A while into the drive, once my initial nerves had finally started to settle, I glanced at the woman in the passenger seat.
"Zzz..."
Hayashi was fast asleep.
Despite having spent practically the entire train ride sleeping, she was out like a light again. And despite having been so terrified of getting into my car just a short while ago, she looked perfectly peaceful.
"She really does have nerves of steel, doesn't she?"
Meanwhile, I was sitting here on pins and needles because her life was literally in my hands.
I had finally started getting used to being behind the wheel after such a long hiatus and was slowly regaining my composure, but still... I didn't think sleeping was quite appropriate.
That was exactly it.
A person sitting in the passenger seat isn't supposed to be there just to nap. If that seat were meant for people to sleep in, then its name should be changed to the Peaceful Sleep Seat.
Otherwise, the person sitting there should be doing exactly what the name implies: assisting the driver.
"Since you're the one in the passenger seat, you're supposed to be helping with the navigation or something..."
The moment after I let out that pathetic, unmanly grumble, a thought occurred to me.
Actually, having Hayashi navigate is the last thing I should want.
The girl had absolutely no sense of direction. If I actually followed her instructions, it would probably take us twice as long to reach our destination.
In that case, would it work out if I just went in the exact opposite direction of whatever she told me?
"It probably would."
The problem was...
"Hey! Why have you been going the exact opposite way I tell you to!?"
Failing to follow her instructions would simply result in her getting into a foul mood.
"Yeah. It's probably for the best that she's sleeping."
Thank you, Hayashi, for staying asleep.
"Honestly, her sleeping face is always so cute, no matter how many times I see it—"
I let out a dry laugh at my own expense. Just then, the car navigation instructed me to turn right, and I followed its lead. I didn't need to rely on Hayashi—who had no grasp of the local geography anyway—as long as I had the GPS to get us there.
"...The incline got steep all of a sudden."
I found myself wondering if the GPS was truly taking us the right way. I knew Shosenkyo was tucked away in the mountains, but I hadn't expected such a relentless series of winding roads and steep slopes.
"I'm already dreading the drive back..."
As I focused on the road, a mountain appeared on the left. It was a rugged, rocky peak, with trees clinging to the sheer cliff faces as if they were bursting through the stone itself.
"Whoa..."
I couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration. The scenery was so breathtaking it was hard to believe we were still in Japan.
But I couldn't afford to be distracted. Looking away from the road on a mountain pass was a good way to run out of lives very quickly.
"Hayashi, wake up."
I called out to her.
"Wake up and take some pictures."
"Zzz-zzz..."
Of course, Hayashi, who always marched to the beat of her own drum, didn't budge.
"Fuwaaa..."
Hayashi finally stirred when I pulled the car into a parking lot near Shosenkyo.
"Sorry. Was I asleep?"
"Yeah, soundly."
"...I'm really sorry."
She looked surprisingly guilt-ridden.
"Your driving was just so steady... I ended up dozing off."
"...W-well, if that's the reason, then I guess it can't be helped."
Good grief. Just try to stay awake next time, okay?
Seriously.
"Anyway, let's head out. Shosenkyo is famous for its waterfalls, but there are also wineries and a ropeway."
"The ropeway!"
"Whoa."
Hayashi suddenly leaned in close, her face right next to mine.
"The ropeway! I want to ride it!"
Apparently, the Former Queen had put in a request for the ropeway.
"All right. Let's go, then."
"Yeah!"
We climbed out of the car. On our way toward the ropeway station, we passed a limousine, which gave my spirits a bit of a lift.
"Two adults, please."
There was a long line at the ropeway reception. After waiting for about five minutes, I reached the window to buy the tickets.
"How much was it?"
Hayashi, who had been waiting off to the side, approached me.
"Don't worry about it. I've got this."
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Listen, I'm not like I used to be. I've actually saved up a decent amount of money now, you know?"
"And?"
"So, I'm paying for these."
"It's fine. It's only a few hundred yen, right?"
"...It's sixteen hundred yen for both of us."
How did she know that? I looked over and realized she was staring directly at the price list posted near the window.
"Here."
"I said it's fine."
"Just take it. Think of it as a thank-you for everything you've done for me."
"For everything...?"
"Yep."
Hayashi gave me a bright, toothy grin.
"I mean, this doesn't even come close to paying you back, though."
If I didn't accept it, she'd probably just get grumpy again. I reluctantly took the ticket money from her.
"Well, shall we?"
"Hayashi, the ropeway entrance isn't that way."
She paused, a look of pure embarrassment crossing her face.