Chapter 74

CHAPTER THREE The Cutoff Line Beyond the Waves Bathed in the strong summer sunshine, the deep blue sea twinkled like stardust. The horizon, as straight as a ruler, cut the landscape in half, and the sky was filled with fat thunderhead clouds. It was eleven AM, a few days after the fireworks display. We were heading to the hotel where the summer study camp was to be held, by bus. Someone must have opened the window. The lukewarm smell of the tide wafted through the well-chilled interior. Excitement radiated from various seats. Some people were snoring blissfully. Maybe they didn’t sleep well last night. After passing Tojinbo, the bus finally arrived at its destination, the Echizen Coast Lodge. The hotel, which overlooks the Sea of Japan, has an ocean view from each of its guest rooms. And, of course, there’s a hot spring, as well as a pool and a campsite on the spacious grounds. It’s right next to the Seaside Nature Park, a good location that’s just a short drive to the beach, and a lot of visitors come from both inside and outside the prefecture during this season. A pamphlet outlining the study camp’s schedule had been distributed to us before we left. Like the rumors said, as long as you follow basic hotel etiquette, there are almost no concrete rules about things like when to wake up, lights out, or even mealtimes. School uniforms must be worn only for the initial meeting on the first day and for the final meeting on the last day. But throughout the rest of the stay, everyone’s free to wear their usual clothes. This really did seem to be an independent study camp, albeit with the opportunity to consult teachers. On the third day, the bus would make a round trip to a nearby beach, with a communal barbecue planned at night. By the way, the allocation of rooms is basically up to the students. Unless there are special circumstances, there’s a minimum of two people and a maximum of five people to a room. Of course, mixed gender is not allowed. So I formed a group of four with Kazuki, Kaito, and Kenta. It sounded like the girls were in a room of their own, too: Yuuko, Yua, Nanase, and Haru. As representative for our room, I headed over to Kura to get our room key. Man, look at this guy. Shorts, aloha shirt, beach sandals? Is he even planning to do any teaching here? Kura opened his mouth. “Listen, Chitose. You get any smart plans about mixed gatherings in your room, you consult me, the teacher, first…” “‘Mixed gatherings’? Are you being euphemistic because we’re not at school? It would be great if you could develop some tact in the classroom, too…” “And make sure you don’t get sand in the wrong places while you’re doing a Bruce Lee impression for the girls at the beach.” “It’s impossible for you to rephrase that in a normal way, so just give me the key.” Man, does he have to pull this crap on me every time before he’s satisfied? When I finally got the key, I headed over to my friends. Kaito had a big square plastic bag hanging from his hand. He’d probably gotten a bento from Miss Misaki, the basketball team supervisor. By the way, except for the barbecue on the third day, the only food we have is basically the hotel buffet in the morning and evening. If you sign up for lunch in advance, you can have a bento prepared, though, like this. “Sorry, it took me a while because of Kura. We’re in room 301,” I said, and Yuuko, who was nearby, raised her voice. “Oh, we’re in 309!” “Ah, then we must be on the same floor.” “Maybe we’ll come see your room, later.” “Maybe we’ll come see yours.” There are only two beds in the Western-style rooms, so groups of two get assigned one of them, but for three or more people, you get assigned a Japanese-style room. “See ya later,” I said to Yuuko. “Let’s eat lunch in our rooms, get changed—whoever needs to anyway—then meet down at the hall.” “All righty!” To be honest, from the name of the hotel, I imagined it to be more of a well-worn and well-seasoned lodge-style facility, but when we first stepped inside, it turned out to be pretty fancy. We took the elevator up to the third floor and said good-bye to Yuuko and the others. When I entered the room, I was enveloped by the nostalgic scent of tatami mats. The interior was designed to look like an orthodox Japanese-style room in a hotel or inn. “Wow!” Kaito shoved his way into the room with irrepressible excitement. He threw down his Boston bag and lay down on the tatami mats, rubbing his body against them while crooning, “Yes, oh yes…” Kenta muttered in amazement next to me. “…What the heck is Asano doing?” “It’s a wild animal marking its territory; leave it alone.” After arranging our bags in the corner, Kazuki and I sat down in the small interim space between the wide balcony and the rest of the room. There was a little low table there with chairs on either side. Kazuki spoke in a sentimental sort of voice. “Well, I guess this is how kids tend to behave.” “Yeah. He doesn’t know how to relax like a mature adult.” “Look, Saku. The ocean. She’s beautiful.” “Yeah, it’s not bad. Everyday life tires the mind, but she washes it all clean.” “Forget Kaito, what are you guys doing?!” At Kenta’s retort, the other three of us burst out laughing. I clutched my stomach as I spoke. “Don’t you feel all sentimental and spaced out, sitting here? When I’m an adult, I’ll be able to drink endlessly and watch the sun set over the sea.” Kazuki backed me up. “It’s such a romantic view. I could talk about anything sitting here, whether I’m with a guy or a girl.” Kaito got to the actual point, lying on the floor like a fish on a chopping block. “Okay, Kenta. We’re going to spend four days under the same roof as Yuuko, Ucchi, Yuzuki, and Haru. And in bikinis, too! Aren’t you looking forward to it?!” “…Honestly, I’m really looking forward to it!” “Oh yeah!!!” And as we four guys bantered back and forth, I realized that I’d been waiting for this day with more anticipation than I thought. The stuff with the girls is nice of course, but this is the first time I’ve traveled with these guys. Aside from school trips, I don’t know how many more opportunities we’ll have in high school. I plan to enjoy it to the fullest. So that even if this ends up being the last time, I won’t be left with any regrets. After finishing our lunch, we changed into comfortable clothes and headed to the hall. Throughout the stay, there were three places besides our own rooms that we could use as study venues: the large hall that’s also used for banquets, a medium-sized conference room, and empty seats in the restaurant during designated times of the day. When we entered the tatami-floored hall, there were many low-type desks and chairs lined up. Apparently, up to a hundred patrons could eat in there, so it was a considerable size. The hall was full of those who had already started studying and of groups chatting while eating bento lunches with their friends. Naturally, no one wanted to cause a big commotion, but no one would mind us just talking quietly among ourselves. I still hadn’t spotted Yuuko and the others yet. As I was looking around to secure some seats while it was still relatively empty, someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind. When I was about to turn around, a thin finger poked into my cheek. I turned, thinking this kind of classic mischief had to be Yuuko or Haru, but… “Hee-hee, got ya!” “Wait, Asuka?!” There she stood, smiling. Startled by her surprise attack, I let my jaw drop. “I didn’t know you were going to be here!” “I didn’t know you were coming, either, friend. What a surprise.” Come to think of it, Asuka was a college exam prep student, so it made sense for her to be here. But since it didn’t even come up as a topic between the two of us, it hadn’t occurred to