The trip
Arisa Ichigaya was a homebody.
She hated the outside. Anything that didn’t involve a couch and television made her riddled with dread. So, when Arisa heard about the camping trip that happened every year, she made the steadfast assumption that she wouldn’t go.
But, as a part of the student council, she would soon find out it was mandatory for her to attend.
It happened every year apparently, a camping trip with tiny cottages in the brush of the forest. It was something that Hanasakigawa and Haneoka did together, a weekend of bonding between the two schools filled by the heat and haze of the new wave of summer.
The idea wasn’t appealing to Arisa, to say the least. In fact, it was almost the perfect way to make her suffer. Stuck with people, stuck with bugs, stuck with the humidity; Arisa felt her stomach churn.
Could she worm her way out of this one?
Surprisingly, when she discussed the event at student council, Sayo - the most serious person she knew - supported the idea with unwavering persistence. And even more shocking, Rinko - the ultimate loner - didn’t mind it either.
“Did you two even go on last year’s trip?” Arisa asked during a meeting. This was the first time she was given the opportunity to go herself, so she had no way of knowing.
Sayo and Rinko quietly shook their heads sideways, sparing a slight glance at each other, one of slight awkwardness or shame. “Then why are you two suddenly supporting it? There’s no point in doing it if we’re not gonna enjoy it, we are the student council after all, so we have the final say...”
She especially wanted to appeal to Rinko, who was currently the temporary student council president as.... what was her name? - Wanibe? - was studying for a month abroad.
Rinko had been psyching herself out over her temporary status, but Arisa could tell she was grateful for the opportunity.
Still, Arisa made sure to weave her words carefully, she wanted to stay on the student council after all.
Sayo replied, “I just want to make more memories, I am only in high school once, after all.” It was a simple answer, but truth be told, Arisa didn’t care enough to question her further. Rinko mumbled a weak ‘same’ and then began scribbling away on her clipboard, making plans, reaffirming her guard.
And despite not pressing for further details, Arisa didn’t believe Sayo’s statement. In fact, it almost seemed suspicious, out of character for her even.
Something was up.
But still, obviously out-numbered, Arisa feigned support for the trip. In turn, she was dealt the duty of spreading awareness for the trip and affirming the numbers of those going from Hanasakigawa.
As Sayo and Rinko left, they reminded Arisa to meet in the student council room on the day of the trip; it was the student council’s duty to round up the final numbers and supplies.
Feeling defeated, Arisa typed away under the ruby cry of the twilight, silently sulking away at the upcoming weekend that she’ll be spending in the woods, and not under layers of blankets in front of the television.
-
When Arisa entered school that day, trailing her suitcase of clothing behind her, she immediately headed to the student council room like she was told. The idea of seeing Sayo and Rinko in their casual clothes oddly intrigued her.
She rounded the corner and hovered her hand over the handle to the student council room, ready to enter. But she didn’t turn it. She heard two voices: Sayo and Rinko, talking.
But that was to be expected. Who else would have been talking?
Arisa stood there, listening attentively, trying to make out what they were talking about. However, she could only hear pieces.
First, she heard Rinko’s voice. “Are you…” mumble mumble “...Lisa?”
Lisa? Arisa thought. Rinko and Lisa were bandmates, so nothing sounded particularly noteworthy about that. But then, Sayo spoke, and again, it wasn’t easy to make out.
“I want to…” mumble mumble “the bonfire could…” mumble mumble “...romantic.”
Romantic.
Romantic?
Before Arisa could try to piece together the words and pauses and broken up meanings, she heard footsteps coming up to the door from the other side. Arisa quickly tried to straighten her posture and take a step back, faking the semblance of motion.
When the door slid open, Sayo stayed in place, slightly unnerved as Arisa just… stood there.
“Ichigaya-san… are you just… standing there?”
Arisa scrambled for words. “Heh!? No way…! I was just… just about to walk in! You just opened the door right when I was about to!”
“I see…” Sayo said as she stared. She continued, getting down to business, “I have a clipboard with the list of students attending from Hanasakigawa, Haneoka will be taking care of their own numbers. So I’m going to go head onto the loading zone where the vehicles will be, alright?”
