Akari's POV

The early sun rays disturbed my sleep and made me woke up early. It was still dawn, pastel colors of pink, blue, and orange spread wide across the sky, but hidden behind the thick fog.

I fluttered my eyes opened, I got up and saw Ken still sleeping but he was shivering. I knew it, how dumb of him to give me his jacket when he was cold himself. Did he think I wouldn't notice how his hands were shivering last night? The jacket was now pretty much dry after being close to the fire last night. I placed the jacket on Ken as he just keeps sleeping soundly. Not wanting to disturb him I got out of the cave and find a place I could drink water since my throat felt dry. I spied a blue stream nearby, it swerved through the trees. I shook the jacket first to release the water that may be still soaked with the jacket.

I followed the path to the stream. The river was so clear the pebbles underneath could be seen. I took a sip from the stream, the water tasted sweet and divine, unlike any other water that I've drunk before, it was purer. I splashed some of the water on my face and instantly rejuvenated. As I stood up a sudden adrenaline rushed through me and lost my balance. Just when I was about to fall hard on the rocks, a hand supported my head and prevented me from falling.

Ken's POV

I heard the sound of a cloth being shaken, I took a peak. It was elephant girl shaking some exert dust on my jacket. She turned around, I immediately closed my eyes and pretended to be still asleep. 'What's she doing?' Soon I felt a warmness clothing me. I felt her presence was gone after a while, I opened my eyes and saw the jacket on me. I chuckled, who knew she can do this kind of stuff too? She's not so mean after all. I got up, it's time for me to get up too. 'Where is elephant girl going anyway? Is she leaving me behind?' I decided to follow her.

Then I saw her at the stream drinking water by herself, she should've woken me up. 'Maybe she didn't want to wake me up?' I was almost happy. 'There's no way she would be like that. Wait--but considering our conversation last night and what she just did earlier, she might be hiding who she is after all. I approached her, getting ready to scare her from behind, but she lost her balanced so I rushed towards her and held her up from her head.

She stared at me in awe. I helped her stand up properly. "You ok? You look like you just saw a ghost," I asked looking at her pale face.

"I was just surprised to see you here."

"That was my intention," I grinned, "I actually followed you to scare you but this works too.. I guess."

"I thought you were still sleeping?"

"How did you expect me to not wake up when you shook my jacket, making loud noises?"

"Oh right. Sorry."

"Hey this kind of situation, it's similar to when we first met in the library huh?" I remembered the time we first met when I prevented her from falling in the library from holding her just like I did now.

"Yeah... You're right," she smiled. I froze. 'She smiled...? It wasn't the first but, her smile was somehow much brighter this time.' At this moment I think my heart raced a bit.

'Elephant girl from last night and today were a bit different than her usual selves from the other days. She was kinder, more patient, easier to approach, and much prettier.'

Soon we got our things and decided to go back to the inn. But the problem was not knowing the way home. We wandered around for awhile, but it didn't seem to help. Just then the bushes rustled and two chipmunks came out in front of us. One was bigger than the other, the smaller one had two white stripes.

"Oh? Isn't this Riku??" Elephant girl said as she bent down and start petting Riku. It looked like it was happy and rubbed it's fur again her hand.

"But, who's this next to Riku?" I asked, the bigger chipmunk slightly bowed.

"Didn't Miwako-san said that Riko was lost or separated from its mom? Maybe it's Riku's mother?" Elephant girl said. "I'm glad it reunited with its mother.'

"Yeah." 'She did say something like that. But why are they here?' Then they started running away. But then they stopped and looked back at us and kept running and glanced at us again. "I think they're telling us to follow them?"

"It seems like it."

We followed Riku and it's mother, who knew they would lead us back to the inn. I guess it was their way of paying back the gratitude for helping Riku with its injury.

Natsumi's POV

I woke up to someone tapping and shaking my face. Mari kept calling my name, I ignored her. I blinked slowly, my eyes still not fully opening. I yawned. Just as I was about to go back to sleeping, Mari squished my cheeks together with force immediately making my eyes to fully open in shock.

Mari giggled, "Let's go watch the sunset!"

>>>>>>>>>>>

Along with the boys and Aoi-sensei too we went to the cliff near the inn that was made for sightseeing the mountains and the forests. I held the cold, firm railings and leaned forward excitedly. Together, we waited for the sun to rise up.

"Akari-chan and Ken-kun aren't back yet... I'm worried about them," Mari started. "I told them it was okay to come back today but, I really hope they're safe."

