The dining halls were divided into several private single rooms, separated by shoji screens and walls. The room that Ayane had reserved was situated next to a large opening that overlooked the inner garden of the venue. It was a majestic sight to behold while enjoying the exquisite food and drinks.

"Lady Ayane, you really put some serious effort into researching this hotel. I'm impressed," Ito Toru praised her before taking a sip of his green tea.

"Thank you, Ito-senpai," She replied with a slight bow, gracefully accepting his compliment.

"Damn, Ayane can be so polite and well-mannered when she needs to be," Shouichi noted mentally.

"The food should be arriving soon. Hang in there, everyone," Ayane announced, placing a hand on her chest. She was seated elegantly on her calves, her back slightly arched, which unintentionally accentuated the perfect curves of her form. Shouichi couldn't help but notice the subtle grace in her posture.

"Huh?" Shouichi felt a warm touch on his thigh. His perverted friend had placed her hand there. He shot her a hard stare, but she feigned innocence and continued chatting with Emi across the table.

"Really? Senpai?"

"Yeah, I just started listening to those podcasts," Ayane responded.

"Wow! You're already studying hard for the second term. That's what it takes to be ranked first in Year Two," Emi praised her senior enthusiastically.

"Indeed, the Aphrodite Trio isn't just a group of pretty faces," Toru remarked.

"Well, actually, Shouichi beat me in the first mid-term. But that won't last long. I'll reclaim my rank soon," Ayane casually challenged Shouichi while discreetly massaging his thigh. Shouichi almost choked on his tea in response.

"Cough* Hahaha. It was just a fluke," He replied humbly. He wasn't interested in competing with others; his only competition was himself, striving to improve each day.

"Say... would you do whatever I ask if I win this time?" Ayane asked, her violet-purple eyes glistening with anticipation.

"No chance. I'm not competing with you," Shouichi responded, well aware of her mischievous games.

"Someone's chicken!" Hinoda teased, chuckling.

"That's understandable," Ayane added. "Shouichi-kun is the kind of man who would console his nemesis. Like last time, you were so worried about me after topping my score." She leaned in and tapped his shoulder playfully.

"Why would you broadcast that to everyone?!" Shouichi sat up straight, flustered.

"Hmm..." He pondered deeply, analyzing Ayane's calculated behaviour. Then, it hit him. "Oh! That was meant for Momo. Ayane wanted to assert dominance."

It became crystal clear to Shouichi that Momo seemed slightly uncomfortable whenever Ayane got too close to him, though the petite girl hid it well.

"Does Ayane think Momo secretly has a crush on me?" His mind wandered.

"Could Momo actually like me? We did have that moment of weakness... back at her place..." Shouichi shook his head. "What am I thinking?" Lost in thought, he didn't even realise the food had already been served.

"Thank you for the meal!" Everyone chanted in unison.

The multi-course meal featured several Japanese delicacies, each plated elegantly. Everyone quietly enjoyed their sashimi with delight.

"Would you like some tempura?" Ayane asked Shouichi, pointing at the dish with her hand rather than her finger — a gesture of refined manners.

"It's alright, thanks," Shouichi replied softly, not wanting to trouble her since the dish was beyond his reach.

Ignoring his response, Ayane picked up a piece with her chopsticks and held it near his mouth.

"Are you crazy!? Not in front of everyone!?" Shouichi internally screamed but complied, choosing not to make a scene.

"Mmm..." He chewed for a moment, savouring the flavour.

"How was it?" Ayane beamed at him.

"Good," He mumbled.

"Another?" She asked, gesturing again.

"Nah, I'm good."

"Ahhhhhhhh," She pressed anyway, stretched the word out teasingly. Shouichi turned bright red, unable to contain his embarrassment.

"Man, those two should just date already," Hinoda murmured.

"Ahhhh?" Naggi jokingly pretended to feed Hinoda with his chopsticks.

