Chapter 14: Summer Arrival? No, It Summer-A-Rival

As summer finally arrived, the temperature reached 36 degrees Celsius, and the cicadas were singing their song. M.A. High students had already changed from their winter uniforms to their summer uniforms.

The boys wore short-sleeved shirts, with or without the summer vest, and their normal light grey pants. The girls wore the same, except they had bows and light grey skirts instead of neckties and pants.

Today, Mizuha and her usual group were eating in the cafeteria for the first time because they couldn't eat at their usual place on the rooftop – it was too hot for them there.

Earlier, as they reached their usual spot on the rooftop, Mizuha questioned, "Hey, is it just me, or do I see a desert right now?"

"It's not just you, Mizuha. We can see it too," Hikaru confirmed.

"Why has our favorite place turned into a hot desert?" Shimizu shouting exclaimed.

"Well, it is summer, you know," Zul pointed out.

"Shut up, Shimizu. Your shouting makes it feel even hotter," Hikaru grumbled.

"Elly-chan, you've been quiet since earlier. What's wrong?" Mizuha inquired, concern evident in her voice.

"Sorry, Mizuha-chan. I can't handle this heat. Ah, it's so hot..." Elly mumbled, seeming about to collapse.

"Hang on, Elly-chan. Here, drinks this water," Mizuha urged, offering her bottle.

"Thanks, Mizuha-chan," Elly murmured gratefully.

"This is bad. Anyway, I think we'd better find another place to eat besides this one, before we completely dry out here," Mizuha suggested.

"How about the cafeteria? It's been a while since I ate there," Shimizu proposed.

"That's a good idea. Let's go, everyone," Hikaru agreed.

"Oh, this is our cafeteria eating space. It's my first time here since I transferred to this school," Mizuha marveled. "This area is so large."

"Oh, that's right, you've never been here before. You used to eat with just the two of us in the classroom, and then we moved to our usual rooftop spot after you introduced it to us," Hikaru recalled.

"Hehe, you guys should thank me and Mizuha because we're the ones who found it first," Shimizu boasted with a proud face.

"Yes, yes, thank you for that," Hikaru replied dryly. "There's nothing to be proud about though," he added.

"What's up, Hikaru? You've been cold to me since earlier. Are you having your period or what?" Shimizu teased.

"P... period, you say? I'm a man, you know!" Hikaru sputtered, blushing and upset with Shimizu.

All of them laughed at Hikaru after Shimizu's teasing. "That's a nice joke, Shimizu," Mizuha chuckled.

"Are you okay, Elly? Still feeling hot?" Zul inquired, worry evident in his voice.

"I'm fine. I'm starting to feel a bit cooler than before," Elly reassured him.

"Here, drinks this water. You need to stay hydrated, especially in hot weather like today," Zul advised, offering his bottle.

"You're right. Thanks, Zul," Elly replied gratefully.

"So, it begins a romance story between these two childhood friends," Shimizu narrated, referring to them.

"Hey, why are you suddenly turning into the narrator of this story?" Mizuha quipped.

"Shimizu-chan!!" Elly exclaimed, upset with a bright red face.

"Oh, you guys! It's rare to see you eating here," Takeru remarked, approaching them while holding a ramen bowl he had just bought.

"Oh, Takeru-kun, hi," Mizuha greeted.

"Hi Mizuha, you look more cheerful than before," Takeru observed.

"Can I join you guys eating here?" Takeru requested.

"Sure, go ahead. It's nice to have you here too," Mizuha welcomed.

"Tsk, this guy again, when did he become so friendly with Mizuha," Hikaru thought to himself, glaring at Takeru.

Takeru then noticed Hikaru's glare. "What's up with that glare, Hikaru-kun? Perhaps you're jealous seeing me being friendly with Mizuha? Don't worry, I won't take Mizuha from you," Takeru teased.

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"What!?" Hikaru exclaimed, blushing. "This guy," Hikaru thought to himself, upset.

"Takeru, what are you saying?" Mizuha stammered, blushing too.

"It's not like that, Takeru-kun. Hikaru actually has his period today, that's why he's in a bad mood," Shimizu added, teasing Hikaru further.

"Period? Hikaru-kun, are you probably a girl?" Takeru joked.

"Enough with all that, you guys!" Hikaru snapped angrily, his face turning bright red after being teased by Takeru and Shimizu.

All of them laughed again at Hikaru after that. Hikaru then noticed that Mizuha looked cheerful again after seeming a bit down when she was sick a week ago.

"Mizuha... I'm glad to see you smile like this again," Hikaru thought to himself, smiling inwardly.

Back in class after that, Mizuha was thinking of drawing something but was a bit interrupted because the weather was too hot. "It's no use; the weather is too hot, and I have no idea what to draw right now. In weather like this, going to the mountains and rivers should be fun," Mizuha mused, smiling while looking outside.

"Then why don't we go there this weekend?" Shimizu suggested, suddenly appearing in front of her.

"Wargh, Shimizu?" Mizuha yelped, shocked by Shimizu's sudden presence while ducking in front of Mizuha's table.

"Mountains and rivers? That's a great idea, Mizuha," Shimizu enthused.

"How do you know what I was thinking about?" Mizuha demanded.

"Hehe, I just obtained telepathic powers. Now kneel before me, YukiYuki-san!" Shimizu boasted while striking a strange pose.

"What's with that strange pose? Also, don't say my name like you're singing in a musical. My name is Yuki Mizuha," said Mizuha.

"I'm sorry, I bit my tongue," Shimizu said.

"No, that was on purpose," Mizuha replied.

"I bwit my tongue..." Shimizu said, playing around to amuse Mizuha.