“Got it!” Arisa said defiantly.
“You can help Shirokane-san collect the rest of our supplies before we leave… just make sure to be at the back of the school in ten minutes, okay?”
Arisa nodded. She asked, noticing they didn’t have any bags on them, “You didn’t bring any luggage?”
“Shirokane-san and I actually left our belongings near the back of the school, Matsubara-san kindly offered to watch over them for us.”
“That was nice of her…” Arisa said, feeling a bit stupid for asking such an obvious question.
“It was.” Sayo turned to leave. “Anyways, you’re all good?”
Arisa nodded with a ‘yup’ and Sayo headed on her way, leaving her with the temporary student council president in the council room.
No pressure.
“Ichigaya-san…” Rinko mumbled, “I think I have all of the materials we need… and… your hands are already full with your belongings so… I don’t want to make you carry anymore things…”
Arisa shook her head. “No way! I can totally handle it!”
Rinko smiled softly and giggled with supplies in hand. “To be safe… I will take these… we don’t need anything to break…”
Arisa sulked. “You’re sure?”
“I am sure.”
“In that case, I’ll meet you at the back?” Arisa stated, but it came out as more of a question.
“Yes, you will,” Rinko said. “And before you go…”
“Yeah?”
Rinko gave another gentle smile. “Please make sure to try to enjoy this trip... I understand you aren’t the… ‘outdoorsy’ type… but I think you should at least give it a shot, your best effort. We’re all trying new things nowadays, right?”
Not wanting to possibly start a fight with Rinko - the student council president who happened to hold immense power, and in a month from now, a close person to the ‘actual’ student council president - Arisa nodded, promised she would, then turned around and headed on her way.
She didn’t forget what Sayo said before, though. But there was a time and a place to think it over, and for now, she found it wiser to develop ideas before a plan of action.
Something to do with Lisa-san, bonfires and romance… It’s probably not ‘that’... but… could it?
Maybe Arisa could think about it on the way to the camp if Kasumi spared her a moment to breathe.
-
She was not given a moment to breathe.
“Ooh, Arisa!” Kasumi shouted from her seat on the bus. “Look!” She showed her phone to Arisa. “This is where we’re staying!”
Arisa groaned and peered at the screen: it was of the campgrounds they were going to for the weekend, adorned with ratings and reviews. “We’re literally sitting next to each other - you don’t have to be so loud… but...” She paused for a moment before continuing in a judging tone. “That place - it doesn’t look so bad.”
Kasumi nodded and cheered, “We’re gonna spend so much time together, it’s gonna be great!”
“I’ve got something I need to find out while we’re here though,” Arisa said. “If I’m gonna stay there, I’ll have a little adventure of my own. Then - maybe - I might find some enjoyment out of this experience.”
“Ooh!” Kasumi stared at her like a child in a candy store. “An adventure? Lemme come! Please, please, please!”
“Wha- no!”
But Kasumi didn’t relent. She continued pestering Arisa with a wall of ‘please’ after ‘please’, not even giving her the chance to respond. Arisa groaned to herself, then she let out a small yell.
“Ah! Fine! Fine! Fine! You can come!” Arisa shouted, annoyed.
“Really?” Kasumi asked sweetly, contrasting how she acted only a moment prior. “You’re the bestest Arisa!”
“But!” Arisa declared. “I’m not telling you what I’m doing, you can only tag along for the ride!”
“That works for me!” The small ball of energy then nodded and nestled her body into her small seat on the bus, shutting her eyes. She yawned, “I promise I won’t get in your way…”
Arisa visibly blinked at her last comment but ignored it. “Did you not get enough sleep last night?”
Kasumi didn’t open her eyes. “I was way too excited for the getaway so…” She yawned in her seat. “I stayed up pretty much all last night hoping for the morning to come faster. And here we are~.”
She huffed, “Then just sleep you slouch, I’ll let you know when we arrive at the campgrounds. Make sure to take care of yourself…”
Kasumi was drifting away. “Mmm…” she mumbled to herself. Then, she was out cold and Arisa sat there with another unamused look on her face.
