Ultimate Man [JJK X SOL]: Loading Golden Entries at The Start

The Yukinoshita hot spring was pure luxury. Tucked away in the mountains, it was surrounded by lush green trees and steaming pools that sparkled in the afternoon sun.

The girls headed toward the changing rooms, a mix of excitement and hesitation in the air. Kaguya and Eriri hung back slightly, exchanging unsure glances.

"What's wrong?" Yukino asked, her towel neatly folded in her arms.

Kaguya fidgeted. "I've just… never done this with such a big group before."

Eriri nodded, her cheeks a little pink. "Yeah, same. I'm not really used to stuff like this."

Yukino offered a small, reassuring smile. "Don't overthink it. Nobody's here to judge. It's just us. And trust me, once you get in, the water will melt away all your worries."

Ai chimed in, wrapping an arm around Kaguya's shoulders. "Come on, Kaguya-sama! You're not seriously going to skip out on this, are you?"

With a reluctant sigh, Kaguya and Eriri exchanged another glance, then followed the others into the changing rooms.

---

The steam rose lazily above the large, natural hot spring, curling like a soft mist. The rocks surrounding the pool gave it a rustic, elegant vibe, and the warm water was like an open invitation to leave all stress behind.

On the men's side, Ryuji had already settled in. He leaned back against the smooth rocks, his hair still dripping as the heat worked its magic on his muscles. A tall bamboo wall divided the men's and women's sections, but faint voices and laughter floated over.

"This is amazing!" Hana exclaimed on the other side, sinking into the water until only her eyes peeked out.

"Don't fall asleep in there, Hana. You'll drown," Mai warned, sitting nearby with her arms crossed.

"I won't!" Hana protested, pouting before splashing water in Mai's direction.

Utaha and Eriri were sitting off to the side, a little quieter. Utaha's composed elegance was a sharp contrast to Eriri's shy glances.

"See? Not so bad, right?" Utaha said with a small smile.

Eriri relaxed a bit, though her blush still lingered. "Yeah… it's actually kind of nice."

Nearby, Nanako and Mimiko chatted animatedly with Yukino and Saki.

"This place is unbelievable," Nanako said. "It must've cost a fortune!"

"It's smaller than I expected, though," Mimiko added, earning a nudge from Yukino.

"This is just a small part of it," Yukino explained. "When the rest of the mountain gets developed, it's going to be a full-blown resort."

"Ambitious," Saki muttered, running her fingers through the water. "But hey, I'm not complaining. This is incredible."

At the far end, Kaguya and Ai sat together. Ai was busy teasing Kaguya, trying to see how long she could stay submerged without darting back to her towel. Meanwhile, Fujiwara had roped Hana into a game of water tag, drawing laughs from everyone nearby.

---

From the other side of the bamboo wall, Ryuji could hear snippets of their chatter and laughter. A small smile tugged at his lips.

"Ryuji!" Alice's voice broke through the quiet. She leaned over the bamboo wall, her silver hair glistening with moisture.

"What's up, Alice?" Ryuji asked, tilting his head to meet her gaze.

"You're not just sitting there being boring, are you? I thought you were supposed to be making sure everyone was having fun!"

Ryuji chuckled. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that from over here? Besides, it sounds like you're all doing just fine without me."

Alice huffed, flicked some water at him, and disappeared back to the other side, leaving him shaking his head in amusement.

On the women's side, the atmosphere had turned playful. Even Eriri had started to loosen up, her nervous glances replaced by quiet laughter as Mai cracked a few jokes. Kaguya stayed her usual composed self, but Ai's teasing kept pulling out reluctant smirks.

Even Yukino, typically the most reserved of the group, found herself relaxing in the warmth and ease of their company. The water wasn't just soothing; it seemed to soften the barriers everyone usually held up.

Meanwhile, Fujiwara's antics had the whole group laughing.

"I didn't think this would get so lively," Miko murmured, her voice barely audible over the splashing.

"You can thank Fujiwara-san for that," Yukino replied with a faint chuckle.

---

As the sun dipped lower, the group slowly started leaving the baths. Some headed to the lounge, others back to their rooms to unwind. The crisp evening air was a refreshing contrast to the heat of the springs.

Ryuji stepped outside, a towel slung over his shoulder, his body relaxed and his thoughts clear. Spotting a vending machine nearby, he wandered over and grabbed a cold drink.

As he cracked open the can, soft footsteps caught his attention.

He turned to see Mei Mei approaching, her damp hair draped over one shoulder. Dressed in a simple yukata, her natural elegance made her stand out effortlessly.

"Taking a break already?" Mei Mei asked, stopping a few feet away.

"Needed something to drink," Ryuji replied, holding up his can. "Want one?"

She shook her head, a sly smile playing on her lips. "No, I'm good. But I'm curious, why aren't you inside having fun with the others? Don't tell me you're dodging Fujiwara's games."

Ryuji laughed softly. "More like giving them some space. They seem to be enjoying themselves."

"Hmm," Mei Mei said, stepping closer, her eyes glinting with something unspoken.

"Something on your mind?" Ryuji asked, watching her curiously.

She tilted her head, her smile deepening. "Maybe. Why don't we pick up where we left off the last time we met?"