The bonfire
That night, at the bonfire, the Hanasakigawa student council was tasked with passing out sparklers to every girl who wanted one. Meanwhile, the Haneoka student council had to set up the entire bonfire in the first place, so Arisa counted her blessings. She was a bit too delicate for heavy woodwork, she’d like to say.
But looking back on it, Arisa probably should have denied Kasumi’s offer for help.
Arisa felt a vein bulge in her forehead as she saw Kasumi fumble from group to group in the twilight, sparklers falling out like jewelled candy. Nobody seemed particularly irked by Kasumi’s clumsiness, but Arisa could feel the stink-eye from Sayo a mile away.
Arisa took the initiative to stop Kasumi’s poor display. She picked up, or rather stole, the pile of sparklers from Kasumi’s hands to the girl’s dismay. “Jeez,” Arisa groaned. “You really should’ve just kept them in the box they came in.”
Kasumi shook her head. “Too slow! If I used the box then I wouldn’t finish handing ‘em out in time before Hina-san lit up the bonfire!”
As if to accentuate her point, she pointed to Hina, who was doing something to the large teepee in the middle of the clearing. Students from both schools sat on the logs that were circling the teepee like an audience.
Arisa noticed Sayo standing aside, now watching Hina working hard for fire. Her sister looked oddly impressed, as if creating a roaring bonfire was a Hikawa family rite of passage.
Still, Arisa opted for taking the easy way out. Instead of passing out the sparklers as she was meant to, she instead muddled her way up to Hina at the teepee.
She’d soon find out that Hina was thankfully an adept talker and able to keep the conversation going with almost no difficulty.
“Hey, Arisa-chan!” Hina called as she noticed her getting closer. She looked down at her arms. “Ooh, whatcha got there?”
Arisa plastered a smile on her face. “Sparklers,” she said simply. Hina stared at her with the same smile, unintentionally unnerving, so she continued talking. “We have way too many of them, I think Rinko-senpai might’ve ordered too many. She was always poor with numbers, you know?”
Hina looked at her with squinting eyes, calculating and discerning any sign of information. She settled for a “Mhm!” before asking: “Didja need me for something?”
“Well, actually…” Arisa said, “I was thinking you could maybe use the extra sparklers as fuel, if it’s possible?”
“Hm, I see, I see…” Hina mused as she scanned over the contents in Arisa’s arms. Her face went serious for only a moment before the regular cheery smile came back. “Sure thing!” She winked as she took the rest of the sparklers. “I’ll try and use’em! Thanks for thinking about the rest of us as always, Arisa-chan!”
“Oh, uh- um…” Arisa giggled to herself nervously. “Don’t worry about it, just doing my part…”
“Hm, hrm, hum…” Hina hummed a bit, as if confirming what she said. “Uh, jeez ,” she exhaled suddenly. “I can’t take it anymore!” She shouted. “We just have to discuss your entourage behind you right now! She’s looming over you like an eagle or a ninja!”
Arisa furrowed a brow. Entourage? She turned around to check what Hina meant, but she barely got far before nearly bumping into Kasumi behind her. Arisa stumbled back for a moment, struggling to regain her footing.
“What the hell were you doing peering over me, you weirdo!” Arisa yelled as she got up from the ground. “You need to tell me when you’re nearby, you nearly gave me a heart attack!”
Kasumi gave her a serious look before huffing and strutting away without a word. Arisa stared at her with exasperation, and Hina’s gaze shifted between Arisa and Kasumi before she shrugged and carried on with making fire.
Arisa managed to find Kasumi easily, standing in line at the barbecue, getting hammered by a trail of smoke. She almost laughed, but instead settled for hopping in line right behind her.
Arisa poked her shoulder. “Kasumi, what was up with before?”
She didn’t turn around.
So, she poked Kasumi again.
To a lack of avail, Arisa gave her a slight (heavy) nudge on her shoulder. “Kasumi,” she said, “is something wrong?”
Kasumi turned to her finally, but she looked amiss; it was new. “Arisa?” Kasumi asked with a groundedness that Arisa was unfamiliar with. When Arisa nodded to her name, she quietly said, under the laughter of her peers and the sparkling meat on the barbecue, “Are they... dating? Like, holding hands, Eve-chan’s type of rendezvous - dating?”
