The final bell rang through the corridors, signaling the end of the school term and the start of the long-anticipated summer break. Kazuki packed up his books, feeling a rare sense of freedom. After the constant cycle of classes, assignments, and tests, the idea of two whole months of relaxation felt almost surreal.
As he stepped out of the classroom, Shizuka was waiting for him in the hallway, her face lighting up the moment she saw him.
"Kazuki!" She waved, her excitement contagious. "Can you believe it? Summer break! We're finally free!"
Kazuki chuckled at her enthusiasm. "I know. It's about time, right?"
"So…" Shizuka bit her lip, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Do you have any plans for the break?"
He shrugged. "Not really. Just the usual stuff, I guess. My family's not going anywhere special this year."
"Oh, that's perfect!" she said, her eyes glinting with excitement. "Maybe we could make some plans together? There's so much I want to do!"
Kazuki raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her excitement. "Like what?"
"Well, for starters, I thought it'd be fun to hit the beach," Shizuka said, eyes gleaming. "We've never done that together before."
Kazuki nodded, imagining the sun, the waves, and just spending time relaxing. "That sounds fun. Let's do it."
"Oh! And… maybe we could go to the summer festival too?" she added, clasping her hands together. "I've always wanted to see the fireworks with you."
Kazuki felt a warm blush rise to his cheeks. The thought of seeing Shizuka in a yukata under a sky full of fireworks made his heart race, but he tried to keep his composure. "Yeah… that sounds nice."
Shizuka giggled, noticing his slight blush. "It's settled, then! I'll make a list of everything we can do together."
As they walked home together, the two talked about the endless possibilities of summer—everything from movie nights to trying new restaurants and exploring the city. Kazuki couldn't remember the last time he felt so excited for a break. Spending time with Shizuka and seeing her happy just made everything feel… right.
---
When Kazuki reached home, he found Aoi waiting in the living room, sprawled on the couch with a manga in hand. She looked up and gave him a mischievous grin.
"Finally free from school, huh, onii-chan?" Aoi said, stretching lazily. "So, what're your grand plans?"
Kazuki sighed, already sensing where this was going. "Nothing too special, just hanging out with friends and relaxing."
"Oh, really?" Aoi asked, narrowing her eyes. "I heard Shizuka-nee talking about beach trips and fireworks. Don't tell me you're planning to go with her without inviting me."
Kazuki chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "It's not like that, Aoi. You're more than welcome to come along."
Aoi huffed, clearly skeptical. "You'd better mean that, Kazuki. I'm not letting you two have all the fun without me."
Kazuki grinned, knowing that Aoi's protective side was showing again. "Alright, alright. You're invited too. Happy?"
Aoi smiled, satisfied, and went back to her manga. But before he could head to his room, she called out, "Just don't go forgetting about your little sister while you're off having fun."
Kazuki chuckled, giving her a thumbs-up. "Never."
---
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kazuki found himself reflecting on the summer plans that had quickly piled up. From the beach to the festival and everywhere in between, he felt grateful for the friendships and family bonds that made his life vibrant.
Summer was here, and for the first time in a while, he felt ready to make memories that would last.