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A few days passed and the weekend arrived. Finally, the day they had all been waiting for was here - their picnic together at mountain and river. Shimizu, Elly, and Zul had already arrived at the train station and were waiting for Mizuha and Hikaru, who hadn't shown up yet.
"Both of them are late. What are they doing?" said Shimizu impatiently.
"Calm down, Shimizu-chan. Maybe they had something to do before coming here. Also, did we arrive too early?" Elly said, trying to calm Shimizu down.
Looking Elly is feeling uncomfortable because of the heat from hot weather, suddenly Zul put a hat on Elly head. “You should wear this. It quite hots today,” said Zul. “Ah, thanks for it, Zul, you right today weather quite hots today” said Elly smile at him.
"I know, I've baked some cookies for all of us today. Do you want to try one?" Elly offered.
"Huh? Your homemade cookies? Yeah!!" Shimizu exclaimed, taking one immediately.
"Here, for you too, Zul," said Elly, offering some to Zul.
"Oh, thanks," said Zul, accepting the cookies from Elly.
After 5 minutes, Mizuha suddenly arrived. "Sorry, you guys, I'm late. It took me a long time to prepare my things," said Mizuha as she approached them.
"It's okay, Mizuha-chan. You're right on time; we're the ones who arrived too early," said Elly.
"Now that you're here, we're just waiting for your beloved boyfriend to arrive," Shimizu teased while eating the cookies from earlier.
"What are saying Shimizu...He…he…not my boyfriends...We not going out yet" said Mizuha, blushing.
“But you guys always together all this time, right? It considered he already you boyfriend,” said Shimizu continue teasing Mizuha.
“You, Shimizu…” said Mizuha blushing because embarrassing.
Elly then offered her cookies to calm down Mizuha, "Please stop teasing her Shimizu-chan, here, Mizuha-chan, I made cookies. Please try one."
"Oh, your homemade cookies. Thanks, Elly-chan," said Mizuha. After tasting one, she added, "Delicious! As usual, you’re cooking never fails to amaze me." “Thanks, Mizuha-chan, I glad you like it” replied Elly.
About 10 minutes later, Hikaru finally arrived. He seemed to be rushing as he approached them.
"Hey, you guys," said Hikaru, running towards them.
"You're late. What were you doing? We've been waiting for you in this hot weather," said Shimizu, seeming a bit upset.
"Sorry I'm late. I overslept," said Hikaru, apologizing to them.
"Don't worry, at least you made it here. Here, take this tissue and wipe your sweat," said Mizuha, offering Hikaru a tissue.
"Oh, thanks, Mizuha," said Hikaru. “That is our train, let’s go you guys” said Zul pointing at the train that just arrived.
Five of them immediately get into the train as the train arrived. The girl sits in the same row as Shimizu beside the window, Elly in the center, and Mizuha beside her. Meanwhile, Zul is seated in front of them facing Elly, while Hikaru sits in front facing Mizuha. The train is start moving after that.
As the train moves, Shimizu looks outside the window, watching the scene of nature as the train passes through the natural area. Zul happily talks with Elly about something, and Mizuha looks at Hikaru yawning; he somehow seems sleepy from earlier.
"You seem sleepy, Hikaru. What happened? Did you not get enough sleep last night?" she asked, concerned.
Hikaru chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah, you caught it, huh? Well, actually, I was too excited for today and didn't sleep well last night."
"You too?" Mizuha's eyes widened in surprise. "I thought I was the only one!" She laughed, reaching into her bag. "Here Hikaru, drink this coffee. I'm sure it'll make your sleepiness go away," she said, handing him a can.
"Oh, thanks, Mizuha," Hikaru said gratefully, accepting the drink.
After a 20-minute journey, they arrived at their destination. The group took a short walk before reaching the mountain and river site. Shimizu's excited shout echoed through the air, "The river! Finally, we're here!"
Mizuha gazed at the scenery in awe. "Wow, the sight here is so pretty and nice looking."
"You're right," Hikaru agreed, peering into the crystal-clear water. "The river is very clean. I can see right to the bottom, also that so many people also here for today”
As the others marveled at the view, Elly turned to Zul with a questioning look. "This place feel nostalgic, wait, Zul, this place... is it...?"
Zul nodded, a gentle smile on his face. "Yes, that's right. We came here before with your late sister, remember? This is where we had a picnic with our families when we were in 4th grade."
"Oh yeah, I suddenly remembered how you climbed that tall tree, fell from it, and got scolded by your mother and sister that day," Zul said with a chuckle.
"Please don't bring that up, Zul. It's so embarrassing—you're making me remember how reckless and dumb I was back then," Elly said, feeling embarrassed.
