The sun had already peaked over the horizon, but Ryoma remained cocooned in the warm embrace of sleep. The remnants of his exhausting flight from the United States to Japan hung over him like a heavy blanket. He stirred only when the incessant ringing of his phone shattered the peaceful silence in his room. Groggily, he rubbed his hand against the bedside table, searching for his phone.
"Ugh," he sighed as he glanced at the screen, recognizing Horio's name flashing repeatedly. With reluctance, he answered, "What do you want?"
"Finally, you pick up! You came back from the US, right?" Horio's voice crackled with excitement.
"Yeah," Ryoma replied, his tone neutral.
"Then come to the beach with us!" Horio chirped, his enthusiasm palpable.
Ryoma narrowed his eyes, feeling the impending sleep tugging at him again. "No thanks."
"Too bad," Horio continued, teasingly. "Because Ryuzaki will be there too!"
At the mention of Sakuno's name, Ryoma's eyes widened in surprise. He glanced at the wall clock: 9 AM. "What time?" he asked, curiosity creeping in.
"10:30." Horio grinned, sensing he had struck gold.
Ryoma hung up abruptly, navigating back to his dreamworld. Moments later, he set an alarm for 9:30 and surrendered to slumber once more.
Meanwhile, Sakuno was preparing for the day. Dressed in a simple t-shirt and skirt that concealed her swimsuit, she gathered her belongings in a tote bag. She stepped out of her room and nearly stopped in her tracks upon seeing Ryoma leaning against his door. His casual shorts and t-shirt were enough to make her heart race.
"Ryoma-kun? Are you going to the beach too?" she asked, her voice soft and tentative.
"Yeah, Horio called me," he admitted.
Sakuno smiled sweetly, "I see. I thought you were tired, so I didn't wake you up. Did you have breakfast?"
"I did," he said with a slight nod.
"Let's go then." she announced brightly.
As they descended the stairs, Sumire welcomed them, "You kids are going to the beach, right?"
"Yes, Grandma," Sakuno replied cheerfully.
"Here, bring these," her grandmother insisted, handing them a couple of watermelons.
Ryoma accepted them without complaint, secretly grateful for the deliciousness to come.
They boarded the train, and within moments, Ryoma's yawns echoed through the space. "See? You're still tired. Why do you still want to go?" Sakuno observed with a hint of concern.
Ryoma leaned his head onto her shoulder, murmuring, "Because you'll be there. Wake me when we arrive."
Sakuno's cheeks flushed a rosy hue as she glanced down at him. A smile crept across her face, a mix of affection and embarrassment.
When they reached the beach, Sakuno gently shook him awake. The salty aroma of the ocean air greeted them as they stepped onto sunlit sand. Tomoka waved energetically, surrounded by their friends—Horio, Kachiro, Katsuo, Heisuke, and Ai—already clad in vibrant swim trunks and colorful swimsuits.
"Sorry we're late!" Sakuno said apologetically.
"It's okay, we just arrived too," Tomoka reassured her.
"Oh, you guys brought watermelon? That's nice!" Horio chimed in.
Sakuno nodded, "Yes, my grandma insisted."
Seated under a large umbrella, Ryoma rested his head against Sakuno's shoulder once again, watching as their friends splashed and played in the waves. "Are you still tired?" Sakuno whispered softly.
He nodded, his eyes half-closed, savoring this moment of tranquility. Their friends watched, blushing and whispering among themselves, clearly amused by the sight of their two friends so close together.
"Do you come here to flirt?" Heisuke shouted teasingly, breaking the spell.
"What is this, flirting so naturally." Horio chimed in, grinning.
Sakuno stammered, "E-eh? We—we're not... Ryoma-kun is just tired."
Tomoka smirked, "Ryoma-sama, stop clinging to Sakuno and let her swim with us!"
"You should let her swim!" Ai piped in, encouragingly.
In an instant, Horio exchanged mischievous looks with the others. Heisuke seized Ryoma's left hand, Kachiro grabbed his right, while Katsuo and Horio caught his legs. They hoisted him up as he protested with wide eyes.
"Wait, what—?"
