Tokyo Unnatural Forensics

Chapter 293, A Night at the Hot Springs

Considering that the three of them arrived in the evening, Uesugi Muneyuki decided to have dinner first and then soak in the hot spring, which Minami and Erena naturally agreed to.

So, in the spacious tatami room with a Japanese feel, a female onsen staff member dressed in a kimono served kaiseki cuisine for the three of them.

The hot spring hostess was a beautiful middle-aged woman in her forties. She clearly recognized who Uesugi Muneyuki was, but that's the good thing about the Japanese. Although she was a little curious about the relationship between Uesugi Muneyuki, Minami, and Erina, she didn't say a word when she saw that Uesugi Muneyuki had no intention of explaining, and only provided service and necessary explanations.

In some countries and certain places, shop assistants like to ask all sorts of questions, trying to pry into every penny of a customer's finances, and they love to chatter away with everyone they meet. For Japanese people, this is practically hell, and they would definitely complain furiously afterwards and never go back a second time.

In fact, many Japanese hotels, especially love hotels, have evolved to the point where, although there is a front desk, there is a board that covers the chest area to ensure that the two people do not make eye contact. This is also why the Japanese love vending machines so much – no communication is required.

As it is the highest-class hotel in Hakone, every staff member here is extremely professional.

The onsen hostess, dressed in a black kimono with white plum blossom sleeves, poured a full glass of sake for Uesugi Muneyuki. She didn't stop after filling the glass; the sake flowed until the sake vessel beneath it was completely filled. This seems to be a special Japanese custom where the first cup of sake is poured until it spills and the tray is full, as a sign of hospitality.

Miss Minami was a little nervous. She only ordered a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. She squatted down with her delicate black silk stockings, her toes wobbling as she constantly adjusted her posture, revealing that she was not at peace and was quite restless.

Erina Ikeda, on the other hand, was much more natural. She ordered a cup of Kurokiri Island sweet potato shochu, her face beaming with eagerness.

The tall, beautiful woman comes from Kyushu and undoubtedly has the genes for drinking, but she rarely drinks. Ever since her first boss tricked her into drinking strong beer in an attempt to get her drunk and then assault her, which she beat half to death, Erena has rarely drunk alcohol except at home and at the Sakata Bridge Tower. Moreover, she never drinks in public and never accepts drinks from others.

However, since she was with Uesugi Muneyuki and Minami Keisha today, Erina was finally able to let her guard down and reveal a bit of her true nature, downing a full glass that drew the attention of the waitress.

"In any case, cheers for the future of the Special Missions Department!"

"Cheers~!"

"Cheers to my future promotion to Special Missions Officer!" Minami was truly wicked, using orange juice to trick Uesugi Muneyuki and Erena into giving her alcohol.

"Cheers~!" Uesugi Muneyuki and Erena were no pushovers either, so they weren't afraid of these tricks.

In high spirits, relaxed, and surrounded by beautiful scenery, Uesugi Muneyuki and the others enjoyed their meal to the fullest. Although kaiseki cuisine is mainly about aesthetics and atmosphere and not necessarily about taste, the food seemed to taste especially delicious in this special setting. The three of them ate their fill under the care of the female chef.

"Wow, that's awesome~" After the female general finished packing and left, Miss Minami stopped pretending. She stretched out her two delicate legs encased in thick black stockings and exclaimed, "This time next year, the three of us will come together again! Engaged this year, married next year~ The three of us will be together!"

"Ikkyu-ni?" Uesugi Muneyuki exclaimed with a laugh, "Are you really going to be a Special Missions Team member for life?"

"Ikkyu-nii!" Upon hearing the phrase "forever," Reina Ikeda seemed to have a sensitive nerve touched. She couldn't wait to say it, her eyes full of determination: "I'm serious, Uesugi, Section Chief, let's make our group the Special Missions Unit for life!"

For Erena, the Special Missions Division is everything in her life, the only place where she can feel happy, and she is willing to do anything for the Special Missions Division.

"Hahaha~ We should also include Asuka. Let's invite Asuka to come next year."

After the three finished their meal, they rested for a while, chatted for a bit, and talked about the development of the Special Missions Division. According to Minami's plan, she intended to upgrade the Special Missions Division to a Special Missions Section and she would serve as its head.

This action needs to be taken as quickly as possible, since Eiji Watanabe will eventually have to leave his post. While her father is still alive, she needs to lay a solid foundation so that even if a new Superintendent General is appointed, the powerful department she has built will not be affected.

“I’ll listen to you on this matter.” Uesugi Muneyuki said, “I’m just an autopsy doctor.”

"Please continue to show me your prowess, Muneyuki!" Minami slapped Uesugi Muneyuki's bottom. "Alright, let's go take a dip!"

"Hmm~"

In late autumn, the open-air hot springs in Hakone are filled with thick mist. The moment Uesugi Sōsetsu steps into the cypress bath, the sulfur spring water wraps around his ankles like melting yokan (sweet bean jelly). Dried chrysanthemums and yuzu peels bloom on the surface of the water, and when stimulated by the heat, they exude a sweet and bitter fragrance of herbs.

Submerging himself in the bath, Uesugi Sosetsu looked up and saw stars falling on the edge of the tub, echoing the phosphorescent glow of fluorite in the valley below the open-air bath. In the distance, the ridgeline of Mount Daimonji was edged with silver by the moonlight. A mountain breeze swept by, and a few hibiscus-colored maple leaves swirled into the spring, drifting with the ripples to his collarbone. The veins of the leaves felt like soft silk brushing against his skin.

