It was early in the morning, and the sun was just beginning to warm the cool air that enveloped the school parking lot. Dozens of students were impatiently awaiting the arrival of the bus that would take them on the long-awaited field trip. Laughter and murmurs filled the air as groups of friends excitedly talked about what awaited them at the cabins.
Saori, as always, was in good spirits and full of energy. She was jumping up and down, squeezing Naomi's arm enthusiastically.
-This trip is going to be great! -Saori exclaimed. We're going to have to sleep in cabins, do scare tests, and cook! Aren't you excited?
Naomi smiled, albeit in a slightly more subdued way. She couldn't help but feel nervous about everything that awaited them, especially the scare test, but there was also something else that made her uneasy: Kotaro. She hadn't seen him since their last conversation, and while she had managed to get him to let off some steam, she wasn't sure how it would feel to see him today.
-I haven't seen Kotaro," Saori commented, looking around. Have you seen him yet?
Naomi tried to look for him among the students, but couldn't find him. Nervousness came over her for a moment.
-I don't see him..." she answered, biting her lip slightly. Maybe he won't come.
-Oh, come on! I'm sure he'll come. It's a great trip! -Saori insisted as the bus finally arrived and the teachers began to organize the students to get on.
Both girls made their way to the back of the bus, occupying the rear seats. Saori, as always, was chattering nonstop about everything she planned to do on the field trip. Naomi was nodding and smiling, but her thoughts were still on Kotaro.
Suddenly, there was a rustling in the bus. To Naomi's surprise, Kotaro appeared at the entrance of the vehicle, walking with his usual serious and calm countenance. At the sight of him, a small flash of relief crossed her face.
-Hey, Kotaro! -Saori shouted from the back. Come here! Come sit with us!
Kotaro paused for a moment, observing everyone on the bus, and though he seemed hesitant, he ended up approaching where Naomi and Saori were. Akane, who was in a seat closer to the middle of the bus, gave Saori a disapproving look, but said nothing, just sighed in annoyance.
-Good to see you," said Naomi, a little nervous but smiling as Kotaro sat down next to her.
-Thank you," Kotaro replied, his voice calm and reserved.
The bus started, and the teacher began to speak into the microphone explaining the field trip activities.
-We are going to spend three days in the cabins," he explained. Today we will just settle in and rest from the trip. Tomorrow there will be an excursion through the forest and the lake in the morning, and in the afternoon we will have a cooking competition between the groups. The third day will be sporty, and to finish, we will have a little scare test before the evening festival.
The emotions on the bus were palpable, with many students excited about the activities, although not everyone seemed so interested. Kotaro, for example, stared out the window, indifferent to what the teacher was saying. Naomi, for her part, began to fret when they mentioned the fear test.
-I'm not good at those things," Naomi muttered, almost trembling at the thought of what awaited her. Saori, on the other hand, was totally excited.
-It's going to be so much fun! Don't worry, if you get too scared you can hide behind Kotaro," Saori joked, elbowing Naomi.
-I told you not to say that," Naomi replied, blushing.
-Oh, come on! You guys are getting along better already, besides, you like him, don't you? -Saori laughed mischievously, loud enough for Akane, who was sitting across from them, to hear. Akane raised an eyebrow, interested, but not showing it too much, as she thought silently. "Who could they be talking about?"
The trip continued in a relaxed atmosphere, and soon they arrived at the cabins. The boys and girls were separated into different rooms. The girls were assigned to a cabin shared between six, which caused Akane's annoyance as she realized that it was her turn to share with Naomi and Saori.
"I can't believe it... Why me?" she muttered to herself as she watched them from the corner of the room, unable to disguise her annoyance at Saori, who was talking non-stop.
Naomi sat on her bed, looking around, still nervous about what was to come later.
-I can't deal with the horror test... it scares me so much," she confessed to Saori, who let out a laugh.
-Don't worry, Naomi, just hold on to your prince! -she joked, earning an amused look from her friend.
-I told you not to say it like that! -Naomi replied with a mixture of embarrassment and laughter, as Saori continued to laugh.
Akane, sitting on her bed, couldn't help but become more interested in the conversation. "Prince? Who are they talking about, it'll be... Kotaro?"
The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of other girls, who invited Akane to join a meeting with cute boys in another hut. Akane, still tired from the trip, declined.
-No, thanks for the invitation, but I'm tired," she replied in her usual tone.
But the invitation was quickly directed to Naomi and Saori.
-Cute guys? -asked Saori, immediately interested. Come on, Naomi, sounds like fun!
Naomi, always the cautious one, tried to refuse, but Saori pulled her by the hand before she could protest.
-Come on! It won't be anything bad.
They were both taken to a hut... but when Naomi crossed the door, she was completely paralyzed when she saw Kotaro sitting on one of the beds. The shock rendered her mute for an instant.
