CH7 So ghosts can wear swimsuits too Part 2

Meanwhile, Aya was watching me intently, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. It was the kind of grin that made me feel like she was enjoying my discomfort far too much, as if this whole thing was some sort of comedy show she was front-row for. She even gave me a little nudge on the arm, which, despite not being physically noticeable to Eri, made me want to laugh and cringe at the same time.

I let out a small sigh, defeated. “Alright,” I said, glancing at Eri. “Let’s check out that café. I could use a break.”

Aya gave a soft giggle, clearly finding this whole situation amusing. I could almost hear her teasing voice in my head: Oh, this is going to be interesting.

The café was an alfresco type, with small wooden tables set outside under large umbrellas, offering a view of the passing crowd and a clear sightline to the beach in the distance. A light breeze carried the salty scent of the sea, mingling with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sweet pastries from the café itself. It was peaceful, despite the occasional chatter from nearby tables, and I felt a strange sense of calm as we walked up to the cashier.

I glanced up at the menu overhead. It was... interesting, to say the least. The kind of place that served drinks I'd never heard of and flavors I wouldn’t normally try. I’d usually just go for a soda or iced coffee, but this? This was something else.

Eri was quick to speak up. “I’d like one order of your yogurt slush,” she said coolly. Yogurt? My brow furrowed. Isn’t yogurt kind of sour? My curiosity was piqued. Did she like sour drinks? Or maybe it wasn’t as tangy as I thought. Before I could dwell on it too long, Eri turned to me, her gaze expectant.

“What do you want?” she asked, her voice still carrying that calm, detached tone. I glanced

back at the menu, eyes scanning the options.

Suddenly, Aya’s voice broke into my thoughts, clear and decisive. “I’d like to try that matcha almond slush,” she said.

I nearly groaned. Matcha? I thought to myself, the memory of my last matcha-flavored anything flooding my mind. It tasted like grass. Who liked that stuff? But of course, I couldn’t explain that to Aya right now—not with so many people around, and especially not with Eri standing right there. I was stuck.

“Oh... uh, yeah. I’ll try the matcha almond slush,” I told the cashier reluctantly, trying to sound like it was my choice all along. Aya smiled triumphantly, clearly pleased with herself, while I braced for the inevitable taste of leafy bitterness.

I reached into my pocket, pulling out my wallet to pay, but before I could even count the bills, Eri stopped me.

“No. This is my treat,” she said, her tone firm and matter-of-fact, like it wasn’t up for debate. “I’m the one who invited you, right?”

I hesitated, caught off guard by how quickly she shot me down. I wanted to argue, offer to split the cost at least, but there was something about the way she said it—cold, direct—that left no room for protest. I felt my pride take a small hit.

“Ahh... o-okay,” I stammered, tucking my wallet away. “Thanks for the treat.” My voice came

out awkward, and the situation felt embarrassingly out of my control.

Aya, as always, found amusement in my discomfort, watching me with a teasing look in her eyes. If she could speak up right now, I’m sure she’d be poking fun at me for letting Eri take the lead.

We stood beside the counter waiting for our drinks. The moments dragged on in silence, and I kept my gaze low, trying not to seem too uncomfortable. When our orders were finally ready, we grabbed our slushes and headed to one of the small tables outside.

The seat was warm from the sun, and I took a moment to glance around the beachfront, the waves rolling gently in the distance. The crowd wasn’t overwhelming but busy enough to make the area feel alive. Eri settled across from me, her yogurt slush in hand, her expression as unreadable as ever. Aya, sitting invisibly at my side, leaned forward, eyeing my matcha slush eagerly.

I stirred the matcha slush again and took another sip, feeling Aya’s touch as she stayed close,

influencing my senses in that subtle way only she could. To my surprise, the drink tasted...

really good. The grassy flavor I expected wasn’t overpowering, and the sweetness of the almond balanced it out perfectly. I glanced at Aya, who looked absolutely overjoyed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as if she could taste it too. She pointed at the slush with eager anticipation, urging me to take another sip. I couldn’t help but chuckle quietly to myself and obliged her.

As I enjoyed the drink, I glanced over at Eri. She sat across from me, her legs crossed casually, focused on her phone. The sun reflected off her sunglasses, giving her an air of calm indifference. Meanwhile, I was a little more distracted by the beauty of the sea in the distance, the way the waves lapped gently against the shore, and the breeze carried the scent of saltwater.

