Laid-Back Life in Tokyo: I Really Didn't Want to Work Hard

The climbing path up Mount Fuji is unlike any ordinary mountain trail.

Because it's an active volcano, the mountain is covered mostly with low shrubs, and there isn't dense vegetation above the altitude of 1500 meters, while above 2600 meters, it's all high-altitude alpine dwarf forests.

To put it bluntly, this stretch of the path looks like a bare sand heap, and people climb along the ridge of the heap.

If you're not careful, a slip of the foot can send you rolling down the heap, disappearing into the white clouds.

This part of the path is called Godzilla's Backbone.

It's named for its steep slope and jagged rocks.

To get through here, you need to use both hands and feet, gripping onto stones and pulling your body up with all your might.

"Here, give me your hand."

Uesugi Sakura pulled Hanamaru Hanabi's hand and dragged her toward himself.

"Thanks, thank you..."

Uesugi Sakura smiled faintly: "Hanabi is so cute when she says thank you."

Sports were never her strong suit, let alone in this high-altitude area, where the oxygen level is low, and if you're not careful, you might faint.

Uesugi Sakura was looking out for her.

This section of the climb was exceptionally perilous for the four of them.

A journey that normally takes an hour took them nearly three hours to barely complete.

"We've only climbed halfway!!!"

Kitagawa Sakisa stood on a small stone platform, cupping her hands around her mouth, and shouted down at the rocky, mist-covered path below with all her might.

Unfortunately, the depths of the mountain were silent and lonely, only many climbers below looked up at her.

Uesugi Sakura, sitting behind her and resting, said feebly to her back:

"Stop shouting, save some energy for climbing, or else we won't reach the summit by night."

Kitagawa Sakisa felt quite discouraged and plopped down on a stone bench.

She suddenly turned her head to look at Uesugi Sakura:

"Uesugi-san, I don't want to climb anymore, how about you carry me?"

"No way, if anyone, I'd carry my wife."

"Hanabi-chan isn't your wife yet!"

"She's my fiancée, close enough."

"I'm so tired."

"Me too, but aren't we resting now?"

Seeing she couldn't persuade Uesugi Sakura, Kitagawa Sakisa slid over to Hanamaru Hanabi for another try:

"Hanabi-chan, what do you think... how about we go down together now?"

Uesugi Sakura quickly interrupted, looking at the ridge covered by clouds below: "Look at this slope, haven't you heard it's easier to climb up than down?"

"Oh~ then let's go all out and climb! But first, let's have lunch."

Uesugi Sakura looked at Kitagawa Sakisa in exasperation; how could her mood change so fast.

Lunch referred to self-heating hotpot.

This kind of food, which uses a heating pack that releases heat upon contact with water, is quite handy on the mountain.

"Uesugi, what flavor do you want?" Kyujuu Rika asked him from behind Kitagawa Sakisa.

"Beef."

"Here you go."

Uesugi Sakura opened the lid, unpacked the food packet.

Poured some of the self-heating hotpot water into the bottom of the bowl, then closed the lid, and it was all ready.

"Hanabi, do you want it spicy?"

"Hmm..." Hanamaru Hanabi nodded, her small face blushing, half her face hidden under the collar of her jacket, looking adorable.

"What about me, Uesugi-san!"

"Let Rika help you."

"Rika-chan!"

"Here, do it yourself."

"Ah... why is it like this..."

The four of them gathered around the small hotpots.

Uesugi Sakura stood on the small stone platform, gazing far off, from here, the ridge stretched towards the vast, primitive forest visible from hundreds of miles away.

The gentle breeze blowing, the lofty landscape, momentary brilliance, revitalized the spirit, like standing on the clouds, riding the breeze.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the freshness of the mist and water in the mountain air.

This must be the joy of climbing.

Uesugi Sakura also had more anticipation for the view from the summit.

"Uesugi! Your beef hotpot is ready!" Kitagawa Sakisa called from behind.

"Got it."

...

"Sakura-kun..."

Uesugi Sakura heard a voice, discovering there were a few more pieces of meat in his bowl.

Raising his head, he saw Hanamaru Hanabi had already ducked her face down.

"Ah~ Hanabi-chan, I want some too~"

"No, there's no more meat..."

Listening to Kitagawa Sakisa's jealous voice, Uesugi Sakura picked up those pieces of meat and put them in his mouth.

For some reason, amidst the spiciness, there was a hint of sweetness.

After finishing lunch, the four of them took a short break and continued upward, bravely challenging the peak.

Helping each other along the way, and after several rests, they finally reached a hut located at about 2900 meters above sea level.

The hut hung on the side of the mountain, with a wooden path built outside, where most of the climbers sat sipping tea and chatting leisurely, their faces showing the joy of having climbed to such heights.

Standing by the railing, one could take in the view of the path traversed below.

Here, the clouds surged magnificently, and the downhill view offered a beautiful and treacherous panorama of ridges.

Arriving here meant the summit wasn't far away.

"Coffee is 400 yen a cup..." Kitagawa Sakisa muttered, looking at the sign hanging on the small window, "400 yen coffee? Is it any good, Uesugi-san, Uesugi-san."

"Ue...sugi..."

When Kitagawa Sakisa turned her head, she saw Hanamaru Hanabi leaning against the wall, her face ashen.

Soon after, she went soft and nearly collapsed.

Uesugi Sakura, hearing Kitagawa Sakisa's shout, also noticed Hanamaru Hanabi's unusual state and hurried to support her.

"Are you okay!?"

Hanamaru Hanabi shook her head, lowered her face, closed her eyes, and said nothing.

"Hanabi!?"

No response.

She had evidently passed out.

"It's altitude sickness, just need to go inside and breathe some oxygen, 1500 yen."

Uesugi Sakura, trying to support the unconscious Hanamaru Hanabi, looked up to find it was an older man with rimless glasses speaking, wearing a thick jacket.