Spring It On
Maria was counting down the hours, days, week that she had left until she could leave the school for Christmas break. She was not returning home, that was for sure. She hadn’t even spoken to her parents since she left for Mahoutokoro she wasn’t about to go back to visit them. Instead, she would spend her vacation in a mountain hot spring resort somewhere in Yamagata Prefecture. She wasn’t exactly sure where that was exactly or what drew her there, but she wanted something off the beaten path but still gave her everything she wanted.
During the course of the week, right up until it was time for her to leave, she’d spend her free time packing, and repacking, and repacking again. Sometimes it was just too much. Other times it was far too little. Should she bring her bass? Did she really need that many shoes? The answer to both these questions was yes. Maria was not very good at compromise.
Finally she found a way to take what she needed and wanted. It was on the precipice of being too much for her to carry but she would not live if she didn’t have everything she packed. She barely made it out the door of her dorm room and, with a bag or two, dragging on the ground, made it to the room with the portkeys. “Let’s see…” she mumbled to herself trying to keep her bags on her shoulders. She went to grab the portkey for Yamagata City, where the hot spring she wanted was, but, having been knocked off balanced, grabbed a different portkey instead.
One moment she was preparing for a vacation full of soaking in a hot spring in her bathing suit until she turned into a permanent prune but instead she found herself stepping out of a door onto a walkway along a small river. Either way she looked there were decorative bridges crossing the short chasm. The buildings looked well kept, but it was much much smaller than she anticipated. She was obviously not in the city. She walked along the the river, it was freezing, even with her winter coat. She didn’t anticipate being so high up. The air was thin as well. This must be some mountain village but where?
Her bags dragging in the snow behind her, Maria tried to find someone to ask where the hot spring was. Her Japanese wasn’t the best, but she thought she could be understood. She must really be in the boonies if people looked on her with confusion. Her shoulders now ached and she slouched against the railing running the length of the water. She needed help, no one seemed to understand her, and she really just wanted to be soaking in a hot spring at this very moment.
During the course of the week, right up until it was time for her to leave, she’d spend her free time packing, and repacking, and repacking again. Sometimes it was just too much. Other times it was far too little. Should she bring her bass? Did she really need that many shoes? The answer to both these questions was yes. Maria was not very good at compromise.
Finally she found a way to take what she needed and wanted. It was on the precipice of being too much for her to carry but she would not live if she didn’t have everything she packed. She barely made it out the door of her dorm room and, with a bag or two, dragging on the ground, made it to the room with the portkeys. “Let’s see…” she mumbled to herself trying to keep her bags on her shoulders. She went to grab the portkey for Yamagata City, where the hot spring she wanted was, but, having been knocked off balanced, grabbed a different portkey instead.
One moment she was preparing for a vacation full of soaking in a hot spring in her bathing suit until she turned into a permanent prune but instead she found herself stepping out of a door onto a walkway along a small river. Either way she looked there were decorative bridges crossing the short chasm. The buildings looked well kept, but it was much much smaller than she anticipated. She was obviously not in the city. She walked along the the river, it was freezing, even with her winter coat. She didn’t anticipate being so high up. The air was thin as well. This must be some mountain village but where?
Her bags dragging in the snow behind her, Maria tried to find someone to ask where the hot spring was. Her Japanese wasn’t the best, but she thought she could be understood. She must really be in the boonies if people looked on her with confusion. Her shoulders now ached and she slouched against the railing running the length of the water. She needed help, no one seemed to understand her, and she really just wanted to be soaking in a hot spring at this very moment.
@Kiyoshi Sato
Last edited by Maria Leung de Almeida on 5 Sep 2026, 23:53, edited 1 time in total.
Maria Leung de Almeida is the iNPC of Dennis Tumberton
Spring It On
Kiyoshi glanced up from the narrow stone walkway where the morning’s errands had sent him. The hot spring mist rested on everything, filling the air with that quiet, mountain peace he’d always found strange but comforting. It was his mother’s idea to come here, breaking early for Christmas. She has said it was “for for the water and for the stars”; never mind that he’d rather be home in Iida where the roads made sense and the hills stayed put.
He saw her before she saw him. It was strange, almost surreal, to see another Mahoutokoro student here, and stranger still for it to be a familiar face. Like worlds colliding, it felt.... messy. His first instinct then was to turn away and let the moment pass. She didn’t look like she quite wanted company, anyway.
Still he waited, watching for a moment as she struggled, not quite knowing if she’d want his help. Only when she paused at the railing, shoulders slumping, did he clear his throat softly enough to announce his presence.
“Traveling far?” Wow. What a stupid question. she obviously was. Small talk was safer than silence, but only just.
After a beat, he nodded toward the main avenue. “The bathhouse is that way, past those lanterns.” Careful, formal. Not using her name. Letting her ignore him if she wanted.
If she’d rather do it on her own he wouldn’t insist. But still...manners were manners. “If the bags are too much, I… can carry one. Only if you want.”
