The First Morning Arrived With A Pale Light Filtering Through The Thin Curtains.
Ren Opened His Eyes Slowly. For A Moment He Forgot Where He Was — The Wooden Ceiling Above Him Felt Different From His Room At Home, And The Scent Of Cedar Was Stronger Than Usual. Then The Weight Of The Blanket, The Cramped Space Of The Bunk, And The Quiet Breathing Around Him Brought It Back.
The Lodge. The Trip.
Someone Snored Softly — Probably Vicky. Mahito Was Curled Into A Corner, A Pillow Hugged Tight Like He Was Bracing Against A Storm. Kaito Was Already Awake On The Top Bunk, His Feet Dangling Over The Side While He Played With His Phone Brightness Turned Too High.
"Morning, Soldier," Kaito Whispered, Leaning Down Like He Was Reporting For Duty.
Ren Groaned. "Too Early."
"Breakfast Is At Eight," Kaito Said. "And It's Already… Seven Fifty."
Ren Sat Up With A Frown. "Why Didn't You Wake Me Earlier?"
"Because You Looked Peaceful." Kaito Smirked. "Also Because I Wanted To See If You'd Panic."
Vicky Stretched Loudly On The Other Bed, Hair Sticking Out In Ten Directions. "He's Not Wrong. You Panic Is My Coffee."
"Shut Up," Ren Said, Pulling His Bag Closer To Grab A Shirt.
By The Time They Made Their Way To The Dining Hall, The Place Was Buzzing. Long Wooden Tables Filled With Students. Trays Clattering. Voices Rising. The Scent Of Rice, Miso Soup, And Something Slightly Burnt Drifted From The Kitchen.
Chika Was Waving Both Arms From The Girls' Table. "Over Here!"
She Had Saved Two Spots Beside Her — One For Miyu, One Empty That She Clearly Intended For Whoever Noticed First. Miyu Sat Gracefully Beside Her, Hands Folded On The Table As She Waited.
Ren Caught The Look From Across The Room, Then Quietly Chose A Seat At His Own Table. Kaito Immediately Slid Next To Him, Piling Food Onto His Tray Like He Was Preparing For War.
"Look At This," Kaito Said, Gesturing Proudly. "Protein. Carbs. Hope. Dreams."
"Half Of That's Just Pickles," Mahito Said, Voice Flat.
"It's A Balanced Diet," Kaito Shot Back.
Chika Leaned Over The Divider Between Tables. "Ren, Eat Properly. Don't Just Drink Soup."
Ren Stiffened Slightly. "I Wasn't—"
"You Were," She Cut In With A Grin. "Miyu, Tell Him."
Miyu Blinked Once, Then Softly Said, "Soup Isn't Enough."
Kaito Smirked, Mouthing "She Cares" Under His Breath. Ren Ignored Him.
Breakfast Went On With The Familiar Rhythm Of Banter. Mahito Complained About The Lack Of Wi-Fi. Vicky Tried To Bargain His Side Dish With Someone Else's Egg Roll. Kaito Declared He Could Survive Anywhere If There Were Pickles. Chika Chimed In Every Few Minutes, Adding Drama To The Most Ordinary Complaints.
Through It All, Ren Found Himself Looking Up Every So Often. Miyu Ate Quietly Beside Chika, Listening More Than Speaking. But Once Or Twice, Their Eyes Met Across The Space. Brief. Barely More Than A Glance. Yet Enough.
—
After Breakfast, Teachers Herded Them Toward The Day's Schedule. Orientation Walk. Small Group Tours Of The Complex. A Light Workshop Planned In One Of The Side Halls. Students Groaned At The Word "Workshop," But Followed Anyway.
Ren Walked Alongside His Friends, Half-Listening To Kaito's Jokes About Turning The Tour Into A Treasure Hunt. His Eyes Drifted Ahead Once, Where Miyu And Chika Walked Together. Miyu's Hair Caught The Morning Sun As She Tilted Her Head To Listen. She Looked… At Ease.
For A Moment, Ren Let Himself Think Quietly: Maybe This Week Won't Be So Hard After All.
The Group Was Led Across The Grounds By A Teacher Holding A Clipboard. The Paths Curved Between Buildings—Dining Hall, Common Lounge, A Low-Built Library That Smelled Of Paper Even From Outside.
Chika Walked With A Skip In Her Step, Pointing Out Every Sign And Window Like They Were On A Grand Tour.
"Look, A Tea Room! And Over There—A Mini Garden. We Should Definitely Come Back Later."
Kaito Stretched His Arms Behind His Head. "I Call The Vending Machines First. Exploration Starts With Snacks."
"You've Been Eating Since Morning," Vicky Pointed Out.
"Energy Storage," Kaito Replied.
Miyu Stayed Beside Chika, Listening Quietly. Her Expressions Were Small—A Lifted Eyebrow, A Curved Lip—But To Ren, Watching From Just Behind, They Said Enough.
—
By Late Morning, The Teachers Gathered Everyone Into One Of The Side Halls. Tables Were Laid Out In Rows, And Sheets Of Paper Waited On Each.
"Just A Short Workshop," Their Teacher Announced. "Reflect On What You'd Like To Take Away From This Trip. Write A Few Lines—Doesn't Have To Be Long. We'll Collect Them Later."
Groans Passed Through The Room Like A Wave.
Mahito Slumped Onto His Paper. "Homework On A Trip. Evil."
Chika Tapped Her Pen Against Her Chin. "Easy. I'll Write: 'My Goal Is To Survive The Snoring In My Room.'"
"Valid," Kaito Agreed, Already Scribbling.
