The group left the beach as evening settled in, each heading to their room to freshen up. The girls—Mizuha, Eri, and Shimizu—relaxed after their baths, tidying up and chatting casually.
As Mizuha was brushing her hair, her phone buzzed with a message from Hikaru.
"Hey, Mizuha, let's go to dinner later with all of us—it's included in the vacation package."
"Huh, really?" Mizuha said, attracting Shimizu and Eri's attention.
"What is it, Mizuha-chan?"
"Yeah, you suddenly started talking out of nowhere."
"Hikaru said the resort is preparing a dinner buffet for all of us, and it's included in the vacation package."
"Wow, that's really nice."
Shimizu stretched her arms. "Perfect timing. I'm starving."
Hikaru then sent another message to Mizuha:
"Meet us in front of our room in ten minutes. We're going together, okay?"
Mizuha replied to his message. "Understood, I'll meet you in 10 minutes."
The trio finished getting ready and prepared to go to dinner.
Shimizu got impatient. "Come on, guys. I'm really hungry now."
"Yes, I know. Please wait a moment."
"Okay, I'm done."
Eri smoothed her dress before heading to the door. "Let's go then."
The girls left their room and walked down the hallway to the boys' door, where Hikaru and Zul were waiting.
Hikaru complained. "You girls took forever!"
Mizuha chuckled. "Well, you guys were late before, so this time it's our turn. It's only fair, right?"
"Yeah, we had to look presentable, unlike you two."
"Then, what are we waiting for? We're all here already, let's just get to the food," Shimizu interjected, stepping ahead eagerly.
After arriving at the resort dining hall, they were all impressed. The buffet spread was as impressive as they'd hoped. The aroma of freshly cooked dishes filled the air.
Shimizu got amazed. "Wow, they weren't kidding. This is a feast!"
She then grabbed a plate and headed straight for the grilled seafood.
Eri followed with a polite nod. "It all looks so delicious."
The group filled their plates and found a table near the large windows. The gentle glow of lanterns lit up the dining hall as they chatted and enjoyed the meal.
After they had finished eating, Shimizu leaned back in her chair with a mischievous grin. "Okay, everyone, I've got an idea for our next activity."
Mizuha raised an eyebrow. "What are you plotting now, Shimizu?"
Shimizu stood up. "You'll see! Let's follow me."
The group followed her out, their curiosity piqued. Behind the resort, the jungle loomed in the moonlight, its shadows deep and mysterious.
Shimizu turned to face them with an excited expression. "It's time for a test of courage!"
Mizuha tilted her head. "A test of courage? You came up with this just now, didn't you?"
"Of course! It's too early to sleep, and this place is perfect."
Hikaru turned to Mizuha. "Oh, it looks nice. I'm interested in it. What do you think, Mizuha?"
"Well, it's fine for me, so count me in too."
Meanwhile, Zul comforted Eri, who looked a bit scared about doing it. "Eri, are you okay with this?"
Eri’s voice shook. "It looked a bit scary, but I will try my best."
"Don't push yourself, you can decline if you don't want to do it."
"It's okay, Zul. You don't need to worry about me."
"Well, if you're fine with it, then it can't be helped. Anyway, if you're scared, just stay with me, okay?"
After hearing what Zul said, Eri felt a bit calmer and said she was ready to do it as well. They felt excited as they prepared for the challenge.
Shimizu volunteered to go first and said, "This is so easy. I have nothing to be scared of inside this forest." She disappeared into the forest with confident steps.
After five minutes, it was Zul and Eri's turn to follow in Shimizu's footsteps. Zul then said to Eri, "Eri, hold my hand and don't let go." They went forward, their voices echoing through the trees.
Finally, after another 5 minutes, it was Mizuha and Hikaru's turn. Hikaru said to Mizuha, "Let's go, Mizuha," and Mizuha nodded and smiled in response. "Yes, let's go," she replied. They mustered their courage and ventured into the forest.
"Umm, Mizuha, are you okay with this kind of thing?"
"Do you mean, like ghosts, spirits, and stuff?"
"Yeah, I was just thinking, you seem really calm."
"Ah, umm, sometimes I get scared too, I guess, but if I look calm, I'm sure it's because you're by my side."
Hikaru blushed when he heard that from Mizuha—then realized it was just his imagination.
"It's because there are horror movies that are scarier than anything in reality."