me at all. “Whoa!” Beside me, Kaito yelped in a stage whisper. Hey, can it. “Nishino, do you remember me? From the future careers talk?” Asuka smiled. “Asano. You’re the one who wants to continue playing basketball in college, right?” “Hallelujah!” Kaito gazed up at the sky dramatically for a moment, then continued. “Um, if you don’t mind, why don’t you study with us?” The scene at the fireworks display the other day popped into my head, and when I was just about to stop him… “Hmm, I’m sorry. I’m with my friends.” Asuka pointed to a corner of the hall. A group of several guys and girls were gathered there, and among them was Okuno, who’d come to the careers counseling session. “Nooo!” My heart crumpled a little, even as Kaito whisper-screamed. I’d wanted to stop Kaito from asking her to join us, hadn’t I? Now I was disappointed she’d said no. How mature of me. I was about to follow Kaito, who’d given up and was heading over to join Kazuki and Kenta, when Asuka tugged on the sleeve of my T-shirt. Then she brought her mouth to my ear. “We’ve got four days. Even if it’s just for a little bit…why don’t we study together?” When I looked at her face in surprise, I saw that her mouth was tightly closed, and she was looking down and fidgeting. “I mean, if I miss this chance, I wonder if I’ll ever have another one like this with you.” I knew what she was trying to say. This was probably the last time we’d be able to study together in a kind of an extension of the school environment, not just the library or a family restaurant. “Okay, it’s a date,” I said. Asuka’s face lit up, and then she trotted back to her group. At that time, the girls’ team came over. Yuuko looked back at Asuka. “Oh, Saku. Was that Nishino just now?” “Yeah. I had no idea she’d be at this thing.” “Well, she’s taking college entrance exams. Has she decided on a career yet?” “She said Tokyo.” “Tokyo…I see.” I studied her face, her reaction, and there was something there, but then her usual bright smile appeared instead. “Well, let’s study!” Watching Yuuko roll her shoulder in preparation, I followed her, wondering if it was just my imagination. After about two hours of working on my summer vacation homework, I was getting tired, so I took a break. I bought a can of coffee from a vending machine and sat down on a chair in the lobby. Looking around, I noticed that there weren’t many regular guests because of the fact that Fuji High had rented out most of the rooms. Still, there were a few couples and families with large travel bags walking happily around. I felt like my joints were stiffening up, so I stretched. As you might expect of the best prep school in the prefecture, once we students started to concentrate, the hall became as quiet as a library. You could hardly hear anything other than the sound of mechanical pencils scratching, reference book papers being flipped, and the gentle whispering of students in discussion. This kind of environment would certainly facilitate intense studying, I thought. And having the teachers on the scene to advise was probably the biggest plus. I saw many third-year students carrying red-covered college exam prep books and asking questions. I chuckled to see the line that had formed in front of Kura, who was sitting lazily in shorts and an aloha shirt, but I knew he was a skilled teacher. While I was lost in my musing, someone said, “’Sup?” I looked up to see Okuno, who I’d spotted earlier. “Ah, hi.” He smiled a little and said, “Yeah. Can I sit here?” “All right, but aren’t there any other open seats?” “Aw, come on. How about having a chat while we take a break, hmm?” I didn’t think we had anything to talk about, since we’d only talked once during the career counseling session, but I’m sure he knew that as well as I did. I nodded, and he sat down on the other side of the small table. He had a tall and well-toned body, neat and short hair, and well-proportioned facial features. On closer inspection, he definitely looks like the type to have success with the ladies, I thought. Okuno took a sip of water from a plastic bottle. “So how’s your first summer study trip going?” he asked. “It’s not bad. I understand why there are so many third-year students.” “I think most of the reason people come is to make memories of summer vacation, though.” “How are you doing, studying for the exams?” “Well, I’m applying to a few places, so I guess I’ll get in somewhere.” “You’re saying that already? You must be.” “It’s already the summer of my third year. The exams are right around the corner.” Right around the corner, eh? I guess they are. When I said nothing, Okuno continued. “I heard that Asuka’s decided on Tokyo.” Of course, her name came up. This must be what he wanted to talk to me about. I kept my response brief. “Looks that way.” “This way, at least, I have four more years of hope. Not many people from Fukui, let alone the same high school, end up in Tokyo. We’ll keep in touch there too, go drinking together, stuff like that, I’m sure.” “…” He didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding the fact that he was in love with Asuka. I mulled over the implications, and before long, a wave of frustration had me grinding my teeth. After understanding the situation fully, I’d encouraged Asuka, but even so… I couldn’t make myself get angry at this guy. I mean, the tone of his voice as he spoke was sort of melancholy. “Heh.” Okuno laughed then, more at himself than at me. “The other day, I confessed to Asuka, and she turned me down in no uncertain terms. And from the way she said it, it’s pretty clear my chances are less than dirt.” The way he said it was so funny that a burst of laughter escaped me. “…Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh.” But Okuno’s tone grew more amiable instead. “At least you’re letting me dump my problems on you here. Laugh as much as you want.” “I mean, why come to me at all?” “I just saw you and Asuka talking. That’s why, I guess.” I still couldn’t read this guy’s intentions. Telling me he’d been dumped like this didn’t exactly make it seem like he was looking to go toe to toe with me. “Chitose, you started talking to Asuka around September last year, right?” “Well…around then, I guess.” I didn’t feel the need to go into detail about elementary school. “I’ve been in the same class as Asuka since first year, and I’ve liked her since the start. In other words, I’ve known her for around a year and a half longer than you have.” I had no idea how to react, so I kept silent, and Okuno flung out his legs and leaned back on the chair. “Ah, I wish I’d confessed to her sooner. Then maybe I would have had more of a chance than I do now.” I found myself clenching my fists. “Don’t be like me, Chitose.” Okuno smiled. I still wasn’t following, so… “I’ll ask you one more time…,” I said. “Why are you saying this to me?” He frowned for a moment, then he shook his head. “Not sure,” he replied. “Maybe I just didn’t want her getting snapped up by some stranger at a Tokyo college. It’d be better if she got with someone like you, who can at least make her smile…” He got to his feet. “Sorry for intruding.” Watching him go, I finally exhaled and looked down at the fingernail marks on my palms. It would be easier, to just laugh it off as someone else’s problem. But the things he’d just said seemed to overlap with my own impending future. Right around the corner. Those words kept repeating in my head. Sploosh. So after finishing a day of studying and then eating our fill of the dinner buffet, which featured plenty of Fukui specialties, we were taking a leisurely soak in the hot springs. It’s not like we have the same pressure on us as college exam students have, so we decided on day one to work hard only during the day, and kick