A few days passed since Mizuha, Eri, and the others visited Arisa's grave, and the weekend arrived.
Finally, the day they all waited for was here—their picnic together at the mountain and river. Shimizu, Eri, and Zul already arrived at the train station and waited for Mizuha and Hikaru, who did not show up yet.
"Both of them are late. What are they doing?"
"Calm down, Shimizu-chan. Maybe they had something to do before coming here. Also, did we arrive too early?"
Looking at Eri, who felt uncomfortable because of the hot weather, Zul suddenly put a hat on her head.
"You should wear this. It is quite hot today."
Eri smiled at him.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwNhbFeTWg
"Ah, thanks for it, Zul. You are right—today's weather is quite hot."430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolYaXvi7be
"I know. I baked some cookies for all of us today. Do you want to try one?"
Shimizu took one immediately.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG97JkhIwjk
"Huh? Your homemade cookies? Yeah!"
"Here, for you too, Zul."
Zul accepted the cookies. "Oh, thanks."
After five minutes, Mizuha suddenly arrived and approached them.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiDfLRyFfh
"Sorry, you guys, I'm late. It took me a long time to prepare my things."
"It's okay, Mizuha-chan. You're right on time; we're the ones who arrived too early."
Shimizu smirked, still chewing.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF3gGFRp5V
"Now that you're here, we're just waiting for your beloved boyfriend to arrive."
Mizuha blushed.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRNqyF55eV
"What are you saying, Shimizu? He... he is not my boyfriend."
Shimizu smirked.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSa1bmvfD4
"But you guys are always together all the time. It could be considered that he is already your boyfriend."
"You, Shimizu... stop it."
Eri then offered her cookies to calm Mizuha down.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguIGKGJAB9
"Please stop teasing her, Shimizu-chan. Here, Mizuha-chan, I made cookies. Please try one."
"Oh, your homemade cookies. Thanks, Eri-chan."
"Delicious! As usual, your cooking never fails to amaze me."
"Thanks, Mizuha-chan. I'm glad you like it."
About ten minutes later, Hikaru finally arrived. He seemed to be rushing as he approached them.
Hikaru ran toward them. "Hey, you guys."
Shimizu frowned.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz2GeAKBfN
"You're late. What were you doing? We've been waiting for you in this hot weather."
"Sorry I'm late. I overslept."
Mizuha handed him a tissue.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QfGFAEpDT
"Don't worry, at least you made it here. Here, take this and wipe your sweat."
"Oh, thanks, Mizuha."
Zul pointed at the train that just arrived. "That’s our train. Let's go, you guys."
The five of them immediately got into the train. The girls sat in the same row, with Shimizu by the window, Eri in the center, and Mizuha beside her. Meanwhile, Zul sat across from them, facing Eri, while Hikaru sat across from Mizuha. The train started moving after that.
As the train moved, Shimizu looked outside the window, watching the scenery as the train passed through the natural area. Zul happily talked with Eri about something, and Mizuha looked at Hikaru, who was yawning—he seemed sleepy already.
Mizuha tilted her head.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y5w3RwX42
"You seem sleepy, Hikaru. What happened? Did you not get enough sleep last night?"
Hikaru chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, you caught me, huh? Well, actually, I was too excited about today and didn't sleep well last night."
Mizuha’s eyes widened.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Y5DVmXWMB
"You too? I thought I was the only one!"
She laughed and pulled a can from her bag.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tcqctQRRr
"Here, Hikaru, drink this coffee. I'm sure it'll make your sleepiness go away."
Hikaru took the can. "Oh, thanks, Mizuha."
After a twenty-minute journey, they arrived at their destination. The group walked briefly before reaching the mountain and river.
Shimizu raised her arms. "The river! Finally, we're here!"
Mizuha stared at the scenery in awe. "Wow, the sight here is so pretty and nice-looking."
Hikaru looked into the water.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ122tnsEqC
"You're right. The river is very clean. I can see right to the bottom. Also, there are so many people here today."
As the others marveled at the view, Eri glanced at Zul questioningly. "This place feels nostalgic. Wait, Zul, this place... is it...?"
Zul nodded with a gentle smile. "Yes, that's right. We came here before with your late sister, remember? This is where we had a picnic with our families when we were in fourth grade."
"Oh yeah, I suddenly remembered how you climbed that tall tree, fell from it, and got scolded by your mother and sister that day."
"Please don't bring that up, Zul. It's so embarrassing—you're making me remember how reckless and dumb I was back then."