However, Arisa did care about Kasumi, even if she wouldn't admit to herself. So, as she promised, she let the girl sleep and paid attention to the road signs, making sure to wake her up when they arrived.
Arisa, however, did have a mission - a goal. If she was going to stay camping in the outdoors for a weekend, then she could at least find out what was happening with Sayo. Then maybe, after all is said and done, the trip won’t be a complete waste.
Before she hopped off the bus, she quickly pulled out a small brown notebook and a pencil from the backpack she brought with her. She scribbled on a page messily:
Hanasakigawa & Haneoka Retreat: Day 1
Then, she slowly stepped off the bus.
-
Arisa stood at the wooden bulletin board that was planted a few feet away from the buses. Surrounded by a crowd of girls from both schools, she pinned up sheet after sheet of paper before quickly darting out of the way; the girls - almost viciously - fought to read the pieces of paper.
They were all dying to know who they were bunking with, and Arisa wasn’t going to be trampled by them if she could so help it.
But she then realized, where did Kasumi go? Did they get separated in the crowd?
A sweet voice came from beside her. “Everyone’s so violent over it, eh?”
And when she turned her gaze, it was Lisa who was beside her. Arisa laughed sheepishly. “It’s really not as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be. They’re going to be spending the majority of their time outside anyways…”
Lisa nodded. She then asked, keeping her gaze on the girls in front of them. “Y’know who you’re situated with?”
“I haven’t checked.”
“Aren’t you a part of the student council at your school? I’m surprised you haven’t snuck a peek.” Lisa ended the statement with a slight chuckle.
“Well…” Arisa trailed off as she reached behind her and pulled out her phone from what Lisa could only assume to have been her backpack. Two swipes later and her phone screen was right in front of her. Arisa smiled mischievously. “I… might have taken a picture when Sayo-senpai wasn’t looking.”
Lisa seemed to still for a moment when she heard ‘Sayo-senpai’, but she quickly recovered. Arisa made a mental note of it; why did Lisa freeze up? It confused her. It’s probably not that, definitely not ‘that’.
But again, maybe?
“Ooh~! So unexpected from a Type A person such as yourself!” Lisa said with a trace of friendly mocking.
Arisa stammered, “Just look at it before I take my phone away, okay!?”
Lisa giggled lightly. “Coolio...”
They stared at the cabin chart, and after some scanning, they found their names under the same cabin:
Cabin 4B: Bustling Blossoms
The following girls will be staying in this cabin:
First Years
Arisa Ichigaya
Kasumi Toyama
Himari Uehara
Eve Wakamiya
Second Years
Lisa Imai
Kanon Matsubara
Yukina Minato
ChisatoShirasagi
Third Years
Due to a disproportionate ratio between first/second years and third years, all third-year students have been relocated to Cabin 2A-D. Thank you for your understanding.
Lisa's eyes lit up but then fell. “So Yukina is in our cabin?”
“Seems so,” Arisa answered. “You seem weirdly disappointed; I would’ve thought you would be happier about that.”
Lisa raised her hands defensively in jest. “We’re just in a bit of a rough patch right now, hehe…”
Arisa mumbled, not wanting to accidentally open emotional baggage. “If you’re sure…”
“Buuut~’!” Lisa cheered, a complete turn around from before. “We’re cabin-mates - totally amazing!”
Her cheers seemed oddly hollow.
“Yeah, super amazing…” She didn’t hate the idea of rooming with specifically Lisa, but the idea of sleeping in a room with who knows how many others was… not preferable, not whatsoever. Arisa slid her phone back where it came from. “Are you ready to check the cabin out?”
“Totally! If you wanna, let’s head there together.”
With a nod from Arisa, they both started on their way through the mossy green forest trail, dragging their belongings along with them. She asked, “You haven’t seen Kasumi by chance, have you?”
“Can’t say I have, sorry!”
Arisa accidentally scoffed, but then covered it up with a cough. “It’s okay…”
I’ll see her at the cabin, then.