Suddenly, someone's stomach growled from hunger. "Oh, that's me! I haven't eaten anything since morning, haha," Shimizu said, laughing.
Then another stomach growled—it was Hikaru's. "Sorry, I haven't eaten anything since morning either because I overslept earlier" Hikaru said, blushing from embarrassment.
"Well, since we're all here, why don't we cook something? What should we make?" Mizuha suggested.
"BBQ!!" Hikaru and Shimizu shouted simultaneously.
"Hey, don't copy me, Hikaru! It was my idea," said Shimizu.
"Your idea? No, it was mine! You're the one who copied me," Hikaru replied.
"These two are starting to argue again," Mizuha thought to herself. "Actually, I was thinking of BBQ too."
"BBQ, huh? That's a great idea, but how will we get the BBQ equipment?" Elly asked.
"I heard we can rent BBQ equipment here. Wait a moment—I'll ask those people who already have their BBQ set up over there," Zul offered.
"Ah, thanks for that, Zul," said Mizuha.
After returning from asking the other people, Zul asked Hikaru and Shimizu to help him get the BBQ equipment rental while Mizuha and Elly stayed behind to prepare the meat and vegetables. After 10 minutes, the trio returned with the BBQ equipment set.
"We're back!" called out Shimizu.
"Welcome back, you guys," Mizuha responded.
"How did it go? Were you able to rent the BBQ set?" Mizuha asked the trio.
"Yes, we managed to get it," Hikaru replied.
"Was the rental fee very expensive? I can help with the payment," Elly offered.
"Don't worry about the cost—it's my treat for today. I've already paid for the rental," Hikaru said with a smile.
"That's really kind of you, Hikaru. Thank you," Mizuha said warmly.
"Oh, you've already prepared all the food for grilling? That was quick! I cannot wait to grill it" Shimizu remarked, impressed.
"Hey, Shimizu, don't just stand there—help us set up this BBQ equipment," Hikaru said, struggling with the grill.
"Yes, I know! Just give me a moment, geez," Shimizu replied with a huff.
Soon after, they had the fire going, and the BBQ set was ready for grilling.
As the fire started burning steadily, everyone gathered around the BBQ set with excitement. Shimizu immediately reached for the meat, but Elly gently stopped her.
"Wait, Shimizu-chan! The fire's still too strong. Let's wait a bit for it to calm down," Elly advised, showing her experience with cooking.
"Ehh... but I'm so hungry!" Shimizu pouted, making everyone laugh.
While they waited, Mizuha started organizing the ingredients they brought. "Look, everyone! I marinated some chicken pieces last night. We should grill these first."
"Oh! That looks delicious, Mizuha!" Hikaru peered over her shoulder, making her blush slightly.
"I also brought some special sauce my mom taught me to make," Elly added, pulling out a container from her bag.
Zul smiled knowingly. "Is that the same sauce from our childhood picnic? The one your sister loved?"
"Yes... I finally managed to recreate it," Elly said softly, a mix of pride and nostalgia in her voice.
"Look, these vegetables are done perfectly. Why don't you try some?"
As they ate, Elly's special sauce became the star of the show.
"This sauce is amazing, Elly-chan!" Mizuha exclaimed after trying it.
"It tastes just like back then," Zul commented quietly, making Elly smile warmly.
The aroma of grilling meat attracted some curious onlookers, including a friendly stray cat that wandered near their setup. Shimizu wanted to feed it some meat, but Elly reminded her that it might not be good for the cat.
As the afternoon progressed, they created a system: Mizuha and Elly managed the vegetable grilling, Hikaru and Zul handled the meat, and Shimizu was put in charge of serving and making sure everyone had enough to eat.
Finally, with all the food grilled to perfection, everyone settled down to enjoy their meal together. The aroma of perfectly grilled meat and vegetables filled the air as they gathered around their picnic setup.
Zul carefully picked up some of the best-grilled pieces and placed them on Elly's plate. "Here, try these pieces first. I made sure to grill them exactly how you like them."
"Thank you, Zul," Elly said with a gentle smile, touched by his thoughtfulness. "You still remember how I like my food after all these years."
Meanwhile, Mizuha noticed the grilled corn she had been carefully watching was finally ready. She picked up the perfectly golden piece and offered it to Hikaru. "Here, Hikaru! I grilled this one specially. It's your favorite, right?"
"Oh! Thanks, Mizuha," Hikaru's face lit up as he accepted the corn. "You remembered I love grilled corn!"
Everyone was enjoying their food, exchanging compliments about each other's grilling skills.
"Wow, these vegetables are amazing, Mizuha!" Elly exclaimed.
"And the meat Hikaru grilled is perfectly done," Zul added, taking another piece.
