Dam! Dam! Dam! (2)

"Hahaha, that's not true at all! I wasn't popular when I was in Australia," Shouichi laughed, declining the statement.

"It feels like it was so long ago… I'm starting to feel nostalgic…" She trailed off.

"Well, at least it seems like a great memory of us," Shouichi said, checking the time on his smartphone. "I've got to go now, Yoko-san."

"Alright! Have fun, Shou-kun."

"I do agree with you. I'm happy that I'm the only one for you…" He paused, then added, "Yoko-san, I love you." Shouichi said it with ease, having gotten used to saying it over time.

"Of course, I love you, and only you." Yoko replied, and the phone disconnected.

Lying on his back, Shouichi gazed at the ceiling, reminiscing about the events leading up to this point. To be honest, he couldn't fathom the future he'd have in Kurohashi town when he first arrived. But after meeting family and friends, he believed it was going to be a great one, despite the rocky paths along the way. In a sense, it made his heart flourish a little.

***

The mesmerising sunray, tinted with an amber hue, touched the white concrete wall of the dam. The colossal wall embraced the azure water, fresh and pristine. On either side, the dam connected to two mountain ridges, forming natural barricades. Small waves glistened on the surface, sparkling beautifully. The entire view of Takaki Reservoir was spectacular and serene, far better than the one in the photo.

"Wow!" Everyone exclaimed in unison, lost in awe at the stunning combination of man-made and natural beauty.

"Awesome, right?" Shinji turned to ask his girlfriend, who was clinging to his arm. The girl nodded, her gaze fixed on the reservoir and the greenish mountains in the background.

"Momo, have you been here before?" Shouichi asked his quiet friend, leaning on the rail with both hands. Momo turned, smiling sweetly at him.

"Yes, when I was a kid. My parents used to bring Ai and me here." Momo's voice carried a hint of sorrow.

"Oh…" Shouichi was taken aback by the sudden personal reveal, but quickly recovered, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"I don't want to spoil the mood, but I'm happy to see it again with friends," Momo added, her amber eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

"I'm glad to hear that, Momo," Shouichi reassured her. "Let's make a great memory together!" The pretty boy smiled widely at her.

"Y~Yes!" Momo replied promptly, flustered.

"Look! Look! There's a white swan!" Naggi, the muscular boy, pointed at the swan gliding through the water.

"It's so pretty," Hinoda commented, standing next to him.

Everyone watched the swan in awe as the soft, earthy-scented wind blew gently on their faces.

"Hey, guys!" Toru and Himemiya Kazumi appeared, holding what seemed to be papers. Naggi and Hinoda quickly ran over to help.

"What's that?" Shouichi turned to ask Ayane, standing beside him.

Ayane squinted her eyes, quickly recognising the items. "Those are kites!" she replied excitedly. Shouichi was surprised by her enthusiasm, realising she was enjoying herself more than usual. Ayane-chan must be having a great time, he thought.

There were three kites in total, and it took a few tries to get them airborne. The breeze carried them high into the sky, and the sounds of laughter and chatter echoed over the dam wall as the kites soared.

***

Aoyama Shinji, the silver wolf with a heart of gold, suggested a secluded picnic spot out of the blue. Everyone was surprised by how well he knew the area. Shinji spoke with enthusiasm, his lavender-purple eyes sparkling. "It's the best hidden spot in the whole town!" he exclaimed ecstatically, throwing both hands up in the air. At this point, no one could argue with him. The group packed up and followed Shinji's lead to the narrow road, with his minivan at the front.

After about 15 minutes, the picnic spot came into view.

"Woah! Senpai! It's so beautiful!" Emi was the first to gasp in excitement, her hand hanging on Shinji's shoulder. Her exclamation made everyone else follow her gaze.

The minivan's engine rumbled to a halt, and the doors slid open, inviting everyone to step out into the fresh, cool air. The afternoon sun bathed the scene in a warm glow, though the sky hadn't yet shifted to its golden hues. It was around 3 PM — still early enough for the light to dance off the lake's pristine surface, casting shimmering silver ripples.

Ahead lay a small, rustic inn nestled in a patch of lush green grass. Tables and long wooden benches were arranged under the shade of nearby trees. From this serene spot, the view stretched out over the lake, with towering mountain ridges framing the distance. The air was calm, and the breeze was soft, as if the world itself had slowed down to embrace this perfect moment of peace.

Shouichi stretched his arms and took in the breathtaking scenery. "What are those?" he asked, spotting a facility full of vessels, pipes, and steel on the left side, surrounded by green trees and leaves.

"That's the water corp. It's one of their facilities," Shinji replied, standing beside him, already shirtless, revealing a set of finely sculpted abs.

"Why are you naked?" Shouichi asked, bewildered.

"Hee hee, we're going into the water!" Shinji pointed towards the shoreline, where grass met the water. It resembled an ocean, minus the sand. This was as close as Kurohashi could get to the sea, a secluded town hidden from the world and surrounded by mountains instead of waves.

"Oh, that's why you told me in the group chat to bring a swimsuit," Shouichi recalled the message.

"Of course, the beach episode is right in front of us!" Shinji said, motivating his friend with a playful shoulder bump, speaking in anime terms.