toya swirled violently in an instant.
Even in such freezing cold, the wind felt scorching.
Why was it hot?
Unspoken. Indescribable.
The cold wind swept over the rippling lake, stirring it as if to tear apart all former tranquility.
It was all the fault of this burning wind! It easily tore through the calm surface, churning the currents beneath ever more fiercely!
This was the scene Jiang Jian Yue now faced.
The lake offered no resistance, only doing its best to accept the cold wind’s kiss.
The surface struggled to remain calm, revealing a suppressed peace.
That peace came from a boundless beast in the depths, exposing its dark back, licking gently at her heart, as if saying:
“I don’t know why I resist. I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t know…”
As if hypnotized, Jiang Jian Yue lay quietly on the bed.
But suddenly, she recalled a legend she’d seen online, and reached out to pinch hard.
“Ah!”