A lone bus sped through the darkness in the middle of its journey. While what little light provided was always enough for the passengers, it never stopped their excitement from increasing whenever they see a greater approaching light. The light grew bigger and brighter until the bus finally drove out of the tunnel, finally allowing the passengers to see the evening sky.
"We've finally broke through," Fuyu said.
"And check out the sunset," Kiyoko added, admiring the orange sun sitting on the horizon.
"Guess this makes up for me getting the wrong tickets, huh?" Sayori nervously asked, her eyes darting between Shujinkou and the others.
"It's not like we were going to hold a massive grudge at you for making a mistake, Sayori," Monika assured her. "These things happen. What's important is that we're finally almost there."
The bus eventually stopped, giving the group the chance to find themselves in front of the establishment they have visited once before in the past.
"I still can't believe that we got the chance to come back here again so soon," Fuyu said, her voice layered in disbelief.
"When did you think you would get the chance to come back here?" Sayori asked.
"At least 20 years from now," Fuyu answered, adjusting her glasses.
"That reminds me…" Shujinkou turned his attention to Rei and asked, "You weren't at school yet when we came here, right Rei?"
The raven-haired girl responded to his question with her usual silent gaze.
"You don't have to worry, Shujinkou. I can show her how to get around here," Fuyu assured him.
"Ah. Okay," he nodded.
The group walked up the entrance of the establishment. As they each walked inside, Shujinkou's subconsciously remained behind and turned around to find Yuri standing a few feet away from him.
"What wrong, Yuri?" he asked as he approached her.
"Nothing, it's just… Well…" the young maiden pointed above the entrance of the resort.
The young man followed the direction of her pointer finger and was filled with surprise to find several paper lanterns fluttering in the wind.
"I didn't expect her to hang some of them there…" Shujinkou mumbled, scratching his right cheek.
"Ufu, I'm not that surprised. It was a gift from her grandson and you did put in a lot of work in making them," Yuri pointed out.
"I guess… But you put in just as much work, you know," Shujinkou replied.
"Ah… That's right… A really fun day… Even though I ruined it at the end…
"Huh? Are you talking about when you suddenly left?"
"Ah!?" Yuri's face grew bright red, realizing she said too much. "Yes! That's what I was talking about! I'm sorry for leaving so early! I know you said it wasn't a big deal, but I guess it's just a personal regret of mine. There's no need to worry about it."
Shujinkou silently scratched his right cheek. His quiet and ever inquisitive gaze was almost too much for her to bear.
"P-Perhaps we should catch up with the others before they begin to wonder where we disappeared too," Yuri timidly suggested.
"Hm? Ah, right," Shujinkou agreed.
The two wasted no time walking into the resort and joining the others at the back of a large crowd of visitors.
"There you two are," Monika said, sighing in relief. "We thought you got swept away in the sea of tourists.
"Seriously, this place is more packed than the last time we were here," Natsuki added. "Though I guess it's to be expected."
Shujinkou looked around in amazement. Normally, encountering a large crowd anywhere would be considered an annoyance, but seeing some many people in his grandmother's resort, though expected, still made him happy.
"Shujinkou!"
The group watched as a single hand shoots up and wave at them from the middle of the crowd, each wave increasing in speed as it approached them. Soon, none other than Lady Hisa broke through the sea of customers and breathed a sigh of relief.
"A lot of people trying to get a room at the last second…" she nervously chuckled, scratching her right cheek. She then reached into her pocket and pulled out a tiny index card."Anyway, for those who don't know who I am, I'm Lady Hisa: owner and proprietor of the Kitsune Spa Resort. You are just in luck, as you have secured a room in time for the annual Summer/Firework festival. Until the fireworks, this area will essentially be a non-stop tourism party with activities until the eponymous fireworks display."
"Granny Hisa, why are you reading off a card?" her grandson asked.
"Because I felt like my voice would crack as I got closer to the next part…" she sighed as she casually tossed her lines away. "Now, um… Here's the thing. Because this is one of the busiest times of the year, I wasn't able to get you all separate rooms."