I felt the silence stretch on for a bit too long and decided to break the awkward atmosphere. "So, you like that kind of drink?" I asked, hoping to start a casual conversation.

Eri glanced up briefly from her phone. "Not really," she replied coolly, "I just like to try different and unique things on the menu." Her tone was calm, almost detached, like she didn’t care either way.

"Ah... really," I said, nodding, not really knowing how to follow up. I sipped my drink again, feeling the awkwardness settle in.

Then, without warning, she shifted in her seat slightly and looked at me more directly. "Hmm. I'd like to ask some questions," she said, her voice more serious now.

“Uh… okay?” I replied awkwardly, feeling a strange tension rise.

“What are you to Yumi? Do you like her?” Her question was blunt, catching me completely off

guard.

“Uh?” I stammered, unsure of how to respond at first. “We’re... coworkers, I think? I mean, it depends on how you describe the ‘like’ you’re asking about.” I tried to sidestep the question, but I could tell she wasn’t letting me off that easily.

She raised an eyebrow slightly, not buying my vague answer. "I mean, do you have feelings for her? Romantically?"

I almost choked on my slush. “Huh? No! I mean, no... It’s not like that. I’m just not ready for that kind of thing right now,” I stumbled over my words, feeling like I sounded like an awkward elementary school kid talking about crushes. Heat rushed to my face as I realized how much I’d embarrassed myself.

Eri’s expression remained unreadable. She didn't say anything, but her silence was somehow more unnerving than any words she could’ve spoken. Aya, meanwhile, was watching me

closely, clearly entertained by my flustered state, though she didn’t offer any teasing commentary—at least, not yet.

I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, trying to recover from the embarrassing moment. “I mean, Yumi’s great, don’t get me wrong,” I added hastily. “But I’m just... I don’t know, focusing on other things right now.” My voice trailed off.

Eri nodded, not offering much reaction, just sipping her yogurt slush as if my floundering explanation was exactly what she’d expected. "Hmm," was all she said before turning her attention back to her phone, leaving me to stew in the awkward silence.

Aya leaned over, grinning from ear to ear. Well, that was interesting, her expression seemed to say. She didn’t need to speak aloud for me to know she was thoroughly enjoying this whole interaction.

I sighed and took another sip of the slush, hoping the cool drink would help calm the heat of embarrassment still burning in my face.

We returned to the beach after picking up the ice cream, the heat of the day beating down, but the breeze from the sea made it bearable. As we approached the umbrella, I spotted Yumi and Kenjie sitting together, looking relaxed under the shade. Aya trailed behind, looking as carefree as ever, her eyes flicking between Yumi and Kenjie with a curious expression.

“We’re back,” Eri was the first to speak, handing over the ice cream.

“What took you so long?” Yumi exclaimed, her eyes narrowing as she shifted her gaze between

the two of us.

“I... I just wanted Eri to check some things with me,” I stammered, trying to come up with a plausible reason. “So we wandered off a bit,” I added, scratching the back of my neck nervously.

Yumi immediately jumped up, dramatically hugging Eri, her voice playful but with an edge to it.

“What? Are you hitting on my Eri?”

“No! Of course not!” I retorted quickly, feeling my face heat up. I raised my hands defensively, not knowing how to handle her sudden outburst. “I just wanted to buy some souvenirs, but the shop was closed,” I added, hoping that would satisfy her.

Yumi looked at me with a narrowed gaze, clearly unconvinced. “Hmmmm…”

Before I could dig myself deeper, Eri came to my rescue, her tone as cool and collected as ever.

“Now, now, I wouldn’t steal him from you, Yumi.”

Yumi’s cheeks turned a shade of pink, and she quickly looked away, flustered. “W-What are you

talking about, Eri?” she mumbled, clearly embarrassed.

I blinked, completely at a loss. What just happened? I thought, staring at Yumi’s reaction. Steal

me? From Yumi?

I glanced over at Kenjie, who was giving me a confused look, his eyebrows raised as if he was just as lost as I was. His expression practically screamed, “What is going on here?

I met his gaze and gave him a shrug, internally sighing. Don’t look at me like that, man. I don’t have a clue what they’re talking about either.

Aya, on the other hand, was standing off to the side, watching the whole scene unfold with amusement written all over her face. She didn’t say anything, but I could tell from the way she was grinning that she was loving every second of the awkwardness.

