"Wow, it's Mount Fuji!"
Nanao Akane, by the window, pressed against the transparent glass, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the magnificent scenery.
Outside the train, it was midsummer. The sky was azure, and floating white clouds spoke of the high temperatures characteristic of this season.
Although the soundproofed carriage allowed almost no sound from outside, just seeing such a scene would automatically bring the incessant chirping of cicadas to mind.
What Nanao Akane pointed to was none other than Mount Fuji, arguably Japan's landmark mountain.
It is located in the southern part of Japan's Honshu Island, only about eighty kilometers from Tokyo, spanning Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures.
On the way from Tokyo to Yaso Inaba, one would be accompanied by it.
The deep blue foothills possessed immense natural charm, while the white starting from halfway up gave this ancient mountain a solemn and sacred feeling.
"How many times have you seen it already?" Hayato said.
Mount Fuji was indeed a marvel, but this scene felt far too familiar.
It was as if in all the Japan animations he had watched in his previous life, whenever someone took the Shinkansen, there would inevitably be a "famous scene" of them marveling at Mount Fuji.
It was an old trope.
"Honestly, Kobayashi-chan, you really have no energy at all, just like a retired old man," Nanao Akane pouted, her cheeks puffed out.
She smoothed the knee-length hem of her white floral dress, then sat up straight like Hayato.
The latter merely turned his head to glance at Mount Fuji, which caused passengers to exclaim repeatedly, then continued to calmly read the book in his hand.
"alpaca princess Side Story — Elves Become Beds for Procreation, Imperial Crisis!"
He heard nothing of the world outside, focusing solely on his sagely book.
It was July. After finishing all their final exams, Baiqiu High School had finally entered summer vacation.
Logically speaking, Japan's summer vacation wouldn't start this early.
Japan's summer vacation usually began at the end of July. The reason it started early this year was because Tokyo experienced unprecedented high temperatures.
The outrageous extent caused the keyword "**" to top the online search rankings.
However, it was said that only the Tokyo area was like this this year. When Nanao Akane spoke to her grandmother earlier, Tokyo's temperature was already enough to make one sweat profusely, but her grandmother, far away in Yaso Inaba, said on the phone that Yaso Inaba only felt like scorching summer around noon, and was quite cool at other times.
Having decided to save on air conditioning electricity bills, Nanao Akane immediately dragged Hayato to buy train tickets to Shizuoka.
Hayato himself had no other plans, and since he had already agreed to her before, he fully accepted her plan.
The thought of being able to "monopolize" Kobayashi-chan this summer made Nanao Akane giggle uncontrollably.
"You're just too energetic," Hayato said, somewhat exasperated. Last night... no, it should be this morning. He had clearly gone to bed very late: "Like an elementary school student on a field trip."
"Hmph hmph~~ Kobayashi-chan definitely doesn't understand how I feel~~" Nanao Akane said, wrinkling her cute, fair little nose.
For her, this trip was more than just returning to her hometown; she was also introducing Kobayashi-chan to her only relative in this world. Just this alone was enough to make Nanao Akane nervous.
Moreover, Yaso Inaba was not like big cities such as Tokyo, where neighbors were indifferent.
The townspeople of the small town would visit each other when they had nothing to do, making them very familiar with one another. This meant that the news of her bringing a boyfriend home would quickly reach the ears of the surrounding neighbors, and she would also have to deal with this situation.
Speaking of "small towns"—
Nanao Akane reminded again: "Kobayashi-chan, don't have any special expectations for Yaso Inaba. That place is really small, with almost no entertainment facilities or famous scenic spots. The only famous thing is Amagi Onsen Ryokan... It's completely incomparable to a bustling big city like Tokyo."
Nanao Akane planned to stay in Yaso Inaba for the entire summer, and she was afraid that Hayato would feel bored.
"Mm," Hayato nodded.
"But that hot spring is indeed good. I must take you to see it. And I heard that the new proprietress has already taken office... I heard she's a beauty."
At this point, Nanao Akane gave him a sidelong glance, warning: "Don't you dare set your sights on the proprietress."
Hayato scoffed: "Joke."
When had he ever set his sights on others?
Usually, others set their sights on him, okay?
"And also..." Nanao Akane said.
"You calm down. This Sanyo Shinkansen will take nearly four hours. Don't talk yourself hoarse," Hayato said.
After hearing this, Nanao Akane seemed to awaken to sleepiness and finally let out a yawn.
Then she tilted her head and rested it on Hayato's shoulder.
"...A little sleepy," she murmured, her eyes half-closed.
"Then sleep," Hayato didn't push the girl's head away.
Nanao Akane softly "mm"-ed, about to fully close her eyes.
Her delicate body suddenly trembled.
"Is the air conditioning too strong?" Nanao Akane said.
Hayato casually responded and then raised his hand:
"Excuse me, attendant, could I get a blanket?"
The attendant, maintaining a polite smile, responded to his request.
After Nanao Akane covered herself with the blanket, she continued to rest her head on Hayato's shoulder, preparing for a nap, but this time she didn't fall asleep again.
"...Kobayashi-chan, don't you think the person next to us keeps looking at you?"
"Is that so?"
Hayato didn't mind, continuing to read without looking away.
"Yes, wow, she's practically glaring at you... Do you know her?"
The layout of this train was as follows:
Window, Akane, Hayato, aisle, corridor, "her," passenger window.
The "her" Nanao Akane mentioned was precisely one aisle away from Hayato.
From the moment they sat down, Nanao Akane had noticed that the passenger occasionally looked over at them.
Nanao Akane initially didn't think much of it, even thinking she was overthinking.
Then she realized it was indeed true and told Hayato once, but he continued to read without lifting his head, only saying, "Your imagination."
But this time, Nanao Akane was certain that the person was truly glaring at Hayato.
Hayato sighed inwardly, then, following Nanao Akane's words, glanced towards the aisle.
The woman one aisle away from him was turning her head, looking at the swaying scenery outside the window.
"She deliberately looked away when you were about to look at her," Nanao Akane whispered a reminder.
Hayato had no choice but to greet the person next to him:
"Ah, Miss Yukino? What a coincidence, you're on this train too?"
That's right, it was Yukino Fuyumi.
She had told Hayato before that she would also be going on a long trip this summer.
What was unexpected was that, without discussing any relevant details, they managed to encounter each other at the same time and place.
Hearing this, Yukino Fuyumi finally turned her face, expressionless:
"Ah, what a coincidence, to have such luck."
The "luck" she spoke of, from her tone, should have meant "bad luck."
It was as if she hadn't checked the almanac before leaving home.
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