"So we have to share rooms?" Monika concluded.
"Yup," Hisa answered, nervously scratching her right cheek. "The best I could do was pairing you all in twos."
"But, wait…" Natsuki glanced at Shujinkou, the intense expression on her face sent shivers down his spine. "That would mean one of us would have to share a room with Shujinkou."
"We can share a room!" Sayori burst.
"Sayori!" Natsuki and Yuri exclaimed.
The rest as the group stared at the two as they exchanged surprised looks with each other.
"What is it, guys?" Sayori asked.
"You can't just blurt out a decision like that. We'll be going in circles all day if we try to decide pairs that way," Natsuki reprimanded.
"That's right," Yuri agreed. "We need to find a more definitive method to solve this situation."
"How do we do that?" Sayori wondered aloud.
"Well…" With a knowing smile on her face, Monika used her eyes to turn everyone's attention to Fuyu.
"Me?" Fuyu replied with surprise.
"We could use the assistance of a professional peace keeper for this one," Monika explained.
"Ah, right," Adjusting her glasses, Fuyu now sported the infamous expression of their Student President. "I believe I have the solution to this dilemma. But before I get to that…"
Her expression softening back to her normal one, Fuyu quickly typed two sentences on her phone and presented it to Rei.
"Rei, would you like to participate in this decision or would you rather share a room with me?" she asked.
Rei blankly stared at the phone, slowly raised her right hand and pointed at the bottom sentence.
"Okay…" Fuyu turned back to the rest of the group. "We'll be sharing a room, so we won't be involved in what's about to happen."
The young president then returned to her "President Mode" and dug into her bag. Unlike other times where the sudden change would unnerve at least one individual, the Literature Club was distracted by one singular thought, "So, that's how she does it…"
"Then again, they're sisters. I don't think that would have worked for any of us when we first met Rei," Shujinkou added.
Their thoughts were soon filled with more curious ones as they watched her pull 6 Popsicle sticks out of her bag.
"Each of these has a number on them," Fuyu explained. "I believe you know where I'm going with this."
The remaining 6 of the group each grabbed a stick and gazed upon the number they received.
"I got a 2," Natsuki announced.
"I got a 2 too," Sayori happily announced. "We get to be roommates this time, Natsuki."
"I have a 1," Yuri announced.
"Same here," Monika replied.
Kiyoko glanced at Shujinkou, "3?"
"Yeah…" he sheepishly replied.
"Huh. Guess we're roommates for the trip," Kiyoko shrugged.
Shujinkou silently scratched his right cheek.
"Well, now that that's settled, why don't you all head to your rooms and unpack before… something happens," Hisa suggested.
"Huh? What's 'something'?" Sayori asked.
"Anything really," the elderly woman shrugged. "Misplacing bags, sudden fatigue, getting swallowed by a sea of tourists… again."
She quickly shooed the kids out of the lobby and scratched her right cheek the moment the coast was clear.
"Or any feelings of envy that may arise over a new girl sharing a room with your crush…" Hisa thought, nervously chuckling over the scenario that played in her head.
Not too long later, Shujinkou and Kiyoko entered their shared room.
"Hey," Kiyoko excitedly jogged to the window. "We got a pretty good view."
Shujinkou walked up besides his roommate and glanced out the window, "Of the city? I thought you would have preferred a view of the sea."
"No preference. Besides, come night, the city will probably look like a neon lit paradise."
Shujinkou closed his eyes and remembered his last visit during the Firework Festival. Those simple past memories were all it took to bring out a smile.
"I see your point," he said, nodding his head in agreement.
Kiyoko grinned at her roommate and eagerly jumped on one of the beds.
"Hey, Kiyoko…" Shujinkou meekly called.
"Yeah?" she answered.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" he asked.
"With what?" she asked, perplexed.
"Sharing a room with me?"
"You mean am I okay with sharing a room with a guy?"
"Well… Yeah…"
"I don't really care about that. I mean it's not like its inappropriate or anything."