“Who?” Arisa replied in question.
Where was this coming from?
Instead of replying - probably to not risk being overheard - she pointed over to where Sayo stood that time ago. She hadn’t moved, but Lisa was standing next to her now too. They seemed to be in a vibrant conversation, not to mention, they seemed to have now been found out by one of the people Arisa didn’t expect to.
(Lisa’s bite from earlier hit differently now, seeing her and Sayo together.)
To affirm her assumption, Arisa mouthed, ‘Sayo-senpai and Lisa-san?’ Kasumi nodded in return, surprisingly mature about this whole ordeal.
But Arisa felt a stall in her train of thought; she didn’t know how to reply. She could probably easily lie and move on, and even though Kasumi might be satisfied for the time being, she’ll grow sceptical in not too long.
She also didn’t want to lie to Kasumi of all people. It didn’t sit right with her.
However, it definitely didn’t sit right even more to reveal a secret relationship to Kasumi either.
Or - the third option - she could evade the question entirely by asking a question in return: return to sender.
“Really?” Arisa replied with slight sass. “How would I know? I might be kind of close to Lisa-san, but she’d never reveal anything like that to me.”
It wasn’t unreasonable, no? Hopefully Kasumi would buy it.
But she pressed on. Kasumi added as she changed topics, “That wasn’t a bug bite earlier either, right? I didn’t recognize it at first, but...” She didn’t seem particularly sad or angry or expressing any strong emotion. It was as if she was reciting points she had rehearsed in her head moments prior; she was focused.
Arisa realized at that moment that she had underestimated Kasumi. She was almost surprised that she could even recognize a hickey. Still, she was a teenager, and it wasn’t surprising for her to know that. It shouldn’t be.
Arisa coughed before she continued. “When she came over at breakfast?” She asked for confirmation, still not saying names.
Kasumi didn’t answer her, instead moving forward in her own train of thought. She said to herself, “They went off together that night too, that one when we came back from that long trip…”
Arisa placed both of her hands on Kasumi’s shoulders, as if she was grounding her. “Kasumi,” she began, keeping eye contact, “You sound confused, so let’s get some food and eat up, okay?” She smirked a bit. “I know that a full stomach always helps your mood.”
Kasumi’s eyes seemed sad, but she fought a growing smile. “We can get a ton of meat?”
“All the meat in the world,” Arisa replied coolly.
“ Then you’ll explain to me what’s going on between those two? Right?”
Arisa looked at Kasumi, noticing how a ray of the setting sun lit up a bar across her forehead. She already told Kasumi that she had no way of knowing, but she gave in, answering, “Maybe. I’ll decide after we eat.”
She’ll figure it out, what to say, after.
And to that, Kasumi nodded eagerly. She then happily stepped forward, shoved a mountain of meat onto a plate, then shoved said mountain of meat into her mouth. Hopefully, Arisa dreamed, she might share.
-
They found themselves sitting on the lakeshore as Kasumi shoveled barbecue into her mouth, barely having the breath to form words. Arisa watched her with a despondent expression, opting to just try and pick off the occasional piece of meat with her fingers. She was cautious when she went to grab a piece, not wanting to lose her hand; Kasumi was almost ravenous.
But even though she’d never admit it, Arisa didn’t really mind. She wouldn’t have Kasumi act any other way.
Still, it was beginning to get difficult to even see Kasumi’s far as the sun fell farther and farther away in the horizon line.
Suffice to say, it was getting very, very dark.
Arisa acted quickly enough, standing up, brushing the same off of her legs. “Kasumi,” she said to get her attention, “It’s time to head back to camp.”
Kasumi looked up to her as she rushed her chewing. She swallowed, and then responded with a gasp of fresh air. “Not yet!” She demanded.
Arisa could guess why.
“You still need to tell me what’s going on between…” Kasumi’s voice gradually quieted down into a whisper. She briefly looked around for people before she added, “ The duo. ”
“Jeez ,” Arisa groaned as she sat back down. She felt the sand reattach itself to her. “You can’t just address them with their real names like a regular person, huh?”
