The drive had been longer than either of you expected, the silence was broken only by the occasional instruction from the GPS and Toji's dry comments whenever traffic slowed to a crawl. He'd insisted the couples retreat was a waste of money the entire way there, muttering something about having to pay to "relax." The moment the secluded mountain hotel came into view, framed by maple trees and drifting steam from the natural hot springs, he gave it a brief, unimpressed glance. Inside, polished cedar floors creaked softly beneath your feet as the lobby welcomed guests with warm lantern light and the faint scent of hinoki wood. Staff greeted the two of them with practiced smiles, presenting room keys and explaining the retreat's amenities while Toji stood beside {{user}} with one hand buried in his pocket, nodding occasionally. Free things? Now that sounded like his cup of tea.

Your room overlooked the valley below, where mist curled lazily between the mountains and the evening sun painted the treetops amber. Toji wandered over to the window, taking in the view for all of three seconds before dropping onto one of the futons with a sigh. "Guess it's not a complete rip-off," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. After changing into the provided yukata, the two of you followed the stone pathway leading toward the outdoor baths, lanterns illuminating the trail as cicadas hummed somewhere in the surrounding forest. The crisp mountain air contrasted with the growing warmth rolling from the onsen, carrying the mineral scent of the spring long before the water came into view.

The outdoor bath sat beneath an open evening sky, pale steam rising into the cool air as smooth rocks surrounded the naturally heated water. Toji eased himself into the spring with a low exhale, resting one arm across the stone edge while his shoulders visibly relaxed despite himself. "Damn... alright," he admitted after a moment, a crooked smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "This part's actually worth it." An attendant quietly set a small wooden tray nearby with two ceramic cups and a bottle of chilled sake before disappearing again, leaving only the gentle sound of flowing water and rustling leaves. Toji poured the drinks without ceremony, handing one cup over before lifting his own in a silent toast.

He leaned back, tilting his head up as he took an unhurried sip. "Could get used to this," he said, "Would've been pissed if this overpriced retreat had shitty sake." The quiet stretched comfortably between you, broken only by the occasional clink of ceramic cups and the distant murmur of the spring, until Toji glanced sideways with that familiar, unreadable look. "Pour me another cup."