I was Thrown into an Unfamiliar Manga

Although there was a bit of a romcom-style mishap right after waking up, thankfully, it passed without issue.

"…Are you really sure nothing happened?"
"Who knows. I blacked out, so I can’t really say."
Even when I asked, Mei Ling left her answer vague like that, leaving open the possibility.

Since it didn’t seem like I’d get a normal response even if I kept pressing, I decided to let it go here.
Anyway, after tidying up the bedding, we had breakfast.
Unlike last night’s extravagant spread, breakfast consisted of a small cut of fish, pickled vegetables, white rice, and mushroom miso soup.

A typical Japanese breakfast.
We sat across from each other on the terrace, where we could see the scenery outside, and ate silently.
Maybe because we’d just woken up, we didn’t have the energy to talk.

I shoved the rice and miso soup into my mouth bit by bit, and after clearing away the empty dishes, I asked Mei Ling:
"So, what now?"
Mei Ling answered as she sipped her post-meal tea.

"Check-out’s at noon, so I’m thinking of going to the hot spring one more time."
True, it would be a waste to come all the way here and only take one bath.
I didn’t want to waste my money either, so I figured I’d go one more time.

While sipping her tea leisurely, she looked out over Mt. Fuji and spoke.
"It’s really beautiful here. It’s like time has stopped."
Hearing that, I turned my head.

Sure enough, the mist-covered lake felt like a raw display of nature’s majesty.
Just like the stars I saw from the bath last night, it was a view you’d never get in the city.
No wonder this place is such a popular tourist destination.
"Come again sometime."

Mei Ling turned to look at me.
"Will you come with me next time too?"
"If I’m free, sure."

"Hehe, it’s a promise."
She said that with a faint smile and didn’t leave the terrace until her tea had completely cooled.
***

After soaking once more in the hot spring, we began packing to return home.
Honestly, there wasn’t much to pack. All we had brought was a single backpack.
Wearing the freshly laundered clothes from yesterday, we headed to the counter, where the innkeeper we briefly saw last night and the female staff member who had taken care of us throughout stood side by side.

The innkeeper looked back and forth between me and Mei Ling, then smiled and asked:
"Did you enjoy your stay last night?"
"Uh, yeah. Sort of."

I handed over the room key I was holding.
The innkeeper scanned the barcode on the key, then informed us of the total charge.
"That’ll be 53,200 yen, including the beer you bought from the store last night."

"…Here you go."
So expensive.
It was fun eating and drinking, but once it was time to pay, the price made me reluctant to hand over my card.

If Mei Ling hadn’t said she’d pay me back, I probably never would’ve spent that kind of money. Even so, it was insanely expensive for just one night.
The innkeeper took my debit card, swiped it through the POS machine, and asked for my signature.
After signing, he smiled warmly and returned my card and receipt.

"Thank you for your stay."
"Yep."
Goodbye, my sweet 50,000 yen.

Suppressing the surge of emotion, I slightly tilted my head up and said, while tucking the card back into my wallet:
"Let’s go."
Mei Ling gave a slight bow to the innkeeper and staff member, then quietly followed behind me.

We were really going home now.
***
We decided to keep the fact that the two of us had spent the night out a secret from my parents.

Honestly, I was a little worried that Mrs. Im I-ja might get the wrong idea and think her son was living a promiscuous life, but more than that, I figured there was no need to stir up trouble.
Mei Ling and I had already coordinated our story beforehand—I'd say I slept over at a friend’s house, and she’d say she met up with someone she knew.
Anyway, a day passed like that—

"Mei Ling! It’s here!"
On the fifth day of Mei Ling crashing at our house, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ the long-awaited credit card finally arrived.
During that time, Mei Ling had been helping out at my parents’ restaurant, playing the role of poster girl. Upon seeing the letter I handed her, she made a strange, conflicted expression.

"What’s wrong? You don’t look happy."
She took the letter I offered and gave a bittersweet smile.
"I am happy, but… now that I’ve got this, I don’t have a reason to stay here anymore."

