Hi everyone. I was inspired by the Aozora Pedal song and video so I decided to write a short story.
Please take note that I borrowed scenes from Aozora Pedal.

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two years have passed since we unexpectedly met.

My family runs a ramen restaurant and it has been passed on for generations by my ancestors.
I was in charge of the counter like usual; greeting everyone with a smile.
"Good afternoon, what can I get you?" I smile as I look up at the man across me.
"Yes, I'd like a sukiyaki ramen please." he smoothly said.
"Right away, please take your seat. I'll bring it to you in awhile."
"Thanks" he said smiling as he looked at me.
I tried not to get distracted at first, but that man was beginning to annoy me. He kept looking at my direction and randomly smiles or winks. I ignored him and did my work.

He raised his arm and made a gesture that meant he was ready to pay his bill. I made my way to his table and placed the bill neatly on his table.

"you look cute" he said. I hesitated but smiled. "Say," he started again. "what's your name?"
"huh?" I responded incredulously. "Excuse me sir but could you just pay the-"
"Ayako-chan" A voice came behind me saying.
Ayako-chan? I thought. I felt an arm around my shoulder. "Ayako-chan, is this guy bothering you?" he was tall with bright eyes and is unbelievably good looking.
"um.." was all i could mutter. "Please pay already. I have a lot of work to do." I said sternly. The weird man was taken aback by this newcomer. He paid the bill and left.
"Thank you" I bowed to the person who helped. "Me?" I looked up and saw a different person. He was already gone.


"Ne," my older sister, Keiko, tried to get my attention. "hmm?" I responded, drying my hair in front of the mirror. "Do you want to come with me tomorrow?"
"Where are you going?" I asked. "To one of the beaches in Okinawa. We'll be staying there for about four days, I guess." Okinawa is known for their beautiful beaches how can I refuse such offer? "Okinawa?!" I stood up excited. "of course!"
"I already asked mom and dad if you could go. They both agreed and said it would be a great idea since you've been working so hard lately."
"How are we going there?"

*beep beep*
So the plan was to get picked up by Keiko's friends. We were the last, so the van was almost full when they came by our house. There were five guys and a girl inside the van.
"Everyone, this is my sister." Somehow, I recognize one of them from three days ago. The incident with that weird man. But I just left my thoughts behind and forget about it since it's highly unlikely that this was the same person.

The drive was a bit long but fun. The first three hours were just pure joy. Everyone was very friendly and easy to get along with. Ohno and Nino kept on joking around with each other which made everyone laugh. Aiba, the one who was driving, kept on playing around. One minute we're going really fast then we were suddenly extremely slow. He kept on playing with the brakes too. Sho and Jun laughed along and made comments here and there. Yuki liked to sing along with the music that was being played so the
others join her in singing eventually. This atmosphere was bound to die out, i thought. And I was right. Everyone was fast asleep except for me as I was reading a book and the driver, Jun.

FIRST DAY: The heat

The sun was giving off its heat on this beautiful day. Everyone was out on the beach soaking in and playing around.
As I was resting under the umbrella, I couldn't help but look at one particular guy. It bothers me why I recognize him. He probably is that person three days ago...or not. Without me noticing it, he was walking towards me. I gulped and couldn't help but stare at his well-built body. His hair was soaked from the sea and he was slightly tan from staying under the sun.
"Hey" Sho nonchalantly said. I don't think he's aware of the fact that I am distracted by his very presence. "H-hey" I sipped on my orange juice nervously as I looked around, not daring to lay my eyes on the person beside me.
"It's a beautiful day. Why don't you go join in the fun?"
"well," I said, still not looking "I might get a heat stroke. It happened to me once when I was a kid"
"Wha-what's this?!" he asked with an alarmed voice. I turned my head to see what he was referring to but I ended up getting poked by his finger on my cheek. He laughed at his successful prank. "Seriously, let's go!" He stood up and pulled my arm. "I'll be there if ever something happens to you, so come and enjoy!" He dragged me towards the water where everyone else was.

SECOND NIGHT: The constellation

Boku ga waraeba! Kimi ga waraukara. Kimi ga waraeba. Mata dare ka ga warausa!
Keta Keta Keta Keta!!
Wahaha Wahaha Wahaha
wahaha wahaha wahaha
TANOSHII!!