With laughter echoing out, they sprinted towards the water and threw him into the cool sea, sending up a shower of droplets. Ryoma surfaced, glaring daggers at them, his wet hair plastered to his forehead. He was half-annoyed, half-amused.
Tomoka sighed. "So childish."
Sakuno giggled along with Ai, who exclaimed, "Let's go swim too!"
Sakuno quickly changed into her swimsuit beneath her skirt and chased after Tomoka and Ai, joy bubbling within her.
After swimming, the group gathered under the sun, cracking open the watermelons to share. Laughter intertwined with the warmth of summer as Heisuke strummed his guitar and sang a duet with Ai, their voices harmonizing beautifully to *Gyutto, captivating everyone around.
Heisuke: When we hold hands, I blush, I can't help but smile along with you, I copy your quirks for no reason, At times, I gaze at your sleeping face, Only for the sun to rise again, Not everyday needs to be special, I cherish, Our daily life
Ai: Next to you I can feel, My deep love for you, I'm not good at telling you my feelings, That's why
Heisuke and Ai: Hold me tight in your embrace, Draw me close and don't let me go, Call my name, With your voice, It's all it takes to make me happy, If I can ask for one wish to come true, I want to be by your side, Forever and always
Heisuke: When I'm in distress, Or cry after a hard day, You're the closest comfort that I can get, And tell me it's going to be all right, You accept all that I am, As if you know my weaknesses, Thank you for always being by my side
Ai: I can feel at ease next to you, I'm happy just to be your girlfriend, My love for you might overflow, Will you accept it all?
Heisuke and Ai: Hold me tight in your embrace, Draw me close and don't let me go, Call my name, With your voice, It's all it takes to make me happy, If I can ask for one wish to come true, I want to be by your side, Forever and always, If we ever fight, Or can't see eye to eye, Let's overcome everything together, Let's hold on to us tightly
Heisuke: Hold me tight with your embrace, Draw me close and don't let me go, Always keep your warm, gentle eyes, Ever looking only at me
Heisuke and Ai: That's all it takes to make me happy, But today, let me hold you tightly, There's one thing I want to tell you, I'll always love you
They finished their song while looking at each other's eyes.
"Is something happening between you two?" Tomoka teased, side-eyeing the flustered Heisuke.
"There is nothing! I just asked her to duet with me because she has nice voice." he protested, his face turning a shade darker.
"Ookami just shy. You always invite me to your room didn't you?" Ai teased playfully, made him more flushed.
"That just for singing! Why do you always say things that are misleading?" Heisuke shot back.
"Okay, okay, it's so easy to tease you." Said Ai, causing everyone to erupt in laughter.
"Today is so fun!" Katsuo piped up, eyeing the sky. "Why not go see the fireworks tonight? It'd be a great end to summer break!"
"Yeah, let's go!" Tomoka agreed, shooting a glance at Sakuno, who positively beamed in response.
Horio turned to Ryoma, "Echizen, you must come too!"
Ryoma paused, considering before replying, "I'll go if Sakuno goes."
The group gasped at the words, Horio smirking, "Oh? You called her by her first name now?"
Sakuno felt butterflies dance in her stomach, sharing a soft smile with Ryoma. Heisuke noticed the blossoming connection and felt warmth for his friend.
After a day full of laughter, they returned to respective home. Ryoma felt exhausted but content. As he lay back in bed, a soft smile played on his lips, thoughts of Sakuno weaving into his dreams.
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and twilight settled over the quaint neighborhood, Sakuno stood before her long mirror, fingers deftly adjusting the fabric of her beautiful yukata. She admired the delicate patterns of cherry blossoms awash in hues of pink and white cascading down the fabric. Her heart fluttered with excitement.
She meticulously styled her hair, forming an elegant bun adorned with small silk flowers. Satisfied, she took a deep breath and headed outside, ready to embrace the festivities of the summer festival.
As the door creaked open, her heart skipped a beat. There stood Ryoma, who wore only a simple shirt and slacks, looking charming yet underdressed for the occasion. Sakuno's cheeks flushed as their eyes met; he looked stunned as he took in her radiance in the yukata.
