This story begins with four girls walking into what is a very busy shopping district on a very hot spring day. As they entered, one of the girls spoke with great excitement.

Meako: “Stop! I want to get ice cream before we eat.”

Hikari replied, “Are you sure? Don’t you want to leave that for later, after we eat?”

Kinko interjected, “I think Hikari is right.”

Meako: “She may be right, but don’t you feel how hot it is today? Besides, we’ll probably have to wait anyway—didn’t you see those long lines of people waiting to get in on social media?”

Hikari: “Alright.”

Rin added, “Fine, but I didn’t budget for this, so you’ll have to count me out.”

Meako: “Don’t worry about it, it’s my treat.”

Rin asked, “What happened that made you so generous?”

Meako: “Very funny.”

Kinko: “I’ll tell you—it probably has to do with me helping her brother pass his junior high exam.”

Rin: “You helped her brother? Hmm, I didn’t know your brother was a junior high student. If you told me he was a senior in high school, I would have believed you.”

Kinko: “I agree, but if it helps, he was held back a year after missing too many school days.”

Hikari watched them all, looking so cheerful as they walked in front of her.

After a while, Hikari entered the ice cream store, being the last to go in.

Hikari: “It’s too small for all of us in here. I’ll wait outside.”

Meako asked, “Don’t you want any ice cream?”

Hikari: “Just bring me one on your way out.”

Meako: “Okay.”

Hikari: “Meet me by that bench when you guys are done.”

Then, as Hikari left the store, she sat down on a bench. She looked up at the sky, hearing birds chirp and people walk by. Reaching into her bag for her water bottle, she saw it was empty.

She decided to look around for a vending machine. At that moment, someone sat on the other side of the bench that was wrapped around a tree. She got up and went in the direction of the vending machine, now with the person who had sat down keeping an eye on her as she went.

Now in front of the blue vending machine, a person took her hand just as she was about to press. It was a man with a bright smile on his face who said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to give you a fright. Could you make those two? You see, I don’t have any change on me.”

Hikari replied, “Sure,” and then looked away to continue her business.

At that moment, he glanced behind him as people passed, vividly in sight. After seeing them, his bright face turned serious for what he was about to do. After she pushed the button, he gave her the money. He said, “Thank you.”

Hikari looked at him neutrally, then with a smile. After that, she bent down and turned around to face him—when he stole the kiss.

Hikari was stunned. He left, and she sat there for a while. After that, a little while passed at the vending machine, then she felt a hand touch her shoulder. It was Meako.

Kinko said, “Here you go, and good idea on getting water, but I don’t think two will be enough though.”

In emotion, Hikari let out a tear. Meako noticed and looked blankly. Rin was the last one to meet up with them.

Rin said, “Your face… did Kinko say something silly again?”

Hikari smiled brightly and replied, “No, I just got some sand in my eye. It’s nothing.”

Meako looked at her with an amused but worrisome expression.

“You’re so strange, Hikari,” Meako said.

After that, they started to walk again. Hikari went forward with Rin and Kinko, but Meako, still wearing a strange look, stayed behind, watching Hikari as they left.

Please subscribe if you like the story.