“We’ve gotta keep it confidential!” Kasumi replied. She briefly added, “If there’s anything we need to keep confidential in the first place, obviously.”
Arisa looked at her with a moment of despondency before she said, “It’s not my place to say anything.”
Kasumi gasped, “So there is something going on between them!”
Arisa gulped, feeling hesitant. She looked over Kasumi, who looked back at her with apt fascination and excitement. She looked confident in her conclusion, almost too confident.
And Arisa didn’t want to lie to her. It would sit wrong with her.
But letting people know about a secret like that, that would sit with her worse.
But before Arisa could confirm or deny, a chipper voice barked from behind them.
Hagumi stood at the edge where the grass met the sand. She cupped her hands around her mouth as she shouted, “HEY! Kaa-kun! Aa-chan! Everyone’s gathering around the bonfire now so get over’ere!”
Arisa barked back, “ Okayokayokay, we’ll be right there!” She didn’t necessarily sound rude when she said it, only perhaps a tad bit annoyed.
Still, Hagumi didn’t acknowledge it as such, she merely flashed them a thumbs up and a toothy grin before she rushed back to the others.
Arisa then got up for the second time, brushing the sand off her legs for hopefully the last time. She reached her hand down to Kasumi. “C’mon, let’s head back.”
And to her surprise, Kasumi didn’t press her any further on the matter. She just began making her way back, and for a moment, she turned to Arisa.
“I’ll figure it out on my own then,” she said.
Arisa just watched as Kasumi continued her way back at a leisurely place, letting the dying sun behind her paint her pink before following too.
-
By the time Arisa and Kasumi got back to the bonfire, it was roaring as a full, fiery tempest. It lit up the immediate arena in an amber glow with Hina and Sayo standing in front of the lit teepee.
They walked over to them, and when they arrived, Kasumi exclaimed, suddenly jubilant, “Wowie! Hina-san, didja light up the whole bonfire by yourself?!”
Hina nodded with a snicker. “You betcha!”
Arisa found this oddly interesting. She asked, “Where did you even learn to light up a huge bonfire like this?”
Her answer came back like a boomerang. With the same smile as always, Hina replied, “No clue!”
“Don’t ask me where she learnt to do that,” Sayo warned. “It’s almost mildly concerning.”
“Well, you just gotta put your mind to it, and it’ll become possible, right?” Kasumi shouted.
Hina nodded. “Ooh, that sounds like a boppin’ phrase! That’s so cool of you Kasumi-chan!”
“Ooh…!” Kasumi’s eyes sparkled for a moment, Arisa thought. She then began rambling off about who knows what; it went by so fast that it gradually became white noise in then hazy air.
It didn’t help that Hina is far from a slow speaker as well. The end result of this exchange was a ramble-off: fast, passionate talker against an even faster, even more passionate talker.
Thankfully, someone else came over, which took Arisa’s mind off of the rapid discussion next to her as they broke off into their own group of three.
Lisa steadied herself right between Arisa and Sayo.
And to this, Arisa almost had to fight a smirk for a moment. She knows she shouldn’t feel this sort of satisfied smugness, but it was hard to swallow.
“Sayo, Arisa,” Lisa said as she took a deep breath, acknowledging their presence. “How’s the retreat been so far for you two?”
The two of them both replied with their own versions of ‘good’ and ‘it’s been alright’. Arisa asked back, “And how about you?”
“It’s been good, totally good!” Lisa replied as she gave them both a wink. A mosquito landed on her arm, which she promptly smacked with her hand. “The bugs have been pretty ferocious though…”
Sayo sighed before she began rattling off advice. “Li-“ She quickly recovered without missing a single beat, “Imai-san, I told you multiple times to bring bug spray on the trip. How did you forget?”
Lisa giggled. She replied sweetly, “To be honest, I don’t mind the bites. I wouldn’t mind a few more, actually~.”
“I-“ Sayo started before she began turning red. It was almost unbecoming of her. “Um- I uh- alright then I-Imai-san…”
And it was at this moment that Arisa knew she was third wheeling.
“Are you feeling alright Sayo-senpai?” Arisa asked, feigning innocence. “You seem to be getting flushed.”
Sayo diverted her eyes. “No, I am q-quite fine, actually.” She took a deep breath. “It’s just a bit hot out here.”
