The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-Be Wife (透明男と人間女～そのうち夫婦になるふたり～)

Isn't this nice?

We haven't been on a trip since we went camping.

Yes,

and it's our first time just the two of us...

I didn't expect to stumble into a hot springs town on our drive.

Yes, it was a good idea to stop by!

I don't do hot springs, but the footbath is nice.

What?! You can't do hot springs either?

Well... I can do them...

And down I...

Hey!

At hot springs and public baths, I'm at risk of being sat on.

It's not fun.

Ah, I see...

I can use them if I have help, but I always hate to be a bother...

I end up thinking, "I can have a hot bath at home."

I guess hot springs are a bridge too far for both of us.

But this might also be my first time feeling properly healed by a hot spring...

Yes, agreed.

Are you ready to head back?

I can't wait to eat these hot spring eggs at home!

Sir, please, you can't—

I've had enough! I'm leaving!

P-Please, let's talk this out!

I knew it wasn't just my imagination!

I'm not staying in this haunted house!

It's not a haunted house!

What's that all about?

Please, come back!

It appears the local inn is haunted.

We've been called to investigate hauntings from time to time...

Have they ever been real?

Paranormal activity tends to be someone's fears getting out of control,

or the abilities of previously undiscovered races.

You investigate hauntings?!

Do forgive the sudden request.

I am the proprietress of this inn,

and we've been plagued by rumors of a haunting of late!

I'm afraid I'm here in a personal capacity...

I'll put you up for free while you investigate!

All-inclusive!

So please, stay and help me!

Th-This was supposed to be a day trip, though...

You're free to visit my agency at a later date.

But in the meantime, I'll keep being swamped by awful reviews!

I can't afford to lose more customers!

But I'm serious—

I'll rent you my best room, with an open-air bath!

It's built on universal design principles,

so I guarantee a comfortable stay...

A private, open-air bath?

No one else around!

I'm afraid it's just not possible.

I have another job to do tomorrow...

I can go in by myself...

Um... I could rearrange our schedule.

I think it would be possible.

The attendant will show you to your room!

Right this way!

The room's set up like this!

It does have nice scenery...

But the bath is visible from inside the room...

How am I going to tell Shizuka-san?

If I just close the curtain to block off the view,

I probably won't need to tell her.

Maybe this is what she meant about me being too accommodating?

That should be everything. Do enjoy your stay!

Akira-san, I want to get right into the bath!

I'll speak to the proprietress about the haunting.

Call me if you need any help.

Okay!

BATHS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO OVERNIGHT CLIENTS AT THIS TIME

You really don't have any customers, I see.

Yes, it's as bad as it looks.

We've had a string of cancellations...

THEY REALLY NEED TO FIX THAT. IT WAS SCARY, CREEPY, AND I HATED IT!!!

I guess it is the reviews.

BLOOD COVERING THE FLOOR?! TOO FREAKY FOR ME...

Blood covering the floor?

It's certainly an unsettling image...

It's impossible!

I'd certainly have noticed blood on the floors!

Yes, and they say it disappeared right after...

Had you heard about this before?

A customer once called the front desk about it in the middle of the night.

We went to check later and saw nothing of the sort!

SAW A PALE FIGURE AT NIGHT. TOO CREEPY. LOVED THE FRESH FOOD, THOUGH.

What about the dragging sounds at night?

HEARD DRAGGING SOUNDS DURING THE NIGHT. WAY TOO CREEPY!

You may hear customers' luggage during the day, but never at night!

Dragging sounds... Is it related to the bloodstained floors?

What about this "torso ghost"?

SAW A GHOSTLY TORSO FLOATING BY DURING THE NIGHT. I THINK THE PLACE IS HAUNTED.

It seems to appear at night, too.

There's no ghost here!

I've worked at this inn for ages, and never seen the likes of that!

Well, it's true that not a single haunting I've investigated

had a real ghost behind it.

As you can see, I'm completely at my wit's end!

We had no idea about any of this until people

started complaining and leaving those reviews!

Understood.

I'll continue my investigation, then.

No traces of blood in the hallway that I can see.

Was it wiped up immediately after? To hide the evidence?

The only witnesses are guests, and it mostly happens late at night.

The reviews talk about impressions, nothing particularly concrete.

Not nearly enough information or evidence to go on.

I'd have preferred to approach this with more time and equipment...

I can't believe I was bought off with an open-air bath.

If I can't solve it today, I'll have to come back another time.

I'm back.

Akira-san!

The attendant helped me into a yukata!

Drat. My gratitude is starting to overtake my regrets!

You look beautiful.

Hooray!

The bath was just heavenly.

You should try it, too!

No, I should get back to work.

Yes, I suppose so.

I'm sorry for getting ahead of myself.

This time, you're not going to let work take over your personal life.

Don't do it!

The reviews suggest the phenomena happens mostly at night.

It should be fine to wait until then.

Isn't this a window?

Why did Akira-san close the curtains?

He's free to enjoy the scenery if he wants...

Is he accommodating me again?

Darn it...

Shizuka-san. I'm sorry for the wait.

Akira-san, why did you close the curtains?!

Ma'am.

Didn't the attendant say the view from the room was incredible?!

Ma'am.

Stop worrying about me and just enjoy it!

You don't need to be accommodating like that!

I've brought this on myself, really.

What?

I'm sorry I didn't tell you.

I-It's fine, since I can't see...

Well, I also can't be seen...

B-But...

Even if you can't be seen,

you don't like having people look into your clothing, right?

I was covered in lather, so that does lead to some embarrassment...

I-I see.

Well, I'm invisible,

so it's not really a rational embarrassment.

But now I'm catching your embarrassment!

I'm sorry.

Do not apologize!

L-Let's have a meal.

The hauntings don't start until nightfall,

so let's take our time and enjoy!

O-Okay!

What was that just now?

Was that a paranormal phenomenon?!

It's surely too soon...

I'm checking it out! Wait here, Shizuka-san!

W-Wait!

Don't leave me!

By myself, I'll be...

too scared... please...

All right.

I'll protect you, Shizuka-san.

I'm not scared as long as there's light.

I suppose that's not very reassuring.

That's not true at all!

If you don't mind...

Could I come with you on your investigation?

Of course! I'd be happy to have you!

All right. Let's go.

Right!

Well, that was fast.

Fast?!