back in the evenings. When we left the hall in a somewhat euphoric mood, Asuka and Okuno were still doggedly staring at their reference books, and the difference in our enthusiasm levels was palpable. But if you asked me if I’d be willing to sacrifice my time with my friends in devotion to my studies, I’d have to say no. After all, I’m in my second year of high school. No doubt after another year’s gone by, I’ll be able to understand a little better what this summer feels like to Asuka. I decided not to think about it any further, and rested my head on the edge of the bathtub instead. The bath was open-air, no buildings nearby, so the wide starry sky above looked unreal. Stretching my legs out like this, soaking in the hot water up to my shoulders, it felt like I was floating among the stars. I think it depends on the person—that exact moment where it really hits you that you’re on a trip. For some, it’s seeing views you can’t see back in the town where you live, eating delicious local food, hearing an unfamiliar accent… For me, for whatever reason, it’s always when I get in an open-air bath. Even in a place like this, about an hour’s drive from Fuji High School, I get this strange feeling that I’m far from home. Maybe it’s because my mind is more open and unguarded here. I thought about the girls: Yuuko, Yua, Nanase, Haru, and Asuka. What did they think about, looking up at the starry sky like this? Maybe everyone was having too much fun to think. Who’s big, who’s skinny, I forgot my shampoo, can anyone lend me theirs? Kazuki was looking lecherously at the older girls, Kaito’s so sweet, studying away, Kenta’s clothes have gotten really fashionable… Or maybe they were discussing more tangible topics. Just thinking about it made me smile a little inside. It felt like we were all sharing the same night together. Like we were all floating in the same sky. While I was lost in thought, the surface of the water rippled. “Aaaaah.” “Kaito, can you enter the water a little more quietly?” “Aw, come on. It feels great to submerge yourself all at once like this, doesn’t it?” “Just don’t get too excited and start swimming laps.” “If a man over five foot nine did that, it would not look good,” he said. “Anyway…this stuff is nice, isn’t it?” “Hmm?” I didn’t say anything else, just grunted for him to continue. “Just a moment ago, I was thinking it’s like traveling with people I’ve never talked to before. Both guys and girls, and older people like the teachers. After graduation, this kinda of thing will never happen again.” “Hmm, now that you mention it, you’re right.” Maybe in college there’d be society and seminar trips, and company trips once we’d joined the workforce. But it won’t be quite like this. Kaito wiped his face off with the hand towel he had draped over his head, then continued nonchalantly. “Hey, Saku, do you think Kazuki and Kenta have a serious crush on anyone?” “The heck are you bringing this up for?” “Oh, come on. This stuff is par for the course for overnight trips, right?” Hmm, well, maybe so. All right, then, I’ll give it some thought. “Not sure about Kenta. He locked himself up in his room because of a failed romance, so I’m guessing he hasn’t fallen for anyone just yet.” “Then who do you think would be the best bet for him, out of our friend group?” “Hmm, my money’s on Yua, with Haru as my long-shot choice.” “Ah, I think I see it! I agree about Ucchi, but Haru’s lack of sex appeal might actually be kinda reassuring for him?” “Haru is sexy, though.” “Seriously?!” …Darn it. I should have let that one go, but somehow, I got all annoyed on Haru’s behalf and found myself sticking up for her, like some kind of reflex. I didn’t want that getting around, so I quickly changed the subject. “No idea about Kazuki, though. I get the feeling he’s dating and breaking up with all kinds of girls that we just don’t know about. He’s always like, ‘Dating is such a hassle.’” Kaito laughed heartily. “That guy is happy to tease people, but he doesn’t want to be the topic of conversation himself. I’ve known him since first year, but I still can’t read the guy.” “Totally,” I said, laughing. The other day, I was honestly surprised that Kazuki said what he did during the fireworks display. But I kinda like him the way he is, and I like the current status quo the way it is, too. “What are we talking about?” Speak of the devil, and he shall come into the bath with you. Kenta was following behind him. Meanwhile, Kaito answered Kazuki’s question. “We were just wondering if you two have a crush on anyone.” Kenta was checking the temperature of the water with his toe. “I still wouldn’t say it’s at the level of a crush, but…” “Yeah, I do.” Aha, I thought so. It’s not at the level of a crush, but he definitely has someone he’s got his eye on. Wait, huh…? Surely, I was mistaken, but I just had to check… “Kazuki, what did you say just now?” “I said I do.” “You do what?” “I thought we were talking about if we have crushes on anyone right now?” “…” “……” “………” ““WHAAAT?!!!”” Kaito and I both bellowed in surprise. Kenta’s mouth flapped. “I mean, you asked, so I answered.” Kazuki smiled mysteriously. I swiped my hand through the hot water and splashed it at Kazuki’s face. “You’re not the type to give a question a straight answer, Kazuki!” Kazuki brushed his wet hair off his face as he spoke. “Well, on a night like this, I thought, what’s the harm?” “Ah man, this ruins the mood.” “Listen here…” While we were sniping back and forth, Kaito cut in. “So who is it? Is it someone we know?” “I guess, if you want to put it in those terms.” “Oh maaan!!!” “Still, I’m not going to tell you the name, of course.” “Oh maaan!!!” Kazuki continued. “But maybe it’s more accurate to say I did have a crush?” Kaito hauled himself out of the bath, apparently overheating, and continued his interrogation. “What, did she turn you down already?” “I didn’t even get to experience the rejection.” “Does she have a boyfriend or something?” “No,” Kazuki said, shaking his head briefly. “—I fell for her when I saw her fall for another guy.” Then he smiled, the expression on his face so unlike him. ……Wait a minute. Could it be…? I mean, surely not, but…? Kaito continued while I was still thinking hard. “I have no idea what you’re talking about!” “I get it. It was a valuable experience for me, though. My great romance was over before it even began, it seems.” “It’s like this,” said Kaito. “Kazuki fell for a girl who was enthusiastically cheering him on at a soccer match, but at that moment, she was stolen away by the opposing team’s ace after he scored an amazing shot.” “Oh, that’s a good analogy, maybe. Nice one, Kaito,” Kazuki replied. “But if the other person isn’t dating, isn’t there still a chance?” Kaito asked. Kazuki rested his head on the edge of the bathtub and looked up at the distant night sky. “As I said to Saku and Kenta, it’s not my nature to get all excited. You may never think it, but that day, I was so messed up I couldn’t sleep. But you know, when I think about it, I never had a chance to begin with. When it came to my feelings, the line had been drawn before the day had even really started.” He trailed off then, and… “—Even if I really fell for her, she wouldn’t fall for me, so I decided to call it a day.” From somewhere deep in the steam, he turned a grin to us. Ah, I knew it. Damn, if you were that messed up over it, you could at least let some of it show. And just dumping this kinda story on us out of nowhere… This guy’s such a jerk. Kaito laughed, as if to signal the end of this topic. “Well, I kinda get it.” Everyone sucks, I thought. How come they’re able to be so strong? How come they can identify their feelings so accurately and own them? The heat was getting to me, so I heaved