On the first day of summer vacation, Morimi slept until nine o'clock and woke up.

Spreading her still tired eyes, she stared out the window for a moment before she sat up.

Covering her face for a while, she got up and got out of bed and swayed downstairs.

“……”

In the mirror, his face was even worse than expected.

Isn't it enough to sleep for six or seven hours......

She lowered her head, turned on the faucet, and poured cold water on her face.

The cold stimulation made her more awake.

Brushing your teeth and washing your face, and looking in the mirror after washing, you seem to be in a much better state than when you first woke up.

Having prepared a simple breakfast, a sandwich, she ate a few bites and felt that something was missing.

Glancing at the dining table, touching his pocket, and then realizing that the phone had been left in the room.

I went upstairs to pick up my phone, and there were more than a dozen unread messages.

sent from the group.

"Is there so much to talk about early in the morning?"

She flipped up as she went downstairs, and the top message was sent by Hikaru Takikawa.

Hikaru: I'm at Aomori Port.

The accompanying picture below is a selfie of her in front of the port: with her back to the sea, fully armed, riding on a motorcycle, Naruse's motorcycle.

"Huh?"

She was stunned for a moment, almost missing her phone.

The news below is similar to her reaction.

Month:???

Starfish:???

Naoko: Harumi's ......?

Moon: Where is the light going?

Hikari: Go shopping in Hokkaido.

Month: Shopping?

Hikari: It's riding around the island on a motorcycle.

Yue: Why is it so sudden, I don't know at all!

Hikari: Don't you know now?

Yue: Do your parents know?

Light: Of course, otherwise where would I get the money to go far away?

Morimi flipped through the news as he returned to the restaurant and continued to eat breakfast.

It's just that the taste of the sandwich in her hand has been completely ignored by her.

Now that she's at Aomori Port, and she's riding there, she'll be off at about eight o'clock......

So when she was in the café last night, she said that she wanted to sleep at night and didn't drink coffee?

There was also the absent-mindedness that lasted for a day, and the hug goodbye before leaving her house......

Everything seemed to be traceable, and it was only now that she could see the full shape of the traces.

Circumnavigating Hokkaido, is this the escape she has chosen?

Shoving the last bit of sandwich into her mouth, she flipped it up again, clicking on the top photo.

Buzz –

Naruse glanced at the new message window.

Kazuha: Hikari went to Hokkaido.

Naruse: Hmm.

Kazuha: It's your bike that rides.

Naruse: I swapped her for that.

Kazuha: You already knew?

Naruse: Just a little bit earlier than you.

Kazuha: What is she going to do?

Naruse: Isn't it very clear in the group?

It was a long time before she sent her next message.

Kazuha: It was too sudden.

Naruse stared at the message twice and didn't reply, although he thought so too.

"It's too risky to go to Hokkaido alone."

Naoko got up more than half an hour ago and sat next to him.

She said that she had been preparing for a month, and now that everyone had arrived at Aomori Port, they could only trust her...... What's more, Hokkaido is not a no-man's land, and at least there is no need to worry about her freezing to death in the wilderness this season. ”

"Hmmm......"

Naoko nodded, and then asked, "What time did you come to borrow the car in the morning, and I didn't hear any movement at all." ”

"It's almost eight or a little bit old."

Naruse said, correcting the part of her words that seemed to be misunderstood.

"I just came to say goodbye, and I asked her to ride my bike to Hokkaido. After all, it is more reassuring to run thousands of kilometers, or the performance of my car. ”

"I see." Naoko nodded again and didn't say much.

In the group, Hikaru Takikawa posted some photos of Aomori Port.

"Hikari has already left for Hokkaido......"

Flipping through her phone, Naoko moved to the side, tilted her head and leaned against her boyfriend, looking up at him with her eyes, "Where are we going?" ”

"I want to go to the beach too......"

The starfish was lying on the bed, flipping through the photos, all focused on the endless blue waves.

After flipping through it for a while, she put down her phone, and the disappointment in her heart suddenly couldn't stop churning out.

