"It was you, who was kicking up a fuss because-" Natsuki pointed at Jimin, accusing him.

"Me?! I wasn't, I just- well..." Jimin, however, couldn't find the words to defend himself.

"Uh oh~ you were just, what, Aki-kun?" Fumiya peeked from behind, chiming in.

"Come on, now!" Yoongi came to rescue Jimin at the end, "Suki, aren't we just wasting time? Where do you want us to go?" he said, turning to Natsuki.

"Ah, right! Let's just go. Follow my lead!!" and just like that, Natsuki sprinted out of their room.

Taehyung and Natsuki had finally managed to make everyone agree on going outside.

~~~

"Since we still haven't changed our clothes yet, I thought this was the only right time to do this, what do you think?" Natsuki's eyes sparkled as she looked at all of them.

The ocean waves could be heard closely, the smell of fresh ocean air lingered in the atmosphere as they arrived at the location which Natsuki chose.

"Riding bicycles?" Jimin asked out loud.

"Yes, right. Once we change into yukatas, we can't ride it." Yoongi nodded, "this seems fun to me. Nice idea, Suki." and finished his sentence with a smile, giving Natsuki a loving pat on head.

"The clouds seem a bit dense though!" Fumiya looked up, covering his eyes with his hand to provide shade.

"That's why we are early here." Natsuki's face spelled 'I know, I'm smart' with imaginary words.

Taehyung couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, abruptly stopping when he saw Yoongi smiling at her too.

"I'll go and ask them about the price for the rent." Haruki came forward, pointing at the small office-like booth, sitting prettily at the far end of the beach.

"Alright!" everyone agreed.

Natsuki then turned to Taehyung, "What do you think, Yukio?" her eyes were warm, gentle and so was her voice. It melted every negative thought from his mind.

"About the bicycles? I think they're pretty fun, yeah." he smiled.

"Oh, no, about the little forest adventure on bikes while we're on an island."

"Ah!" he exclaimed, his gaze turning to linger over the entrance of the bicycle path, which opened into the forest, "I do like the little forest."

Then his eyes found Natsuki's again, "so, I think I'm going to love it."

For a second, Natsuki didn't speak, just looking at him as he smiled.

"I'm glad." it was the most she could look at him without smiling like a crazy person, so she looked away.

"Guys," Haruki was back. "There's a small problem."

"What is it?" Fumiya inquired.

"They only have 4 bicycles left."

"What?!" Natsuki's face fell, brows furrowed.

"It's okay, Natsuki." Taehyung quickly said as he noticed her glum face.

"Yes, it's alright. We can share." Yoongi joined in. "Right, Jimin?"

"Ah, yes, absolutely!"

"Really? Okay then." Natsuki sighed, smiling again.

"Let's go."

~~~

"Psst! Do I have to go with him?" Jimin whispered into Fumiya's ear.

"Why? Don't you like Yoongi?"

"What!?" Jimin accidentally exclaimed a bit too loudly.

"What's the matter, Fumiya-kun?" Yoongi showed up with two helmets in his hands.

"You know that I didn't mean it like that, don't you, Aki-kun?" Fumiya whispered back to Jimin while Yoongi was still waiting for one of them to speak up.

Jimin just gave him a look of warning as if to say, 'never do that again.'

"It's nothing." Jimin pulled Yoongi along with him as they went to fetch their bicycle.

Fumiya sighed, smiling and went to get himself a bicycle as well.

"Are you sure about this...?" meanwhile, Taehyung and Natsuki stood in front of their bicycle.

"Of course! Trust me on this!" she said cheerfully, putting her helmet on and got on the bicycle.

"Alright, if you say so." he agreed, tilting his head as he proceeded to wear the helmet while still speaking, "just to give you a heads up, I've never rode one. I mean, not like this."

"Don't be scared, Yukio, I'm good at it." she gave him a reassuring look which was enough to shut him up and he finally hopped on the bicycle as Natsuki gripped the handle bar.

"I'm not scared-"

"It's good if you're not, but, safety first!" she didn't let him finish and slightly turned around to grab his hands and wrapped them securely around her waist.

"Eh," he mumbled, low-key flustered.

"Here we go!" she pressed her foot on the pedal, surprisingly, having no difficulties with Taehyung sitting behind her.

"Hey, Suki-chan, that's cheating. Wait for me." Fumiya screamed as they rode past everyone, Natsuki's laughter lingering in their ears even after she was already in the forest.

The path was paved, especially made for riding the bicycles while being surrounded with trees, pure nature.

Taehyung kept his hands firmly on her waist, feeling the wind playing with his fingers as he gazed around him.

The trees stood tall against the sides of the pavement, swaying with the wind which was brought by the ocean waves.

"I love how the wind feels on my face. Don't you?" Natsuki's voice was loud enough for Taehyung to hear.

"I do," he answered truthfully.

The slow pace of the bicycle allowed him to look at the small birds sitting on the trees, bees nibbling on the flowers, or just flying around the leaves.

