A yawn forced itself from my mouth, catching me off guard. A pleasant nap would have gone a long way before we set out but there was no helping it anymore.

“Look alive now!” Suika laughed and poked me in the ribs as she passed up ahead of me, her steps quick and bouncy. It amazed me that she was so light on her feet, given the large pack she carried on her back. It looked like she was carrying half of the camping supplies all by herself without even so much as breaking a sweat.

As if guessing my thoughts, she began to whistle a cheery tune as she zoomed to the front of the group. A drinking song, really, but the others didn’t know that. They seemed to find her good humor infectious and, all across the staggered column, conversation and laughter sprang forth.

Despite feeling just a little touchy … because reasons, a smile bloomed on my lips as well. Yeah, Suika had it right. It was a lovely day and, even though we had started out at the crack of dawn, I wasn’t feeling that tired. It was impossible to feel tired surrounded by nature like we were, with the deep green of the forest providing refreshing shade from the ever-intensifying sun. As we had stopped going uphill some time ago, the going wasn’t too bad. We’d arrive sooner rather than later.

I tugged at the straps of my own backpack and shifted the weigh a little more on my right side as I had been favoring the left for the last half hour. As I wiped off a little bit of sweat that had trickled down my brow, I briefly made eye contact with a very indifferent young lady. It was clear that she was super indifferent because she made a show of turning her head and pointing her nose up towards the sky. A preposterously out-of-place haughty gesture.

Marisa, who was walking besides the person who couldn’t care any less about me, caught the little exchange and offered a silent giggle, one that also seemed to say, “Oh, looks like there’s trouble in paradise.”

I proffered a grin as a reply, one that I hoped said, “That’s just the way things go.”

I let the distance between us increase a little as I fell back into the rest of the group. I watched as Suika enthusiastically led from the front, having fallen into a conversation with the now-scowling class rep. It seemed like Reimu was wasting her breath by telling the troublemaker to be on her best behavior. She must have seen the stupid expression I was making as she stuck out her tongue at me before getting back to the one-sided conversation with Suika.

The perceptive Marisa caught that one too. With doe-like eyes, she seemed to tell me that she was still on my side no matter what the others thought. Or maybe not. Tossing in an impish wink, she turned to her neighbor, very clearly meaning to talk about me and find out what was going on.

I fell back further, deciding to enjoy the soft breeze that blew up from ahead. The rest of my classmates seemed oblivious to the whole exchange. They were excited. And who could blame them? We were almost there, after all. A few days all by ourselves without having to worry about work and study at a secluded camp. Not only was the area around the lake beautiful but the night sky in the area was famous for being clear, seeing as we were sufficiently far from the city. Star-gazing and … if I recalled correctly, a meteor shower would likely happen in a few days. A pretty special occurrence. And opportunity.

I stopped walking and stood off to one side of the trail. I pretended to take my duties as a student representative (or would-be one) seriously, acting like I was doing a headcount and making sure that everyone was still with the group.

Kaenbyou narrowed her eyes as she passed, offering a silent (and rather self-satisfied) rebuke. She saw through my bullshit. She spoke to her friend, Okuu, quietly, conspiratorially, likely meaning to get my goat.

By contrast, when Kagerou passed, she looked uneasy and didn’t even seem to notice me. It was a little too warm for her to be wearing a sweater, I thought.

A group of boys followed Kochiya and Kawashiro, not really getting the hint that they were basically eavesdropping and being rude. Behind them were a few of the newer transfers, like Yamashiro, who looked to be in their element and were fully dressed in outdoors clothes that looked similar to combat fatigues.

Way behind everyone else were some of the newer “troublemakers” that had horned in on the shtick I had going on with Suika. That is to say, being lovable rascals. Or, according to certain prudes, being delinquents. While I could claim to be a free spirit that was just misunderstood, they leaned into their image a little too hard, having “lackeys” and making all sorts of nonsense declarations about territory.

