Chapter 4: Cutting Algae Part One

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Texting was a pretty neat function. It was widely adopted by every teenager except the one he, Reigen, had so generously gifted a phone to do it with. Mob was diligent to a fault about picking up his calls, but texting? Still a work in progress. Mob was getting better, though. After all, how else was Reigen supposed to give him a heads up about big jobs before the end of the school day? Excepting the occasional friendly lunch break chat.

That was of course assuming the phone was still intact. After their chat last night, Reigen wasn't so sure. It wasn't like Mob made a habit of texting him first.

Reigen squinted at the clock on his second-hand laptop he'd just replaced the shattered one with. 12:05PM. He had found a decent deal on one in a flea market but there was something off about the graphics. Parts of the screen were always slightly out of frame and most of his day had been spent trying to uselessly dink with the display options until it was righted, but instead he just ended up with a resolution that was too small.

'Ugh. New laptop, and if we're really unlucky, a new phone? I'll just garnish it...' Reigen pulled out his phone and fired off a text to his pupil. You didn't get washed away, did you? Your phone's still working, right?

Comments

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"It would depend on whether or not I loved the crane."

[mp_npc]

Misaki's whole body lit up with a sudden realization.

"Kageyama-sama...you're in love with someone right now, aren't you??"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"What, me?!" Mob had been fairly reserved his entire time here, so this was easily the most animated Misaki had seen him. "I guess there's a girl I like."

[mp_npc]

Misaki kept a professional smile on but from the way it spread across her face it was clear she was thoroughly satisfied from being right.

“I see a lot of couples come through, and I’ve learned there are some things only people in love will say. Forgive me, Kageyama-sama, but even if you try to hide it, it’s clear you’re a die hard romantic.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"You think so?" Mob scratched his cheek as his face reddened even more.

[mp_npc]

She nodded confidently. “Yep! I can see the kind of person you’re in love with just by looking you in the eyes, too. That’s how much of a romantic you are.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"It's that obvious?" If he could have grown any redder, he would have.

[mp_npc]

Somehow, someway, Misaki maintained her business-like composure while going on like the schoolgirl she was. “I see that they’re…peerless. No, beyond that—they’re like a perfect dream to you. You’re a lover watching the beloved.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob gaped slightly.

He reached out again, trying to sense any power emanating from Misaki that he might have missed before. But he felt nothing.

"That's right! They're perfect."

[mp_npc]

Triumphant, Misaki stood and bowed once more. As much as she wanted to encourage gossip from the boy, she knew she still had a job to do herself.

“Once you get married, please keep the Sumitada Ryokan as your premier destination for a romantic getaway!” Hey, promotion was part of her job. “Now, I’ll alert Reigen-sama so you both can partake of our baths.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Right." That's what she was here for. He'd completely forgotten about it. "Can I go with you? That way Master and I can leave for the baths together."

[mp_npc]

“Of course.” Their rooms weren’t far from each other, and Misaki thought to herself that they were a surprisingly quiet pair. Did spiritual specialists meditate a lot or something?

Misaki stood before the painted sliding door. It was painted with biwa and igo players. “Reigen-sama! May I enter?”

…

No response.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

After a long pause, Mob calls out. "Master, are you there?"

[mp_npc]

Still no answer. Misaki hummed. “Maybe he’s asleep?”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"I'll try texting him." Mob pulled his phone out and sent Reigen a message as quickly as his fingers could move (which wasn't very quick at all).

Master you there?

[mp_npc]

Misaki watched him poke at his phone.

...

...

...


Still no answer.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Could he already be in the baths?" Mob wondered aloud.

[mp_npc]

"I don't think so. I came to your room straight from there. They were empty."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Then, I guess he's probably asleep." Mob's disappointment was palpable.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

As if summoned by the sudden outpouring of dismay, the sliding door flew open with a snap. There was Mob's master, donned in a the inn's yutaka just like him.

"Mob! Misaki-san!" Reigen tipped at the waist in a deep bow. "Forgive me! I completely lost track of time."

"Reigen-sama!" Not to be outdone, Misaki bowed even more deeply. "We've come to tell you that the baths are ready. Dinner will be ready in thirty-five minutes."

"Thank you very much!" Reigen somehow managed to bow even more deeply than before until his head was somehow level with the girl's.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Reigen was a big stickler for timeliness. Mob was pretty sure he could count the number of times Reigen had been late in the years he had known them on one hand. Mob, on the other hand...

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Scraping his composure off the walls from his sudden explosion of guilt, Reigen righted himself and smiled at Mob. "Shall we go?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it." Mob had never been to a hot spring before. He was especially happy to be sharing the experience with Reigen.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Misaki sent them off with a friendly wave. Her gaze lingered on their backs until they turned to the doors leading outside.

Reigen took a deep breath as if he hadn't smelled fresh air in quite some time. He shivered and sneezed a little suddenly--it rather chilly so late and so close to the ocean, but the scent of rain mixed with the steam of the hot spring soothed his sinuses immediately. Reigen's hair was already damp from hurriedly rinsing himself down before greeting Mob and Misaki, and he ran one hand through it to slick it back. They were sheltered from the rain by the cover overlooking the thermal baths but they had a clear view of the surrounding ecology with the ocean in the far distance.

"It's been a long time since I've been to one of these." To their left was a rack for hanging their clothes--quite convenient. He adjusted the towel in his arm and began loosening his sash. "This is your first time, right, Mob?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Yeah." Mob followed suit. "I always thought this was the kind of thing only adults got to do."