Chapter 136: Arriving at Lake Toya Onsen

Accompanied by Kobayashi Ami, the originally dull and tedious journey underwent a substantial change.

Along the way, she was full of witty remarks and displayed great enthusiasm, never letting the atmosphere grow cold.

Even when Kitahara told some jokes that weren’t all that funny, she would cooperate by laughing heartily,swaying back and forth like a blossoming branch.

She maximized Kitahara’s emotional value.

Making the entire trip extremely relaxed and pleasant.

Time slipped quietly away in this relaxed and joyous atmosphere, and before they knew it, the destination was already close at hand.

Yet this journey, which should have been long and boring, turned out to be so brief and lingeringly memorable thanks to Kobayashi Ami’s presence.

The plane landed smoothly at Hakodate Airport.

Hakodate is located at the southernmost tip of Hokkaido and is an important city in the region.

It is also the administrative, economic, and cultural center of Hokkaido’s “Southern Region.”

Built alongside the sea, the city boasts a long, winding coastline and magnificent ocean views.

About a century ago, people from Honshu Island in Japan landed right from here, kicking off a cruel invasion against the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido.

At that time, those invaders swarmed in like a plague of locusts, establishing one sturdy stronghold after another in Hakodate.

Using these strongholds as stepping stones, they continuously expanded their sphere of influence northward,step by step encroaching upon the homeland that originally belonged to the Ainu people.

And Hakodate became the bridgehead for this bloody invasion operation, witnessing countless separations,reunions, and historical changes.

Today, Hakodate has transformed into a modern metropolis.

Hot spring resources here are extremely abundant.

A large number of hot springs are distributed throughout the city of Hakodate and its surrounding areas.

Some have been fully developed to become popular resort spots, such as Noboribetsu Onsen and Lake Toya Onsen.

While others remain hidden in tranquil places, waiting for people to explore and discover them.

After getting off the plane, a dedicated vehicle was already waiting for Kitahara’s party.

Kitahara and his group directly transferred to the car.

Before long, the car drove out of the city and traveled smoothly along a winding forest road flanked by lush,verdant trees.

At this moment, Hokkaido had already stepped into mid-autumn.

Looking out, the leaves across the mountains and plains were no longer as drop-dead emerald green as they were in mid-summer, but were gradually stained with a faint layer of yellow.

Some leaves could no longer withstand the autumn wind and quietly drifted down.

These fallen leaves either piled up along both sides of the road to form thick golden carpets, or drifted gently in the air with the breeze, adding a bit of dynamic beauty to the entire scenery.

Such scenery was breathtakingly beautiful.

The sky was as blue as a gemstone, and white clouds floated leisurely.

Sunlight poured down through the gaps between branches and leaves, forming mottled patterns of light and shadow like a dreamy painting unfolding before people’s eyes.

The air was filled with a fresh and pleasant scent, mixed with the fragrance of earth and grass, making people feel refreshed and happy.

And the just-right temperature brought a cool and comfortable feeling—neither overly cold nor burdened with the sweltering heat of summer.

All of this constituted a poetic and romantic autumn scenery picture, immersing the entire Hokkaido in a rich autumnal atmosphere.

With one hand holding Kobayashi Ami’s hand and the other fondling Yuko-chan’s leg, Kitahara casually admired the scenery outside, feeling extremely cozy.

This stretch of the road wasn’t short, but after a long while, the car finally drove into a valley.

The degree of development here was quite high.

However, it wasn’t dotted with many high-rise buildings as Kitahara had imagined.

Instead, the developers cleverly preserved the original natural ecosystem of this land, and built numerous quaint and elegant courtyards upon that foundation.

These courtyards were scattered harmoniously throughout the valley, nestled against mountains and rivers or half-hidden among green trees and blooming flowers, perfectly and naturally integrated with the surrounding environment.

Looking from afar, those courtyards seemed to have grown right out of nature, without any sense of discordance.

Immersing oneself in it, one couldn’t help but be intoxicated by this picturesque mood, feeling that sense of tranquility and beauty.

Someone from the hot spring management was already waiting at the parking area.

After Kitahara and his group got off the car, they were guided up the stone steps, and after climbing a section of flagged paths, they arrived at a tranquil and exquisite courtyard.

Though not exceptionally large in area, this courtyard was crafted with extreme sophistication and detail.

The moment one stepped inside, a unique sense of serenity could be felt.

Especially the open-air hot spring pool within it, which was the finishing touch of the entire courtyard.

Mist was billowing and rising above the hot spring pool like a thin veil dancing lightly in the wind, giving a dreamlike sensation.

As for the stones used to pile up the pool, they varied in size and shape.

Surrounding the hot spring pool, lush vegetation grew thick and green, with some unknown little wildflowers dotted in between, blooming with colorful flowers and emitting a faint, quiet fragrance.

Stepping into this place, Kitahara fell in love with it immediately. He thought about inquiring about it later and preparing to lease it long-term…

Several guest rooms were scattered around this courtyard.

Kitahara’s party entered the central living room, finding the interior layout simple yet warm.

They paused briefly, allowing the fatigue accumulated from the journey all the way here to dissipate slightly.

Before long, a sound of footsteps approached from afar.

A graceful, incredibly poised okami (manageress) arrived.

This manageress looked like she wasn’t young anymore, but her charm remained undiminished. Time had left traces on her, though they weren’t obvious.

Her pair of beautiful eyes resembled deep lakes, full of sparkling allure as she cast glances around, while her vibrant, succulent red lips curved up slightly, revealing a subtle, elusive smile.

The well-tailored clothing perfectly outlined her graceful body curves, and every step she took exuded a unique charm and allure.

Accompanying the manageress were about a dozen attendants, who floated over gracefully like a group of beautiful butterflies.

These attendants were all exceptionally good-looking; some petite and exquisite, some tall and slender, and some plump and round.

Truly ranging from slender to plump, each possessed their own unique beauty.

As they filed in, they quickly and orderly lined up.

Everyone bowed slightly, with their hands folded in front, waiting quietly.

Kitahara didn’t waste words.

He directly picked seven or eight of the most outstanding ones in one go.

Seeing this, Miyamoto waved his hand to signal the manageress to take the rest away, while leaving these selected ones behind.

“Eh? Big Brother Miyamoto, aren’t you going to pick two?” Kitahara asked in surprise.

“Ah? There aren’t any for me in here?”