Suddenly, someone's stomach growled from hunger. Everyone looked at each other to find out who made the sound.
Shimizu laughed.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2a8MJoQun
"Oh, that's me! I haven't eaten anything since this morning, haha."
Then another stomach growled—it was Hikaru's.
Hikaru rubbed the back of his neck, face red. "Sorry, I haven't eaten anything since this morning either because I overslept."
Mizuha leaned in. "Well, since we're all here, why don't we cook something? What should we make?"
Hikaru and Shimizu shouted in unison. "BBQ!"
"Hey, don't copy me, Hikaru! It was my idea."
"Your idea? No, it was mine! You're the one who copied me."
I wonder if these two are starting to argue again, Mizuha thought to herself.
"Actually, I was thinking of BBQ too."
"BBQ, huh? That's a great idea, but how will we get the BBQ equipment?"
Zul leaned in. "I heard we can rent BBQ equipment here. Wait a moment—I'll ask those people who already have their BBQ set up over there."
"Ah, thanks for that, Zul."
After returning from asking the others, Zul asked Hikaru and Shimizu to help him get the BBQ equipment rental while Mizuha and Eri stayed behind to prepare the meat and vegetables.
After ten minutes, the trio returned with the BBQ equipment set.
Shimizu called out. "We're back!"
"Welcome back, you guys."
Mizuha turned to the trio. "How did it go? Were you able to rent the BBQ set?"
"Yes, we managed to get it."
Eri leaned in. "Was the rental fee very expensive? I can help with the payment."
Hikaru smiled. "Don't worry about the cost—it's my treat for today. I've already paid for the rental."
"That's really kind of you, Hikaru. Thank you."
Shimizu looked surprised.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxIQPefGzt
"Oh, you've already prepared all the food for grilling? That was quick! I can’t wait to start grilling."
Hikaru frowned. "Hey, Shimizu, don't just stand there—help us set up this BBQ equipment."
"Yes, I know! Just give me a moment, geez."
Soon after, they got the fire going, and the BBQ set was ready for grilling.
As the fire started burning steadily, everyone gathered around the BBQ set with excitement. Shimizu immediately reached for the meat, but Eri gently stopped her.
"Wait, Shimizu-chan! The fire's still too strong. Let's wait a bit for it to calm down."
"Ehh... but I'm so hungry!" Shimizu pouted, making everyone laugh.
While they waited, Mizuha started organizing the ingredients they brought.
"Look, everyone! I marinated some chicken pieces last night. We should grill these first."
Hikaru peered over her shoulder, making her blush. "Oh! That looks delicious, Mizuha!"
Eri pulled out a container from her bag. "I brought some seasoning for the grill."
Zul smiled knowingly. "Is that the same sauce your mom made during our childhood picnic? The one your late sister loved?"
"Yes... that is it. I’m glad you still remember it."
"She told me to bring this and share it with the others."
"Look, these vegetables are done perfectly. Why don’t you guys try some too?"
As they ate, the sauce Eri’s mother had prepared became the star of the show.
"This sauce is amazing, Eri-chan!"
"You're right, I've never tasted sauce this good before."
"Thanks, Mizuha-chan, Shimizu-chan."
The aroma of grilling meat attracted curious onlookers, including a friendly stray cat that wandered near their setup.
Shimizu wanted to feed it some meat, but Eri reminded her that it might not be good for the cat.
As the afternoon progressed, they created a system: Mizuha and Eri managed the vegetable grilling, Hikaru and Zul handled the meat, and Shimizu was put in charge of serving and making sure everyone had enough to eat.
Finally, with all the food grilled to perfection, everyone settled down to enjoy their meal together.
The aroma of perfectly grilled meat and vegetables filled the air as they gathered around their picnic setup.
Zul carefully picked up some of the best-grilled pieces and placed them on Eri's plate. "Here, try these pieces first. I made sure to grill them exactly how you like them."
"Thank you, Zul."430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5yEgUEIj1
"You still remember how I like my food after all these years."
Everyone enjoyed their food, exchanging compliments about each other's grilling skills.
"Wow, these vegetables are amazing, Mizuha!"
"And the meat Hikaru grilled is perfectly done."
Hikaru suddenly placed a freshly cooked piece of meat onto Mizuha’s plate.
"Here, Mizuha. This one's ready."
Mizuha blinked in surprise, her cheeks warming. "Thanks, Hikaru. You didn’t need to do that."
