63 - Camping with the Tojo Family

RAW

The lush green mountains stretched out before them.

The breeze, cool for this time of midsummer, felt pleasant on their sun-warmed skin.

"The altitude makes the temperature much more comfortable," remarked Shuichi as he stepped out of the car, stretching after the long drive.

"Thank you for driving, dear," Ikue said, handing him a thermos of coffee as she exited the passenger seat.

The backseat door slid open with a loud thud, and Ryota burst out, eager to escape the cramped car.

"Camping time!" he shouted, dashing across the grassy field, releasing the pent-up energy from hours of sitting.

"Ryota! Don’t go too far on your own!" Ayaka called out, climbing out of the car after him.

"Got it!" Ryota shouted back, his enthusiasm clearly outweighing his obedience.

Chasing after him was Saki, who exited the car alongside Ayaka. "Ryota, let’s explore the forest together!" she suggested.

"Yeah! Let’s explore!" he responded eagerly, running back to grab her hand. Together, they headed toward the forest bordering the campsite.

Watching them with a gentle smile, Haruto was the last to step out of the car.

"Ryota looks like he’s having a blast," he said.

"I just hope he doesn’t hurt himself from all the excitement," Ayaka replied, slightly worried. She glanced at Saki, who held Ryota’s hand firmly while matching his enthusiasm.

"Saki’s really good at looking after him," Haruto noted.

"She’s been playing with Ryota since he was little," Ayaka said, turning to Haruto. "Could you help unload the car?"

"Of course. Where do you need the bags?" he asked.

Shuichi pointed to a section in the middle of the campsite. "We’ve reserved that area, so if you could carry the bags over there, that’d be great."

"Understood," Haruto replied. He began unloading tents and other camping gear from the roof box of the Tojo family’s minivan.

Last week, after a barbecue at the Tojo family home, Shuichi had invited Haruto to join them for a camping trip. Saki had also been invited, and now they were here at a mountain campsite three hours away by car. The elevation made for a cooler atmosphere compared to the summer heat in the lowlands.

Once the gear was unloaded, Shuichi handed Haruto a bag containing a tent. "Haruto, could you set this one up? I’ll take care of the other tent."

"Got it. Leave it to me," Haruto said confidently, though this was his first time setting up a tent. He carefully read the instructions as he assembled it.

"So, you just slide the poles through the tent sleeves… and insert them into the sockets? This is simpler than I expected," Haruto muttered to himself as he worked.

As he set up the tent, Ayaka approached him. "Need some help?"

"Sure. Could you hold the other end of the rainfly while I drape it over the tent?"

"Of course," she said, grabbing the rainfly.

"Ready? Let’s lift it together," Haruto instructed. Working in sync, they secured the rainfly and pegged down the tent. Despite being a first-timer, Haruto managed to finish without much trouble.

"You’re a natural," Ayaka commented, her hands deftly pegging the tent.

"Thanks. You’re pretty good at this too."

"I’ve been camping with my family every year. Is this your first time camping?"

"First time doing it properly, yeah."

"I remember my first attempt at pitching a tent. It turned into some weird abstract sculpture," Ayaka laughed.

Haruto chuckled at the mental image of a younger Ayaka struggling with tent poles. "Sounds cute."

"Hey! Are you teasing me?" Ayaka puffed her cheeks and playfully swatted him with the empty tent bag.

"Sorry, sorry," Haruto said, laughing. "I was just thinking it must have been adorable."

Their playful banter was interrupted by Shuichi. "Wow, you’re quick. Nice work, Haruto."

"Thanks, Ayaka helped out a lot," Haruto replied, glancing at her.

Ikue joined them, smiling warmly. "You two seem to have grown closer. That makes me happy."

Ayaka blushed slightly but didn’t object, as she might have done before. Ikue teased further, "Haruto, keep taking care of Ayaka for us, okay?"

"Uh, sure," Haruto responded reflexively.

"Alright, let’s set up the tarp together," Shuichi announced, spreading it out between the tents. With everyone’s help, they quickly erected the tarp, completing their campsite setup.

Ryota returned from the forest, excitedly showing Haruto a cicada nymph he’d found. "Look at this weird bug!"

"That’s a cicada nymph," Haruto explained. "It’ll shed its shell and turn into an adult cicada."

"Really? That’s so cool!" Ryota exclaimed, eyes wide with wonder. Haruto suggested attaching the nymph to the tent, so they could watch it transform later.

Afterward, Shuichi asked Haruto to gather firewood from the forest. Joined by Ayaka and an enthusiastic Ryota, they headed into the woods, ready for more adventure.