"Ryoma-kun." she exclaimed, unable to hide her smile. "Don't you want to wear a yukata too?"
Ryoma flinched slightly at her mention of his name, his usual cool demeanor faltering. "I don't have one," he replied.
Without missing a beat, Sakuno proposed, "You can wear my dad's! It'll look great on you!"
He opened his mouth to decline, but before he could protest further, she dashed into her parents' room. "Here!" she called, reappearing with a bright blue yukata that seemed perfect for him.
"Do you know how to wear it?" she asked.
Ryoma shoved his hands into his pockets, looking bashful. "I've never worn one back in the States, so…"
"I'll help you!" she said, her enthusiasm infectious. Together, they moved into Ryoma's room, the air thick with unspoken tension.
As Ryoma slid the yukata onto his body, Sakuno held the hem with nimble fingers. "It fits you perfectly," she remarked, her voice soft. But as she reached around his waist to secure it with the obi, he couldn't suppress a nervous flush when she leaned in closer, so he stopped her hands.
"What's wrong, Ryoma-kun?" she asked, sensing his sudden tension.
Ryoma froze, thoughts swirling. "On second thought, I think I remember how to wear it," he stammered, gently pushing her toward the door. "Give me five minutes," he added quickly, shutting the door behind him before he could change his mind.
Outside, Sakuno raised an eyebrow in confusion, but Ryoma leaned against the door, his heart racing. 'That was dangerous'. He pulled out his phone and frantically searched for instructions on how to wear a yukata.
Five minutes felt like an eternity, but finally, the door creaked open again. When Ryoma emerged, clad in the yukata, Sakuno's breath caught in her throat.
"Wow, Ryoma-kun, you look good in it!" she exclaimed, admiration sparkling in her eyes.
He rubbed his neck sheepishly, glancing sideways. "Thanks, you look pretty too," he mumbled, his cheeks tinged pink as he avoided her gaze.
"Well, let's go." she said, leading him out into the warm summer night.
The festival buzzed with energy as they arrived, laughter filling the air. The streets were alive with colorful lanterns, enticing food stalls, and games of chance that beckoned festival-goers.
Sakuno looked around. "I wonder where are the others.
Ryoma instinctively reached for Sakuno's hand, sensing the crowd closing in around them. "It's hard to find them in all this," he said, peering left and right.
"Do you want to eat that?" he pointed at the takoyaki stall. Sakuno nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Meanwhile, not far off, Tomoka and Ai spotted them weaving through the throng.
"Oh, it's them!" Tomoka whispered, nudging Ai with excitement.
"Should we call them?" Ai asked hesitantly, feeling like an intruder on such a sweet moment.
"Nah, just let them be," Horio chimed in, grinning. "Let's follow from afar."
From a distance, they watched as Ryoma blew on a piece of hot takoyaki before feeding it to Sakuno. Katsuo beamed, whispering, "I'm glad they're getting closer." Kachiro nodded in agreement, while Heisuke merely scoffed, annoyance flickering across his face.
As the evening wore on, the anticipation of the fireworks built in the air. Ryoma and Sakuno found themselves at the back of the crowd, their hands entwined, gazing up at the darkening sky.
"Thank you for today, Ryoma-kun. It's so much fun," Sakuno said softly, her heart warming at the closeness they shared.
Ryoma turned to meet her gaze, the fireflies of the festival fading beneath the brilliance of her eyes. Just then, the first firework exploded in the sky, illuminating their faces with bursts of color.
In a bold moment, overcome by the magic of the night, Ryoma leaned closer, and their lips met softly. Sakuno's eyes widened in surprise, then fluttered closed as she melted into the kiss, her heart racing faster than the fireworks above. Their hands tightened around each other, sealing a moment both tender and electrifying.
Their friends, watching from a distance, collectively held their breath, faces flushed with a mix of shock and joy.
It was a simple kiss, yet it carried the unspoken feelings. As they kissed, surrounded by the sounds of crackling fireworks. They were wrapped in a cocoon of warmth, the night whispering promises of love and shared tomorrows.
When the last firework faded, it left behind a lingering magic that enveloped them both. They pulled away, laughter bubbling between them as they exchanged shy smiles.