"Ah hell nah!" Hinoda recoiled immediately, causing the group to burst into laughter.

Shouichi wasn't sure if he had eaten too much or too little since Ayane had been distracting him the entire time. But he reflected optimistically; Morimura Ayane cared about his well-being more than her own... or so he thought.

The meal concluded with dessert. The choices were either yokan (sweetened jellies) or fresh fruit. Shouichi and Ayane were the only ones who opted for fruit, enjoying its refreshing taste.

After the meal, the team took an hour-long break to settle into their rooms and check on their belongings.

"Wow..." Shouichi entered his room for the first time, marvelling at the king-sized bed, the elegant decor, and the various electronic appliances. A 50-inch smart TV hung on the wall opposite the bed. To the right, a tall refrigerator and a spacious double-door wardrobe stood. At the far end, a large screen door led to a private onsen.

"Let's check it out." He slid the door open, revealing a luxurious bathroom with an overhead rainfall shower on the left and a generously sized onsen on the right, large enough to fit five people.

"Why did they give me this room?" He wondered but quickly shrugged it off, satisfied with his lavish accommodation.

Pulling out his phone, Shouichi opened a CCTV app and checked in on Yoko. He watched as his bewitching mother chatted with an elderly customer.

Satisfied, he made a call. "Hello, Shou-kun!" Yoko answered immediately.

"Hi, Yoko-san."

"How's the trip? Why are you calling? You just left a few hours ago," She asked, amused.

"Hehe, I'm just watching you work," He teased.

"Eh?" She glanced at the cameras, surprised.

"I got a free suite upgrade. It's amazing! I wish you were here with me."

"Fufufu, that's great! Maybe I'll close up shop and join you."

"Would you?"

"Just kidding! But we have a promise, right?"

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Yeah! Let's book this room again. It even has a private onsen!" Shouichi exclaimed.

"Fufufu. I'll give you a proper bath and back rub next time."

"Huh? I can wash myself!"

"Fufufu, someone's too shy to bathe with his parents."

“Hahaha, that’s not true at all! I wasn’t popular when I was in Australia,” Shouichi laughed, declining the statement.

“It feels like it was so long ago… I’m starting to feel nostalgic…” She trailed off.

“Well, at least it seems like a great memory of us,” Shouichi said, checking the time on his smartphone. “I’ve got to go now, Yoko-san.”

“Alright! Have fun, Shou-kun.”

“I do agree with you. I’m happy that I’m the only one for you…” He paused, then added, “Yoko-san, I love you.” Shouichi said it with ease, having gotten used to saying it over time.

“Of course, I love you, and only you.” Yoko replied, and the phone disconnected.

Lying on his back, Shouichi gazed at the ceiling, reminiscing about the events leading up to this point. To be honest, he couldn’t fathom the future he’d have in Kurohashi town when he first arrived. But after meeting family and friends, he believed it was going to be a great one, despite the rocky paths along the way. In a sense, it made his heart flourish a little.

***

The mesmerising sunray, tinted with an amber hue, touched the white concrete wall of the dam. The colossal wall embraced the azure water, fresh and pristine. On either side, the dam connected to two mountain ridges, forming natural barricades. Small waves glistened on the surface, sparkling beautifully. The entire view of Takaki Reservoir was spectacular and serene, far better than the one in the photo.

“Wow!” Everyone exclaimed in unison, lost in awe at the stunning combination of man-made and natural beauty.

“Awesome, right?” Shinji turned to ask his girlfriend, who was clinging to his arm. The girl nodded, her gaze fixed on the reservoir and the greenish mountains in the background.

“Momo, have you been here before?” Shouichi asked his quiet friend, leaning on the rail with both hands. Momo turned, smiling sweetly at him.

“Yes, when I was a kid. My parents used to bring Ai and me here.” Momo’s voice carried a hint of sorrow.

