[Serina Mikage's POV]
During Thursday's lunch break, the four of us had spread out our bentos on the bench in the courtyard, just like always.
Though the hot days continued even into September, there was a breeze today, making it feel reasonably cool as long as we sat in the shade. Every time the leaves rustled overhead, the patches of sunlight shifting across my lap slowly changed shape.
Just as I reached for a piece of tamagoyaki with my chopsticks, Rio, sitting across from me, looked up as if suddenly remembering something.
"Come to think of it, Serina, you made tamagoyaki yesterday, right?"
"Yeah. My mom taught me."
"How was it? Did it turn out well?"
"I think the taste wasn't bad. But while I was rolling it, it kind of fell apart..."
"That's normal when you're not used to it. Make it a few times and you'll be rolling it perfectly."
With that, Rio picked up a piece of tamagoyaki from her own bento with her chopsticks. The cross section revealed neat, delicate layers, perfectly shaped right to the edges.
It looked completely different from the one I had made last night.
It wasn't my first time making rolled omelets. Even so, I had taken extra care yesterday while following my mom's instructions. In the end, it turned out reasonably presentable, but it wasn't something I felt proud enough to give to Naoki-kun.
Afterward, I had cleaned up the kitchen utensils and reviewed the rest of the problems we solved in the library. Before going to sleep, I searched my phone for a few ideas regarding something that had been on my mind for a while. Agonizing over which one would be best kept me up, and I ended up getting into bed much later than usual.
"Staring at it won't make me share, you know."
"I was just looking at yours, Rio."
Right after I answered, Miu peered into my eyes.
"Serina, you look a little tired."
"...I stayed up a bit late last night."
"Even though you're studying with Aiba-kun after school?"
"Yeah. So once I finish eating, I'm going to rest my eyes for a bit."
"You were too excited to sleep."
"That's not it. I was practicing tamagoyaki and finishing up my problems."
"I never said it was because of Aiba-kun."
"...Miu."
Miu turned her gaze back down to her bento as if nothing had happened.
Though I wanted to deny it, my mind flashed back to the moment yesterday when Naoki-kun asked me to study in the library with him.
When he asked if I wanted to do it again tomorrow, the joy had spread across my face before I could even reply. Even after getting home, I replayed that moment over and over, and my racing heart refused to settle down even after I climbed into bed.
I couldn't honestly claim that studying and cooking were the only reasons I stayed up late.
"More importantly, about the vacation home."
Miu changed the subject, looking at each of us in turn.
On the last weekend of this month, we were going to spend a night at a vacation home owned by Miu's family. We had talked about it the other day, and Rio, Kotoha, and I were all free that weekend.
Since then, Miu had been looking into the necessary details to consult her family, keeping the three of us updated on what she found out.
Her parents wouldn't be coming along; instead, someone who had looked after Miu since she was young would chaperone.
"I checked with our chaperone, too. They said having two more people, making it six in total, wouldn't be a problem."
"Hm? Two more people?"
"Yeah. I haven't asked them yet, though."
"Who are you planning to invite?"
When Rio asked, Miu turned her gaze to me. Just seeing her look my way made my heart flutter.
"Aiba-kun—"
"Naoki-kun?"
The name slipped out of my mouth before I could even catch myself.
Miu gave a small nod.
"We decided we wanted to thank Aiba-kun properly, too."
"Yeah."
"Even though we see him all the time at school, we still haven't been able to say it to him directly."
Even before finding out that Naoki-kun was the one who saved me, the three of them had helped me search for my savior, saying they wanted to express their gratitude as well once we found him. But even after discovering his identity, we hadn't found a chance to sit down and talk properly.
This coming Saturday, my parents were visiting his house. I realized that next, it was their turn.
"I was thinking we could invite him to the vacation home and do something to thank him."
"I think that's a great idea. If it's Aiba-kun, staying overnight is safe, and we can actually have a relaxed chat if he comes."
"I agree as well. However, we should make sure we know how much Aiba-kun's body has recovered by then."
Following Rio, Kotoha added her thoughts carefully.
Naoki-kun still couldn't force his right shoulder to move. It should be better by the end of the month, but we needed to ask him and his family whether traveling a long distance would be too much of a strain.
