The Hot Spot (ホットスポット)

PREVIOUSLY...

At the base of Mount Fuji,

in Fuji-Asada, Yamanashi, Kiyomi Endou

and her childhood friends, Hazuki

and Minami, come to discover the secret

of Kiyomi's colleague, Kousuke Takahashi.

-Mr. Takahashi, I heard you're an alien! -Well.

Yeah. Please absolutely do not tell anyone.

The trio get Takahashi to use his abilities

to solve their trivial day-to-day problems.

Will you be okay from the side effects?

I'll recover to some extent if I soak in the hotel's hot spring.

The minerals in our hotel's hot spring are pretty unique.

They can help heal our bodies.

Their daily lives, which have begun to change,

are set in motion again today.

I'm running for the position of mayor in Fuji-Asada city.

My name is Masako Umemoto.

I seek to invigorate our community for a brighter future.

I'm Masako Umemoto and I'd appreciate your support.

LAKE HOTEL

Your bill is settled. Checkout is complete.

-We hope you stay with us again. -We hope you stay with us again.

-Good morning. -I'll be heading out now.

Thank you for your work.

By the way,

17 consecutive zero-balance checkouts. A new record!

What? That's impressive!

I know, right?

A zero-balance checkout means there are no additional charges,

and guests only need to return their room keys when they check out.

On busy mornings at the front desk,

it's particularly appreciated.

What was our previous best?

I think it was 11.

Then we've come a long way.

It makes me want to try aiming for 20.

Yeah.

It was pure luck anyway, so that goal is impossible.

CHANGING ROOM

See you.

-Thanks for your work. -Thanks for your work.

Isn't Onodera really quick?

Yeah.

Was he changing at a crazy speed?

But with the tie and buttons on his uniform, isn't it difficult?

Maybe he started stripping the moment he walked in there.

That could be it.

Otherwise there's no way he'd make it out that quick.

Or maybe there's a chance that Onodera is an alien.

Onodera, really?

He's a little private, no?

Right. His personal life is a mystery.

-He can't tell us anything. -Because he's an alien?

Yeah.

I'm not sure if Onodera is an alien or not,

but the alien I know takes forever to leave

and is open about their private life.

Your bill is settled and the checkout process is complete.

-Here is your receipt. -Bill settled. Checkout is complete.

-Thank you. -Here is your receipt.

We hope you stay with us again.

That makes 19 zero-balance checkouts.

FRONT DESK

-Good morning. -Good morning.

Good morning.

-Are you checking out? -Yes.

Please.

Please give me a few moments to verify your information.

Ms. Matsuda. You have one unsettled bill for breakfast.

-We kindly ask for your payment. -Yes.

That will be 950 yen.

-Thank you. -Thank you.

Thank you.

We hope you stay with us again.

Streak broken.

It's fine. Let's just move on.

It was pure luck anyway,

so no point in saying, "It's fine," or, "Let's just move on."

ONE UNREAD MESSAGE FROM MINAMI

DO YOU TWO HAVE THE DAY OFF ON SATURDAY?

YEP!

I HAVE WORK IN THE MORNING,

BUT I'M FREE IN THE AFTERNOON.

WANNA MEET FOR LUNCH?

SURE!

This group that's been dead for ages

has started buzzing with activity lately.

YEAH!

OKAY.

Please enjoy your stay.

-I'll help with the luggage. -Thank you.

This way to the elevator.

Please go ahead.

When guests get on or off the elevator, we use a hand to keep the door open.

But isn't that actually pointless?

What do you mean?

It's not as if the door is going to close immediately.

I mean, there's a button for "open."

Yeah, we can just press the button.

If we do that, the door won't close.

Using our hands is precisely what makes the door close.

It almost feels like we're doing it on purpose to make it close, doesn't it?

-A self-made drama. -Right?

I wonder what the point of that is?

Maybe it's for show?

What do you mean?

Like, instead of pressing the open button, we hold the door with our hands

to look like we're putting ourselves on the line.

We do look more involved than if we just pressed the button and waited.

Yeah, it's like,

"'Don't worry about me, just hurry up!"

Ah, the whole self-sacrificing vibe.

"Don't worry about my hand!"

It's all an act.

Yep.

But it's really pointless.

Right.

It really is.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

At the end of the day, we do it because it's our job.

So this conversation is what's actually pointless.

That's all I have.

Sorry.

I'll be heading off now.

Thank you for your work.

I'll go get some supplies.

-Okay. -Yes.

Are you going to use the hot spring today?

Of course.

It must be tough.

Well, it feels good,

and soaking in itself is not hard at all.

I see.

I do agree that hot springs are soothing.

Yeah.

In my case, compared to what most people feel when they're soaking in a hot spring,

it feels a lot better for me.

Really?

We think it's pretty soothing.

I'm sure you do,

but it's on a whole other level for me.

I get warm to the core when I soak in the hot springs.

That's a given.

In my case, my body fully recovers.

When we soak in the hot springs, it feels like we're coming back to life.

Yeah, but that's being figurative.

I'm literally being healed.

I'm being serious, we really feel like we're being revived.

The debate we're having

is probably more pointless than the one about elevators.

My body literally heals.

CHANGING ROOM

See you.

Thanks for your work.

By the way, Yumi is the quickest when it comes to leaving work.

Oh, did you know that Yumi

suspected you were an alien?

How did that happen?

Because you don't share anything about your personal life.

Huh?

But then again,

she suspected Onodera for the same reason too.

I think you should be fine.

-You didn't tell her, right? -No.

The only ones that know are Minapuu and Hacchi.

Well, okay then.

Speaking of which, I'm having lunch with them again this Saturday.

-Is that so? You three meet often, huh? -Yes!

We've been meeting once a week lately.

Sometimes, even twice a week.

You three are close.

I also have close friends back in my hometown,

but we don't meet often.

But you were the catalyst

for us to start meeting up again.

-Is that so? -Yeah.

Do you want to join?

-Me? -Yeah. Only if it's convenient, of course.

I'll let you know.

Okay.

No need to force yourself, okay?

I know. I'll try to make it.

"I'll try to make it,"

is usually what people say when they probably won't show up.

I'll try to make it.

But when Takahashi says it, you can bet he'll show up.

Do you have a shift on Saturday?

Nope.

But I'm not sure if I have other plans.

Do you have anything on that day?

Not sure, I'll need to check. I'll get back to you.

Yamanashi is home to a bunch of interesting folks.

- Folks who are known nationwide. -What?

Your lunch money is on the table.

Thanks, Mom.

When will you be back?

-I think it'll be a little late. -Okay.

-What about dinner? -I'll be back for it.

Okay.