Yumi and Eri were out in the water again, laughing and splashing around like carefree kids. Meanwhile, Kenjie and I were sitting under the umbrella, letting the calm breeze blow through while we enjoyed the shade.

I turned to Kenjie after a moment of silence. "So... what happened between you two earlier?"

Kenjie leaned back, cracking open another can of soda. "Ah, we just talked about stuff—life, hobbies, things she likes."

I raised an eyebrow. "Did you make any progress?"

He sighed, taking a sip. "Not a solid one. But I learned a lot about Yumi, especially things she enjoys, so it's something. I... I plan to confess to her this evening."

I blinked in surprise. "Evening? We're heading back later, aren’t we?" I asked, confused.

Kenjie turned to me, looking as if I’d missed something obvious. "Bro, you came here thinking

this was just a day trip? Of course, we're spending the night. That's the plan."

"What?!" I almost choked on my drink. "Nobody told me we were staying overnight!" I felt blindsided.

Kenjie scratched the back of his head, looking a bit sheepish. "Right... I forgot to tell you. Yumi mentioned it earlier, but I thought you knew. My bad, man. Sorry."

I leaned back processing the sudden change of plans. It was a good thing I had packed extra clothes—though I initially brought them just in case. Plus, I didn’t have work tomorrow, so I figured it wouldn’t be an issue. But still, I couldn’t believe I was out of the loop on this.

“Well, it's a good thing I’m somewhat prepared," I said, exhaling a little. “Would’ve been nice to

know ahead of time though."

Kenjie chuckled. "Yeah, my bad again. But hey, at least now you know, right?" I shrugged, letting it go. "Alright, fine. This should be interesting, then."

I glanced back at the sea, watching Yumi and Eri play in the water, with Aya walking along the shore, keeping a distance but looking content as she admired the waves. Staying overnight could make things a lot more interesting. It wasn't just the beach trip anymore—it was going to be a whole experience.

This might give Kenjie a chance to move forward with Yumi, and who knows what else might

unfold. I was just hoping the night didn’t turn out more awkward than it already had been.

I noticed Aya standing still, her gaze fixed on a girl nearby. She had that intense look like something was tugging at her memory, which made me uneasy.

“Hey Kenjie, I’m going to get some air,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Sure, man,” Kenjie replied, barely looking up from his phone.

I made my way over to Aya, who stood there frozen, still staring at the girl walking along the shore, her expression unreadable. I put my earpiece in, trying to maintain the pretense of a phone call.

“Aya, what’s up?” I asked quietly, hoping to snap her out of it.

"I... I recognize her," Aya said, her voice soft but filled with uncertainty. "It feels like I know her." She pointed toward the girl, who was now a bit further ahead, walking alone along the beach.

My heart skipped a beat. Could this be a clue? But how would I even approach this? What could I possibly say without looking like a total creep?

Aya turned to me, her eyes wide with a sense of urgency. “We should talk to her.”

“But what am I supposed to say? I don’t even know her,” I replied, feeling a growing anxiety.

The girl was getting farther away, and I was running out of time to think.

“Just make up something, anything! Before she’s gone!” Aya insisted, almost panicking.

Without another word, I sprinted after the girl, hoping to catch up with her before she disappeared into the crowd.

“Hey!” I called out, slightly winded from the run.

The girl stopped and turned, looking a little confused. "Uh, can I help you?"

Aya floated around her, circling the girl with a strange sense of curiosity. I felt the weight of her expectation hanging over me. I had to say something, but nothing was coming to mind.

I blurted out the first thing that came to me. “Uh… have we met somewhere before?”

Way to make it weird. It sounded like I was hitting on her, and I immediately regretted my words.

The girl looked at me, a faint flicker of recognition in her eyes, though she quickly shook her

head. “Have we? I… I don’t remember you, sorry.”

I stood there, feeling like an idiot, while Aya continued circling the girl, examining her.

The girl was staring at me now, clearly wondering why I wasn’t responding. I had to say

something to not look like a total weirdo.

“Oh, I must have mistaken you for someone else,” I said quickly, trying to backpedal. "Sorry for

bothering you."

She gave me an awkward smile, clearly wanting to leave. "No problem," she said before turning away and continuing her walk down the beach.

I stood there, my feet feeling rooted in the sand as I watched her walk away. Frustration gnawed at me. I couldn’t let this moment slip by. Maybe—just maybe—this girl, was connected to Aya in some way.