"Also, I'd like to invite Aiba-san—Koharu-san, too."
"Koharu, too?"
"Yeah. Rather than inviting Aiba-kun by himself for an overnight trip, having Koharu-san along would probably give his family more peace of mind."
"Isn't that nice? I'd love to chat with Koharu-chan again, too."
"It sounds like fun if all six of us can go."
"I'll decide on the room assignments after we hear back from them."
A trip not just with Naoki-kun, but with Koharu as well. Staying at a vacation home as a group of six, spending time together away from our normal routine. Even though we hadn't even asked them yet, the scene gradually began to feel real in my mind.
"If they can come, I'll let the chaperone know once the detailed plans are set."
"Got it."
"You want to go with them too, don't you, Serina?"
"...Yeah. I do."
Asked by Miu, I answered without hesitation this time.
Going somewhere new with Naoki-kun, spending the whole day together from morning to night, and seeing each other in the same place the next morning. Just thinking about it brought up moments I had never experienced before.
I had heard the vacation home was far away from the city. If the sky stayed clear until night, we might see even more stars than we did at the park.
Vega, Altair, and Deneb, which I had found with Naoki-kun that night. This time, surrounded by countless more stars, I wanted to search for the Summer Triangle together again.
I hadn't even invited him yet, but I was already praying for clear skies on the weekend of our trip.
"What's up?"
Miu's voice pulled my mind back to the courtyard.
"Huh?"
"You have this look on your face like it's already decided that you're going with Aiba-kun."
"I was just thinking how nice it would be if we could go together."
"You've become quite honest about saying things like that, haven't you?"
"E-Even Kotoha is teasing me now..."
Kotoha's lips curled into a smile.
Rio, who looked ready to chime in, caught my eye, closed her mouth, and looked back down at her bento.
"Serina, you should be the one to ask them."
"Wait, me?"
"I think that would be best."
"Wouldn't it be better if we all invited them together?"
"If the four of us corner them, it'll make it harder for them to say no, right?"
Put that way, she was entirely right.
If all of us asked together, Naoki-kun might prioritize our feelings over his own circumstances. I didn't want to pressure him under the guise of an apology, and Koharu had her own schedule to consider.
"All right. I'll ask him myself."
"Today in the library?"
"T-Today is a bit... I haven't figured out how to say it properly yet."
"You're seeing him on Saturday too, right?"
"Yeah....Maybe I'll try asking him then."
After visiting Naoki-kun's house and talking as families, I could ask about his physical condition. I could directly confirm with his mother whether an overnight trip would be all right, and I could ask Koharu about her plans right then and there.
Beyond that, I should let my mom and dad know that we want to invite Naoki-kun and Koharu, too. I wonder what kind of faces they'll make when I bring up his name.
The warning chime rang, signaling the end of the lunch break.
Packing away our bento boxes, we stood up from the bench and headed back inside together.
I would be meeting Naoki-kun in the library after school. Just holding that thought close made the remaining classes feel a little easier to get through.
◇◇◇
When homeroom ended, the classroom filled with the sounds of moving desks and students heading out for club activities.
As I packed up my things, Miu and the others gathered around my desk.
While discussing when each of us would bring up the vacation home with our families, the clock crept closer to my meeting time.
"Sorry, I should get going."
"Yeah. Let's finish the conversation in the chat."
"Okay."
Tucking my pencil case into my bag, I left the classroom ahead of Rio and the others.
The halls grew quieter as I climbed the stairs, and by the time I reached the library floor, the distant shouts of the sports teams echoed through the hallway window.
Naoki-kun was already standing beside the entrance.
Even as I wondered if I had kept him waiting, my chest bounded with the joy of spotting him, and my steps naturally quickened.
"Sorry. Have you been waiting long?"
"No, I just got here myself."
"Good. I was talking with Miu and the others, but I slipped away early when I saw the time."
"I wouldn't have minded even if you were late."
"No, I didn't want to keep you waiting."
Only after saying it did I realize how it sounded.
Unable to think of a way to brush it off, I looked away. Without prying, Naoki-kun simply opened the library door and held it for me.
"Shall we?"
"Yeah."
We walked in together, passing the front desk.
