Chapter 49: The Beautiful Girl Goes to the Mountains (Part 1)

The sound of my alarm filled the room.

Morning already… I groggily checked the clock while still under the covers. It was just past six a.m.

"Mmm…"

I squirmed beneath the blanket. Normally, I wake up feeling refreshed and alert, but today I just want to stay wrapped up a little longer. For some reason, I can’t muster the will to get up—my body feels heavy.

We’re heading to the mountains today, so… did I get a bit of summer fatigue or something?

We called it a “camp,” but in truth, it wasn’t the kind where we’d pitch tents ourselves. We’d be staying in a cottage. Even the barbecue equipment—grills and all—was rented from the campsite. So really, it’s more like staying at a mountain lodge than an actual camping trip.

At first, we talked about doing a proper camping experience, but none of us owned any gear, and since we were taking the train, carrying everything would’ve been impossible anyway. In the end, we settled for “a night in the mountains.”

Still, since we’re going to a campsite facility, calling it “camping” feels close enough.

Even so, the idea of going somewhere with everyone was something I’d really been looking forward to. I got so excited last night that I probably overdid it and wore myself out. Seriously—getting tired before we even leave is such a waste.

Whatever the reason, I can’t just stay in bed. I get up and step down onto the floor.

When I stand, I feel a bit lightheaded, and my body’s strangely warm. Guess I’ll wash my face first and wake myself up.

After splashing water on my face in the washroom, I feel a lot more refreshed. My eyes are open now, and the fogginess has mostly lifted. Maybe I was just half-asleep. The hallway air cooled my body too—it must’ve been the heat from a humid summer night making me feel sluggish.

I go back to my room and change into my outfit for the day. I’d already laid everything out last night, so there’s no need to rush.

Since we’re going into the mountains, wearing a skirt is obviously out of the question. So I pair black tights with half-pants, a short-sleeved T-shirt, and bring along a long-sleeved shirt to wear on top if needed.

After breakfast and a quick check of my bags, I wait by the entrance for Ryoji.

We’ll be taking the bus since we’ve got luggage today. Everyone’s meeting up at the transfer station. Ryoji and I live close by, so we’re going together, while the others will join us at the platform where we change trains for the mountain line.

Before long, the doorbell rings—Ryoji’s here.

"Coming!"

I sling my bag over my shoulder and open the door.

"Yo. Morning. You look cute today."

"Yeah, yeah, cut it out. Let’s just head to the bus stop already."

That’s just Ryoji being Ryoji—he’s definitely joking. Not that I’d know how to handle it if he were serious, either. When I glance at him from the corner of my eye, he looks… a bit disappointed? Heh, I’m not the kind of girl who’ll blush and get flustered forever, you know.

The TV said it was already over thirty degrees, and judging by the heat, it’s no exaggeration. The sudden temperature shift from indoors makes me wobble a bit.

"Whoa, you okay?"

Ryoji peers into my face.

"Sorry, I’m fine. It’s just hotter than I expected, that’s all."

"You sure? Make sure you keep hydrated."

I nod at him. He’s always cracking pervy jokes, but I know he actually looks out for me too. I’ll have to be careful not to get heatstroke or anything.

"All right, let’s go! We’ll be in trouble if we miss the bus."

The two of us head for the bus stop.

It’s just me and Ryoji until we meet the others. One nice thing about him is that he’s easy to be around—even when it’s just the two of us, it’s never awkward.

By the time we finish joking about random stuff, we’ve already arrived at the meeting point.

Togo’s already there, waiting on the platform.

"Morning. Must be nice getting to come here with Ayu-chan."

After a short wait, Sakurako-chan and Moeka-chan show up too.

The five of us used to meet up every day when school was in session, but since summer break started, this is the first time we’ve all been together again.

With everyone gathered, we board the train and set off toward the mountains.

"Whoa, it’s so pretty inside!"

As soon as we stepped into the campsite cottage, Sakurako-chan let out a cheer.

The scent of wood filled the air—it felt so fresh and pleasant.

