Chapter 133: A Pleasant Flight to Hokkaido

Kitahara Chiki was quite satisfied with the arrangements.

Now that he had the opportunity to observe Yuko-chan up close, he could appreciate just how beautiful she really was.

Even without considering her particularly attractive long legs, she was already an outstanding beauty. Her facial features were exceptionally well-proportioned, creating an appearance that was both delicate and refined.

Her bright eyes were especially captivating, carrying a youthful charm that made her expressions rather memorable. Her nose had a naturally elegant bridge, giving her face a pleasing sense of depth, while her lips added another touch of attractiveness to her overall appearance.

However, what caught Kitahara’s attention wasn’t simply her beauty.

There was something rather distinctive about her temperament.

Yuko appeared to be a young woman who had only recently entered society. Her expressions, mannerisms, and somewhat hesitant behavior all suggested that she still had plenty to learn about dealing with people.

Unlike Kobayashi Ami, who carried herself with the confidence of an experienced professional, Yuko seemed considerably less accustomed to unfamiliar situations.

At present, she was sitting quietly in the car, her hands clasped together over her knees. Her posture was somewhat stiff, and she occasionally glanced toward Kitahara before quickly looking away.

Even though nobody had said anything particularly intimidating, she seemed unable to relax completely.

It was difficult to tell whether she was simply nervous about meeting an important client or whether the circumstances surrounding this arrangement had made her uncomfortable.

Kitahara couldn’t help wondering about that.

Was Yuko genuinely participating in this reception of her own free will?

He glanced toward Section Chief Miyamoto, who was sitting nearby, but decided not to ask immediately.

After all, he had only just met these people. There was no need to rush into making assumptions.

Nevertheless, one thing was certain.

Mitsui Bank had clearly invested considerable effort in organizing this trip.

Damn, they really weren’t holding back!

Kitahara couldn’t help making that observation inwardly.

Japanese companies were certainly experienced when it came to entertaining important clients. Their arrangements often went far beyond ordinary hospitality, with every detail carefully considered in advance.

From the transportation and accommodation to the accompanying personnel, everything seemed to have been prepared according to a specific plan.

And judging from the two women sitting beside him, someone had evidently spent quite some time researching his preferences.

One woman possessed the mature elegance of someone who knew how to handle different social situations, while the other had a distinctly youthful and fresh appearance.

Their personalities and temperaments were quite different, creating an interesting contrast.

Such arrangements were certainly difficult to overlook.

Kitahara couldn’t help appreciating the amount of thought that had gone into organizing everything.

Of course, he also understood that this was part of the business world. When dealing with an important client, companies naturally wanted to leave the best possible impression.

Still, Mitsui Bank’s level of hospitality was rather impressive.

He leaned back in his seat and continued observing the surroundings.

His gaze eventually returned to Yuko, who was still sitting somewhat stiffly.

Her outfit was relatively fashionable, consisting of a short skirt and black stockings. The combination suited her tall figure and gave her an elegant appearance.

Although she seemed slightly nervous, she was making an effort to maintain her composure.

Occasionally, she would adjust her sitting position or smooth out her skirt, apparently unsure of what to do with her hands.

Kitahara found the contrast between her reserved behavior and her striking appearance rather noticeable.

He wondered whether she would become more comfortable after spending some time together.

...

Before long, the vehicle arrived at the airport.

Section Chief Miyamoto got out first and began taking care of the luggage. Kitahara followed, carrying his own small travel bag.

Kobayashi Ami and Yuko also stepped out shortly afterward.

Once everyone had gathered, Miyamoto naturally assumed the role of guide.

He carried the luggage and walked ahead, while Kitahara proceeded through the airport with Kobayashi Ami and Yuko accompanying him on either side.

The airport was already quite busy.

Travelers moved through the terminal in every direction, some pulling suitcases while others stood in line at the check-in counters.

Miyamoto led them toward the appropriate counter without wasting time.

After checking in their luggage and obtaining their boarding passes, the group proceeded through security.

Everything went smoothly.

There were no unexpected delays, and they reached the boarding gate with sufficient time to spare.

Kitahara glanced at his boarding pass before putting it away.

It seemed that Miyamoto had arranged the entire journey quite carefully. Even the timing of their departure had been planned to ensure they could reach their destination without unnecessary trouble.

Not long afterward, boarding was announced.

The group followed the other passengers onto the aircraft and soon found their assigned seats.

Kitahara ended up sitting next to Kobayashi Ami, while Yuko took a seat nearby.