"O-oh?" Hikaru replied, not expecting that response, which was actually different from his imagination just now.
What the hell was I thinking earlier? Hikaru thought with a sigh about his thoughts on Mizuha.
"Should we go?"
"Y-yeah."
As they were going deeper into the forest, the piercing scream shattered the silence, shocking them.
"Kyaa...!!!" Hikaru stopped after hearing that scream. "Huh!?"
"What's wrong?"
"I think I heard something..."
Suddenly, the wind blew from ahead of them, and both of them looked at each other. They heard the scream again.
"That was..."
"Yes, that was Eri-chan's voice. Something must have happened to her."
"Let's go after her." Hikaru then grabbed Mizuha's hand, running towards the sound, fueled by their concern.
They arrived at an open ground and found a small lake.
Eri was in tears, shaken by Shimizu's prank.
Zul comforted her with soothing words. Shimizu, realizing the impact of her actions, felt a tinge of remorse.
Zul's stern voice cut through the tension when he reprimanded Shimizu for her thoughtlessness.
Zul yelled at Shimizu, "Don't pull something like this, Shimizu. Look what you've done."
Shimizu had suddenly jumped in front of them and snarled, shocking and scaring Eri.
Shimizu chuckled. "Sorry, sorry! I didn't realize my pranks could scare people."
Eri shouted while clinging to Zul, "Shimizu-chan, you idiot!"
Shimizu bowed her head and apologized to Eri, "I'm sorry. I won't do that again."
Hikaru and Mizuha laughed after witnessing Shimizu's antics.
"Geez, I thought something happened to you guys. It was just Shimizu's prank, apparently."
"Wow, Zul was really upset just now."
"Yeah, it's been a while since we've seen him upset like that."
Suddenly, Hikaru noticed the small lake in front of them. "Wow, I never thought there was a lake around this area."
With fireflies glowing around them, the group felt calm as the tiny lights flitted through the air.
"Mizuha, look, the fireflies are surrounding us."
"Yeah, it's so beautiful," Mizuha said, looking at the fireflies.
Mizuha, captivated by the scene, captured the moment in a photograph, preserving the memory.
Eri turned to Zul. "Wow, there are so many of them."
"Yeah, you're right. They're everywhere."
"Look, Zul, one of them is flying on your shoulder," said Eri, pointing at Zul's shoulder.
"Ah, I didn't realize it."
In that moment, Shimizu looked at Mizuha and Hikaru and noticed that they were still holding hands from their sudden approach earlier.
I see, this happened too earlier today, thought Shimizu.
She grinned. "Oh, we have some interesting things happening here."
Hikaru turned to Shimizu. "Huh, what is it, Shimizu? What are you grinning about?"
"Mmm, it's nothing. I'll keep quiet about this one until you realize it too."
Hikaru was confused by Shimizu's words. "Huh!?"
Mizuha, captivated by the ethereal scene, did not realize that she was still holding Hikaru's hand. Hikaru was equally unaware.
After they finished watching the fireflies, Mizuha suddenly noticed she was still holding Hikaru's hand and spoke awkwardly.
"Hikaru, our hands, they're still..." Mizuha and Hikaru blushed and let go of each other's hands. "Sorry, I held your hand for too long. Did it hurt?"
Mizuha, blushing, said, "No, it's okay. It didn't hurt at all."
Hikaru turned to Shimizu. "Shimizu, is this what you were grinning about earlier?"
Shimizu pretended not to have seen anything earlier. "Who knows? I didn't see anything."
Geez, this girl... Hikaru thought.
After watching the fireflies and the tranquil lake, Hikaru suggested, "Shall we head back to the hotel now?" The rest of the group nodded in assent.
As they walked back, they took a detour along the side of the sea. The moonlight cast a gentle glow on the waves, creating a shimmering path beneath their feet. The sea breeze was refreshing, carrying the salty scent of the ocean and making their hair dance lightly.
Eri was amazed. "Wow, it's so beautiful."
"I love the sound of the waves."
As they continued along the shore, they noticed other people and tourists enjoying the night as well.
Some were strolling along the beach like they were, while others had set up small barbecues, the scent of grilled food wafting through the air.
The scene was lively yet peaceful, a perfect ending to their adventurous day.
They walked on, occasionally exchanging friendly greetings with other beachgoers. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and the soft hum of conversations, making them feel part of a larger, joyous community.
