Tetsu stood slightly leaning behind Aoki, one hand tightly gripping the handle of the worn cloth bag slung over his shoulder, while the other hand sank lazily into the pocket of his faded jeans.
Tetsu's gaze darted quickly through the half-open door, assessing the makeshift room with the sharp eyes of a hungry cat—he was looking for only one thing: the bed closest to the window.
"Boss! I'll take the bed by the window, okay?" Tetsu exclaimed suddenly, his voice breaking the silence of the narrow, sun-drenched hallway, forcing Aoki to turn his head lazily and roll his eyes.
Without waiting for permission, Tetsu strode briskly to the corner of the room. With each step, the old wooden floorboards creaked softly, creaking as if protesting against an uninvited guest.
Arriving at the window, Tetsu threw his small bag onto the bed, his hand gesture dramatic like a conqueror who had just planted a flag.
The sound of a bag being slammed was followed by a cloud of dust, forming a thin mist on the white sheets that now looked more like ivory.
Aoki merely snorted softly. One corner of his lips lifted into a sardonic smile that lasted only a moment, before disappearing into his eyes, half-lazy, half-resigned.
"Whatever. Just don't dream while screaming," Aoki replied flatly, his voice almost lost in the midday breeze that seeped through the cracks in the brittle wooden window.
The breeze carried the scent of wet grass mixed with old dust, causing the shabby curtains to flutter weakly, revealing a streak of light onto the floor.
In the next room, Mei shook her head slowly, as if she had seen Tetsu's antics too many times. Meanwhile, Ajisai simply turned away, holding back the laughter that threatened to escape the corner of her lips when she saw Tetsu patting the bed with the air of a newly ascended king.
Without another word, Aoki reached for the doorknob and gently closed the door. The sound of wood scraping against the floor echoed faintly, accompanied by the slight clinking of keys.
The room seemed to be submerged in thin shadows, and the scent of dust slowly drifted in, drifting with the daylight creeping in through the old windows.
...
...
...
After resting for about half an hour, Aoki and the others finally emerged from their room.
The door creaked softly as they closed it, the sound of old hinges against the door frame.
Their footsteps echoed through the quiet wooden hallway of the inn, interrupted only by the occasional chirping of birds far outside the window.
The scent of old wood mingled faintly with the smell of cooking creeping up from the kitchen downstairs. The smell of fried onions and hot oil seeped through the gaps in the stairs, forcing stomachs half-filled with water to protest.
They descended the stairs one by one, Aoki leading the way, one hand gripping the slippery wooden handrail from frequent use.
The wooden steps creaked softly beneath their shoes, adding to the silence of the hot afternoon. Each step sent a slight vibration through the floor, adding to the feeling of the old inn being alive with their breath.
As soon as they stepped onto the first floor, they were greeted by the deep, friendly voice of the elderly innkeeper, who stood behind the small reception desk, right next to the stairs.
The old man straightened his slightly hunched back, one hand busy stroking his thin beard, his fingers brushing away a few strands of white hair that clung to his chin.
"Oh, you're down," the old man said, patting the large guest register in front of him, his wrinkled eyes gleaming under the light of the chandelier.
A faint scent of incense burning in the corner of the room obscured the smell of the aged wood.
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