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It was winter, just after the Classic season had come to an end. Having wrapped up her races for the year with the Kikuka Sho, Admire Vega found herself stepping into the much-talked-about Yukoma hot spring village.
Located about an hour away from Tracen by bus, Yukoma had recently been revitalized into a proper resort, thanks to the efforts of the students. She had only meant to take the opportunity to unwind—soak in the baths, reflect on the year, maybe enjoy the night sky.
That was all it was supposed to be.
“Hey—Ayabe-san! Fancy seeing you here!”
Running into an unwelcome acquaintance there… was purely by chance.
It had started with a simple decision to walk. Since it was close enough, and she was used to camping anyway, Ayabe had set out with just a backpack, thinking she’d get a bit of light exercise before her bath. She followed the winding mountain path for some time before the view finally opened up to reveal the hot spring town below. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she took a sip from her water bottle.
Just as she was about to cross a wooden bridge—
“So you’ve come to soothe your fatigue as well? Excellent judgment!”
T.M. Opera O stood there, tail swishing cheerfully. Stripped of her usual flamboyant accessories, she was dressed only in a simple yukata. Her ears—normally adorned with large earrings—still bore faint impressions where they had pressed against her skin. For a moment, Ayabe found herself staring at them. Then, belatedly, she looked away and replied flatly.
“I’m heading back.”
“Oh, don’t be like that!”
After a brief but stubborn exchange, Ayabe reluctantly ended up heading to Yukoma alongside Opera O. It was already getting dark, and turning back now wasn’t much of an option. Besides, the next bus to the academy wouldn’t leave until the following morning. Which meant—whether she liked it or not—she’d be staying the night.
“We can take our time exploring the town tomorrow. It’s getting late.”
Even along the short path to the baths, Opera O chattered endlessly, as if she were some kind of tour guide. This shop had famous manju. That one sold excellent souvenirs. Ayabe only half-listened.
There was just one thought on her mind.
…Don’t tell me we’re sharing a room.
That was exactly what happened.
“I’m terribly sorry—there’s been a rush of guests, and we don’t have any vacant rooms left.”
Apparently, Opera O had already secured a double room in advance.
“I had originally planned to stay here leisurely with my Josephine… but for you, Ayabe-san, I’m willing to offer half!”
Her smug tone made Ayabe bristle, but… There was no alternative. Just endure one night. And then never see her again. Silently carving the character for patience into her heart, Ayabe clung to that impossible wish.
“Now then! Allow me to escort you to my room!”
“Why is it your room— …never mind.”
At the end of the day, Ayabe was still relying on Opera O’s hospitality tonight. It stung a little, considering they were both guests here, but there wasn’t much she could do about it. Being late was her own fault.
Beyond the thick-carpeted hallway, the door slid open— and the faint, nostalgic scent of tatami greeted her.
“Come in, come in! No need to be shy!”
“…Excuse me.”
The room was quiet and composed. A low table sat in the center, with floor chairs arranged around it. Decorative pottery lined the wall beside a hanging scroll. Through the wide window, the entire town spread out below. The sky, just past sunset, shimmered in a deep, ambiguous blue. The room itself was still neat. Judging by the untouched snacks on the table, Opera O had likely just dropped her belongings and gone out again.
On the hanger, a blazer, shirt, and slacks—presumably hers—were neatly arranged. Who even comes to a hot spring in semi-formal wear… Ayabe swallowed the comment and set down her bag. As she took off her winter coat, she could feel the sweat clinging to her gym clothes underneath.
She wanted a bath.
Right now.
Just as she reached for a yukata from the closet, Opera O—who had been quiet for all of five seconds—started talking again.
“Dinner? Bath? Or perhaps—”
“Bath.”
Ayabe cut her off cleanly and went into the next room to change. She had just come down from a mountain hike, yet strangely, she had no appetite. She had a pretty good idea why—but first things first.
“Which way is the main bath?”
“Ah, allow me to guide you!”
No, directions would’ve been enough… But Opera O clearly intended to come along. Ayabe wasn’t really in a position to refuse—and besides, she was a paying guest too.
So once again, they ended up going together.
“Let us proceed to the thermae!”
…Why did this keep happening? With a bathing basket tucked at her side, Ayabe followed her down the hallway toward the baths.
Outside the window, night had fully settled in. The sky was clear tonight—the stars would be beautiful.
“You walked all the way here, didn’t you?”
Opera O asked casually. Lost in thoughts of winter constellations, Ayabe answered without thinking.
“Yeah. It was closer than it looked.”
“I see. A wise choice. The bus was packed.”
Now that she looked more closely— Opera O’s gait wasn’t quite right. She tried to appear composed, but each step landed at a slightly off angle. There was definitely something wrong with one leg.
…Or maybe both.
Ayabe thought back. After the Kikuka Sho… there had been the Stayers Stakes, and then the Arima Kinen. In the grueling 3600-meter turf race, Opera O had taken second by a neck. Then third in the Arima. Both had been fierce, down-to-the-wire battles. The gap between the two races was only three weeks. The strain on her legs must have been significant.
And the next race…
“You’re planning to run in the Kyoto Daishoten in February, right?”
She had heard that Narita Top Road—and even Stay Gold—would be entering as well. While most runners took the winter off, this was practically an early push into the next season.
