Chapter 25 – “Tent Trouble”

The annual summer camp was supposed to be about teamwork and building character.

Instead, it became a festival of chaos, mosquitoes, and heart-pounding awkwardness.

“Alright, everyone!” the teacher announced as the buses arrived at the forest campsite. “You’ll be sleeping in pairs tonight. Due to limited tents, some of you may have to share with the opposite gender. Keep it decent!”

The class gasped. Mina immediately grinned. “This is destiny.”

Riko blinked, clutching her sleeping bag. “What do you mean—”

Before she could finish, Mina waved the list dramatically. “Pair assignments are official! Tent number seven: Riko Tanaka and… Daichi Hoshino!”

The world stopped.

Riko’s jaw dropped. Daichi froze mid-step, eyes wide.

“Wha—WHAT?!” they shouted in unison.

Mina clasped her hands like a matchmaker. “Tragic supply shortage. Pure coincidence. Absolutely not my doing.”

Rei coughed suspiciously behind her, smirking. “Sure, coincidence.”

Riko turned beet red. “T-there’s no way! I’ll switch—”

“Too late,” Mina cut in, holding up a clipboard like a holy decree. “Tent slots are final. The teacher signed it!”

Riko looked helplessly at Daichi, who was scratching his neck, looking anywhere but at her. “Guess… we’re tentmates,” he said awkwardly.

She groaned. “You better not snore.”

He smirked. “You better not kick.”

---

That evening, the camp buzzed with chatter and laughter. Students roasted marshmallows, played games, and told ghost stories under the stars.

But for Riko and Daichi, the tension wasn’t from ghosts — it was from proximity.

Inside Tent 7, space was… minimal. Two sleeping bags pressed side by side, barely an inch between them. The air felt thick with unspoken awkwardness.

Riko sat stiffly, holding her pillow like a shield. “You stay on your side, I’ll stay on mine.”

Daichi chuckled nervously. “Relax, I’m not gonna cross the invisible line.”

“You better not,” she muttered, cheeks pink. “One wrong move and I’ll knee you.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He laid down, arms behind his head. “You’re scarier than the forest sounds.”

“Good.”

Silence followed. Only the chirping of crickets and the rustle of trees filled the air.

Minutes passed. Then—

Rustle.

Riko sat up instantly. “Wh-what was that?”

“Probably just the wind,” Daichi mumbled.

Rustle… snap!

Her eyes widened. “That was not wind!”

Daichi sighed, sitting up. “You’re such a scaredy-cat.”

“I am not! It’s pitch dark and we’re in the middle of the woods!”

Suddenly, something brushed against the tent wall. Riko shrieked and instinctively grabbed Daichi’s arm.

He froze. Her fingers were trembling against his sleeve.

For a heartbeat, neither moved. The only sound was her uneven breathing.

“See?” she whispered, eyes wide. “Something’s out there!”

Daichi exhaled softly. “Probably a raccoon.”

She clutched his arm tighter. “A killer raccoon maybe!”

He laughed quietly despite himself. “You’re impossible.”

Her grip didn’t loosen. Instead, she inched a little closer — just enough that he could smell the faint sweetness of her shampoo.

Daichi swallowed hard. “You, uh… gonna let go now?”

“Not until it’s gone,” she whispered. “You’re warm.”

His heart skipped a beat. “Y-Yeah, well, it’s summer.”

She didn’t answer, but he could feel her pulse racing just as fast as his.

They stayed like that, half-clinging, half-freezing, until the sounds faded away. Slowly, Riko relaxed her grip but didn’t move far.

“…Thanks,” she murmured.

“For what?”

“For not teasing me.”

He smiled faintly. “You’d hit me if I did.”

She chuckled quietly, lying back down. “You’re learning.”

---

A few minutes later, both lay in silence again, the thin fabric between them and the stars above.

Daichi turned on his side, glancing at her silhouette. Her eyes were closed, but her expression was soft — peaceful in a way that made his chest ache.

“Hey, Riko?” he whispered.

“Hm?”

“…Back there, when you grabbed me…”

She peeked open one eye, already suspicious. “Don’t make it weird.”

“I’m not!” he said quickly, flustered. “It’s just… you were shaking. I didn’t know you could be scared.”

“I wasn’t scared,” she said defensively, rolling to face him. “Just… cautious.”

He grinned. “Sure.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Say that again and I’ll throw you out of the tent.”

He chuckled under his breath. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

They glared playfully for a few seconds before both burst out laughing, the tension breaking like a wave.

---

Time passed. The forest grew quieter. The laughter of classmates faded into soft snores.

Daichi lay awake, staring at the ceiling of the tent. He could hear Riko’s slow, rhythmic breathing next to him — but every so often, she’d shift slightly, brushing his arm.

Each accidental touch made his heart pound louder.

He turned slightly, whispering, “Hey… are you asleep?”

“…No,” came her quiet reply.

Silence again. Then she said softly, “It’s weird, isn’t it? Being this close.”

“Yeah,” he murmured. “Weird.”

But neither pulled away.

Her voice came again, hesitant. “Do you… ever think about that kiss?”

His breath caught. “…Sometimes.”

Riko turned her face toward him in the dark. “Me too.”

Their gazes met — or maybe just felt like they did — in the soft moonlight filtering through the tent fabric.

Neither said anything for a while. Just breathing, and heartbeats, and that heavy, fluttering silence that meant everything and nothing at once.

Then Riko whispered, barely audible, “Being this close… it’s… not so bad.”

Daichi smiled faintly, warmth spreading through him. “Yeah,” he said, voice low. “Not bad at all.”

Outside, the wind rustled softly through the trees — like the world itself holding its breath for them.

> Inside Tent 7, two hearts beat a little faster than they should have… and neither wanted it to stop.