"It’s fine. I wanted to—just accept it, okay?"
As the cheerful conversation continued, Shimizu grew quiet.
She watched her friends' interactions while absently picking at her food.
Zul was attentively making sure Eri's plate never went empty, while Hikaru and Mizuha kept exchanging shy glances as they shared food with each other.
I feel envious watching them, Shimizu thought to herself, her usual energetic demeanor subdued. It would be nice if I had something like that too...
Mizuha noticed the change and stepped closer.430Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGj7v0KWzE
"Shimizu, what's wrong? You seem sad all of a sudden."
Caught off guard, Shimizu tried to brush it off with a small laugh, acting like nothing had happened.
"Oh, it's nothing special, really."
"It's not like you to look so down. What's wrong? Please tell me."
Shimizu sighed. "You really like pushing me, Mizuha."
"I just... well, I feel a bit envious looking at you guys and your relationships with each other."
The comment caused everyone to stop eating and look at Shimizu with concern.
Mizuha, especially, felt a pang of guilt for not noticing her friend's feelings earlier.
Eri looked down. "Shimizu-chan..."
But before she could continue, Shimizu quickly waved her hands in front of her, forcing a bright smile.
"No, no! Don't worry about me! I'm just being silly. Besides," she picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks, "I get to enjoy all this delicious food with my best friends. That's what matters most, right?"
Mizuha wasn’t convinced by her friend’s sudden change in mood. She exchanged knowing looks with Hikaru and Eri, a silent understanding passing between them.
Maybe it was time they helped Shimizu find her own happiness too.
Not wanting her friends to worry about her anymore, Shimizu quickly bounced back to her usual cheerful self. She stretched her arms wide and announced, "Ah, I feel so full now! What should we do next?"
Her eyes sparkled as an idea struck her. "I know! How about going swimming in the river?"
"That's a great idea, Shimizu! I'm feeling pretty hot now, and I'm definitely in the mood for a swim."
A mischievous grin spread across Shimizu's face as she leaned closer to Mizuha and Eri.
"Hey, you guys, let's change into our swimsuits! It's time to show the boys those cute suits you bought earlier!"
"Eh?!"
Eri's face turned bright red.
"But... but it's too embarrassing, Shimizu-chan."
Mizuha fidgeted nervously. "That's right, I'm not ready to show it yet."
Shimizu put her hands on her hips. "What are you guys talking about? You already bought them! What's the point of buying cute swimsuits if you're not going to wear them today?"
Without waiting for further protests, she grabbed both their hands. "Come on, let's go change!"
"Wait, Shimizu-chan!"
"Don't pull my hand so hard, Shimizu!"
The boys watched as Shimizu dragged her friends away toward the changing area, their protests fading into the distance.
Zul turned to Hikaru. "I guess we should change too if we're going swimming."
"Yeah, you're right."
As they gathered their things, he couldn't help but glance in the direction the girls had gone, particularly where Mizuha had disappeared.
After that, Hikaru and Zul had already changed into their swimwear, both wearing shorts without shirts. Hikaru couldn't help but notice his friend's physique.
Hikaru observed Zul’s toned muscles.
"Oh, nice-looking body, Zul. Have you been working out?"
Zul shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny.
"Yeah, I did a bit... but don't stare so much. You're making me feel uneasy."
"Since when did you become so shy?"
Hikaru chuckled, making Zul laugh along with him. Their laughter was interrupted by a familiar voice.
Shimizu called out as she and Mizuha approached in their swimsuits.
"Thanks for waiting!"
Both boys found themselves unconsciously looking at the girls from head to toe.
Shimizu wore a sporty yellow two-piece, while Mizuha chose a light blue swimsuit that complemented her perfectly.
Shimizu struck a confident pose. "So, how about my swimsuit? Looking nice, right?"
"It fits you really well, Shimizu,"
"Oh, thanks, Zul!"
Shimizu beamed before turning her attention to Hikaru with a mischievous grin. "Hey, hey, Hikaru, don't you have anything to say about Mizuha's swimsuit?"
She pulled Mizuha, who had been hiding behind her.
Mizuha blushed. "Not again, Shimizu..."
Hikaru's cheeks turned pink as he stammered out his compliment. "Mi... Mizuha... your swimsuit is very cute. The color really fits and matches your style."
Mizuha's face lit up with a shy smile. "You think so? Hehe... thanks Hikaru. I just bought it yesterday with Eri and Shimizu."