Ah…
That’s when it hit me.
Now that her lost card had been reissued, she no longer had any reason to stay at our house.

Apparently hearing my voice, my parents poked their heads out from the kitchen and said:
"That’s great, young lady."
"Glad to hear it. Now you can go home."

"Sir, ma’am…"
Mei Ling looked at them with teary eyes, then bit her lip and bowed deeply.
"Thank you so much for feeding me and letting me stay. Even when I return to my homeland, I’ll never forget this kindness."

My mom waved her hand with a bashful grin.
"Oh come on, all we did was feed you. Don’t flatter us so much."
"No, if it weren’t for the two of you, I might’ve starved to death on the street. Just thinking about that… no, it’s completely unthinkable. To me, the two of you are no less than lifesavers."

Mei Ling said this while making a fist-over-palm bow, then looked at me.
"Kim Yu-seong, I’m deeply indebted to you as well. …Thank you for everything."
She said this stiffly at first, but ended with a soft smile. Then she said she’d go pack and headed upstairs.

Watching her, my mom nudged my back and told me to see her off at the airport myself.
After all, she had lived like a part of the family for the past few days.
I said okay, then waited for her at the store’s entrance on the first floor.

About ten minutes later, Mei Ling came down carrying the same suitcase from the first day.
Looking at her now, even though it had only been a few days, it felt like we’d spent a really long time together.
We flagged down a passing taxi and headed to Tokyo International Airport.

As the taxi began to move, Mei Ling looked out at the neighborhood where she’d stayed the past few days.
As if trying to memorize it all without missing a single detail.
Eventually, after a long drive, the taxi arrived at Tokyo International Airport.

I got out of the taxi first, carrying her suitcase, and Mei Ling thanked me.
"Oh, I should repay the money I borrowed from you."
Then, as if just remembering, she immediately headed for the airport bank.

She had a short conversation with the teller, handed over her card, and withdrew some money.
After that, she picked up her plane ticket and walked over to me, handing me an envelope.
"I included not only the 50,000 yen I borrowed but also a generous amount for lodging and meals."

I peeked inside the envelope at her words.
There were twenty green bills inside.
"Isn’t this too much?"

Mei Ling shook her head.
"I wanted to give even more, honestly. But I figured you’d be uncomfortable, so I kept it modest. This is from my heart, so please give it to them."
"…Okay."

Since she said it like that, I couldn’t refuse. I slipped the envelope into my pocket.
"When’s your flight to China?"
"In about an hour."

"That soon?"
"Apparently there was exactly one business class seat left. I booked it."
She’d need to line up now if she wanted to get through departure in time.

I was flustered by how quickly we had to part, but I decided to keep calm.
"It’s not like we’re parting forever, so there’s no need to be too sad, right?"
Mei Ling nodded with a smile.

"I memorized your address for sure. The next time I come to Japan, I’ll visit you first."
"Then I’m glad."
Since we still had time, I stayed with her all the way to the end.

The line in front of us slowly shortened, and finally, it was Mei Ling’s turn.
She placed her suitcase on the conveyor belt and went through the body scan.
Watching her from the side, I realized that now really was the time to say goodbye.

"Well then, I’ll be off."
"Yes. I hope you get back safely."
I said that and held out my right hand.

Mei Ling stared at it for a moment, then reached out her right hand and accepted the handshake.
We shook hands up and down a couple of times, and just as I was about to let go, Mei Ling didn’t release my hand for some reason.
"Mei Ling? What’s wrong?"

Instead of answering, she did something completely unexpected.
She suddenly pulled my arm toward her.
Caught off guard, I was yanked forward—and Mei Ling stood on tiptoe, quickly.

Smooch—
"……."
It was a kiss I hadn’t seen coming.

The contact was brief, but the impression was powerful.
Only then did Mei Ling let go of my hand, laughing lightly.
"Was that your first kiss?"

I answered in a dazed voice.
"Yeah."
"I don’t think I could manage anything else, so I’ll just take this."

She said that and ran off past the gate.
"Then! See you again next time!"