An eventful trip

I spot a huge, bare cliff that looks like it's about to collapse any time soon. And below it must be the river, which appears to be emerald green and clear, which is surprising. It looks like something out of a fantasy world.

"It's so beautiful! No wonder people call it the last clear stream." Miyuki stated in awe.

"Hey there everyone!" Our instructor greeted us with excitement.

"Helloooo." Miyuki shared the same excitement.

"Oh look at that! It seems that we have some excited visitors today, I'm your instructor, Maya."

"Are we ready to go ide the rapids?!"

"Yeah!" Both Miyuki and Yoshito yell out.

"Are we ready to fall from out boats and get swallowed by the raging rivers?!"

We didn't have this instructor last time, it was some guy with very little enthusiasm.

"Yeah!"

Eri looks a bit afraid, I don't blame her, all of this enthusiasm popped out of nowhere. Today seems a bit empty compared to last time, with the only other guest here being a couple and their kid.

Maya began the safety training, mainly showing us how to properly wear out life vests and helmets. She then showed us what to do when we're falling off the boat, and letting us know how important it is to keep a steady hold on the paddles. It was the only time Maya wasn't filled with enthusiasm, which was scary actually.

"Wow the water's freezing." Yoshito began to shiver as he stepped into the water.

"I'm getting on first!" Miyuki jumped in the water to quickly get on the boat.

"Slow down Miyuki! It's not safe to be doing that." Eri tried to get a hold on Miyuki.

"It'll be fine! Don't worry!"

Miyuki attempted to get on the boat but slipped and fell.

"Ack!" Miyuki fell into the cold water.

"Miyuki!" Eri ran to Miyuki.

Luckily the water isn't too deep in this area.

"Well that was fun!" Miyuki got back up.

"You really need to be careful!" Eri tapped Miyuki on the head.

"We really have to be careful with her, huh?" Yoshito appeared next to me.

"Yeah.. you can take care of her, right?"

"Hm? Oh sure, I don't see why not." Yoshito didn't protest the idea.

We're all now on the boat and got the paddles to begin rowing the boat, luckily I've already done this before so I know what to do and show everyone so they don't struggle.

"Yasuhito! Don't start slacking off!" Miyuki shouted out of nowhere.

She sure is rowing very intensely, does she even notice that?

"Heave-ho! Heave-ho! Heave-ho!" Miyuki uses all of her strength to continue rowing

"Eri! Yoshito! What are you two doing lazing around?!"

"I'm getting tired.." Yoshito looks weakened.

"No excuses! Keep rowing!

As we begin to progress, the current seems to be growing intense, we probably can't paddle anymore if this continues. The only thing to do is hold onto the boat and hope we don't fall off.

"Alright guys! Let's begin to row before we won't be able to anymore!" I announced.

"Yoshito, Eri, the both of you should start rowing as well."

"Yeah! Yasuhito's right, guys!" Miyuki turned around to look at all of us.

"I didn't know you'd be like this, Yasuhito…" Eri turned to me, looking betrayed.

We're heading towards the rapids, meaning our boat will begin picking up speed, which is also making it a bit difficult for us to continue rowing.

"Wow! This is amazing!" Miyuki begins holding onto the raft.

All of us stop rowing and hold onto the raft.

"Eeek!" Miyuki lets out a shrill scream.

The water splashing around is starting to block my vision, I need to keep my eye on Miyuki.

"Careful!" I instantly clutched the paddle that Miyuki lost a hold of.

Maya's right, losing a hold on the paddle would be dangerous, it could've hit me on the face, knocking me out in the process.

The boat finally stopped with a splash and none of us fell off, luckily.

"That was so much fun!" Miyuki beamed and high-fived Yoshito, who's next to her.

She's smiling so brightly as the morning shines on her face, and the breeze flows through her wet hair.

In the corner of my eye, I can see Eri staring at me while having no noticeable expression. Ever since the drive here, I've been feeling like I'm a lot more sensitive to Eri's gaze.

"Hey, Yasuhito." Eri tapped me on the arm.

She's raising her hand, oh no, is she going to hit me.

I brace myself.

"Why don't we also high five?" She smiled as she asked.

"Oh."

"What's with that reaction?" Eri frowned, looking anxious.

"No reason at all! Okay let's do it!" I smiled and high fived her as she was outing her hand down.

I mean, a high five is something someone wouldn't necessarily announce first, this didn't happen before either, so it completely caught me off guard.

The rapids appear again, with it now rocking the raft left and right.

"Eeek! I'm so scared! Woah, I think i'm gonna fall!" Miyuki's laughing as her nose is wrinkling while screaming.