Following behind Sakurako-chan, we all filed into the cottage.

"Yeah, this looks really comfy," Ryoji said, nodding in approval as he looked around.

The log-style cottage had a big open room on the first floor, along with a small kitchen, a shower, and a toilet. Upstairs, there was just one room, with an open ceiling connecting both floors. The first floor had wooden flooring with matching chairs and a table, while the upstairs room had tatami mats and a built-in closet stocked with futons.

After dropping our bags, we all wandered around to check things out.

The shower room was pretty cramped—barely enough space for one person at a time. The mini-kitchen only had one stove burner and a small sink, probably just enough to boil water for instant noodles. The upstairs room, though, was quite spacious—perfect for everyone to crash together later.

"Hey, hey, I’m starving! There’s a café somewhere in the campsite, right? Let’s go check it out!"

"Oh, nice! I totally thought we were doomed to eat cup noodles," said Togo, perking up at Moeka-chan’s suggestion as she looked up from the map she’d been studying.

We’d actually been hoping to find a restaurant near the train station after getting off, but there was absolutely nothing around. So we ended up coming straight to the campsite. There was a shop that sold cup noodles, so we’d resigned ourselves to the idea that, worst case, that’d be our lunch.

But honestly, going all the way to the mountains only to eat cup noodles together felt kind of sad. So Moeka-chan’s discovery was a real lifesaver.

Everyone else seemed relieved too—no one objected to eating at the café. So, without wasting time, we headed out.

The campsite was nestled deep in the forest, so the sunlight was softer here and the air a little cooler. Of course, that’s only compared to standing on asphalt—it was still hot.

From the auto-camping area, we could see all sorts of colorful tents pitched across the grounds. The cheerful voices of kids echoed from the stream nearby. Clearly, the campsite was pretty packed this season. We were lucky to get a cottage at all—it had been the very last one, available only because of a last-minute cancellation.

The café Moeka-chan had found was crowded too, but we managed to squeeze in as a group of five. Good thing, because we were starving.

As expected from a campsite café, the menu mostly consisted of light meals, but the prices were surprisingly reasonable.

"So, how was the beach trip? Fun?" Togo asked once we’d finished ordering, glancing across the table at the three of us sitting opposite him.

"It was so much fun!" Moeka-chan replied with a bright grin.

"Yeah, totally. The sea was amazing. And Ayumi-chan’s swimsuit was super cute too," Sakurako-chan added, shooting a sly glance at Ryoji.

"Damn it! Why did I have to get stuck in remedial classes?!" Ryoji groaned, his voice full of regret. Well, I get it—missing out on seeing Sakurako-chan and the others in swimsuits must’ve been painful for him.

"That’s what you get for failing English," Togo said flatly, hitting him with brutal honesty.

He’d only skipped the beach because he felt bad leaving Ryoji behind, so really, he was just collateral damage in the whole thing.

Going to the beach with Yoshino-san and Aika-chan had been great, but honestly, I’d been looking forward to going with everyone too.

"Yoshino-san was so kind… I really envy people who have an older sister like her," I said, remembering Yoshino-san’s gentle smile. She was thoughtful, always noticing when something was wrong and looking out for everyone. She really was the kind of big sister anyone would wish for.

"Ehh, well, my sister’s way too naggy. If you want her that badly, you can have her," Sakurako-chan grumbled, puffing her cheeks a little.

Sakurako-chan spoke with a slightly exasperated expression. If she’s really offering, I’d gladly take that deal. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind making it official—contract signed and sealed. In exchange, I’ll give her Kaname. He’s been calmer since Dad scolded him the other day, but who knows when he’ll start acting up again.

"Ayumi-chan! Ayumi-chan! Have you been in touch with Aoi-kun since then?"

"Huh!? Oh, um, yeah. He sent me a few emails, so I replied."

So even after the beach trip, things between me and Aoi-kun hadn’t completely ended. That night, I thought his impression of me had probably taken a dive, so I was honestly surprised when he reached out afterward. I couldn’t just ignore his messages, so I replied, but… I still don’t know what I want to do about him.