Ren Sat Quietly With His Pen Poised. He Looked Down At The Blank Page, Then Wrote Slowly:
"I Just Want To Remember The Small Things."
When He Finished, He Didn't Look Around To See What Others Wrote. But As The Papers Were Collected, He Noticed Miyu Folding Hers Neatly Before Handing It In, Her Expression Thoughtful But Calm.
—
Miyu Sat With Her Pen Resting Between Her Fingers, The Page Still Blank For Longer Than She Meant.
What Do I Want From This Trip?
Her First Thought Was The Expected One—To Learn Something, To Broaden My View. The Kind Of Answer Teachers Liked. But As The Words Shaped Themselves In Her Mind, They Felt Hollow.
Her Gaze Shifted Slightly, Catching A Glimpse Of The Others Around Her. Chika Already Grinning At What She Wrote. Kaito Scribbling Quickly, Probably Without Thinking. Ren, Quietly Focused, Writing Like Each Word Needed Space.
She Looked Back At Her Paper. Slowly, Almost Secretly, She Wrote:
"I Want To Breathe Without Rushing. To Notice The Small Moments I Usually Miss."
She Read It Once, Then Folded The Paper Neatly, The Way She Always Did—Not To Hide It From Others, But To Keep It For Herself, Somehow.
When She Handed It In, Her Expression Was Calm. Yet Inside, She Wondered If Anyone Else Had Written Something Close To Hers.
—
The Rest Of The Morning Passed In A Gentle Flow Of Activities. A Short Talk About The Area, A Few Rules Repeated, And Then—Finally—Free Time Until Lunch.
Students Scattered Quickly. Some Headed To The Lounge. Others To The Garden Paths. A Few To The Library.
Kaito Tried To Drag Ren Toward The Vending Machines, But Vicky Pulled Him Back, Saying He Needed To Help Mahito Untangle His Charger First. That Left Ren Standing Near The Hall Entrance, Half-Deciding Where To Go.
When He Turned, He Saw Her.
Miyu Had Stepped Out A Few Moments Before, But She Was Still On The Path, Looking Around As If Choosing Which Way To Walk. Her Hair Stirred Slightly With The Breeze.
Ren Took A Step Forward Before He Could Think Twice.
"Miyu."
She Turned, Surprised—But Only For A Second. Then She Nodded Lightly. "Ren."
There Was A Pause, Not Awkward, Just Quiet.
"Do You… Want To Walk?" He Asked.
She Considered Briefly, Then Smiled A Little. "Sure."
—
The Path They Chose Curved Behind One Of The Smaller Lodges. Trees Framed The Edges, But The Walkway Was Clear And Smooth. Their Steps Fell Into Rhythm Almost Naturally.
"It's Different Here," Miyu Said After A While, Her Voice Soft. "Not Like School."
Ren Nodded. "Feels Slower."
She Tilted Her Head. "Do You Like That?"
"…Yeah. I Think So."
A Bird Shifted Somewhere In The Branches. The Wind Carried A Hint Of Earth And Leaves. For A Moment, Neither Spoke.
Then Miyu Said Quietly, "It's Strange… Walking Like This."
Ren Glanced At Her. "Strange?"
"In A Good Way." Her Eyes Stayed On The Path. "We Never Really… Do This. Just Us."
He Let The Words Sink In. Then Answered, "I Don't Mind It."
She Smiled, Small And Genuine. "Neither Do I."
—
They Walked Until The Path Rejoined The Main Courtyard, Where Voices Of Other Students Carried Over. Neither Rushed. Neither Tried To End The Moment Too Soon.
And Though They Returned To The Noise, There Was Something Different Between Them Now—Quiet, Almost Hidden, But Certain.
The Courtyard Was Already Alive With Sound. Laughter Carried Across The Open Space As Groups Regathered. Some Sat On The Low Stone Benches, Comparing Notes About The Walkthrough. Others Lingered By The Garden, Taking Pictures.
Ren And Miyu Stepped Back Into The Noise, Their Pace Unhurried. The Calm Of Their Walk Still Clung To Them Like A Quiet Layer No One Else Could Touch.
"There You Are!" Chika Waved From A Distance, Her Voice Bright Enough To Cut Through The Crowd. "We Were Wondering Where You Vanished Off To!"
Kaito Grinned As He Followed Behind Her. "Don't Tell Me You Two Already Found A Secret Spot?"
Miyu's Composure Barely Shifted, Though Her Shoulders Straightened The Slightest Bit. "We Just Walked."
"'Just Walked,' She Says," Kaito Repeated, Raising His Eyebrows At Ren. "Sounds Suspiciously Peaceful."
Ren Didn't Answer, Only Looked Away Briefly—Which, Of Course, Made Kaito And Chika Exchange A Look Like They'd Won Something.
Vicky And Mahito Approached Next, Carrying Drinks From A Nearby Vending Machine. Mahito Passed One To Ren Without Asking. "Stay Hydrated, Lover Boy."
Ren Almost Choked. "What?"
"You Heard Me," Mahito Said With A Straight Face Before Taking A Sip From His Own Bottle.
Vicky Shook His Head, Smiling. "Ignore Him. He's Been In This Mood Since Morning."
Chika Tilted Her Head Curiously. "Wait, Mood?"
"Teasing Mood," Vicky Explained, Settling Easily Onto The Bench Beside Them. "And Ren's Always The Target."
Ren Sighed. "Nothing New."
Still, When He Lifted His Bottle For A Drink, He Noticed Miyu Hide A Small Smile Behind Her Hand.
To Be Continued….