Stardew Valley of Gensokyo

She quietly opened her eyes, which were blurred with tears, and found that the shirt pressed against her face was completely soaked with tears...

That's it, whatever, let's just give up and do nothing, I'm happy with it anyway.

......

"What's going on with those two?"

After having a blast outside, Nikua returned home with her two friends and was utterly bewildered by what she saw in the living room.

The kotatsu area is so spacious, why are these two sitting together, huddled together in one spot? Don't they feel cramped?

Nikua noticed that she had brought three people with her, including Daiyousei and Cirno, but there were only four seats in the kotatsu area. Now, Akina Sawa and Shameimaru Aya were only taking up one seat...

After thinking for a moment, Nikua suddenly had a flash of inspiration; she understood!

Oh, so this was done specifically to save seats for the three of them! That's so kind of you!

Nikua initially had some issues with Aya Shameimaru because she forced her way in, but now it seems she can be rated a little higher.

Nikua thought to herself with delight.

"Great Fairy, now you don't have to squeeze in with Cirno anymore... huh?"

Just as she turned around to tell the great fairy what she had realized, she found that the two of them had already sat down hand in hand by the kotatsu, leaving her standing foolishly at the door.

"That's outrageous! They didn't even wait for me!"

With a casual complaint, Niqua walked over and squeezed between the Great Fairy and Cirno.

Although there were many empty seats around her, she still preferred the feeling of being squeezed together with others.

......

The three fairies came in from outside the door. Akina Sawa knew it, but he just nodded in acknowledgment.

Lately, the fairies have been playing outside a lot, sometimes even forgetting to eat. But fairies aren't really children, so missing a few meals won't affect them. Akina hasn't bothered with them, and he just heats up their food when they're tired and want to eat.

However, things here are more important right now.

Even now, Akina Sawa is still a little flustered. This is the first time he has been so intimate with someone, and he is really at a loss.

Although just holding him like this was enough, he still wanted to do something to make up for what had just happened.

Wouldn't it be nice to wake Miss Wenwen up early tomorrow to work the land together? We could swing hoes and sweat it out together!

But Akina Sawaya quickly suppressed this idea. Just because he liked farming didn't mean others did, even though farming together might feel great...

With a sigh in his mind, Akina Ze began to think of other ideas that could express his apology well while also being interesting.

Suddenly, an idea flashed into my mind like lightning.

Has the hot spring inn in the old hell been completed?

A few days ago, after the matter with Ruiling was resolved, Miss Komeiji Satoru seemed to have said before returning to the Old Hell that the construction of the hot spring inn was almost complete and the opening ceremony could be held at any time.

"How about going to a hot spring?" Akina Ze asked, leaning down as well.

"Okay~"

Aya Shameimaru responded lazily. She felt great and just wanted to stay there comfortably forever.

......

Chapter 165 A Few Things to Do Beforehand

What should I bring when going to a hot spring?

It's probably not much different from taking a hot shower.

Akina Ze took out a slightly yellowed towel from the wardrobe and was momentarily at a loss.

Soaking in a hot spring is very easy; you just need to walk into a hot spring pool with a similar temperature nearby.

But I'm ashamed to say that Akina Sawa has never actually soaked in a hot spring.

Rather than spending time soaking in a hot spring, he prefers to simply rinse off with warm water to quickly take care of his personal hygiene.

But this time it's different; Akina Sawa is no longer living alone.

"Should bringing just two towels be enough? One to take into the pool, and the other to wipe yourself clean afterwards?"

Drawing inspiration from how to put an elephant in a refrigerator, Akina Ze also drew his own simple and crude conclusion.

After rolling up two towels and stuffing them into his backpack, Akina Ze also looked up at the weather outside the window.

The sky was clear and cloudless; the weather was lovely.

It's a good time for fishing.

Wait, we can't go fishing today; we have to go to the hot springs with Miss Wenwen.

Akina Sawa patted his head, intending to discard any thoughts about fishing for the day.

Just then, Akina Sawa also spotted a small head peeking out from beside the bedroom door. It was the mischievous Nikua.

When she saw his gaze coming her way, Nikua chuckled.

"Akina, I heard you're going to a hot spring! I want to go too!"

"Well, of course you can, but don't leave my side while we're in the Old Hell. It's not as safe there as it is on the surface," Akina Ze instructed.

Although he had been to the Old Hell several times, it was indeed not very safe there, and he always managed to avoid any problems by following the designated safe passages.

But Nikua didn't care about safety at all. She immediately jumped up and down with a joyful expression, "Yay! I'm going to soak in the hot springs too!"

Akina Ze smiled and shook his head. It was just a fairy; he could still keep her under control.

Suddenly, Akina Sawa was also stunned, because the Great Fairy's little head appeared where Nikua had just peeked out.

The Great Fairy is a cute and shy little fairy, completely different from those fairies who like to cause trouble. Akina Sawa usually takes good care of her, even though she voluntarily became the maid of the Akina residence.

Seeing the great fairy's hesitant expression, Akina Sawa, being a shy person, tentatively asked:

"Great fairy, you also want to go to the hot springs?"

The timid-looking demon suddenly beamed with joy and nodded vigorously, as if afraid that Akina Sawa hadn't seen it either.

