Chapter 78: STORIES AT THE HOT SPRING

The car sped along the dirt road that was starting to slope downward, back toward camp. The sun had tilted westward—its light golden, piercing through the gaps in the trees and creating moving patterns inside the car. Mira sat with her purple ring raised toward the window, turning it slowly so the stone caught the light.

"Look, Rin! Mira’s stone changes color when it hits the sunlight!" Mira pushed her hand toward Rin’s face.

Rin tilted her head, staring at the ring for a moment. "That’s because of reflection, not changing. Stones can’t change color."

"But earlier it was dark purple, now it’s light purple!"

"Because the light is different."

Mira lowered her hand, staring at her own ring. "Mira still likes it. This is Mira’s first ring."

Rin touched her earrings—the small leaf pendant hanging from her ear. "My earrings are nice too. Light. Doesn’t bother me."

"Mr. Kai, where did you get all that jewelry?" Ella asked from the second row. Her crescent moon necklace hung around her neck, glinting softly under the afternoon light.

Kai glanced briefly. "I bought them in town before we went camping. There’s a small shop that sells handmade jewelry. Not expensive, but nice."

Eve pushed her glasses up. "That’s a logical explanation. I was starting to think Mr. Kai made them himself."

"I can’t make jewelry."

"That’s a shame," Iris said from the corner. Her star earrings swayed gently as she leaned her head against the window. "If Mr. Kai could make them, we could order more."

"You’ve already gotten one each," Kai said.

Luna stared at her bracelet—wooden beads arranged neatly. "What wood is this, Sir?"

"Teak wood. Supposedly. I’m not sure."

Luna nodded. "It smells like wood. I like it."

Nora stared at her ring—a small black stone that didn’t sparkle, but was firm. "This is simple. Good."

"You do like simple things," Rin said.

"Yes."

Aria held her bracelet—cream-colored beads that felt smooth at her fingertips. "I-I’ve never had jewelry before. This... this is the first."

"Really?" Mira turned. "Mira just got one too. But Mira likes it."

Fay sat at the very back, holding her earrings in her palm. She hadn’t put them on. She just held them, occasionally opening her hand to look, then closing it again. Her doll was on her lap, and between the fingers holding the doll, she slipped her earrings in.

Lydia sat in the front seat, beside Kai. She watched the backs of the students behind through the rearview mirror—Mira still showing off her ring to Rin, Rin pretending not to care, Ella staring at her necklace calmly, Iris smiling mysteriously, Eve already back on her phone, Aria holding her bracelet like a precious object, Fay holding her earrings.

The camp was already visible in the distance—the tents were still standing, but the grass around them was a little more trampled, and some items were still scattered near the wooden table. Kai parked the car in the same spot as before. Clack. He got out, followed by the others.

The day was almost evening. The sky was golden orange—the sun starting to descend toward the horizon, and the shadows of the trees stretching long across the grass. The evening wind blew softly—whoosh—carrying the scent of forest and the remaining flowers on their clothes.

Kai gathered them in the middle of the camp area. "We’ll clean up first before going home."

Mira raised her hand. "Sir, we still want to play at the lake—"

"No playing," Kai said. "We clean up. Then we leave."

Mira pouted her lips, but she didn’t argue.

Kai divided the tasks. "Ella, you lead the team to fold the tents. Rin, Mira—you clean up the campfire remains. Luna, Nora—collect the trash. Iris, Aria—clean the table and chairs. Eve, Fay—pack all the equipment into the car."

They started working. Ella led firmly—pointing toward the tent that needed to be folded first, showing the correct way to fold, making sure the ropes weren’t tangled. Rin and Mira cleaned the campfire remains—collecting ash into plastic bags, sweeping the remaining embers with twigs. Luna and Nora collected trash—empty bottles, food wrappers, used tissues—all put into a large bag. Iris and Aria cleaned the table—wiping with a wet cloth, arranging the chairs. Eve and Fay packed the equipment—Eve counted every item, Fay helped put them into the car.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Their footsteps echoed on the grass. Crunch. Crunch. Dry leaves at the edge of the area. Rustle. Trash bags being pulled. Wipe. Table being wiped.