Before I could second-guess myself, I called out, “Uhmm!” just loud enough to get her

attention.

The girl paused, turning her head slightly to glance back at me, curious but wary.

“Can I… can I have your name, at least?” I blurted out, feeling the awkwardness creep up again. “You look so familiar to me. I just can’t shake the feeling.”

She hesitated, her expression softening, like she was trying to place me in her own memories.

Finally, she answered, “It’s Saki.”

Saki... The name hung in the air for a moment, unfamiliar to me but perhaps significant to Aya. I glanced at Aya, hoping for some reaction, some spark of recognition.

Aya's eyes widened for just a second before her expression shifted to confusion again. “Saki... Saki..." she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. "I... it sounds familiar, but I don’t know why.”

“Thank you, Saki,” I said, trying to keep the conversation going. “I’m sorry for stopping you, but you just reminded me of someone I used to know.”

Saki smiled politely, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It’s okay. Happens sometimes. Maybe we crossed paths before.”

"Maybe," I replied, though deep down I knew it was something more than a chance resemblance.

"Well, I’ll be on my way then," Saki said, giving a small nod before she resumed walking.

I felt a pang of desperation—maybe this was my only chance to dig deeper, to see if she really knew Aya, or if she held any clue to her past. So, before I could stop myself, the words tumbled out awkwardly.

"Can... Can I invite you to a café? You know, talk and relax a bit?" Immediately, I regretted it. Way to go, sounding like I was hitting on her.

Saki’s eyebrows raised in surprise. "Ah... that's a bit... early, don’t you think?" she replied, her

polite tone never wavering.

"Yeah... sorry," I said, rubbing the back of my neck, feeling like an idiot. "That was sudden."

She paused for a moment, looking me over thoughtfully. "Hmm, you don’t seem like a bad

person, but I’m in a bit of a hurry right now," she said, reaching into her bag and pulling out her

phone. "Here’s my Line. If you want to talk or chat, just send me a message." She flashed her

screen toward me, displaying her Line ID.

I fumbled with my phone, trying to pull up the camera and take a picture. My hands were shaking a little—probably from nerves, or maybe because Aya was silently floating next to me, probably judging every move I made.

"Uh, okay! Thanks, Saki. I’ll definitely message you soon," I said, trying to sound more confident

than I felt.

Saki smiled—this time a little warmer. "Alright, goodbye for now."

I watched as she walked away, her figure blending into the crowd of beachgoers until she disappeared completely. I stood there for a moment, replaying the entire conversation in my head, still feeling like I had barely kept myself together.

Aya floated beside me, arms crossed with a teasing grin on her face. "I didn’t know you were so

good at hitting on girls. You really pulled out all the stops, huh?"

I turned to her, flustered. "This was necessary! It’s not like that. I’m just trying to figure things

out for you."

Aya chuckled, clearly enjoying this far too much. "Sure, sure. But hey, you got her Line—maybe

we’ll be able to figure something out."

I shook my head, still feeling a little embarrassed, but maybe this encounter would lead to something important. I took a deep breath and tucked my phone back into my pocket.

"Come on," I said to Aya, "let’s head back before Kenjie starts wondering what happened."

"Yeah," Aya replied

The warmth of the sunset cast a golden glow over the balcony as I stared out at the sea, my thoughts swirling around Saki, Aya's memories, and the events of the day. Aya stood next to me, silent, her gaze fixed on the horizon. The tranquility of the moment made it easy to forget, just for a moment, all the confusion and questions that had piled up.

I slid the earpiece into my ear, glancing at Aya cautiously before speaking. "So, Aya... did your memory jog a bit?"

She nodded slightly, her expression thoughtful. "A little. I know I knew her. I can feel it," she said, her voice soft.

"Yeah? Maybe if we can talk to her again, things will start coming back to you." I replied,

hopeful that Saki could hold some answers to Aya’s past.

"Yeah, maybe..." she trailed off, staring at the waves, clearly lost in her own thoughts.

Suddenly, the balcony door creaked open, breaking the calm. It was Kenjie. He stepped out, looking tense, his face a mix of excitement and nerves.

"Oh, man... I'm so nervous right now," he blurted, running a hand through his hair. "About confessing to Yumi?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah," he said with a deep sigh, his eyes darting around like he couldn’t stand still.

"You sure you wanna do this? You know it might make things... awkward between you two if it

doesn’t go well." I leaned against the railing, trying to be the voice of reason.