"I'm sure they'll be fine," Ryouta assured Mari.

"Those kids! I should've gone with them... if something happens to them. It's all my fault," Aoi-sensei said and her voice started to shake. "As a teacher, I should've acted more responsible." She covered her face and started to cry.

"Sensei....," As I was about to pat her back, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Others noticed it too and hoped filled us we thought it would be Aki-chan and Ken. We cautiously went near the forest But after a minute, nothing came out of the forest. We sighed and began to turn back but I felt a presence and quickly turned around. There stood Ken and Akari, panting after a long walk they had.

"Natsu--?" Akari started but before she could finish, I ran and hugged her.

"Aki-channn~!" I started to cry. "I'm so glad you're safe and sound." The rest also saw them and a gleamed of joy spread throughout their faces.

"Akari-chan!!!!" Mari cried as she hugged us too. "I was worried about you!!!"

"Akari, next time don't forget anything in a forest!!" Aoi-sensei said as she started to sniff and join the hug as well.

"Umm-- guys.....it's getting a bit difficult to....breathe..!" Akari tried to speak. All three of us instantly let go of her.

"Ah, sorry..!" I apologized.

"We were just so happy to see you again," Mari smiled and wiped her tears away. Sensei nodded agreeing with what Mari said.

"I didn't think you guys would be this worried about me...," Akari said quietly.

I held her shoulders, shook her, and took a deep breath as I shouted, "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?! OF COURSE, WE WERE WORRIED! WE ARE FRIENDS. FRIENDS LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER AND GET WORRIED!!!"

"Now, now, chill out Natsumi. You're gonna make Akari want to back to the forest rather than hear you scream anymore," Ryouta said as he chuckled. I felt my veins popping out.

"HUH?? WHADDYA SAY??!" I chased after him to punch him but he managed to easily read my attacks and dodge them all.

Mari's POV

"I'm sorry, I worried you guys....," Akari apologized.

"Umm.. excuse me? Am I invisible to you guys?" Ken asked. "How come no one's worried about me?!" Ken started yelling and he started pouting.

"I think you should take a shower first, then let's eat breakfast together! Did you eat anything last night?" Akari shook her head. Aoi sensei patted Akari's shoulder and took her inside the inn.

"Let's head back inside, it's cold..," Shou muttered and rubbed his hands onto his arms.

"Yeah, let's go," I agreed and went inside too.

"AH! YOU GUYS! WAIT FOR ME!!!" Natsumi and Ryouta rushed behind us and came in as well. Everyone leaving Ken behind.

Ken's POV

How cruel....these people. They ignored me the entire time. How could they do that?? I sniffed.

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Akari's POV

Ken and I told the others about what happened last night up to how we arrive back to the inn. But it was just mostly Ken explaining.

"Huh??? So Riku led you guys here??" Mari smiled. "I wish I could see Riku again!! But I'm glad it found its mother back!"

"Yeah," I smiled, thinking back how we met Riku and its mother.

"I'm glad that the two of you are back safe and sound! You should wash up we'll be leaving right after we eat!" Aoi-sensei started.

"Right, I can't believe we're going to be leaving soon...," Mari started.

"This is the last trip we'll go on together, and it's already coming to an end!!" Natsumi said.

"Natsumi, you're, making it sound as if this is the last time we'll see each other or something!" Ryouta hit Natsumi's back and laughed.

"Ow! Don't hit me you jerk!!" Natsumi quickly pulled away and hit Ryouta back.

'Is it just me or did the relationship between Natsumi and Ryouta changed? They somehow seem closer?? '

>>>>>>>>>>>

We ate our breakfast. got in the van and began to leave the inn. I'll miss this peaceful place that we shared memories together and I really hope I could visit here again. 'Maybe I'll go with Granny next time' I smiled to myself.

"Now that I notice, Natsumi and Ryouta, you guys are wearing similar outfits!!!" Ken exclaimed. All our attention turned to the two of them and they looked at each other. Both of them were wearing an identical orange striped t-shirt with blue jeans. However, Natsumi was wearing short jeans and Ryouta was wearing long jeans.

"Oh? What's the matching outfit?" Mari smiled sheepishly. "Is this what they call 'fate?!'" Natsumi gasped.

"Huh? No! Ryouta don't go around copying someone else's fashion!" Natsumi glared at Ryouta and took a seat near the end of the bus.

