As summer arrived, the temperature reached 36 degrees Celsius, with cicadas singing throughout the day. M.A. High students had switched from their winter uniforms to their summer uniforms.
The boys wore short-sleeved shirts, with or without the summer vest, and their normal light grey pants. The girls wore the same, except they had bows and light grey skirts instead of neckties and pants.
That day, Mizuha's group ate in the cafeteria for the first time, their usual rooftop spot too hot to use.
When they first arrived at the rooftop earlier, Mizuha leaned in. "Hey, is it just me, or does this place look like a desert?"
"It's not just you, Yuki-san. We can see it too," Hikaru said.
"Why has our favorite place turned into a desert?" Shimizu shouted.
"Well, it is summer, you know," Zul pointed out.
"Shut up, Shimizu. Your shouting makes it feel even hotter," Hikaru grumbled, wiping his sweat.
"Eri-chan, you've been quiet since earlier. What's wrong?" Mizuha asked.
Eri looked like she was about to collapse.
"Sorry, Mizuha-chan. I can't handle this heat. Ah, it's so hot..."
Mizuha offered Eri a bottle of drinking water. "Hang on, Eri-chan. Here, drink this water."
"Thanks, Mizuha-chan."
"This is bad. We need to find another place to eat before we get dehydrated up here," Mizuha suggested.
"How about the cafeteria? It's been a while since I ate there," Shimizu suggested.
"That's a good idea. Let's go, everyone," Hikaru agreed.
As they arrived at the cafeteria, Hikaru spoke, "Ah, this feels better than the rooftop earlier."
"Yeah, at least here they have a fan to cool ourselves," Shimizu said.
"Whoa, it's so packed with many students here today," Eri said.
"Maybe they can't stand the heat outside there, like us earlier," Zul said.
"Anyway, let's find an available seat before we lose our place to eat," Hikaru said.
"Oh, so this is our cafeteria. My first time here since transferring to this school," Mizuha said, before taking a seat. "It’s so spacious."
"That’s right, you haven’t been here before. You used to eat with just us two in the classroom until you showed us that rooftop spot," Hikaru said.
"Hehe, you owe Mizuha and me thanks for finding that place," Shimizu said.
"Yes, yes, thank you for that. There's nothing to be proud about though."
"What's wrong, Takamiya? Why are you so cold today? Having your period or something?"
Hikaru blushed, still upset. "P... period, you say? I'm a man, you know!"
Everyone laughed at Hikaru after Shimizu's teasing.
Mizuha smiled. "That's a nice joke, Shimizu."
"Are you okay, Eri? Still feeling hot?" Zul said.
"Not anymore. I feel cooler now."
Zul offered his bottle. "Here, drink this water. You need to stay hydrated in this heat."
"You're right. Thanks, Zul."
"So, it begins—a romance story between these two childhood friends."
"Hey, why are you suddenly turning into the narrator of this story?" Mizuha said.
Eri’s face turned bright red. "Shimizu-chan!"
Takeru approached with a ramen bowl he had just bought. "Oh, you guys! Rare to see you eating here."
"Oh, Takeru, hi."
"Hi, Mizuha, you look more cheerful than before. Can I join everyone eating here?"
"Sure, go ahead. It's nice to have you here too," Mizuha said.
This guy again. Since when did he become so friendly with Mizuha? Hikaru thought, glaring at Takeru.
Takeru noticed Hikaru’s glare. "Wait, Hikaru-kun, are you probably jealous that I’m friendly with Mizuha? Don’t worry, I won’t steal her from you."
Hikaru blushed. "What!? Steal? What do you mean by that? She's not everyone else's."
This guy, he thought.
"Takeru, what are you saying? Stop it," Mizuha said.
"Sorry, sorry, just kidding," Takeru said.
"It's not like that, Takeru. Takamiya is actually having his period today. That's why he's in a bad mood," Shimizu said.
"Period? Really? Hey, Hikaru-kun, are you a girl or something?" Takeru asked.
Hikaru’s face turned bright red. "Enough with all that, you guys! Especially you, Shimizu, you will pay for this."
Everyone laughed at Hikaru again. He then noticed Mizuha looking cheerful, unlike when she was sick last week.
Yuki-san… I’m glad to see you smile like this again, Hikaru thought, smiling inwardly.
After the lunch break, in their classroom, while waiting for the teacher to arrive, Mizuha tried to draw something but couldn't concentrate because of the intense heat.
It’s no use; it’s too hot to concentrate. Going to the rivers must be fun now, Mizuha thought, looking out the window.
Shimizu appeared in front of her suddenly and crouched in front of her desk.
"Then why don't we go there this weekend?"
Mizuha yelped, startled. "Wargh, Shimizu?"
"River, huh? That's a great idea, Mizuha."
"How did you know what I was thinking?"
Shimizu struck a pose. "Hehe, I just got telepathic powers. Now kneel before me, Rararagi-san!"
"What's with that strange pose? Also, don't say my name like you're singing in a musical. My name is Yuki Mizuha."
"I'm sorry, I bit my tongue."
"No, that was on purpose."
Shimizu grinned. "I bwit my tongue..."
"It wasn't on purpose?"
Mizuha sighed. "Enough already. I’m too hot to play along with your jokes."
"But it was a great idea, right? Going to the rivers during this heat to cool ourselves. How about doing a BBQ there too? Hmm, let’s ask others about their opinions."
"Hey, Shimizu, wait... geez, this girl... why is she the one who got excited instead?"
"Hey, Eri, please come here for a moment," Shimizu called Eri out.
Eri approached Mizuha's desk. "Yes, Shimizu-chan? What is it?"
"You see, Mizuha suggested we go for a BBQ picnic this weekend at the river. What do you think?"
Mizuha gave Shimizu a light chop on the head.