"I just think it's inappropriate is all," Natsuki stated as she unpacked her clothes.
"Eh? But how come you didn't say that earlier?" Sayori questioned.
"Um…" Briefly taken aback by her roommate's response, Natsuki was rendered speechless before Sayori's awaiting curiosity. "I… I just didn't think about it then. Besides, it's one thing if Shujinkou shared a room with one of us; it's another when he has to share it with someone who acknowledges that they don't have a close relationship."
"Oh… I get it," Sayori grinned at her roommate.
"G-Get what?" Natsuki asked, her cheeks slightly glowing red.
"You're worried about Shujinkou sharing a room with a semi-stranger."
"Well… Kinda."
A small giggled escaped through Sayori's lips.
"What?!" Natsuki blurted.
"Nothing, it's just that it makes me happy to know that you and Shujinkou are good enough friends to worry about each other," Sayori happily answered.
"Erk… Don't make it weird… It's not a big deal or anything."
"Ehe. Still, you shouldn't worry. Shujinkou wouldn't have invited Kiyo over if he didn't think she was a good person."
"'Kiyo?'"
"I'm hoping she'll let me call her that. Anyway, you don't have to worry about that. We should instead put our focus on what we'll be doing while here."
"Do you have any ideas of what we can do, Yuri?" Monika asked as she sat on her bed.
"Not really… I'm not too familiar with what's available in our immediate area," Yuri answered.
"Me neither. I think last time Shujinkou was going to show us around but…"
As she said this, the unpleasant image of Shujinkou's hurt expression from their last visit flashed in their minds.
"He was always a bit reserved when we first met him, so I never imagined that he could look as sad as he did then…" Yuri lamented.
"Yeah… But we can't focus on that. We're here to have fun after all," Monika replied with a bright smile.
Yuri silently nodded her head in agreement.
"I guess we have to consult with Sayori, Shujinkou or Lady Hisa about what we can do," the purple haired maiden said.
"We should probably consult Shujinkou, first" Monika suggested.
"Him first?"
"Mm-hmm. Have you ever noticed that he originally had a tendency to not suggest any ideas regarding his own interests?"
"Ah… Now that you mention it… That is sort of a rarity."
"I want to make sure that everyone knows that their opinion is valued, so I'm kinda making sure that he gets to express his too. Consulting him would be a really good way to make sure that happens."
"Ah."
"That said… I do kinda hope that he mentions a place that sells good souvenirs."
"A place that sells good souvenirs?" Shujinkou glanced around the lobby. Each tourist he saw had items that would qualify as souvenirs. "Actually, since the area becomes a tourist hot spot at this time of year, souvenirs are everywhere."
"And anything could be a souvenir," Hisa added as she unfolded a shirt with a fox on it.
"Your grandmother isn't really that subtle, huh?" Natsuki whispered to Shujinkou.
"She can actually be really subtle when she wants to be…" He replied, scratching his right cheek.
"Oh yeah…" Hisa reached into her sleeve and pulled out a pamphlet. "Shujinkou, guess what's in town this year?"
She handed the pamphlet to her grandson.
"Otamic-Con!" he beamed.
"Otamic-Con?" Yuri curiously repeated.
"It's a convention for otakus and comic book fandoms," Shujinkou excitedly explained. "It was one of the best things I have ever experience in my entire life."
"It must have been if it got you this excited," Monika pointed out with a smile.
Shujinkou silently scratched his right cheek.
"Ah… So is that your suggestion of what we should do?" Yuri asked.
"Eh… Not really, I was pretty much reminiscing," Shujinkou replied.
"But don't you want to go again, Shujinkou?" Sayori asked.
The young bundle of sunshine began to hum "Hail to the Chief".
"That wasn't the theme I went with, Sayori," Shujinkou replied with a slight chuckle.
"Hm. I think it would cool if we could check out Otamic-Con," Monika said.
"Really?" Shujinkou replied, surprised. But the surprise went was quickly removed by the memory of Monika expressing her interest in such an event.
