Episode 4: "The Shinagawa Princess Hotel"

They exited the room out to a hallway with fluffy carpet.
Yo followed Tsuki into an elevator, surprised to learn of the way it had to be operated.
As a security measure, a key card had to be touched against a panel in order to select the floor one wished to go to. Additionally, it was only possible to go to the publicly available floors or the floor where your room was located.

Yo had surmised that it was a luxury hotel already from the quality of the room, but this seemed to be on another level.
That wasn't the only thing that left him surprised.

As the elevator doors reopened, a spacious lobby appeared before him.
Beneath their feet was a polished marble floor, and the area was adorned with sculptures and other contemporary art.
Overwhelmed by his surroundings, Yo could only blink a few times in succession as he took in the sight.

Yo Kuronaka
"Whoa... It's like a museum in here."

Tsuki Iroha
"Heehee! Cool, right?
It makes sense, since the Shinagawa Princess caters to all of Neo Tokyo's bigwigs!
The lobby is the face of the hotel, and they make sure it packs a punch!"

Yo Kuronaka
"No kidding... It's pretty amazing."

Normally, that was where there'd be some sort of snappy retort and a smug look in response, but the sight was so overwhelming that all Tsuki offered was a nod.
A moment later, Yo had a realization that sent a shiver right down his spine.

Yo Kuronaka
"There's... no way I can afford a hotel this expensive.
Maybe I should swallow my pride and ask Kazuki if he can loan me some cash to cover it? No... That guy'd never let me hear the end of it if I did that.
I can't imagine Eiji would be any easier to ask, given his personality. Hmm... I wonder who I could ask..."

Until just moments ago, he'd been sleeping in a bed in a room on the tenth floor.
Given that he'd slept there, it was only natural he'd have to pay for his accommodations.
But all he had was the balance on his phone, and he knew there was no way that'd be enough to cover the cost.
As he considered his options for how to come up with the money, a nearby woman tapped her heels against the floor before speaking up to get his attention.

???
"Please, don't concern yourself with the costs. Our hotel is currently offering free lodging to those who've been affected by Zero's invasions.
You can relax. Please enjoy your stay, free of charge."

The woman who explained the situation to him was one of average height, neatly dressed in a black pantsuit. When she finished speaking, she bowed to him slightly.
Yo found himself caught off-guard by her refined demeanor.

Yo Kuronaka
"Oh, um... And you are...?"

Manager
"My apologies for not introducing myself sooner. I'm the hotel's—the Shinagawa Princess Hotel's manager.
Heehee. I'm glad to see that you're back on your feet, Mr. Kuronaka."

Tsuki Iroha
"Yo, you seriously owe this lady your life!
Not just because she's letting us stay here, but because she's the one who found us after we got knocked out! She brought us all here and treated our injuries. She totally saved our butts!"

Yo Kuronaka
"So that's how I ended up here, huh?"

With a newfound understanding of the circumstances that led him to the hotel, Yo proceeded to bow in gratitude to the manager.

Yo Kuronaka
"Thank you for everything you've done. You really saved us."

Manager
"I only did what anyone else would do. Please, don't worry about it."

With a slight shake of her head, a modest smile appeared on the manager's face.
Yo raised his head back to an upright position, and was relieved to see her unchanged demeanor. The manager then put her hands in her pockets before she spoke once more.

Manager
"I received these from a child of one of our guests earlier. Please feel free to help yourself, if you'd like."

She pulled out a handful of candy, cute and neatly wrapped.

Tsuki Iroha
"Oh, candy!"

Yo Kuronaka
"Are you sure?"

Manager
"Of course. Go right ahead."

At the manager's urging, they each took one piece of candy from her outstretched palm.

Tsuki Iroha
"Thanks a ton! Can't wait to try it!"

While Yo had his eyes intently trained on the candy in his hand, Tsuki was quick to unwrap it and pop it right into her mouth.

Tsuki Iroha
"Mmm! Yummy! ♪"

Yo Kuronaka
"You wasted no time at all, huh..."

Tsuki Iroha
"You know how big my sweet tooth is!
Aren't you going to eat yours Yo? Or maybe... I should take it off your hands instead?"

Her eyes sparkled longingly at the candy in Yo's hand.

Yo Kuronaka
"I'll eat it later."

Yo responded as he tucked the treat in his pocket, but Tsuki didn't relent.

Tsuki Iroha
"Huh? You're gonna forget all about it if you just shove it in your pocket like that!
Come onnn, give it up already!"

Tsuki shook Yo's arms as she pleaded, to which he could feel his frustration rising.

Yo Kuronaka
"You're being annoying..."

His words were as thoughtless as they were sharp.

Manager
"Heehee. It seems that you two are quite close. Please, feel free to reach out should you need anything."

Yo Kuronaka
"Ah, right. Thanks so much."

The manager watched on at their interactions with a smile for a moment longer. She paused to look at her watch, then deciding it best for her to return to her duties.
With another slight bow, she took her leave.

Once the manager was no longer in their line of sight, Yo followed up with Kazuki, who was still making his way there.
They found a pair of leather sofas facing one another, and elected to sit there as they passed the time until Kazuki arrived.