“And another thing, Kenji,” one of the “bosses” snarled as she passed by, “I’m counting on you to be on your toes. No telling what sort of nonsense the others are going to try to pull at camp”

Cleverly, I avoided making eye contact with any of them. Audaciously, I turned my attention to the riotously short skirt Aya had chosen to wear that day; there was a good visual contrast between her slender, pale, and shapely legs and the dark pleated material. Wisely, I only stole sidelong glances, pretending to still be doing my duties and watching over the group while admiring Aya’s nimble movements and how she effortlessly went back and forth between groups. She prided herself on being clued-in on everything that went on and was almost always hard at work. I watched her as she happily snapped countless pictures of the group, surely intent on squeezing out as many stories about our trip for the school paper as she could later.

With another yawn, I decided to get a move on again. I was looking forward to making it to camp.

[] Return to the front and merrily help lead the way.
[] Catch up with Kochiya and the rest from the other classes.
[] Hang back with Aya and see if she has any juicy info to share.
[] Tenshi option

Before too long, the group came out of the woods and onto the crest of a gently rolling hill, one that sloped downwards towards a large lake. Sunlight reflected off the blue waters made the scene a little dazzling and many in the group stopped to admire the watery expanse before them—the farthest shore seemed to be in a little bit in a haze but it otherwise looked like a pristine natural environment with only a few wooden buildings off in the distance, nestled between the trees that otherwise covered the area. Already the head of the group was well on their way down the hill, following the path towards the water’s edge.

Aya had perched herself on a large exposed boulder that was wedged between the lip of the hill and the forest. She was taking panoramic shots with her camera, a faint smile on her lips as she adjusted the exposure.

“Beautiful, right?” she spoke without breaking away from her photography as I found my footing next to her.

“Sure. It’s nice to get out of town every now and again,” I said.

At that she laughed, bringing the camera down and replacing the cap on the lens. With her usual lack of shame, she corrected the record, “I meant my legs. Caught you staring earlier.”

“They’re good too,” I shrugged, knowing better than to deny it.

“Wore this skirt just for you, you know.”

“Liar.”

“Who can say?” she shrugged and placed her camera into a protective case that hung around her neck. With surprising swiftness, she hopped off of the vantage point and onto the path again in a single motion; neither skirt nor dark, medium-length hair seemed to flutter much. She watched as I climbed down rather less graciously; my backpack encumbered my movements and so I took my time to make sure that I didn’t trip and fall flat on my ass. Her voice was flat as expressed what to a stranger might sound like an afterthought, “I did want to get your attention at some point for whatever it’s worth.”

“… You want me to help you find something out from someone who knows better than to talk to you? Is that about right?”

Aya had asked me to work for her on other occasions, paying me to act as a set of eyes and ears as I was one of the few who pretty much came and went as I pleased. I was no stranger to cutting class and also prided myself in not being involved in any clubs. Sure, I had been press-ganged into service by an unscrupulous authority figure but that was a different matter entirely. I was a neutral party and had a knack for getting to the bottom of things, even if it was more because I was direct and stubborn rather than clever and ingratiating. Or was that the other way around? Either way, I gave as good as I got. And that got me by. Usually.

“Hm, I guess you would be cranky. Heard you got into a lover’s spat earlier.”

I laughed and placed my hand on her shoulder. The material of her blouse was rather light and felt smooth against my fingers. I leaned close to her and pressed my forehead to the side of her head. I had thought to make a nonsensical joke about her being jealous but, instead, I found it hard to hide my surprise, “Since when do you wear that sort of flowery perfume?”

“It’s all for your benefit,” she brushed me off, gently banging up against my forehead with the side of her head and taking my hand off of her shoulder. Before letting go of my hand she did smile—perhaps a little too sweetly. “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it, I respect your privacy.”

“Since when?”

“Always. Not my fault you don’t understand my pure intentions.” she said. Aya began to walk down the path slowly, biding me to come along with a playful look she tossed with a turn of her head over her shoulder.