"Mm-hmm," Monika nodded.
"I never expected you would be interested in stuff like that, Monika," Natsuki interjected.
"I always did want to see what it's like at least once. They looked fun," Monika explained. "Have you ever been to one, Natsuki?"
"Uhm… Not… Not really?" she answered as she diverted her gaze.
"Even more of a reason to go!" Sayori pointed out.
"It does sound like it could be fun. It would be like the Cultural Festival… Ah…" Yuri giggled as she glanced at Monika. "Well, the first hour of it."
"You guys really aren't going to stop bringing that up aren't you…" Monika replied with bright red cheeks.
"Wait, what happened during the festival?" Kiyoko asked.
"Huh? You don't know that Monika attracted the whole school to her class's maid café?" Sayori gasped.
"Not really," Kiyoko shrugged. "I was asleep for the whole thing."
"Funny enough, that's pretty close to my original plan," Shujinkou thought, chuckling at the coincidence.
"You know, something like that would usually cause an upset if it was anyone else," Fuyu pointed out. "It makes sense that only Monika could get away with that without any problems."
"It's not like I tried to make that happen on purpose. I was actually hoping my class could blend in with the others…" Monika lamented.
"The power of an idol is amazing and scary," Kiyoko mused. "Huh."
"Honestly, you probably don't have to worry about people thinking about that much longer," Shujinkou said. "It'll soon be replaced by you blowing away everyone at the Athletic Festival."
"Correction: Blowing everyone away at the Athletic Festival again," Natsuki interjected.
"Ah!" Sayori blurted.
"What is it, Sayori?" Shujinkou asked.
"I just realized something… What if we have to go up against Monika during the festival?" Sayori proposed.
She and the other members of the club glanced at Monika before their heads dropped in unison.
"Well, that day's already ruined…" Natsuki muttered.
"It does seem pointless to even get our hopes up with that possibility…" Yuri added.
"Don't you guys think that you're exaggerating a little…" Monika meekly questioned.
"I don't know about the others, but I already got a pretty good idea about the gap in our athletic abilities during Laser Tag, Monika," Shujinkou answered, scratching his right cheek.
"Wait… When did you two play Laser Tag?" Natsuki questioned, shooting a surprise look at Shujinkou.
"Uhm… On the first day of vacation," he answered. "Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, it's just a dumb question," Natsuki answered, diverting her gaze.
"Did you try the stealth plan?" Sayori asked.
"No…" Shujinkou moaned. "I made the mistake of explaining it in the heat of battle."
"Aw, Shujinkou, you know that you're not supposed to explain the plan in the middle of battle," Sayori reminded him. "Don't you remember what happened the last time?"
The two shivered as they both reminisce that particular incident.
"What exactly happened?" Yuri queried.
"So. Many. Lasers…" they answered in unison.
"Oh…" Kiyoko said. "I actually went through a similar experience not too long ago."
"Really? You got cornered and barraged too?" Sayori asked.
"No. It was a bet. Dodge the laser from one of those spinney laser spheres. I somehow did it," Kiyoko casually shrugged.
"Don't those things shoot out a million lasers at once?!" Natsuki exclaimed.
From the corner of her eyes, the pink-haired girl noticed Rei staring at her.
"I think it depends on the speed and LEDs," Fuyu guessed. "Don't quote me on that."
"That actually sounds like a fun alternative game," Sayori chuckled at the idea of trying the aforementioned challenge with the others.
"I probably wouldn't last long in a game like that…" Yuri lamented.
"I don't think any of us would last long in a game like that…" Monika nervously chuckled.
Shujinkou scratched his right cheek as thought back to his game of laser tag with Monika; the way she dodged incoming lasers while perfectly shooting enemy sensors made it hard to take her comment seriously.
"Like Fuyu said, it probably depends on the device…" he thought.
Just then, Sayori's stomach bellowed in agony.
"Ugh… Hungry…" she groaned.
"I guess now would be a good time to grab something to eat," Monika said.
"Ee! I finally get to try the festival food here again," Sayori gushed.