Snowy Hot Springs

And...finished!!

Nice! Another job well done! I think everyone's going to like it here. Right, Megu?

Whoa!! Very nice!! I think this is the prettiest hot spring we've built this week!!

Yeah, they're gonna love it. I can't wait to show it off!

Urgh... I'm starting to feel pretty sore, though. We've been working since, what, sundown yesterday?

Yeah, it wasn't easy hauling the materials all the way out here.

For sure. Speaking of, since this place IS so far out, do you think enough people can make it here?

Hm. Now that you mention it...

...what should we do about that?

Oh!

Why are WE worrying? We can just ask President Kasumi, right?

She'll know what to do. She probably ALREADY knows what to do!

Haha! You're right! Yeah, it's not our job to think about that stuff.

For real, leave the thinking to her. Who are we to worry about it?

Where is she, though? Didn't she come here with you, Foreman Megu?

She's here, she's here. I saw her in the back earlier.

Why don't I go ask her? You two rest here.

Uh... Just you, Megu?

We all worked hard together to make this. It's kind of awkward for just us to go inside and rest...

Aw, don't worry about it! I'm still rarin' to go! Not tired at all!

You two are legit exhausted, though, and that's a perfectly good reason to enjoy some hot springs!

Go on, take a load off! I'll talk to the president.

And I'm off!

She never runs out of energy, does she?

Even though she worked the hardest. I've heard she can build a whole hot spring site all by herself. A little one, at least.

Eh?! All alone...? For real? That has to be a joke, right?

Who knows? But, seeing how much she got done last night...

...I think the foreman could pull it off.

Wow, she's something.

Right? Right? There's a reason she used to be the president.

...Huh?

...Wait, she used to be the president?

Oh, you didn't know?

Ah, I guess it hasn't been that long since you joined. ...Actually, a lot of people might not know. We've disbanded and gotten back together multiple times.

Well, Megu used to be the president here. Then, you know, now-President Kasumi came along, and Megu handed off the position.

Why'd she do that?

I don't know. I didn't ask for the details.

Maybe just 'cause Kasumi's smart and super-qualified? Plus Megu doesn't really seem to care about power.

...Yeah, that sounds like our foreman, all right.

Haha! Well...

...I guess it doesn't really matter now. Haha.

President!! President Kasumi!!

...Hmm?

Megu, whoa!! Why are you being so loud?

President!!

Oh, you're already taking a dip? I thought you were usually the last one in.

Haha, well, I just felt like it. No particular reason.

I was thinking back to...well, something that motivated me. Let's put it that way.

So what's going on? And...where's everybody else? You don't usually come out to talk to me alone.

Is there a problem?

Hm? No. Or...yes, maybe...

The team pointed out that this place is really far from civilization.

I mean, we had to haul those materials REALLY far. Is anyone else gonna want to make that trip?

Wahahahaha!! I was wondering what you were going to say.

No need to worry. Remember, they're not going to be hauling materials like we were. They're just going to ride a shuttle bus.

Uphill on a winding road, sure, but the road's clear. A couple of buses, and problem solved.

Ooh! You're always on top of things, President.

...Wait, we have buses?

Wahahahaha!

...No.

But we can hit up the Black Market for a couple of big vans, or buy some old troop transports from a PMC, and then touch them up to LOOK like buses.

The point is, it's all been thought out. That's the point, you got it?

So tell the others if they've got time to worry, they've got time to rest up and recharge!

Hot springs aren't done just because you finish the buildings, you know! They don't count as hot springs until you use them!

I see! Okay! I'll make sure to tell everyone!

I'll tell them, "I don't really get it, but rest well, and everything will somehow work out tomorrow!!"

Wahahaha!! Smart! That's perfect, Megu! You really do get it!!

Heehee... Smart, huh? It's strange to hear you say that, President...

Hm? Megu?

Huh. I wasn't expecting you to do that. You like this hot spring better than the other ones? They're bigger and warmer...

I know, but you said something that reminded me of something else.

What'd I say?

...Was it the part about thinking back?

That's right! It reminded me that you like snow, and that you like hot springs in the snow even better!

Haha...

...Wait, what?

What are you talking about? I don't think I ever told you that.

Well, you didn't. Not directly.

But the first time we met, you were sleeping in the snow, remember?

And then, when I made a hot spring and put you in it, your frown turned into a happy smile!

I was frowning in my sleep...? In the snow...?

...Ah.

Ahhh...

I see. Heehee... Right.

"Sleeping"... Yes, I suppose you would call it that.

...President?

Haha. Nothing. Don't worry about it.

Anyway, I don't think I've heard this story before! So I looked really happy in the bath?

Yeah! So right then, I thought, "This person must really like hot springs in the snow!"

I see...

...Fufu...

...President?

Wahahaha! Of course! Snowy days are the best hot spring times! Cool up top and toasty underneath!

It's good for the spirit! And healthy enough, it can bring you back from the brink of death!

You can let all that warm water just wash your pain and hurt away!

Right? Hot springs! Snowy hot springs! They're the best!

More people need to know how it feels!

Now, now, they'll find out. Of course they will. One day.

For now, you just get some rest, Megu! We'll have a lot more to do tomorrow.

Yup, yup! ...Oh wait, YOU telling me to rest reminds me, I told the TEAM to rest because I was coming to ask you...

Ooh, they're probably still waiting. I'll go back and tell 'em what you said!

You do that. Don't run. The floors are slippery.

Haha! Of course they are!!

Hot springs, hot springs... Heehee.

...Of course I like the hot springs.

...How could I not?