An isolated community very close to a series of geothermally heated rivers, springs and ponds, Zekkyo has tried to make a living as a hot springs resort, but to little avail; as the chairman/village elder admits to his council members, the springs are all very unsafe to use. In an effort to try and drum up some business, the Zekkyo council creates a contest; an three-legged obstacles course race through the valley and its myriad springs in order to receive an all-expenses-paid ticket to any springs of their choice in the world. Their intention is that this will draw people there, but nobody will be able to complete the course, which would most likely cost all of their earnings and their saved money.