Departure

“No forgotten items? Got your change of clothes? Money? Tickets?”

“It’s all good. We checked yesterday, didn’t we?”

“Ah! I forgot my charger!”

“I packed it for you, so you’re fine.”

“Whoa! Thanks!”

On the day of the trip, when I went to pick them up at the Takanishi house, Manami was bustling about in a frenzy.

“Sorry for making you look after both of them, okay? Aisa might seem calm, but she barely slept last night, so—”

“Mom! You don’t need to say unnecessary stuff!”

Holding her face and smiling with an “Oh my,” Aisa and Manami’s mother got a red-faced protest from Aisa.

“I slept like a log, though!”

“Manami passed out mid-prep like her strings got cut…”

“Got it…”

The vivid image of Manami sleeping, slumped over her suitcase, popped into my head.

Guess that’s why she’s bursting with energy now.

“Haha! Kouki-nii, you didn’t forget anything, right?”

“As long as I’ve got the tickets, I can buy whatever else I need there, so I’m good.”

I said that to calm the fidgety Manami. Well, Aisa probably has everything covered anyway. I glanced at her, and she was smiling.

“Alright! Let’s hit the road!”

“Hey, no running.”

“Hehe. Take care of those two, Kouki-kun.”

And so, we were sent off, hopped on a bus, then took a train from the nearest station. Once we settled in our seats, I noticed Aisa looking tired, maybe from the luggage or lack of sleep.

“If you’re sleepy, you can nap, you know?”

“Yeah, Onee-chan! We gotta eat station bento when we switch to the express train!”

Manami jumped on my concern with her own weirdly enthusiastic version of worry.

In response, Aisa gave a soft smile and said,

“Hehe… alright, I’ll sleep a bit then.”

Aisa gently rested her head on my shoulder.

“What’s that about…”

“Didn’t say a thing.”

“Fine… whatever.”

She grabbed my arm tightly and… before I knew it, she was breathing steadily, fast asleep.

“She’s really worn out, huh…”

“Well, you know Onee-chan—she’s the type who can’t sleep before a field trip.”

“Makes sense…”

Knowing she’s this excited makes me happy. Not that I’m not excited myself… though, yeah, I’m a bit short on sleep too.

“Hehe. Wanna sleep too, Kouki-nii?”

Manami softly patted my hair, and somehow, that alone made me drowsy.

“Guess I will…”

The transfer station’s the final stop, so we’ll wake up no matter what…

“Goodnight, you two.”

With an unusually gentle smile, Manami held my hand, and my consciousness slipped away.

◇

“Alright, time for station bento!”

Manami energetically tugged at my hand, dragging her suitcase with the other.

“No need to rush. We’ve got plenty of time.”

“No way! The bento might escape!”

“It’s not going anywhere…”

Aisa, with an exasperated look, matched Manami’s pace.

I’m probably making the same face.

“Over there! Up the stairs!”

Before she finished speaking, Manami hoisted her suitcase and bolted up the stairs.

She’s way too fast for someone carrying that much luggage…

“Shall we go too?”

“Yeah… wait, Kouki?”

Manami’s Manami, so I wasn’t worried about her, but I could tell Aisa was already worn out from her heavy load. I figured I’d carry it up the stairs for her.

“You okay?”

“Well, I’m a guy, after all.”

“Right… thanks.”

Seeing Aisa’s cheeks flush as she thanked me made me glad I offered.

The real challenge starts now, though…

“Phew…”

“You alright?”

I’d look pretty lame if she’s worried about me after I took her luggage.

Out of breath, I finally made it up the stairs, carrying both suitcases.

“Thanks… but don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I’m fine. Just a bit tired, that’s all.”

“I’ll get you a drink.”

“No, it’s—”

Before I could refuse—

“Hehe, from Onee-chan!”

“Cold!”

But that chill felt so good.