"It wasn't on purpose?" asked Mizuha.

"Ah, I'm so tired of playing along with you in this heat. Can we stop talking about it?" Mizuha sighed.

"But it was a great idea, right? Going to the mountain and river during this heat. Let's ask others about their opinion," said Shimizu.

"Hey, Shimizu, wait...geez this girl…" said Mizuha

"Hey Elly, please come here for a moment," Shimizu called to Elly.

"Yes, what is it, Shimizu-chan?" Elly inquired, approaching Mizuha's seat.

"You see, Mizuha suggested we go for a picnic this weekend, at the mountain and river. What do you think?" Shimizu proposed.

"Hey, it was you who suggested it, not me!" Mizuha protested, chopping Shimizu's head.

"That's a nice idea, count me in too. It's been a while since I went to the mountains and the river. I miss the natural environment there," Elly agreed enthusiastically.

"How about you, Zul? Do you want to join us too?" Elly asked Zul, who sat behind Mizuha.

"Well, if you go, I'll go too," Zul concurred.

"So, it's decided. Let's tell Hikaru about this," Shimizu declared, sending a chat to Hikaru.

"Hey don't decide it for me suddenly, I wasn't thinking about it yet," Mizuha complained, upset with Shimizu.

Meanwhile in class 1B, Hikaru's classroom, Hikaru was seated at his place, fanning himself with a book because of the hot weather. "Ah, today's weather is so hot. Going to the mountain and river must be great in this weather," Hikaru mused.

Suddenly, Takeru turned back from his seat in front of Hikaru. "Umm, Hikaru-kun, can I talk to you?" Takeru requested.

"Huh, what is it?" Hikaru responded; curiosity piqued.

"I'm sorry about earlier at the cafeteria. I didn't mean to tease you like that," Takeru apologized.

"Oh, about that, don't worry. I'm not upset at all. Thanks to that joke, I was able to see Mizuha laughing and smiling cheerfully today," Hikaru reassured him.

"Oh, you noticed that too?" Takeru observed.

"There's one more thing I want to ask you," Takeru continued. "Do you like Mizuha, Hikaru-kun?" Takeru inquired, asking an unexpected question suddenly.

"Huh, why are you bringing this up suddenly?" Hikaru exclaimed, shocked by the question.

"You can answer if you want, or you can answer it later," Takeru offered.

"This guy, what is he planning? Asking something like this," Hikaru wondered to himself.

Hikaru slowly took a breath and released it slowly before responding, "Yes, I like her. Are you satisfied now, or do you have a problem with it?" Hikaru admitted, blushing a bit.

"No, I'm fine with it. I just wanted to know," Takeru assured him.

"Then, what's the reason you like her?" Takeru probed further.

"Reason? I've never thought about that. Maybe it's because she's similar to someone I knew from the past, or maybe because she's kind, cheerful, and friendly to everyone without judge them by cover, I guess," Hikaru pondered aloud.

"Oh, I see," Takeru nodded. "This is my last question," he added.

"How many questions do you want to ask me? Are you a police officer or what?" Hikaru retorted.

"Are you going to betray her once you're done with her?" Takeru questioned seriously.

"Betray the person I like? Of course not. I'm not that type of person. That type of person is someone I hate very much," Hikaru declared firmly.

"I see. As her old childhood friend, then I don't need to worry about Mizuha when she's with you. Thanks for telling me that. From now on, please take care of Mizuha for me, Hikaru-kun," Takeru requested, extending his hand to Hikaru.

"That was always my intention, to take care of her," Hikaru assured, shaking Takeru's hand.

"Are you angry that I like her?" Hikaru inquired.

"Angry!? For what!? I'm just her childhood friend, not her former boyfriend or someone with romantic feelings for her.

"I know that she no longer remembers me or that we grew up together in the past, but as long as I can see her being happy and cheerful, that's enough for me. But if you make her cry or plan to betray her, I will make you pay for it and take her back without any hesitation," Takeru warned.

"I see, you're really a tough guy, Takeru. I should not underestimate you after all," Hikaru remarked, smirking at Takeru.

"Huh!? You just noticed it, hahaha," Takeru chuckled before turning his chair back to face the front.

Suddenly, Hikaru received a message in the group chat consisting of Mizuha, Elly, Shimizu, Zul, and himself. The message was sent by Shimizu: "Hey, you guys, Mizuha suggested we go on a picnic this weekend. What do you all think?" said Shimizu.

"Hey, that was your suggestion, not mine," Mizuha replied.

"Sorry, everyone, this tomboyish woman suddenly said that! I don’t know how she managed to read my mind. I was just imagining the mountain and river when she came to me with this suggestion," Mizuha explained.

"Who are you calling a tomboyish woman?" Shimizu retorted in the group chat, sending an angry emoji.

"Mizuha is thinking the same as me, imagining the mountain and river," Hikaru thought, blushing at the idea that she imagined the same thing as him at the same time.

"It’s a good suggestion, Mizuha. So, why not all go this weekend?" said Hikaru.

"Okay, if Hikaru agrees, I, of course, agree and want to go. How about you guys?" said Shimizu.

"Count me in too," said Elly.

"Because Elly is going, I’m going with her," said Zul.

"How about you, Mizuha?" asked Hikaru.

"Since you’re all going, then I’m going too," said Mizuha.

"Wait, didn’t you just say you hadn’t decided yet? Did Hikaru make you change your mind?" teased Shimizu.

"Ah, shut up, Shimizu, you’re so annoying," said Mizuha, sending an angry emoji.

Hikaru chuckled as he looked at their group chat conversation. "A picnic, huh? It’s been a while since I’ve gone to the mountain and river," Hikaru thought.