27th of July.
Early morning in the Sumeragi home.
Haruya had gotten up early, but the house felt emptier than usual.
Haruya's parents, Akari and Kenjiro, had left early today for matters in their company.
Tsumugi and her mother, Minako, had left even earlier for a practice session with Tsumugi's music mentor.
After a simple breakfast, Haruya went to his room to change into some comfortable clothes.
He had messaged his friends the night before, and they had all agreed to meet up at the local park near the old bridge, a place they often went to just hang out.
It was a perfect spot, with a small stream, a few trees for shade, and plenty of open grassy space.
The walk was short and familiar.
The sun was already high in the sky, and the air was thick with the buzzing of cicadas, a sound that was the official soundtrack of summer.
Honestly, for Haruya, summer was definitely the worst in Japan.
The weather was hot and humid, and going out was such a pain.
Fortunately, as he gained his Adaptability, the weather seemed to not affect him anymore.
When he arrived, his friends were already there.
Nagisa Kubo was sitting on a bench with Shouko Nishimiya, talking together.
Hazuki Kudou, Taira Tamao, and Yuma Sudo were on the grass nearby, passing a frisbee back and forth.
They all looked up when they saw him, their faces breaking into smiles.
"Haruya!" Nagisa called out, a bright smile on her face. "You made it!"
"Wouldn't miss it," Haruya said, walking over and taking a seat on the bench beside her.
Shouko smiled at him, a simple, happy expression.
She had always been a quiet presence in their group, but in the last few weeks, she had started talking more and more.
Her voice was still a little soft, but it was clear and full of warmth, and it was a joy to hear. "It's nice to see you," she said.
"You too, Shouko," Haruya replied. He turned his attention back to Nagisa. "So, what's the plan for today? Any great ideas?"
Nagisa just shrugged. "I don't know, I was thinking we could just hang out and talk. Maybe get some ice cream later?"
The others came over, and for a while, they didn't just sit and talk.
They played frisbee, chasing after it with laughter echoing through the park. Haruya's throws were powerful, but Yuma and Hazuki were surprisingly fast, darting to catch the disc before it hit the ground.
Tamao, panting, collapsed on the grass and complained. "I don't wanna play anymore! You guys have way too much stamina!"
The rest of them laughed, and soon they were all sitting together in a circle, their conversation flowing as easily as the stream that trickled nearby.
They talked about everything and nothing. They discussed the latest video games and the weirdest things they had eaten over the summer.
It was a carefree conversation, a mix of laughs and gentle teasing.
"I still can't believe you managed to get a perfect score on that math test," Tamao exclaimed, shaking her head exaggeratedly at Haruya. "I thought my brain was going to melt just looking at it."
Haruya just laughed. "It wasn't that bad. You just have to follow the steps."
"Yeah, yeah, easy for you to say," Yuma chimed in. "You're a genius, Haruya. We're just normal people."
"Not at all," Haruya replied. He looked at them all, his expression calm and sincere. "We just have different talents. You're great at sports, Yuma. And you're amazing at art, Tamao."
Yuma Sudo, caught off guard at the compliment, felt a little shy. "Thanks, Haruya. You're pretty good at everything, so it's hard to compare."
The conversation drifted to other things, but the mood got better.
Haruya was sitting with his friends, and he felt how perfect life could truly be.
These were the moments he loved the most.
No expectations, no pressure, just being a normal kid with his friends on a hot summer day.
It was a good feeling.
Not that there were many expectations for him, though.
"Hey, let's go get some shaved ice," Shouko suggested, her voice soft but clear.
Everyone's faces lit up at the idea. The heat of the summer sun was starting to get to them, and the thought of a cold, sweet treat was exactly what they needed.
They all got up and started walking toward the small, family-owned shaved ice shop a few blocks away.
The shop was small and cozy, with a few tables outside. A small line had already formed, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of flavored syrup. They all got in line, their conversation continuing as they waited for their turn.
"What are you getting, Shouko-chan?" Nagisa asked.
"Strawberry," she replied, a simple smile on her face. "It's my favorite."
Haruya was trying to decide between mango and melon when he saw them.
It was Kazuki Shimada and Keisuke Hirose, his classmates from school, who had been avoiding him ever since that day. They were in line, talking quietly to each other, their backs to him.
Haruya's friends had seen them, too. But just decided to ignore them.
It was clear they weren't going to let the presence of a few awkward classmates ruin their day.
Nagisa casually stepped a little closer to Haruya, her arm brushing his, a simple but powerful gesture of support.
He gave her a small, grateful smile, and she smiled back, her cheeks a faint pink.
Soon, the two ex-troublemakers left without even noticing the group behind them.
When they were next in line, Haruya, Hazuki, Shouko, and Nagisa decided to sit at a table outside while Tamao and Yuma went up to order for everyone.
"So, what's up with those guys?" Hazuki suddenly asked. "They always look like they've seen a ghost whenever they see you."
"I don't know," Haruya said with a shrug, hiding the real reason. "It's nothing. We just don't get along, I guess. It's better to just leave it."
Nagisa, who had witnessed the incident, gave a playful eyeroll.
They didn't push the topic, and the conversation soon turned back to their plans for the rest of the day.
Tamao and Yuma came back with a tray full of colorful shaved ice cups. The red of the strawberry, the orange of the mango, the light green of the melon, and the bright blue of the ramune were all a splash of color against the white of the ice. They all dug in, the cold, sweet taste a welcome relief from the heat.
"This is so good," Yuma said, his mouth full. "This is the best part of summer."
"I know, right?" Tama exclaimed. "It's just the best."
Haruya smiled, taking a spoonful of his own shaved ice. The taste of the melon was sweet and refreshing, and it made him feel happy.
He looked at his friends, and his heart was filled with a familiar sense of peace and contentment. He had been quite busy over the past few weeks, but he was surrounded by people who cared about him, and that was all that mattered.
As the day lasted longer, one by one, the rest of them had to leave soon, leaving Nagisa and Haruya in the end.
"Don't you want to go home yet?" Haruya raised his eyebrow.
"Hmm~ I don't really have anything else to do there..." Seemingly hinting at something, Nagisa side-eyed him.
Fortunately, Haruya was quick to catch on.
"I heard Chiyoda Shopping District seems to be pretty active in summer, do you wanna go check it out?"
"Okay! I'll follow your lead."
...
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