Akira and Sajuna partnered up in the kitchen, and they didn't feel tired at all. The others watched the two of them cooking intimately and didn't disturb them. Wakana also no longer shyly ran to Akira because of Marin's playful antics.
Wakana and Kouki arranged the dining area, spreading the blanket they brought for eating on the ground. The surroundings gradually darkened. Marin and Nowa organized the tableware they brought and then lit the gas lamp they had brought.
Although the surrounding area was temporarily illuminated by the cooking fire, it clearly felt more atmospheric with a lamp lit.
The six of them were bustling with excitement. Akira watched everyone participate with smiles, and a happy smile spread across his face.
"Thank you, Sajuna."
Akira reached out to touch Sajuna's hair, but then thought it might get her hair dirty, so he pulled his hand back.
"You're welcome. After all, everyone is helping out."
Sajuna smiled, her cheeks looking rosy. Her forehead, where she had been helping, also had a light sheen of fine sweat.
The nearby fire burned brightly, emitting crackling sounds of wood splitting, causing the firelight on Sajuna's face to gently sway. It was as if Sajuna had been painted with the most dazzling colors in the world, or as if she had put on a natural autumn filter, glowing with a sacred and noble light in Akira's eyes.
Akira was momentarily lost in her beauty.
Sajuna stared at the food in the pot, noticed Akira had stopped moving, and turned to look. Akira was staring blankly at her.
Seeing Akira so engrossed, Sajuna shyly tucked her long hair behind her ear, revealing her soft, pink earlobe and her fair, luminous neck.
"Aki-Kun."
Sajuna reached out and waved her hand in front of Akira's eyes.
"Hm, hm?"
Akira instinctively responded when he heard Sajuna's voice, then realized Sajuna had turned her head and looked a bit confused.
"What's wrong?"
Akira asked.
"You were spacing out, Aki-Kun, and you're asking me what to do!"
Sajuna pouted, saying with a tone of reproach.
"Because Sajuna was truly too beautiful just now, it made me involuntarily fantasize about our future life."
Akira replied, then exhaled, "It's truly a great happiness to be with Sajuna."
"Mm, I'm also very happy to be with Aki-Kun."
The ospreys cry on the river's isle.
A fair maiden, a gentleman's good match.
The water mallows, swaying left and right.
A fair maiden, sought in waking and in sleep.
Unable to find her, in waking and in sleep, he yearns.
Longing, longing, tossing and turning.
It is because of a girl like Sajuna that he would seek her in waking and in sleep, tossing and turning.
Then, with all that he has, he would fulfill Sajuna's wishes, with zithers and lutes, with bells and drums.
The food was ready. The girls helped Sajuna dish the prepared food into bowls and plates, and then they were ready to eat.
While eating and drinking, Sajuna was very quiet, just like when she was helping Akira earlier, making one feel an endless sense of domesticity and gentleness, as if she were already Akira's wife.
Nowa kept talking about recent events between her and Kouki, occasionally showering them with public displays of affection, watching Marin secretly glance at Wakana, sulking, her face alternating between happiness and gloom, making Kouki feel sorry for Marin's state.
Wakana, on the other hand, discussed next semester's study plans with Kouki. For most boys, it would be impossible to talk about personal matters when girls were present, but they clearly just happened to have common topics in this area.
"By the way, how are your summer homework assignments coming along?"
Listening to Wakana and Kouki talk about studying, Akira subconsciously brought it up.
"I'm pretty much done."
"I'm almost done too."
"Eh, Tetsuya, you've finished already? Help me with mine when we get back."
Nowa patted Kouki's shoulder.
"Of course, no problem."
Marin looked around blankly with an awkward expression, "So everyone has finished already?"
"The holiday has only just passed halfway!"
"But it's easier to finish it. And the sooner you write, the faster you'll be, because you don't study much during the holidays anyway."
Wakana replied, touching his neck.
"I still have so much left..."
Marin looked dejected, "It's supposed to be a fun camping trip, why are we suddenly talking about such sad things..."
"I'm very sorry, Kitagawa-san."
Wakana quickly apologized, "When we get back, if Kitagawa-san has any parts she doesn't understand, please feel free to ask me, I'll help Kitagawa-san!"
"The camping trip isn't over yet, don't make such hasty decisions about what happens next."
Akira complained.
After dinner, the group cleaned up the dishes and then began to prepare for the evening's activities. Nowa pulled out a bamboo stick holder and shook it at them.
"Come on, let's have a test of courage!"
"Let's start! Tetsuya and I can't wait!"
"Eh, are we gacha pulls to decide?"
Marin looked at the stick holder curiously, then pulled out a bamboo stick from it.
"What's inside?"
"Eh, Marin, don't take it out first!"
Nowa saw Marin pull one out of the stick holder and quickly took the bamboo stick from Marin.
"They're just bamboo sticks with numbers on them, there's nothing special, right?"
Marin asked, puzzled, truly not knowing why she was so nervous!
"It's a secret!"
Nowa smiled, glanced at Akira, then extended the stick holder, "Who wants to draw first?"
"Sajuna and I will draw first."
Akira said, then reached over and took a bamboo stick.
"Since the groups are already decided, one bamboo stick should be enough, right?"
"Mm. What number is Akira-kun's stick?"
"It's number 2."
"Next, do Marin and Gojo-kun want to draw?"
"Gojo-kun, should we draw?"
"Does Kitagawa-san want to draw?"
"I can do either..."
Marin said, looking conflicted.
"Then I'll draw first!"
"Little Nowa!"
After Nowa finished speaking, she pulled out a bamboo stick from the holder, then showed the number on it to Marin.
"It's number 1!"
"Then Marin and Gojo-kun are number 3."
"So, do Marin and Gojo-kun have any objections?"
"I have no problem."
Wakana shook his head.
"Then the rule is to walk from here to the open space on the other side. You can use flashlights or other tools for illumination, but there will be others dressed as ghosts to scare you along the way. Everyone okay with that?"
"No!"
"Then Tetsuya and I will lead the charge!"
Nowa, full of spirit, hugged Kouki's arm and waved her fist.
"Let's go, Tetsuya!"
"Don't make me sound like a Pokémon, Nowa."
Kouki helplessly took Nowa's hand and walked towards the dark woods.