They began on their way, but Arisa noticed something about Lisa that couldn’t be obscured by the light peeking through the leaves. That negative, drab expression stayed on Lisa’s face. It was subtle, but she could tell of its presence by the way the corners of her lip would be weighed down and the hollowness of her usually airy laugh.
Arisa did her best to pay it no mind though. It wasn’t her problem.
-
When they entered the cabin, some people were already there. Chisato sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone. She barely lifted her eyes to the two of them. She just said in a low voice, “Lisa-chan and Arisa-chan are here.”
Himari stood at the side of what Arisa assumed to be her claimed bed, seemingly sifting through her suitcase. She turned around and waved, but she seemed disappointed as she sighed. Himari asked, “Is that all the first years for the cabin?”
Lisa began unpacking her bags at the side of one of the beds. She replied, “We’re just waiting on Kasumi and Eve, I think.”
“So nobody from Afterglow is in our cabin, hm…”
“I don’t think so, sorry Himari-chan…”
She giggled lightly in an almost sad way. “Nah, it's okay; it’s good for me to hang out with some new people for a change…” She ended the sentence with a small ‘ha’ which contradicted her entire point.
“Anyways…” Chisato added from her spot on the bed, “Has anyone seen the others?”
As if on cue, the door burst open like a force of nature. Dashing in, giggling, was Kasumi and Eve. “We…” the model began, “are here!”
“Woohoo!” Kasumi cheered, flying about. “This is gonna be so awesome!”
Ugh… Kasumi…
Lisa asked, “Did you two run into each other, or…?”
“Eve-chan and I found each other on our way here, so we decided to take the scenic route! It was the best!”
Eve shouted, “I wanted to show her the true meaning of Bushido!”
“And that required taking a scenic route?” Arisa mumbled.
“Of course!”
Chisato mumbled to herself quizzically, “There’s only one path to the cabins…” But nobody heard her. Then, her phone lit up with a ‘ding!’ She swiped once, read the screen, and then read it again. She sighed, stood up and then began on her way out of the cabin.
“Where are ya going Chisato-san?” Himari asked from behind her, tilting her head.
“I’m going to find Kanon-chan, she texted me that she got lost. She… was never good with directions,” Chisato answered bashfully. “She also said that Yukina-chan is with her, which accounts for everyone in this cabin. So… I will be back soon.”
“Ooh, then Arisa and I will come with!” Lisa declared. She snagged an arm around Arisa. “Doesn’t that sound fun, Arisa?”
Arisa gulped and bit her lip; she didn’t want to say something she would regret. So instead, she chose to agree. “I’m a part of the student council, so I guess it’s a part of my duty to ensure the safety of the students here… and stuff.”
“Amazing!”
It’s really not.
“I never asked for company,” Chisato said bluntly. “But…” she paused, “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to have you two tag along.” She topped the sentence off with a small chuckle.
Kasumi stood up from across the room and walked to Arisa and pulled at her sleeve. She made a slight whine and looked up at Arisa with sad eyes. “You said I could come with you on your adventures… before… back on the bus…”
Arisa looked at Chisato, then to Lisa. She then asked, “Is it okay if Kasumi tagged along? I promise she won’t get in the way…”
You’re such a piece of work…
Lisa smiled. “I think this falls on Chisato to decide!”
When her name was called, Chisato made an audible noise of slight surprise. A noise that indicated: me? She collected herself quickly and stated, “I trust Kasumi-chan will be great company.” Once again, she chuckled, almost smugly.
“Thank you so much Chisato-senpai!” Kasumi said as she shook the girl’s hand up and down. “I promise I won’t get in the way!”
“Don’t stress yourself over it,” Chisato replied calmly without missing a beat as she let go of her hand. She began heading out of the cabin. “Hopefully it won’t take too long. We don’t want to be caught outside when the sun goes down.”
Himari said from her bed, “I know you guys will find them in no time! Eve and I will stay here so if any adults come by we can explain what’s going on!”
Eve made a sound of agreement, nodding her head.
Lisa grinned once more. “Sounds like a plan then! Let’s go!”
Then, one by one, Chisato, Lisa, Arisa, and Kasumi left the cabin on a search for Kanon and Yukina.
They better not be too far away...