The library aide who had warned us on Tuesday was sitting there. Feeling their eyes on us, I made a silent vow not to repeat that today.
"We have to be quiet today, huh."
"...As long as you don't say anything weird, Naoki-kun, we'll be fine."
"Wait, was that entirely my fault?"
Without answering, I headed toward the back. Remembering Naoki-kun's face from two days ago when I held his cheeks between my hands, I held back a laugh threatening to spill out.
Reaching the same desk as before, I pulled out the chair to Naoki-kun's left instead of sitting across from him.
I had decided to sit next to him today before I even stepped foot in the library.
Studying face-to-face had been fun, but sharing a workbook was easier when we didn't have a desk between us. That was definitely a real reason.
But it wasn't the only one.
I just wanted to be a tiny bit closer to him than I had been two days ago.
Though Naoki-kun glanced at me for a second, he sat down in the seat beside me without asking why.
We set our workbooks and notebooks side by side. There was still space between our chairs, but we didn't have to push our notebooks around to read what the other wrote.
Once we started working, any lingering thoughts about why I sat next to him vanished.
Naoki-kun wrote out each formula with his left hand, checking against my notebook whenever he got stuck. When he struggled to turn a page, I held the edge of the workbook down for him.
Our fingertips brushed.
Startled, my hand froze, but neither of us pulled away right away. Even though it was just a faint touch of warmth, my awareness lingered there, stubbornly refusing to move on.
As we leaned over the same workbook and talked through the steps of each formula, the gap between our chairs narrowed without us realizing it.
Laughing at the numbers Naoki-kun wrote, I tried writing with my left hand to show him. Just as I brought a hand to my mouth to stifle my giggles, a sudden yawn slipped out.
"Tired?"
"...No. I'm fine."
I answered instinctively, but tears from the yawn still clung to the corners of my eyes.
"...Didn't get much sleep?"
"It's not that. I just stayed up a little late."
"Want to take a break?"
"No."
Naoki-kun's eyes stayed on my face rather than the workbook. I could tell that if I decided to rest, he would wait patiently without rushing me, even in the middle of our study session.
Still, closing my eyes here meant losing that much time beside him. That felt like too much of a waste.
"We're finally studying together, so I want to keep going."
"You really don't have to push yourself, you know."
"I'm truly fine. Let's do the next problem."
Looking back down at the workbook, I started moving my mechanical pencil.
For the first few lines, I was writing at my usual pace. But halfway through, the numbers began to blur together. I blinked hard and reopened my eyes, but it took me a moment to find where I had left off in the formula.
I thought I heard Naoki-kun's voice beside me, but the words didn't quite reach my brain. I thought I had straightened my posture to fight off the sleepiness, but my body slowly tilted over anyway.
The fabric of my sleeve brushed against his left arm.
The moment I felt that warmth, everything faded to black.
◇◇◇
When I came to, I was sitting next to Naoki-kun on a park bench.
A cool breeze carrying away the day's heat blew through the trees, gently rustling the canopy above. There was no one around, with only the distant glow of streetlights casting a soft haze over the night.
The sky was painted in a deeper shade than that day, and Vega, Altair, and Deneb formed a brilliant triangle overhead. Scattered around them were countless faint stars that hadn't been visible from the park before.
Following Naoki-kun's gaze, I traced the three stars one by one.
Even though I was supposed to be looking up at the sky, before I knew it, my head was resting against his shoulder.
I didn't feel surprised, nor did I pull away in a panic. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, I leaned into the soft fabric against my cheek and the warmth radiating from right beside me.
Naoki-kun stayed quiet, keeping his shoulder steady so as not to wake me. Just having his profile right there beside me melted away whatever lingering tension was left in my chest.
I wanted to stay like this just a little longer.
Yet, as I soaked in the warmth from his shoulder, the scenery of the park began to lose its shape.
The rustling leaves blurred into the distant sound of turning pages. The stars in the night sky dissolved into white light, replaced by rows of black numbers appearing one by one.
When I opened my eyes, the open workbook on the desk came into focus.
Against my cheek was the exact same fabric from my dream. The warmth supporting me hadn't faded either.
Looking up, Naoki-kun's face was right there. The profile from my dream and the face in front of me overlapped in my groggy vision.
"...Naoki-kun..."