There. That was enough.
He watched her from the corner of his eye, instinctively shrinking himself, coat pulled tight, hoping not to draw stares. Ready to disappear if she preferred, but not quite able to ignore her struggle. Just in case she’d say yes.
@Maria Leung de Almeida
iNPC of Camilla Carter
Spring It On
Maria was about to give up hope - forced to drag her bags by herself wherever the hot springs were. She just wanted a warm room and an even warmer pool of water! A gale cut through her poor excuse of a winter coat as if she wasn’t wearing anything at all, chilling her to the bone. She gave a heavy sigh and pushed herself from the bannister, resigned.
She blinked. Did she hear someone or was it the wind? She looked further down the river, in the direction she had been walking. There was no one there whom she might recognize. As she turned her head, the wind brushed strands of hair over her face. Pushing them out of the way, her heart soared. Not what she meant by help but she would never turn down help from Kiyoshi. He was her…friend? She didn’t really know what to call him. He only ever seemed to materialize when she was out of sorts and not composed. Maybe he was more like a guardian angel.
“Kiyoshi-kun! Oh thank goodness!” She said, her shoulders slumping and her bags sliding to the ground. She suddenly felt renewed of energy, but she wasn’t about to pick those heavy monstrosities up again. Honestly, who needed all this stuff? Maria did. That’s who.
He pointed the way to the bathhouse as he called it though she hoped it was more luxurious than that. Either way, she had been going the wrong direction. She would have literally been lost with out this half-giant. “Right…I’m not from around here…how am I supposed to know where it is…” she regained her composure. Was she happy to see him? Yes. Did she need his help? Well, yes, but she would never be the one to ask for it.
He offered her his help next. She never knew Kiyoshi as anything other than helpful. She thought a moment. Well, she wasn’t asking for help if he offered it right? Satisfied that Kiyoshi must have thought it better than waiting for her to ask for help, lest they both surely freeze to death, she nodded and gave him a sweet winsome smile. She picked up the heaviest on that was collecting the most snow as it had been dragged across the ground and heaved it over to him “That would be quite nice. I always make sure to pack everything I’m going to need for any occasion.”
With the burden shared, she hoisted the lighter but still moderately heavy bag and, should the half-giant allow, looped her arm around his, well as far as it would loop. Her hand resting the crook of his elbow. Should he not allow for it, she’d just carry her other bag with two hands on the strap shoulder strap. “Lead the way,” she said with equal parts playfulness and sweetness.
She blinked. Did she hear someone or was it the wind? She looked further down the river, in the direction she had been walking. There was no one there whom she might recognize. As she turned her head, the wind brushed strands of hair over her face. Pushing them out of the way, her heart soared. Not what she meant by help but she would never turn down help from Kiyoshi. He was her…friend? She didn’t really know what to call him. He only ever seemed to materialize when she was out of sorts and not composed. Maybe he was more like a guardian angel.
“Kiyoshi-kun! Oh thank goodness!” She said, her shoulders slumping and her bags sliding to the ground. She suddenly felt renewed of energy, but she wasn’t about to pick those heavy monstrosities up again. Honestly, who needed all this stuff? Maria did. That’s who.
He pointed the way to the bathhouse as he called it though she hoped it was more luxurious than that. Either way, she had been going the wrong direction. She would have literally been lost with out this half-giant. “Right…I’m not from around here…how am I supposed to know where it is…” she regained her composure. Was she happy to see him? Yes. Did she need his help? Well, yes, but she would never be the one to ask for it.
He offered her his help next. She never knew Kiyoshi as anything other than helpful. She thought a moment. Well, she wasn’t asking for help if he offered it right? Satisfied that Kiyoshi must have thought it better than waiting for her to ask for help, lest they both surely freeze to death, she nodded and gave him a sweet winsome smile. She picked up the heaviest on that was collecting the most snow as it had been dragged across the ground and heaved it over to him “That would be quite nice. I always make sure to pack everything I’m going to need for any occasion.”
With the burden shared, she hoisted the lighter but still moderately heavy bag and, should the half-giant allow, looped her arm around his, well as far as it would loop. Her hand resting the crook of his elbow. Should he not allow for it, she’d just carry her other bag with two hands on the strap shoulder strap. “Lead the way,” she said with equal parts playfulness and sweetness.
@Kiyoshi Sato
Maria Leung de Almeida is the iNPC of Dennis Tumberton
Spring It On
Kiyoshi shifted his weight as Maria’s voice cut through his hesitation. She sounded relieved to see him. That was new. But then, almost every interaction with her led to unexpected junctures. He answered her smile with a small nod, as he reached for the heaviest bag, feeling Maria’s lighter one brush her side as she hoisted it.
That tracked. She’d never let someone take everything, not even when offered. Like a line drawn between needing help and letting others think she couldn’t handle it herself. He respected that. Maybe it was stubborn or maybe it was just practical; but it fit the picture he’d built of her.
