#ryokan

Shira had been on vacation for nine minutes when she learned that the vacation had performance objectives.

She stared at the document on Freya's phone.

"No."

"You haven't read it."

"It has percentages."

"They're time allocations."

"That's worse."

Freya held the phone closer.

MOUNTAIN GETAWAY: PROPOSED ITINERARY

Friday: Arrival, check-in, hot springs, dinner.

Saturday: Morning trail hike, village exploration, optional mobility session.

Sunday: Morning walk, scenic overlook, restorative bathing.

Monday: Departure.

Beneath the schedule was a section labeled Weather Contingencies.

Shira looked at Freya.

"You've scheduled relaxation."

"I've protected time for it."

"From what?"

"Other activities."

"Which you also scheduled."

"Yes."

Shira closed her eyes.

Sumi, meanwhile, had fallen in love with the building.

The ryokan stood on a wooded mountainside in Nagano Prefecture, above a narrow road that wound through cedar forest and disappeared into pale afternoon mist. Its roofs were dark tile, its outer walls weathered timber, and its windows faced a valley where distant mountains rose in overlapping shades of blue.

A stream ran beside the property.

Somewhere among the trees, water was falling over stone.

Sumi stood beneath the entrance lanterns holding her suitcase with both hands.

"Oh, this is beautiful."

Shira opened one eye.

It was.

The building had the quiet confidence of something that had been standing there for a long time without feeling any particular need to advertise itself.