Chapter 95: To the Okinawa beach!

A week flew by in a blink.

I checked the calendar, realizing it was already the beginning of August. It was the hottest time of the year, so stifling that I couldn’t function without the air conditioner. Unlike Korea, Japan was an archipelago, so the humidity was incredibly high, requiring the dehumidifier to be on constantly.

Also… summer vacation in Japan was only about a month long? In Korea, it felt like we had almost two months…
‘Strange, why does it feel so much shorter than in Korea?’

Curious, I did some research on my phone and realized that summer vacation in Korea was also about a month long.
Memory can be so unreliable.

Recalling Kurosawa Rina’s memories, it seemed that Japan, unlike Korea, had a trimester system:

• First trimester: April to July

• Summer vacation: End of July to end of August (one month)

• Second trimester: September to mid-December

• Winter vacation: Two weeks

• Third trimester: January to mid-March

• Spring vacation: Two weeks

“Maybe summer vacation in Korea was better after all…”

I muttered to myself as I slowly got out of bed and double-checked my flight reservation.
The destination was Naha Airport in Okinawa.
We were scheduled to take a domestic flight from Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

It was interesting that people in Japan often took planes for domestic travel, even more so than the Shinkansen.
I’d taken a plane to Kyoto last time as well.
Well, I suppose… Okinawa was a remote island, so we couldn’t take the Shinkansen anyway.

‘Come to think of it, I learned in history class that the Ryukyu Kingdom was present-day Okinawa.’

Lost in my random thoughts, I suddenly remembered that we were staying at Aya’s villa.

‘In the novel, when they went to Aya’s villa in Okinawa, they experienced a typhoon and some paranormal activity…’

While the typhoon was a weather issue, the paranormal activity part worried me a bit.
It was fun to read about in the novel, but wouldn’t it be terrifying to experience it in real life?
But… would something like that actually happen?

Since it was Aya’s villa, I didn’t have to worry about a typhoon. And as for the paranormal activity, I knew the cause, so I could just take care of it. The author must have been a fan of Detective Conan because the trick used in the novel was taken straight from the anime.

It was the sound of dew dripping onto stagnant water collected between rotting wooden planks.

“Ugh… Time to head out.”

Our meeting place was the main street where Mizuki and I always met on our way to school.

Since it was too hot to wear one of my usual flashy dresses, I opted for a cool white t-shirt and shorts. I packed a light parka and a hoodie in my suitcase just in case, and… of course, my swimsuit.

After taking one last look around my room, I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the front door.

“Mom~ I’m leaving!”
“Okay, Rina. Be careful, have fun with your friends~!”
I smiled at my mom’s cheerful voice and left the house, my heart already fluttering with anticipation.

“Mizuki~!”
“Ooh~ Rina-tan~”

I spotted Mizuki and hurried towards her.

But… where was Aya?

“Where’s Aya?”
“Hee~ You’re asking about Aya-ring as soon as you arrive?”
“No, it’s just… hehe.”
“Aya-ring will be here soon. I just messaged her on LINE, and she said she’s almost here.”

Speak of the devil, as soon as Mizuki mentioned her, Aya appeared.

“There’s Aya! She’s coming~!”

I waved at Aya, who was walking towards us, but then I realized there was someone else with her.
‘Huh…?’

One of the people next to Aya was her older sister, Reina-senpai, whom I already knew.
But the other woman was a stranger.
Like Aya, she had striking silver hair and soft purple eyes, making her seem almost unreal.

Was she a relative of Aya’s?
Two silver-haired girls and one platinum blonde…
Wow… I was the only one with brown hair! Even Mizuki had dyed her’s pink, making me feel like the odd one out…!

“Rina~ Mizuki~ Did you wait long?”
“Aya-ring! Welcome~ Reina-senpai! Nice to see you, Sena-senpai!”

Mizuki energetically waved and greeted Reina-senpai and the woman beside her.

I followed suit.

“It’s been a while, Reina-senpai.”
“Yes, Rina. How have you been?”
Reina-senpai replied with a gentle smile, and the petite woman next to her also greeted me with a smile.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Yukino Sena. I’m Reina’s friend. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Ah, yes! I’m Kurosawa Rina.”

I was slightly taken aback. A friend of Reina-senpai, not a relative?!

Sena-senpai gave me a bright smile.
However… despite her cheerful expression, she seemed incredibly frail, as if she might collapse at any moment. She also had a slight cough, making her seem like she was seriously ill.

I was so taken aback that I momentarily lost my words. Sena-senpai, noticing my expression, chuckled softly.