Why didn't Hikari call her this time...... Didn't even tell her in advance.

Obviously wherever she usually goes to play, she will call her.

"The ...... of the sea"

Starfish raised its arm and reached for the light overhead.

Will there be a chance this summer?

Is there a chance to go to the beach with him, to be exact?

She usually works in the café in front of the school, and works in the hotel at home on weekends, and after a semester, she has actually saved a lot of money, which is enough for her to go to the beach by herself.

The question is, what does it mean for her to go to the beach alone?

To see those same-sex people with unhealthy fat on their chests?

Or to drink soda that can be bought at convenience stores, and to eat fried noodles that Dad made even better?

- Wouldn't you feel lonely when you go to Hokkaido alone?

Lying down, she couldn't help but guess Hikaru Takikawa's thoughts, but she quickly gave up again.

It was more difficult to keep up with her thinking, after all, even those two top students often showed a headache in front of her.

From always liking to get everyone together, to now traveling alone, what is Hikari thinking?

The starfish was stunned for a while, and the mobile phone was still buzzing, and it was still the various scenery taken by Hikaru Takikawa in the port.

She looked at it nonchalantly, and suddenly a question came to mind.

Buzz –

Starfish: What time did you sit on the boat?

Starfish: It's been so long, isn't it time to go?

Looking at the news he had just received, Hikaru Takikawa sighed as well.

Hikari: yes.

Light: There are eight shifts a day, but the interval is quite long.

Harumi: What time was the last class?

Light: There is a ferry at 8:10 a.m., and I can't make it, so I'll take the 11:35 a.m. one.

Chunhai: Then why are you going out so early?

“……”

His second message came out, and Takigawa Mitsuru noticed that the person who sent the message was not a starfish.

She pursed her lips and lifted her gaze to look out at the sea in front of her.

The sea breeze is gusting, the waves are sparkling, and the distant border where the sea and the sky meet, the Tsugaru Peninsula and the Shinetakia Peninsula are looming.

Wow - Wow -

The sound of waves crashing against the breakwater never seems to subside.

She has been waiting here for a long time, and the novelty of reuniting with the sea after a long absence has long faded.

Actually, she didn't plan to come over so early.

Say goodbye to him, say goodbye to Naoko by the way, and then go to say goodbye to Starfish and Kazuha, and then wear this handsome outfit, go to the city for a while, and it would be better if you could meet some acquaintances. When the time is almost exhausted, we will set off for Aomori Port...... This was her plan before she went out.

However, the sudden rush to hug him goodbye completely disrupted all this.

She got on his motorcycle and fled, and when she came back to her senses, she had already ridden to Tsurusaka - already within the confines of Aomori City!

Galloping on the national highway, she had no choice but to continue moving forward, and arrived at Aomori Port at an embarrassing time that was a little late and much earlier.

Light: Let's go shopping first.

Chunhai: Don't park indiscriminately, be careful of being detained.

She looked back at the motorcycle parked not far away.

Hikari: Don't worry, it'll be fine after a while.

Harumi: That's my car!

Light: Long-winded!

After a few words of nonsense, she put away her phone and walked to the motorcycle, feeling relieved again.

That's great......

The kiss at the time of farewell, as if he didn't care at all, was probably part of the farewell ceremony.

“……”

That's great...... Is it?

Being kissed by a girl of the same age - even though it's on the face - should be a little thoughtful, right?

Or did he have no thoughts about her at all?

"Tsk."

Hikaru Takikawa frowned, scratched his head, and took a deep breath.

I don't want to.

Back in the car, staring at the car keys he gave her for a while, then inserting the keyhole, she started the motorcycle, and circled around the port again.

Finding a café nearby to sit in, she ordered a cup of coffee, asked for a piece of cake, and filled her stomach a little.

She got up early in the morning, was busy packing her things, and made a fool of her breakfast, and was now a little hungry.

"Hmm, it's so sweet......"

A sweet little cake entered her stomach, suppressing hunger and a trace of chaotic thoughts in her heart.

