Chapter 11

“Let’s do something together, all three of us,” Amaya said all of a sudden.

They had been doing things together ever since Tsukiko arrived. He didn’t get what his sister was talking about.

Amaya must have noticed his stare as she continued, “You know, summer? Youth? Stuff like that?”

“Remember your age, Amaya.”

“I’m 24, and you’re 26. We’re still young, Brother,” Amaya said.

It sure didn’t feel like that sometimes.

“You’re the same age as my brother, right?” Amaya asked, looking at Tsukiko. Tsukiko nodded.

“I’m younger than him, though.”

Tsukiko was born on the 15th of November, while Kenji was born on the 3rd of March. Quite a gap.

“We’re all still young, let’s enjoy our youth or something. I mean, enjoying youth isn’t just for high schoolers, is it?”

“What do you suggest, then?” Kenji asked. 

They’ve been living on this island for most of their lives. They’ve visited every tourist attraction the island has to offer. Sure, they could take Tsukiko around, but Kenji knew the kind of person Amaya is.

“Well, how about playing on the beach?” Amaya asked.

“Our front door is the beach.”

He no longer had any interest in the beach. Maybe a beach somewhere else would be interesting, but not the one right in front of their cafe.

“How about the opposite, then?” Amaya suggested.

“The opposite?” Kenji asked. 

“Ah, you mean the mountains.”

Amaya nodded. “Let’s head to a hot spring and get naked together!” She said with a shout, startling the two.

“Ho- hot springs?”

“Of course not.” Kenji scoffed, then realized Tsukiko was eyeing him for some reason. When he turned to her, her cheeks went red, and she quickly hid her face.

“Looks like someone is interested.”

“I’m not!” Tsukiko spat.

A sudden memory made Kenji jolt. He had gone to a hot spring together with Tsukiko before.

“The last time we did that, you refused to even enter!” Kenji said, pointing a finger at his sister.

“Me!?” Amaya pointed at herself, seemingly angered by this accusation. She paused, and her head went poof.

“Should we discuss other options?” she asked meekly.

“... Youth…” Tsukiko pondered.

They had long passed their high school and college years. What kind of activities would a group of three young adults enjoy? Other than the basics like beaches or hot springs, nothing came to mind. Nothing they could do within a day.

“Say…”

“Yes?” Kenji and Amaya waited for Tsukiko to speak. Tsukiko didn’t seem sure of herself, but she continued.

“What do you say we go kayaking?”

•••

“Bro- Brother, I’m not so sure about this…” Amaya looked back. 

Kenji shook his head, pushing the kayak forward with the paddle, away from the dock. He sat at the rear, with Tsukiko in front and Amaya in between.

“Don’t worry about it, we won’t die.”

“Ar- Are you sure?”

“Not really.”

They did sign a waiver before boarding. Sports like this were rarely a hundred percent safe.

“He- Hey!” Amaya shivered.

“You can get off if you’re scared, Amaya,” Tsukiko said, the teasing clear in her voice. Maybe this was her revenge. 

“The- Then head back-”

“You can swim, no?”

Kenji saw his sister shuddering, and he tried hard not to laugh.

“Be- Be- Besides, it’s not like I’m scared or anything.”

“Come on, Tsukiko, don’t tease her. She might actually piss her pants.”

“Wh- How dare you!” Amaya shouted, holding her paddle tight. So far, only Tsukiko and Kenji paddled.

“You’re right, we won’t know which is good water and which is contaminated.”

“The entire river is gone by that point.”

“It’ll be yellow, and warm.”

“Will the fish die?”

“They’ll suffer.”

Kenji imagined the sight. It was disgusting, but imagining Amaya stuck in the middle made a funny sight. He could imagine her sister asking for help, full of desperation as she floated away.

“Just how much is she letting out?”

“Hey! Stop teasing me!” Amaya rocked the boat, but neither of them was afraid. Tsukiko rocked the boat harder, causing Amaya to panic.

“Wha- what are you doing!? What if we sink!?”

“This kayak wouldn’t sink because of something like that,” Kenji said. “If you’re that scared-”

“I told you I’m not scared!” Amaya shouted.

The three of them all wore life vests, so even if something happened, they would be fine. No need to be worried or scared.

“Besides, you were the one who asked for this, remember?”

“I didn’t ask specifically about kayaking!”

Up in front, Tsukiko sent a signal with her eyes, pointing at a nearby waterfall. It was a small stream falling from a rock above them, nowhere near enough to sink their kayak, but her lips formed a devilish smirk. He nodded. They began moving there, Tsukiko paddling as gently as she could, while Kenji rocked the boat, keeping Amaya’s attention on him.

“Wha- what are you doing, Brother!? Do you really think this is funny!?”

“You look like you’re having a lot of fun.” He said.

“I’m not! I’m regretting getting into this thing!”

“So you’re scared?”

“I’m not- Fine! I’m scared! Happy now?” Amaya’s face tensed up. “Wha- What’s… that sound?”

The sound of the waterfall grew louder, and she slowly turned her head around. She didn’t have a chance to panic when all the water landed on her face, prompting the two to laugh.

“Hahaha!”

“She looked so horrified!”

“What did I do to you two!?” Amaya shouted.

“A lot!” Tsukiko steered the kayak, trying to get it back into the waterfall.

“Wait- wait! No, don’t!”

Amaya began frantically paddling, trying to get away, but she couldn’t fight two people on her own.

“No!”

The kayak once again passed underneath the waterfall, much to Amaya’s distress.