His name left my lips in a voice softer than usual. But my mind was still too foggy to notice.
My forehead felt awkward against his shoulder, so I lifted my head slightly. Nudging my brow against his shoulder to find a comfortable angle, I settled back down against him.
Reassured by the warmth right beside me, I started drifting off once more.
Yet the starry sky didn't return behind my closed eyelids. Instead, the faint sound of turning pages and the solid feel of the chair under me grew sharper and clearer.
Only then did it hit me: the warmth lingering from my dream was coming straight from Naoki-kun's shoulder.
"...Naoki... kun?"
This time, my own voice sounded clear and sharp.
"You awake?"
The sleepiness vanished in an instant at his response.
Timidly lifting my head, my eyes met his from inches away. Then my gaze dropped to his left shoulder, where my forehead had just been resting.
The realization that I had called his name while half-asleep and even snuggled back against his shoulder sent a searing wave of heat straight to my cheeks.
I moved to sit up, but rattling the chair would echo across the entire library. Fighting back the panic, I pulled away from his shoulder as quietly as I could.
"D-Did I... fall asleep?"
"Just for a bit."
"I'm sorry. You should have just woken me up right away."
"You were sleeping so soundly. Did you manage to rest a little?"
"Yeah... Wait, no, you couldn't move at all this whole time, could you, Naoki-kun?"
Looking down, I saw his mechanical pencil resting in the middle of an unfinished formula. My leaning on him had brought his studying to a complete halt.
"Did your shoulder hurt?"
"It's not my right shoulder, so I'm fine."
"Still, wasn't I heavy?"
"Not at all. Besides, I didn't want to wake you."
Looking up, I saw no sign of frustration in his face; he looked back at me with his usual calm expression.
"It's really okay....If it let you rest, Serina-san, I didn't mind staying like that a little longer."
I wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come.
His quiet, patient demeanor reminded me of my dad, just like it had the other day. But what filled my chest right now was completely different from that sense of nostalgia.
Clasping my hands over my skirt, I dropped my gaze.
"...Thank you."
"Sure."
No one was looking our way right now, but that didn't mean it had been that way while I was asleep. Even so, the happiness of him letting me rest completely outweighed any embarrassment.
"Think you can keep going for a bit?"
"Yeah. I'm definitely awake now."
"Make sure to tell me if you get sleepy, okay?"
"Next time, I won't get in your way. I won't lean on your shoulder, either..."
"Notice you didn't say you wouldn't fall asleep."
"...I figured you wouldn't believe me on that part anyway."
Naoki-kun's lips curved into a smile, and I let out a quiet laugh of my own.
The short nap had cleared my head, and we managed to finish all the way through the last problem we had planned.
While packing up our things, I mentioned that I'd like to sit next to him the next time we studied, and he agreed without hesitation. On top of that, he was the one who asked if we could have lunch together again next Monday.
Today, I had chosen to sit beside him on my own. The thought that our time together would keep going—both the next time we studied side by side and during Monday's lunch break—filled me with happiness.
On the walk back to the station, I asked if I could visit his room again this Saturday.
When I had gone in before, he had a high fever and we couldn't talk properly. This time, I just wanted to chat with him in that room. He looked surprised when I asked, but told me it wouldn't be a bother at all.
On the train ride home, I replayed the promises we made in the library and the thought of visiting his room over and over. Every time I did, a warm feeling welled up in my chest, softening my reflection in the window into a smile.
For our trip together, I wanted to be the one to invite him this time.
That feeling was even stronger now than it had been during lunch.
◇◇◇
Even after dinner was finished, my mom and dad stayed at the dining table.
They seemed to be discussing the sweets to bring to Naoki-kun's house on Saturday, and a brochure from a shop my mom had picked up on her way home from work was laid out on the table.
I carried my dishes to the sink, but as I turned to head to my room, I paused.
I had already told them the basics about what Miu said regarding the trip. But I hadn't mentioned wanting to invite Naoki-kun and Koharu yet.
Turning around, my mom noticed me hesitating.
"Serina, is something wrong?"
"About that trip I mentioned the other day, there's something I want to ask you about."
My dad looked up from the shop brochure.
I walked back to my chair and sat down across from them.