Shimizu whispered into Mizuha's ear with a knowing grin. "See? I told you he'd like it."
Mizuha whispered back. "Yes, I see now. Thanks for your suggestion earlier, Shimizu."
Suddenly, Shimizu's attention shifted to a different topic entirely. She moved closer to Mizuha, examining their figures critically.
"By the way, Mizuha, what size is your chest? Yours looks bigger than mine."
"My size? I think it's a C-cup."
"Really? That's weird - I'm also C-cup. Why do you look bigger than me?"
Shimizu pouted, dissatisfied with this discovery.
"I think it's because you're wearing that sports bra, which makes it look smaller than usual."
"By the way, Shimizu, talk a bit more quietly. I think the boys can hear our conversation!"
"Really? Ah, I didn't notice. Sorry about that."
Both Zul and Hikaru were indeed within earshot, though they were trying their best to look anywhere but at the girls, pretending to be deeply interested in the river's current.
Shimizu gave them a suspicious glare. "Hey, you two weren't listening to that, right?"
"Listening to what? We didn't hear anything, right, Zul?"
Zul just nodded in agreement, still avoiding eye contact.
After an awkward moment, Zul noticed someone was missing from their group.
"By the way, it's just you two who came back. Where's Eri?"
Mizuha realized. "Oh, you're right. She said she'd be a bit late earlier. I wonder what's keeping her."
Without hesitation, Zul turned toward the changing rooms. "I'll go check on her."
Hikaru approached him. "Zul, wait! I'm going with you."
Meanwhile, near the changing rooms, Eri found herself in an uncomfortable situation.
Two unfamiliar men had cornered her, blocking her path back to her friends.
She clutched her bag tightly, her knuckles white.
One of them moved closer. "Hey, you look so cute."
"How about coming with us? We'll treat you to anything you want."
Eri’s voice trembled slightly. "Umm, sorry... I... I actually came with my friends."
She took a small step back, her heart racing.
They insisted, closing the distance she had tried to create.
"Don't worry, just hang with us for a while. Your friends can wait."
As fear gripped her, a familiar voice echoed in her head—one she hadn't heard in a while.
What are you doing? Just beat them up and run back to your friends.
No, I can't, Eri argued back in her thoughts. If I do that, I'll break my promise to my late sister.
This is an emergency, you know, the voice pressed. What if they do something bad to you?
No, I don't want to! Please don't force me to do that, Eri pleaded inwardly, her hands shaking.
The voice faded, leaving her alone with her fear.
Please save me, Zul, she thought desperately, her body trembling as the two men moved even closer.
Suddenly, a hand landed firmly on each of the harassers' shoulders, accompanied by a deceptively friendly voice.
Hikaru’s tone was casual but carried an unmistakable edge. "Hey, brothers, can we talk for a bit?"
The two men turned around angrily. "What do you want? Who dares to touch us?" Their irritation quickly faltered as they faced their challengers.
Zul’s eyes turned cold, his usual gentle demeanor replaced by an intimidating glare.
"Hey, what are you two doing to her, huh?"
Hikaru cracked his knuckles menacingly. "Leave her alone, or you'll taste a painful experience from us."
"Zul! Takumiya-kun!"
Eri's voice was filled with relief as she quickly ran to their side, putting herself behind Zul instinctively.
Zul ran to get Eri. "Eri, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just a bit scared earlier."
The troublemakers backed away, their earlier confidence evaporating under Zul and Hikaru's intense glares.
They exchanged nervous glances.
"What's up with these guys? They look scary."
The other wondered aloud, his voice shaking slightly. "Are these the friends she was waiting for?"
"Let's run away. I feel unsafe with them here." Both of them fled from there.
"Thanks for saving me, Zul, Takumiya-kun."
"It was so scary earlier... and I’m sorry for causing you trouble."
Without hesitation, Zul gently placed his palm on Eri's head, stroking her hair soothingly. The gesture was protective and tender, reflecting their shared history.
"It's okay, Eri. We're just glad nothing bad happened to you."
Hikaru leaned in. "Zul's right. Thank goodness we came early before they could drag you away."
Eri stood there for a moment, taking comfort in Zul's gentle pat on her head, her tears gradually subsiding. The gesture calmed both of them.
Zul’s worried expression softened as he felt Eri relax under his touch.
"Let's head back to Mizuha and Shimizu."
"I'm sure they're worried about us right now."
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To be continued…………. Part 2
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