myself out of the bath. After getting out of the bath, for some reason us four guys stood side by side in front of the mirror, put our hands on our hips, drank down some coffee milk in one gulp, and then returned to our room. After getting out of the bath, drying my hair, and putting on some basic moisturizer in the dressing room, I, Yuuko Hiiragi, returned to the room with Ucchi, Yuzuki, and Haru. After that, I carefully took care of my hair and skin and was now relaxing on the futon. There were hotel-branded yukata available in the room, but everyone was wearing their own pajamas brought from home. I was wearing a Gelato Pique T-shirt and striped fuzzy shorts. I brought a hoodie with the same design, but it was so hot that I took it off as soon as I got back to my room. Yuzuki was also wearing Gelato Pique. Our tastes align to a point, but hers were satin, a camisole and shorts combined into one item of clothing. Hey, come on, Yuzuki, that kinda outfit is too sexy! I mean, that’s some hella cleavage. Well, she was aware of it too, so when we were moving through the hallways, she wore the same fuzzy hoodie as me. Ucchi wore pajamas with a white star pattern on blue satin. She was also wearing a headband with bows that we bought together at Gelato Pique the other day. The design doesn’t really go, but I was wearing the exact same one, and I loved that we were matching. Haru had on a Champion short-sleeve dress. I’ve only ever seen her with her hair tied up, but I was surprised to find that she looks a lot more girly when she wears it down. I’d have to teach her how to do different styles later on. While I was thinking about all this… “Yuuko, did you bring body cream?” Yuzuki sounded a little embarrassed. “I sure did!” “Sorry, I actually forgot mine. Could you let me use yours during the study trip? I’ll make it up to you.” “I get it. I tend to forget my body cream all the time, too.” “Oh yeah, but I never forget makeup remover or lotion.” “You can share mine, of course you can.” I took my body cream out of my makeup bag and handed it over. “Oh, you’re using Jill Stuart.” “Yeah! It smells so good—here.” Yuzuki opened the lid and brought her nose close. “Oh, that’s really nice. Yeah, I like that.” “Isn’t it great? What do you usually use, Yuzuki?” “The one by Paul and Joe.” “Oh man, I was super curious about that.” “Then I’ll lend it to you next time.” “Really?! Oh, I want to go shopping with you for cosmetics, not just clothes!” “—Excuse me!!!” While we were talking about cosmetics, Haru raised her hand, staring at us. “What’s up?” I said. Haru squirmed, like she was embarrassed. “Can you lend it to me? Or, like, teach me how to use it?” Yuzuki let out a sigh. “You always just spritz on Sea Breeze after a shower.” “I know, I know I do! I still love Sea Breeze, but…” Then it hit me. “You’re wearing a swimsuit the day after tomorrow, so you want to make sure your skin looks good, right?” “Uh…yeah. Also, from now on, I was thinking I should learn a little more about that kinda thing.” Yuzuki teased Haru again. “Skin care? It’s going to take more than slapping on body cream one time!” “Hey, Yuzuki, why don’t you keep it to yourself?!” Ucchi giggled, watching the exchange. “If three of you use it, it’ll run out in no time. I’ll share mine with you. And I’ll teach you about post-bath skin care, and all that stuff.” “Oh, Ucchi!” Haru crooned, hugging Ucchi tight. Ucchi scratched her cheek, embarrassed. “Although, to be fair, I learned everything I know from Yuuko.” I felt nostalgic, thinking back to about a year ago. “Yeah, that is true, but it didn’t take you long to learn, Ucchi. I was a little sad that you didn’t need my advice after a certain point.” “Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” As we continued to chat, I thought about the situation. Man! This whole thing was so exciting! It really felt like a girls’ trip. I’ve never even been invited to a sleepover before—school trips and overnight study trips don’t count. It’s not like I was left out on purpose, but I’d hear about sleepovers after the fact, and when I said, “Oh, I wish I could have come!” I’d hear, “Sorry, we weren’t sure if you’d want to…,” and that was that. So I loved this moment of normal, everyday fun. I loved it so much! Ding. After Haru and the others were done grooming, we were relaxing when someone’s phone pinged. Yuzuki, who was lying face down on the futon, checked the screen, and… “Ooh, hey, a message from Mizushino.” She beckoned us over, so Ucchi, Haru, and I all gathered. Looked like he’d sent her a video. When Yuzuki tapped the play button, Kazuki, Kaito, and Kentacchi were standing by the wall with their arms crossed, for some reason. On the other side, Saku seemed to have pressed the start button for recording. As he quickly moved away from the phone, we could see their entire bodies. Their pajamas were sweats or jersey-like shorts and T-shirts with short sleeves. Then… “Hey, what’s this? This looks funny!” I said without thinking. Haru followed. “Uh, why are they wearing their T-shirts like that? So dorky!” Yes, the guys had mysteriously tucked their T-shirts in their pants, like at school sports day. Ucchi was desperately suppressing her laughter. “S-sorry… I don’t think I can watch this.” Yua seemed to be trying not to crack up. Then Saku started talking, using a plastic bottle as a microphone. “All right, let’s get this started. It’s our Strongest Man Competition and it’s called…” The other three spoke in unison. “““Who’s the Kuzuryu King?!””” What kind of name is that? Like the Kuzuryu River? And what were they about to do anyway? “Guhhh…” Next to me, Ucchi was holding her stomach and gasping. Saku continued. “Entry number one. He looks like a gentleman, but he’s the soccer club’s sturdy and dependable commander. His nickname comes from his beautiful looks. It’s Fuji High’s Chrysanthemum Doll, Kazukiii Mizushinooo!” —Ucchi was in hysterics now. By the way, chrysanthemum-decorated dolls are a local art form, and there’s an event held every year at Takefu in Fukui Prefecture. Hearing his name, Kazuki gracefully spun around and winked. Yuzuki laughed, rolling her eyes. “What are these idiots doing?” Saku wasn’t done. “Entry number two. A physical powerhouse that has descended in the Reiwa era as the ace of the boys’ basketball team. With his fighting style, he enacts justice and makes viewers tremble. Fuji High’s very own dish of Volga rice, it’s Kaitooo Asanooo!” “Gkh!” Ucchi was choking. By the way, Volga rice is a comfort food popular in Fukui, an omurice topped with a pork cutlet. What was up with all the local Fukui stuff? Kaito beat his chest like a gorilla. Haru propped her cheeks up with her elbows on her thighs. “Oh, I’d love some of that,” she said quietly. “I haven’t eaten it in ages.” Saku pointed at Kentacchi. “Entry number three. Once a chubby shut-in… Now he’s a proud, svelte boy. Will this lightweight, having stripped off his thick outer skin, be the dark horse in this competion? Fuji High’s very own wobbly habutae mochi, it’s Kentaaa Yamazakiii!” —Ucchi was banging on the futon. By the way, habutae mochi is a kind of sweet famous in Fukui. Kentacchi was posing with flexed biceps, roaring. Even though he’s not strong at all. And then Saku continued. “Finally, entry number four. Ever since he was young, he has never lost in physical fitness tests. The self-proclaimed strongest and most respected man in Japan who has defeated numerous challengers. Yes, death is indeed better than an unbeautiful life. It’s Fuji High’s own ichihomare, Sakuuu Chitoseee!” —Ucchi was writhing, wrapped in the futon. By the way, ichihomare is a kind of rice grown in Fukui, said to be a kind of post-koshihikari variety. Then everyone turned to face the