"E-Eh?? Natsumi?? Are you still mad at me? It was just a game!! And I did not copy what you wore!" Ryouta followed her and seems Natsumi was mad about something Ryouta. "And I didn't copy your fashion!!!"

'I wonder what happened on the night, Ken and I weren't there.' Mari and I went to the back of the bus and took a seat together across Natsumi. "Mari, did something happen last night?" I asked.

"Haha...yeah," Mari started.

<<<<<<<<<<< *flashback*

Mari's POV

We safely returned to the inn, we waited for Akari-chan and Ken-kun's arrival, we thought they would be just behind us. But soon it started to rain, we decided to go inside and took a shower from the long day. All of us gather together in the boys' room, we were worried that Ken-kun and Akari-chan still haven't made it back. Soon, we got a call from Ken-kun, we were notified from them that both Akari-chan and Ken-kun were safe and sound, but since the rain doesn't look like it would stop anytime soon, I told them to come back in the morning.

It's not that I'm not worried, I really am, but if it's Ken-kun, even though he's a player, he'll surely protect Akari-chan. And coming back while the rain is falling might be dangerous. The call was cut halfway, but I think Ken-kun said his phone ran out of battery or something I couldn't hear it properly, we tried calling once more but the call didn't reach him.

We decided to do something to kill time. Natsumi suggested playing cards; she went back to the girls' room and brought back a set of UNO cards. Things got a bit heated when we began playing the second round.

Natsumi called out UNO and she only had one card in her hands. Then the turn goes on Shou-kun called out UNO as well. Meanwhile, I had the most cards in my hands, I thought I would lose. But then Ryouta turn came, he placed a Wild Draw 4 Card, the next person, in turn, was Natsumi, so she had to draw four cards. She glared at Ryouta, but Ryouta didn't seem to notice it. The turn goes on, Shou drew a card and no one had only a card in hand anymore, and my cards began to decrease too.

However conflicts happened whenever Natsumi's turn came, she managed to decrease her cards, but every time she does that Ryouta just kept adding more cards to her hand by putting down Draw cards. Finally, Natsumi managed to call out UNO again but before her turn comes again, Ryouta used a Reverse Card on her and her turn never came. It was Shou who ended up winning the game though. Ever since then, Natsumi has been ignoring Ryouta and began treating him coldly.

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Akari's POV

Mari explained the whole thing and sighed at the end of her explanation. "I can't believe she's still mad at him, well she almost won a couple times but Ryouta just had to bomb her with lots of power card."

"Knowing it's Natsumi, it's expected that she would get this competitive over a UNO game," I said.

"True," Mari giggled. "But, I'm sure she'll be forgiving him soon."

"Yeah," I laughed. Shortly, my phone rang. I checked the dialer, it was an unknown number. I decided to pick the phone up.

"Hello is this Miura Akari-san? This is from the Etsuko Hospital."

>>>>>>>>>>>

Sweat dripped down my forehead and I was already panting heavily. Without a moment of hesitation, I swung the hospital door open.

"Granny!" I ran towards her, who was sitting on the bed. I held Granny's hands.

"Akari-chan, welcome back," she smiled, happy to see me.

"Granny! What happened? Are you okay now??" I started bombarding questions at her until she laughed.

"I'm fine, Akari-chan. I wasn't feeling very well this morning because I've been sleeping late these days. It's okay, I'll be okay once I get some rest, that's all! Sorry for worrying you, Akari-chan," Granny stroked my head, calming me down.

I exhaled in relief and shook my head, "No, sorry for not being there when you needed me. I'm so sorry, I didn't notice—"

"Shh...it's alright," she pulled me into a warm hug. "I'm okay now and everything's fine. You're also back, so there's nothing to worry about, right?" I nodded in silence. We stayed like this, hugging each other, for a while and parted.

"Granny, I'll try my best, I'll try my best to protect and take care of you so please don't hesitate to tell me if something's wrong," I gave a small smile.

"Of course, Akari-chan," she reflected a smile back.

A/N:  |･д･)ﾉ *hides behind a wall* Hai domo~! At this point we're not even sure if we still have any readers (ಥ﹏ಥ) *mutters* really hope we still do... *sniff* We're really SORRY for not updating for a long time (*_ _)人 As you guys must've noticed we're back with three chapters!! Woww~ *inserts clapping BGM* It's Christmas break so we'll be back with a couple more updates. Oh right, Merry Christmas everyone!!! We hope you guys also have an awesome holiday! Don't forget to take care of your health since it's getting colder!!

- Kuroi & Yukine