Chapter 35

In my personal opinion, summer break for college students is synonymous with travel.

Compared to high school, you have more money, and unlike working adults, you have plenty of free time. Domestic trips are a given, and if you’re feeling ambitious, going abroad is easy too. I’m sure everyone’s heard the advice, 'Travel overseas while you’re still in college!' at least once.

In fact, at my university, post-break conversations are always filled with stories like, 'I went here!' or 'I visited that theme park!' Last year, people were constantly talking about trips to Hawaii or amusement parks.

Every year, listening to those conversations made me painfully aware of how empty my own summer breaks were. Back then, the loneliness of being alone felt twice as heavy.

…Well, long story short, going on a summer trip has always been a bit of a personal dream of mine.

"So, about the trip—where should we go?"

I spread out a travel brochure on the table so Yuu could see it clearly. It was titled "Summer Break for College Students" and featured info on various tourist spots, from theme parks to hot spring resorts.

Three days had passed since we returned from my parents’ place. Now that we’d settled back in, I decided it was time to plan the trip I’d been thinking about for a while. I’d picked up this brochure at campus earlier.

"...There’s a lot to choose from," Yuu murmured, scanning the pages. She’d been acting a little off these past few days, but she seemed fine now.

"Which ones are popular?"

"The standard picks are around here."

I flipped to the page showcasing theme parks—specifically, the largest one in Japan, located in the Kanto region. The brochure even noted it as the top choice among college students.

"...Huh." Yuu leaned in curiously. I’d been there with my family before and had a great time. I was sure she’d enjoy it too.

"...W-Wait, n-not there!"

"Huh? Why not?"

Suddenly, Yuu’s face turned red as she shook her head vigorously.

…Guess she’s still not completely back to normal.

Ever since the train ride home, Yuu had been sporadically acting strange. Just two days ago, she’d buried her face in her hands and started squirming like a worm.

…What on earth happened? I’d tried asking once, but she just blushed and clammed up.

"I-I think… this one looks better."

"That’s… a hot spring resort?"

She was pointing at an article about a famous hot spring town further west. …Hot springs, huh?

A little more low-key than I’d imagined, but not a bad idea. I’d always preferred relaxing over running around. The brochure even had a photo of people soaking their feet in a rotemburo (outdoor bath) while wearing yukata. Apparently, you could stroll around the town in yukata too.

The idea of exploring souvenir shops and hopping between foot baths with Yuu sounded fun.

…And, well, I wouldn’t mind seeing Yuu in a yukata.

"Let’s go with this one, then."

"Y-Yeah. That’s good."

I folded the corner of the page to mark it. …Might as well book a nice ryokan while I’m at it. I’ll keep it a surprise for Yuu.

A quick glance showed some pricier options, including rooms with private open-air baths. If Yuu knew, she’d insist on something cheaper out of politeness. But I wanted us to enjoy a proper trip together.

"Alright, let’s get ready. I wanna head out soon—you free?"

"...? Yeah, but where to?"

Prepping for a trip involves a lot: booking lodgings, arranging transport, researching the destination, ensuring we can stay in touch, packing clothes…

But there was one thing I’d decided to tackle first.

"We’re buying you a smartphone."

Having no way to communicate during the trip would be a disaster. Better to get her one now so she can get used to it.