Chapter 5

Chapter LII: Footprints on the Sand

On a peaceful Monday evening, the different students of Class 2-A are just minding their own businesses. Asahi, Enmei, and Hanako playing Resolute; Gin and Kota researching on separate topics, Toshiro and Satou are also playing an RPG but different; and Akiko scrolling InstaBox. Since most of them got a good grade on English, the English teacher then texts them that she was planning a trip to the pristine white-sanded beach just 10km up north of the city which now has a featured floating cottages but for a limited time only. This would be held on Saturday. The students celebrate with this except for Akiko who has somewhere to go on that day. They then try to get prepared. However the students have to contribute for the fair and payment for the rent of a cottage.

As early as 6am, the Class 2-A students gather at school and makes their way to the dike as a bus is waiting for them. They pack some food and drinks to go. But as they are going to start off,

"Hey, HEY! Wait for us!", shouts Enmei at them.

"Wait, us? What does he mean by us?", Kota wonders.

At Enmei's back, a girl is seen running with him. As Kota sees this, he remembers something. He gets on, and as they start off,

"Hey, who's this Enmei?" (Satou)

"Oh, well, this is Yui. Yui Ichikawa, my girlfriend" (Enmei)

Kota's eyes widen as he hears the name. Flashbacks then arises from his eyes. When he was in the third grade, they move to an apartment near Kyoto. One of the apartment, there lived a girl that was the same age as him. He grows up with this girl as his girl best friend until he becomes a fifth grader where they need to move back to their hometown. Until then, he hasn't seen the girl but he managed to get her name, Yui Ichikawa. Just before the pandemic, he reconnects with her. However, when he tried to explain his situation with Akiko, she didn't get this and they eventually have a misunderstanding. This leads up now to an awkwardness.

"Your WHAT?!", exclaims the whole class.

Toshiro at the back hearing this, sighs and shakes his head in disbelief. Yui then seats with Natsuki while Enmei seats with Kota. Since the bus passes through the same road going toTengen and Gin's town, they will stop there and get them aboard. Kota is the only one who knows this that is why the class rep tells him to where to stop to get the two.

He asks Enmei about his girl,

"Hey, umm, where did you two meet?"

"Actually, I've just known her during the pandemic, we've met on Accord and played coop on several games" (Enmei)

"Ohh, and how did you two just be together?" (Kota)

"Well you know, closeness in games, and finally she confessed to me since we have more things in common" (Enmei)

Just after an hour, they get to the stop and as Tengen gets on, he seems to be holding a tray of Yakisoba while Gin tries to slap Kota as a form of greeting but eventually evades his attack. As Kota looks at the Yakisoba, he thinks,

"Hmm, I bet if he eats that, that Yakisoba-like hair will grow longer lmao."

They then get to their destination. As they get off, one can already smell the fresh air from the sea and see the white sand covering the area. As Kota walks to the place, wearing his cream fedora and shades,

"Hey, I think we have a foreigner here!" (Tengen)

"Hey, I'm walking over here!" (Kota)

"Where you from man?" (Tengen)

*In a New York Accent* "Well sure, I came from the United States of America, paying for a visit on a vacation here" (Kota)

"What can you say about this place" (Tengen)

Kota walks past him.

"Fuggedaboutit hahaha" (Tengen)

When they are about to go to the cottage, a small jellyfish greets them by the pristine waters. They avoid it and they go the floating bridge as they hoist above the water to get to their cottage. The cottage is complete with a natural swimming pool inside and outside all secured by safety nets and depends on the depth, and toppled by a terrace on top. Though it's very sunny that everyone might get a tan, except for Gin since he already have them. The others go straight away to the swimming pool while Kota looks into his bag to get his swimming attire. But he somehow can't find it and he later realized that he left it on their sofa. He then asks the Literature Club adviser if he has an extra shirt he could use and so he has one while on the other hand, he borrows a trunk from Enmei. He then applies some sunscreen on his skin and begins to go to the waters.

On the other hand, the English teacher's nephew calls Tengen to play water volleyball with him. While the others are swimming either outside and inside the grand cottage. After playing with the English Teacher's nephew, Tengen goes out of the interior pool and sits. Seeing the kayak boats, he goes out of the cottage to rent one. He then calls Kota and apparently Himari who just joined in with permission.

As they kayak, Tengen is in front, Himari is in the middle, and Kota at the back. Tengen tries to put the kayat in the middle of the sea while Himari freaks out. As they go much further, and Tengen shakes the boat, Himari shouts,

"Eh-EH! THIS IS WHY HANAKO DIDN'T WANT YOU ANYMORE!"

The others at the cottage laugh at this while Tengen still pushes it through to the middle again and Hanako smirks a bit. Meanwhile, Enmei, Asahi, Natsuki (special permission), and Yui are operating a pedal boat. As the trio finish kayaking, Kota hoists to shore due to a bladder problem. Since they are about to eat their lunch, Kota rushes to finish it and goes on the floating bridge. Since it is very hot that time, he hoists and hoists with fierce look on his face until someone says in the cottage,

"Look!"

"Gin, get the speaker, quick!", says the English Teacher.

They then play Soran Bushi since the movements Kota are actually doing looks like it. As they sing along with the song,

"♪Dokkoisho, Dokkoisho! (Dokkoisho, Dokkoisho!)♪

♪Soran, Soran! (Soran, Soran!)♪"

Until he finally gets to the cottage.

"Hey, nice one Kota", says the English Teacher.

Kota nods and smiles at her. The others got a video of the Soran Bushi hoist while enjoying their lunch and they are amazed with this while other laugh at this. Hanako, one of those who got a video of it, sends it to Akiko. As she receives it, he complements Kota replying,

"That's my boy! The spirit of a fisherman! Dokkoisho! Soran Bushi!"

A beach staff then approaches the cottage, telling them that their time was up 5 minutes ago. They then get off the cottage in groups of 6 due to the weight limit of the floating bridge.

As they land on the shore, the others go to the shade and chill, while the others go to a nearby shrine and Kota and the squad play volleyball.

"Guys, think fast!" (Enmei)

"Not so fast Enmei!" (Gin)

"Take this for a touchdown!" (Kota)

"How about an uprise by the Libero!" (Asahi)

Meanwhile one the shade, Natsuki, Himari, and Hanako relax. Yui approaches them holding four ice creams and distributes it to them.

"Thanks Yui" (Hanako)

Yui nods and smiles at her.

"Say, how did you and Enmei met?" (Himari)

"Well, it's a long story but I gonna warn you….*eerie voice* Stay away from him, he's mine!" (Yui)

As the sun sets, the class with the three outsiders take a photo. While going home, Kota texts Akiko about their day.