Kenjie took a deep breath, then gave me that determined look I’d seen only a few times before. "Man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do, right? If I let this chance slip by, there might not be another one. I don’t want to live with that regret."

I nodded, understanding but still wary. "Yeah, I get it. So, how are we doing this again?"

Kenjie scratched his head, looking a bit unsure now. "Uh... just, you know, take Eri away from us. Give me and Yumi some space."

I raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

"Just... do it, man! I trust you!" Kenjie said, clapping me on the back. "Thanks for helping your bro out. I owe you."

I sighed internally. This didn’t sound like a solid plan, but Kenjie’s excitement and nerves were contagious. "Alright, alright. Let’s head downstairs."

We made our way down, and the smell of freshly prepared food greeted us as we entered the kitchen. Yumi and Eri were prepping the barbeque and rice for dinner, chatting and laughing as they worked together.

"Uh, do you guys need any help?" I asked, not really sure what else to do at the moment.

Yumi looked up with a grin. "Nope, we’ve got it handled! Right, Eri?"

"Yes, we’ve got it under control," Eri replied with a small smile, not looking up from her task.

"Ah, okay... I guess we’ll just get the grill ready for the barbeque then," I said, glancing at Kenjie

who gave me a nervous nod.

With that, Kenjie and I headed outside to start the grill. As we set everything up, I kept thinking about how to pull off this whole plan without making it weird. I glanced over at Kenjie, who was fidgeting as he tried to focus on getting the coals just right. He was clearly more anxious than I’d ever seen him.

"Hey," I nudged him. "You got this, alright? Don’t overthink it."

Kenjie gave me a shaky grin. "Yeah, thanks, man. I hope she feels the same way."

I just nodded. I hoped so too. It wasn’t going to be easy if things didn’t go the way he wanted, but I’d back him up either way. Now, I just needed to figure out how to pull Eri away without making it obvious.

We lit a bonfire just outside the beach house as the sun dipped below the horizon. The fire crackled softly, sending up small embers into the warm summer air. The golden-orange glow from the flames painted our faces, contrasting against the deepening blue sky. The smell of the BBQ sizzling on the grill mixed with the salty sea breeze, creating an inviting atmosphere.

As we began to eat, everyone was quiet, focused on the food. The crackling of the fire and the faint sound of waves crashing nearby filled the air.

“It’s delicious,” Aya whispered beside me, her hand lightly touching my arm. I could feel her lingering presence, and as I took another bite, I glanced at her, nodding in agreement. The BBQ was simple but so satisfying, the perfect meal after a day at the beach.

After we finished eating, Yumi’s excitement resurfaced as she dug into her bag and brought out the small fireworks she had been talking about earlier. “Look! I bought these just for tonight!” she exclaimed, holding up a handful of colorful sparklers.

Aya’s eyes widened as Yumi handed out the sparklers to each of us. As we lit them, Aya was completely mesmerized by the colorful sparks that lit up the night. She stood there, staring at the dancing lights in the dark, her expression soft with wonder. It was as if the sparks reflected something deeper in her—a memory, perhaps.

I took a moment to grab the dirty platters from the table. As I was about to head inside to wash the dishes, I glanced at Eri, who was also watching the fireworks. The others seemed so engrossed in the moment—Kenjie and Yumi laughing and playing around with the sparklers— that this felt like the perfect time to step away.

I clapped my hand lightly, signaling to Eri, and pointed toward the house. She caught my meaning quickly and gave me a small nod of understanding.

We entered the house together, the warmth of the bonfire fading as we stepped into the cooler interior. I headed straight to the sink, piling the dirty platters onto the counter. Eri quietly walked over and grabbed a dish towel, standing beside me as I turned on the faucet.

“Let me help with that,” she said casually.

“Oh, thank you,” I replied, slightly surprised but grateful.

As we worked in quiet rhythm, the distant sound of laughter from the others outside reached us. I focused on washing the dishes while Eri dried them, the soft clinking of plates filling the comfortable silence.

Then, without warning, she broke the silence. “So... Kenjie is planning to confess to Yumi, huh?”

Her words caught me off guard, but I tried to keep my cool. “Uh, yes. Probably tonight,” I replied. Eri had an uncanny way of knowing things. You’re sharp, I thought to myself.

She let out a small sigh, her tone calm but direct. “Hmm. I don’t want to burst his bubble, but... she’s going to turn him down.”