Opera O gave a short nod.
“Yes. With such a rare long break, it’s only right to take things easy.”
Ayabe didn’t think two months counted as long. And once they were back at academy, it would be straight into intense training again.
There was only one reason Opera O had come here.
Yukoma existed for two things— Rehabilitation and rest.
And in her case… likely the former.
Lost in thought, she barely noticed how quickly they arrived at the bath. True to its name, it was spacious. A large central pool dominated the room, with smaller wooden tubs lined neatly along the edges. Perhaps because it was dinner time, there were only a few people around.
Ayabe undressed in the changing room, wrapping a towel around herself. As she removed her blue ear accessories, the sound of running water grew clearer, sharper. She slipped her hair tie onto her wrist and pushed open the sliding door.
For a moment, thick steam obscured her vision. Then the humid, mineral scent settled over her, easing the tension in her body. She sat on a bath stool, rinsed herself off, and twisted her ponytail into a neat bun.
Everything ready, she stepped toward the bath with quiet anticipation—
“Ah, there you are!”
Of course, someone was already there. And of course—her manners were terrible.
“Could you not scatter rose petals in a shared bath…?”
“Ah, no need to worry! I’ll make sure to collect them afterward!”
That wasn’t the point…
Ayabe let out a long sigh and carefully dipped a foot into the water. Heat spread first—then a strange, refreshing coolness followed, washing through her. This time, her sigh was softer. She lowered herself fully into the bath. Her entire body loosened at once. A faint winter breeze brushed against her damp hair. In contrast, the parts of her body submerged in the water felt as though an invisible fatigue was slowly dissolving away. Her ears relaxed, flattening slightly. Her tail swayed.
Bathing really is… nice.
Somewhere in the distance, a night bird called. The gentle trickle of water blended with it, forming a quiet, peaceful soundscape.
She liked the stillness of the night. A time for quiet thought. To sink inward, reflect— and, upon resurfacing, feel as though something within had been cleansed.
She lifted her gaze to the sky. Beyond the Winter Triangle, in the northeastern sky—
Gemini.
Dioscuri.
Her younger sister came to mind.
Are you still there?
Or have you run even farther away…?
Ayabe closed her eyes for a moment. Faint afterimages of starlight flickered behind her eyelids.
It was her companion who broke the silence.
“Have you fallen asleep?”
For a moment, a stubborn urge to ignore her rose up—like wanting to sleep in on a weekend.
But she opened her eyes anyway. Her brief rest was over.
Meeting her sharp gaze, Opera O laughed heartily.
“Save your sleep for later. I’m sure a splendid bed awaits us!”
Soft… thick… warm futons. Just imagining them stirred a faint excitement.
“I’m not sleeping.”
Ayabe gave in and responded.
“Start cleaning up. We should get out soon.”
She was, of course, referring to the petals floating everywhere. Dinner would be ending soon. Other guests would arrive.
Opera O simply continued to watch her, smiling. Then she snapped her fingers, sending ripples across the surface.
“Ayabe-san. Water, you see… is a most mystical thing. It refracts. It reflects. And sometimes… it reveals what we’d rather not see.”
A drifting petal brushed against Ayabe’s wrist.
“These delicate petals serve to veil such things—if only a little. How could one enter a bath empty-handed?”
Ayabe stared at it— then, almost impulsively, reached out.
The wet petal was soft. Fragile.
“…Your reflection in the water. It’s different from the summer camp. Fainter now.”
She looked up.
Those violet eyes— strangely calm.
The voice matched them.
“It’s a fitting night for requiem, wouldn’t you say?”
“You…”
“Come. Let’s go. We can’t miss the hour when the stars shine brightest.”
With a casual wave, Opera O gathered the petals, leaving none behind.
All but one.
The last petal crumbled quietly in Ayabe’s hand.
Once again in yukata, she found herself following her—not back to the room, but outside. She didn’t quite know why.
The night wind slipped through her loosened hair. Leaves brushed together, whispering like distant chimes.
And above—
stars.
Countless stars, invisible in the city, now scattered across the sky, each shining with its own voice. If she listened closely, it almost felt like she could hear them sing.
Finding Gemini again wasn’t difficult. Brighter than before, the twin stars seemed to walk the night sky hand in hand.
Or perhaps— they were running. Beyond the heavens.
The wind blew again. It brushed gently against her bare legs, where the yukata didn’t quite reach.
A sensation flickered through her—like phantom pain.
A sharp ache in her chest.
Longing.
“—”
The name Ayabe spoke that night— Opera O did not hear.
Or rather— she chose not to.
Like covering the water’s surface with petals, she closed off her ears.
And until Ayabe’s tears finally stopped— she remained silently by her side.
The next day, the bus was packed.
With some passengers left standing, Ayabe unexpectedly volunteered first.
“Well… I was the last one to arrive.”
Besides, she wouldn’t be racing for a while.
An hour on her feet wasn’t a big deal.
Watching her pile excuse upon excuse together, Opera O smiled softly.
“So? How was the hot spring?”
As though caught off guard, Ayabe answered curtly.
“It was nice. But relaxing was yesterday. Starting today… it’s back to training.”
Then, after a brief pause, she added:
“We should come again sometime.”
The bus rattled along the mountain road.
There was still another hour before they reached the academy.