Chapter 24 Campfire Under the Stars
Saki's POV
Once we finished unpacking, we changed into swimsuits and headed to the lake.
"Wow", I said in awe when we got there. "The lake looks so beautiful!"
"It does", Ena agreed. "Good thing I brought my sketchbook and pencils. I'm definitely going to draw this!
"While you do that Ena, the rest of us are gonna go swimming", Airi said excitedly.
"Saki, make sure to wear your floaty and stay by the shallow end of the lake", Tsukasa said sternly.
"Will do, Onii-Chan", I said. "Okay everyone! Let's go!"
...
After spending the afternoon down by the lake, we headed back to our cabins and changed our clothes.
Once we were done, we headed outside; where we saw the boys busy setting up a couple of tents.
"Do you guys need any help with that", Airi asked.
"Please allow us to handle this, ladies", Tsukasa replied.
"Fine by me", Ena said. "So what should we do while we wait for the boys to finish setting up the tents?"
"Why don't we set up a campfire", Ichika suggested.
"Good idea, Ichi-Chan", I replied excitedly. "And then…we can make s'mores!"
...
Once the boys had finished setting up the tents, we all sat around the campfire and ate s'mores together.
"Mmm", I said; my mouth now full of s'more. "It's been so long since I've had a s'more! I forgot how yummy they were!"
"Saki, don't eat with your mouth full", Tsukasa scolded me. "You could end up chocking!"
"Sorry, Onii-Chan", I apologised after I had swallowed my s'more.
"I've never had a s'more before", Toya revealed. "And I have to say, I actually quite like the taste of it."
"You know, Toya-Kun", I started. "Even though we went traditional and used graham crackers for our s'mores, I've seen some people use cookies instead."
"Really", Toya asked as his eyes lit up.
"Yeah", I replied. "There's a café I know that does things like that. Maybe we can go check it out sometime?"
"I'd love to", Toya replied. "Thank you very much, Saki-San."
"You're welcome, Toya-Kun", I said.
"So, what are we going to do now", Ena asked after she finished her s'more.
"Let me think", I started. "What do people usually do at a campfire?"
"Ooo, I've got an idea", Airi revealed. "Why don't we tell each other scary stories?!"
"Scary stories", Ena asked. "You really want to do that while we're out in the middle of the woods?"
"It certainly adds to the atmosphere, doesn't it", Rui asked.
"Indeed", Tsukasa replied, before standing up. "Come Rui! Let us work together to tell a magnificent scary story!"
With this, Tsukasa and Rui told a story through a two man show. It actually got a bit scary at times, but it was also really fun.
After that, we convinced Ichika to take out her guitar, and we all had a jam session together.
By the time all of this was done, the sun had completely set.
"It has gotten quite dark out now", Tsukasa pointed out. "Perhaps we should head into our tents for the evening?"
"Do we really have to sleep in tents", Ena asked. "I mean, isn't the ground going to be hard?"
"Fear not, Ena-San", Tsukasa reassured her. "The camping mattresses we got should help make you more comfortable!"
"But, it still won't be as comfortable as a bed", Ena pointed out.
"You should at least try to sleep in the tent, Ena", Akito stated. "Besides, if it becomes too hard, you can always just head back inside the cabin."
"Fine", Ena said in defeat. "I'll at least try to sleep in the tent."
"Guys", I said suddenly as I looked up at the sky. "Look!"
With this, everybody looked up…and saw a sky full of stars!
"Look at all those stars", Airi said in awe.
"It's not easy to see something like this back in the city", Ena added.
"They're so beautiful", Ichika said in awe.
"Yeah", I agreed.
Then, I thought about something, which made me frown.
"Saki, what's wrong", Tsukasa asked in concern.
"I'm fine, Onii-Chan", I reassured him. "It's just…the last time Ichi-Chan and I saw stars like this…was with Hona-Chan and Shiho-Chan."
"You're right", Ichika said, also now a bit sad herself.
After a moment of silence, Tsukasa suddenly spoke up.
"I understand your sadness, Saki", he started. "But, think of it like this. Even though you and Ichika are not with Shiho and Honami at this moment, if they are looking up right now…then they are seeing the same night sky as you."
After Tsukasa said this, I looked at him in shock. Then…I smiled.
"You're right, Onii-Chan", I agreed.
Then, I looked up once again at the star lit night sky.
Shiho-Chan. Hona-Chan. Wherever you two are at the moment, I hope you're looking up at the same night sky that we are.