We were far from the back of the group and were basically afforded a private stroll together. I couldn’t say that I minded it much as I did enjoy spending time with Aya—in her own (admittedly, abnormal) way, she was the most honest person that I knew. If she wanted something from me, she’d ask. And if I wanted something from her, I could also ask. Terms could then be negotiated.

“You know, that girl from the track and field club is wearing short shorts. Nice legs there as well,” I tried to get a rise out of her.

“Momiji certainly caters to unconventional sorts of tastes,” she retorted, sounding overall indifferent to the provocation. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted the athlete in question up ahead, talking to one of the people in survivalist-style clothes. Pausing for a moment, her sharp eyes swept over me, sizing me up. “So, you don’t want to tell me about your own problems?”

“And see you write up an article on it? No thanks>”

“Not sure how you’re going to get what you want otherwise.”

“And what is it that I want?”

“What everyone who comes to me wants. Information.”

“I could always go to Himekaidou for that.”

“That shut-in stayed at home,” she recited that fact with undisguised satisfaction.”Besides, I’ve always been better at sussing out the truth.”

“That confidence of yours is why I love you.”

“Now who’s the liar?” she giggled, a light ripple of color coming to her cheeks. “Then again, I guess I should expect as much coming from a politician.”

“Am I really a politician if I didn’t want the job and no one voted for me?”

“As a journalist, I just report the facts.”

“Well, assuming both things are true, then our casual relationship is pretty inappropriate.”

“On the contrary,” Aya beamed, grabbing me by the arm, “it’s one built on mutual respect!”

Well, whatever else the truth might be, we at least seemed to have a mutual understanding. She was quick and incisive and I appreciated that more than I would admit to her face. And I was sure that she liked me for other reasons that weren’t purely transactional. At times we may have gotten on each other’s nerves but those were, ultimately, short-lived affairs.

“So, want me to try to get you a bigger budget from the student council?” I guessed that that was the sort of thing she’d want in exchange for information.

“… It would make my life easier but no,” Aya shook her head. She clung onto my arm and spoke quietly. It was a slightly too hot out for her to be pressed against me but I didn’t mind the feeling at all. If anyone up ahead bothered to look back, the might have thought us a happy couple enjoying a little alone time. “I do want your help with something but I’m not sure what it is yet. When the time comes, I’ll ask. I have a feeling that there’s something more to this trip than meets the eye….”

It was my turn to laugh again. Aya looked up at me, perplexed. I didn’t address it, instead keeping the thought to myself. How could I admit to her that I thought it endearing that, at the end of the day, she really did think herself a serious journalist? She’d just think I was making fun of her and counter with a barb. But, well, I was content to be one of the few to know that she really did have an earnest side and that it was pretty cute.

I hoped that none of those thoughts showed on my face. I decided to ask her about something else, to deflect for the time being.

[] Was there anything besides journalistic instinct that made her suspect something more was going on?
[] She probably interviewed everyone when we set off, anything that would interest me?

The best I could do on the spot was a little predictable. I whispered, affecting a conspiratorial air, sure that she would be delighted at my flair for the dramatic, “Do you have anything besides a hunch? An anonymous source?”

“It’s just that things are a little too convenient,” Aya whispered back. Playing along, she stole a look to the left and then to the right and searched for non-existent eavesdroppers. She let go of me and hurried her pace, before stopping and once again turning to face me. “Just think about it, how did we manage to get the only lodgings around the lake so cheap and having to book months in advance? Didn’t you feel anything off when you were discussing this with Reimu?”

I, of course, knew why everything had fallen into place so easily. I could just give her the scoop that she wanted and she’d probably love me for it. Still, it wasn’t up to me. I repeated the same lie I had told early on, about how Suika had wanted to go out drinking somewhere different and we had decided to camp out, only to hear about a lodge that had been closed for renovations and wasn’t fully open for business. And someone overheard and suggested the cost be split … before we knew it, it became an informal school trip. Reimu had been annoyed at having to organize some of the logistics but the promise of good food had won her over quickly.

