Part-2 Ch-11 Ep-01

Mari’s POV

The three-night, four-day school trip begins today.

Inside the airplane bound for Okinawa, I take out my earphones and glance around the cabin.

Some students are awake, while others are fast asleep.

Judging by the atmosphere, there seem to be slightly more people sleeping than awake.

The morning assembly had been quite early, so it is hardly surprising.

In our row of three seats, I am by the window. Maki is sitting next to me, and beyond her is Kagami-kun. Both of them look completely sound asleep.

The flight is less than two hours one way, so even for me it has been a quiet stretch of time. I dozed off for a bit, listened to music, read a book, and passed the time like that.

From somewhere nearby, I can faintly hear the voices of other students who are awake, talking in low but excited tones. They chatter about where they want to go, what they want to eat, and which souvenirs they need to buy for this person or that.

Everyone’s anticipation quietly fills the cabin, blending into the air itself.

I am excited too. This is my first time visiting Okinawa.

Hmm, but still.

I steal a glance at Maki’s sleeping face beside me.

Her calm breathing and angelic expression make me smile without thinking, but then I remember the reason for my unease and let out a small sigh.

There is a reason I cannot enjoy this trip without reservations. In the original game scenario, an event between Godaiin-kun and Maki is supposed to happen during this school trip as well.

Of course, since we are in different classes, our transportation and daily schedules will likely be separate most of the time, so things probably will not unfold exactly as they do in the game.

Even so, I cannot let my guard down.

During this trip, I am determined to completely break the flag between Godaiin-kun and Maki.

I am a little short on confidence, though.

Even so, I have to do it.

I clench both fists tightly and whisper to myself, “All right.”

I wonder if we are almost there, I think, checking the current location display on the in-flight monitor. At that moment, I notice that the color of the light streaming in through the window has changed.

When I peer out the small window, the sea that had been a deep navy blue just moments ago is now spreading out below in a vivid cobalt blue.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful…”

It is a completely different color from any sea I have ever seen before.

The water is so clear that it feels as though I could see fish swimming within it, and the sight instantly captures my attention, sending my excitement soaring.

Moved by that vivid blue, I call out to my childhood friend and girlfriend, who is still fast asleep beside me.

“Maki, hey, hey, look at the sea. It’s amazing.”

Maki responds with a slightly languid “Nn…” as she wakes, then asks in a sleepy voice, “What is it?”

“The sea is really pretty, so I wanted you to see it too, Maki.”

“Hehe, well then, I guess I have to look now, don’t I.”

Still drowsy, she smiles softly, her expression loose and gentle. Saying “Let me see,” she leans closer to me with a grin.

“Wow, it really is beautiful.”

Maki breaks into a bright, open smile, and just seeing that is enough to satisfy me.

“I want to see the sea up close,” Maki says, turning her smiling face toward me.

That smile is unexpectedly close, and my heart skips a beat. It was only the other day that Maki and I shared our first kiss.

I swallow reflexively.

Trying not to let my agitation show, I compose my expression as calmly as I can.

“Yeah. Since it’s already November, I don’t think we can swim, but it would be nice if we could at least play around a bit. I was thinking how nice it would be to walk along the beach with you, Maki.”

Maki keeps staring at me, her smile gentle and unbroken.

In truth, the image of playing by the Okinawan sea during the school trip was originally meant to belong to Godaiin-kun and Maki.

They were supposed to run into each other by chance while walking along the beach near the hotel at night, and then talk together.

I am trying to replace that scene with Maki and me. Of course, sneaking out of the hotel at night is forbidden by the teachers, so something like that cannot actually happen.

Even so, I do not want events to follow the game’s scenario even a little.

So if it is going to be anyone, let it be me.

At the very least, if we can spend the same kind of time together on the beach during the day.

Even while feeling a faint twinge of guilt toward Godaiin-kun, the words slip out of me anyway.

“Hehe. Then, if we get the chance to go to the sea sometime, shall we go together?” Maki says.

I nod quietly.

Before long, an announcement comes over the speakers saying we are preparing for landing.

As if triggered by that, I can sense the sleeping students gradually beginning to wake up.

Kagami-kun, who had been asleep on Maki’s other side, rubs his eyes and says in his usual carefree tone, “Fwaa. Oh yeah, I’ve got gummies. Want some?”

A pair of sunglasses rests on top of his head, and it is obvious how fired up he already is.

“I’ll take some, I’ll take some,” Maki replies cheerfully.

“Nagase, you too?”

“Ah, sure, I’ll have some,” I say, holding out my hand.

Across the aisle, Todoroki-kun in the next row is taking out his earphones and stretching sleepily.

The airport runway comes into view.

The announcement declares that we are landing, and a high-pitched ringing in my ears grows louder.

The plane rattles as it shakes.

Even though I know it is safe, takeoffs and landings still scare me a little.

As I tense the hand resting on my knee, the back of it suddenly grows warm.

Maki is holding my hand.

“I suddenly really wanted to hold hands with Mari right now.”

“…Thank you.”

Ah, really. I love this side of her too.

The three-night, four-day school trip begins today.

I am going to break the flag between Maki and Godaiin-kun.

And I am going to make lots of memories with Maki.