← Back
055802

The Origin of a Hot SpringAuthor: Sasaki Kuni

Original Titleある温泉の由来
Author佐々木 邦
GenreDetective & Mystery
Author TypeMale Author
SummaryNestled along the Inasa River, two villages—Higashi-Inasa and Nishi-Inasa—harbor a feud older than memory itself. Generations clash over petty insults, contested deities, and stone-throwing battles fueled by droughts and floods. Children taunt each other as “horse bones” and “cow bones,” while sacred shrines, locked with seven bolts each, stand as symbols of mutual distrust. Yet amid this animosity, a fragile hope emerges: two middle school boys, one from each village, forge an unexpected bond. Koike, from water-scarce Higashi-Inasa, and Hayakawa, heir to Nishi-Inasa’s wealth, defy tradition by walking to school together, their friendship drawing scorn from elders and violent pranks from village youths. As they explore hidden springs where turtles gather, whispers of ancient hot springs and buried histories begin to surface. Could their curiosity—and a shared dream of reconciliation—unearth a secret that transforms their warring worlds? A tale of rivalry, resilience, and the quiet power of unlikely alliances unfolds, where even centuries of hatred may yield to the warmth beneath the earth.