Side Story: At the End of Summer Vacation　

The time was just after ten o'clock at night.

It had been more than an hour since the shocking, striking and ...... piercing event.

Although the palpitations have subsided a little, I still feel sweat sticking to my forehead.

This sweat is probably not just because it's ...... summer.

It's just - it wasn't a bad sweat.

I look around and sigh at the empty car.

Being a holiday, the train was unexpectedly deserted.

Rin told me that usually there are quite a few people on the train even at this time of the day.......

Normally, if it wasn't crowded, I thought I was lucky.

But now I was in the mood for the excuse of a crowded train.

Because—

"Towa-kun, look at this! The view outside is beautiful, isn't it?"

This is because there is Rin, who is hugging my arm and smiling with a big smile on her face.

If this were a crowded train, I would be able to dismiss it as "it can't be helped".

But now there is no one on the train......

In that case, there is no way to stop Rin's outburst of tension at the maximum.

She has me in this state of mind.

So ...... it's just the way it is.

I looked vaguely in the direction Rin was looking in as I said, "I guess so.".

The train route passes through a factory zone.

I had not noticed this in the evening, but at this time of the night, the illuminated factories create such a mood that they are often referred to as date spots.

From the looks of this Rin must have been aiming for this as well.

"Mmm ..."

"Yeah?"

I heard a groan of disapproval, and when I turned around, Rin's finger brushed against my cheek.

"Heh?" She looked at me and smiled with satisfaction when she saw me make a dumb noise.

"You fell for it, didn't you?"

"No, no, no, this is something we all get hit with at least once ......"

"You look frustrated, you know?"

"Shut up......."

I never expected this kind of surprise from Rin.......

I guess I had a look of regret on my face, because Rin noticed it and looked at me with the innocent expression of a child who has successfully pulled off a prank.

It's a smirk and a very hateful smile.......

As a least resistance, I move my arms that are held by Rin, but she holds me tighter than ...... and I can't get out at all.

Instead, they are pressing down on the extra soft bulge.

When Rin does it, she is not in the best of spirits, because she is chipping away at the very thing called reason.

"Hey, hey, Rin. Your arm......."

"I don't want to."

"I'm burning hot as a rock......"

"The train is air-conditioned."

"If I get heat stroke or something, I'll ......"

"We've brought both cooling pads and insulators, so you don't have to worry."

"Wow ......, that's a waste of time and money......"

"I'm perfectly prepared."

I sigh as Rin looks at me with a smug look on her face.

There's nothing to hide, nothing to be embarrassed about.

She hugs because she wants to, and leans in because she wants to.

And well, Rin's aggressiveness, which has lost all sense of restraint, has become half the battle .......

I decided to talk about something to distract from my anguish.

"Rin, come to think of it, second semester is about to start, do you have any events planned?"

It was a messy preface, but the serious Rin tilted her head slightly as if to remind herself, "Yes, that's right."

"I think it would be easier to explain if I told you that Towa-kun is not too fond of the events that are on the horizon."

".... Oh no. I don't want to go to school anymore."

"I don't like it that much either."

"Eh, ...... is that so?"

"That sounds surprising."

"That's, well, you know. ...... I thought you were going to take the initiative."

"I agree. It is true that teachers ask me to serve on committees, so I do fulfill my responsibilities when they ask me to do so. ...... To be honest, I am not good at cultural festivals and ball games festivals, because I have to stand out even if I don't want to......."

"Oh, I see. ...... In Rin's case, it seems like a lot of hassle."

"Yes……"

Rin stands out a lot anyway.

It's easy to forget when we've been together for so long, but I even thought I was on cloud nine until we started talking like this.

Students are excited about events.

There are probably more than a few who would like to "get close" to a prominent figure like Rin.

Or perhaps this reaction is precisely because there were.

Besides, she is a serious person.

And while she tries not to take advantage of them, she gets involved in troublesome situations .......

Talented, intelligent, and good-looking.

All of these words are combined in Rin.

Well, the male version of Rin seems to have no problem with every event.

He seems to be good at things like that, and he's very friendly. ............ Huh?

I don't think I know that much about Rin in the school to begin with.

It's all about "maybes" ...... and it's a little late for that. ......

"Then it's a tricky event for Rin, too. Why don't we just skip it together?"

"I don't skip school. Besides, I don't even feel bad about it because Towa-kun is there."

"Is that the case?"

"Yes, it is. I would like to participate in events with Towa-kun, okay? I want to go around with you at the festival, and I will cheer for you at the ball game festival."

"No, seriously, don't cheer at the ball game festival....... I'm not going to play an active role in any of them."

"It's all right! I'll make sure I bring my first aid kit."

"You're assuming I'm going to get hurt......."

I appreciate your concern, but ...... assuming an injury is a shameful.......

Well, actually, it's a mistake.

I'm not good at sports or anything like that ......

"I want to show Towa-kun how good I am, so I will do my best in the ball game festival!"

"In moderation?"

"I also want to visit the various stalls at the festival, ...... and I need to think about what to put on the stage with Kotone-chan."

"Hey, Rin ......, are you listening~?"

"After the festival is over, Christmas is next, and ...... we have so much to look forward to! And then, and then..."

"You really can't tell what's going on around you, can you ......?"

I laugh at Rin as she talks about the second semester with her eyes shining.

I decided to listen to her plans in silence, thinking it was okay since she seemed to be having fun.

◇◇◇

A few days later, Rin went home for the first time in weeks.

School starts tomorrow anyway.

We'll see each other again, and I'm not sentimental about it.......

But it's probably not my imagination that I can't help but feel that this small room is quiet and ...... cold.

What I am reminded of is the memory of summer .......

It is the memory of the first summer I spent with others.

For some reason, it still comes to mind as a clear scene.

"If I didn't know, I wouldn't have bothered......"

I lean against the wall and look at the personal belongings Rin must have forgotten to bring home.

When I thought of her, who seemed to be a firm person, but had a surprisingly loose character, my lips naturally loosened up.

I slowly pick up my phone and make a single phone call.

On the second ring, "Yo, handsome man!" I heard a teasing voice.

"Hey Kenichi, I need to discuss something with you......."

Thus, my summer vacation came to a quiet end.