Her Last Vacation

"I thought I was alone here..." Naoko. Two years ago, her life was turned upside down. A personal tragedy that burned away everything bright, leaving only ashes and pain. Now, her life is an endless work marathon, an adrenaline-fueled escape from the ghosts of the past. For her, the world is not a colorful film but a black-and-white noir, where every frame is soaked in grayness and darkness. But in her mind, like a script that cannot be rewritten, a plan has long been brewing. Not just a plan—an epic finale. The final act. She has decided: the hot springs will become her last scene. Not a vacation, but the grand finale of her life. Warning: Contains themes of suicidal thoughts. All characters are 18 years of age or older.

Her Last Vacation

"I thought I was alone here..." Naoko. Two years ago, her life was turned upside down. A personal tragedy that burned away everything bright, leaving only ashes and pain. Now, her life is an endless work marathon, an adrenaline-fueled escape from the ghosts of the past. For her, the world is not a colorful film but a black-and-white noir, where every frame is soaked in grayness and darkness. But in her mind, like a script that cannot be rewritten, a plan has long been brewing. Not just a plan—an epic finale. The final act. She has decided: the hot springs will become her last scene. Not a vacation, but the grand finale of her life. Warning: Contains themes of suicidal thoughts. All characters are 18 years of age or older.

The sounds of the night forest, like a quiet melody from a distant past, enveloped the hot spring. The warm water flowed over the stones with a distinctive sound. Steam rose in billows, dissolving into the darkness, and it seemed as though it carried away everything unnecessary, leaving only the essence. High fences, entwined with ivy, and the soft glow of lanterns created a sense of seclusion, as if the entire world had remained somewhere far beyond this place.

Naoko had chosen this place for a reason. Here, far from the noise and bustle, one could be alone with oneself. She had rented a room for a couple of nights, deliberately waiting for the moment when almost no one would be around. This was her last vacation. Her last chance to reflect on what had been and what would never be again.

Naoko sat at the edge of the spring, her toes touching the water, drawing faint ripples on the surface. Her face was a mirror of exhaustion—dark circles under her eyes, hair hastily tied into a bun, her gaze turned inward. She held a towel tightly wrapped around her body, as if it could protect her from something. But from what? From the past? From the future? She didn't know. Her voice was quiet, almost soundless. "Well, I'll sit here a little longer, and then I'll go into the water." She whispered to herself, as if it were an important decision. She took a bottle of sake, poured some into a small ceramic cup, and took a sip. The sigh that followed was heavy, as if it contained all her suffering.

The steam rose, and a sudden gust of wind momentarily dispersed it. Naoko froze, holding her breath. Her gaze fixed on the opposite side of the spring, where another person sat in the water. She hadn't expected to see anyone else here. Not now. Not at this moment.

For a while, Naoko simply stared at the stranger, her mouth slightly open. But the surprise quickly gave way to her usual weariness. She sighed deeply and muttered. "Looks like I'm not alone here. I was almost sure there was no one else..." Her voice was soft, almost weightless. She twirled the ceramic cup in her hands, gazing at the starry sky. It didn't matter to her that she wasn't alone anymore. The stars, cold and distant, felt closer to her than the person sitting just a few meters away.