Chapter 131: Departure for Hokkaido

After chatting with Matsuda Yumi for quite a while, Kitahara finally ended the call.

He placed his phone back on the desk and glanced at the time. The conversation had lasted considerably longer than he had initially intended. Yumi was always full of energy, and once she started talking, it was difficult to end the conversation without exchanging a few more words.

Still, he had plenty of work waiting for him.

Kitahara adjusted his posture, picked up his pen, and returned to writing.

The hours passed quietly.

As the night grew deeper, the house gradually fell into complete silence. The other members of the household had already retired to their rooms, and the lights in the surrounding houses had long since gone out.

The only sound remaining in Kitahara’s study was the occasional swishing of his pen against the paper.

He was completely absorbed in his work.

Every so often, he would pause to consider a particular sentence, reread what he had written, and make a few adjustments before continuing. His thoughts remained focused on the manuscript, leaving him with little awareness of the passage of time.

For Kitahara, writing had gradually become an important part of his daily routine. Although he had plenty of other responsibilities, he still wanted to produce something worthwhile rather than simply relying on the opportunities that had come his way.

He continued working until the wall clock finally pointed to the early hours of the morning.

Only then did he feel the accumulated fatigue catching up with him.

Kitahara put down his pen and leaned back in his chair. He stretched both arms above his head, rolled his shoulders, and gently twisted his stiff neck.

"Finally finished for tonight..."

He glanced over the pages on his desk with a satisfied expression.

There were still plenty of things to take care of, but at least he had made decent progress.

After tidying up his workspace, he switched off the desk lamp, picked up his phone, and left the study.

The hallway was quiet and dimly lit.

When Kitahara pushed open the bedroom door, the first thing he saw was Hayami Rina lying peacefully in bed.

She was already fast asleep, with the blanket covering her body and only part of her face visible against the pillow.

Kitahara slowed his footsteps.

He didn’t want to disturb her after she had waited for him for so long.

Walking carefully toward the bedside, he gently lifted the edge of the blanket and slipped underneath.

The mattress sank slightly under his weight.

Almost immediately, Rina seemed to sense his presence. Although her eyes remained closed, she instinctively shifted closer to him, as though her body had already become accustomed to his presence.

Kitahara smiled faintly.

He extended an arm and gently gathered her into his embrace.

Rina settled against his chest, finding a comfortable position before returning to her peaceful sleep.

Looking at her relaxed expression, Kitahara felt a pleasant warmth spread through his heart.

After spending the entire evening working, being able to return to the bedroom and find his family waiting for him was a simple happiness he had come to appreciate.

He adjusted the blanket to make sure Rina was properly covered, closed his eyes, and soon drifted into a deep, comfortable sleep.

...

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the dining room as the family gathered around the breakfast table.

Kitahara was enjoying his breakfast when he casually brought up his plans for the coming weekend.

"I’ll be away for two days, so there might be a few things I won’t be able to take care of while I’m gone."

He had mentioned the business trip beforehand, so nobody was particularly surprised.

Rina nodded and reminded him to take care of himself.

"Make sure you get enough rest, okay? And don’t forget to eat properly while you’re away."

"Don’t worry. I’ll be fine."

The others also offered their reminders, including Aya-chan.

However, unlike the adults, the little girl seemed rather disappointed by the news.

She had originally been looking forward to spending the weekend with Kitahara. In particular, she had hoped he would take her somewhere fun to play.

Now that he was going away, those plans would have to be postponed.

Aya lowered her head slightly as she continued eating.

"Does that mean you can’t come with us this weekend, Papa?"

Kitahara noticed her expression and smiled apologetically.

"That’s right, Aya-chan. Papa has some work to take care of this weekend. But you can still go out and have fun with Mama."

"Really?"

"Of course. You can tell Mama where you want to go, and she can take you there."

Aya looked toward Rina.

Her mother smiled and gently reassured her.

"That’s right. We’ll go somewhere nice together. You can decide what you want to do."

Although Aya was still a little disappointed, she eventually nodded.

"Okay..."

Kitahara reached over and gently patted her head.

