"Whew, that was a whirlwind of events in such a short time."
Right now, we're taking a well-deserved lunch break at the food court.
When it comes to poolside meals, nothing beats ramen and curry rice, right? It's definitely in my "Top 3 Poolside and Beachside Meals" from the old days. It's a critical hit to my Showa-era mindset.
Mom, for the love of everything, stop trying to order gyoza and beer. Just for today, stick to your role as a responsible guardian.
I dragged my mom, who was lingering at the counter with longing eyes, to a random table to wait for our food.
Despite the earlier "Alpha Male" incident, we didn't stop and kept playing to our heart's content.
At first, Kouta's mom was understandably hesitant and worried, but after realizing that Kouta seemed totally unfazed, and thanks to my mom's reassurances—"As long as my kid is with him, he'll be fine. I can tell right away if something's wrong, so just trust us"—we got permission to continue playing.
Let me tell you, the giant bucket water drop was hilarious.
There's something thrilling about watching a huge bucket slowly fill with water from the pipes above. The anticipation builds, and right at its peak—BAM!—the water comes crashing down. The sheer force sent us flying backward, and I laughed so hard.
Why are simple attractions like that so much fun? Kouta and I were riding a high. Even Kouta's mom was getting into it, screaming and splashing alongside my mom. It's amazing—she looks so young! All the stress from earlier seemed to have melted away.
But seriously, mom, please don't overdo it, okay?
"Ouch!"
Argh, my head… Mom, please stop hitting me before I even finish speaking!
And quit giving me that "You know you're in for it later, right?" look. I already said I'm sorry!
Next up was the *massive waterslide*, an attraction truly worthy of its "scream-inducing" reputation.
That thing is ridiculously high! And they start by spinning you around in circles to mess with your balance before sending you into a freefall? That's just cruel. The screams coming from it weren't excited yells—they were full-on cries of terror.
If it weren't for the enclosed tube, I'm pretty sure someone might've passed out from fear. The transition from enclosed tube to transparent pipe, right at the edge of the freefall? That's just pure malice.
Even the moms sat this one out, though I admit part of me wanted to see my mom's reaction if she had tried it.
In the end, Kouta and I basically died (mentally, at least). It took us a good 10 minutes to reboot afterward. (Crying on the inside.)
"Kouta, how about heading over to the hot springs in the afternoon?"
Just as we were wrapping up our meal, Kouta's mom made a delightful suggestion.
Of course, this is a spa resort, so the hot springs require swimsuits, unlike regular baths where you wash yourself. There are still lifeguards watching over everything, though, because in this gender-skewed world, safety is always a concern (especially *that* kind of safety).
This isn't one of those mixed-gender hot springs from my past life, where I could've hoped for something exciting. No way am I risking my life like that again. (Lesson learned.)
But the hot spring is *huge*! There are so many different types of baths—how is that even possible?
There are herb baths, electric baths, hydrogen baths, and carbonated springs—the usual stuff even I've heard of.
But… coffee bath? Milk bath? What are those? Are we supposed to drink them? Or are they trying to tell us to mix them for a café au lait?
There's also a wine bath and a sake bath. Is this really safe for kids? They assure us that the alcohol content is less than 1%, like non-alcoholic beverages, and it evaporates to even lower levels, so no worries for the kids.
Mom, stop looking so disappointed! Don't even think about trying to scoop some to drink.
Kouta, why's your face all red? Is the steam getting to you? Alright, time to move along. Mom, you too.
Given what happened earlier at the pool, we're sticking to group activities for now. One member of our group seems a little grumpy about it, but tough luck.
We'll start with the classic sulfur spring.
"The *Sulfur Spring of Kusatsu*," huh? Wow, this world has a Kusatsu too!
I've been wondering about this for a while—sometimes, places here have the same names as in my previous life.
But then again, Tokyo became the "Central City," and Osaka turned into "Ousaka." Some names are totally different, while others are only slightly altered. It's kinda fascinating.
"Aaaahhh…"
Why does getting into a bath make you involuntarily groan like that? Mom keeps telling me I sound like an old lady, but it's impossible to stop—it's practically reflexive.
It's like muscle memory for the soul or something.
But let me tell you, Mom, just so you know: you also say "Yokkoisho" when you sit down, so maybe ease up on the criticisms.
Whoa, stop splashing water over here!
"Gah, I got some in my mouth! I can't breathe! You're supposed to have better manners in a hot spring, you know."
The sky is so blue. It's been a while since I've just relaxed like this.
I thought the place would be crowded since it's a holiday, but it's way more peaceful than the pool. The person in front of me is also gazing up at the sky, just spacing out—exactly what you're supposed to do in a hot spring.
Wait a sec… isn't that the principal?
What's he doing here?
Rehabilitation, he says? Makes sense. He mentioned he's been super busy lately, so this is his way of recharging.
Yeah, I bet the principal has the hardest job at our school. Thank you for all you do.
But seriously, how did you get a ticket to this place? Oh, a friend gave it to you? That's nice. I'm here because my best friend invited me too. I guess we both have good friends, huh?
"Hey there, young man. Fancy seeing you here!"
What the—?! Don't sneak up on me like that, lady! Wait, isn't she that stunning older woman? And why is she so close?
"You're so cold! Oh, Kouta, hello. And Kouta's mom too! What a coincidence, meeting here."
Wow, she's already charmed my mom and Kouta's mom. Is this woman some kind of social monster? Do they know each other?
Turns out, she occasionally hangs out with my mom in town, and apparently, she's heard all about me.
"By the way, you did great today. Let me praise you."
Stop patting my head! What do you mean by "did great"?
Was it my impeccable *girl-repelling aura*? I didn't even do anything! Shouldn't that "Alpha Male" be getting the praise here?
"No, it's different."
Mom, do you have any idea what's going on?
"Oh, you're really going to ask, huh?"
Wait, what? Now even Kouta and his mom are looking away?
Come to think of it, after that commotion earlier, no one tried to bother Kouta. Sure, I was keeping an eye out, but I didn't actually do anything.
Now the older woman says it's because the way I was looking at the women was so creepy they didn't dare approach us.
And… the results speak for themselves?
Huh?!
Are you kidding me? Why is everyone looking away?
Principal, you're joking, right?
Now even he's giving me this… weirdly kind, sympathetic look and patting my head, telling me, "It's alright, it's alright."
What exactly is *alright* here?!