wall and Saku yelled, “Ready?” ““““Go!!!”””” At that signal, everyone put their hands on the tatami mats and put their feet up. I finally understood the purpose of this match. What the heck…? It was just a handstand showdown?! The reason they wore their T-shirts tucked in was to stop them from riding up?! From right to left, it was Kazuki, Kaito, Kentacchi, then Saku, with a good distance among each of them. After about thirty seconds, Saku spoke. “Kenta, your arms are shaking.” “No, they’re not. I’ve been working out still.” “Hmph, you weakling. Kaito, you could do push-ups like this, right?” “What, me?!” “By the way, I might send this video to the girls’ team later.” “Okay, leave it to me!” Then Kaito really started doing push-ups. “Wow!” I hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Yuzuki grinned wryly. “He’s so suggestible, especially when it’s Chitose.” Then Saku began walking on his hands and scuttled over to Kentacchi, like a crab. That must have hurt, but from where we were looking, it just looked kinda creepy. “Hey, whoa, King, stay back!” Kentacchi yelped. “That’s dangerous.” Saku grinned. He turned his face to one side, his lips pursed, then… “Yeek!” Kentacchi collapsed sideways, squealing. “All right, one down, two to go!” “Blowing into my ears?! That’s a dirty trick! Where’s your sense of sportsmanship?!” “Poor, naive Kenta. We never decided on any rules, did we?” “Are you proud of yourself, huh?!” Suddenly, I burst out laughing. It’s nothing new to realize, but those two really are good friends. I remembered with fondness how we’d chatted to Kentacchi through his bedroom door. Saku moved beside Kaito, who was still doing push-ups. “Kaito, we all agreed on handstands since Kenta was in too, but come to think of it, the core players of the soccer club, basketball club, and former baseball club are all here. Why not switch to handstands without the wall?” “B-but it takes a lot of strength to do push-ups like this…” “…I heard that boys who can do handstands are kinda trending with the girls these days…” “I’ll do it!!!” What? That’s totally not a thing. The second Kaito removed his feet from the wall… “Hee!” Saku kicked him hard. Kaito lost his balance and tried to hold on, but he slowly crumpled onto his trembling arms. “Saku, you jerk!!!” “Muah-ha-ha-ha-ha! Asano, you think you should train your core a little more?” “Were you lying about the guys doing handstands trending thing, too?!” “It beats me how you could have thought that was a thing to begin with!” While they were talking, a shadow was slowly advancing on Saku. “Watch it!” Saku jerked out of range of Kazuki’s foot, moving away from the wall. How amazing! It might be normal for a boy in a sports club, sure, but he really was doing it without a wall! “Not bad, dodging the foot of a soccer club member.” As he spoke, Kazuki easily separated from the wall. “Hey, hold on! Why is that so easy for you?!” “Hmm, why indeed?” To be frank, it was easy to see from our POV, but while Saku was getting up to mischief, Kazuki had been resting in a three-point handstand the whole time. Kazuki always acts so cool, but he’s capable of playing the fool every now and then. “Kicking, huh? Sounds good to me!” “I’m not about to let you beat me.” While standing upside down, Saku approached Kazuki, his legs kicking wildly at the air. “““Ugh, this is so weird!””” Me, Yuzuki, and Haru all yelped the same thing at the same time. —Ucchi was flapping her legs against the ground, almost like she was imitating Saku. “And so…” Kazuki smiled. “Kenta, Kaito, let’s get him.” “…Huh?” ““On it!”” Kentacchi grinned, approaching Saku. “Hey, that’s no fair!” “Really? I don’t remember deciding on any rules stating the losers can no longer participate in the competition, right?” Kaito was right behind Kentacchi. “Now, let’s see how strong your core is, Chitose!” “Hey stop, hey… Ah-ha-ha-ha!!!” Kenta and Kaito tickled Saku’s side and the soles of his feet. Kazuki, landing gracefully, grinned and blew a kiss at the screen. “—What in the world did they make us watch?” When the video ended, Yuzuki spoke in an astonished voice. Haru rolled on the futon, piping up, too. “Seriously. I knew it’d be something totally dumb, but that was way dumber than I expected.” “Did their brains stop developing when they were in elementary school?” Ucchi finally caught her breath and spoke then. “Hmph, I’m putting in a complaint tomorrow. Saku went way too far with that.” Yuzuki lay down on her stomach and smirked, propping her chin up with her elbows. “Ucchi, I didn’t know you could laugh like that. It’s surprising, since you’re always so graceful.” “Oh, don’t. I’m embarrassed. I sometimes find myself laughing when I don’t mean to, but once I turn on the switch, I can’t seem to make myself stop.” “Well, seeing Chitose and Mizushino in their little shorty outfits certainly made me laugh, especially when they always act so cool. And Kaito and Yamazaki were genuinely funny, too.” “Hey, hey, stop. If I think too hard about it, I’ll lose it again.” “Still,” Yuzuki said. “The three of them are really good friends, aren’t they? I mean, Yamazaki fits right in, but those three have been like that ever since first year, haven’t they?” Ucchi was still desperately trying not to break down again, so I answered instead. “Yeah, they’ve been super tight ever since we started at Fuji High. And they’ve been that way since.” “Huh? What about arguments?” “They’re always joking around like today, but I don’t think they’ve ever had a serious fight.” “Well, I guess there’s nothing to fight about.” Haru piped up, in an ironic voice. “Hey, what do you think they’re talking about over there? Like in the hot springs or before bed?” “Well, judging from the IQ levels on display just now, probably our boobs and… Oh.” “Hey! Nana! What was that ‘oh’ about? Why were you looking at me? And why did you look like you were in pain? Huh?” Listening to them snipe back and forth, I tightly grasped the hem of my T-shirt. This whole time… No, actually, for a long time, since way before I even came here… There’s something I’ve wanted to try tonight, with Ucchi and everyone. And that thing is…girl talk! So I jumped in, hoping to create an opportunity. “And maybe they’ll chat about what girls they have crushes on!” I squawked. The others looked blankly at each other, then Yuzuki burst out laughing. “Now that you mention it, it’s practically a given. Although I’m pretty sure Kazuki’s got a girl on the go.” Haru responded to that. “But you know, he’s always joking around with you, Yuzuki. I think maybe he likes you!” Yuzuki frowned. “No way. If there was a girl he seriously liked, he’s the type to play it straight. He wouldn’t tease her or act like a silly elementary school boy. He’s obviously just making fun of me.” “Hmm, yeah, he’s not Kaito.” “Anyway, I like to believe I can tell when a guy likes me or not.” “Wow, the way you say that is so annoying…” “Anyway,” I said. “Have you guys never had a boyfriend before?” Yuzuki answered first. “Nope, because there was never a boy around more attractive than me.” Haru continued. “No! There was no man around with more zest for life than me!” Then finally, Ucchi spoke. “No. Because I’m too plain and boring.” “Wait a minute, Ucchi. Don’t say that. It’s so sad!” Everyone giggled in unison. Yuzuki gently sat up. “Well, what about you, Yuuko?” “No, never. Everyone treats me differently, you see.” “Huh?” I thought I’d made a joke out of it, but everyone was gazing solemnly at me now. After a moment, Yuzuki smiled gently. “I agree. Yuuko, you were able to stay special.” “Huh…?” Before I could confirm the meaning of the words, the conversation moved on. It was a little disappointing, but more importantly… “Isn’t it crazy that none