As they neared the resort, the lights from the hotel grew brighter, contrasting with the moonlit beach. Mizuha looked around at her friends, feeling a deep sense of contentment. The day had been full of surprises and excitement, and the night was the perfect calm ending to it all.
"Today was really great, right?"
Hikaru, walking beside her, heard her and nodded. "Yeah, it was. Let's make the most of the rest of our vacation too."
After arriving in front of their respective room doors, everyone paused briefly.
"Okay, see you guys tomorrow," Hikaru said, before entering his room with Zul.
"See you tomorrow." The girls entered their room as well.
Shimizu immediately jumped onto the sofa. "Ah, I'm so tired."
Eri pouted, still upset with Shimizu. "Of course you're tired, especially after you almost gave me a heart attack earlier!"
"Eri, are you still angry at me about that?"
Eri crossed her arms. "Of course I am! You nearly gave me a heart attack, Shimizu-chan, you dunce."
"Sorry, once again, I'm really sorry about that." Shimizu apologized sincerely, sitting up to face Eri.
Mizuha, sitting on another sofa, said, "Well, so much happened today; of course, it made all of us tired."
"Yes, you're right about that."
"By the way, this somehow reminds me of when we had a sleepover at my house back then."
Shimizu pointed to Mizuha. "Yes, that was when our sensei here was teaching us our weakest subject."
Mizuha chuckled. "Who was your sensei?"
"That's right. If not for Mizuha-chan teaching us earlier, we might not have gotten good results in our exam back then. Thanks for that, Mizuha-chan."
Mizuha blushed. "Why are you bringing that up suddenly? Both of you are making me embarrassed."
Shimizu chuckled. "Look, she's blushing hearing that."
"Geez, both of you, enough with it." They all laughed together about that.
Suddenly, Eri was yawning.
"Feeling sleepy already, Eri-chan?"
"Yes, I'm already out of energy."
"Then let's go to sleep." The three changed into their pajamas and tidied themselves before going to sleep.
Mizuha turned to Shimizu, who was standing beside the curtain. "Shimizu, can you pull that curtain?"
"Okay, I'm done. Let's go to sleep."
But after she pulled the curtain, both Mizuha and Eri were suddenly shocked, looking like they had seen a ghost.
"Erk—"
Shimizu looked at them, noticing how pale they had become, confused and alarmed. "What's wrong, both of you?"
Mizuha whispered, her voice trembling. "Shii—Shimizu, behind you."
"What is it, behind me?" Shimizu then turned around in confusion.
Eri’s eyes widened with fear. "It, it is on the curtain."
"Curtain…?"
Shimizu turned back and saw a single cockroach stuck on the curtain behind her. Her composure instantly shattered.
Shimizu screamed loudly. "Wargh, it's a cockroach! When did it get inside here?"
She turned to Mizuha in panic and lunged desperately. "Mi...mizuha, do something."
Mizuha, however, offered no comfort. "No way, I'm not good with bugs either, especially this one."
Suddenly, the cockroach took flight, zigzagging around the room. "Wargh, it's flying! This is not good!"
The trio immediately went into full-blown panic mode, running and screaming.
The cockroach then flew toward Shimizu, and she shouted, "Wargh, why is it flying over me?" while running away from it.
She hid behind a closet to avoid it. "Is this cockroach in Kamikaze mode or something?"
Shimizu exclaimed, imagining they were in a war zone with the cockroach as an enemy plane.
"Everyone get your head down!"
The cockroach flew around the room like a military plane before heading toward Mizuha.
Shimizu shouted. "Private Mizuha, the enemy plane is flying toward you!"
"What?"
"No! It's flying toward me now!" Mizuha cried, protecting herself with the pillow beside her. The cockroach hit the pillow and bounced toward Eri.
Mizuha warned. "Eri-chan, be careful, it's flying toward you!"
"Kyaa! Get it away from me!" She closed her eyes and accidentally knocked the flying cockroach with the smartphone she had been holding to protect herself.
"Punch!" The cockroach took a direct hit from Eri's smartphone. It fell down and stopped moving after being hit.
"Eh...?"
Mizuha and Shimizu said in unison, looking at it.
Eri, confused, slowly opened her eyes. "What is it, you two? Why did you turn silent all of a sudden?"