After almost forty minutes, the camp area was clean again. The tents were folded and stored. The campfire was cleaned. The trash was collected. The table and chairs were neat. The equipment was in the car.

Kai stood in the middle of the now-empty area—only grass and earth remained. He nodded slightly. "Good."

Mira approached. "Sir, are we going home now?"

"Not yet." Kai looked at them. "Before going home, we’ll stop somewhere."

Mira lifted her head. "Where, Sir?"

"A hot spring."

HAAH! Mira opened her mouth wide. "A HOT SPRING?!"

"Really, Sir?!" Rin stepped forward, her eyes sparkling. "We’re going to soak in hot water?!"

"Yes."

"I LOVE HOT WATER!" Rin raised her fist. "I always go to hot springs every month! This is going to be fun!"

Nora nodded slightly. "Hot water is good for muscles. I need that."

Luna smiled faintly. "I’ve never been. But I’m curious."

Iris crossed her arms. "A hot spring. Interesting."

Eve pushed her glasses up. "Hot water temperature is usually between 38 and 42 degrees Celsius. Good for muscle relaxation and blood circulation."

Aria bit her nails, but her eyes sparkled. "I-I’ve... never been to a place like that."

Fay smiled faintly. She held her earrings tightly.

"LET’S GO!" Mira was already running to the car. "Mira can’t wait!"

They all got into the car. The engine started. Vroom. The car sped away from the camp, descending the winding dirt road. Not far from camp—about fifteen minutes—they arrived at a large wooden building with a red tile roof and a wide front door. Above the door was a wooden board reading: NATURAL SPRING HOT BATH.

The car stopped in the yard. Clack. They got out. The air around the bathhouse felt warm—not warm from the sun, but warm from the steam rising from inside. A faint sulfur scent mixed with the scent of wood and moss.

They entered the lobby. Behind a long wooden desk sat an old woman—white hair tied neatly, a calm wrinkled face, tired but sharp eyes. She wore a simple cotton shirt and a cloth apron. She lifted her head when they entered.

"Good afternoon," the old woman said. Her voice was soft but clear. "How can I help you?"

Kai stepped forward. "We’d like to stay here. One night."

The old woman nodded. She opened a large book in front of her—a book with a worn leather cover, its pages full of handwriting. She placed a pen on an empty page.

"Name?" the old woman asked.

"Kai Arden."

"Number of people?"

Kai turned back. He counted. "Ten. Nine students, one assistant, and me."

The old woman wrote with a steady hand—her handwriting neat, slanting to the right. After finishing, she closed her book and placed the pen beside it. She turned to the shelf behind her and took out several sets of toiletries—small towels, bar soap, toothbrushes, and shampoo in small bottles. She placed them on the table one by one.

"Please take them," the old woman said. "Men’s bathroom on the left. Women’s bathroom on the right. The hot spring pool is in the back. Enjoy."

Kai nodded. "Thank you."

They took their respective toiletries. Mira was already impatient—she grabbed her towel and immediately ran toward the women’s bathroom. Rin followed with firm steps. Ella walked calmly. Luna followed without a sound. Nora walked alertly. Iris smiled mysteriously. Eve pushed her glasses up. Aria bit her nails. Fay at the very back, holding her towel gently.

Kai walked to the men’s bathroom. He entered. The door closed behind him. Clack.

Inside, there were several wooden lockers, a long bench, and several water taps with mirrors above them. Kai removed all his clothes—one by one, with calm movements. He placed them in the locker, locked it, and hung the key on his wrist. He wrapped a white towel around his waist. He walked to the tap, turned on the water, and cleaned his body first before entering the pool. The water was cold—sss—and he poured it over himself several times until clean.

