What exactly is a trip? It means breaking away from the place you're most familiar with to experience a daily life different from the norm. And to go on a trip, one must make various preparations in advance.
You have to book accommodations, look up nearby tourist attractions, and research the best restaurants. Having become a rich slacker for a few weeks after the world tour ended, I had finished every single preparation for this trip.
"Ah... how do I even say this..."
The truth was, I had finished everything while forgetting the most important step: I hadn't actually asked Ai yet if she could go.
.
.
.
.
.
—Clatter, clatter.
Recently, Ai had been spending more and more time at my place.
The reason was that the rehearsal room—essentially her hideout—was practically out of commission because Shuji and Yokishi had gone off to recuperate. Consequently, whenever Ai had free time, she started coming to my house instead of the studio.
And right now, I was staring intensely at the back of Ai's head as she did the dishes after losing a game of rock-paper-scissors.
'Ah... how the hell am I supposed to bring this up?'
Even though Ai and I were on intimate terms, the idea of two people traveling alone felt a bit dangerous. I had been spending so much time with her that I'd overlooked something crucial: didn't Ai have romantic feelings for me?
To be honest, I had forgotten because the world tour left us with so little time to actually see each other.
'This is ripe for misunderstanding...'
If the first thing I said after finally seeing her again was an invitation for a private trip, it might give off a bad impression. Of course, I had booked an entire building so we would have separate rooms, but I couldn't help but worry anyway.
Though the memories had faded quite a bit, I was someone who had experience dating in my past life. Because of that experience, even if my intentions weren't like that, I knew exactly what traveling alone together typically implied, which made me hesitate to speak.
"Hide? Is something wrong?"
I must have been staring too hard, because Ai turned to address me with a puzzled expression. Still, I couldn't find the words.
"Uh... well... er..."
When I failed to speak, Ai approached me.
"Hide, you aren't sick, are you?"
She placed her hand—chilled from the dishwater—on my forehead and leaned her face in close. Isn't this a bit too close...? In the past, I wouldn't have thought twice about this kind of proximity, but now it stirred a feeling I couldn't just brush off.
"Hmm! No fever! -☆"
"Actually, it's... you see..."
As I hesitated and dragged my feet, Ai tilted her head, and then her expression suddenly shifted to one of shock.
"Hide, did you cause trouble again??!!! ヽ ( ꒪д꒪ )ﾉ"
Cause trouble... I don't know exactly what kind of image Ai has of me, but I've never just 'caused trouble.' I have only ever exercised my legitimate right to resistance.
'But I really have to tell her.'
Right, this is a reward. A gesture of gratitude for how she took care of me last time. What ulterior motives could there be in a simple thank-you? Because of that, I could be confident. Even if a man and a woman were going on a trip alone, as long as the intent wasn't impure, there was no reason to be ashamed.
"Let's go on a trip. Just the two of us. I've prepared everything. Just bring yourself."
I finally spat it out. And I sounded incredibly stiff, at that.
—Pfft.
As soon as she heard me, a small giggle escaped Ai, and she gave me a smile full of mischief.
"Eeeeh... so Hide wanted to go on a trip with Ai?"
"Well... I suppose you could say that."
"Just the two of us?"
Dammit... When we first met, she was just a kid who didn't know the ways of the world, but now she was treating me like I was the younger one. Unable to give a verbal answer to Ai's teasing question, I eventually just nodded silently.