Taking out her phone, she clicked on the map and memo to reconfirm today's itinerary.

"Well, it's about four hours to get to Hakodate by half-past eleven. After disembarking from the boat, ride for more than an hour to the hot spring inn in Huishan...... That's it for today. ”

She didn't lie to him, she did have a plan early on. Although the planned itinerary is not complete, and the original planned departure time is not the current one.

It was a bit hasty to make the decision yesterday and set off today, but it was much better than going out unprepared.

You just need to adjust the date of the trip and refine this aspect of things, and you will be fine...... She comforted herself so much.

She is a self-cycler, so she has freedom in all aspects, and her itinerary can be adjusted at any time.

Ding Ding Ding –

Hikaru Takikawa stared at his phone for a while, when an electronic ringtone suddenly sounded on the bar.

She sat up straight and looked at it and asked, "What is this?" ”

"Sail Reminder." The shopkeeper inside said, "If you have a customer who wants to take the ferry, you can leave now." There is still plenty of time, so you can be less stressful. ”

"Ah, thanks for the reminder, it's time for me to go."

"You're welcome."

Leaving the café, Hikaru Takikawa got on his motorbike and headed back to the port, then followed the directions on the way and prepared to ride on the boat.

The ferry ticket had already been bought when she came, and it was the off-season, or most of the time this route was off-season, and there was basically no time when she couldn't buy a ticket.

However, there are quite a few cars that ferry across the sea, and most of them are trucks.

It's not the first time she's taken a ferry, but every time she sees a car driving into a boat, it's still something new.

Now, she can experience this novelty herself.

Ride a bicycle from the designated route to the ship, enter the cabin, and then find a place to park under the guidance of the ship's staff, and when Hikaru Takikawa got off the bus, there were already many large and small vehicles parked in the cabin.

"That's a lot of cars......"

Before leaving the cabin below and heading to the cabin lounge above, she stopped up the stairs to take a picture.

Click!

There were also a few passengers who were also going up behind her, silently looking at the riding gear on her body, she didn't delay and hurried up.

Exiting the cargo hold, the deck is outside, and a fenced aisle restricts the passenger's movement area, but it is not too strict.

Hikaru Takikawa took a slight turn on the deck, took a few photos, and looked back at the port of Aomori that was about to leave.

"The weather is really nice."

Seeing that it was almost over, she followed the aisle to the entrance of the cabin.

There is a sign on the door that says that once the ferry has started sailing, it is impossible to leave the cabin.

She already knew this, and she still felt a little pity. However, there are many windows inside the cabin, so the view will not be affected too much.

Inside the cabin, there is a somewhat long aisle in front of you.

The frames hanging on both sides are full of famous scenery from Aomori and Hokkaido, and as she walked and watched, she even saw the lanterns of the Tsugaraka Festival.

Taking advantage of the fact that there was no one before and after, she took a photo of the aisle and posted it into the group along with the photos she had taken before.

Harumi: Got on board?

Hikari: Uh-huh.

Kazuha: Is it the Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry, I feel that the inside of the ferry is a little more advanced.

Hikari: yes.

Starfish: Just like a high-end hotel......

There are two shipping companies on the route between Aomori and Hakodate, and the other is cheaper, but the boat is also smaller and less comfortable to sit on.

Passing through the walkway, the interior of the ferry is spacious and bright, and it does not give a feeling of oppression at all.

Hikaru Takikawa walked casually, first found a window seat and sat down, looking at the clear blue sky outside and the choppy sea below.

At 11:35 a.m., the whistle sounded and the ferry slowly left Aomori Port.

Hikari: I'm leaving.

She messaged friends and family, then got up and left her window seat to wander around the cabin.

The flight takes three hours and fifty minutes, which is almost four hours. During this time, most of the passengers' needs such as food, shelter and rest can be met in addition to leaving the cabin.

Walk around the vending machine area where you can find drinks, snacks, instant noodles and the like, opposite the hot water and the sea-view restaurant.

