She raised her arm to check her watch, hung around it, a large bag - holding everything essential for a day trip to the beach. It was still early in the morning and streams of office workers passed her as she waited by the entrance of the JR Train's station.
Ichinomiya was on the eastern sea coast of Chiba prefecture and was roughly an hour away by JR train. The weather was good, not a cloud in sight. Hikari waited by the Daily Yamakazi convenience store outside the station with her sunhat, her friends and Takeru had promised all to meet up at Ichikawa-Shiohama Station - the only station on the Keiyo line that was a convenient meeting spot for everyone.
It was hot. The star attraction of the station, a pair of goats were out grazing by the overran land beside the station. Hikari could only awkwardly laugh at the sight but sighed becoming bored with waiting for her friends.
Her friends were late. Yagami Hikari's thoughts began to drift, think that she had been abandoned by her friends, Takeru even, of all people. Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt something cold meet her face. It was pleasant.
She looked up at the source and was met with the smiling face of a blond boy hidden underneath his favourite bucket hat.
"You're late." She bluntly stated with her soft voice.
"Gomen." He apologized in his usual cheerful voice, "Mom overslept and I had to make her breakfast."
Hikari was all too familiar with Takeru's mother. Takaishi Natsuko's home personality was the total opposite of her public one. A refined and beautiful national anchor who reported on NHK and in Japan's consciousness, but a total lazy slob at home. Hikari didn't see Takeru's mother as a bad person, Takaishi Natsuko often show she loved and dedicated her life to her sons.
"How's Mimi-san?" He asked her.
"Why are you asking me?" She replied, again bluntly and monotoned.
"Don't sisters usually talk?"
"Sister-in-law." She corrected him but smiled, "She's doing fine. She's over every morning now that Taichi's home, helping mom with all the cooking. I don't know where she gets the time - she's already done with her morning training before she comes over."
"She sure is dedicated." Takeru whistled.
"To being an idol or to that stupid brother of mine?"
This time it was Takeru's turn to laugh awkwardly.
"Hikari!" The rest of her friends had finally showed up. They too were carrying fashionable bags that held their beachwear.
"Ah! Mister Student Council President! Good Morning!" Tachibana Mai bowed.
Hikari looked at her friend with suspicion. Taichibana Mai was a stylish girl, while Hikari was plain ordinary. Her friend had dressed in an oversized shirt which exposed one of her shoulders and very much gave Takeru a look at her swimsuit underneath.
"Mah, mah." Takeru tried to calm Hikari's friends, "I'm not the Student Council President outside of school. Just plain old Takaishi Takeru!"
Hikari gestured for Mai, who had been followed by Kamiya Hina and Takeru towards the train station. The group had been lucky enough to board a train car with a group seat available. Mai was excitedly chatting with Hina and Takeru, leaving Hikari free to her thoughts.
"Ne, ne, Hikari!" Mai excitedly turned towards Hikari, "Have you decided which university to apply to?"
She shook her head, Hakari had no idea what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She wasn't like her brother, Nishijima-sensei didn't help her like he did with Hikari's brother. She was still lost.
"What about you Mister School Council President?" This time it was Hina, who could see Hikari was uncomfortable answering.
Takeru grinned, "My grandfather was able to pull some strings and got me into a literature course at University of Strasbourg."
"Strasbourg?" Mai looked at Takeru confused.
"France." Hikari plainly said.
She had knew for some time now. Takeru had always said he wanted to become an author. His father was a reporter, it ran in his genes - for the lack of a father in his life, Takeru must deep down wanted to be like his father more than anything else.
"Eeeeh!" Mai exclaimed.
Hikari spied the rolling fields of rice paddies and vegetable patches fly by as the JR Train sped down the east coast of Chiba while her friends Mai and Hina continue to drill Takeru with questions. Having lived all her life in Odaiba, Chiba was a change from the mega city that was Tokyo - the train car was nearly empty as they pulled out of Chiba station and now, as they approached Ichinomiya, the car was almost completely empty.
Ichinomiya was a quite town, far from Chiba city and the hustle of central Tokyo. The station itself only had one entrance and the only surrounding business were small stores and surf shops. The biggest building Hikari could spot was the local Seven-Eleven north of the station - passing it was they made the group made their way to the beach.
Mai and Hina were leading the group, walking the narrow main streets of Ichinomiya. It was a hot day and Hikari was out of breath as she followed along.
"You're really out of shape." It was Takeru, he had slowed his pace to match hers.
"It's just the heat, I'll be fine." She ignored him.
"The others will leave you behind."
Again she ignored him. Maybe it was because they were childhood friends, he knew how to irritate her easily. Takeru knew she hated to be left behind and he would often make fun of her for clinging onto Taichi too much - maybe he was pushing her to be more independent but it often resulted in her becoming mad at him.
The group soon found themselves at the beach. It wasn't crowded but a fair amount of people had already found their spots, leaving Hikari and the group to having to search for a suitable spot.
"Mister School Council President, please watch our stuff!" Mai's singsong voice declared before grabbing Hikari's hands and pulling her towards the change rooms.
"Hikariiii!" Mai sang as she and Hina waited for Hikari outside of her change room.
"It's embarrassing!" Hikari called out.
She knew it was a bad idea to listen to Mimi for fashion advice. Her brother's girlfriend had gone and forced Hikari into buying a cute yellow two piece swimsuit instead of something tame.