Everyone sang along to Kanjani8's wahaha after having drank a large amount of alcohol. This was their last song before ending up lying face down on the carpet floor of our hotel room. Sho and I witnessed this. We didn't drink as much as they did so we were the last two standing.
"You want to go take a walk or something?" Sho offered. "Gladly." I said standing up.

We take a walk on the beach together feeling the waves as they crashed on the sand, turning into white. The air was cool as the wind blew; our hair dancing n the wind.
"You still haven't thanked me for saving you, Ayako-chan" Sho said out of the blue. I stopped walking for a moment "That was you?"
"Ouch." Sho faked an expression of and clutched his chest. "You forgot me that easily? I knew I should have introduced myself rather than just mysteriously disappearing." He chuckled. "Why didn't you?" He shrugged. "I don't know. I just didn't want to take any chances, I guess. I only just saw you that day. Even though I thought you were pretty doesn't mean I go up to you and suddenly introduce myself right?"

He thinks I'm pretty.

"I'm not sure but" he stopped in front of me, looking at my face.
I can't breathe.
"Are you blushing?" he laughed. "So cute" he said and laughed even more.
"That's not funny!" I objected. But seeing him laugh made me laugh as well.
"Sorry" he draped his arm around my shoulder as he looked up at the vast sky. "oh." he pulled me down suddenly. We were both lying down and admiring the beauty of the heavenly bodies.

"If you concentrate on those set of stars" he said pointing above with both of his hands "You can clearly see draco or the dragon."
"I can't see- woah. You're right!"
I looked at him as he was searching for more constellations. He seemed to notice I was staring. I looked away embarrassed of having been caught.
Without warning, his little finger started fiddling with my own. He turned my hand palms facing up so he could intertwine his fingers with mine.

THIRD NIGHT: Hanabi

The sun was about to descend as the pale moon was preparing to take it's rightful place.
Sho and myself decided to spend the rest of the morning and afternoon together.
I get off the van excited to see everyone surrounding the little bon fire just about ten feet away from the shore. He smiled to me extending his arm for me to hold. I gladly took it and walked by his side. Holding on to his arm while his hand was in his pocket, we made our way to our group of friends.

"Konnichi waaaa!" Nino waved his hand; energetic as ever.
"ah! itai itai itai!" Aiba exclaimed as he was clutching his hand from the harms of the fire.
"Where have you two been?" Ohno said with a malicious look to which Sho rolled his eyes and I laughed at.
"No way!" Jun said losing his composure while talking to Keiko and Yuki.

Later that night, everyone wanted to light fireworks before they end the short vacation. We all played Janken to decide who gets to buy the fireworks.
"Saisho wa gu! Janken-pon!" Everyone stood still searching for the loser. "Ahhhh!!!" They screamed in mockery and pointed at Sho.
Sho scratched his head in annoyance and disbelief as everyone laughed. "Come with me?" he asked. "okay" I nodded as we held hands.

I waited for him outside the store with my arms crossed and my back resting on the van. I could see his silhouette coming out of the store carrying large bags of fireworks. I opened the back of the van so he could place the bags. Before closing the door, he lit one stick. It illuminated the both of us - accentuating our features; making him even more pleasing to look at. He smiled at me as I smiled back. I was still resting on the van while he moved towards me with his eyes focused on mine. The firework was still lit after dropping it. His body was so close to mine, I could feel the heat coming from him. His left arm was wrapped around my waist; the other hand was on my chin. Then, he kissed me passionately.


"Ready?" My train of thought was broken by Sho as he closed the door of the back of the van.
I got off the van while Sho brought the fireworks. It was the same as last year. The little bonfire, the group of friends, the moon, the sky, the stars, the sea.
What changed was us.



This time, I can't hold his hand anymore.

Wow! The ending was certainly a shock to me. I thought it might be a happy ending despite the title being a little sad. Interesting idea of how you wrote it... although surprising, the ending left a powerful impression. Thanks for writing the story for others to enjoy ^.^

ah, i really enjoy reading this - thanks for sharing. the whole summer thing just reminded me of the song "Kaze" somehow

Kyaa~!!! Sho is sooo adorable! This is very good despite the sad ending

Keep your hard work!

awh... you just had to twist it around into a sad story, didn't you!
sobs. but it's good. the story. thanks for sharing!

awww...thanks for sharing~