Akina Ze naturally had no reason to refuse, "Alright then, you can come with us too."

Anyway, he's not afraid of itching from having too many lice. Even if a few more demons come, he can handle them. It's just a little bit of a hassle.

Just as he was thinking this, Cirno's little head appeared in the exact same spot where the two fairies had been.

So this is a group trip, isn't it? I'm not a difficult person to get along with, wouldn't it have been faster if they had all come together...?

After glancing at the blue-haired, ice-winged fairy who was waiting to be questioned, Akina Ze chose to ignore her and focus on the things in front of him.

Besides bringing a towel, he was also hesitating about which scent of soap to bring. He preferred lemon to mint, but the lemon soap was already half used up and wasn't a complete one.

Finding herself ignored, Cirno, who had prepared numerous answers to skillfully handle the question, became displeased. Her lips pouted, "Hey! Why didn't you even ask me if I wanted to go!"

"What's there to ask? Let's go together."

Akina shoved the lemon-scented soap into his bag and glanced at Cirno.

Even if he didn't plan to take Cirno, the mischievous Cirno would probably sneak off and follow him anyway. So it's better to just take her; that way, the chances of her causing trouble are minimized.

But can ice fairies soak in hot springs? Akina Sawa also had some doubts about this.

He glanced at the pair of ice wings behind Cirno, who was holding hands with two other fairies and spinning around.

"It shouldn't be able to melt, after all, it's still a fairy..."

Akina Sawa shook his head with a chuckle, feeling as if he had imagined something impossible.

He stuffed everything he could think of that he would need for the hot spring into his backpack. Akina Ze also glanced at the door with a puzzled look. Apart from the three fairies, there was no one else there.

Aya Shameimaru has not returned yet.

As Akina Sawa began preparing, she mysteriously announced that she was going to fetch something good.

But even now, there's still no sign of Aya Shameimaru returning, which is unusual for her speed.

......

In the former residence of the Monster Mountain.

Aya Shameimaru was rummaging through drawers and cabinets, but even after pulling out all the cabinets, she still couldn't find what she was looking for.

With a look of deep confusion, Aya Shameimaru frowned. She didn't remember losing that thing, but it was definitely gone now.

After opening the hidden compartment in the ceiling and finding it still empty, Aya Shameimaru gritted her teeth in fury.

"Where did my hidden sake go?!"

When Akina Sawa said he would take her to a hot spring, Aya Shameimaru immediately thought of bringing sake. Wouldn't it be wonderful to share a drink with him in the hot spring?

When Aya Shameimaru thought of the scene that would appear at that time, a ripple of emotion appeared in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by anger.

Because the crucial prop for creating that scene is missing! It's the sake she's been saving for years!

Actually, she saved it because she didn't really like drinking.

But one thing is one thing, who on earth dared to steal from me!

Aya Shameimaru narrowed her light brown eyes and began a mental storm.

First, the theft must have occurred before she moved to the Akina family home, because only after that period was the place completely unguarded.

The culprit must have known she had moved, otherwise why would he have tried to steal from her home, a reporter? Being caught and reported would not be a good thing.

Thirdly, this person likes to drink, which is why he stole the wine!

Once these three conditions are met, the true nature of the criminal gradually comes to light... right?

I have no idea at all!

Aya Shameimaru covered her face in anguish. She couldn't fathom who would come to take these mere bottles of wine, especially when she needed them so badly...

If that person wanted it, it wouldn't be impossible for her to just give it to them.

"This is terrible..."

Aya Shameimaru sighed and left the old house.

Since there were none left at home, she had no choice but to buy a bottle at the market. Although it might not taste as good as her treasured one, it was the only option she could take to achieve her goal for the evening.

Sashasha~

Ji Haitang, who was nearby, recorded this scene with her pen.

Although Aya Shameimaru has moved away from the Youkai Mountain, Kaoru Himekaido still habitually comes to the vicinity to find inspiration.

Seeing Aya Shameimaru leave the old newspaper office with an angry expression, she instinctively felt that something must have happened inside.

Wouldn't it be interesting to record the secrets that happened to another journalist in your own newspaper?

Having found her target once again, Ji Haitang put away her notebook and decided to begin investigating the matter.

......

Chapter 166: Also a Bond

He took the items out of the bag, carefully inspected them, and then put them back.

Akina Ze also looked up outside, his face showing worry. This was the third time he had checked the things he needed to bring to the hot spring.

The sun hanging in the sky has traveled quite a distance, but Aya Shameimaru still shows no sign of returning.

The ice fairy Cirno lay sprawled on the floor in front of the door, playing with a weed that had sprouted from a crack.

The weed had withered, but Cirno was still having a great time playing with it.

The other fairies also had their own ways of having fun.

But this situation won't last long. At least Akina Sawa has already seen Cirno tear off all the leaves around the weed along the central vein.

Once Cirno has completely wiped out this weed, that's probably when she'll start to show her impatience.

Akina Sawa glanced at the nearby fairies. Although they didn't speak, their eyes revealed anticipation... Shameimaru Aya, where did you go? Why haven't you come back yet?

With a sigh, Akina Ze put his backpack on the table, pushed open the courtyard gate, and went outside.

Looking at the dirt road leading straight to both sides from the entrance, he was also at a loss.