Chapter 40: Leisurely Return to Nature
Ren had planned the camping trip for one day and one night, setting off on the weekend before May Day.
To secure a good spot, they needed an early start. Neither he nor Hitori were the type to sleep in, so they finished breakfast by 9 a.m. and departed.
"Brother-in-law, take me with you too~"
When picking up Hitori, Futari, upon hearing about their camping plans, begged to join. She was at an age where everything unknown sparked her curiosity.
"You mustn't disturb Ren and your sister. Mommy will take you to the amusement park this afternoon."
Michiyo smiled as she scooped Futari back into her arms, then unusually playfully winked at Ren as if hinting at something.
"No way~!"
Futari still seemed reluctant, preferring to play with Ren, but under Michiyo's subtle cue, Ren and Hitori had already gotten into the car.
"Bocchi-chan, did you forget to bring anything?"
Before setting off, Ren began his routine check. No matter the activity, he habitually verified nothing was left behind—otherwise, it'd cause trouble for both himself and others.
"No."
Hitori shook her head nervously. Compared to Ren's multiple bags, she had only brought some snacks, her guitar, and a small box Michiyo had slipped into her pocket.
"Then let's go."
With the car as a backup, forgetting something wouldn't be a major issue—they could always buy replacements. After the check, Ren started driving toward Lake Motosu, about a hundred kilometers away, where they could see Mount Fuji and find a campsite nearby.
Most importantly, the environment was ideal—far from the city's noise, allowing them to immerse in nature's tranquility.
Soon, they arrived at Lake Motosu, carrying their luggage to the lakeside campsite.
Since it was only a regular weekend and not the May Day holiday, the crowd was relatively sparse. Everyone minded their own business, hardly paying attention to others—a setting that put Hitori at ease.
So, when setting up the tent, she contributed noticeably. Ren had initially doubted her strength, but Hitori, accustomed to practicing and carrying her guitar, proved quite capable, driving tent stakes into the ground as skillfully as he did.
Once the tent was pitched, with lounge chairs and a table arranged, and the stove and ingredients sorted for the evening, the preparations were complete.
"Feel like playing the guitar? Or should we just forget our worries and daydream?"
Ren relaxed into a lounge chair, savoring the moment. The essence of camping was escaping daily routines—whether work or studies, he could discard them all now and relish the leisure. He had even silenced his phone.
"Won't it bother others?"
Hitori was tempted. Surrounded by trees and meadows, she felt no anxiety—this environment was even cozier than her closet at home. Unsure what else to do, she thought playing guitar for Ren might be nice.
"Worry about that tonight. Besides, a skilled guitarist might lift everyone's spirits. You play beautifully, don't you, Bocchi-chan?"
Yawning after speaking, Ren felt unexpectedly drowsy, despite having been awake for hours. Letting his mind go blank in nature had somehow made him tired.
"I'll do my best."
This unfamiliar performance venue might actually help her become more accustomed to stage performances, Hitori thought as she mustered her courage to begin playing. She selected several gentle, melodious pieces that harmonized with the tranquil environment, making the entire lakeside feel leisurely and relaxed.
Lost in the world of music, Hitori played with all her heart. Ren lay beside her as a quiet listener, creating a peaceful scene of a boy and girl returning to nature and following their hearts' desires.
"Clap clap~!"
"Big sister, you play so beautifully."
After what felt like quite some time, Hitori finally stopped playing when she'd satisfied her musical urge. It was then that applause and a little girl's praise came from nearby.
Turning toward the sound, she discovered a family of three who had also come camping. The little girl's face was full of admiration and longing, her sparkling gaze making Hitori slightly embarrassed.
"It's nothing special. With proper practice, you could do it too."
For once, Hitori surprisingly didn't panic when addressed by strangers. She modestly responded to the little girl's compliment.
"Really? Daddy, I want to become someone as dazzling as this big sister someday!"
The little girl didn't know what instrument Hitori was playing, but she thought Hitori looked incredibly cool while playing with such passion, shining brightly all over.
"Yesterday you said you wanted to be a Magical Girl."
The father in the family trio patted the little girl's head, while the mother smiled and nodded at Hitori without disturbing her further.
"See? They were drawn by Bocchi-chan's guitar. That little girl might already be your fan."
Watching Hitori actually manage to respond to strangers by herself, Ren felt inexplicably moved. While encouraging her, he pulled out a tissue and wiped the sweat from Hitori's forehead—playing guitar was physically demanding work.
"It's probably not that impressive, right? Hehehe~"
Hitori felt somewhat proud at his words and hugged her guitar while giggling foolishly.
"It's not exaggerated at all. It wasn't just them either, Bocchi-chan. Look over there—quite a few people around were listening to you play guitar just now."
Seeing her quickly revert to her usual self, Ren smiled and pointed toward two or three other tents not far away. The people there had been looking in their direction, clearly also captivated by Hitori's guitar playing.
"Hmm..."
Seeing this made Hitori both happy and slightly more confident. Nothing boosted her confidence more than knowing her guitar playing had captivated others' ears—not even Ren's compliments.
"Are you hungry?"
Ren picked up his phone and checked the time, discovering it was already half past twelve.
"A little."
Hitori rubbed her stomach. She had eaten little for breakfast, and after expending energy playing guitar, she had gotten hungry quickly.
"Then let's have cup noodles together."
As he spoke, Ren brought out the prepared cup noodles. Occasionally eating these so-called junk snacks was still wonderful, though unfortunately they no longer tasted as delicious as when he'd pulled all-nighters at internet cafes. Those instant noodles back then were better than any state banquet.
After finishing lunch and taking a short nap, neither Ren nor Hitori intended to rest further. They packed their belongings, left their campsite, and strolled hand in hand along the lakeshore. Eventually, they found a clean patch of grass to sit on. Ren wrapped his arm around Hitori's waist, and together they gazed at Mount Fuji.
By the breezy lakeside, ripples spread in circles, mirroring the tranquility in their hearts.
Hitori leaned against Ren's chest. Though shy, she wasn't so nervous that she had to close her eyes or avoid looking at him.
While Ren admired Mount Fuji, she watched him—the boy holding her was the view she truly longed for.
If only time could stand still in this moment forever.
This was the first time Hitori had observed Ren so closely: his fair yet masculine and healthy complexion, his well-defined and handsome features, his fluffy and glossy black short hair.
"What's wrong?"
And that gentle tone, filled with concern and curiosity. Hearing Ren's question as he noticed her gaze, Hitori felt as if she had stepped into a dream.