“Manami…”

She handed me cold tea, saying it’s from Aisa, without me saying a word. I can’t compete with Manami. Not to mention, she dashed up the stairs with her suitcase and isn’t even out of breath…

◇

“The sea!”

“Feels like we did this recently, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah, things are a bit hazy, but we’ve been to the sea a few times these past few months.”

Waves crashed onto the sandy shore.

On the express train, we laughed watching Manami devour her beloved station bento, played cards she brought (I got a bit motion sick and got fussed over), and passed through several tunnels before reaching the station near the inn.

A short walk from there, and we arrived at a quiet beach.

“Is this, like, the inn’s private beach?”

The inn was just a short walk from the station.

Manami was already entranced by the sea stretching out behind it.

“It’s the sea! Onee-chan! Kouki-nii!”

“Check-in first, okay?”

“We should put our luggage down too.”

“Got it!”

Aisa and I chased after Manami, who’d already rushed toward the entrance.

“Welcome!”

“Reservation under Fujino.”

“Yes, party of three. Your room is on the fifth floor. Here’s the dining schedule.”

While listening to explanations about the dining area and the public bath, I filled out the forms and took the key.

Manami was fidgeting the whole time and vanished to the souvenir corner at some point, but oh well.

After the explanations wrapped up…

“The indoor clothing is over there. Please choose what you like. The sashes are in your room.”

“Onee-chan, this would look so good on you!”

The moment the explanation ended, Manami, who’d somehow returned, grabbed a yukata from the indoor clothing selection. Laughing at her free-spirited nature, Aisa and I walked over.

“They’ve got quite a variety, huh.”

There were over a dozen types of yukata. The men’s options only varied by size, no patterns, so I grabbed an L and joined Aisa and Manami.

“Kou-nii, which one do you think’s better?”

Manami holds up a yellow yukata and a pink one, pressing them against her body as she asks for my opinion.

“Hmm… if it’s Manami, maybe pink?”

Manami’s got such a refined face that she looks good in anything, but pink just feels like her color.

“I was actually asking for Onee-chan… but oh well! Hehe!”

“Oh, was that it…?”

“Then maybe I’ll go with pink too.”

Aisa grabs a pink yukata as if to compete.

I always pictured her in light blue, but seeing her with something outside her usual vibe has a certain… charm that hits hard.

“What’s that look?”

“No, just… it’s unexpectedly nice.”

Honestly, something outside her usual image has this surprising appeal, but her usual style suits her perfectly too.

“Alright, let’s head to the room!”

“Hold on, hold on, why are you heading for the stairs?”

“Huh?”

Our room’s on the fifth floor. The lobby’s on the second.

And she’s still lugging her carry-on case. I really wish she’d let us use the elevator.

But Manami turns back with a genuinely puzzled look.

Her expression practically screams, But this way’s faster!

◇

“Onee-chan! Kouki-nii! Hurry up!”

After dropping our stuff in the room, Manami bolts out before even changing, and we follow her to the beach.

It’s not exactly swimming season, but since we’re here, we figured we’d at least dip our toes in.

“Ooh? The water’s kinda warm!”

Manami’s already kicked off her shoes and is playing with the waves, urging us to hurry up and join her.

“Guess I’ll leave my phone behind…”

“Yeah…”

Just dipping our feet at the shoreline… that’s the plan, but with Manami involved, our clothes are probably getting soaked.

We left our bags in the room, and since we’re heading to the hot springs soon, it’s fine if these clothes get wet. So, we bundle up anything that’d be ruined if it got damp and set it aside.

Luckily, the beach is deserted, so we don’t have to worry about thieves.

Aisa and I gather our stuff…

“Kouki, how about this: first one to reach Manami gets to make the other do one thing they say. Deal?”

“That came out of nowhere…”

When Aisa says stuff like that, it’s usually Manami’s scheming at work…

“Alright, go!”

“Huh!?”

Aisa darts off before I’m even ready.

Crap. If this is Manami’s idea, who knows what they’ll make me do!? Worst case, they might even suggest something crazy like sharing a private bath!