I paused, water running over my hands as I processed what she just said. “Uh? Why is that?” I

asked, genuinely curious and a bit worried for Kenjie.

Eri looked at me with a knowing expression, her voice steady. “Because she likes someone else.”

And there it was—the bomb. I stood there, staring at the soapy water, feeling a pang of guilt for Kenjie. He had no idea. All this time, he had been building up the courage to confess, and now I knew it wasn’t going to end the way he hoped.

“Well, that’s life,” I thought to myself, feeling a mix of sympathy for my friend but also a

strange sense of relief for knowing the truth.

After we finished washing the dishes, Eri and I settled on the sofa inside the house. The soft cushions gave some relief after the long day, and we sat quietly for a moment, watching Yumi and Kenjie outside by the bonfire, deep in conversation. The small fireworks had long since burned out, and the night had a calmness to it now. The sound of the ocean waves was faint but ever-present.

Aya hovered near them, though, floating silently. I could tell she was listening closely to their conversation, probably picking up things we couldn’t hear from here. Her expression was hard to read, as it often was, but she seemed focused.

I leaned back into the sofa, glancing over at Eri, who was watching the scene outside with a neutral expression. The glow of the bonfire flickered on her face, making her look thoughtful, distant even. I figured this was a good time to ask a bit about their friendship.

“So, you and Yumi have known each other a long time?” I asked, my voice low, careful not to

break the peaceful moment.

“Uh, no, actually,” Eri said, shaking her head slightly. “We didn’t meet until college. We weren’t friends until university.”

I raised my eyebrow, a little surprised. “Oh, but you seem really close.”

“Yep.” Eri chuckled softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s funny, though. At first, we were complete opposites—it’s not hard to see that, right? She’s so bright, cheerful, always the life of the party. And me...” She trailed off for a moment, as if thinking about it. “I’m the one who’s always serious. People used to say I looked too cold.”

I nodded, agreeing with her observation. “Yeah, Yumi has that bubbly energy. It’s hard not to notice her.”

“But now,” Eri continued, her voice softening, “we’re good friends. She kind of balances me out. I guess that’s what makes it work.”

I could sense there was a lot of respect between them, despite their differences. “It’s cool how that works sometimes, huh?” I said. “You wouldn’t expect it, but those opposite personalities can really complement each other.”

Eri smiled slightly, her eyes still on Yumi. “Yeah. It took time, but now I can’t imagine my life without her in it.”

We sat there quietly again for a while, just observing the others outside. It felt comfortable, sitting here, knowing that despite everything—our different personalities, the different stories we carried—there was still this sense of connection.

It was noon when we arrived back at the station from Eri’s beach house, the sun high in the sky, casting a warm glow on everything around us. We all tired but content from the time spent together. The beach, the bonfire, the awkward confessions—it felt like a whirlwind. But now, we were back to reality, ready to part ways.

We stood there for a moment, exchanging goodbyes. Yumi’s usual cheerfulness was back, Kenjie smiled, and Eri gave her calm nod. I couldn't help but glance at Kenjie, remembering what happened last night.

Turns out, Kenjie really did go through with it. He asked Yumi out, just like he said he would. But, as Eri had predicted, Yumi politely declined. She told him she liked someone else. It was a bit of a blow, but surprisingly, Kenjie took it well. That night, he confided in me, saying that despite her rejection, they were still friends—no hard feelings.

“She was really nice about it,” he had said, sitting by the bonfire after everyone else had gone to bed. “And, you know, feelings change, right? I’m not giving up. I’ll make Yumi fall for me, eventually.” He had grinned at me, full of that same confidence he always carried.

Well, good luck with that, I had thought to myself, unsure whether it was optimism or wishful thinking driving him. But either way, I respected him for keeping his head high.

The next morning, before we left the beach house, everything seemed back to normal. Yumi and Kenjie were joking around again, like the rejection hadn’t even happened. There was no tension, no awkwardness—just the usual banter between them. Maybe Kenjie was right, maybe nothing would change between them, at least for now.

I waved at them as I stepped out train train, the three of them standing together inside the train—Yumi, Kenjie, and Eri. It turns out their houses were all in the same direction, so they were leaving together.

The train doors closed, and I watched them from the platform as the train slowly pulled away from the station. They grew smaller and smaller in the distance, until they were out of sight. I turned around, letting out a breath, thinking back on everything that had happened.