Not knowing what was going on, Maruo had another job. He scanned around the corner to see if anything was out of place. As he walked through the hallway making as little noise as possible, there was a creak. He stopped and darted his eyes around, he saw nobody but the creaks didn't stop.

Maruo:[Above…? Knowing him, it's possible.]

The creaks became abundant and they were getting closer.

Maruo:[Not good, I don't know where it's coming from…]

Maruo found himself next to the door going into the men's side of the hot springs.

Maruo:[The floor here wouldn't creak like that. The material is different, thus, this is a safe zone.]

Slowly and methodically, he opened the door and went right in. He quickly took off his kimono and put on his towel.

Maruo:[This is risky, but he wouldn't think I would be here so late.]

Soon enough, the creaking would pass by.

Isanari:"The hell? Where'd he go? I just wanted to see how he'd act drunk...He wouldn't be in here, would he?"

Maruo:[...]

Maruo's eyes were fixated purely on the door, hoping it would open.

Raiha:"Will you come and eat already!?"

Isanari:"R-Right, sorry!"

Maruo had a sigh of relief.

Maruo:[That was fortunate.]

Fuutarou:"Um…"

Maruo:"Huh?"

Late into the day, Maruo was now staring at Fuutarou in the hot spring.

Fuutarou:"From what pops said outside, I guess he wants you to get drunk."

Maruo:"...Yes. Unfortunately, my tolerance of alcohol is rather small. I only drink on very special occasions."

Fuutarou:"Special Occasions...And you were so worried by pops that you didn't even notice my existence?"

Maruo:"...I suppose so. Not without reason, isn't it rather late for you? I thought you would come as a family."

Fuutarou:"Well, I slept like a log most of the day and I had to take care of something so I'm taking this time now to unwind before I meet with the old man later."

Maruo:"Hm? Do you have business with him?"

Fuutarou:"Yeah, after we cleared up the little misunderstanding Itsuki caused, he asked to go behind the building. He could have asked me to go so he could shoot me, but I like to think I'm an optimist sometimes."

Maruo:"The misunderstanding…"

Fuutarou:"Yeah, the...you knew, didn't you?"

Instinctively, Maruo looked to the side, confirming his guilt.

Fuutarou:"You son of a...You kept it like that on purpose."

Maruo:"...A man such as yourself would be able to surpass that, would you not? Or else you wouldn't be fit to date my daughter."

Fuutarou:"Is it a requirement for dads to become crazier the older they get? Am I gonna get like that one day?"

Maruo:"Are you planning on having kids?"

Fuutarou blushed.

Fuutarou:"Uh, well, I mean, I shouldn't, you know, I mean, think about the budget for diapers and school. And I mean, I wouldn't be opposed to having a family but like, I'm way too young to even consider something like that."

Maruo sighed at the response.

Fuutarou:"Look, just come over here."

Fuutarou got up towards the washing area and signaled for him to come over.

Maruo:"Pardon?"

Fuutarou:"Gonna wash your back."

Maruo:"...No need, Ebata-san already-"

Fuutarou:"I said I'm washing it."

…

As Fuutarou scrubbed away, Maruo couldn't help but wonder.

Maruo:"There haven't been any problems?"

Fuutarou:"If you mean Miku, nah. We've had differing opinions on things, but never anything serious."

Maruo:"Is that so?"

Fuutarou:"Listen to this, One time she…"

Fuutarou would go on to tell stories about her during her time in culinary school. How they would argue sometimes over trivial things that would always end up in the two of them laughing it off. He couldn't help mentioning how they would communicate with each other, how they would keep each other busy and many other things. In the middle of his story, Maruo would look behind him to see Fuutarou with a big smile on his face.

Maruo:"...Heh."

Fuutarou:"Alright, back wash over."

Maruo:"It sounds like it's been a healthy relationship."

Fuutarou:"Haha, I only want to make her happy…"

Maruo:"It certainly seems like nothing awful has happened."

Fuutarou:"Yeah, she's been my light for these last two years. Neither of us are perfect, far from it, but it's those imperfections that help the two of us complete each other."

Maruo:"Is that so…?"

Fuutarou:"...Thank you."

Maruo:"Hm?"

Fuutarou:"For giving me a chance."

Maruo:"I really didn't want to. But I suppose you've passed."

Fuutarou:"...You're right, I've only passed...And I want to excel."

Maruo:"Excel?"

Fuutarou turned to Maruo with fire in his eyes. Clenched fists, Fuutarou would open his mouth.

…

Grandpa Ren came outside in the middle of the night to see Fuutarou already waiting for him.

Fuutarou:"Look who's late."

Ren:"Don't give me sass...What happened to you? Miku didn't slap you, did she?"

Ren pointed to the giant mark on Fuutarou's cheek.

Fuutarou:"Nah, don't worry about it. So, where did you want me to go?"

Ren:"Right, there's someone you should meet."

The two walked through some woods before reaching a shrine hidden in between the trees.

Fuutarou:"A shrine?"

Fuutarou looked at the picture of the woman.

Fuutarou:[I've never seen her before.]

Ren:"This is my wife."

Fuutarou:"Ah. I'm sorry."

Ren:"Don't be, you've never met her...Back when Rena was but a child, she would be forced to undergo training in order to become the successor to the hot springs. Day after day, she would be under constant scrutiny. It wasn't until Rena attempted something tragic that my eyes were opened and I drove her way in hopes that she would find a better life."

Fuutarou:"..."

Ren:"But, all I did was send a helpless and impressionable teenager into the clutches of society. As we grew older, both my wife and I would come to see our past actions with contempt. My wife would later pass away with the regret of not being there for her. After Rena's passing, I too began to feel that way. Forcing my granddaughters to dress like that was nothing more than my own hubris."

Fuutarou:"So that was the reason. All of you are tougher on yourselves than anyone could guess."

Ren:"Yes. I can only hope you don't grow up to be like us."

Fuutarou:"Heh, you don't have to worry about that. Even if I end up on that path, I know Miku will pull me out of it. And I'll do the same for her."

Ren smiled.

Ren:"Uesugi Fuutarou. Please take care of them."

Fuutarou:"You underestimate them. They can take care of themselves. But, if they ever need it, I'll help them in a heartbeat."

Ren:"How nice."

Fuutarou:"..."

Ren:"Hm? Aside from that mark on your face, it seems like you still have something you want to talk about."

Fuutarou:"Is it that obvious? Haha, well, I guess now is as good a time as any."

Fuutarou immediately got serious.

Fuutarou:"I want to talk about something important."

End of Chapter 175