-Ko-Kotaro..." she whispered.
-Oh, wow! -Saori said, amused. Looks like it was worth it to come, right, Naomi?
Kotaro, without changing his serious expression, raised his head slightly towards them, while Naomi was torn between embarrassment and a strange sense of relief at having found him, once again, in the least expected place.
The soft murmur of students' voices filled the air, as in the main room of the cabin they gathered around tables, playing cards, chatting and laughing. The atmosphere was relaxed, laid back. Saori, as always, was at the center of attention, encouraging everyone to participate in her impromptu game. But Kotaro, in his usual silence, remained aloof. The laughter of his companions seemed so distant, so irrelevant to him, as if it were an echo that failed to reach him.
He decided to leave the hut, the air inside was beginning to weigh on him. His steps were slow but steady, seeking shelter on the wooden balcony overlooking the forest. Outside, the wind blew softly, stirring the leaves on the trees, while the dark sky was covered with stars that seemed to spill to the horizon.
Silently, Kotaro rested his hands on the railing and let the cool breeze envelop him. That space, between the bustle inside and the vastness of nature, was the only thing that offered him peace. But his tranquility was interrupted by a faint rustling sound behind him. Turning, he saw Naomi, standing at the entrance to the balcony, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap.
-Eh... Kotaro," she murmured, almost as if she feared she had interrupted him.
Kotaro raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by her presence, but said nothing. Naomi, for her part, slowly approached, leaning against the railing beside him. Her heart was beating fast, and not just because of the proximity. Words stuck in her throat, but there was something in Kotaro's calmness that urged her to stay, to try to connect.
-Thank you," Kotaro said suddenly, his deep voice cutting through the silence of the night.
Naomi looked at him, not knowing what he meant. -Why? -she asked.
-Because of what you said yesterday. -Kotaro kept his gaze on the horizon, but there was something different in his tone, a warmth she hadn't heard from him before. -I... I wasn't planning to come today. But you made me realize that I don't always have to run away. I don't always have to let bad circumstances defeat me.
Naomi blinked, somewhat surprised. -I... I didn't do anything. -Her voice sounded small, almost nervous.
-Yes you did. -Kotaro turned his body slightly towards her, looking directly into her eyes. His hair moved in the breeze, and Naomi felt that, in that instant, he seemed different. There was something in his posture, in his gaze, that made him seem more vulnerable, but also more human. -I've noticed that, despite the difficulties, you always keep going. And I appreciate that in you.
Naomi blushed at Kotaro's words. She felt a whirlwind of emotions inside her, but she didn't know how to respond. She wasn't used to Kotaro talking about his feelings like that, let alone opening up like that.
-Kotaro..." she whispered, trying to find the words. -I'm... I'm so glad you're here. -His lips quirked into a small smile, sincere and soft. -I'm glad you're calmer.
Kotaro watched her for a few seconds. Then, he lowered his gaze to his hands, as if debating whether to say something else or not. Finally, he spoke.
-When I was a kid, I excelled at everything. In grades, in sports..." his voice became softer, as if those memories weighed on him, "but that never brought good things. It was never something that benefited me. -He paused, the air between them charged with an awkward silence. -That's why... I'd rather not stand out. I don't want to stand out like that again. But, watching you... trying so hard to do well, to pass exams... it made me want to try again.
Naomi looked at him, not knowing what to say. In her mind, Kotaro had always been someone strong, impenetrable. But now, at his words, she saw him differently. She felt closer to him than ever before. This Kotaro was not just the reserved boy who always avoided attention, but someone who had suffered, who had carried his own fears and inner struggles.
-Kotaro..." he said, his voice barely a whisper. -You don't have to thank me for anything. I... I just want you to know that you don't have to carry everything alone. You can trust me. No matter what happened before. Here... now, you have a friend on your side.
Her words echoed in the air. Kotaro, for the first time in a long time, felt something inside him loosen, a tension he had been holding in for years. He turned fully toward Naomi and gave her an intense, but not cold, look.
-Thank you," he finally said, with a sincerity she hadn't expected.
The wind blew again, lifting Kotaro's locks of hair slightly. Naomi watched him, feeling her heart beat faster. There was something about his figure, the way the breeze moved his hair, the calmness his face conveyed under the starry sky, that made her see him differently. For the first time, she realized how much he meant to her, how much she had been thinking about him, even without knowing it.
-Kotaro..." she said, almost without thinking. -I don't know what you've been through, but whatever it is, I'll be here. Because I think... I think you're much stronger than you think. And if you don't see it now, I hope one day you will.
Kotaro looked at her, saying nothing. But in his silence, Naomi knew she had gotten through to him. She knew that, even if he didn't say it, those words meant something.
And for a moment, as they both stood in silence under the blanket of stars, Naomi felt a peace she had not felt before.