Methodology (2)

"Shouichi, grab me a napkin, please?" She asked nicely, her violet-purple eyes were so adorable.

"Right away." Shouichi reached over to grab a box of tissues from the next table.

"Thank you!" She smiled, adjusting her frameless glasses before returning to her book.

"Hehehe, nerd," he thought as he gazed at her cute face.

"Say… Ayane-chan." Shouichi spoke, getting her attention.

"Huh?" She glanced up briefly.

"I'm bored!" He finally confessed.

"And?"

"Let's do something outdoors! I heard the weather is great. It's summer, you know!" He added more reasons to convince her.

"Like what?" Ayane put down her book completely, giving him her full attention.

"Fishing!?"

"Do you have fishing gear?" She asked promptly.

"No…"

"Then how are we going to do it?" The jet-black-haired girl reasoned. "I've got an idea. How about my dojo?" She suggested with a playful smile.

"Oh, hell no! I don't wanna get beaten again. My wounds just healed, for Christ's sake."

"Mentally or physically?"

"Both!" Shouichi blurted without thinking.

"Ho? Then I've got another idea." She grinned widely.

"I'm all ears."

"Let's go to your place, then we'll make love till sunrise," She leaned in and whispered playfully.

"HAAAA?!" Shouichi felt his heart drop heavily to the ground. His face burned bright red.

"Fufufu. How does that sound?" The enchanting girl teased.

"Tempting offer, but I'm not mentally prepared for a relationship yet," Shouichi replied after a brief pause. "It doesn't feel right to date someone else less than a month after my breakup," He thought.

"Who said you need to go out with me? We're just two bored and lonely people." Ayane continued to tease, hugging herself.

"Enough of that, Ayane. I want to do this right. Would you wait for me?" His expression softened, composed yet sincere.

"That's what I admire about you, Shouichi-kun. You're always so kind, principled, and considerate…"

"Huh? I'm not that kind of guy," He objected humbly.

"Fine! If that's what you want. But my offer still stands. After all, you were my first love, so I'll wait for you and you alone." Ayane held his gaze, her words sincere and unwavering.

"Wow…" Shouichi was mesmerised, rendered speechless.

"Fufufu…" She giggled at his dorky face.

"I'm really grateful for you, Ayane-chan," He muttered, averting his eyes as his heart pounded.

"I know you're not ready yet, which is why I've never tried to pressure you. The last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable." She reached out, her delicate hand firmly grasping his. It was a gesture filled with warmth and commitment.

Shouichi almost forgot that he originally wanted to plan an outdoor activity with his friends. As they returned to the topic, Ayane and he couldn't settle on anything.

"Kurohashi Town is so boring!" Shouichi groaned in frustration.

"Hehehe, you guys seem frustrated. Why the long faces?" Yoko chimed in after most of the customers had left the store.

"We're trying to figure out what to do for summer," Shouichi replied, sulking.

"Say… Yoko-san, since you've been here the longest, do you have any recommendations?" Ayane turned to the cheerful shop owner.

"Hmmm… What kind of place do you like? Maybe the lucky-lover pond? Fufufu." The lady teased.

"Mum! That's embarrassing," Shouichi exclaimed.

"Eh? What happened?" Yoko looked puzzled. She didn't know about that time when Ayane and he almost…

"Owww…" Ayane kicked his leg under the table, shooting him a look that screamed, "Don't tell Yoko that."

"Say… How about the Takaki Reservoir? I heard that when it's full to the brim, it looks absolutely stunning," Yoko suggested.

The two high schoolers exchanged glances, realising they had never heard of it before.

"Wow! It exists! Just an hour away from town," Ayane said, pulling out her phone. She showed Shouichi a picture of a large concrete dam nestled between two mountain ridges, its reservoir filled with pristine water. Another photo captured the sunset over the reservoir, casting a mystical glow over the mountains.

"That's the one!" Yoko beamed.

"That's so cool. You should come with us, Yoko-san," Shouichi suggested.

"I think you two should go together…" Yoko declined outright, her gaze distant. "It's where your dad took me on a date once. I'd rather not relive that." Her voice carried a tinge of sadness.

"Oh…" Shouichi was speechless. He never knew that.

"See? There are a few resorts with onsen nearby and… a water corporation facility," Ayane continued researching the location on Google Maps.

"What's that?" Shouichi asked curiously.

"Probably the water filtration plant that supplies all of Kurohashi Town," Yoko chimed in.

"Wow, I didn't know that, Yoko-san." Ayane was impressed.

"Well, I remember because Wakanabe used to work there as a biochemical engineer," Yoko added, tapping her cheek.

"Dad's lore?" Shouichi thought. It was rare for Yoko to talk about his father. She always seemed uncomfortable whenever the subject came up.

"Then let's get started! We should invite Shinji. He can drive," Ayane said excitedly, clasping her hands together.

"Yeah! I agree," Shouichi said, looking at Yoko with gratitude.

"Thanks, Yoko-san!" They both chimed in unison.