"Suki," he started, fighting the urge to rest his head on her back, "thank you."

"Eh? What for?" she chuckled, turning the handle bar at the curve of the path.

"For giving me such an opportunity to experience things like this." he then paused for a while. Natsuki didn't speak either.

"I'm also thankful for the little group of friends I've got because of you." and he let his intrusive thoughts win, finally leaning more on Natsuki.

She stiffened, clearly feeling his cheek resting on her back, the warmth seeping in through the thin fabric of her dress.

"Oh, that's really not much. I'm also glad that we're... friends." she said, her words getting gentler as she spoke.

"Ah! I want to do this more often." Taehyung sighed with a content smile as he let his hands relax, somewhat.

"Right, m-me too." she was clearly struggling to find words.

"Suki-chan!!" suddenly, Fumiya's voice fell on their eardrums, slicing the air sharply as the sound of others approaching them was heard.

Taehyung raised his head, looking for Fumiya and others.

"Let's race!" Fumiya suggested as he caught up with them.

"Hey, go easy on us. You're alone but I'm sitting behind Suki." Taehyung spoke before Natsuki could.

Now that was something new!

"Oh, I can see that very well. I will go easy on you." Fumiya laughed with a teasing hint in his words which weren't foreign to Natsuki.

'Oh, dear, Yukio, you're only giving him a chance to tease me more.' she thought and let out an internal frustrated sigh.

"No, we don't need you to go easy on anyone. We're here to enjoy, not race." Natsuki changed the topic, still looking forward.

"Ah, such a mood killer. I'll race with Haru-kun then." saying that, Fumiya pressed the pedals harder, trying to catch up with Haruki who rode past them long ago, while he was talking with Natsuki and Taehyung.

Now they were alone. The calm, comforting silence returned again.

"Um, Natsuki, if you're tired, we can switch so you can also enjoy it better." Taehyung suggested, worried that she might be tired already.

"There's no need-"

"I insist."

Natsuki had no choice but to apply the brakes, pulling up on the side of the road.

The places were switched, roles reversed.

"Hm? Why don't you pedal?" Natsuki asked as Taehyung was just standing still, doing nothing.

After listening to her, Taehyung turned around, giving her a knowing look.

"W-what?"

"Safety first?"

"Oh, yes." she looked down, silently slipping her hands around his slim yet firm waist.

Only if she could tell how her heart did a flip at that moment! But, maybe no one will ever know.

"This feels nice." Taehyung commented, smiling as he pedalled with ease, riding in a smooth zigzag motion.

Natsuki couldn't help but chuckle at the childish yet cute way, with which Taehyung was riding the bicycle. It was so refreshing that the laughter naturally bubbled up in her chest.

"Watch out for the trees, Yukio." she was still giggling, clutching on his shirt.

Listening to her laugh, Taehyung started laughing too. It was full of innocence, pure joy and it filled the air with cheerful energy.

At the moment, nothing else really mattered.

"I wish the time would stop." she said it out aloud. Yes, it was a mistake on her side.

"You think so too?" Taehyung said, voice surprised.

"Huh? Did I say that out loud?"

"Yes, you did." he chuckled, "but, I want the time to stop too. I love it here. I like spending time with you."

Natsuki was totally silent. What could she answer? Her heart was doing a summersault in the ribcage and her mind was empty. All her brain could think of was how his voice sounded so close to her, so sincere and filled with happiness.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, they were already reaching the end of the path.

Happiness is short lived but worth living for, even if it ends before you know.

"Was it fun?" Yoongi asked her as soon as she got down the bicycle, not really expecting an answer from her. She nodded absentmindedly.

He helped her remove the helmet, laughing at her zoned-out state. Taehyung also got down, parking the bicycle back to its place.

"Hello? Suki? Tanaka Natsuki?" Yoongi tapped her cheek, bringing her back to earth.

"You look like someone who was run over by a flock of birds, look at your hair." he also helped her tidying her hair, brushing the uneven surfaces smooth with his fingers.

"Um, Yoongi, I think Jimin was calling for you." Taehyung interrupted them, catching him off guard.

"Oh, really?" Yoongi frowned, "I was with him just now though!" he continued to brush Natsuki's hair, occasionally glancing at Taehyung.

"I think he really needs you though!" he stepped closer, "I'll help her. You should go."

"Alright." Yoongi dropped his hand back to his side and walked away.

Taehyung moved even closer to Natsuki, attempting to continue brushing her hair.

"I'm alright, Yukio." she smiled, seemingly awkward.

"Hm?" he tilted his head to the side in confusion.

'Oh, holy heavens! Who would be able to refuse that face?' Natsuki panicked, internally having a conflict with herself.

Her heart wanted to stay there but her brain was sending her mixed signals.

"...okay, go ahead." she gave in.

It was only fair! If she had let Yoongi do it for her, she couldn't refuse Taehyung's help either. Right?

Taehyung didn't say anything, only smiled while his eyes were focused on her hair.

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