Summer had finally arrived.
The gentle breeze carried the warm scent of sun-baked leaves through the school courtyard. The trees swayed lazily under the bright afternoon sky, their shadows stretching long across the ground as if waving goodbye to the students. Cicadas had already started their seasonal orchestra, buzzing loudly like they were more excited about summer vacation than any of us.
It was the last day of school,
and the entire building buzzed with energy.
Some students talked excitedly about going back to their parents' hometowns. Others planned beach trips, karaoke nights, and everyday hangouts.
(Karaoke: A place where people sing songs on a mic with background music.)
A few were already lining up part-time jobs to save money for dates, gifts, or buying something they loved.
The emotional ones were crying because their friends were moving to a new town.
And then
there was me.
Haruto Ito.
The first year of high school was ending today, yet I still had no idea what I wanted to do during summer. My grades were good, my looks were apparently good enough that people called me "cool," and I could talk normally with anyone but I only made friends out of necessity.
Because trusting people was difficult.
Very difficult.
So yes,
I was popular,
but I didn't have a single person to message during my free time.
I didn't have someone to hang out with.
Or someone to wait for after school.
Which basically meant
I was completely alone.
"Well, that's just how it is," I muttered while packing my backpack.
Just then, the classroom door slid open and our homeroom teacher, Yuzuki-sensei, walked in with a woman I had never seen in my life.
"Everyone, sit down. There's an important announcement."
The chatter died down instantly.
"This is Yacchi-sensei. Please greet her properly."
We all greeted her, somewhat confused. The woman bowed politely and smiled.
"First of all, I'm sorry for taking your time. I know everyone is excited for summer," she began, her voice bright and energetic. "My name is Yacchi Takashiro, and I'm the manager of the Evergreen Summer Adventure Camp. With your school's permission, we invite you to join our summer program and enjoy an unforgettable adventure."
A wave of murmurs spread across the classroom.
"These are the pamphlets. You can register online if you wish! I won't take much time. Thank you, and enjoy your vacation!"
Of course, a million questions followed. Hands shot up. Students started asking everything from "What activities?" to "Is there free food?" to "Is there Wi-Fi?"
And me?
I was already exhausted.
Just end this already. I wanted to go home, eat something, sleep, and defeat that boss fight I'd been stuck on for a week. If only I had someone to play multiplayer with…
Somehow, everyone started clapping.
I had spaced out, so I just clapped along with them like a trained seal.
I shoved the pamphlet inside my bag and rushed out of school. As soon as I passed the gate, I ran toward the station hoping to catch the next train.
That's when I accidentally bumped into a group of seniors.
"Oi, Ito. Come with us to karaoke," one of them said.
Not again.
I didn't want to go not because I was in a hurry, but because these guys always made me pay for the entire group. And they never returned the money.
"S-Sorry! I'm in a hurry today!"
"At least tell us why?"
My brain stopped functioning.
And then
I saw a random advertisement poster in the distance.
Before I knew it, I blurted out:
"I… I'm on my periods!"
The seniors froze.
I froze.
The universe froze.
"…bro, what?"
"Is he okay?"
I didn't wait for further interrogation.
I ran.
There were thirty minutes before the train arrived.
The station was twenty minutes away.
Which meant I had ten precious minutes to buy snacks.
And for me, snacks were sacred. My gaming and binge-watching sessions felt incomplete without them.
I entered the convenience store and made myself a cold coffee.
Ice → milk → coffee powder → one tiny packet of sugar
(I liked the bitter taste.)
Five minutes gone. Worth it? Absolutely.
Then I speed-ran the snack aisle like a pro:
3 choco sticks
4 cold drinks
5 potato chips
4 cup ramen
5 jelly chocolates
4 pudding cups
2 strawberry milkshakes
and the holy treasure… my watermelon popsicle
I paid at the counter and headed toward the station, sipping my coffee. After a few steps, I tossed the empty glass into the trash and checked the snack bag to confirm everything was there.
And then
it happened.
Someone shoved me from behind.
My snack bag flew out of my hands and scattered across the sidewalk.
For a moment, I didn't know who to check first,
the culprit,
or my fallen soldiers.
I chose the important ones:
the snacks.
While I was picking them up, a girl suddenly crouched beside me.
She had soft long hair and striking red eyes.
W-whoa.
She's… cute.
Focus, Haruto. This is not the time.
"T-Thanks," I said awkwardly.
"N-No… I'm s-sorry… I w-was… the one… who d-did this…" she stuttered.
Why was she hesitating like she had committed a crime?
I wasn't going to arrest her.
But before I could say anything else,
she stood up, bowed quickly, and ran away.
I blinked.
I was planning to give her my favorite popsicle as a thank-you, but…
well, I guess Fate decided only I deserved to eat it.
