"Here, a mystery prize," Tsuna walked up to the two and handed Shouko a small, palm-sized, square blue box.
"So small?" Shouko took the box and turned it around.
Ajitani, who was beside them, was already impatient. "Quick, open it and see! Quick, open it and see!"
Shouko didn't hesitate either. She took out a key and quickly cut the tape on the box.
"What is it? What is it?"
"Ajitani-chan, can you calm down first?"
Shouko pushed Ajitani away, who was leaning in, and then, under the expectant gazes of Tsuna and the others, she took out a discount coupon.
"This…" Tsuna speechlessly reached out and took it, reading the words aloud: "Seaside Cabin Buffet Free Meal Discount Coupon, limited to 5 people for one hour."
"That's still pretty good!" Ajitani regained her usual vitality.
"Not bad, I guess we made a profit," Tsuna returned the discount coupon to Shouko, but it was intercepted by Ajitani halfway.
"So, we'll wait for Takagi-chan and Nishikata to come out and then go back?" Ajitani stood up and stretched, letting out a comfortable groan.
"Not watching the fireworks?" Shouko asked, puzzled.
"Not anymore, right?" Ajitani shook her head and looked at her. "The fireworks aren't until 11:30. We can go back, take a shower, and watch them directly from home."
"Hmm…" Shouko pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."
Tsuna sat quietly to the side, listening to them make their decision.
Not long after, Takagi and Nishikata also emerged from the forest. Nishikata went to return things, while Takagi came over to rest and chat with them.
As soon as she came over, Ajitani eagerly asked, "Takagi-chan, Shouko-chan just said she heard Nishikata's scream. What happened?"
"You actually heard it?" Takagi ignored Ajitani's gossipy expression and asked back in surprise.
"It wasn't me," Shouko waved her hand, then pointed to someone beside her. "It was Tsuna who heard it."
Tsuna retracted his gaze from Nishikata in the distance and asked curiously, "So what exactly happened?"
He saw that Nishikata's ears were so red they looked like they were bleeding. He didn't believe that nothing had happened between the two in the forest.
"He just got startled by an animal that suddenly darted out, then accidentally tripped over a branch and fell into my arms."
"…"
"…"
"…"
Tsuna and the others looked at her as she explained so casually, as if she were just chatting normally, and for a moment, they even doubted the truth of her explanation.
"Re… really or fake…?" Ajitani was the first to question.
Takagi nodded. "Really. If you don't believe me, you can ask Nishikata-kun later."
"…"
Until Nishikata came back with his mystery prize, opened it with anticipation, and then left somewhat disappointed to go home, Tsuna and the others tacitly didn't mention what Takagi had said.
The moment the fireworks bloomed, the camera captured a group photo of the five of them laughing heartily.
"Miyamura, you said…"
"You said…"
"It's just…"
"Please just say what you want to say," Tsuna turned back speechlessly to Nishikata, who was tossing and turning on the bed.
"It's… it's just…" Nishikata hesitated, not knowing how to say it, but finally plucked up the courage and blurted out, "Do you think Takagi-san might also have feelings for me…?"
"…" Seeing him struggle so much just to say that one sentence, Tsuna wanted to smother him with a pillow.
"Why aren't you saying anything…?"
Seeing him remain silent for a long time, Nishikata inexplicably began to get nervous, then sat up abruptly from the bed. "Could it be my imagination!?"
"…"
"Do you trust me?" Tsuna raised an eyebrow, looking into his eyes, answering without answering.
"Of course! Of course I trust you!" Nishikata patted his chest without hesitation, making a guarantee.
"You confess to Takagi-san tomorrow, and she will definitely agree."
"…" Nishikata looked at him speechlessly, his eyes revealing the meaning of 'Do I look like an idiot?'
"Just trust me, alright?"
"Goodnight," Nishikata ignored him, stopped acting crazy, and fell back onto the bed with a backward lean.
"Heh…"
Tsuna simply glanced at him, then retracted his gaze, continuing to chat with Jun about the upcoming release of the second volume of Anohana.
"Teacher Miyamura, are you really not planning a signing event?"
"It's very simple, you just need to be there. You don't need to prepare anything, just be responsible for signing and greeting enthusiastically, and leave the rest to Futaba Publishing."
"…"
"I don't have that idea, and Jun, you've already seen the content of the second volume. I don't want my peaceful high school life to be disrupted."
After sending this message, he no longer paid attention to his phone. After playing Plants vs. Zombies for a while, he also lay back on his made bed and fell into a dream.
In the following days, time flowed like water. For two of those days, the five of them went to the seaside shop and used their discount coupons. Takagi and Nishikata also drew the same discount coupon.
In the blink of an eye, the five had already packed their luggage and were standing at the door, waiting for Ajitani's uncle to drive them to the Shinkansen station.
"Are you really not staying for two more days?" Grandma looked at Shouko and the others reluctantly.
"Yeah, staying two more days is fine, we're not short on food at home," Grandpa echoed, puffing on his pipe.
"No, Grandpa and Grandma, we have things to do when we go back," Ajitani hugged the two elders, her eyes filled with deep reluctance. "I'll be back to see you next month."
Not long after, the familiar minivan drove over. Tsuna and the others said 'goodbye' to the two elders and got into the car one after another.
"Ajitani-chan, you don't have to come back with us. It's good to spend more time with Grandpa and Grandma," In the car, Shouko hesitated and advised.
"No, that's okay. I'm so bored when you're not around," Ajitani waved her hands repeatedly, the reluctance in her eyes already gone. "This small town hasn't changed in years, I don't know how many times I've walked around it."
Seeing this, Shouko no longer tried to persuade her and began chatting about other topics. Tsuna looked at the pedestrians and vehicles reversing outside the window, wondering what he was thinking.
Nishikata, on the other hand, had a heavy expression, suffering from motion sickness.
"Remember to text me when you get home."
"Got it, Uncle. Be careful driving back later!" Ajitani waved to the dark-skinned man, then turned and walked into the station with Tsuna and the others.
Outside the train window, the green mountains rapidly turned into flowing colors, the roaring friction of the tracks pierced their eardrums, the cool air conditioning carrying the scent of bento soy sauce brushed past their noses, the seats vibrated at a high frequency with the train's body, and before the reluctance for the small town had dissipated from their hearts, the silver train nose had already pierced through the mist ahead.
——————
"Click…"
"Auntie! I'm home!!"
"I'm home."
"Welcome home," Shizuka, who had already received the news, smiled and walked out of the living room. "How was your seven days at your friend's house? Did anything interesting happen?"