As summer arrived, the temperature reached 36 degrees Celsius, with cicadas singing throughout the day. M.A. High students has switched from their winter uniforms to their summer uniforms.
The boys wore short-sleeved shirts, with or without the summer vest, and their normal light grey pants. The girls wore the same, except they had bows and light grey skirts instead of neckties and pants.
That day, Mizuha's group ate in the cafeteria for the first time, their usual rooftop spot too hot to use.
When they first arrived at the rooftop earlier, Mizuha asked, "Hey, is it just me, or does this place look like a desert?"
"It's not just you, Mizuha. We can see it too," Hikaru confirmed.
"Why has our favorite place turned into a desert?" Shimizu shouted.
"Well, it is summer, you know," Zul pointed out.
"Shut up, Shimizu. Your shouting makes it feel even hotter," Hikaru grumbled.
"Elly-chan, you've been quiet since earlier. What's wrong?" Mizuha inquired, concern evident in her voice.
"Sorry, Mizuha-chan. I can't handle this heat. Ah, it's so hot..." Elly mumbled, looking like she was about to collapse.
"Hang on, Elly-chan. Here, drink this water," Mizuha urged, offering her bottle.
"Thanks, Mizuha-chan," Elly murmured gratefully.
"This is bad. We need to find another place to eat before we get dehydrated up here," Mizuha suggested.
"How about the cafeteria? It's been a while since I ate there," Shimizu proposed.
"That's a good idea. Let's go, everyone," Hikaru agreed.
"Oh, so this is our cafeteria. My first time here since transferring to this school," Mizuha marveled. "It's so spacious."
"That's right, you haven't been here before. You used to eat with just us two in the classroom until you showed us that rooftop spot," Hikaru recalled.
"Hehe, you should thank me and Mizuha for discovering that spot," Shimizu boasted.
"Yes, yes, thank you for that," Hikaru replied dryly. "There's nothing to be proud about though."
"What's wrong, Hikaru? Why are you so cold today? Having your period or something?" Shimizu teased.
"P... period, you say? I'm a man, you know!" Hikaru sputtered, blushing and upset with Shimizu.
Everyone laughed at Hikaru after Shimizu's teasing. "That's a nice joke, Shimizu," Mizuha chuckled.
"Are you okay, Elly? Still feeling hot?" Zul asked.
"I'm fine. I'm starting to feel a bit cooler than before," Elly reassured him.
"Here, drink this water. You need to stay hydrated in this heat," Zul advised, offering his bottle.
"You're right. Thanks, Zul," Elly replied gratefully.
"So, it begins—a romance story between these two childhood friends," Shimizu said, as if narrating.
"Hey, why are you suddenly turning into the narrator of this story?" Mizuha quipped.
"Shimizu-chan!" Elly exclaimed, her face bright red.
"Oh, you guys! Rare to see you eating here," Takeru remarked as he approached with a ramen bowl he had just bought.
"Oh, Takeru-kun, hi," Mizuha greeted.
"Hi Mizuha, you look more cheerful than before, can I join you guys eating here?" Takeru requested.
"Sure, go ahead. It's nice to have you here too," Mizuha welcomed.
This guy again, when did he become so friendly with Mizuha? Hikaru thought, glaring at Takeru.
Takeru noticed Hikaru's glare. "Why that look, Hikaru-kun? Jealous that I'm friendly with Mizuha? Don't worry, I won't steal her from you," Takeru teased.
"What!?" Hikaru exclaimed, blushing. This guy, he thought.
"Takeru, what are you saying?" Mizuha stammered, blushing too.
"It's not like that, Takeru-kun. Hikaru actually has his period today, that's why he's in a bad mood," Shimizu added, teasing Hikaru further.
"Period? Hikaru-kun, are you a girl or something?" Takeru joked.
"Enough with all that, you guys!" Hikaru snapped, his face turning bright red, after being teased by Takeru and Shimizu.
Everyone laughed at Hikaru again. He then noticed Mizuha looking cheerful, unlike when she was sick last week.
Mizuha… I'm glad to see you smile like this again, Hikaru thought, smiling inwardly.
Back in class, Mizuha tried to draw something but couldn't concentrate because of the intense heat.
It's no use; it's too hot to concentrate. Going to the mountains and rivers must be fun now, Mizuha thought, looking out the window.
"Then why don't we go there this weekend?" Shimizu suggested, suddenly appearing in front of her.
"Wargh, Shimizu?" Mizuha yelped, startled to find her suddenly crouched in front of her desk.
"Mountains and rivers? That's a great idea, Mizuha," Shimizu enthused.
"How did you know what I was thinking?" Mizuha demanded.
"Hehe, I just obtained telepathic powers. Now kneel before me, YukiYuki-san!" Shimizu boasted, striking a pose.
"What's with that strange pose? Also, don't say my name like you're singing in a musical. My name is Yuki Mizuha," Mizuha said.
"I'm sorry, I bit my tongue," Shimizu said.
"No, that was on purpose," Mizuha replied.
"I bwit my tongue..." Shimizu said, playfully trying to amuse Mizuha.
"It wasn't on purpose?" Mizuha asked.
"Oh, you know this joke too, huh, Mizuha? I didn't know you were watching it too," said Shimizu, referring to some anime.
"Enough already. I'm too hot to play along with your jokes," Mizuha sighed.
"But it was a great idea, right? Going to the mountain and river during this heat.
"Let's ask others about their opinions," Shimizu said.
"Hey, Shimizu, wait... geez, this girl..." Mizuha muttered.
"Hey Elly, please come here for a moment," Shimizu called out to Elly.
"Yes, Shimizu-chan?" Elly asked as she approached Mizuha's desk. "What is it?"
