"Niisan, look! We’re almost there!"
"Whoa! So that’s Wind Island...!"
Blue skies, white clouds, and a vast, shimmering ocean stretching as far as the eye could see.
Standing on the deck of the massive ship, Yugo felt his own heart swell with excitement as he responded to Fee’s infectious enthusiasm.
The island was a breathtaking sight—a place where lush, vibrant greenery and a sprawling man-made city lived in perfect harmony. Wind Island.
As he gazed upon the destination of the Luminous Academy school trip, Yugo took a moment to enjoy the remaining bit of their voyage, chatting with his younger brother.
"It’s been about a day since we set sail. We got to stay overnight, and the boat ride was a blast, wasn't it?"
"You said it... It was a magnificent journey, the kind that makes you want to hoist the Flag of Courage and race across the Seven Seas!"
Fee tilted his head, wondering if their trip had really been that dramatic, while his older brother nodded with intense conviction.
Since his brother had these "episodes" fairly often, Fee decided to gracefully ignore the heroic speech and instead pointed toward a particularly striking landmark on Wind Island.
"Look, Niisan! That’s Hauvent Castle, one of the island’s biggest tourist attractions! It’s huge...!"
"It really is massive. It’s got that certain vibe... like an evil secret society might be cooking up a top-secret plot deep inside."
Yugo muttered his impressions as he stared at the majestic white fortress. It was the quintessential Western-style castle, towering over the landscape exactly where Fee pointed.
With his tokusatsu-obsessed brain already envisioning heroes and villains clashing within the castle walls, Yugo’s thoughts were interrupted by a series of sharp pops and a roar of cheering.
"Whoa!? What’s that!?"
"It sounds like the locals are welcoming us. It’s a bit of a surprise, but it's a nice gesture."
As the ship glided closer to the port, the islanders waiting on the docks began playing instruments and firing off party crackers to greet the arriving students.
Looking up at the sky, where confetti and colored streamers danced in the breeze, Yugo smiled and turned to his brother.
"...I’m glad we could come on this trip together. Let’s make some amazing memories, okay?"
"Yeah!"
Fee’s beaming smile was enough to lift Yugo’s spirits even higher.
Though it was a unique joint trip featuring both the Elementary and High School Divisions, it meant he could visit Wind Island with Fee by his side.
Given Fee’s fragile health, they rarely had the chance to travel far together, but this time was an exception.
Not just for his brother, but for his friends as well, Yugo was determined to make every moment count—or so he intended.
"Now then, I wonder what we should do during our free time first? We’ve got plenty of time, but a good plan is essential for any missi—Gwah!?"
"Niisan!? A-Are you okay!?"
Just as Yugo’s anticipation for the trip was reaching its peak, disaster struck.
Something hard slammed into his forehead with a dull thud. As Fee cried out in alarm at his brother's sudden yell of pain, Yugo clutched his head with teary eyes, waving his other hand to show he was still conscious.
"Ow, ow, ow... Something just flew out of nowhere and nailed me right in the center of my forehead. It’s really throbbing..."
"Let me see! ...Whoa, that must have been moving fast. You’ve got a big, cross-shaped bruise right there."
"Are you kidding me...? I’ll have to track down Melt later and see if she can heal it... But more importantly, where did that even come from?"
Yugo sighed, imagining the state of his forehead based on the worry in Fee’s voice.
Getting hit like this right at the start of the trip... Just as he was beginning to fret over the bad omen, a hostile shout rang out across the water.
"Go home! We don't want tourists like you polluting our island’s nature!"
"Stop threatening our wildlife and the lives of the monsters on Wind Island!"
Yugo and Fee peered over the railing toward the source of the noise. A group of about a dozen young people had gathered on the dock, screaming at the ship.
Several of them were hurling things that looked like color balls toward the vessel to voice their protest. Yugo’s brow furrowed at the sight.
"So that’s it. Those guys must have been the ones who hit me."
"Probably. But what’s their deal...? Oh, look, they’re being taken away!"
The group, which had been causing such a commotion, was quickly intercepted and dragged off by port security guards.
Yugo didn’t know the specifics, but judging by their slogans, they were likely some kind of radical nature conservationist group. He decided it wasn't worth letting them ruin his mood before the vacation even started.
"I don't really get what they're after, but they really shouldn't be hurting people. Anyway, they’re going to get an earful from the guards, so let's just put it out of our minds."
"Yeah, I guess..."
Fee nodded sadly as he watched the group being led away. His eyes lingered on the area where they had been protesting—the ground was smeared with unsightly, paint-like stains from the balls they had thrown.
The irony of claiming to protect nature while polluting the sea and the port with paint didn't escape Yugo, but he didn't voice it. He led his brother back into the ship's interior, chatting about their schedule to keep Fee's spirits up.
"So, after this, we head to our accommodations for an assembly, right?"
"Yep. And after that, it’s time for the group recreation event!"
"Alright! Let’s make sure we have a blast then! This is the start of the greatest school trip ever, right here on this Island of Everlasting Summer!"
Full of renewed energy, Yugo and Fee headed toward the meeting area with their heads held high.
And so, as a great destiny drew near, the curtain rose on what would surely be a turbulent school trip.