"Ah, that feels so good~" Uesugi Muneyuki closed his eyes, feeling the wind blowing past his ears.

The sound of hot spring water dripping from bamboo pipes into stone mortars filled my ears, intertwining with the calls of birds in the valley to create a powerful melody of a natural shamisen.

At this moment, Uesugi Muneyuki's heart was at peace. The memories of the other world, the Uesugi family, the Metropolitan Police Department, Tokyo, and his past life began to gradually merge and mix together. The consciousness of the two lifetimes finally began to slowly merge.

As his back flushed crimson from the hot spring water, Rena Ikeda appeared behind him, wrapped in a bath towel. The tall beauty had changed out of her dashing leather motorcycle outfit, and her remarkably full breasts put the towel to the test. With each movement, a faint red stain appeared on her slender waist, where there was no excess fat. Her long, straight legs were partially visible in the mist, her delicate ankles exposed to the air. Her fair feet cautiously tested the water temperature before she eagerly entered the hot spring pool.

"Sōyuki... I'm here." She simply called out Uesugi Sōyuki's name softly, and then said nothing more.

"Where's Minami?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked.

“She said she’d be right there…” Erena whispered expectantly, “She said we should go first…” Uesugi Muneyuki shook his head and smiled bitterly, but he did not refuse the bowl of yam shochu that Minami brought him. Frost flowers clung to the outside of the ceramic cup, and the tangy taste brought out the sulfurous sweetness in his throat. In a daze, he could not tell whether it was the liquor or the night mist that was melting on his tongue. Between the hot and mellow liquor, the water droplets that fell from his hair fell onto the cypress wood floor and were instantly evaporated into a wisp of white smoke by the floor heating, as if he had drunk up the autumn night in Hakone as well.

A moment later, another cup of green plum wine was delivered. The two different flavors of the wine were mixed together, and Uesugi Muneyuki felt as if he had fallen into clouds warmed by the sunset. The unique smooth touch of the sulfur spring made him tremble slightly.

The burst of sweet and sour fruit pulp combined with the lingering spiciness of sweet potato shochu creates a unique Uesugi flavor on the tongue.

———This is the dividing line of Daigo flavor————

Fifteen minutes after they finished soaking in the hot spring, when Uesugi Muneyuki changed into his yukata and returned to the room, Erena and Minami, who had also finished their soak, were already kneeling obediently in the room.

Minami wore a pure white yukata, her delicate and lovely apple-shaped face appearing and disappearing in the dim light, outlining her tender and well-proportioned body, exuding the dignified style of a classic Showa-era beauty. She paired it with white, one-piece Lycra pearlescent stockings, her flawless white skin radiating a crystal-clear glow under the stockings, radiating a sweet and charming aura.

The same yukata, however, became a bodysuit on Erena, clinging to her miraculous figure and bulging out, her outline clearly visible, exuding an ultimate allure in pure white. Her legs were encased in black French classic non-elastic Cervin non-elastic nylon stockings, the tops digging into her full thighs, outlining her slender leg curves, her delicate ankles gleaming softly, her small and exquisite feet encased in the stockings, making her look like a meticulously sculpted Victoria's Secret angel.

These non-elastic nylon stockings have a very short lifespan but are very expensive. They usually come undone and snag after being worn three to five times. Erena has never worn these stockings outside of Sakata Bridge.

"Um, I'm not very talented, please guide me."

"The moment has finally come," said Minami, kneeling earnestly on the ground, her voice trembling as she whispered.

"I...I am a novice and not very talented. Please...guide me?"

Erina Ikeda also followed suit.

"I am the one. I look forward to your guidance in the future, my Miss Minami." Uesugi Muneyuki smiled and helped Minami up first, then said to Ikeda Erena, "As for you, you are the master."

The babbling of the stream in the distance, mixed with birdsong, echoed from the mountain valley, and the sound of bamboo sticks striking stones startled deer.

————This is the dividing line below————

The next day, as the morning mist wove a fine veil over the foothills, Uesugi Muneyuki slowly awoke.

Hmm, my lower back is a little numb, and my legs are a little weak. The man checked his body.

Although I haven't had enough sleep, I should get up so I don't miss breakfast.

"Ah, I don't want it anymore, please spare me."

Beside him, Minami murmured, "I can't take it anymore, Ikeda, save me!"

The man opened his still somewhat sleepy eyes, and in the brief moment when the scenery before him went from blurry to clear, he saw the bright eyes of the tall, beautiful woman, filled with passion and affection.

"Awake?" Uesugi Muneyuki's lips moved slightly.

“I’m full this time.” Erina Ikeda answered seemingly off-topic, yet it hit the bullseye.

The two of them laughed unconsciously, and then glanced unconsciously at Minami, who was clinging to Uesugi Muneyuki's arm.

战五渣！
Uesugi Muneyuki and Ikeda Erena couldn't help but laugh.

How long did Minami last last night? Was it 20 minutes?
It was supposed to be three people... but apart from the beginning, only Erina accompanied Uesugi Muneyuki all the way.

"Go for a soak in the morning?" Uesugi Muneyuki chuckled softly.

"Have breakfast first... I'm hungry." There was no reason for Erena to refuse.

But just then, a scream pierced the sky above Mount Hakone, shattering the tranquility.

“Aa ...

Ok? !

Uesugi Muneyuki noticed that the azurite in his right hand was glowing.

"???"

How could you encounter a murder case while just soaking in a hot spring?
(End of this chapter)