“……I-I don’t mind it, really.”
Though he actually did mind, Haruya said this to ease her embarrassment.
To Haruya’s response, Yuna interjected:
“……Liar. Akasaki-kun… you were totally concerned about Rin’s sleeping face, weren’t you?”
“……!”
Haruya’s face turned crimson as he shot Yuna an accusing glare.
“I was just stating facts……”
she said quickly before shifting her gaze to Sara’s seat.
“Hey Sara… we’re getting off at the next station, right?”
Sara, who had been talking with Kazamimya until then, looked at Yuna.
“……Yes, that’s right.”
“Come to think of it, you two seemed deep in conversation earlier… what were you talking about?”
“Well──”
And with that, Yuna began making small talk with Sara.
She had completely escaped the situation.
Haruya let out a short sigh.
Then, he suddenly noticed a meaningful gaze coming from beside him.
Rin was staring at him with half-lidded eyes.
“……Akasaki-kun, did you see my sleeping face?”
“……………”
When he averted his eyes, she pinched his arm. “Answer me……”
It hurt. Ouch… that really hurts.
Apparently silence wasn’t permitted. But saying “Yes, I saw your sleeping face” outright felt too embarrassing, so Haruya simply nodded.
Seeing Haruya’s nod, Rin muttered one word:
“……Ecchi.”
With that, she sharply turned her face away from him.
Once again, Rin had distanced herself. But this was inevitable.
The mood didn’t allow for any excuses.
(Sigh… I’m already mentally exhausted just from the train ride here…)
At this rate, the future looked bleak indeed.
Haruya didn’t even want to imagine the turbulent developments awaiting them.
(……Can I just go home now?)
But unlike Haruya who harbored such thoughts, Rin──
(Ahh, I’m such an idiot~~~~! Just calling him “Ecchi” will only make things awkward! Normally I’d tease him properly with something like [Just kidding. Did you like what you saw? Then maybe I’ll let you see more~] but… I’m too embarrassed to say that! And having him see my sleeping face is beyond embarrassing! I hope I wasn’t drooling or anything… Ugh, it’s all because last night… I couldn’t sleep from excitement about staying over with Akasaki-kun…!)
Rin was utterly defeated by her own shame.
──And yet.
Holding her pounding chest, Rin steeled her resolve.
(……I can’t face him right now, but during this stay… I’ll make sure to take a step forward…)
Meanwhile, Yuna was having thoughts of her own──
(……I’ll uncover Akasaki-kun’s mysteries here. I want his help with my script too… You’d better be prepared… Wait, I’m getting a bit too excited here, I should calm down…)
Her face slightly flushed as she entertained these thoughts.
Lastly, Sara—who unlike Rin and Yuna couldn’t sit with Haruya—was──
(……Akasaki-san seemed so close with both Rin-san and Yuna-san… I’m already falling behind… But I’ll definitely make him notice me… Akasaki-san.)
Her expression was slightly tense, yet she maintained a mature smile.
Sara too had strong feelings invested in this overnight stay.
“We’re here～～～～～!”
The first to shout upon arriving at their destination station was Kazamimya.
Stretching dramatically, he slung an arm around Haruya’s shoulders.
…Ouch, ouch. You’re gonna dislocate my neck.
Narrowing his eyes, Haruya looked at Kazamimya.
Then from beside them came the sound of several cute, bell-like voices.
“Wow, it’s so beautiful…”
“Yeah! Just like Yuna-rin said, it’s really pretty!”
“……This place truly never changes. I’m glad everyone likes it.”
As their reactions suggested, the scenery was breathtaking.
Beyond the station gates stretched an endless sea.
The air was fresh, carrying a slightly ticklish salty breeze.
Under the clear blue sky, pristine white clouds painted the canvas above.
“This is so Instagram-worthy! Let’s take pictures…!”
Eyes sparkling, Rin bounced excitedly while pulling out her phone.
“…Good idea. Let’s take some keepsake photos.”
“Please do take plenty!”
Following Rin, Yuna also produced her phone, with Sara joining in.
The boys seemed less interested in photos, their reactions more subdued.
But when Kazamimya said, “Let’s take some pics too…” Haruya also took out his phone to snap some landscape shots.
