On their way back to join the others, Eri walked quietly, lost in thought.
Her silence was noticeable, and Zul couldn’t help but worry.
Meanwhile, Eri wondered about the unknown voice that had spoken inside her head earlier.
"Who was the voice talking to me earlier? It seemed to be encouraging me to fight back."
Zul turned to Eri.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7ZeFA5zcv
"Eri, you've been silent since then. What's wrong?"
Eri gave him a forced smile. "Oh, it's nothing. Don't worry about it."
"By the way, Eri, your swimsuit looks great."
"Really? Thanks, Zul. I just bought it with Mizuha and Shimizu yesterday. This was Shimizu's suggestion for me."
When they finally reached Mizuha and Shimizu, both girls immediately rushed to Eri's side.
Mizuha grabbed Eri's hands. "Eri-chan, are you okay? Did something happen to you?"
Shimizu leaned in. "Yeah, we were really worried about you, you know!"
Eri managed a genuine smile this time, touched by her friends' concern. "Don't worry about it. Everything's settled now, thanks to Zul and Takamiya-kun helping me earlier."
Mizuha pressed gently, still holding onto Eri's hands.
"What actually happened?"
"Actually..."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZBgWvcIqi
She proceeded to tell them about the incident with the two strangers.
As she shared the story, she kept her internal struggle to herself, focusing on how Zul and Hikaru had arrived just in time to save her.
Mizuha looked surprised. "What? Two strangers tried to drag you away with them?"
Shimizu's face contorted with anger. "Where are those guys? Let me beat them up! How dare they try to take my best friend away!"
Hikaru placed a calming hand on Shimizu's shoulder. "No need for that. They already ran away. Zul and I gave them a lesson earlier."
Feeling the need to move past the incident, Zul leaned in. "Enough with all that. It's in the past already. Why don't we enjoy our day before it gets late?"
"Yeah, what are we waiting for? Let's go into the river for a swim!" Both Hikaru and Zul ran and jumped into the river after that.
As the tension dissipated, Shimizu's attention shifted to Eri's swimsuit. Her eyes lit up with pride. "That's it! The swimsuit I chose for you fits you perfectly!"
Eri blushed slightly, pleased by the compliment. "Yeah, thanks for it, Shimizu-chan. Zul said the same thing before."
Suddenly, Shimizu's gaze became more scrutinizing as she looked from Eri to Mizuha and back again.
"Wait a moment."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJj7X99jBm
Her eyes narrowed as she compared their figures.
Eri grew uncomfortable under the intense stare. "Umm, what are you looking at, Shimizu-chan?"
Mizuha sighed, recognizing Shimizu's behavior. "Wait, don't tell me you're comparing our breast sizes again?"
Shimizu’s eyes turned wide. "I can't believe it, they're so huge!"
She turned to Eri, curiosity overtaking her sense of propriety. "Eri, what's your cup size?"
Feeling embarrassed, Eri leaned in and whispered her answer to Shimizu and Mizuha. Their jaws dropped as Eri revealed her size was D.
"We lost the comparison."
"Eh, what happened, Shimizu-chan?"
Mizuha touched Eri's shoulder from behind.
"Just ignore her, Eri-chan. That's not important. Anyway, let’s join Hikaru and Zul in the river, okay?"
Before the conversation could continue down this awkward path, Hikaru's voice rang out from inside the river as he and Zul were already wading in it. "What are you guys waiting for? Let's get into the river!"
Shimizu approached them. "Ah, we're coming now!"
Shimizu and Eri waded into the river.
"Oh, this river feels so good."
"You're right, Shimizu-chan, it takes away the heat from the hot weather."
Mizuha, however, felt a bit scared to enter the water. I'm worried I might drown, she thought to herself.
"Hey, Mizuha, what are you waiting for? Get into the river!"
Eri waved her hand to Mizuha. "Mizuha-chan, come in quickly! It feels so refreshing in here!"
"Wait, Mizuha, it can't be... You can't swim?"
Mizuha’s face turned red. "Yes, it's embarrassing to admit, but I really can't swim."
Hikaru waded out of the river and approached Mizuha. "Here, Mizuha, take my hands. I'll help you into the river. Don't worry, it's not too deep."
"Um, thanks, Hikaru. I'll try my best."
"That's it, the boyfriend is coming to the rescue."
"Ah, shut up, Shimizu. You're so annoying."
Mizuha took Hikaru's hands and slowly moved into the river. "See, I told you it's not too deep. Try to float, but be careful with the rocks in the river. You might slip on them."
"Oh, the water feels so cold, but it's refreshing in this hot weather. And the water is so clear! I can see fish swimming around us."
Shimizu noticed that Mizuha was still holding Hikaru's hands and smirked. "Oh, how long do you two plan on holding hands?"
Mizuha and Hikaru abruptly pulled their hands apart, realizing they’d been holding them.
They quickly let go, feeling awkward.
Mizuha blushed. "Ah, sorry, I didn't realize."
"Same here, sorry."
Hikaru splashed water at her.
