Half Moon

I had trouble sleeping the night before the trip. I was so excited. It's my first time riding a plane. Then we'll go to a greenhouse/botanical garden. I think the museum is exciting, too; it's quiet there. My classmates were much more excited about the free time on our last day. Who can blame them? There are a lot of places they can go to, buy souvenirs from and make memories with. I should be excited about all that, too, but I'm mostly preoccupied with my 'mission'. I think being the only guy she talks to is an advantage. A very big advantage. But I wonder why? Why only me? There are a lot of handsome and popular guys that confessed to her already, so I'm sure my looks isn't the reason she's talking to me. She's not the shy type, so I don't think she can't talk to guys. All this thinking isn't getting me anywhere; I just get more and more confused.

---

Crap. I woke up late! Darn it, why now? It's all because of that thinking I made. We need to go straight to the airport, and I'm so late.

"You're late, Onii-chan." Uryou was casually eating breakfast, while I hurriedly stuffed some bread in my mouth. "The plane will leave you."

"I know that already!" What he's saying is true, which makes me want to punch him even more. "I'll be going now!"

"See you later! Since the plane might have left by now." I pretended to not hear what Uryou said. But hopefully, he can't predict the future. I don't want to miss this trip.

---

I rode a taxi to get there faster. I ran inside the airport to see if my classmates were still there. Thankfully, they were.

"Hey, Takaiyama! You're late!" Our homeroom teacher shouted at me.

"Yeah, you're late." Jirai sounded more disappointed than worried. "I really thought you weren't coming. Darn it."

"What was that?!"

"I was about to be alone with Hiroisora-sama, but you just had to get here in time. All that prayer at the shrine was wasted."

"So that's why I woke up late. I'll have to pay you back for that, then."

"Heh. What are you going to do? Punch me? Kick me? Ha! I have fortified my body with my strong love! Nothing can hurt me. Hahaha."

"Oh? Then as your friend, it is my duty to help you. I'll go ahead and tell Hirois-"

"Please don't! I beg you!" He grabbed my shirt to plead. Ha.

"Ok. Let go now. I promise I won't tell her." When you're looking.

"That's my good buddy, Takaiyama. I knew I could always count on you. That's why I prayed for your safe arrival today. Hahaha." You most definitely did not do that.

---

We boarded the plane a short while after I came. Talk about in the nick of time. I was searching for my seat. It was beside a window. I sat down as soon as I placed my bag inside the compartment. There is no one seating beside me, but I assumed Jirai will seat there. I gazed outside the window while waiting for the plane to depart, and then someone sat beside me.

"What took you so lo-" I couldn't finish what I was saying when I saw who sat there.

"Oh, so you were expecting me, then? Hehe." Hiroisora was laughing. I was surprised.

"N-no, actually I was expecting… Jirai."

"Now you're disappointed to see it was me? Hehehe." Why is she teasing me like this? "Well, I can leave if you want."

"I-I don't mind." I really don't, since this is advantageous for me. Although, I'm not sure about my safety… with all the boys staring this way looking like mad men. "Can I a-ask something?"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Um, well, you know, why am I the only-"

"Hey, Hiroisora-san! What are you doing there? Come seat with me. Let's not disturb the boys' love and their alone time." Nariyuki suddenly popped her head from the seats in front of us then dragged Hiroisora with her.

"Hehehe. Ok, I wouldn't want to be in their way." Why is Hiroisora agreeing with this so easily? The boys' love part, I mean.

---

Jirai did seat beside me. He was wondering why Hiroisora was seating beside me a moment ago. Since I don't know the answer to that question as well, I told him she just mistook his seat to be hers. Good thing that was believable; I was able to enjoy my very first plane ride without him pestering me about that.

When we landed at Okinawa, it was as hot as we expected it to be, but still as beautiful as we imagined. Since we were close to the museum, we went there first before going to the hotel.

The museum was about antiques and what people in Okinawa used to be hundreds of years ago. To be honest, I don't think they have changed that much. I was able to enjoy the museum; it was quiet and spacious. Even some of my classmates who were not that enthusiastic about going there seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Even though the tour was done by class, there wasn't as much horsing around as our teachers expected.

---

When we arrived at the hotel, it was already past lunch time. Everyone was already hungry, including me. We had lunch inside a giant hall which was reserved for our school. While eating, a teacher was discussing to everyone about our itinerary, which is as follows:

After lunch, we head to our rooms, each with four students. The floor which our school reserved will be divided into the boys' and girls' wings. After resting for a bit and unpacking our things, we'll head to the botanical garden (yippee!). At night, we'll enjoy the outdoor hot spring of the hotel. The next day, we'll be going to more museums and historical sites and whatnot. At night, there will be a 'special activity'. It was a surprise so they didn't divulge any information about it. On our last day, we have our free time to buy souvenirs and go to places on our own. On the afternoon of that day, we will head back by plane.

