After the Peace Torii at Hakone Shrine, we walked toward our next destination — Moto-Hakone Port. From there we’d take a thirty-minute lake cruise on Lake Ashi.
“Looks like there’s a sightseeing boat and a pirate ship — which?”
“The pirate ship is the one that docks at Togendai Port, where the Hakone Ropeway station is — so that one.”
“Got it — different boats, different ports.”
We arrived at Moto-Hakone Port after a fifteen-minute walk, lined up at the ticket counter to buy boarding passes, and boarded the pirate ship. Boarding time was almost immediately, so no real wait.
“Stylish boat.”
“Right? Modeled on a real Western galleon.”
We wandered around. Inside there were musket and cannon decorations — fully committed to the bit.
The boat departed and we headed up to the deck instead of staying in the cabin.
“Kano-san, look over there — you can see the Peace Torii we just visited.”
“Oh, beautiful from the lake side too.”
She got out her phone and started shooting. Better angle from the boat with no line. Then Mount Fuji came into view ahead.
“I’d heard June isn’t great for Fuji visibility — we got lucky.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. This time of year, clouds tend to obscure Fuji because of the weather and humidity.”
“Right — warmer weather brings water vapor up.”
So we were honestly fortunate. We took several shots with Fuji in the background.
“That came out really well.”
“Yeah, quality’s high on those.”
“Maybe my new LIME icon.”
“Please not that.”
If she changed her icon to a photo with me in it, Suzuno and my brother would learn about the trip. She made a small disappointed face, but I would not budge.
“By the way — how’d you explain this trip to your family?”
“Said I was traveling with friends.”
“So they don’t know it’s with me, then.”
I’d briefly relaxed at her answer — and then she dropped something else.
“Although Mom might suspect I’m staying over with a guy, possibly.”
“That seems bad?!”
She’d said it casually. Was she okay?
“Don’t worry — Mom’s pretty hands-off. She wouldn’t say anything if I got into that kind of relationship with someone.”
“T-that kind of relationship…”
The brazen way she said it made my face heat up. She grinned.
“Oh — by that kind of relationship I mean, you know, the one where men and women cultivate love. People generally call it ecchi or sex, yeah?”
“Y-you didn’t have to spell it out!”
Bad for my heart — please don’t say things like that in broad daylight. I am, technically, a healthy male high school student.
“My first time is reserved for someone in particular, though.”
“Wait — you’re inexperienced?!”
I’d blurted before I could stop. Kano had been wildly popular forever — I’d assumed she had experience.
“So you assumed that too, huh.”
“S-sorry.”
“Eh, I’m pretty popular, so people often jump to of course she has experience on their own.”
She didn’t seem hurt — relief. I’d worried I might have insulted her.
After enjoying the view from the deck a while, we went into the cabin and browsed the gift shop, where something caught our eyes.
“What’s this?”
“Says gold bar sweets — but no idea what’s inside.”
In front of us was something shaped like a gold ingot. Pirate-ship-exclusive item, apparently.
Curious, we bought two. We sat down and opened them.
“Oh — it’s pound cake inside.”
“Chocolate flavored. Pretty good actually.”
We were peckish from a morning of walking, so it tasted great. Demolished in seconds.