“Oh…” Shouichi was taken aback by the sudden personal reveal, but quickly recovered, placing his hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t want to spoil the mood, but I’m happy to see it again with friends,” Momo added, her amber eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

“I’m glad to hear that, Momo,” Shouichi reassured her. “Let’s make a great memory together!” The pretty boy smiled widely at her.

“Y~Yes!” Momo replied promptly, flustered.

“Look! Look! There’s a white swan!” Naggi, the muscular boy, pointed at the swan gliding through the water.

“It’s so pretty,” Hinoda commented, standing next to him.

Everyone watched the swan in awe as the soft, earthy-scented wind blew gently on their faces.

“Hey, guys!” Toru and Himemiya Kazumi appeared, holding what seemed to be papers. Naggi and Hinoda quickly ran over to help.

“What’s that?” Shouichi turned to ask Ayane, standing beside him.

Ayane squinted her eyes, quickly recognising the items. “Those are kites!” she replied excitedly. Shouichi was surprised by her enthusiasm, realising she was enjoying herself more than usual. Ayane-chan must be having a great time, he thought.

There were three kites in total, and it took a few tries to get them airborne. The breeze carried them high into the sky, and the sounds of laughter and chatter echoed over the dam wall as the kites soared.

***

Aoyama Shinji, the silver wolf with a heart of gold, suggested a secluded picnic spot out of the blue. Everyone was surprised by how well he knew the area. Shinji spoke with enthusiasm, his lavender-purple eyes sparkling. “It’s the best hidden spot in the whole town!” he exclaimed ecstatically, throwing both hands up in the air. At this point, no one could argue with him. The group packed up and followed Shinji’s lead to the narrow road, with his minivan at the front.

After about 15 minutes, the picnic spot came into view.

“Woah! Senpai! It’s so beautiful!” Emi was the first to gasp in excitement, her hand hanging on Shinji’s shoulder. Her exclamation made everyone else follow her gaze.

The minivan’s engine rumbled to a halt, and the doors slid open, inviting everyone to step out into the fresh, cool air. The afternoon sun bathed the scene in a warm glow, though the sky hadn’t yet shifted to its golden hues. It was around 3 PM — still early enough for the light to dance off the lake’s pristine surface, casting shimmering silver ripples.

Ahead lay a small, rustic inn nestled in a patch of lush green grass. Tables and long wooden benches were arranged under the shade of nearby trees. From this serene spot, the view stretched out over the lake, with towering mountain ridges framing the distance. The air was calm, and the breeze was soft, as if the world itself had slowed down to embrace this perfect moment of peace.

Shouichi stretched his arms and took in the breathtaking scenery. “What are those?” he asked, spotting a facility full of vessels, pipes, and steel on the left side, surrounded by green trees and leaves.

“That’s the water corp. It’s one of their facilities,” Shinji replied, standing beside him, already shirtless, revealing a set of finely sculpted abs.

“Why are you naked?” Shouichi asked, bewildered.

“Hee hee, we’re going into the water!” Shinji pointed towards the shoreline, where grass met the water. It resembled an ocean, minus the sand. This was as close as Kurohashi could get to the sea, a secluded town hidden from the world and surrounded by mountains instead of waves.

“Oh, that’s why you told me in the group chat to bring a swimsuit,” Shouichi recalled the message.

“Of course, the beach episode is right in front of us!” Shinji said, motivating his friend with a playful shoulder bump, speaking in anime terms.

“You sound like one of those otakus, mate!” Shouichi teased with a light-hearted tone.

“I’m a certified otaku, so I don’t care.” Shinji replied nonchalantly. A man of his calibre didn’t worry about anything. Born into the wealthiest family in town, showered with love and care, blessed with a perfect face and unique silver hair, a nice physique, and the most desired height, Shinji had it all. As if that wasn’t enough, he was also incredibly intelligent. “For all I know, Shinji could be the biggest criminal in town, and people would still root for him,” Shouichi mused.