“Hey, wait up!”

“Haha! I might actually win this one!”

In this ultra-short sprint, starting late is a death sentence.

But…

“Oh? A race? I’m not losing!”

“What? Manami!?”

Guess it wasn’t planned, because now Manami’s running too.

Naturally, once Manami gets going…

“Ugh… the waves make it so hard to run… huff… huff…”

Aisa can’t keep up.

“Hahaha!”

But neither can I…

“A tie, huh?”

“First to tag Manami wins!”

“You’re still going!?”

Aisa takes off again, refusing to give up.

“I’m not losing!”

Manami starts running too, looking like she’s having the time of her life.

She’s already knee-deep in the waves, moving so fast it’s like she’s skimming across the water.

Meanwhile, I’m struggling to stay upright as the waves hit my ankles.

“Wait, if I’m chasing Manami, I’ve gotta go that far out…”

I’m definitely getting swept by the waves…

And then…

“Here I go!”

“Aisa!?”

Just as Aisa charges toward the deeper water with determination…

“Whoa, run away!”

“What!?”

A huge wave rolls in. Manami zips back faster than the wave, but Aisa, who was running toward it, doesn’t make it in time.

“Eek!?”

The knee-high wave throws Aisa off balance.

And right then…

“Whoa there…”

Sadly, I don’t have the athletic prowess to swoop in and catch her…

“Manami…”

“Hehe, that was close, huh, Onee-chan?”

Manami appears like a hero, catching Aisa in her arms.

Aisa looks at me and grins.

“I win.”

“What!? That counts?”

“I tagged her.”

She got me…

But seeing Aisa’s expression and her playful antics, she’s a bit more childish today than usual, and it’s nice to see her so relaxed and having fun.

As I’m thinking that, Manami looks out at the ocean and says,

“Oh, Onee-chan, that wave looks even bigger than the last one!”

“Huh?”

By the time we look, the wave’s already right in front of us.

“Hold me tight, okay, Manami!?”

“Hmm… even I might not handle that one!”

Despite her words, Manami’s grinning ear to ear.

“What…?”

The next moment…

—SPLASH!

“Whoa!”

“Eek…”

Manami dives into it like she’s having the time of her life, half on purpose, while Aisa gets dragged along, and they both end up drenched.

“Hahaha!”

“This is not funny!”

Good thing the wave wasn’t big enough to knock me over, so I’m just watching from the sidelines…

“Kouki’s the only one who’s dry. That’s not fair, is it?”

“Huh…?”

Aisa, soaking wet and coming back toward me, says something ominous.

“Yeah, yeah! Kou-nii should get wet with us!”

Of course, Manami jumps on board…

“Stop… wait… argh!”

—SPLASH!

It wasn’t the wave this time—Aisa and Manami tackle me, and all three of us end up soaked together.

◇

“You okay?”

“Yeah… we got a bit too carried away.”

After wringing out our clothes as best we could to avoid dripping all over the inn and wiping ourselves down, Aisa and I sit on the beach.

Manami, still not done playing, is back at it with the waves, but we told her not to get her clothes any wetter.

She’s got some serious energy…

Anyway, about earlier.

“So, what’s the penalty game gonna be?”

“Hehe… what should I pick?”

Maybe it’s her wet hair or that mischievous look in her eyes, but Aisa’s smile has this alluring vibe as she gazes at me.

“After we hit the baths and head back to the room, maybe you can keep me company for a bit.”

“Keep you company?”

“It’s a surprise for when we get back.”

With that, Aisa stands up.

“Manami! Time to hit the baths!”

“Baths!? I’m coming!”

Manami charges through the water toward us, kicking up waves.

She reaches us in no time, shaking off her wet feet like a dog shivering to fling off water droplets.

Aisa’s words are nagging at me, but if she’s not spilling the details, there’s not much I can do…

Well, it doesn’t seem like the worst-case scenario—like her dragging me into a bath together—so I’ll just call it good for now.