"Hey, it was you who suggested it, not me!"
"That's a great idea—count me in, too. It's been a while since I went to the river. It would be nice to go there."
Eri turned to Zul, who was sitting behind Mizuha. "How about you, Zul? Do you want to join us too?"
"Well, if you go, I’ll go too."
Shimizu sighed. "You’re so quick to agree with whatever Eri says."
Eri then chuckled when she heard what Shimizu said.
Shimizu sent a chat to the group. "So, it's decided. Let's tell Takamiya about this."
"Hey, don’t decide it for me suddenly. I wasn’t thinking about it yet."
Meanwhile, in Class 1B, Hikaru sat at his desk fanning himself with a book to combat the heat while waiting for the next subject teacher to arrive.
Ah, today's so hot. Going swimming in the river would be nice, Hikaru thought.
Suddenly, Takeru turned around from his seat in front of Hikaru.
"Umm, Hikaru-kun, can I talk to you?"
Hikaru kept fanning himself. "Huh, what is it? Make it quick. It's too hot. If you want to tease me, just forget it. I don't have the mood to talk to you."
"No, it's not like that. I just want to apologize about earlier at the cafeteria. I didn't mean to tease you like that. I'm truly sorry about that."
"Oh, about that, don't worry. I'm not upset at all. Also, the one who started it was Shimizu, not you. I will make that tomboy pay for that later. Besides, thanks to that joke, I could see Yuki-san smiling cheerfully as usual today."
"Oh, you noticed that too?" Takeru asked. "You're really kind, that's why everyone likes you."
"Also, that's actually one thing I want to ask you. Do you truly like Mizuha, Hikaru-kun?" Takeru asked.
Hikaru stopped fanning, shocked. "Huh, why are you bringing this up suddenly?"
"You can answer if you want, or you can answer it later."
This guy, what is he planning? Asking something like this, Hikaru wondered.
Hikaru blushed slightly. "Yes, I like her. Are you satisfied now, or do you have a problem with it?"
"No, I'm fine with it. I just wanted to know."
"Then, what's the reason you like her?"
"Reason? I've never thought about that. Maybe because she's kind, cheerful, and friendly to everyone without judging them by their appearance, I guess. She doesn't even look at status. She really easily mixes with everyone and becomes friends with them."
Takeru nodded. "Oh, I see. Then, this is my last question."
"How many questions do you want to ask? Are you a police officer or what?"
"Are you going to betray her once you're done with her?"
"Betray the person I like? Of course not. I'm not that type of person. That type of person is someone I hate very much."
Because I got betrayed by someone in the past too and I truly still haven't forgiven that person, Hikaru thought, clenching his fist.
"So, I don't need to worry about Mizuha when she's with you. Thanks for telling me that."
"You said it like you were her family, you know?" Hikaru said.
"Is that so? Well, you can think of me as something like that. She is like a little sister that I truly need to protect."
I see, you too, huh? Just like how Zul is with Eri, Hikaru thought.
"Umm, are you angry that I like her?" Hikaru asked.
"Angry!? For what!? I'm just her childhood friend, not her former boyfriend or someone with romantic feelings for her."
"She might not remember our shared childhood anymore, but seeing her happy is enough for me. If she's happy with you, I'm happy for her too."
"But just one thing I need to warn you," Takeru said. "If you ever make her cry or betray her, I'll make you pay and take her back."
Hikaru smirked at Takeru. "I see, you're really someone I should not underestimate after all."
"Huh!? You just noticed it, hahaha." Takeru chuckled, before he extended his hand to Hikaru.
"From now on, please take care of Mizuha for me, Hikaru-kun."
Hikaru shook Takeru's hand. "That was always my intention—to take care of her."
"Well, I'm looking forward to that." He turned his chair back to face the front.
Suddenly, Hikaru received a message in the group chat with Mizuha, Eri, Shimizu, Zul, and himself.
The message was from Shimizu: "Hey, you guys, Mizuha suggested we go on a picnic this weekend. What do you all think?"
"Hey, that was your suggestion, not mine."
"Sorry, everyone, Shimizu just blurted that out! She somehow read my mind. I was only thinking about rivers when she made that suggestion."
"Like I said, I can read everyone's mind."
"Shut up, you tomboy! I didn't even say anything to you."
Shimizu sent an angry emoji.
"Hey, who are you calling a tomboy?"
So, Yuki-san was thinking the same as me about the river, Hikaru thought, blushing at their shared idea.
Hikaru joined the conversation. "It's a great idea, Yuki-san. So, why don't we all go this weekend? How about you guys?"
"Of course I want to go. I'm really excited for it!" Shimizu wrote.
"Umm, it sounds great. Count me in too. How about you, Zul?" Eri wrote.
"Because you're going, I'm going too, Eri." Zul wrote.
"Oh, Zul and Eri agree. Then how about you, Mizuha?" Shimizu wrote.
"Well, it can't be helped. Since you're all going, then I'm going too."
"Wait, didn't you just say you hadn't decided yet? Did Takamiya make you change your mind?" Shimizu wrote.
Mizuha sent an angry emoji. "Ah, shut up, Shimizu, you're so annoying."
Hikaru chuckled as he read their group chat.
A picnic? It's been a while since I visited the river, he thought, looking out the window.
Back in Class 1F, Eri smiled at her phone as the picnic plan was confirmed. She put her phone back into her pocket when the teacher entered the classroom for the next subject.
Going on a picnic with Mizuha-chan and everyone... I can't wait, Eri thought.
Then, suddenly, something important came to her mind.
Ah, tomorrow's the day... I should remind Zul about it later.
It's been a while since I visited Onee-chan, Eri thought, looking out the window.
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Right, Onee-chan...?
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807Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5AAkdZrM4
and then Add to home screen.