If she sensed that I was lying, Aya played it cool. As we had caught up to the group again, she resumed her previous work of observing the others and taking photographs every now and again. I didn’t mind her leaving me out in the cold, content to watch her slender figure move gracefully back and forth, blowing around the area like so many gusts of wind.

We reached the camp soon enough.

The mountain that dominated the area looked even more impressive from the shore opposite to its base. It was a large, but supposedly dormant, volcano that could be seen even from town. I knew that somewhere among those slopes, in the less craggy areas, there was a large shrine and a lake. I had gone there once years before, riding the cable car and seeing the larger lake that was in front of me off in the distance. Of course, getting there had been easier and hadn’t required a hike as paved roads snaked through valleys and foothills to reach the area.

A cool breeze came on in over the water and relieved some of the fatigue that I had felt from the trek. I began to look around and get my bearings around the camp.

There were a few small wooden cabins in a clearing by the shore that were fairly textbook in terms of accommodations. They were all centered around common areas that included bathrooms and a small lodge that sat right by the water. A small pier extended just beyond that into the lake, hosting a few small rowboats that had seen better days.

Already there were people out exploring every corner of the area, splitting off into groups and chatting excitedly among themselves. A few of my fellow classmates had taken off their shoes and were wading into the lake and laughing, drawn in by the allure of surely-refreshing water. It seemed like it was everything everyone expected and more.

From the distance, I recognized Marisa standing at the water’s edge. She was watching the others play around, wearing a large and floppy hat that was no doubt meant to keep the sun off her face and neck. Her long blonde hair spilled beneath the dark hat about halfway down her back, where it was tied into a small bunch by a delicate ribbon. I hadn’t noticed earlier but she had changed how she wore her hair yet again. As if guessing that she was being watched, she looked around, saw me, and gave a little wave, holding onto the brim of her hat with a hand so that the wind didn’t send it flying. Someone else, a girl with long dark pigtails came up to her and said something, causing Marisa to turn away and start up a conversation.

There was no sign of Suika nor of … well, no point in worrying about her when she wasn’t worried about me.

I caught sight of something unexpected as I walked towards the shore: tall, weather-worn walls and the hint of a large structure beyond perhaps a kilometer or two from our camp site where a small peninsula formed. I couldn’t tell what it was at a distance but it looked like some sort of old-style hotel or mansion but it looked abandoned or, at the very least, currently vacant. Old growth forest covered the approach along land, dark and dense.

An irritated yell came from the front of the lakeside lodge. Reimu was trying to get a few of the people who had volunteered to help set things up at the camp to help out. Predictably, they were quick to disappear from sight and preferred to play around as someone else did all of the hard work. Only one of the more helpful girls … the one wearing loud tourist-y-type shorts … had stuck around but even she was having a difficult time dealing with Reimu’s mounting frustration. Not that the frustration was unreasonable—she’d understandably rather be sitting around carefree dipping her toes in the water than having to do work. That work was foisted upon her was annoying.

If she saw me, I was sure that I’d get drafted for drudgery right away.

[] Join Marisa; the lake’s siren song is impossible to resist.
[] Join Reimu; a little self-immolation would appease the gods.

I set my bag down a few meters away from the water’s edge. I was in fairly good shape, I thought, but the cross-country hike had worn me down more than I cared to admit. At once I felt more limber and, obviously enough, unencumbered. I was enjoying the relief as I approached Marisa and was stretching my arm and shoulders when the girl with her clammed up. At that Marisa wrinkled her nose and adjusted her large hat again, guessing that I was nearby.

“Hiya,” she greeted with a smile, her usual chipper self. Her light-colored eyes turned up to look at me in the face, alight with a twinkle of irreverence. “I missed talking with you while we walked. There was something I wanted to tell you at breakfast but you were gone.”