"There are so few people......

Walking around from the entrance, Hikaru Takikawa still didn't see a few people, as if the passengers who had just boarded the ship with her had all jumped into the sea while she was wandering around on the deck.

She continued her walk through the dining room and took a seat in an area with sofas and a TV.

When she got here, she finally saw a few people.

The TV was on, the commercials were playing, no one was watching, and the passengers she saw were lying on the couches.

If you want to sleep, there is a special lounge in front of you where you can lie down and pillows are provided.

Hikaru Takikawa tried to warn them, but seeing that they all seemed to be asleep, he sat down anyway.

After two glances at TV, she had no interest in advertising. There was a remote control underneath, and she didn't bother to get it.

“……”

It seems like suddenly there is nothing to do.

The messages on her mobile phone were frequent for a while when she got on the boat just now, and now they are gradually falling silent.

Hikaru Takikawa was stunned for a moment, leaned back, and collapsed on the sofa.

When she was left with only herself, she had to re-examine the fact that she was leaving Aomori, her companions and her family to travel alone in a place that could be said to be very unfamiliar.

Isn't it too hasty to go out on the first day of summer vacation?

Isn't it too lonely to go out alone?

Traveling around Hokkaido alone, is she really ready?

When she was in high spirits, the questions that could be refuted with enthusiasm were quietly and at the same time emerging in her heart.

The beginning of the journey cooled her enthusiasm a little, and she found herself regretting it.

“……”

She turned her head to look out the window.

The blue sky and blue sea are so vast that people are frightening.

The ferry is slowly moving away from the port of Aomori and there is no turning back until it reaches its destination, Hakodate.

When I arrived in Hakodate, I immediately took a boat back!

This thought suddenly popped up in her heart, so she couldn't ignore it, so she simply thought about it.

It used to be four hours, and when you come back, it's eight hours, and the day's light is floating on the sea......

The reaction of family, the reaction of friends...... Kazuha and Harumi will definitely laugh at her, although they won't be malicious either.

There is also the cost of traveling back and forth - riding a motorcycle on the boat costs an additional 3,000 yen per trip!

Buzz –

The phone vibrated suddenly, interrupting her thoughts.

It was Morimi who sent her a message alone.

Kazuha: Did you leave Mutsu Bay?

She turned her head to look out the window, and looked down in reply.

Light: It takes four hours, how can it be so fast.

Kazuha: It's been a long time.

Hikari: yes.

Kazuha: Do you regret it?

“……”

Pinching his phone, Hikaru Takikawa was stunned for a moment, and asked himself again in his heart.

Do you regret it?

Thinking back to what had just come to mind, she realized that it seemed to be just that.

A little worried, a little scared, a little overwhelmed.

But now, she has no plans to turn back.

Buzz –

Morimi picked up his phone.

Hikari: One leaf is terrible.

"What do you say all of a sudden......"

The next message followed.

Hikari: If you want a Hokkaido souvenir as a gift, tell me in advance. If I miss it, I won't look back.

“……”

Morimi opened his mouth, then smiled a little.

She didn't seem to need her to worry anymore.

Yiye: Liuhuating's wine candy, bring me a few boxes.

Hikari: It's expensive.

Kazuha: Please.

Hikari: You're welcome.

Pinching his phone, Hikaru Takikawa smiled for no reason, and suddenly felt more relaxed.

She could also detect the reason for the change in her mentality - just because of a casual conversation with Kazuha.

At the end of the day, I was still afraid of being alone.

But it's not a shameful drawback, everyone is like that, so she doesn't plan to overcome it.

"So be it."

So be it, enjoy the trip, complete the tour, and get back to everyone.

Naoko's vigilance, Kazuha's bad intentions, and starfish's recklessness...... And any attitude he has, let me figure out how to face it after I go back.

Hikaru Takikawa took a breath and looked out the window.

Her journey has just begun.

Grand Chapter.

I've written three books, and it seems that this is the third time I've used the title of "Long Holiday......

(End of chapter)