After finishing, he walked to the hot spring pool. The pool was made of natural stone—large stones arranged in a circle, with water steaming from within. The steam was thick, covering the surface, and the sulfur scent was stronger here. Kai stepped in. The water was hot—not too hot, but enough to make his skin feel warm. He sat at the edge, leaning against the stone, and closed his eyes.

Haaah.

The steam billowed around him. The sound of water flowing from its source could be heard softly—murmur. In the distance, the sound of evening birds started to be heard. Kai let his body relax—his tense muscles starting to loosen, one by one.

And his mind started to drift.

He remembered the camp. He remembered the tent. He remembered the campfire. He remembered the white smoke. He remembered the falling bodies—Mira, Rin, Ella, Luna, Nora, Iris, Eve, Aria, Fay. He remembered Lydia staring at him with wide eyes. He remembered his hand striking the back of Lydia’s head. He remembered himself sitting among them, alone, while the smoke faded.

Was that the right thing to do?

He opened his eyes. He stared at the steam rising above the water’s surface. He didn’t know the answer. He only knew that he had done it. And he couldn’t take it back.

Suddenly—voices. From behind the wooden fence separating the men’s and women’s pools. The fence was tall—about three meters—and made of tightly packed wooden planks. But voices could penetrate it clearly.

"Rin, your back is so nice! No scars at all!" Mira’s voice.

"Don’t touch!" Rin’s voice.

"I’m just looking!"

"Look, don’t touch!"

Kai opened his eyes. He stared at the wooden fence.

"Ella, what soap are you using? It smells nice." Iris’s voice.

"Regular soap. From home." Ella’s voice.

"Smells like jasmine."

"Yes. My mother bought it."

"Mira likes jasmine!" Mira’s voice again.

"You like anything that smells nice." Rin’s voice.

"Because Mira likes everything that smells nice!"

Laughter. Water sounds. Murmur. Steam.

Kai closed his eyes again. He tried not to listen. But the voices kept flowing—like water he couldn’t dam.

"Luna, why are you so quiet?" Mira’s voice.

"Nothing." Luna’s voice, soft.

"You’re pretty, you know. Why have you never told us if someone likes you?"

"No one."

"Ah, liar!"

"No one."

"Rin, if you liked someone, would you tell?" Mira’s voice.

"Depends."

"Depends on what?"

"Depends on the person."

"If the person is Mr. Kai?"

HAAH! Kai opened his eyes. His body tensed.

"Hey!" Rin’s voice. "Don’t say that! Mr. Kai is our teacher!"

"It’s just a hypothetical!"

"No hypotheticals allowed!"

"Why? Do you like Mr. Kai?"

"NO!"

"You’re angry. That means it’s true."

"I’m angry because you’re saying nonsense!"

"Rin, you’re red."

"Because the water is hot!"

Kai closed his eyes again. He pressed his temples with two fingers.

"Mira, what about you? Do you like Mr. Kai?" Iris’s voice.

"Mr. Kai is kind. Mira likes him. But Mira doesn’t know like in what way." Mira’s voice.

"Like in what way?"

"Like... Mira likes it when Mr. Kai is there. Mira likes it when Mr. Kai smiles. Mira likes it when Mr. Kai says ’good job’ to Mira." Mira paused. "But Mira doesn’t know if that’s like or not."

"If you don’t know, that means you’re still innocent," Iris said.

"I’m not innocent! I’m grown up!"

"You’re still small."

"I’M ALREADY GROWN UP!"

Kai heard laughter again. But he didn’t smile. He just sat there, in the hot water, and felt something uncomfortable in his chest.

"Ella," Iris’s voice again. "You’re the most mature among us. Have you ever liked someone?"

No answer for a few seconds.

"Yes," Ella finally said.

HAAH! All sounds stopped. Even Kai held his breath.

"REALLY?!" Mira. "WHO?!"

"Not important."

"IMPORTANT! COME ON, TELL US!"

"No."

"ELLA!"

"No."

"I’LL LISTEN UNTIL YOU TELL US!"

"Go ahead."

"ELLA!"