Mountain Bonds

After the group photo, the girls grab their own phones, ready to capture their own moments together.

“Come on, Fantasia, let’s make a girls only photo now!” Zinia takes her hand and leads her to join the others.

“But what about the boys?”

“Girls usually do this stuff without the boys~!”

“Really? The girls do that…?” Fantasia tries to grasp the concept.

The guys settled on the rocks nearby, waiting for the photoshoot to end. After a while, the girls ask them to form multiple groups and capture pictures from every possible angle.

Ravel starts noticing the subtle pairings, finally seeing a visual proof as they try to take cute photos: Him and Fantasia next to a stone that Fantasia claims looks like a dog from her childhood; Leanna and Seko atop the ruins; Ares and Zinia between two trees forming a heart with the branches; Zhang and Eleona against the stunning backdrop from the group photo; and Silveria and Yutaka near the cliff.

Is this developing into a quintuple date?

“Alright guys, we should get moving, we still have a long journey ahead of us before we reach Zaruby,” Ravel claps his hands to get their attention.

Seko comes up to him and whispers in Ravel’s ear.

“Go on ahead, I need to go poop somewhere.”

“Oh god, …okay, I’ll distract them, will you catch up to us later?”

“Sure, just go already, it’s very urgent, if you know what I mean!!”

Geez.

***

Encouraged by the beauty they experienced at Ostry Kamen, the nine remaining hikers have begun to move.

Fantasia and Ravel walk a short distance ahead from the rest, but this time, Ravel doesn’t let go of Fantasia’s hand, so that she doesn’t run away even further again.

Suddenly, Fantasia gives him a quick smooch on his cheek.

“That’s payback.”

“I’ll take such cruel payback anytime.”

“Do you think the guys enjoy this trip?”

“I was a bit worried in the beginning but looking at them now… their bonds are truly forming.”

“Why would you be worried? There are clear romantic interests involved.”

Ravel stops on his tracks and looks into Fantasia’s eyes with a dropped jaw.

“Why are you gazing at me like that?” She asks.

“You actually noticed sooner than me??”

“Don’t insult me, I may be dense at times but I know love when I see it!”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry, hehe! … Zhang and Eleona look like a sealed deal already. That boy always goes from zero to a hundred, with no in-between. But he can go from a hundred to zero just as quickly."

“Hahah, Zhang is quite a character. Although I don’t understand his words sometimes. But you know what? I talked to Eleona and she kinda refuses to believe his flirts are serious!”

“No way!”

“Yeah, yeah! I need to do something to make her understand the guy is desperately trying, hahah!”

“Do you think Silveria is going to melt down when it comes to Yutaka?”

“She already has!”

“Really? When?”

“You saw them together today, taking selfies, right?”

“Yeah, that was weird to me.”

“Not weird at all! Something broke in her during the Gaming Guilt evening, she stopped being so cold towards Yutaka.”

Fantasia is more perceptive than I thought.

“And what do you think of your ‘li’l sis’ Leanna? Seko has a soft spot for girls who exercise.”

“B-Big Sis?” Leanna suddenly emerges from behind them.

She caught up to us!

“What’s going on, cutie?” Fantasia notices her worried face.

“It’s S-Seko, he still hasn’t come back.”

Ravel realizes that it truly is at least 40 minutes he has been gone and it’s not like they didn’t take breaks that would allow Seko to rejoin the group.

He picks up his phone to call him but it doesn’t get any signal in the mountains.

“Not getting through, huh? I’ll go check up on him!” Fantasia takes charge.

“W-wait, I’ll go with you!” Ravel tries to stop her.

“No, you lead the group and wait for us!”

With Fantasia’s leg speed, Ravel had no choice but to comply.

I hope nothing bad happened…

***

Twenty minutes passed since Fantasia left, and Ravel's anxiety grows.

“I shouldn’t have let her go alone, damn it!” Ravel clenches his fists.

“Should we go check the situation out, Big Bro?” Ares offers.

“Heeey! I’ll need some help!” Fantasia's voice suddenly carries over from a distance, too far for anyone to see what’s happening.