I barely caught the train after all that.
Why should I care about girlfriends, friends, beaches, karaoke, or whatever they call that Summer-Red-Ever-Jungle-Camp?
The only things I truly need are my snacks, my PC, my chair, and my room
And after reaching home, I opened the door and called out,
"I'm back…"
I removed my shoes, placed them properly because if I didn't, Mom would become a demon and just as I was about to escape into my room, my parents called me into the living room.
They were holding the same pamphlet the school gave us.
"Why are you showing me this?" I asked suspiciously.
Dad grinned. Mom sparkled.
Never a good sign.
"We registered you for the summer camp!" they said proudly.
That was the exact moment my soul left my body.
My chair…
My PC…
My boss fight…
My anime series…
My ENTIRE FUTURE…
All drifted away like dramatic petals in an anime ending.
I tried to fight back.
"I… I don't want to go! I have summer homework!"
Of course I wasn't going to tell them the real reason:
I planned to stay home and game through the entire summer vacation.
"Don't worry," Mom said, patting my shoulder.
"After camp, you'll still have one month before school starts. You can finish everything then."
Hey God… what did I do wrong? Why was the universe punishing ME!?
So I pulled out the emergency weapon:
"I—I have a date that day, so I can't go!"
They froze.
Looked at each other,
And then burst out laughing like I told the funniest joke ever created.
Mom wiped her tears.
"Haruto-kun… listen. In your phone, besides me, your dad, and your sister, you don't have a single other contact. And you want us to believe you're going on a DATE? Hahahahaha!"
Dad nodded seriously.
"Even emergency numbers don't count, son."
Then Mom switched to her emotional mode—my natural enemy.
"You're such a good, handsome boy. Why don't you have a girlfriend yet? When your dad was your age, he proposed to me in front of the whole school! Took me on dates everywhere! And you spend all your time alone at home!"
She looked genuinely heartbroken.
"I can't see you dying alone, I can't see you talking to yourself in your room… Haruto-kun, I worry so much…"
Ah. Perfect.
The Mother's Final Skill: Emotional Damage.
I instantly realized:
You cannot win against your mother. Ever.
So I surrendered with honor.
"Fine… I'll go…"
Mom and Dad brightened like I had just saved the world.
Honestly, they were right.
At my age, with no friends and no social life, they had every reason to worry.
I told myself:
It's just one day. I'll go, come back alive, and everything will be fine.
"Come to think of it, my parents have always been incredibly good to me. Making them worry this much that's the last thing I ever wanted."
Then I noticed something important.
"Where the hell is my PC setup?" I shouted.
Mom replied casually,
"Oh! Subaru-kun came and took it for some time."
WHO the hell is he?
"You've never met him. He's your distant relative."
If he's so distant,
WHY DID HE TAKE THE CLOSEST THING IN MY LIFE!?
"Give me his address! I'm going to bring my PC back!"
Mom waved her hand.
"Don't bother. It takes eight hours to reach his place, and it's already evening."
I felt tears forming. I Take my words back my parents are evil.
And then,
My sister arrived with her friends.
She saw the snack bag in my hand, snatched it, and said,
"Oh perfect! Thanks, lil' bro. I forgot to buy snacks."
Then, in front of my lifeless eyes…
She ate the watermelon popsicle.
While SMILING.
At that moment, I lost the last bit of energy in my soul.
I couldn't even react.
My spirit evaporated.
Everything I dreamed of… shattered.
What was happening today?
"Why is everything going the opposite of how I imagined?"
All I could do was eat dinner quietly,
go to my room,
and cry under my pillow like a defeated side character.
And before going to sleep, I asked God for good luck.
Day After Tomorrow — The Departure
Morning arrived like a punch.
Mom handed me two enormous bags.
"Why is this so heavy!?" I complained.
"What are they going to make us do in ONE DAY? Build a house? Hunt wild animals?"
I hadn't checked the luggage.
I hadn't even checked the pamphlet properly.
I was basically walking into a boss fight blind.
As I walked toward the meeting point, someone bumped into me from behind.
And because the bags were heavier than my will to live,
I lost balance.
I tried to balance myself, but I kept moving forward, and my entire balance shifted out of control.
"What—w-wait—!? What is happening!?"
Right in front of me,
A girl was standing there.
And my body was moving straight toward her.
My hands were full.
My center of gravity had resigned.
There was NOTHING I could do.
Am I… am I really about to fall on her…
or more specifically… on THAT place!?
Is this the moment?
"Thank you… God," I thought dramatically.
"If I could stop myself, I would. But I can't, so… forgive me… and thank you for this moment."
Then reality slapped me.
"WAIT NO THIS IS NOT WHAT I MEANT WHEN I ASKED FOR GOOD LUCK!!!"
This was NOT the blessing I requested!!