Prologue
"Hayato-kun was so disappointed, wasn’t he? Fufu, did you want to go to the hot springs with us that badly?"
Her teasing words made my heart skip a beat, but I nodded. No point in hiding it now, right?
"Well… I was looking forward to it in a lot of ways."
"I knew it. But you know? Aina, Mom, and I feel the same way. We want to make memories with you, Hayato-kun… We’re just as eager to spend fun times together."
Knowing that Arisa and the others were looking forward to it too… I mean, I had a feeling, but hearing they feel the same way makes me really happy.
"By the way, I was kinda pathetically moping about the hot spring trip being postponed."
"Oh my…"
Yeah, I’m just gonna spill everything.
At my words, Arisa blinked in surprise for a moment before her shoulders started shaking with laughter. Uh, was it that funny?
"Sorry for laughing so suddenly. I was disappointed too… but Aina was beyond disappointed."
"Really?"
"Really. The moment the postponement was confirmed, she let out this huge wail that could’ve been heard by the whole neighborhood… Oh, maybe I should make it a quiz. What do you think she said?"
"…Hmm?"
I stepped back from Arisa, crossing my arms to think.
What would Aina say? A few possibilities popped into my head, but I couldn’t narrow it down to one with confidence… What could it be?
When I looked at Arisa, urging her to tell me, she spilled the beans.
"‘I was planning all sorts of naughty pranks on Hayato-kun! I was so ready, and now this?! It’s not fair!’ Something like that."
"…?!"
Naughty pranks she was that ready for?!
…Okay, I’m curious about what Aina was planning, but for now, the hot spring trip is rescheduled for after the midterms, so I’ll just look forward to that.
"Now I’m even more motivated to study for those exams… Gotta work harder for my future too."
"Of course, we’ll study together, right?"
"Is that okay?"
"Absolutely. Let’s do our best together."
I gave a wry smile at how simple I am.
Sure, as a teenage guy, I’m obviously looking forward to some exciting moments—who wouldn’t?
But more than that, I want this trip to be a memorable one with everyone. We’ll make tons of memories in the future, I’m sure, but I want this to be one of those happy moments we can always look back on.
"…Haha."
"…Fufu."
As Arisa and I locked eyes, smiles naturally spread across our faces, and we drew closer again.
"Oh, right!"
"What’s up?"
"Since our Golden Week plans got canceled, what are you going to do, Hayato-kun?"
"Oh, actually—"
I was already planning to tell her, so might as well let Arisa know first.
"For the first few days of the break, I’m thinking of visiting my grandparents."
I want to spend the start of this Golden Week cherishing time with my grandparents.
Arisa, of course, and even Aina, who showed up in the afternoon, were thrilled and totally on board with the idea.
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