It eased his mind, a little. Like a (not so) quiet partnership. Better this way.
Her arm looped through his. He tensed, unsure if it was the right thing, not used to anyone closing the gap like that. Some people would find it too forward, but maybe foreigners didn’t mind it so much?
When he spoke, his voice was calm and slow, a contrast brought to sharp relief by her sudden burst of energy. “You really brought enough for a whole week, huh?” A gentle barb, but his small smile gave away that he didn’t mind the weight of the bag.
Kiyoshi tried to keep the pace steady, trying to make himself as unintrusive as possible. Her hand at his elbow felt strange. Unfamiliar. But he didn’t pull away. Just made sure to leave her enough room if she changed her mind
“If you get cold, we can stop. The bathhouse isn’t too far. My mother… she says the water helps when you’re tired. And the stars… well, she says they’re good for the soul. She’s been coming here for years.”
He fell quiet, letting Maria set the tone for the walk. If she wanted to keep chatting, he’d answer; if she preferred silence, he’d respect that as well.
@Maria Leung de Almeida
iNPC of Camilla Carter
Spring It On
Walking alongside Kiyoshi, it was much warmer. She didn’t know if it was a coincidence that the temperature had changed or if just being closer to another person just naturally gave off more warmth. That must be what it was. His arm was strong, which, not really understanding, make her both comfortable and a little…she couldn’t really find the word for how the tension in his muscles felt. He seemed to not be deriving the same security though, from the gesture as he seemed to try to get as far away from her as possible without forcing her to let go. Well, half-giant or not, no one escaped from Maria unless she allowed it. No. This boy would not make it far.
As Kiyoshi had explained. They arrived at the bathhouse in short order. Maria couldn’t help but inexplicably feel like she wished the walk to go further with this rather awkwardly but strangely affable giant. This was forgotten when the rustic villa welcomed them so enticingly. Over a short walking bridge, the structure was of a tourist-y construction, well decorated and painted traditionally tiled roofs with spirts and gods at the corners to protect the establishments. Red and blues and greens wave along the wood working with fine detail of vines, flowers, and dragons.
Maria let go of the strong arm that helped support her walking with her luggage and went through the entrance. Her parents had paid for her to spend the vacation here and the accommodations next to the springs had already been handled. The perk of having parents with connections. She then motioned Kiyoshi to follow her as they went down the hall and unlocked one of the rooms. As she laid her bag down she gave a long stretch before taking off her coat. She motioned to the spot in the simple room where she wanted him to put her stuff.
“Care to join me for a soak, Kiyoshi-kun? Your mother sounds very wise indeed,” she asked playfully.
As Kiyoshi had explained. They arrived at the bathhouse in short order. Maria couldn’t help but inexplicably feel like she wished the walk to go further with this rather awkwardly but strangely affable giant. This was forgotten when the rustic villa welcomed them so enticingly. Over a short walking bridge, the structure was of a tourist-y construction, well decorated and painted traditionally tiled roofs with spirts and gods at the corners to protect the establishments. Red and blues and greens wave along the wood working with fine detail of vines, flowers, and dragons.
Maria let go of the strong arm that helped support her walking with her luggage and went through the entrance. Her parents had paid for her to spend the vacation here and the accommodations next to the springs had already been handled. The perk of having parents with connections. She then motioned Kiyoshi to follow her as they went down the hall and unlocked one of the rooms. As she laid her bag down she gave a long stretch before taking off her coat. She motioned to the spot in the simple room where she wanted him to put her stuff.
“Care to join me for a soak, Kiyoshi-kun? Your mother sounds very wise indeed,” she asked playfully.
@Kiyoshi Sato
Maria Leung de Almeida is the iNPC of Dennis Tumberton
Spring It On
Kiyoshi set the bag down as Maria spoke. The words caught at him wrong footed and left him off-balance. Did she mean it? Was it a joke, or just her being her? Her voice carried a confidence that made him unsure. Damn foreigners and their boldness.
He coughed. “Baths are split here,” he muttered, eyes skimming anywhere but her face, voice low, almost tucked away. “The signs. Red, blue, you know?” Even now, it sounded like he was apologizing. Why was he always apologizing?
Was she doing this on purpose? Making sport of him? Or did she truly just not understand? “Unless you were planning on breaking more rules?” he added, before he could stop himself. There was a flicker of something there. A warning, mixed with a dare, mixed with something else. Alien, and unquantifiable.
Well, now he'd done it.
He picked up his own small bag again and paused at the threshold. He wanted to wait for her answer, to see how serious she was. Or... or maybe he just wanted to flee before she saw how flustered he really felt.
“My mother’s waiting. I should… go finish errands,” he heard himself say. Lamely, but not untruthfully, “Shops’ll close.”
He hovered at the door, not quite gone: “If you find everywhere’s too noisy, lounge is empty. Good place for quiet.” A small shrug, an invitation, a wary retreat.
@Maria Leung de Almeida
iNPC of Camilla Carter