Everyone was exhausted. They had been in Okinawa for a week now and had spent every day on going to different places on the island. Today they'd just been out of town to explore the nature around. After walking for hours, they had found a lake with clear water and stayed there to eat the lunches they'd brought along.
After eating, some had gone for a swim in the lake, but because most hadn't brought their swimsuits, it wasn't everyone who went. Ran and Makoto's mother skipped. Nagisa, who wasn't shy at all, took off all his clothes and went into the lake butt naked. Rin had seen it coming when he saw Haruka pull on his swimsuit that morning, and Makoto had just had a feeling that Haruka was wearing his swimsuit and for a reason, so he had run up to pack his own just before they left.
Regardless of if they'd been able to bathe in the lake or not, everyone had had a fun time, but after the long walk back to the hotel, they were very tired. They had hurriedly bought whatever food they could find the quickest and then gone to bed, all but one.
Rin was sitting by the window in the hotel room and staring up at the dark blue sky above. He knew not many boys did it, especially not many boys his age, and certainly not alone either, but he liked watching the stars. He had seen them come out as he had walked through town with the others in search for some food. He had noticed how clear they were tonight.
Rin didn't know for how long he had been gazing up at the stars when he heard movement from within the room and turned his head. He couldn't see anyone at first. The stars outside were too bright, but then his eyes adjusted to the darkness in the room and he saw who it was.
"What are you doing?" Haruka asked.
Rin smiled. "Gazing at the stars. They're really bright tonight," he said.
Haruka got up, thinking about how silly this was. But he knew that Rin would have him come over to look soon, so why wait for him to ask when you knew you won't be given a choice in the matter?
"What's going on, Haru-chan?" Nagisa asked, waking up due to slight movements the bed made from Haruka getting up.
"It's the stars," Rin answered in Haruka's place. "They're bright tonight, come look!" he encouraged happily. He clearly wanted to share his joy with this with as many as possible.
Haruka now reached Rin and sat down to look out the window with him. Nagisa went across the room to where Rei was lying and started shaking him awake.
"Rei-chan! Rei-chan!" Nagisa called while shaking the older boy.
"Wha- Nagisa it's the middle of the night…" Rei muttered, still half asleep.
"Rin-chan says the stars are really bright, come see!" Nagisa exclaimed while pulling Rei's arm to get him out of bed and over to the window.
Rei groaned a bit, but did as told and allowed Nagisa to pull him to the window. His eyes widened as he saw the sight and a fascinated look appeared on his face.
"Beautiful…" he said, almost in a whisper.
"That's what I told you!" Rin turned to look at everyone with a wide smile on his face.
Rei then seemed to think of something. "The view isn't very good here though," he said. "We should find somewhere where we can see them better," he said.
Rin looked surprised, then he nodded.
"Where would that be?" Nagisa asked, looking between all three older boys.
Rin gave it some thought, then a wide grin appeared on his face. "I've got it!" he said. "Follow me!" He grabbed Haruka by the wrist to ensure he did that, and then lead the way out of the room. Rei and Nagisa were right behind them.
They didn't make it far before another door opened and Makoto looked out and noticed them.
"I thought I heard your voices," he said. "Is something the matter?" he asked.
"We're gonna go get a better view at the stars!" Rin said happily.
Makoto looked a bit surprised. "The stars?" he asked.
"They're really bright tonight," Rei explained. "It's so beautiful so we wanted a better view than what we can get from the window."
"But why look at the stars like this. Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Makoto wondered.
"Rin's a romantic," Haruka answered.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Rin asked.
"It's annoying," Haruka answered.
Rin took in a deep breath and was about to yell something when Makoto stepped out with a worried look on his face and with his hands out.
"Please don't fight now, there are others who are sleeping," he said in a loud whisper. He then turned around to close the door to his room and then looked at them. "I'll come with you," he said.
Rin smiled and then turned back to lead the way, still holding Haruka's wrist tight as he couldn't get away.
They walked out of the hotel and down the street towards the dark blue sea at the end. Rin stopped once they stood on the beach and looked over the ocean and the starry sky that met at the horizon. He turned to smile at the others behind him.
"Isn't this a good spot?" he asked.
"It's even more beautiful out here," Rei said, smiling.
Nagisa plopped down in the sand, deciding that it was better to sit and watch the stars than stand up. The others went and sat around him and Rei started pointing out the constellations. Everyone looked to where he pointed at the sky and saw them as well.
For a couple of hours, they just sat there and looked up at the starry sky while enjoying the company of one another. None of them had ever felt more like a family than they did in that moment, in the middle of the night.
But after a while, Nagisa started yawning and rubbing at his eyes.
"I'm tired now," he said. "I'm going back to bed."
"We should all go back to bed," Makoto said softly.
Rei nodded in agreement and he stood up. Nagisa stood up beside him and also Makoto and Haruka got on their feet.
"Are you coming, Rin?" Makoto asked, turning to look at Rin who was still sitting on the sand.
"I want to stay here for a bit longer," Rin answered.
Makoto nodded. "Don't stay too long though," he said.
"I won't," Rin promised and then Makoto just wished him a good night before he headed back with the other three children. Rin forgot to keep his promise and stayed on the beach until sunrise. Only then he remembered how tired he was and also went back to the hotel and back to bed.