of us have crushes, when we’re all such cuties?” Now’s the time, I thought. What I wanted to ask most, what I wanted to confirm. I really didn’t want to ask, I didn’t want to know for sure, but…still. I smiled and raised my hand. “Okay, okay, so does anyone have a crush on someone NOW? Because I have a crush on Saku!” “Oh, how predictable.” “I totally agree.” “Um, ha-ha…” The responses in order: Yuzuki, Haru, Ucchi. I know, but aren’t those responses kinda lukewarm? Although that’s not the important thing here. “Well then, what about you, Yuzuki?” I asked… Oh no, I actually asked. Even though I already knew the answer. Yuzuki was startled, unusual for her, and thought about it for a moment. “And what about you, Haru? What about you, Ucchi?!” I asked all the girls in quick succession. I grinned, with my classic Yuuko airheadedness, as I cut right to the chase. “…” “… …” “… … …” After a silence I’d already anticipated, Haru was the first to grin with teeth. “Right now, basketball is my only love!” Hearing that, Yuzuki took a deep breath and exhaled. With her “perfect girl” face on, she said, “Me too… I don’t think there’s anyone I have a specific crush on.” She tilted her head bashfully. Ucchi remained Ucchi to the last moment. “No crushes for me, either.” And she smiled softly, just like she did that day. And so Yuuko Hiiragi said, “Aw, come on, you guys are so boring!” “I wasn’t ready to coach Haru in the ways of boys yet.” “And I wasn’t prepared to take on the battle that is romance just yet.” “Okay…” Yes… Just as I predicted. Yuzuki, Haru, Ucchi… —Thank you, and…I’m sorry. “I’m thirsty, so I’m heading to the vending machine.” After leaving the room, I, Yuzuki Nanase, finally took a deep breath. After exhaling said deep breath, I took a few more. This is…not ideal. Oh man, it came as a complete surprise. “Me too… I don’t think there’s anyone I have a specific crush on.” I tried my best to phrase it so it wasn’t an outright lie. I don’t have a crush on Chitose, but I do adore him. I mean, I think he’s the one I’m meant to be with. I can’t put him in a box marked “crush” all that easily, nor can I say I like him to his face. It’s just not me. But I know I’m running away by fudging my words. The feelings welling up inside me were similar to the ones I remembered feeling at Chitose’s place. It would have been nice if the other woman was some girl whose name I didn’t even know. Then I could have held my head up with pride and been like, “I’m Yuzuki Nanase.” I could have told her, “You’re not enough to capture the attention of a guy like him.” But, then… When I realized Haru had fallen for Chitose, I just didn’t feel like that. After all, she’s my teammate, a rival I want to surpass one day. Even in love, I could fight her, fair and square. I guess I’m just a kid, too. But I can’t get Yuuko’s innocent smile out of my head. Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been special, and because of that, I’ve learned how to deal with the jealousy and envy of those around me, as well as their selfish fantasies and disillusionments. But that special girl is purer, warmer, and kinder than I am, and that’s why she’s been loved by everyone and has lived an honest life until now. …And I’m painfully aware of how dangerous that is. I never went out of my way to tell her, just because of who I am as a person, but I was secretly really happy that I’d become friends with Yuuko in second year. Since I used to hang out mostly with my friends on the girls’ basketball team, when it came to fashion and beauty, I tended to be the one teaching them. So going shopping for clothes together, swapping favorites, and doing girly things like that…the friendship with Yuuko was a bit of a dream come true. Going shopping, just us two, was so much fun. Still, I thought. The more I yearned for Chitose, the more I tried to get closer to him, the harder it got to hear Yuuko say things like, “Chitose and I are endgame!” I thought I had it all clear in my head, I thought I was prepared, but… —Maybe I’d be the first one to betray and hurt that special girl. Ah, yeah. This is what it means to be really in love with someone. The second day of the summer study trip. I, Saku Chitose, stayed in the restaurant even after finishing up with the breakfast buffet. On the third day, we’ll be going to the beach and having a barbecue, and the last day would probably be really busy, so I thought today would be the best day to study with Asuka. It looked like everyone on Team Chitose was planning to use the hall again today. When I explained that I’d be studying elsewhere—and why—Kaito was unsurprisingly furious, but for some reason, the girls were just like, “All right, then.” Yuuko was the only one who smiled and waved, saying, “Off you go!” The usual frigid stares were absent, which was weird, and made me wonder if something had happened within their group. “Good morning!” While I was busy wondering, Asuka appeared at the table. “Hey, that’s…,” I mumbled involuntarily. Asuka was wearing a short-sleeved dress with a small bow at her neck. It was cobalt blue, like the summer sea, with little polka dots—the dress I’d bought for her at Takadanobaba, the time we went to Tokyo together. Asuka folded her hands in front of her body and spoke shyly. “Well, I had a feeling we’d be able to meet here.” “Well, what if we couldn’t have?” “Then I wouldn’t have even brought this dress on the trip.” Her expression was so cute that I pressed my lips tightly together. “So,” Asuka said, timidly, “maybe you did, too?” I swallowed. I was wearing the retro-patterned shirt that I had bought that day. “Uh, yeah… Yes, of course, really, I swear.” I looked away as I responded. “…Hmm?” One step, two steps… Asuka came near, peering into my face. With a faint smile, she said, “Would you like to go to your room now, friend?” “Ahem, I’ve been warned against having impure relations by Kura…” “It’s okay. I just wanted to make sure you have a spare shirt.” “—I’m sorry!” I bashed my forehead against the table. Then Asuka said something else, in a sweeter voice than usual. “We said we’d go on a date wearing the clothes we bought together that day, right? So I wanted you to be the first to see me in it. I waited until my friends all left the room to get changed, then made sure no one else caught a glimpse of me on my way here, you know?” “To be fair, even if I did suggest that, I never said anything about what I’d be wearing…” She directed a faint smile at me. “I’m leaving.” “No, no, I was in the wrong. I’m sorry, wait!” “Hmph.” I managed to calm Asuka and finally put her in a good mood by suggesting that we take a short walk along the beach after lunch. By the way, I’d snagged us a four-seater table by the window. You can see the sea from there, too, so it’s a pretty swanky self-study spot. Asuka looked a little hesitant, then sat down on my right and spoke. “I-it feels kinda weird.” “I thought so, too.” We’ve sat side by side before, but when we spread our textbooks and various implements on the table like this, it felt strange. “If we were in the same class, would something like this have happened? Me praying for the seat beside you the day before the seat arrangements got switched?” “Oh man, what a cute image…” “And then, other stuff, too…” Asuka screwed one of her earphones into my right ear. “When we find a song we like, we listen to it together after school.” Playing in the earphone was a song I knew well, Bump of Chicken’s “If You Pass Through the Same Door.” I closed my eyes to see how it felt. Yeah, it felt like the two of us were really in the classroom after school. “…I had a chat with Okuno yesterday.” When I said that, Asuka was slightly startled. “Wh-what did he say to you?” I hesitated, but it wasn’t