Beach

***

Both of them thanked me a lot after that. Kayo was really disturbed that day after hearing that but she is doing a lot better now, probably because both Jiro and Fujimura are doing really well now too. Time went and summer vacation also started. So, what does everyone do in summer? Of course, the beach. I am honestly not a beach enjoyer but everyone wanted to come so I couldn't have said no.

"Hey, why are you sitting there alone? Come on here already," Jiro called me as he waved his hand, standing in the water.

I was sitting in the shade of an umbrella on the beach near our stuff. The swimsuits were already throwing me off. It was the first time I went to the beach with friends after all.

"Alright," I decided to go and play with them a bit too.

"That was fun." After an hour or so we returned to the shade

"Yeah, it was." Looks like everyone was fulfilled. 

"Who wants to eat shaved ice?" The suggestion came from Jiro and everyone agreed to the idea. By rock, paper, scissors, it was decided Kayo and I would go and get it.

"This was my first time at a beach," Kayo said as we were going to get the shaved ice.

"I see. Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, it was really fun. I hope we can come again someday."

"Well, we can always come again but let us wait for next year."

"Yeah. It won't remain fun if we come every day after all. "

We then noticed a kid standing on a side with a scared expression. I thought he was lost. Kayo ran towards him. I guess she noticed too but this was a bad idea. Meanwhile, I went to the side. When I came back the kid was crying and Kayo, flustered, was trying to console him, just as I thought. I approached them, sat down near the kid, and placed my hand on his head.

"Here," I gave him a popsicle. He stopped crying a bit.

"What is your name?"

"Izumi."

"So Izumi-kun, You lost your parents?"

"Yeah," He said in a sad voice.

"I see, that must have been scary. Shall we go and find them? You are a strong kid, right?"

"Yeah, I am strong."

"Good boy. Also, she is not scary. She was trying to help you, okay?"

"Okay."

"Alright then, shall we go?" I said to Kayo.

"Y-yeah, You are really good with kids, huh?"

"My sister used to console me like this when I was a kid. That is why I thought it might work."

"I see."

"Mama! Papa!" Izumi shouted suddenly and ran towards his parents. They were also looking for him.

"Thank you so much for taking care of him."

"No problem." Then we headed back to get the shaved ice.

"Hey... do you hate me?" An unexpected question.

"Why would I hate you?"

"It's just... the internet really is a scary place and I dragged you back here." She worries about the weirdest things. I guess everything that happened weighed on her a little too much.

"Look, if I didn't like the idea, I wouldn't have made the channel. Plus I am grateful to you for this."

"Huh? Why though?"

"If you wouldn't have dragged me here, I would have spent my whole life running away from my trauma. Even Fujimura is here so she can face her past. So yeah, I don't have any reason to hate you. In fact, umm... Thanks for everything." I got a little embarrassed saying that last part.

I glanced back and her eyes were getting teary.

"Heehh!! Uhh... W-why are you crying? D-did I say something wrong?" I got flustered.

"No, it's just, I am happy. I thought you might be hating me for this." She was looking so cute that I felt myself falling for her."

"I-idiot! Let's go get the shaved ice. They are probably both waiting."

"Yeah."

After that, we had some barbecue in the evening and then we went back to our homes.

***

"This is an important meeting." All four people of the club were gathered in the club room during the summer vacation.

"We have to win the onsen trip." Jiro declared ambitiously.

"Wait, what?" Both Kayo and Kazuki were shocked after hearing these words.

"Don't tell me you guys don't know about this," Yoko interjected.

"About what? Explain this."

"Alright, I will explain." Jiro started explaining the school's unique system.

"This school has a unique reward for whichever club that manages to get the most profit in the school festival conducted after the summer vacation for three days from the provided budget."

"And that reward is an onsen trip?"

"Exactly! An onsen trip to Hakone City, funded by the school for club members and their club advisor. The club advisor goes with them to oversee the trip of course. However, this is not applicable to third-years since they have many other things to worry about. So they generally stay out of the preparations too."

"I see. That certainly is an alluring reward."

"True, true." Kayo agreed with Kazuki with a sparkle in her eyes.

"But how are we going to win?"

"That is the problem. We need something different to get the most profit."

"Hey, can we use our own stuff too?"

"Yeah, we can."

"I see. I have an idea."

"Let's hear it."

Kazuki explained his idea.

"I see. That might work."

"True. This is certainly totally unheard of." Everyone agreed.

"Alright then, let's get things ready. It will be a little hard to manage though."

"Don't worry, we will all handle it together."

Thus the preparations for the festival started.