“Kurosawa-san, would it be alright if I called you Rina-chan?”
“Eh?! Ah, yes, yes!”

I was flustered by the sudden change in address.
Ah… I must be becoming a true Japanese person, getting flustered over things like this.

“Do you… dislike it?”
“No! It’s fine.”
“Hehe, then it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Looking at Sena-senpai up close, I realized she was incredibly short.
Finding a fellow short person made me feel a little less alone…

As we were chatting, a large black van arrived to pick us up.
“Alright, everyone, let’s get in the car. We can talk on the way.”
“Okay!”

We all got into the van, and Sena-senpai sat next to Mizuki and me in the back. Aya and Reina-senpai sat in the row ahead of us.

“Sena-senpai, how did you meet Aya and… I mean, Reina-senpai?”
“Well~ Reina-chan and I were in the same class. Reina took a year off from school, and I graduated.”
“Ah~!”
Despite her cheerful tone, it was hard to shake the impression that Sena-senpai was unwell.

“Sena-senpai~ Isn’t Rina-tan cute?”
“Eeee… Mizuki…”

I glared at Mizuki as she suddenly pinched my cheeks.
Sena-senpai covered her mouth and let out a refined giggle, surprising me.

As expected, there seemed to be something similar between those from wealthy families…

“By the way, I hope you’re not feeling too ill?”

“Ah, do I look that sick? I’m fine. That’s why I’m going on this trip, to recuperate. I’ve been taking my medicine, and I’m feeling a bit better.”
“Ah… That’s good to hear.”

Even though we’d just met, I sincerely hoped she would get well soon.
As we chatted, the van smoothly glided along the road towards the airport.

****

Our plane seats weren’t in economy but business class.
Aya and I sat together, with Sena-senpai and Reina-senpai across the aisle. Mizuki sat alone in the row ahead of us.

And… there was always that recurring nightmare whenever I boarded a plane.

The airplane crash videos I’d seen on YouTube in my past life.
“It seems like you’re always afraid of flying, Rina.”
“There’s a reason for that, Aya…”

Aya took my hand.
Ah, it felt so good to have Aya by my side.
I leaned against her shoulder, and my eyes met Sena-senpai’s across the aisle.

Her eyes narrowed slightly with a playful glint.
I quickly turned away.
‘Ugh… I feel like she knows something…’

Aya, still holding my hand, smiled faintly.

“Don’t worry, the plane’s not going to crash.”
“Mhm…”

There were countless reasons why I liked Aya, but it was moments like these, when she was so composed and reassuring, that I appreciated her the most.
Her calm voice and gentle smile soothed my anxiety.
But… I was still a little embarrassed.

I glanced to the side again, and Sena-senpai was still watching us with a knowing smile.

‘Ugh… She seems like she’d be just as mischievous as Mizuki.’
But unlike Mizuki, she didn’t seem like the type to just blurt things out.

After a while, the plane started taxiing down the runway.
And… I had no idea how the two and a half hours passed.
I fell asleep, leaning against Aya’s shoulder.

“Phew~ We’re here.”

Mizuki, wearing a breezy oversized t-shirt, stretched as she walked ahead.
She seemed incredibly light on her feet, already brimming with excitement.

“It’s an island after all! The breeze is so refreshing! Aya-ring, Rina-tan, come on!”

But… Mizuki and I were the complete opposite. It wasn’t just that it was my first time in Okinawa; as soon as we landed, I felt nauseous.
Ugh… what was wrong with me? Did I eat something bad?

“Rina, are you okay?”

Aya quickly noticed my condition and gently patted my back.
Ah, I felt bad for always showing my weak side around Aya…

“Yeah… I’m fine… Just a little nervous, that’s all.”
“It’s probably because it’s your first time here. Don’t worry too much. Mizuki and I are here with you.”
“Yeah…”

Aya’s calm words and gentle smile helped me to relax.

As the three of us lagged behind, Reina-senpai looked back at us with a gentle smile.
“We’ll take a taxi and go ahead. Come straight to the villa!”
“Okay~ We’ll be there soon!”, said Mizuki
“See you soon, Rina-chan~”
Sena-senpai waved gently and got into the taxi with Reina-senpai.

The taxi, carrying the two of them and the chauffeur from earlier, headed towards the villa, leaving the three of us behind.

“Okay! Let’s hurry and follow them.”
“Yeah…! We should.”
Despite what Mizuki said, we simply got into the next taxi waiting in line.
I finally started to relax as I got into the taxi.
I’d definitely slept soundly on the plane, but maybe that was why I was feeling nauseous…
Due to the unexplained motion sickness, I had to take another nap after we arrived at the villa.