I can't begin to tell you how glad I was when Chioy invited me on the last summer trip to her cabin. The time I'd had last year was the best of my life, just the thought of spending another few days with Sakaki-san made me weak inside. I even braved Yukari's driving again to be with her.
And it's been a great holiday so far. We've been swimming and running on the beach and visiting. We've stayed longer this year since none of us have studying to do. It was all perfect.
In the end, I have that stupid dream to blame. Tomo-chan suggested horse riding for today, it would have probably slipped by if I hadn't said that I thought it was a good idea. The idea of Sakaki on a horse, it's just one of those reoccurring fantasies of mine.
And for a time it was great, well, other then the pain. Sakaki did look wonderful on the horse, just as I knew she would. Maybe if she hadn't looked so wonderful and I'd been paying more attention to myself and not to her, I wouldn't have been thrown from the horse. My leg broken, or so the hospital doctors told us before they put the biggest cast ever on it.
Though, for a while there, I did get to live my dream. Since there was no instructors with us and my Sakaki was the strongest, the lifted me up and put me on the horse with her and I managed to live a little of my dream.
But now, that's all over and I'm left with a broken leg and a sour mood from hospital queues. And they're talking about going out. The summer festival is today and obviously nobody wants to miss it, so they're arguing over who'll have to stay with me, the discussion growing more heated by the second.
"I'll stay," a calm voice says, stopping the rows. My eyes shoot up to Sakaki-san, she's looking at me, a faint smile on her face. I'm vaguely aware of the others agreeing and leaving. They're all already dressed, even her in a beautiful Yukata, and she looks so wonderful standing before me now.
She moves and sits gently on the edge of the sofa where I'm sprawled out, her eyes not leaving mine. I think there's something she wants to say but I can't be sure. Slowly she leans forward, my hopes rise, beyond hope, and I can feel my lips puckering, but she aims higher and presses a kiss to my forehead.
"Tell me if you need anything," she says into my ear. "I'll stay in with you…"