I Want to Hear Your Voice

>Sousuke? What’s wrong?

Satori tilted his head, wondering why Sousuke’s face looked sullen and doubtful for some reason.

“Is there something wrong?”

At the sound of the host’s voice, Sousuke tightened his lips for a moment and quietly muttered “Not just some, there are a lot of mistakes there…”, then answered “Satori.”

“Mr.
Ogigami, your answer is correct! The prize is an overnight trip to a high-class hot spring inn! Congratulations!”

The studio erupted in cheers.
Satori also widened his eyes and clapped his hands while still sitting on the soles of his feet.

“As expected of a popular announcer, you have a wide range of knowledge.
Who will you take on the trip with you?”

While receiving what appeared to be a prize, Sousuke answered “Yes, well…” and speak ambiguously.

“So amazing, amazing.
Sousuke is so amazing.” 

Satori gazed with sparkling eyes at Sousuke, who had successfully won the competition, while the white fluffy spirits jumped around him.

“—What you said before was false.”

When music started to play and the program was about to end in a friendly atmosphere, that voice could be heard.

“Huh?”

The host and the other participants looked at Sousuke with a questioning expression.
The audience was filled with a strange confusion, wondering what Sousuke had said.
Still unable to end the program, the host asked in confusion, “What do you mean it was false?”.
Sousuke looked straight at the host and said, “The question from earlier is false.
The spirit called Satori isn’t ugly like a monkey, and it isn’t hated by everyone.” he replied with a calm face.

“Huh?”

Along with the voice of the host, the program switched to a commercial and ended.
After that, there were a lot of talk on Twitter and social media such as “What’s going on with Ogigami Sousuke?!”.
Of course, Satori, who usually didn’t use the internet, was unaware of it.

***

The Golden Week holidays had been pleasant and sunny.
Lining it up with Sousuke’s day off, Satori and Sousuke went on a two-day and one-night hot spring trip.
Tonight they would stay at the inn that Sousuke had won from the “variety show” program, and tomorrow they planned to go to the beach.

It was Satori’s first time going out for an overnight stay and of course, going to a hot spring too.
In the end, he was so nervous that he couldn’t sleep at all the night before.

chirp chirp chirp

“Satori, this way.”

Sousuke called out to Satori, who was staring up at the blue sky with his mouth wide open.
Satori gasped and rushed to Sousuke’s side.
The hot spring inn that was two and a half hour train ride away reminded Satori somewhat of his hometown, with its chilly air due to its close proximity to the mountain.

The long-established high-class inn, which only took reservations from a few guests a day, had a magnificent building.
As they passed through the freshly sprinkled entrance, they were welcomed by the proprietress in a beautiful kimono.