“Takamori-san, or perhaps Himekawa-san, or Kohinata-san… why don’t you ask one—or all three—to take photos with you, Akasaki?”
Kazamimya whispered this in Haruya’s ear, adding, “Then I’ll take the photo for you.”
Apparently he’d finished taking scenery shots too.
Though clearly teasing, Haruya remained unfazed and quipped back:
“…Speaking of which, why don’t you ask Himekawa-san to take photos with you? You two seemed pretty chatty on the train.”
“……W-well—”
For some reason, Kazamimya awkwardly averted his eyes,
The words he was about to say get stuck in his throat.
His conversation with Sara on the train had been about Haruya.
But revealing that… would betray Sara’s confidence.
Clearing his throat, Kazamimya placed a hand on Haruya’s shoulder.
“Well, Akasaki… do your best. I’m rooting for you.”
He flashed a toothy grin.
(I really don’t get it. How did the conversation turn this way…I was talking about Kazamimya but…)
Haruya had the urge to bend back that thumbs-up his friend was giving him.
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After satisfying their photo needs, Sara guided them onward.
They walked through residential areas and up slopes. The heat was intense, sweat stinging their eyes. Looking back, the ocean view grew even more magnificent, threatening to steal their breaths.
“It’s just a bit further,”
Sara said from the front.
After fifteen minutes following her, they arrived before a large house surrounded by greenery.
(…What is this mansion…? It’s like a ryokan.)
Though incomparable, it was larger than Sara’s adoptive father’s home.
Understood. At this size, accommodating five people would be no issue.
Being in the countryside, the air was crisp and shops few.
It felt like a southern island—nostalgic somehow.
──Gulp.
Everyone except Sara swallowed hard.
“W-wow this huge house is making me nervous~~”
Kazamimya vigorously wiped his sweaty palms on his shorts. His strained voice and slightly comical gestures made the others chuckle.
“…Kazamimya-kun’s right, I’m getting nervous too,”
Rin said, pursing her lips while frowning slightly.
“…Same here. Are you okay, Akasaki-kun?”
Yuna checked on Haruya.
“Thanks, I’m fine.”
Once everyone confirmed, Sara nodded and entered the mansion.
“Please wait a moment…”
After several minutes of waiting…
Sara’s slightly hunched grandfather appeared.
Having come to the entrance with Sara, he welcomed them warmly.
“Yo, you made it… Sara’s friends. Heard all about ya. C’mon in~”
His wrinkled smile and droopy eyes gave him a charming, tea-like gentleness.
“Seems like a mild-mannered grandpa,”
Kazamimya whispered to Haruya.
“…Definitely.”
It was somewhat unexpected. Haruya had imagined someone more stern.
Perhaps Sara’s intimidating adoptive father had colored his expectations.
Come to think of it, that man only looked scary—he wasn’t actually frightening.
With this thought, Haruya stepped forward first to bow.
“Thank you… for having us these few days.”
He presented a box of sweets—purchased during his outing with Sara.
He’d asked Sara about her grandfather’s preferences beforehand.
Of course, he’d arranged proper reimbursement from everyone through Sara.
“Well ain’t this thoughtful… And my favorite fried manju too! Thanks~”
“Not at all. We’ll be in your care.”
Following Haruya, everyone else bowed.
“”Thank you for having us.””
Just as they finished their greetings──
──Grrrroowl.
Someone’s adorable stomach growled.
Though everyone turned, the culprit was obvious.
Shoulders shaking with embarrassment, Yuna’s face burned red.
“…W-well! It’s lunchtime… Of course I’d be hungry!”
Fiddling with her bangs, she stared at the ground.
Though no one blamed her, Rin immediately pounced on Yuna.
“…Aww Yuna-rin is just too cute~”
“H-hey…!”
Nearly losing balance from the sudden attack,
Yuna felt happy that Rin was back to her usual self in front of Haruya—though embarrassment narrowly won out.
“…G-get off! Everyone’s watching!”
At Yuna’s protest, Rin surveyed the group.
“Now this is some premium entertainment…”
Kazamimya nodded repeatedly with a grin.
“…Please don’t mind us, do continue…”
Sara teased with an elegant smile and shaking shoulders.
“Youth is wonderful~ Just watching gives me energy,”
the grandfather chuckled then nodded, sensing the youthfulness of the five.
As for Haruya—
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