“Shouichi-kun… um… How do I look?” Ayane approached, gracefully strutting towards him in her blue two-piece, her soft, pristine skin exposed. Her physique rivalled that of an idol, and she was even taller than the average idol. Beside her was Momo, dressed in a dark blue one-piece swimsuit, the kind often worn during swimming practice. Upon a quick inspection, Shouichi realised that both girls were relatively flat-chested.

“You both look great!” Shouichi complimented them casually. In the background, he noticed two other girls walking toward him and Shinji.

“You two better say something nice!” Himemiya Kazumi, the blonde, scoffed at them with her arms crossed. The elegant gyaru had chosen a sexy black two-piece for the occasion, strutting alongside Shinji’s girlfriend, Emi. As expected, Emi’s oversized chest in the bikini was impossible to ignore. The silhouette of her figure was accentuated by her white two-piece, though Shouichi wasn’t about to appear like a thirsty pervert.

“You guys look beautiful!” “You two look amazing!” The dazzling duo praised, receiving a quick high-five from both girls. Their ample chests bounced as they made the gesture.

“See! We finally got to see the girls in their bikinis, lil bro. It’s basically stare-able underwear!” Shinji shouted, shaking Shouichi’s shoulder enthusiastically. It seemed his silver-haired friend was fired up from the sight.

“Hahaha, you’re way too excited for this, Shinji,” Shouichi laughed, pushing him toward his girlfriend before standing awkwardly beside her.

“So, Toru and his lackeys will set up a barbecue. Let’s get in the water, guys!” Kazumi called out, her voice loud and assertive as she pointed toward the inn with her thumb. Toru, along with Hinoda and Naggi, was busy hauling items for the barbecue.

“You all need help with that?” Shouichi shouted, but Toru shooed him away. The group returned to work, enjoying themselves as always.

The two guys and four girls ventured into the crystal-clear water of Takaki Lake. The sandy, fine gravel floor felt smooth beneath their feet. The water was a bit cold at first, but their bodies quickly adjusted. Shinji splashed water around, swimming back and forth like a five-year-old. It was a side of him Shouichi had never seen before. Meanwhile, Ayane and Momo stayed in the water, doing nothing. As the most mature in the group, Kazumi pulled a prank on Shouichi, diving behind him and yanking down his shorts. Thankfully, the other girls weren’t looking in their direction.

“Hahahahaha! You’re too shy, it’s nice being young, huh?” Kazumi emerged from the water, teasing him as she saw his flushed face.

“I totally didn’t expect that from you, jeez!” Shouichi retorted. “Cap, Toru, please take your girlfriend away!” he silently called out for support.

“You big guy, huh?” Kazumi whispered in his ear, making him even more embarrassed.

“Huh? Did you see it?” Shouichi mumbled.

“No, I was behind you when I pulled them down. Fufufu,” she giggled mischievously. “Kazumi doesn’t act her age at all!” Shouichi thought.

“Hahaha, I’m relieved,” he said, brushing it off and returning to his usual cool composure.

“So which one is sleeping with you tonight?” Kazumi quickly changed the subject, glancing at Momo and Ayane behind her. The two girls waved back amicably, unaware of the conversation happening between the gyaru and the graphite-haired boy.

“What? I’m sleeping alone tonight!” Shouichi replied, his brain finally processing her sly question.

“C’mon! You’re no fun at all!” Kazumi teased, her eyes narrowing as if she had figured something out. “I’ve noticed, you know?”

“What? I haven’t done anything!” Shouichi averted his gaze to the distant mountain.

“You haven’t, but those two are fighting over you. Maybe you can play dumb and take them both to your room tonight,” Kazumi winked at him, swirling her finger.

“That’s crazyyy! No way, I haven’t recovered from my last breakup,” Shouichi reasoned, his cheeks flushed.

“Fufufu, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Keep your door unlocked, okay?” Kazumi continued to joke, clearly enjoying herself.

“Man, you’re not hearing a word I’m saying,” Shouichi sighed heavily.