Seeing that none of them had specific plans, Ayumi Atsuya was delighted. She quickly pulled four tickets from her backpack and handed them to Shoko, saying excitedly:
"Then there's a limited Chickenzilla exhibition on August 15th, do you want to go check it out together?"
Chickenzilla…
Hearing this, Akira — who was sitting nearby — couldn't help but glance at the backpack she was carrying.
He remembered her mentioning before that this backpack was actually the limited-edition Chickenzilla style she'd been talking about.
"Okay." Shouko took one of the tickets without hesitation. "How much is one ticket? I'll give you the money now."
As soon as she finished speaking, she reached into her backpack for her wallet, but Ayumi quickly stopped her with a hand.
Shouko looked at her in confusion, only to see Ayumi shake her head and chuckle softly. "These tickets didn't cost me anything. Just treat it as me inviting you guys to come with me."
"Wouldn't that be bad…?"
"These tickets aren't expensive — just take them without worrying."
Ayumi ignored Shouko's hesitation, pressed a ticket firmly into her hand, and then passed the remaining three to Akira and the others.
"Thanks."
"Ayumi, don't worry. I'll definitely be there."
"Thanks, me too!" Nishikata added quickly, his eyes sneaking a glance at Takagi Sana beside him.
"My parents are waiting for me at the school gate, so I'll head out! See you on August 15th!"
Seeing everyone accept the tickets, Ayumi waved goodbye and left the classroom.
"Then let's go too."
"Mhm."
The four of them walked and chatted until they reached the school gate, where they parted ways — Akira and Shouko heading left, while Takagi and Nishikata went the opposite direction.
"Akira, do you have any plans for summer vacation?" Shouko asked on the way.
Akira thought for a moment. "Not sure yet. I'll see what Mom arranges."
In his mind, though, he was already planning to spend the next month or two sleeping, browsing for interesting novels, or maybe re-writing the first volume of a Japanese novel he'd read in his previous life and submitting it just to see if it would get accepted.
If it worked out, his mom could handle the contract signing until he became an adult.
But for now, he had no plans to tell Shouko about this.
"That's true," Shouko nodded.
Vacations were usually arranged by Miyamura Auntie — sometimes to visit tourist spots, sometimes to just stay home binge-watching dramas.
Either way, she didn't mind, as long as Akira was with her.
If she got bored, she could always invite Miu, Chika and Nini out to play. Perfect.
Thinking of this, she squeezed his hand and said excitedly, "Come on, Akira, let's speed up!"
"Why the rush? You're probably getting that in the next few days," Akira slowed her down, "and then you'll blame me when you're uncomfortable."
Seeing this, Shouko wrinkled her nose and gave a soft huff.
"Akira… my stomach's feeling a little uncomfortable… (╥ω╥`)."
Early that morning, Akira was chewing his breakfast slowly when his phone vibrated with a text from Shouko.
Shouko: "That's arrived, right?"
Akira: "Mhm…"
Akira: "Did you take the painkiller Shizuka-chin bought you?"
Shouko: "No, it's not that bad yet."
Akira: "I'll come over after breakfast."
Akira: "Also, if your stomach already hurts, maybe skip the emoticons?"
Shouko: "I won'tˇˇ)."
Akira sighed, put his phone down, and started eating faster.
On the second day of summer vacation, Shouko's period arrived exactly as expected — something he had already marked in both his memo and calendar so he could be ready each month.
"Did Shouko get her period?" Miyamura Shizuka, who was eating breakfast across from him, asked casually when she noticed him speeding up.
"Mhm," Akira nodded. "How'd you know?"
"Hehe…" Shizuka swallowed her bite of sandwich. "You were eating slowly, phone buzzed, you suddenly sped up… anyone with eyes could figure it out."
Akira rolled his eyes, downed his milk in two gulps, and stood up.
"Sorry to bother you!" Akira called as he unlocked the Nishimiya home with a spare key.
"Woof!" The first to greet him was Hachiko, tail wagging excitedly.
"Morning, Granny Nishimiya," Akira greeted Kei politely when she spotted him from the living room.
"I've eaten. I came to see Shouko — is she in the dining room?"
"She's resting in her room. Go on up."
"Okay."
"Knock, knock… Shouko, can I come in?"
"Mhm…"
Click.
The moment he stepped in, the faint scent of her room hit him. Pink curtains, pink blanket, white wardrobe, a tidy desk, and the familiar dolls he'd given her over the past decade. A few special ones sat on her bed — including the panda plush he'd won for her at the fireworks festival in sixth grade.
Since the curtains were drawn, the room was dim.
"Seriously, it's not like you haven't been here before," Shouko said, still hugging the panda, "why do you always look around like it's new?"
"Because I like seeing if anything's changed since last time."
"So? Has anything changed?"
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