"You see, Mizuha suggested we go for a picnic this weekend at the mountain and river. What do you think?" Shimizu proposed.
"Hey, it was you who suggested it, not me!" Mizuha protested, giving Shimizu a light chop on the head.
"That's a nice idea—count me in, too. It's been a while since I went to the mountains or the river. It would be nice to go there," Elly agreed enthusiastically.
"How about you, Zul? Do you want to join us too?" Elly suddenly asked, turning to Zul, who was sitting behind Mizuha.
"Well, if you go, I'll go too," Zul said.
"You're so quick to agree with whatever Elly says," Shimizu sighed. Elly then chuckled when she heard what Shimizu said.
"So, it's decided. Let's tell Hikaru about this," Shimizu added, sending a chat to Hikaru.
"Hey, don't decide it for me suddenly. I wasn't thinking about it yet," Mizuha complained...
Meanwhile, in class 1B, Hikaru sat at his desk fanning himself with a book to combat the heat.
"Ah, today's so hot. Going to the mountains and river would be nice," Hikaru mused.
Suddenly, Takeru turned around from his seat in front of Hikaru.
"Umm, Hikaru-kun, can I talk to you?" Takeru requested.
"Huh, what is it? Make it quick, it's too hot," Hikaru responded, continuing to fan himself.
"I'm sorry about earlier at the cafeteria. I didn't mean to tease you like that," Takeru apologized.
"Oh, about that, don't worry. I'm not upset at all. "Thanks to that joke, I was able to see Mizuha smiling cheerfully today," Hikaru reassured him.
"Oh, you noticed that too?" Takeru asked.
"There's one more thing I want to ask you," Takeru continued. "Do you like Mizuha, Hikaru-kun?" Takeru inquired, asking an unexpected question suddenly.
"Huh, why are you bringing this up suddenly?" Hikaru exclaimed, stopping himself from fanning, shocked by the question.
"You can answer if you want, or you can answer it later," Takeru offered.
This guy, what is he planning? Asking something like this, Hikaru wondered.
Hikaru took a slow breath and released it... "Yes, I like her. Are you satisfied now, or do you have a problem with it?" Hikaru admitted, blushing a bit.
"No, I'm fine with it. I just wanted to know," Takeru assured him.
"Then, what's the reason you like her?" Takeru probed further.
"Reason? I've never thought about that. "Maybe because she's kind, cheerful, and friendly to everyone without judging them by their cover, I guess," Hikaru pondered aloud.
"Oh, I see," Takeru nodded. "This is my last question," he added.
"How many questions do you want to ask? Are you a police officer or what?" Hikaru retorted.
"Are you going to betray her once you're done with her?" Takeru asked seriously.
"Betray the person I like? Of course not. I'm not that type of person. That type of person is someone I hate very much," Hikaru declared firmly.
"I see. "As her childhood friend, then I don't need to worry about Mizuha when she's with you. Thanks for telling me that.
From now on, please take care of Mizuha for me, Hikaru-kun," Takeru requested, extending his hand to Hikaru.
"That was always my intention, to take care of her," Hikaru assured, shaking Takeru's hand.
"Are you angry that I like her?" Hikaru inquired.
"Angry!? For what!? I'm just her childhood friend, not her former boyfriend or someone with romantic feelings for her."
"She doesn't remember our shared childhood, but seeing her happy is enough for me. If you make her cry or betray her, I'll make you pay and take her back," Takeru warned.
"I see, you're really a tough guy, Takeru. I should not underestimate you after all," Hikaru remarked, smirking at Takeru.
"Huh!? You just noticed it, hahaha," Takeru chuckled before turning his chair back to face the front.
Suddenly, Hikaru received a message in the group chat consisting of Mizuha, Elly, Shimizu, Zul, and himself.
The message had been sent by Shimizu: "Hey, you guys, Mizuha suggested we go on a picnic this weekend. What do you all think?"
"Hey, that was your suggestion, not mine," Mizuha replied.
"Sorry, everyone, Shimizu just blurted that out! She somehow read my mind. I was only thinking about mountains and rivers when she made that suggestion," Mizuha typed.
"Like I said, I can read everyone's mind," Shimizu replied.
"Shut up, you tomboyish woman! I didn't even say anything to you," Mizuha responded.
"Hey, who are you calling a tomboyish woman?" Shimizu retorted in the group chat, sending an angry emoji.
Mizuha was thinking the same as me about the mountain and river, Hikaru thought, blushing at their shared idea.
"It's a good suggestion, Mizuha. So, why not all go this weekend?" Hikaru wrote, joining the conversation.
"Okay, if Hikaru agrees, I, of course, agree and want to go. How about you guys?" Shimizu asked.
"Count me in too," Elly replied.
"Because Elly is going, I'm going with her," Zul wrote.
"How about you, Mizuha?" Hikaru asked.
"Well, it can't be helped. Since you're all going, then I'm going too," Mizuha responded.
"Wait, didn't you just say you hadn't decided yet? Did Hikaru make you change your mind?" Shimizu teased.
"Ah, shut up, Shimizu, you're so annoying," Mizuha wrote, sending an angry emoji.
Hikaru chuckled reading their group chat. A picnic? It's been a while since I visited the mountain and river, he thought, gazing out the window.
Back in class 1F, Elly smiled at her phone as the picnic plan was confirmed.
Going on a picnic with Mizuha chan and everyone... I can't wait, Elly thought, excited for the weekend.
Then, suddenly, something important came to her mind.
Ah, tomorrow's the day... I should remind Zul about it later.
It's been a while since I visited her," Elly thought, looking out the window.
Right, Onee-chan...?