Both of them had already read the message I sent detailing the schedule and the chaperone.
"I don't see any problem with you going," my dad said.
He had mentioned before that as long as the details were clear and safe, he wouldn't object.
The real hurdle was what came next. Unsure of how to bring it up, I fidgeted with my hands in my lap.
"Miu said she wants to invite Naoki-kun's younger sister on the trip, too. Her name is Koharu, and I've talked to her a few times myself."
After making sure both of them were listening, I continued.
"And so... along with Koharu, I want to invite Naoki-kun, too."
The moment his name left my mouth, Mom's eyes went wide.
Dad seemed surprised as well, but his expression remained calm.
"Does that mean Naoki-kun will be staying overnight there with all of you?"
"I haven't asked him yet, but I'm hoping he can come."
"Are any other boys going?"
"No. Just Naoki-kun."
I answered without hesitation.
Dad gave a small nod and exchanged a brief glance with Mom.
"You'll make sure to get proper permission from his family as well, right?"
"Yeah. We're seeing them on Saturday, so I was planning to ask then. Of course, I'll make sure it won't be too hard on his recovery, too."
"I see."
Dad paused. A car drove past the window outside, and once the sound faded into the distance, he looked back at me.
"In that case, I don't mind."
"...Really?"
"Sahara-san and the others will be there, and you'll have a trustworthy adult chaperoning, right? Besides, if it's Naoki-kun, I'm not worried."
"Even though you haven't met him yet?"
"We're meeting him on Saturday, and I've heard more than enough about him from you, Serina."
A hint of amusement colored his tone on that last part.
Wondering just how much I had let slip, a sudden wave of embarrassment washed over me. I must have shared far more than I realized whenever I talked about him.
Beside him, Mom was beaming.
"I'm in favor of it, too."
"...Why do you look so happy?"
"What do you mean? Of course I'm happy."
"About what?"
"That you're telling us about someone you genuinely want to spend time with, Serina."
Mom's gentle gaze settled on me, free of any teasing.
"And if that person is Naoki-kun, that makes me even happier."
"What does him being Naoki-kun have to do with it?"
"He's the one who stayed by your side when you were terrified, isn't he?"
"...Yeah."
"And now, you want to make happy memories with that same person. Is it so strange for a mother to be glad about that?"
"I mean... it's not strange, but..."
Looking down at my lap, I gave a quiet reply.
Now, he turns around whenever I call his name. We can sit at the same desk to study and make plans for the future. And this time, I was going to be the one to reach out and invite him somewhere new.
"Dad, Mom. Thank you."
"I hope Naoki-kun and Koharu-chan can come along, too."
"Yeah."
Looking up to answer, I saw Mom's warm smile.
Dad added that he would speak to Naoki-kun's mother himself when we met on Saturday if needed.
With their blessing, I took my phone and headed back to my room.
Opening the group chat with the four of us, I saw several new messages about the vacation home that had come in since lunch. Rio and Kotoha had also talked to their families about Naoki-kun and Koharu potentially joining. Between having an adult chaperone, Koharu coming along, and their parents already knowing Naoki-kun was the one who saved me, neither household had raised any objections.
I tapped on the message field.
'I talked to my mom and dad. They said it's fine to invite Naoki-kun and Koharu.'
A reply came from Miu almost immediately.
'Got it. Now all that's left is to ask them.'
I stared at her message.
In the library today, I had gathered the courage to sit next to him on my own. On the walk home, I managed to tell him I wanted to visit his room again.
I didn't know if the words would come out as smoothly when asking him on an overnight trip. Depending on his recovery and his family's plans, he might not be able to come even if he wanted to. Even so, I didn't want to give up without trying.
Outside my window, the night sky stretched wide. Veiled by the neighborhood lights, only a handful of stars shone through.
I didn't know how many stars we would be able to see from Miu's vacation home. But this time, I wanted to search for the Summer Triangle we had found together in the park, surrounded by an endless sea of stars.
I looked back down at my screen.
'Yeah. I'll ask them myself on Saturday.'
Beside my message, the read counts ticked up one by one.
Not to turn someone down, but to reach out to the person I truly wanted to be with, I was going to make a new promise this time.
Picturing what I would say when the moment came, I looked up at the stars shining beyond the glass.