A rival, huh? Guess this is going to test my competitive spirit! First things first, I should figure out what I can do as a hot spring. Hm.....! Oh, oh! OH! If I concentrate enough, I can adjust the temperature how I want. This would definitely be useful if someone wants it to be warmer or cooler. That's pretty much all I could do at this point right now. That Onsin guy got lucky, someone discovered him first.

"Hello, it's me."

Ah, Onsin, I was just thinking about you

. "Look dude, I'm not gay. Lonely, but not gay."

Um... Okay? You're lonely?

"Yeah. To further deepen our bond as rivals who might become friends, I'll tell you my story."

"Once upon a time, flashback jingle starts. I was a lonely spring, no one talked to me and I didn't have the courage to talk to them."

That's partly you're fault.

"And even after I came up to the surface, there weren't any nearby springs alive. But, when my aide arrived, I started feeling happy. People far and wide came to me all thanks to the help of my aide."

Aide? Heh, sounds like AID--

"Plump breasts, round cheeks, smooth skin. Women were the bomb. I also got to see men, if a hot spring could puke, I would've. It was all good and dandy but then you arrived. A fellow hot spring, I knew something was missing, and that something was the heat of battle. That's why I've declared to be your rival!"

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Hm... this backstory of his, it doesn't sound as sappy as I thought it would. There are some things I should ask.

Is it okay if I ask a few things about your story?

 "Shoot."

This might help me into becoming the best of the best, I have to take this chance.

What's an aide? You mentioned it in your story.

"Wait, God didn't tell you about aides?"

Heh, aides.

"Aides are people assigned to us hot springs by the figure who's like God, I thought he gave you a full orientation."

I thought so too.

"Oh, my aide is calling for me, let's talk again Onzen, I want you to be at my level as soon as possible."

 Wait! I have more questio-- Oh, I got cut off. He really did leave. It's already night huh, at least I got some progress in, I should get some rest. I'll be here for a long ti--

"Kid, you still alive?"

It's you, God who isn't God.

"Hey, you remember me, good. I forgot to tell you about aids and stuf--"

Save it. I already got an orientation.

"How rude, and to think I came all the way here to tell you about it. Anyways, aides are the helpers. You hot springs can't move so I assign a human to help you get famous. Easy peasy explanation. He'll arrive tomorrow."

Tomorrow? Why didn't you send him here now?! Also! What do I get from becoming the most popular?!

"Don't shout, sheesh. He isn't here now because I forgot and I'm irresponsible. You get stuff. I'm leaving now."

Some help you are. Well, better than nothing.

So my aide arrives tomorrow, that means I'll really be able to achieve the task. I hope he's a good man.

"By the way."

UGH. I thought you left. I was doing my monologue.

"You should stop doing that, people might think you're crazy, right, readers?"

Wow seriously, stop this wall breaking, it isn't good humour.

"Sheesh, fine, party pooper. On topic, you're aide is difficult to handle. Good luck."

He finally did leave. "Difficult to handle" or so he says. I hope not.