This reminds me of a roller coaster we once rode together, I was never a big fan of thrill rides, but she once forced me to go on one with her.

"Woah!" The raft moving disturbed my thoughts.

Oh crap I'm falling off. Luckily the water's calmed down.

"Ahahaha!" What happened, Yasuhito?!" Everyone began looking at me, laughing as I'm making my way back onto the raft.

Eri seems to be chucking a little, which is surprising.

"You're really funny, Yasuhito." Miyuki held onto her stomach as she continued to laugh a little.

"How did that even happen?" Yoshito looked at me with curiosity.

"Hey, are you okay?" Eri asks as she reaches her hand out to help me get back on.

"Yeah I'm fine, thank you."

"Maya mentioned there's a cliff near here that we could jump off, we should go do that!" Miyuki suggested

We all hesitate to agree but end up deciding to head over there.

"Okay! Who's jumping?" Miyuki turned to us.

"I'll pass." Eri instantly declined.

"What? No way! You know, in some tribes, jumping off a cliff into a river is some sort of coming of age ceremony! You're twenty, Eri, you should do it." Miyuki frantically tried to convince Eri.

"You really think that's going to convince me?" Eri asked in a confused tone.

"I'll do it!" Yoshito raised his hand.

"Damn right! We came all this way, so we have to do it." Miyuki went up to Yoshito and high fived him.

"You'll do it as well, right Yasuhito!" Miyuki turned to me, smiling.

"I think I'll have to pass, heights aren't really my thing."

"Come on, it shouldn't be that scary."

"I'm fine, really, you and Yoshito should do it."

"But doing it together would be a lot better, wouldn't it? I want to jump with you as well, Yasuhito."

She once said something similar before, when we rode the roller coaster. "I want to go with you, Yasuhito, I won't enjoy it if you're not with me," is what she said. Oh how much I loved that day.

"You still have Yoshito to go with you, right? The both of you should go and enjoy yourselves."

She then appeared a bit startled.

"Oh.. I'm sorry, you said you're not good with heights and I'm here trying to convince you join even when you're not comfortable with it, I'm really sorry." Her smile instantly went away.

I don't want her to be sorry.

"Hey! It's fine, okay? You just want to have fun and I understand that, luckily you still have Yoshito to accompany you so you two should really go ahead and enjoy yourselves." I gave her a reassuring smile.

"You're right! Sorry for acting like that. Come on Yoshito!" Miyuki grabbed his hand and went towards the cliff.

"Don't leave without us, alright!" Yoshito yelled out.

Eri and I sit down on the raft, looking at them from a distance.

"Are you sure you're okay with this, Yasuhito?" Eri asked as she stared at them.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you sure you're okay with not jumping with Miyuki?"

"Yeah, I'm really okay with it, I do dislike heights."

"…okay."

Yoshito and Miyuki jumped off the cliff and we could hear their screams as they're falling, and the splashing sounds from them falling into the water can be heard a little. Eri and I just continued to stare in the distance, but I could notice her glancing at me from time to time.

"Wow, that was a whole different experience for me!" Yoshito yelled out from a distance, walking with Miyuki.

"Woah, are you guys alright?" I chuckled.

"Of course! I didn't get scared at all." Yoshito puffed out his chest.

"Liar! You were freaking out the entire time and ended up holding my hand as soon as we jumped off." Miyuki lightly punched him on the arm.

"Yeah yeah whatever."

"We should head back, Maya's probably waiting for us." Eri suddenly grabbed the pattles and handed them to us.

I'm surprised she wants to leave this soon, she was actually hesitant about leaving when we first came here in my first past.

After a while rafting, we finally make it to Maya.

"Hey Mayaaaa!" Miyuki began to wave as soon as we spotted her.

"Hey there! All of you sure did make it back earlier than I expected, but I'm glad to know you're all safe." She then went on to high five all of us.

"It was definitely fun! Yasuhito here even fell off because he wasn't paying attention." Miyuki pointed towards me.

"Aha yeah… it was something." I rubbed the back of my head.

"Well, the raft appears to be in one piece, I'll have to let these lovely guests use it now, so I'll see you guys! It was nice meeting all of you." Maya bowed and we left.

This trip sure went completely different from before, I'm definitely making some changes. They may hurt, but these changes are for the best, all for my first love.

And you know, love is a painful, yet beautiful thing. Having the feeling of being secured or safe. Having a best friend, companion, partner, there with you for all your best and worst moments, and no matter what, they'll still love you the same way they always have.