"Ah, Shimizu, why do you always tease me and Mizuha? I was just trying to help!"
"Ah, sorry, it's just a habit. Haha."
"Mizuha, are you okay now?"
"I think I'm okay now. Thanks for helping me, Hikaru."
"But please be careful. Don't go to the center of the river if you're not used to it. The center is deeper than the sides."
"Understood. Thanks for your concern. I'll be careful about it."
Mizuha moved towards Eri and Shimizu while Hikaru found a big rock to sit on.
As Mizuha approached her friends, Shimizu sent a splash towards Mizuha. "Hey, Mizuha! Take this!"
Mizuha responded with a soft chuckle and splashed back moderately.
"Hey, Shimizu, now you've done it—take this!" The splash not only hit Shimizu but also Eri.
"Geez, Mizuha-chan, you got me too."
"Sorry, sorry, I did it too strongly. Haha!"
"But this is really fun, right? Take this!" Her splashes matched her friends in enthusiasm.
Mizuha chuckled as the water hit her body. "That's cold!"
Shimizu sent another wave towards her friends. "This is the best!"
"Hey, Eri-chan, look! There's a group of fish swimming around us."
"What? Where?"
Mizuha pointed at the fish. "Over there, look!"
"You're right, there are many of them!"
As they continued their water play, the three friends laughed and chatted, enjoying the cool river and each other's company on this warm summer day.
Hikaru sat on a rock in the center of the river, smiling as he watched his female friends enjoy themselves.
Today's a nice day. It's been a while since I've gone on a picnic like this, he mused to himself.
"By the way, where did Zul go? I haven't seen him since we got into the river."
Suddenly, Zul emerged from the river in front of Hikaru, wearing swimming goggles over his eyes. "You called? Sorry, I was diving deeper in the river."
"Whoa, Zul! Don't just appear like that. You nearly gave me a heart attack."
"Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to shock you like that." He took off his goggles, placed them on top of his head, and sat beside Hikaru.
"Don't you want to dive into the river? It feels so good and cool inside."
"Thanks, but I think I'll pass on that."
"Today's a nice day, right? It's great we can go on a picnic like this."
Hikaru smiled. "You're right. I'm glad the five of us could come here today. I won't forget a day like this."
Zul chuckled at Hikaru's response.
"What's with that chuckle? It's rare to see you laughing like that."
"It's nothing. I just noticed you've been more cheerful and smiling recently compared to last year when we were in middle school."
"You think so? I never noticed."
"I think since Mizuha transferred to our school, her influence has slowly changed me and helped me forget the past, even though she somewhat resembles that person."
"Oh, that person, you mean... ah, sorry. I know you don't want to talk about it anymore."
"It's okay, Zul. That's already in the past."
"But you're right about Mizuha's influence. I think it's not only changed you but all of us."
"All of us? What do you mean?"
"You see, if not for Mizuha, we might not be close friends with Shimizu. Shimizu might still be isolating herself from others, and we might not be having a day like today as Shimizu planned. Also, thanks to her, Eri looks more cheerful now. I was really worried about Eri after her older sister passed away."
"I was concerned she looked down and sad, and her decision to change herself worried me because she overdid it until she became too timid and shy, unlike her past self."
"But since she's become friends with Mizuha and Shimizu, she's slowly changing and managing to balance herself, and she looks more cheerful with those two."
"You're right. Eri can even talk to me properly now, unlike before in middle school."
"So, Mizuha's influence has really changed all of us, huh?"
"Also, Zul, you've changed a bit too. You're more talkative recently. Has Mizuha's influence changed you as well?"
"You think so? I guess even a little of her influence might have changed me too. Haha."
Shimizu waved her hand to them. "Hey, both of you! What are you chatting about on that rock? Come play with this ball together!"
"Oh, looks like they're calling us. Let's go, Zul."
"You're right."
"Ah, we're coming now!" Both of them started to move towards Mizuha and the others.
At the same time, Zul and Hikaru glanced at each other, wondering where the ball came from.
By the way, where did they get that ball from? They both thought the same thing.
All of them played with the ball together until they decided to leave the river and change back into their normal clothes.
After changing, the group regrouped at the site. They returned the rented BBQ equipment to the administration office before discussing their day.
Shimizu felt excited. "Today was the best!"
Mizuha leaned in. "You're right. We should do this again next year."
"That's a great idea, Mizuha-chan."
Zul checked the time.403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglGWGplY2a
"What should we do? Our train won’t arrive for another hour."
The group debated their options.
Without hesitation, Mizuha suggested, "Hey guys, how about we explore the nearest town? I'm sure there are some interesting things we can buy."
"That's a nice idea, Mizuha. It's so rare for you to suggest something like this."
Hikaru leaned in. "Alright then, let's go explore the town until our train arrives."
"Yeah, agreed!"
As they were about to start walking, Mizuha suddenly stopped them. "Please wait a moment, you guys."
"Huh? What is it, Mizuha-chan?"
"Before we go, let's take a photo together here. I want to save this memorable day in a picture, and I'd also like to sketch it later as a drawing."
Shimizu was touched by Mizuha’s sentiment.