like I was under a gag order or anything. And anyway, he was the one who’d spilled the beans. “He said you turned him down, Asuka.” “Other than that?!” “It’s all right, he didn’t give the reason why. He just said he wished he’d confessed his feelings to you earlier, that’s all.” “I see…” “Is it okay to keep talking about this?” To be honest, the current state of our relationship seems really up in the air. We’re no longer the elusive older girl and wide-eyed younger boy. We haven’t gone back to being little kid Asuka and little kid Saku, either, of course. I don’t think it’s a convenient misunderstanding or anything, that we’re starting to think of each other as the opposite sex now. But when we were destined to say good-bye in only a few months, I couldn’t help but measure the distance between us. It was true that something had changed, but on the surface, we continued to interact as we always did. …Well, except for the fact that we didn’t hide the childish or frivolous sides of ourselves anymore. That was why I wasn’t sure if I should keep up with the deal Asuka and I had. Where I’d open up to her about my worries and get her opinion. A little giggle spilled out of her mouth. “Yeah. I want to talk with you as much as I can, about as much as I can, in the time we have left.” Her words made the back of my eyes sting, but I continued, wanting to be understood. “Don’t you think it’s difficult, finding the right timing to confess?” I regretted it as soon as I’d said it—I hadn’t thought it over enough. But Asuka didn’t seem perturbed. “Confess what? From the context, I’m guessing you mean letting someone know you have romantic feelings for them?” She looked at me, confusion in her eyes, and I nodded. “Assuming the person you like doesn’t already have someone they like,” I added. “If you confess the moment you realize you’ve caught feelings… Well, the chances of it going well aren’t high, but you can avoid a situation where the person you like gets another boyfriend or girlfriend while you’re hesitating. Also, I’ve heard of people starting to like someone only after they’ve been confessed to. Like, you can’t help noticing it and thinking about it after that.” Well, yeah… Anyone would… And then I kept seeing a ponytail flip, in the back of my mind… “Maybe the best time is when you’re sure the other person reciprocates your feelings, though. It’s based on facts, so it takes the longest amount of time to confirm, but it’s got a higher chance of success than the scenario I just laid out.” “But sometimes, the other person won’t return your feelings, no matter how much time passes. In that case, wouldn’t that mean keeping your feelings shut up in a drawer forever and just kinda letting things slide?” I’m sure Okuno didn’t want to see his love disappear into the ether bit by bit like that. “Also,” I said. “What if you just can’t hold back? What if it just bursts out?” Yikes, that makes me think of that bobbing ponytail as well… Oh, come to think of it, before that… “And there’s another scenario.” Asuka interrupted my thoughts. “When you have no choice but to confess. Like when you find out that someone else is about to confess to the person you like. Or the person you like is about to transfer schools, or maybe you yourself are going to be leaving soon…” Her words made me turn to my side to gaze at her. Her gaze drifted past me and out to the ocean. Right around the corner, Okuno had said. No one was going to reassure me that it wasn’t. “Hee-hee,” Asuka laughed, looking at me with a mischievous expression. “Hey, Saku, can you show me your notebook?” I knew what she was after, so I smirked as I answered. “Sure thing, Asuka. They’re not very neat, though, I warn you.” “Saku, do you have any sticky notes?” “I have, but please return the stack once you’re done, Asuka.” We only have now, I thought. Let’s be classmates here in this moment, and study together. Let’s be seatmates, for the first and last time. After all, they’ll switch the seats around again all too soon. After finishing our one-on-one study session, we ate lunch together, took a light walk along the coastline promenade, and then returned to the hotel. Asuka said she was going right back to studying in the restaurant, so we said bye at the lobby. I started heading to the hall, figuring I’d join the gang, when… “Saku!” …Yuuko’s shout made me stop in my tracks. A tall guy was looking around, then raised a hand and beckoned to me. “Hey, Saku, over here.” Yuuko and Kaito were in the hotel’s shop. “What’s up? Taking a break?” I asked. “Yeah,” said Yuuko, “but I also thought I should buy some kind of souvenir for my mom.” “Ah, yes, for Kotone.” I’d only met her briefly, but she’d left a lasting impression on me. Kaito made a noise of surprise. “Uh, what? You’ve already been introduced to Yuuko’s mom?!” “It was more of a kidnapping than an introduction.” “What’s she like? Beautiful?!” “She looked more like Yuuko’s older sister than her mom.” “Yuuko, why don’t you introduce me, too?!” Yuuko glared back. “I don’t want you looking at my mom like that. And anyway, I don’t have any reason to introduce you to my mom.” “You could just introduce me as a friend?!” Yuuko ignored Kaito. “Anyway, what are you up to? Been enjoying yourself, cheating on us all?” “Don’t use misleading expressions in public.” “Abandoning your endgame wife for a fling with some older woman…?” “Hey, this vibe has been weird all day, hasn’t it?” Unlike me, I wasn’t playing along, but calling it out. Never mind Nanase and Haru, Yuuko doesn’t usually make ironic jokes like this. Even if I had a snappy comeback for her, she wasn’t the type who would usually need a snappy comeback. Yuuko looked stunned. “Er, what…?” “We’ve been friends how long now? You should know what I mean.” It had been about a year and a half now. Me, Yuuko, Kazuki, Kaito—us four had spent most of our high school life together. “Oh, I see, Saku. So you do get it.” Yuuko smiled softly, somewhat ephemerally. Kaito lowered his eyes. “Ha-ha, I hadn’t noticed anything was different.” The atmosphere had changed suddenly, so I decided to hit the reset button. “So have you decided on a souvenir?” Both Yuuko and Kaito suddenly regained their usual expressions. I smiled wryly, already well used to this kind of thing. “I know what I’m getting Mom! Some momi wakame!” “W-wow, that’s kinda… Old-school.” By the way, momi wakame is a specialty of Tojinbo. It’s like furikake, made by drying natural seaweed in the sun and rubbing it loosely with the hands. When you pour it over rice, you can smell the sea, and the faint saltiness is insanely delicious. “Well, then,” I continued. “What are you deliberating over, then? Souvenirs for yourself?” Yuuko tilted her head. “Souvenirs for you, of course.” “Hold on, do you understand the concept of a souvenir?” “Oh, but I thought I’d give you something anyway. As a surprise present!” “Do you understand the concept of a surprise?” I laughed, rolling my eyes a little. I stood beside Yuuko and Kaito and checked out the rack of keychains. They had Fukui Prefecture’s official dinosaur brand character “Juratic,” and a limited-edition regional Hello Kitty, wearing a crab head. “I’m sorry, but I’m not the kind of person who hangs keychains off my bag.” “Oh yeah,” Yuuko said. “I wanted us to buy matching ones…” “You don’t have to buy every souvenir just ’cause it’s available.” “…No. It has to be something from here.” Her voice was oddly earnest. She must have had something in mind. “… Then how about this?” I held up a leather keychain shaped like a puzzle piece to show Yuuko. It came in various colors, so if we went for this, it would work well for fashionable Yuuko. Plus, the keychains could be connected, like real puzzle pieces, apparently. Yuuko