Igarashi Rie had clearly made extensive preparations before coming to Tokyo, meticulously planning various sightseeing spots and schedules. Everything was in order, save for one minor detail…
“What?! What do you mean there are no more rooms tonight?” Igarashi Rie exclaimed, her voice laced with dissatisfaction as she addressed the hotel receptionist. “It’s not even peak tourist season yet, so why are all the hotels around here fully booked?”
The receptionist, a woman in a sleek uniform, offered a regretful smile. “We’ve hosted several large international tour groups these past few days. If you absolutely wish to stay with us, we do have one capsule room available. We can offer you a discount on the room rate.”
Hoshimori Shion’s eyes immediately lit up at the mention of a discount. After all, she felt as though Igarashi Rie had been footing the bill for most of their day exploring Tokyo. Relying solely on Igarashi Rie’s private funds didn’t sit well with her, so Hoshimori Shion gently tugged on Igarashi Rie’s hand. “Senpai, how about we stay here? If we choose somewhere too expensive, I won’t be able to sleep tonight…”
“Hoshimori-san, have you ever stayed in a capsule hotel?” Igarashi Rie turned to ask.
“No, but I’d love to try it!” Hoshimori Shion replied, her mind already envisioning that anything found in a major city couldn’t be too bad.
Igarashi Rie sighed, massaging her temples. It was already past midnight when they left Palette Town Amusement Park, and nearly one in the morning by the time they found this hotel. The city’s public safety, paradoxically, wasn’t as reassuring as that of their small town. Igarashi Rie was particularly worried about inadvertently wandering into a red-light district.
“Alright then, Hoshimori-san, I apologize for the inconvenience tonight,” Igarashi Rie said, still rubbing her forehead. “We’ll take the last capsule room.”
****
“Ugh…” The moment Hoshimori Shion saw the capsule room, she was utterly speechless.
It was small, very small, incredibly small. It was practically a solidified, oversized sleeping bag; even for Hoshimori Shion alone, stretching out her arms would be a struggle. And now, she and Igarashi Rie were expected to spend the night there together.
Moreover, this tiny space offered only the bare minimum—no shower facilities whatsoever.
“These places are usually designed for people who work overtime, miss the last train, and can’t afford a proper hotel,” Igarashi Rie shrugged. “They’re just for a temporary overnight stay.”
“It’s fine!” Hoshimori Shion declared, taking Igarashi Rie’s suitcase and placing it in the designated luggage corner, then crawling inside herself. “I love any place Senpai chooses!”
Hearing Hoshimori Shion’s words, Igarashi Rie couldn’t help but chuckle. She bent down and climbed into the cramped room as well.
Indeed, it was a miracle that this tiny room could accommodate two people. When Igarashi Rie reached for a bottle of water from her suitcase, her arm bent, delivering an accidental elbow to Hoshimori Shion’s unprotected chest, earning her a resentful glare.
The two girls slept in the clothes they had worn all day. Fortunately, despite its size, the capsule room felt surprisingly well-equipped, boasting air conditioning, a reading light, and clean bedding.
After a quick tidy-up, Igarashi Rie left only a small bedside nightlight on. “Good night, Hoshimori-san.”
Hoshimori Shion yawned, gently rolling onto her other side to face Igarashi Rie. “Good night, Igarashi-senpai…”
As the night deepened, the day’s exhaustion should have lulled Igarashi Rie into a deep sleep… or so one would think!
To fit in the capsule room, Igarashi Rie had to sleep with her arm wrapped around Hoshimori Shion. In the soft glow of the nightlight, the sleeping face of the girl in her arms was as pure and bright as the moonlight in their small town sky. Hoshimori Shion seemed to be fast asleep, her chest rising and falling gently with her breaths, her warm exhalations brushing against Igarashi Rie’s collarbone.
Such a lovely girl, lying so defenselessly in her embrace. Despite the physical exhaustion from a full day of sightseeing, Igarashi Rie found herself surprisingly awake and alert.
She gently stroked Hoshimori Shion’s long hair. Hoshimori Shion stirred slightly, snuggling deeper into Igarashi Rie’s arms.
“Hoshimori-san, are you asleep?” Igarashi Rie whispered softly into Hoshimori Shion’s ear.
Only Hoshimori Shion’s steady breathing answered her. Her head dipped a little lower, likely finding that position more comfortable for sleep.
The hotel was located in the heart of Tokyo. The city at night remained vibrant and dazzling, a place that never truly rested, even in the dead of night. Though the curtains were drawn, the flashing neon lights outside still seeped through the gaps, casting faint gleams. The incessant flow of traffic and the blare of horns on the streets, even muffled by soundproofing, still brought a faint hum of noise to the two girls.
This city was still as she remembered, perhaps even more prosperous and brilliant than the Tokyo of her memories.
‘But is staying here, always, truly what I want?’ Igarashi Rie pondered.
If she were alone, she could visit Shibuya, pilgrimage through Akihabara, and in summer, ride the Palette Town Ferris Wheel, watching the magnificent fireworks explode nearby.
Yet, she felt she wouldn’t be truly happy that way.
Bringing Hoshimori Shion to Tokyo this time, though a sudden, impulsive idea, had indeed brought her more, much more joy with this girl by her side.
‘I want to be with Hoshimori-san, always.’
‘But I almost caused her death.’
At this thought, Igarashi Rie’s eyes dimmed, an ineffable sense of guilt and suffocation coiling around her.
‘Was this trip meant as an apology to her? No, it wasn’t. This was my own escape from home, my reason for coming to Tokyo. It was purely for myself.’
‘But if I truly told her, would she forgive me?’
Igarashi Rie dared not think any further.
Hoshimori Shion had to return to the small town. She had her sister, and her duties as a guardian to uphold; the town’s peace depended on Hoshimori Shion’s protection. However, Igarashi Rie was utterly fed up with her family’s so-called mission.
“I really don’t want to… don’t want to go back…” Igarashi Rie gritted her teeth, murmuring softly.
As this thought consumed her, a few tears escaped the corners of Igarashi Rie’s eyes, dampening the pillow.
“Senpai, it’s alright. I’m here for you~”
Hoshimori Shion’s voice was incredibly gentle. Igarashi Rie quickly raised a hand to wipe her eyes, her reddened gaze meeting Hoshimori Shion’s tender one.
“Hoshimori-san, you… you’re still awake,” Igarashi Rie stammered, flustered. Yet, in such a confined space, there was no way for her to conceal her emotions.
“You can tell me anything, Senpai. I’m always here,” Hoshimori Shion said softly, her gentle voice like the delicate chime of a Kagura suzu.
Igarashi Rie took a deep breath.
“Hoshimori-san, tomorrow, could you accompany me somewhere?”
“Of course, where would you like to go?”
“To… a place where we can touch the sky.”