Or maybe I do know, deep down—but deciding would make something feel final, and that vague sense of something ending just scares me.

"Hold on a sec, who the heck is this Aoi guy?" Ryoji stared at me, eyes wide.

So Moeka-chan still hasn’t texted Ryoji. She’d said she would back at the beach, but I guess she changed her mind. Can’t really blame her—he probably wouldn’t have reacted anyway.

"There was this boy who hit on Ayumi-chan!" Moeka-chan chimed in cheerfully.

"Wait, seriously!? Why didn’t you tell me sooner!?" Ryoji shouted, sounding genuinely offended.

It’s not exactly the kind of thing that needed an emergency report… Besides, even if I had told him, he was stuck in remedial classes. It’s not like he could’ve done anything about it.

"But you turned him down in the end, right?" Togo cut in. I wish he wouldn’t—this isn’t exactly a topic I enjoy revisiting. But I guess both guys and girls can’t resist a bit of gossip.

"Did I turn him down?" I murmured, uncertain even now.

"Uh, more like… overtime?" I answered vaguely when Sakurako-chan pressed the question.

Honestly, I didn’t really know myself. I’d panicked at the time, and the mood wasn’t exactly romantic. He didn’t confess, and I didn’t reject him either. What do you even call that kind of situation?

"‘Overtime’!? You mean the legendary princess who rejects every love letter and even in-person confessions—she’s in overtime?!" Ryoji gasped dramatically.

"That stupid rumor site still has a thread about me?" I sighed. I thought people would’ve gotten bored and moved on by now, but apparently it’s still going strong…

"So, are you going to date him, Ayu-chan?" Togo asked casually.

You really don’t need to care that much, you know. I couldn’t help feeling overwhelmed as everyone leaned in, eager for my answer.

"Um, not yet, I guess."

"‘Yet’!?" Ryoji and Togo yelled in perfect sync.

Why are you reacting to that!? I didn’t mean anything by it! Ugh, what a hassle…

"Aoi-kun seemed like a really nice guy though," Moeka-chan said brightly. "He was super kind to Ayumi-chan—and, most importantly, not a creep. That’s important, right?"

Yeah, she’s got a point there.

When I first became a girl, I didn’t mind it much if someone touched me—it was more of a “well, this is awkward” kind of thing. But as time passed, it started feeling… uncomfortable. Definitely not something I could just brush off anymore.

"Hey, come on, Minase. You guys used to mess around too!" Ryoji protested.

"Hehe, not anymore! We’ve turned over a new leaf! Right, Sakurako-chan?" Moeka-chan said proudly.

"Eh!? Oh, y-yeah, that’s right!" Sakurako-chan stammered, caught off guard.

Her hesitation made me nervous. I—I’m trusting you here, okay!?

"What the…? Have I been left hanging here?" Ryoji muttered, turning to Togo like a soldier seeking backup.

"Don’t look at me. I’ve never touched anyone in the first place," Togo replied calmly. "Still, I guess I’ll try to watch what I say more carefully."

Clearly, he didn’t want to be lumped into Ryoji’s category.

"I see… Then I too shall stop touching people!" Ryoji declared proudly.

"Uh, Ryoji, that’s… kind of the bare minimum," I pointed out with a sigh. "You don’t get points for that."

Before the conversation could spiral any further, our food arrived—saving me from more interrogation.

And just like that, the topic shifted. Thank goodness.

Everyone had ordered either burgers or sandwiches, and the portions were massive. My burger alone was enormous—the patty was thick, the lettuce piled high, and it looked delicious, but… for something listed as a “light meal,” it felt ridiculously heavy.

The moment Togo muttered, "Whoa, that’s huge," everyone’s attention snapped to the food, and the earlier topic was mercifully forgotten.

Honestly, I was grateful for the distraction.
…Though, to be fair, that burger was so heavy I could barely move for a while after finishing it.