It had been a month since Hayashi started her diet.
Under my supervision, she had successfully shed three kilograms. Honestly, we were moving at a great pace. Since the weight was coming off so consistently, her motivation was currently at an all-time high.
But the real challenge was still ahead.
Plateaus are a fact of life when dieting. I had to start thinking about how to keep her spirits up once the progress stalled.
"Hmm, I see. So Isawa Onsen costs about this much..."
Setting the diet aside for a moment, I was currently planning the one-on-one hot spring trip I’d promised her. I sat there scrolling through my phone, carefully weighing the pros and cons of several candidate locations.
The plan was for a two-day, one-night stay.
I was aiming for a budget of around twenty thousand yen per person.
"I see, I see."
"Ahaha!"
"...Hmm."
"Lol."
"..."
"Lmao, literally dead."
"Hayashi, get over here for a second!"
We were in a single six-tatami room. I shouted at her while she lay flat on her back on the bed, staring at her phone.
"...This room isn't exactly big enough to justify telling me to 'come over,'" she grumbled.
"Fine then, get off the bed!"
"Ugh, fine."
Hayashi locked her phone and sat up.
"What is it? It’s rare for you to actually sound annoyed."
"You’re telling me. Even 'Merciful Yamamoto' has his limits, and I’ve officially reached mine."
"Huh... Did I do something?"
She looked genuinely clueless. Good grief.
"How about you help me plan this trip for once?"
While I’d been over here desperately researching everything, she’d done nothing but tap away at her screen.
"Looking at the costs and picking a destination is one of the best parts of traveling, isn't it?"
"Ah... I guess so. You certainly look like you're having the time of your life."
"D-do I?"
"Yeah. I was just watching you with a smile, thinking how you still love doing all these petty... I mean, detailed little tasks."
"Well, you're making me blush."
Wait. Was she trying to distract me?
"Never mind that. It’s a special occasion, so why don't you contribute an idea or two?"
"I mean, I'd like to, but I don't really know anything about hot spring towns."
"What? You don't? Well, in that case, I'll start by explaining the most popular spots in the Kanto region—"
"No thanks. Not interested."
My enthusiasm died instantly.
"Anyway, you can just decide. Right person for the right job, you know?"
"You're just using fancy words to get out of doing work."
"Maybe. But honestly, it’s just faster if you do it, right?"
She had a point, but... would she really enjoy a trip to a place where she didn't have any input? She was exactly the type to complain later that she would have preferred somewhere else.
"...How did you usually decide where to go before this?"
"Eh?"
"Didn't you go on trips with Kasahara and the others back in high school?"
"Ah... well, I just let Akari decide everything."
I shouldn't have been surprised. Kasahara had always been pathologically overprotective of her.
"Fine. Then at least give me some ideas for what you want to do once we get there."
"What I want to do?"
"Yeah. Besides soaking in the baths, do you want to see historical buildings? Look at the ocean? There are plenty of options."
"Ah... I see."
Hayashi actually seemed to consider it, letting out a thoughtful hum.
"...You really are kind, aren't you?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, you're asking all this because you want to make sure my requests are included in our first trip together, right?"
Just answer the damn question.
"Thanks!"
"Forget it. Just tell me what you want to do."
"Hmm... Let's see..."
Hayashi went back to humming.
"Oh!"
She seemed to have been struck by an epiphany.
"Can I request a few things?"
"Yeah, let's hear them."
"First, I want to eat steamed buns!"
Steamed buns... right. After a month of dieting, she was craving sweets.
"And I want seafood!"
"Buns... seafood..."
"And, and! Yakiniku!"
"Wait, what?"
"Gratin! Sushi! Hamburg steak! Fried chicken!"
I started to wonder if I’d been pushing her too hard.
Suddenly feeling a deep sense of pity for her, I went back to researching the destination on my own. Naturally, I planned to ignore every single one of her suggestions.