Mizuha pointed at the motionless cockroach on the floor. "Eri-chan, look at that."
Eri looked in the direction. "Huh!? What is it?"
"Eh, when did it fall down like that?"
"You did it. You took down that cockroach with just one hit."
Mizuha and Shimizu celebrated their victory over the cockroach by hugging Eri.
"Yeah, thanks Eri. You're our hero!"
"You managed to end this war."
Eri was confused. "Eh...? Did I hit it?"
Shimizu stood up, looked at the cockroach, and said, "Hahaha, take that, you stupid bug! How dare you make all of us scared earlier. We have our heroes with us tonight."
"You're just brave talking like that after it's not moving anymore."
"Who cares? It's our victory, right?"
"Then, Shimizu, what are you waiting for? Take it and throw it outside."
Shimizu protested. "Eh, why me?"
"Well, you're the nearest one to it."
"No, no, even if it's not moving anymore, I don't want to touch it. You handle it, okay."
"No, never. I'm scared of it too. What if it's still alive and moves suddenly?"
"Geez, not you too."
Mizuha and Shimizu turned to Eri. "Then how about you, Eri, Eri-chan?"
Eri, shaking, covered her head with a blanket. "I don't want to do it... I don't want to do it."
Even our hero doesn’t want to do it, they thought.
"Then what should we do now about it?"
Suddenly, they heard someone knock at the door.
"Huh, what now!?"
"Who could be coming at this time?"
"You guys, open the door. It's us."
It was Hikaru, knocking on their door.
"Huh!? Is that Hikaru?" Mizuha said before immediately approaching the door and opening it.
Standing in front of her were Hikaru and Zul, their faces showing concern. "Hikaru, Zul, what's wrong? Why are you here at this time?"
"We heard some noise from your room earlier. Did something bad happen?"
"Well, actually..." Mizuha began telling them about the situation that had occurred earlier.
Hikaru laughed. "Hahaha, seriously, you guys were having a war with a cockroach earlier."
Shimizu protested. "What's so funny, Hikaru? You don't understand how scared we were. What if the same thing happened to you?"
Mizuha leaned in. "That's right. It was even more terrifying when it started flying around inside the room."
Meanwhile, Zul sat beside Eri, petting her head to comfort her after the cockroach incident.
Eri was still shaking and traumatized. "It was so scary earlier."
"Don't worry, Eri. It was just a cockroach. It wasn't going to hurt you."
If this had been the old her, I'm sure she would have hit it with something and killed it herself, Zul thought, smiling.
"So where's the cockroach from earlier?"
Mizuha pointed at the dead cockroach. "Over there."
"Hikaru, please get rid of it. We don't even want to touch it because it's disgusting."
"Geez, you guys are hopeless."
He then took the dead cockroach with his bare hand, holding it by its antennae, opened the window, and threw it out.
"See, it wasn't that hard," he said, closing the window.
Both Mizuha and Shimizu clapped their hands for Hikaru. "Oh, so typical of Hikaru."
"Yes, you even picked it up with your bare hands without feeling anything."
"Well, it was already dead. No need to be scared."
Hikaru chuckled at Shimizu. "I can't believe someone like you was scared of it. I thought you were never scared of anything."
"Sorry about that, but I really can't handle bugs."
"By the way, how did you kill it if you were so scared?"
"Well, Eri-chan accidentally knocked and killed it with her smartphone earlier."
Zul turned to Eri. "Really!? I can't believe you're the one who knocked it out."
"Well, it was just an accidental hit."
They all laughed together as they continued talking about it afterward.
Suddenly, Hikaru yawned, feeling sleepy. "Ahhhh... I feel sleepy. Maybe I'm too tired from today. Let's go, Zul. Back to our room."
"Yeah, you're right. I'm also feeling sleepy now. Let's go."
"Then, Eri, see you tomorrow."
"See you later."
"Thanks for checking on us, Hikaru," Mizuha said, standing in the doorway as Hikaru and Zul left the girls' room.
Hikaru yawned. "It was just a small matter, nothing special… aah…"
"Okay, Mizuha. See you tomorrow. I really want to sleep right now," Hikaru said, waving his hand as he moved to his room.
"See you tomorrow too," Mizuha said, waving back and closing the door.
After that, they all went to sleep, exhausted from the first day of their vacation.
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To be continued…..Part 4
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