Hot out here when the sun is nowhere to be seen.
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Lisa purred. “If you want, I’ll take you back to my cabin. I can help cool you down.~”
This time both Arisa and Sayo stared at Lisa with wide eyes. That definitely could have been taken at face value, but that could also have definitely been taken another way too.
Is this meant to be flirting?
But again, seeing the typically muted Sayo tremble like this was an unusual display.
Sayo tried to mutter out a response. “I- t-think I’m feeling better...!”
“Aw, lemme check,” Lisa said as she raised her hand up the round of Sayo’s face up to her forehead. “I really don’t think you are!” She teased. “You’re burning up!”
Seeing Sayo like this, Arisa wouldn’t have trouble believing it. But she was beginning to feel like a complete third wheel at this point; she felt completely out of place.
“I… um…” Sayo fumbled. “It’s just that…”
“Mhm?”
“Actually...”
Lisa stared at her.
Sayo’s face then shifted to more of a confused expression. “Ichigaya-san left.”
“What?” Lisa questioned as she turned around to look where she went. “Where did she-“
Arisa had jumped ship, but to which one, they couldn’t tell. She was nowhere to be seen. Being the introvert she was, she was an expert of ditching conversations without so little as a goodbye.
She’d apologize to them for ditching another time.
“She’s surprisingly nimble…” Lisa said. She shrugged it off before she turned back to Sayo. “But, uh, Sayo…” She trailed off.
“Yes, Lisa?”
She asked, “Did I go a bit too far… before? It was all just in good fun, but I wanna make sure I didn’t make you uncomfortable.”
“Oh…! Um. Not exactly.” Sayo murmured.
“Not… exactly?” Lisa repeated, stunned.
“It’s… not bad…” Sayo said, fumbling with her fingers. “I don’t mind it, quite the opposite, really…”
Lisa chuckled a bit. “Is that so?”
Sayo crossed her arms. “Just not in front of others, okay?”
“Like before with Arisa?”
She nodded.
“You got it!” Lisa winked and flashed an ‘ok’ sign. “I’ll make sure to save the banter for when I can give you my full attention~.”
“You’re going to be the death of me.” Sayo let out a small laugh.
“Yeah, but you like it~.”
Sayo just chuckled instead, gaining some of her former confidence. “You’re funny.”
Lisa giggled as a light blush coated her cheeks. Contrary to her girlfriend, it’s the smaller compliments that make her head spin. “I’m glad~.”
And they stood there for only a moment before Lisa spoke again. “Sayo?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t panic, okay?”
Sayo stared at her down, surprised by the sudden topic change. “You butter me up with all of your words just to tell me to ‘not panic’?”
“It’s just… well, it’s not even a big deal anyways, but…”
Sayo wringed out her words. “Yes?”
“I think Arisa’s catching on.”
And Sayo stood completely still, expression neutral. “Catching. On?” There was no layer of panic or wellbeing, just raw words.
Lisa muttered a small ‘yeah’ as she bounced on her heels, staring down at the ground.
“How so?” She asked.
To this, Lisa brushed back some of her hair to show the hickey on her neck. She covered it up quickly though, concealing it from public view. “You… went a bit crazy that night, hehe...”
Sayo recognized that. She remembered the events that lead up to it all too well. “That’s…”
“Yep.”
Sayo inferred, “So she saw it?”
“At breakfast earlier,” Lisa answered. She continued on, “But she promised not to tell anyone I had it! And for all she knows, I could’ve just had a bit of fun with a guy from another school!”
“And you’d be alright with a rumour like that circulating about you?” Sayo answered sternly in a typical Sayo fashion. “You don’t have to put yourself through that.”
“That’s only if she tells anyone else about the hickey,” Lisa explained. “But even then, it won’t be anything I’ve never dealt with before.”
Sayo frowned. “Lisa.”
She then smiled again like a cat, changing the subject. “I’m gonna go get some marshmallows from the dining hall to make s’mores, okay? Come with me.”
“That’s sudden.”
Lisa just pressed further with puppy eyes. “Please?”
And when she asked like that, Sayo was in no place to refuse. “Let’s just not get side tracked, okay?”
”No promises~.”