Once everyone had settled down, the aircraft gradually began preparing for departure.

Naturally, there were certain restrictions on what passengers could do during a flight. They couldn’t move around freely or engage in activities that might disturb other travelers.

As a result, Kitahara and Ami had little choice but to spend the journey talking.

Fortunately, that was hardly a problem for her.

Kobayashi Ami was clearly an experienced social butterfly.

From the moment their conversation began, she demonstrated an impressive ability to maintain a comfortable atmosphere. Her tone was warm without being overly familiar, and she knew exactly when to ask questions or introduce another topic.

Even when discussing relatively ordinary matters, she managed to make the conversation interesting.

Kitahara found himself feeling increasingly comfortable around her.

Initially, they talked about the upcoming trip to Lake Toya.

Ami seemed particularly familiar with the destination and immediately began introducing its famous hot springs.

"Mr. Kitahara, Lake Toya is quite famous for its hot spring facilities. There are several different types of bathing experiences available in the surrounding area."

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yes. Some facilities focus on traditional mineral-rich waters, while others emphasize outdoor bathing with views of the surrounding scenery. Each establishment has its own characteristics."

She continued explaining the differences between various hot spring facilities, including their general atmosphere, available services, and the types of experiences visitors could expect.

Her explanations were surprisingly detailed.

She even mentioned some of the historical background behind the region’s hot spring tourism and explained why Lake Toya had become such a popular destination.

Kitahara listened attentively.

He had originally expected the conversation to consist of little more than ordinary travel arrangements. He hadn’t anticipated that Ami would know so much about the subject.

She wasn’t simply listing famous attractions. Instead, she could explain what made each place distinctive and what visitors might find interesting about it.

It was almost like listening to a professional travel guide.

"You’re remarkably knowledgeable about this area, Section Chief Kobayashi."

Kobayashi Ami smiled.

"Not at all. I’ve simply had the opportunity to visit quite a few places over the years. Since I occasionally accompany clients on business trips, I thought it would be useful to learn more about popular destinations."

"I see. Still, your explanations are quite comprehensive."

"Thank you, Mr. Kitahara. I’m glad you find them useful."

Their conversation continued naturally.

After discussing hot springs for a while, they gradually moved on to other subjects.

They talked about Tokyo’s weather, the differences between busy city life and quieter regional destinations, and some of the things they enjoyed doing during their free time.

Ami was particularly good at keeping the conversation flowing.

Whenever one subject began to run its course, she would introduce another without making the transition feel forced.

Eventually, their discussion turned toward music.

Kitahara mentioned a few works he had listened to recently, and Ami responded with several recommendations of her own.

To his surprise, her knowledge extended well beyond popular songs.

She was familiar with various musical styles and could even explain the different impressions created by particular arrangements and compositions.

From music, they gradually moved on to literature.

This was where Kitahara discovered another unexpected side of her.

Ami possessed considerable knowledge of literary works. She could casually mention famous novels, discuss their authors, and explain the themes explored within their stories.

What impressed Kitahara most was the way she expressed her opinions.

She didn’t simply repeat commonly accepted interpretations. Instead, she could explain her own understanding of a work in clear, accessible language, often bringing up details that Kitahara hadn’t previously considered.

Their conversation became increasingly engaging.

At one point, Kitahara even found himself asking her to elaborate on a particular literary work.

Ami responded enthusiastically, explaining the author’s intentions and discussing how certain characters reflected the social environment of their time.

Her explanations were neither pretentious nor unnecessarily complicated.

She simply spoke with the confidence of someone who had genuinely spent time reading and thinking about these subjects.

Kitahara couldn’t help looking at her with renewed appreciation.

So this was another side of Kobayashi Ami.

At first, he had mainly noticed her mature appearance and excellent social skills. She seemed like someone who could easily adapt to different environments and establish connections with all kinds of people.

However, it was becoming increasingly clear that her abilities weren’t limited to interpersonal communication.

She also possessed genuine knowledge and intellectual curiosity.

After all, being a successful social butterfly required more than simply knowing how to smile, flatter people, and maintain pleasant conversations.

Without sufficient knowledge and experience, it would be difficult to keep up with people from different backgrounds, especially when dealing with important clients.

Ami’s ability to discuss such a wide range of subjects demonstrated that she had clearly put considerable effort into developing herself.

Kitahara leaned back slightly, listening as she continued talking about literature.

His initial impression of her had improved considerably.

As expected, there was more to this woman than met the eye.