"Alright, let's take it together."
They asked a passerby to take their photo, with the river and mountains as their background.
Mizuha thanked the stranger who took their photo for them. "Thank you for taking it for us."
Checking the photo, Mizuha nodded approvingly. "Nice, this will do."
"I hope you can create a great drawing from this, Mizuha-chan."
Mizuha smiled. "Thanks, Eri-chan."
With their memento captured, the five friends started moving away from the riverside, heading towards the town.
As they walked, they chatted excitedly about what they might find in the local shops. Mizuha and Eri hoped to find some unique accessories or souvenirs, while Shimizu was more interested in trying local snacks. Zul and Hikaru were content to follow along, enjoying the company of their friends.
Shimizu pointed at a crowded shop. "What’s with that line?"
Mizuha felt curious. "What is going on there?"
Zul leaned in. "It's an ice cream shop. Look how popular it is—many people are lined up."
"Then how about we try it ourselves?"
All of them lined up to buy and try the ice cream.
Eri tasted the ice cream. "Mm, this is so delicious."
"That's right, this is the best."
"It's so delicious, that's why many people line up to buy it."
Mizuha turned to Hikaru. "Hikaru, what's your flavor?"
"Chocolate. Yours?"
"Mine is vanilla with a bit of cookies,"
Mizuha blushed. "Do you want to taste it a bit? It's delicious, you know."
Wait a moment, what am I doing? This might be an indirect kiss, Hikaru thought.
"Really? Can I taste it?"
Mizuha felt confused by Hikaru’s question. "What's the matter, Hikaru?"
"Oh, it's nothing... then let me taste a bit."
Hikaru then proceeded to taste it without hesitation.
"How about it?"
"Ah, you're right. It's so delicious."
"Then do you want to try my ice cream flavor too?"
"Is it okay?"
"Sure, go ahead and taste it."
Mizuha smiled. "Mm, delicious. It's sweeter than mine."
Hikaru smiled at Mizuha's joyful reaction to the ice cream. Both of them enjoyed their conversation about the ice cream.
Mizuha caught Shimizu’s smug grin aimed at her and Hikaru.
Mizuha turned to Shimizu. "What is it, Shimizu? Your smug smile feels so gross."
Shimizu continued eating her own ice cream. "No, it's nothing. I'm just happy to see you two, hehe."
This girl always makes fun of me when I have a conversation with Hikaru, Mizuha thought, feeling annoyed.
Both Zul and Eri smiled, looking at each other and at Mizuha and Shimizu's funny moment while enjoying their own ice cream.
Time passed as they explored the town, and their train finally arrived.
Hikaru pointed at the train. "Oh, it's finally here."403Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lavcJ5xO1
"Ready to return home?"
"No, not yet. Today I played like crazy—I don't want to return yet."
All of them laughed at what Shimizu said.
As they boarded the train, Mizuha sat by the window with Hikaru next to her. In front of her sat Shimizu, with Eri beside her. Zul sat next to Eri.
As the train moved towards their destination, Shimizu, Eri, and Zul fell asleep, exhausted. Only Mizuha and Hikaru remained awake.
Mizuha smiled. "They're all sleeping."
"You're right. Maybe they're exhausted from today. How about you, Mizuha? You can sleep too if you want. I'll wake you when we arrive."
"Thanks, but I'm not feeling sleepy at all."
"Oh, I see. Anyway, today was fun, right?"
"That's right. The BBQ, playing in the river, exploring the town, and eating ice cream—it was all fun. I think it was fun because we all went together. I'm glad I'm friends with you guys."
Mizuha... Hikaru thought, touched by her words.
"Me too. I'm also happy that we all became friends. Let's continue our friendship forever."
"Yes, let's make sure that happens."
Mizuha and Hikaru chatted about the best moments of the day's picnic while waiting to arrive at their destination.
Shimizu suddenly murmured in her sleep, "Don't leave me, Kita-kun."
Mizuha and Hikaru exchanged startled glances. "Wait, was she sleep-talking just now?"
"Yes, I heard it too. She was calling someone's name."
Who is this Kita-kun? Is this person important to Shimizu? Mizuha wondered.
Does Shimizu miss this person so much? She seemed down when she looked at me with Hikaru and Eri with Zul having fun together earlier.
Mizuha and Hikaru chose not to pry, respecting Shimizu’s privacy, and both of them continued chatting about their day until they arrived at the station.
Thirty minutes later, they finally arrived at their station, and they all separated and made their way to their own houses. As usual, Hikaru walked Mizuha home.
After walking Mizuha home, Hikaru prepared to leave her house. "See you later, Mizuha."
"See you too." Hikaru then walked to his house.
As Hikaru left, Mizuha stepped into her house. "I'm home."
"Oh, welcome back, my dear. So, how was your picnic today? Did you enjoy yourself?"
"Yes, today was so much fun. I have a lot to share with you, Mom."
"That's good. I can't wait to hear about it."
Mizuha showed her mother the photos and recounted the day’s highlights from the picnic with her friends, while her mother listened, smiling.
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