---

Everyone went to their rooms after eating. I was with Jirai in our room, together with two of our other classmates, Fukushou and Tokudai. I don't know them that much, luckily Jirai is a very sociable person (or weird, whichever it is) so we won't have any awkward silent moments.

"Hey Takaiyama, where are we going after this?" Jirai asked me after he was finished unpacking his things.

"To the botanical garden."

"What? Bo-o-ring!"

"What did you say!?"

"Bo-o-ring?"

"You dare repeat that?"

"You asked me to! What's with the outrage anyway, Ueki-sama?" Who the hell is that?

"I happen to like plants."

"I see."

"You do?"

"Yeah. That's why you're as boring as plants."

"Oh, really? Too bad then."

"Too bad about what?"

"I was going to tell you the secret to being popular, but since I'm BORING, I don't want you to be boring so-"

"Please tell me, sensei!" He was at my feet, begging. Sweet revenge.

---

We went to the botanical garden shortly afterwards. The class was allowed to go around the greenhouse freely. While almost everyone was looking at all the different flowers, I went to see the fruit bearing trees and other plants.

"Oh. You really seem to be enjoying this." Nariyuki appeared out of nowhere.

"Well, yeah. I'm really fond of plants."

"Wow. You're weird, aren't you? Hehe."

"Tch. And you sound like Jirai."

"Are you mad? Hehehe."

"Not really. I just think that plants are delicate, and if you don't take care of them properly, they won't grow and then they… die."

"I didn't know you were romantic." You only realize it now? Tsk tsk. "I thought you were just… effeminate." Damn rumors…

"You're lucky there is no poisonous plant nearby that I can feed you-"

"Why would you need a poisonous plant for?"

"Well, trying to act innoce- Hi-Hiroisora? W-where's Nariyuki?"

"I saw you two standing here so I came here, but she left after seeing her friends over there."

"Oh. I s-see."

"So, about that poisonous plant-"

"I-it was nothing. W-we were joking a-around is all. Haha…"

"Hmm? I was just wondering if you're able to identify poisonous plants by just looking at them…" Ohhhh… I thought she heard what I said. That was not going to help my cause if that happened. Whew.

I explained to Hiroisora that there are certain traits shared by different plants to indicate if it was poisonous or not. For example, its color or texture, though it is not a given; instead it is just something to look out for. She seemed to believe everything I said. Haha.

Strangely enough, I felt like I was being hugged by a cactus. When I looked around, I understood in an instant. All the guys were looking at us. If looks can kill, I might have died a hundred times by now.

---

We went back to the hotel and had dinner. The teachers were informing everyone that the outdoor hot spring is reserved to us up to 9 pm only; we should all take a bath by then. Each class has 45 minutes to use the bath. Of course, the hot spring is separated into men's and women's baths. I was hoping for a mixed bath. Hehe. Sigh.

"Yeah. Me too. What a letdown." Was I talking aloud again? "Why the surprised look? It was written all over your face."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I think we all had that face tonight." Jirai can get serious if he wants, although for the wrong reasons…

---

While soaking into the hot spring, I was staring at the night sky. It was a beautiful night. Which I think will be ruined any moment now…

"Hey guys!" Jirai was calling everyone in a low voice. "Will we let these bamboo fences hinder our spring time of youth?"

"No!" Everyone collectively answered in a low voice.

"Will we let the rules of society stop us from our right as adolescent males to indulge in the pleasures of this world?"

"No!" Why is this sounding like a revolution?

"Then, my brethren, join me in my quest to achieve what few high school boys have achieved before… peeping without getting caught!"

"Yeah! Woah!" Wow, he really can rally men under his leadership. Too bad it's something as juvenile as this.

"It's good to see that everyone is on this." Yup, when he said everyone, he meant everyone, including me. I just hope we can achieve the goal of this mission: Don't get caught.

Everyone was getting ready and starting to form a human pyramid. As the leader, Jirai is the one who will be pushed up to look at the women's bath. This type of cooperation is seldom seen, as we have been moving swiftly and silently. Little by little, I can see that Jirai is almost at the top…

"Ok guys! Time is up. The next class is going to use the bath- What are you doing!?" A teacher suddenly came outside and saw us. We were all surprised and everyone fell down. We dropped Jirai.

"Were you trying to peep at the girls' bath!?" The teacher shouted.

"Kyaaaaa!" The girls from the other side started screaming.

Mission: Failed.