Chapter 71: Off campus study sessions, pajama parties (2)

Thursday. The day of the field trip had finally arrived.

I’d packed my bag with the snacks and other essentials we’d bought over the weekend, leaving for school earlier than usual.

Aya: I’ll go ahead.
Rina: Okay!
Mizuki: My family’s giving me a ride~

They’d both already left, according to our LINE messages. As I walked to school, I saw a line of buses parked near the entrance, five for each class, students milling around excitedly.

I sighed, adjusting the strap of my heavy backpack. It felt heavier than usual. Some students were even pulling suitcases.

“Rina-tan~! Over here, over here~!” a familiar voice called out.

“Mizuki!”

Running with the heavy backpack was out of the question, so I hurried towards them, a slight bounce in my step. Standing between Aya and Mizuki, both so much taller than me, always made me feel… strangely safe. Mizuki, as usual, was practically vibrating with excitement, while Aya seemed calm and relaxed.

“Hee hee~ field trip time~!” Mizuki grinned.

She held up a small bag and pointed at a large suitcase beside her. “I brought lots of snacks~ You brought some too, Rina-tan, right~?”

“Of course~!”

“Good! Let’s pig out tonight~!”

Ito-sensei approached us, the familiar clack-clack of his split bamboo pointer against his hand announcing his arrival. “Alright, Class 3! Line up!”

After a quick roll call, we started boarding the buses. I felt a little tired, having woken up so early. We found our seats. Mine? Next to Aya, of course. Mizuki sat across the aisle from us. “I’m so excited!” she chirped, opening her bag and checking her snack stash. I looked out the window, taking a deep breath. This week had flown by, the anticipation of the field trip making each day a blur. Aya, also by the window, was quietly looking out at the passing scenery.

“We’re going to Kyoto, right?”

“Yes, the ancient capital.” She nodded.

The ancient capital… like Gyeongju in Korea. Hadn’t the capital moved to Tokyo during the Meiji Restoration? My recent Japanese history studies were proving useful. The Kyoto dialect sounded a bit like the Gyeongsang dialect, and Osaka was practically Busan.

“Are you sleepy? It’s still early.”

“A little…” Aya smiled faintly, glancing at me. Her ears seemed slightly pink, but it was hard to tell in the dim light of the early morning. But when she placed her hand over mine… I felt my own cheeks flush.

“Is everyone on board? Let’s go~!” Ito-sensei’s cheerful voice called out from the front, and the bus started moving, heading towards the airport, speeding through the city streets, the early morning rush hour just beginning.

I fought to stay awake, but the gentle rocking of the bus and the comfortable temperature were lulling me to sleep… By the time we reached the airport, I was nodding off.

****

“We’re here! Everyone, wake up. Time to board the plane!” Ito-sensei’s booming voice startled me awake. And then I felt it… something soft and warm against my cheek. I froze, realizing I’d fallen asleep on Aya’s shoulder.

“Ah… sorry!” I quickly sat up, and Aya, her expression calm, said, “It’s okay. You can sleep on the plane.”

Her words made my heart skip a beat. I quickly looked away, and Mizuki, across the aisle, just grinned, saying nothing. We filed off the bus, other classes already heading into the airport terminal. I retrieved my bag from the luggage compartment, my mind still replaying the moment I’d woken up, my cheek resting against Aya’s shoulder. It had felt… warm, comforting…

****

After checking in, we boarded the plane, the vast expanse of the airport runway visible through the windows. The last time I’d been on a plane was during a trip to Jeju Island in my past life…

I found my assigned seat, next to Aya again. This time, I was by the window, Aya in the middle, and Mizuki on the aisle. Mizuki, excited, was snapping pictures with her phone. “We’ll be taking off soon,” I murmured, looking out the window, and Aya, hearing my words, turned to look at me.

“Were you tired on the bus?”

“Ah, well… I didn’t sleep very well last night. It was so early…,” I mumbled, fidgeting with my hands, and Aya nodded slightly. “You can lean on me again if you want.”

My face burned at her casual words. I was sure Mizuki had heard, but she was chatting with a friend, seemingly oblivious.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we will be taking off shortly. Please fasten your seatbelts,” the flight attendant announced.

I quickly buckled my seatbelt as the plane taxied onto the runway, the engines roaring to life. I covered my ears slightly as the plane accelerated, the world outside tilting, shrinking. I gripped the armrest, my heart pounding. Takeoffs and landings were the most dangerous parts of a flight. All those hours spent watching airplane crash videos on YouTube in my past life were coming back to haunt me.

“Are you scared?” Aya asked softly, her gaze on me.

“No… just… amazed.” My heart was actually racing with fear, but somehow, Aya’s presence beside me was calming.

The plane ascended, soaring above the clouds, a sea of white fluff stretching out below us, like a giant field of cotton candy. The clear blue sky above was mesmerizing, almost hypnotic.

The gentle rocking of the plane lulled me to sleep. I’d barely slept last night, and the early morning had taken its toll. Even that brief nap on the bus hadn’t been enough.

“Haa…” I yawned, my eyelids heavy, my head slowly tilting forward. And then… thud.

My head landed on something soft. I startled awake, my eyes snapping open, then froze as I realized where I was leaning.

Aya’s shoulder. “…!” My mind went blank, my vision blurring, my heart pounding. Aya glanced at me, then turned back to the window, saying nothing.

Why wasn’t she saying anything? I tried to sit up, but she gently pulled my head back towards her shoulder, whispering, “…It’s okay.”

I froze at her words, my face burning. “You can sleep a little longer.” Her voice, low and soothing… ‘Ah… kyaaa…!’ I inwardly squealed, mortified, wanting to escape, but somehow, staying like this felt… right. Just for a little while…

And then… a wave of drowsiness washed over me, and I closed my eyes again, my head resting lightly against her shoulder.

****

An hour later, the announcement for landing preparations startled me awake. I slowly sat up, my face burning as I felt the lingering warmth of Aya’s shoulder against my cheek. ‘I… was leaning on her… this whole time?’

Aya was looking out the window, her ears slightly pink.

“…Sorry,” I whispered, sitting up straight. She glanced at me, a faint smile playing on her lips.

“It’s okay.” Her simple words, for some reason, made me blush even more. I fidgeted with my bag, looking out the window as the plane descended, the clouds parting to reveal the city below.

“We’re here~!” Mizuki, who’d also apparently been napping, stretched and yawned. The plane came to a stop, and we filed out, retrieving our luggage. A bus was waiting for us outside the airport, ready to take us to our destination.

The Kyoto field trip was about to begin.