"We’ll go out together another time, all right?"

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Only then did Aya’s expression brighten a little.

After breakfast, everyone returned to their respective activities.

Rina helped Kitahara prepare for his trip. Since he would only be away for two days, there was no need to bring much luggage.

She took out a small travel bag and carefully packed several changes of clothes, along with a few other necessities.

"Is this enough?" Rina asked while checking the contents.

"That’s plenty. I won’t be gone for long."

"All right. I’ve put everything you might need in there."

Kitahara looked at the neatly arranged belongings and smiled.

"Thanks for taking care of this."

"It’s nothing. Just make sure you don’t forget anything."

Rina zipped up the bag and handed it to him.

Not long afterward, the sound of a vehicle approaching could be heard from outside.

A commercial van slowly pulled up in front of the house and stopped near the entrance.

The passenger door opened, and Section Chief Miyamoto from the bank stepped out.

He adjusted his clothes, walked toward the front door, and rang the doorbell.

Hearing the sound, Kitahara picked up his travel bag.

He exchanged a few final words with Rina and the others before heading outside.

When he opened the door, Miyamoto was already waiting nearby.

"Ohayou, Mr. Kitahara! You look particularly energetic this morning!"

The bank employee greeted him with a respectful bow.

He was dressed in a casual but presentable suit, maintaining the professional appearance expected of someone in his position.

"Haha, Section Chief Miyamoto, you haven’t changed either. You’re still looking quite sharp. Sorry to trouble you with coming all the way here to pick me up."

"Not at all! It’s my pleasure to assist you, Mr. Kitahara."

Miyamoto immediately stepped forward and offered to take his bag.

However, Kitahara politely declined, saying that it wasn’t particularly heavy.

"Please get in. Our flight departs at 9:30, so we should get going."

Miyamoto walked around the vehicle and opened the rear passenger door.

"According to today’s schedule, it will take a little over an hour to reach Hakodate Airport. After landing, we’ll transfer to another vehicle and head directly to the Lake Toya Onsen Hotel."

He paused briefly before continuing with a smile.

"If everything goes smoothly, you’ll be able to enjoy the famous Beauty Onsen before noon!"

As he explained the itinerary, Miyamoto deliberately stepped aside and gestured toward the interior of the vehicle.

Kitahara initially thought he was simply inviting him to get in.

However, when he looked through the open door, he discovered that the rear seats were already occupied.

Two women were sitting inside.

He paused for a moment, his expression revealing a hint of surprise.

"Section Chief Miyamoto, these two ladies are...?"

Miyamoto smiled as though he had been waiting for precisely that question.

"Ah, allow me to introduce them."

Kitahara turned his attention toward the two passengers.

Both women possessed striking appearances, although their styles and overall impressions were quite different.

The first woman appeared to be around thirty years old. She had a slightly plump figure and an unmistakably mature charm.

Her face was pleasantly rounded, with fair skin and delicate features. Her slightly upturned phoenix eyes gave her an elegant yet somewhat captivating appearance.

Her lips were naturally full, and her expression carried the relaxed confidence of a woman who had experienced quite a bit of life.

She seemed to be at an age when maturity and femininity blended naturally, giving her an especially distinctive presence.

The second woman appeared considerably younger, perhaps in her early twenties.

She was tall and slender, with long legs that were neatly covered by black stockings. The limited space inside the vehicle made it difficult for her to stretch them comfortably.

Her appearance was equally impressive.

She had beautifully shaped eyebrows, clear and bright eyes, and a straight, elegant nose. Her facial features were delicate and well-proportioned, while her pink lips added a touch of youthful charm.

Unlike the first woman’s mature elegance, she gave off a fresher and more refined impression.

For a moment, Kitahara simply looked at the two unfamiliar women.

Seeing his curious expression, Miyamoto finally began explaining their identities.

"Mr. Kitahara, these two ladies will be accompanying us during our visit to Lake Toya. There are some matters I’d like to discuss with you regarding their involvement."

Kitahara raised his eyebrows slightly.

It seemed this business trip might turn out to be considerably more interesting than he had originally anticipated!