picked it up, stared at it, then… “This one!” she chirped. “You’ll buy mine as a present, Saku! And I’ll buy yours!” “All right. But what about Kaito?” “Ahem!” Kaito said. “I’m not really into that kind of thing, so don’t mind me. I’m just going to the bathroom!” “Tsk.” I sighed. This kinda opportunity doesn’t come around every day. “What color do you want, Yuuko?” “Hmm, I want you to choose for me!” “Then…this one?” I picked up an orange one, partly because of the imagery the name conjures. It’s warm and bright, and I thought it would suit Yuuko well. “Yeah! I’m so happy.” “Then choose one for me, Yuuko.” “Um… Maybe this one is kinda you, Saku?” Yuuko picked up one in a deep-blue color, like the night of a new moon. When I put the missing parts together as a test, they connected perfectly, as if they were originally cut from a single piece of leather. We paid for each of them and exchanged bags. Yuuko immediately took out her keychain and squeezed it tightly in front of her chest. Then she slipped it back in the bag, like it was a precious treasure… “Hey, Saku?” Yuuko smiled brightly. “I’ll never, ever forget, okay?” It was odd… It sounded like a good-bye, and somehow I couldn’t bring myself to nod back. That night after dinner, I rested a little, then changed into a T-shirt and shorts to get a workout in. Kazuki, Kaito, and Kenta headed for the hot springs, but since I’d come all the way to the coast, I decided a run by the ocean would be nice. When I left the room, I encountered Yuuko and the girls’ team walking toward me. It looked like they were on their way to the hot spring, too. “Hmm? What are you doing, Chitose?” asked Haru, in the lead. “I was thinking of going for a light run. I haven’t worked out in two days, so I don’t feel so great.” Nanase frowned as she spoke. “Ugh, if you have that much stamina, you should take my place for morning basketball practice. We were forced to do sprints this morning while everyone else was enjoying the buffet.” Wow, they really did do sprints. That must be why they arrived so late at the restaurant. While I was thinking about that, Haru said, “Hey, Chitose. I’m gonna go change, so would you wait in the lobby for me?” “Huh?” “I want to run with you, too!” Nanase laughed and rolled her eyes. “Are you crazy?” Without waiting for a response, Haru turned and headed back to their room. When I stepped outside the hotel, I could feel the summer air swirling around my legs. Fresh vegetation, a salty sea breeze, and the scent of a bonfire coming from the campsite. “We don’t need a warm-up, do we?” I said to Haru, who was walking next to me. “Guess not. It’s hot out.” To be honest, I was a little relieved. We had stretched together in Higashi Park before, but I wasn’t sure I could still do the same thing now with a straight face. When I started running lightly, Haru fell into step with me to my right. “Chitose, it’s okay to pick up the pace a little more.” “You shouldn’t overtrain during a trip. Let’s take it easy and chat while we run.” “Well, okay.” As soon as we stepped outside the resort grounds, the scent of the sea became stronger. Swoosh, swoosh, went the ocean waves. Thunk, thunk, thunk, went our footsteps. The road had almost no streetlights—just a crescent moon smiling above. It was a quiet and gentle night. With just a little stretch of my hand, I felt like I could rake up the stars like a handful of konpeito candy. “…Haru.” I put my arm around her small shoulder as she ran beside me, and… “Hey, what are you doing? We’re in public.” …I swiftly swung her around to my other side. “…Huh?” She grunted in surprise. “It’s pretty dark. Let me run next to the road.” “…I love it, but someone might have interpreted that differently, you know!” I laughed it off, but I felt a little rattled inside. I love it, she’d said, the words so natural. I felt bad for grabbing her shoulder the same way I would a male friend, but she was making it sound like she wanted to misconstrue the situation. Hearing that from Haru… It kinda hit differently. I shook my head slightly and changed the topic. “So how’s the team been since everything that happened?” “Oh, it’s great! We’ve been unstoppable… We’ve won all the practice games.” “That’s amazing. Guess it’s Ashi High next, huh?” “You know it!” Haru smiled shyly as she ran. “Speaking of Ashi High, Mai’s been blowing up my phone since that day, so annoying!” “Mai… You mean Mai Todo?” The ace of the Ashi High girls’ basketball club. Her dynamic playing style in the practice match was still fresh in my memory. “Yeah, she’s all, ‘Let’s play some one-on-one whenever you have time.’” “It’s great to be able to practice with the prefecture’s top player on a casual basis, huh?” “Well, that’s certainly true, but…” Just then, I spotted a side road leading to the fishing harbor. We’d only been running for a few minutes, but… “Wanna head to the harbor? After all, we are on a seaside trip.” “Sure!” When we started down the gentle slope, I suddenly spotted a graveyard at the end. “…Actually, I changed my mind.” As we ran, Haru grabbed my T-shirt. “It’s pretty atmospheric out here in the dark.” “I wasn’t looking for THAT kind of atmosphere!” What kind of atmosphere are you looking for? I was about to say, but I stopped myself. Things between us were clunky, for sure. After passing the cemetery at a brisk pace, we gradually slowed down and switched to walking. The waves in the fishing port undulated calmly, while small fishing boats swayed sleepily on the waves. Actually, I thought it would be nice to sit on the breakwater, but if we slipped and fell in the dark, that would get real bad. But there was a small beach, so we went down there instead. “Hey, Chitose.” Haru beckoned to me on the beach. I squatted down beside her, and… “Gimme your hand a sec.” …she put her hand on mine, then dipped our hands in the sea. “Hee-hee, we’re the first ones.” Her carefree smile made my heart leap. “…” “……” We stared at each other for a moment, then we seemed to remember, and we moved apart. “Ah, I’m sorry. I just thought we were lucky to be the first ones at the beach, I didn’t mean anything by it…” “I… I know. Anyway, what was that about Mai Todo? You were just about to say something.” I forced a change of subject. “R-right! I mean, I don’t mind talking basketball with her, but she’s always asking about you, Chitose, and other stuff like that.” “About me……?” “…” Haru blinked, obviously realizing she’d just let something big slip. She went bright red and looked away, scratching her head in a “Darn it!” kinda way. Then she stared hard at me. “Chitose, don’t you think our current relationship is kinda uncomfortable?” “Most definitely.” “I think it’s probably because I ran off. I don’t know where we stand now or how we should treat each other, so I’m confused.” I tightly clenched my fists and stared back into Haru’s eyes. “Honestly, I feel the same. Should I respond to what you told me, Haru? Or should I just laugh it off?” “…” Haru lowered her eyes, and her voice was a little tight. “Um, well, it was just the excitement of the situation, I think. After watching your game, and finishing the basketball game with Mai and the others, it’s like I got caught up in the heat of the moment…” Her voice grew weaker and thinner. “So about that day… I don’t want you to…” I prepared myself for her to say that she didn’t want me to worry about it. Scuff. Haru took a step forward and looked straight into my eyes. Then she took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and… “…I don’t want you to just laugh it off!!!” …she roared at the top of her voice. “I can’t just pretend like it never happened! I want you to see me as a girl you can fall in love with, not someone you can hang out with, like a guy friend!”