As the cheerful conversation continued, Shimizu found herself growing quiet. She watched her friends' interactions while absently picking at her food. Zul was attentively making sure Elly's plate never went empty, while Hikaru and Mizuha kept exchanging shy glances as they shared food with each other.
"I feel envious watching them," Shimizu thought to herself, her usual energetic demeanor subdued. "They all have someone special to share these moments with. It would be nice if I had something like that too..."
Mizuha, always perceptive of her best friend's moods, quickly noticed the change in Shimizu's expression. She gently touched Shimizu's arm. "Shimizu, what's wrong? You seem sad all of a sudden."
Caught off guard, Shimizu tried to brush it off with a small laugh. "Oh, it's nothing special, really. I just... well, I feel a bit envious looking at you guys and your relationships with each other."
The comment caused everyone to stop eating and look at Shimizu with concern. Mizuha, especially, felt a pang of guilt for not noticing her friend's feelings earlier.
"Shimizu-chan..." Elly started, her voice gentle.
But before she could continue, Shimizu quickly waved her hands in front of her, forcing a bright smile. "No, no! Don't worry about me! I'm just being silly. Besides," she picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks, "I get to enjoy all this delicious food with my best friends. That's what matters most, right?"
Mizuha wasn't convinced by her friend's sudden change in mood. She exchanged knowing looks with Hikaru and Elly, a silent understanding passing between them. Maybe it was time they helped Shimizu find her own happiness too.
Not wanting her friends to worry about her anymore, Shimizu quickly bounced back to her usual cheerful self. She stretched her arms wide and announced, "Ah, I feel so full now! What should we do next?" Her eyes sparkled as an idea struck her. "I know! How about going swimming in the river?"
"That's a great idea, Shimizu!" Hikaru perked up immediately. "I'm feeling pretty hot now, and I'm definitely in the mood for a swim."
A mischievous grin spread across Shimizu's face as she leaned closer to Mizuha and Elly. "Hey, you guys," she whispered excitedly, "let's change into our swimsuits! It's time to show the boys those cute suits you bought earlier!"
"Eh?!" Elly's face turned bright red. "But... but it's too embarrassing, Shimizu-chan..."
"That's right," Mizuha fidgeted nervously. "I'm not ready to show it yet..."
"What are you guys talking about?" Shimizu put her hands on her hips. "You already bought them! What's the point of buying cute swimsuits if you're not going to wear them today?" Without waiting for further protests, she grabbed both their hands. "Come on, let's go change!"
"Wait, Shimizu-chan!" Elly squeaked as she was pulled along.
"Don't pull my hand so hard, Shimizu!" Mizuha protested, stumbling behind her enthusiastic friend.
The boys watched as Shimizu dragged her reluctant friends toward the changing area, their protests fading into the distance.
"Oh," Zul said, turning to Hikaru. "I guess we should change too if we're going swimming."
"You're right," Hikaru replied, standing up. As they gathered their things, he couldn't help but glance in the direction the girls had gone, particularly where Mizuha had disappeared.
After that, Hikaru and Zul had already changed into their swimwear, both wearing shorts without shirts. Hikaru couldn't help but notice his friend's physique.
"Oh, nice looking body, Zul. Have you been working out?" Hikaru asked, observing his friend's toned muscles.
Zul shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny. "Yeah, I did a bit... but don't stare so much. You're making me feel uneasy."
"Since when did you become so shy?" Hikaru chuckled, making Zul laugh along with him.
Their laughter was interrupted by a familiar voice calling out to them. "Thanks for waiting!" Shimizu announced as she and Mizuha approached in their swimsuits.
Both boys found themselves unconsciously looking at the girls from head to toe. Shimizu wore a sporty yellow two-piece, while Mizuha had chosen a light blue swimsuit that complemented her perfectly.
"So, how about my swimsuit? Looking nice, right?" Shimizu struck a confident pose.
"It fits you really well, Shimizu," Zul commented politely.
"Oh, thanks Zul!" Shimizu beamed before turning her attention to Hikaru with a mischievous grin. "Hey, hey, Hikaru, don't you have anything to say about Mizuha's swimsuit?" she said, pulling Mizuha, who had been hiding behind her.
"Not again, Shimizu..." Mizuha protested, face reddening.
Hikaru's cheeks turned pink as he stammered out his compliment. "Mi... Mizuha... your swimsuit is very cute. The color really fits and matches your style."
"You think so?" Mizuha's face lit up with a shy smile. "Hehe... thanks Hikaru. I just bought it yesterday with Elly and Shimizu."
"See? I told you he'd like it," Shimizu whispered into Mizuha's ear with a knowing grin.
"Yes, I see now. Thanks for your suggestion earlier, Shimizu," Mizuha whispered back.
