Matsu
That was fair. Atsuko had been in slightly higher spirits in this car, so it’s not like it was uncommon to hear a soft chuckle from the innkeeper. But still, it was much more than she laughed in her normal day-to-day life. In a twisted sense, it seemed like she was enjoying all of this somehow.
Matsu “Tch. It’s not that much coincidence. Anyone who hates the cold is bound to hate Hokkaido.”
“But even so, two Hokkaido natives who both hate the cold on this train… When it’s clearly brought people together from across the world. In that sense… it is a bit of a coincidence, hmm?” Atsuko seemed to think so, at least. Perhaps she wanted it to be? Or if they were to try and make any sense of it… maybe it would be better for it not to be?
Matsu “Where else would I go? My family’s there. And, they expect me to take over the onsen when they’re all dead or whatever. That means I’m pretty much fucked, just stuck there forever.”
Atsuko let out another chuckle.
“That, too… It’s almost eerie, isn’t it? I have the Hearth… and you, too, have your onsen. But hating the cold as much as us, shouldn’t an onsen be a good thing? It’s a pity that you seem to not want to take over.” There were many circumstances to Matsu’s situation, some of which in a tape she was not privy to, that were completely out of Atsuko’s realm of understanding. So was she being insensitive? Probably. On purpose? Not this time.
“I don’t see why you can’t just say no. They can find someone else to do it.” That’s because you had little concern for your actions hurting others, Atsuko. “Hmm… where in Hokkaido are you from? I wonder if I’ll ever consider expanding the Hearth in the future… Papa would be pleased.” Atsuko herself seemed quite amused by the idea. But this was generally a very bad thing for Matsu to get involved with, whether or not they knew that.
Matsu “… Here’s too hot and too bright. I hate it here just as much. Sand is barely better than snow on the ’shit I don’t want to deal with’ list.”
The innkeeper scoffed at that.
“…Your loss. I find the temperature here quite nice, and I don’t mind the sand. I’d prefer more amenities, but I’ve become quite relied on in my time here.” Rather, her fire was relied on. And she was more than happy to be its vessel.
“If you hate the cold and the heat, what do you like?” It wasn’t meant to come out as harshly as it did… Actually, it kind of was. In Atsuko’s mind, Matsu was rejecting warmth, which she found completely nonsensical as a fellow cold-hater. You couldn’t get warm without warmth. Otherwise you’d just be cold.
