It's Wednesday again, and I'm back to my regular, boring routine. I find myself sulking in boredom as I lie down on my bed, reminiscing about yesterday and the time I spent with Mizuki. It's incredible how quickly we went from being complete strangers to enjoying a day at the beach together. I can't help but smile as I recall the moments when we explored and did things I'd never have done on my own.
Glancing at my reflection, I realize that I desperately need to clean up. I decide to take a shower and freshen up so that I don't look as dull as I feel. Once I'm done, a thought strikes me – there's a summer festival happening this afternoon, and my mom will be working there. She usually has a stand at the market during these events, so they'll surely need some lunch. I remember that she didn't bring any with her, so I make up my mind to go buy lunch and deliver it to her before the festival kicks off.
I get dressed and head for the door, but I'm aware that this is a different decision for me. Usually, I'd just stay home and procrastinate, but today feels different. There's a sense of unease as I step outside my comfort zone and choose to do something out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, I push through and leave my home, making my way to a nearby fast-food restaurant.
While walking, I recall that the festival is on the other side of town. Our town has three beaches, and the festival is being held at the one farthest from my place. I decide to wait until I'm closer to the festival grounds before buying the food. After all, it might get cold by the time I arrive. With the money in my pocket, I opt to rent an electric scooter to speed up my journey. It's a convenient choice because I can drop it off at the recharge station near the festival.
As I ride the electric scooter on the sidewalk, I notice all the different areas and communities I've never seen before. The midsummer sun beats down on me, but the fresh breeze is invigorating. At some point, I stop to use a restroom near a train station. I leave my scooter and enter the station.
Coming out of the restroom, I catch a glimpse out of the corner of my eye – it's Mizuki. Before she can spot me, I quickly turn and hide behind a corner. I'm taken aback and filled with questions about why she's here. My mind races through various scenarios, and I can't resist peeking around the wall to see if she's still there. To my relief, I see Mizuki with two elderly figures. She says her goodbyes to one of them, who heads towards the boarding area. I finally realize that she's probably bidding farewell to one of her relatives, and they're likely going on a trip. A sigh of relief escapes me.
I start to question my actions – why was I hiding and peeking like some weird, creepy stalker? It's not like me at all. I decide to stop hiding and walk back into the lobby, hoping Mizuki didn't see me. I let out another sigh of relief as I make it out the door unnoticed. Little did I know that Mizuki had noticed me and was quietly following me from a distance.
I hop back onto my scooter, ready to continue my journey. But just as I'm about to speed away, I see Mizuki right in front of me. It takes me by surprise, and I stammer out a hesitant "Hey..."
There's an awkward pause as Mizuki looks at me, her expression slightly disapproving. She responds, "Don't 'hey' me. Why are you at the train station? Are you following me?"
Panicking a bit, I quickly reply, "No, no, you've got it all wrong. I'm actually headed somewhere not too far from here."
Mizuki raises an eyebrow, skeptical. "Oh, really? Where to?"
I answer, "I'm going to the summer festival."
Mizuki's eyes widen in surprise. "What? I'm going there too, with my grandparents today. Are you sure you're not stalking me? You're not the type to go out and do stuff like this."
Feeling flustered and at a loss for words, I let out a sigh and start explaining the whole situation to Mizuki. She eventually understands that it's just a coincidence that we both ended up at the train station.
Curious about her presence here, I ask, "So, why are you at the train station?"
Mizuki reveals, "My grandfather is going to visit another relative for a couple of weeks. I had to help him pack, and I'm here to say goodbye to him. After that, I'm heading to the festival with my grandma. Family stuff, you know."
I grasp the situation and smile, saying, "Well, I guess we're both going to the festival, then."
Mizuki nods, returning the smile. "Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, I should get back inside before my grandma starts suspecting something." She playfully shoves me and adds, "Sorry about calling you a creep earlier, by the way."
I respond, "It's fine," as she enters the station again. I stand there for a moment, slightly zoned out, before snapping back to reality. The festival is about to begin, and I need to get going. I grab the scooter and speed away, excited about the prospect of spending time at the festival with Mizuki.