Suddenly, Shimizu's attention shifted to a different topic entirely. She moved closer to Mizuha, examining their figures critically. "By the way, Mizuha, what size is your chest? It seems a bit bigger than mine."
"My size?" Mizuha replied innocently. "I think it's C-cup."
"Really? That's weird - I'm also C-cup. Why do you look bigger than me?" Shimizu pouted, dissatisfied with this discovery.
"I think it's because you're wearing that sports bra, which makes it look smaller than usual," said Mizuha.
"By the way, Shimizu," Mizuha whispered urgently, "talk a bit quieter. I think the boys can hear our conversation!"
"Really? Ah, I didn't notice. Sorry about that," replied Shimizu.
Both Zul and Hikaru were indeed within earshot, though they were trying their best to look anywhere but at the girls, pretending to be deeply interested in the river's current.
"Hey, you two weren't listening to that, right?" Shimizu fixed them with a suspicious glare.
"Listening to what? We didn't hear anything, right Zul?" Hikaru said quickly.
Zul just nodded in agreement, still avoiding eye contact.
After an awkward moment, Zul noticed someone was missing from their group. "By the way, it's just you two who came back. Where's Elly?" he asked, trying to change the subject while genuine concern crept into his voice.
"Oh, you're right," Mizuha realized. "She said she'd be a bit late earlier. I wonder what's keeping her?"
Without hesitation, Zul turned toward the changing rooms. "I'll go check on her."
"Zul, wait! I'm going with you," Hikaru called out, hurrying after his friend.
Meanwhile, near the changing rooms, Elly found herself in an uncomfortable situation. Two unfamiliar men had cornered her, blocking her path back to her friends. She clutched her bag tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"Hey, you look so cute," one of them said, moving closer.
"How about coming with us? We'll treat you to anything you want," the other added with a grin that made Elly's stomach turn.
"Umm, sorry... I... I actually came with my friends," Elly replied, her voice trembling slightly. She took a small step backward, her heart racing.
"Don't worry, just hang with us for a while. Your friends can wait," they insisted, closing the distance she'd tried to create.
As fear gripped her, a familiar voice echoed in her head – one she hadn't heard in a while. "What are you doing? Just beat them up and run away to your friends," the voice urged.
Elly's internal struggle intensified. "No, I can't," she argued back in her thoughts. "If I do that, I'll break my promise to my late sister."
"This is an emergency, you know," the voice pressed. "What if they do something bad to you?"
"No, I don't want to! Please don't force me to do that," Elly pleaded with the voice in her mind, her hands shaking. The voice finally faded away, leaving her alone with her fear.
"Please save me, Zul..." she thought desperately, her body trembling as the two men moved even closer.
Suddenly, a hand landed firmly on each of the harassers' shoulders, accompanied by a deceptively friendly voice.
"Hey, brothers, can we talk for a bit?" Hikaru's tone was casual, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.
The two men turned around angrily. "What do you want? Who dares to touch us?" Their irritation quickly faltered as they faced their challengers.
Zul's eyes were cold, his usual gentle demeanor replaced by an intimidating glare. "Hey, what are you two doing to her, huh?"
"Leave her alone," Hikaru added, cracking his knuckles menacingly, "or you'll taste a painful experience from us."
"Zul! Hikaru!" Elly's voice was filled with relief as she quickly ran to their side, putting herself behind Zul instinctively.
"Elly, are you okay?" Zul asked, his voice softening as he addressed her while keeping his eyes fixed on the harassers.
"I'm fine," Elly replied, her trembling subsiding now that she felt safe. "Just a bit scared earlier."
The two troublemakers began to back away, their earlier confidence evaporating under Zul and Hikaru's intense glares. They exchanged nervous glances with each other.
"What's up with these guys? They look scary," one muttered to the other.
"Are these the friends she was waiting for?" the other wondered aloud, his voice shaking slightly.
"Let's run away. I feel unsafe with them here," the first one decided, and they both turned tail and fled, their bravado completely gone.
"Thanks for saving me, Zul, Hikaru," Elly's voice trembled as tears began forming in her eyes. "It was so scary earlier... and I'm sorry for being a burden to you two."
Without hesitation, Zul gently placed his palm on Elly's head, stroking her hair soothingly. The gesture was both protective and tender, carrying the weight of their shared history. "It's okay, Elly. We're just glad nothing bad happened to you."
"Zul's right," Hikaru added, relief evident in his voice. "Thank god we came earlier before they could drag you away with them."
Elly stood there for a moment, taking comfort in Zul's gentle pat on her head, her tears gradually subsiding. The gesture seemed to calm both of them - Zul's worried expression softening as he felt Elly relaxing under his touch.
"Let's head back to Mizuha and Shimizu," Hikaru suggested, breaking the moment gently. "I'm sure they're worried about us right now."
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