Ravel and Ares dash towards them, learning of a sad development. Seko has sprained his ankle, rendering it impossible to catch up to them through the pain and so Fantasia is helping him walk.

They both take one of Seko’s arms and act as support points, finally ridding Fantasia the burden.

“Did you walk him like this for almost 20 minutes??” Ravel is concerned about Fantasia.

“No worries, I can take it!”

“Thank you, Fantasia… You’re a very sweet girl…” Seko finally admits. “I’m sorry to cause you so much trouble.”

“No, no! It’s not your fault for getting injured. I’m just glad I could help!”

Seko smiles at her with gratitude, as Ravel and Ares help him walk.

***

Due to the unfortunate incident with Seko’s ankle, the hiking trip took longer than expected. However, they managed to reach Zaruby, the highest peak of Male Karpaty in western Slovakia, just in time to witness the majestic sunset.

“Woah~, this is… unreal!” Fantasia gets to the scenery first again, with everybody else following suit.

Upon reaching the mountain's summit, a breathtaking panorama unfolds before their eyes. The vast expanse of rolling hills and lush valleys unveils its verdant splendor. As far as the eye can see, a sea of undulating green stretches towards the summer horizon. The crisp mountain air carries whispers of adventure, inviting one to lose themselves in the grandeur of nature's embrace.

Leaving Seko seated on a rock, Ravel approaches Fantasia and hugs her from behind, putting his head on Fantasia’s right shoulder as they admire the scenery together, cherishing the moment.

After another round of photoshoot, Ravel explains this is the spot where they’re gonna make a campfire and spend the night.

Ravel, Ares, Yutaka and Zhang take charge of pitching two tents, spacious enough for accommodating five people each.

Zinia, as a real country girl, has in the meantime started a campfire.

Ares retrieves two speakers from his backpack and plays music from his playlist.

“This dude is a technology guru, he thought about everything!” Zhang praises his underclassman, being somewhat of a technology guru himself.

Under the twilight sky, the tents have been segregated into boys’ and girls’ territory. As the fire crackles with warmth, the tantalizing aroma of sizzling bacon, savory sausages, fresh vegetables, and the lingering scent of melted cheese wafts through the air, weaving a tapestry of flavors in the evening breeze.

With the main dish behind them, the gang can finally relax and just enjoy the fresh air of the mountains.

***

Yutaka finds Silveria sitting alone on a cliff with a beer in her hand.

“I didn’t know the Student Council President was such a delinquent.”

He talks to her from behind her back, while she keeps enjoying the drink.

“I’m entering the last year of high school in September, I’m a legal adult.”

“Can I have a sip of that beer?”

“You want an indirect kiss, eh?”

“That too. But I wanna taste your beer.”

“Gutsy, aren’t we?”

“Heh… enjoy your evening… forest fairy.”

Silveria’s eyes widen with a mix of surprise and wonder. A soft gasp escapes her parted lips as Yutaka is leaving her alone.

“So it really was you…”

“M-may I ask for an advice, Ms. President…?” Leanna appears next to her.

***

Fantasia and Eleona converse around the crackling fire all alone.

“Are you really sure?” Eleona asks, her thumbs fidgeting nervously.

“Zhang’s a very expressive guy, all his attention is always focused on you!”

“W-well… maybe it’s true what they say. That when somebody likes you, everybody else can see it except you.”

“I know you don’t want to get hurt but trust me. He won’t break your heart.” Fantasia stares into her green eyes.

Unbeknownst to the girls, Zhang was playing a mobile game in a nearby boys’ tent alone, overhearing everything they just said.

***

On a manmade bench nearby the campfire, Seko and Ravel have a heartfelt talk.

“…and thus she walked me all the way until we regrouped.” Seko finishes the story about how Fantasia found him.

“She really is amazing, huh?” Ravel’s face is illuminated by love whenever he talks about Fantasia.

“When I heard her talk about you… I was… jealous. I thought I needed someone like that, too.”

“Yeah, you really are lucky, Ravel.” Zhang unexpectedly appears in front of them. “I love Eleona. And I think your girlfriend just helped her recognize my feelings as well.”

CHAPTER 38: END