“Um … maybe I should leave?” the girl with the dark pigtails ventured quietly, averting her eyes from either of us. She stood over a head above Marisa but, then again, nearly almost everyone did at least as much. I hadn’t met the pigtailed girl before and offered a fairly standard greeting. She seemed to be taken aback at being talked to directly and looked to Marisa in hopes of guidance.

“No need,” Marisa said with a laugh. The tight blonde braid that rand down the left side of her face to her chest jiggled—I was glad that it was still there—and she lubricated the interaction with typical aplomb, “this is the person I was telling you about. The one who helped me out in the past.”

“After you ran away from home…?” catching herself, the girl put a small hand to her mouth, thinking she committed a faux pas. Her dark eyes drooped towards to the rocky ground below.

“It’s a little more complicated than that,” I spoke up, trying to make things less awkward. Marisa didn’t really mind talking about all of that anymore but it wasn’t something that outsiders could easily understand. It was easier to be cheery and show everyone that things were alright at present. “But yeah, I helped her out. Or at least I think I did. She’s helped me back a million times over since.”

“His aunt also really an amazing person, I’ll tell you about her some other time,” Marisa chirped, broadcasting her feelings directly so that she wouldn’t be misunderstood. It wasn’t something that an outsider could understand casually—straightforward as she tended to be, Marisa also had a tenderness to her that was best understood by actions and not with words.

“Oh,” the girl said simply.

Moving things along in typical fashion, Marisa introduced the girl, “This is Narumi. She’s expressed interest in joining the magic club that I set up.”

“Ah, yes, pleased to meet you,” the girl gave a nervous bow, her conservative ankle-length dress fluttering thanks to the wind. Though I had been a little out of it lately, barely attending classes, I would have remembered a new transfer student. Her excessive bashfulness made me conclude that she was an underclassmate. I wondered how it was that she had managed to come along. It wasn’t like the trip had been advertised beyond out year.

“A pleasure,” I answered with a nod and slight smile. I was going for “nice but a little mysterious” for the first impression. I told her my name but ended on a familiar refrain, “Everyone calls me Arc. There’s no need for formality.”

“Arc has helped me get materials for my experiments. It’s not exactly easy to get laudanum these days, you know,” Marisa said cheerily. She was a resourceful person but she wouldn’t be so far along in her “magical studies” if I hadn’t also allowed her to do as she pleased at home, borrowing or asking of me all sorts of things. The less she knew how I got her things, the better, I had decided a long time ago. I just found it difficult to say no to her.

“So he’s pretty reliable…” Narumi stared at my face, as if trying to find something that had been carefully hidden away. Catching herself, she quickly added, “I mean, of course a friend of Marisa’s would be reliable. After all, she’s really helped me out of many a jam.”

“Tried the water yet?” I asked no one in particular. For the better part of the last few minutes, the gentle lapping of water upon the shore had been on the back of my mind. A few others had been busy splashing around all the while, not having bothered to change into swimsuits.

“It looks a little cold,” Narumi said.

“I was waiting for you to start playing around,” Marisa said, “either you or Alice.”

“… Well, I wasn’t planning to go swimming just yet. But I wanted to at least dip my toes.”

“Go ahead,” the blonde egged me on, “get in there.”

Taking the hint, I left the nervous underclassmate and Marisa to finish their own conversation. I took off my boots, socks, and rolled up my trousers to just below my knees. The small stones beneath my feet were smooth and cold, still moist from when waves had passed over them. I took a step and then another and was soon ankle-deep into the water. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the cool sensation.

I marched on until my shins were submerged. It was an undoubtedly refreshing sensation and, if I hadn’t been wearing clothes, I might have well continued until the mostly still waters were up to my chin. Things felt just right, like being welcomed back home by an old friend who had been eagerly anticipating my arrival all day. Whatever else might happen during the trip, I at least felt like it would have been worth it to be so relaxed, accepting the gentle homecoming.

I felt at peace.

[] Share the moment with Marisa.
[] Think of those who could use more whimsy in their lives.



A timer because I feel I'm being a little too inconsistent with calling things. Let me know if more time is needed.