Hikari slowly opened the door to her change hut, her cheeks red with embarrassment. She tried to had herself behind her large bag, but seeing the smirks of her friends' face, she knew it was hopeless. Mai had quickly grabbed Hikari's hands, dragging her towards Takeru's direction, where he had been waiting for the girls.
Takeru had found a free beach umbrella, dozens littered the beachside. He was looking out towards the sea, his note book in hand - probably inspired by the views of the open ocean.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Hikari hesitantly apologized.
"Don't worry…" Takeru made eye contact with Hikari, his speech trailing off until he caught himself, "worry about it."
Mai and Hina were grinning to themselves in the background. Hikari ignored them.
"Let's leave the lovebirds alone." She heard Mai whisper to Hina. The two quickly left to wonder the beach.
Takeru smiled at her, causing her cheeks to glow red hot. He gestured for her to sit beside him, as he finished off what he had been writing in his notebook.
They sat in silence. Hikari too embarrassed to say anything and Takeru refusing to look at her as well.
"Mimi-san picked this out you know." She said.
"Figured as much. It suits you." He replied with a smile, "But it's not you."
"Thanks. You're right. It's making it awkward." She stood up, offering her hand to Takeru, "Come on, it's too hot to be just siting on the beach."
"Yea!" He smiled, taking her hands, Hikari leading them to the cool ocean waves.
The water was refreshingly cold, washing away the summer's heat. Hikari's friends were already enjoying themselves, joining the couple as they splashed water against each other. For a few hours, Hikari abandoned here fears of the future, her mind clear of anything but swimming in the ocean and her friends.
It was near sunset when the group had decided to pack in for the day - Takeru had long forsaken the sea and had set up shop on the beach madly scribbling in his notebook.
"Earth of Takeru-san!" Hikari called after the boy, her friends deserted Hikari for the change rooms.
Takeru looked up from his notebook and smiled at the Hikari, "Sorry." He apologized.
"What are you working on?" Hikari asked, hands interlocked behind her back, enticing the boy with a full view of her swimsuit.
"This idea just kind of popped into my head!" The boy replied, not distracted by Hikari but the idea of his story, "A girl who's left alone by her brother as he goes off to a world famous magic school. She discovered an injured cat and nurses it back to health, not realizing the cat is actually a legendarily rare familiar only the most powerful magical students can acquire. Of course she's invited to the same school as her brother but comes to realize she has no talent for magic at all."
Hikari's eyes narrowed and she swiftly kicked him.
"Ouch!" He reacted, "What was that for?"
"You got lost in your own world again." She lied. The story he was coming up with unsettled her but she didn't want to tell him, it would restrict his creativity.
The group soon found themselves back on the JR Train, this time heading east towards Chiba-city and onwards towards central Tokyo. The group was not as chatty as the morning - they found a group seat, as Mai and Hina sat facing Hikari and Takeru, the two girls already asleep even before the train departed Ichinomiya Station. As the countryside began to pass around her, she found herself nodding off as well, catching herself before she found her heavy head on Takeru's shoulders.
"Hikari. Hikari-chan!" She was waken by Takeru. Blushing as she found herself snuggled against the boy and her friends madly snickering at the sight.
"Ichikawa-Shiohama. Ichikawa-Shiohama is our next station. The doors will open on your right."
Hikari quickly picked herself up and made her way to the train's doors even though the train was still minutes away from the station. She could feel her friends starring at her from the back of her head, while her cheeks burned red. When the train finally stopped at the platforms of Ichikawa-Shiohama station, Hikari was the first to be off the train and with a large exhale, she composed herself when her friends finally caught up with her.
Both Taichibana Mai and Kamiya Hina were the first to big the group good-bye as they ran to catch trains in the direction of their homes. It was only Takeru who stayed with her as they walked the streets of Urayasu towards the nearest subway station. The streets were packed with cars but the sidewalks were fairly empty, leaving Hikari and Takeru in quiet comfort as they walked.
She didn't know what to say to the boy but years together had almost created a link between the two and they understood each others thoughts. It wasn't until Takeru's phone began to ring that she heard him speak again.
"Moshi, moshi." The blond boy answered.
Hikari couldn't make out who was on the other end but she looked at Takeru needly as she fear what would come next.
"Gomen." Takeru slapped his hands together while still holding his phone and bowed to Hikari, "That was Yamato. He's asking me to attend a family announcement. It's in Shinagawa."
She smiled, hiding her displeasure, "Go."
Takeru bowed again before doubling back towards the Ichikawa-Shiohama Station, leaving Hikari to wonder the streets of Tokyo alone. She took a deep breath, finally alone to her thoughts as she quickened her pace towards the nearest subway station. It wasn't because she was scared, Tokyo was a busy city - she never liked being by herself.
It took her another hour or so transferring between different subway lines before she arrived at the exit of Hikarigaoka Station. She felt a sense of relief from the familiar sight of her neighbourhood.
"Tadaima!" She called out as the front door of her home shut closed behind her.
"Okaeri" The monotone voice of Taichi replied, sitting at the family's dinning table, snacking away while the television played a live concert of Taichikawa Mimi and her idol group.
Ignoring her brother, she turned to her room in order to change out of her beach wear into something more comfortable. When she entered, she found a sheet of paper on her desk - her university preference sheet.
It had been on her mind all throughout the summer. She examined it again but for the first time, there was something written on it - Tokyo Daidaku. Reason given: Family.