"Okay." Shuhei nodded in compliance.
Shuhei turned over in tent, sleeping on one side and facing his senior.
It was a relief to Daichi that he was at last disconnected. But, another problem is; Shuhei facing him made Daichi quite annoyed too. He had the impression of continuous staring.
"Uh..." Wanting to protest once more, Daichi told Shuhei to back off. But when he noticed Shuhei had closed his eyes, he swallowed back his complaints.
Thus, the most attractive person in Sakuraoka Gakuen, Daichi Nishiyama, makes an effort to understand and kindly tolerate all issues.
"Alright, forget about it, just let it be."
Daichi also attempted to close his eyes.
Perhaps due to their close proximity or deliberate action, Shuhei's heated breath would consistently strike Daichi's ear.
Daichi's closed eyes widened once more.
"Hey, are you breathing or are you intentionally blowing into my ear?" Daichi looked annoyed as he put one hand over his ears.
"We are too close to each other to avoid it." Daichi shuddered slightly as he heard Shuhei's low voice clearly next to his ears.
"Yes, but try to breathe slowly. Please stop acting as though you are out of oxygen."
There was just a small, dim portable stick light inside the tent, and it was positioned in the upper corner. Daichi was blinded by the dim light and failed to notice Shuhei's unceasing smile.
"Okay, I'll breathe slowly." Shuhei promised.
"Good. Keep your word." Daichi gave his "bedmate" one last quick look before closing his eyes once more.
Nothing went wrong this time, like breath inadvertently blowing into his ear. But even an hour later, Daichi was still awake.
The brown-skinned eyes of the young Nishiyama gazed at the tent's ceiling as his ears tuned in to the sound of crickets singing.
It was cold, so Daichi wrapped an arm around his own shoulders.
"It's just a small forest hill, but the feeling of cold is reminiscent of the mountains." Daichi complained again.
He looked at his "bedmate" once more, fed up with gazing at the ceiling.
Daichi could still make out Shuhei's distinct facial features from this close range, even in the absence of bright light. especially since that was the face he had studied so intently the afternoon before.
Daichi muttered, "Well, I am sorry to admit he's handsome."
Daichi's eyelids grew heavy from staring at other people's faces. He eventually drifted off to sleep without realizing it.
•~•
When Daichi woke up in the morning, his face and Shuhei's were so close that they were practically fused together.
Daichi looked surprised. To his further surprise, he gave Shuhei a firm hug with both of his hands. Then, his legs' awkward position sandwiching Shuhei's waist presented another awkward issue.
"Ehhhhhh???"
Quickly pulling his four limbs back, Daichi fled the tent as if he had been electrocuted.
Daichi's bright red face caught the attention of a few slanderous students as soon as he was outside.
"Senpai, what's up with your red face? Are you hot? Eh, but it's still early."
Daichi instantly gave the highly inquisitive student a stern look. "I have a cold allergy," he exclaimed.
The handsome Nishiyama's first outburst of anger, a sign that he was prepared to take on other rumor mongers. All of this was done out of a simple desire to stop being the focus of rumors.
But Mr. Sakaguchi called them all in.
"Let's have breakfast, everyone. Following that, we will work on reforestation in this hill's western portion."
Students erupted in noise upon receiving the notification from Mr. Sakaguchi.
"Eh, reforestation? Does that mean we must all plant trees?"
"Oh my! I'm sure my nail art will be ruined!"
"I'm afraid of worms!"
Daichi also voiced complaints. "I've finally realized what this activity's primary goal is. As it happens, our teachers forced us to till the soil and plant crops!"
"There is a difference." Daichi was suddenly confronted by Shuhei's voice.
Startled, Daichi yells at Shuhei, telling him to "get away from me!"
Daichi pushed abruptly, and for a moment Shuhei's expression went blank.
"Daichi...,"
The youth whose name was called out was indifferent. Rather than approaching Shuhei, he stayed well away from him in the throng.
"Calm down, everyone. Just a few dozen dead trees are being replaced; this isn't extensive reforestation."
After learning of Mr. Sakaguchi's estimated amount, the students became somewhat more composed. That being said, protests continue to occur.
"Morning is almost over. Now hurry, eat, and prepare your tent for storage. After that, come with me to the planting area."
As directed by Mr. Sakaguchi, all of the students began eating. After finishing, they hurried to put away their tents and set out to the reforestation location.
"Always remember to work in pairs with your friends." Mr. Sakaguchi repeated his caution.
"Understood."
After completing his tent, Shuhei went up to Daichi after hearing Mr. Sakaguchi's remarks.
He remarked, "As a team, we must come together."
Daichi gave a snort and continued forward without responding.
Shuhei's eyes darkened at Daichi's reluctance.
•~•
It's true what Mr. Sakaguchi says. There aren't many young trees that need to be planted. It is just that the kids were not used to digging in the ground, so they had trouble with it.
akin to Daichi. Bit by bit, he scooped up soil with both hands. I was sweating like it was raining when I finally managed to make two holes.
"How many more holes need to be made?" Grinning, Daichi pondered while resting the shovel like an elderly grandpa on a stick.
Shuhei knelt and placed a tiny tree in the hole Daichi had dug. He counted the tree trunks in the bag that Mr. Sakaguchi gave him after hearing his senior's question.
"Five more trees," Shuhei mentioned.
"So, seven trees planted per group?" Daichi narrowed his eyes, trying to keep the sweat from falling.
Daichi stiffened as a gentle stroke was applied.
"At the very least, wipe your sweat before continuing to work." Shuhei stated casually. His hand was concentrating on wiping the sweat from Daichi's brow with a handkerchief.
Daichi's feet took two steps back as a reflex. "Not again, not ever again. I don't want to be the subject of gossip!"
"What are you mumbling about, Daichi?" Shuhei cocked his head.
"It's nothing! Anyway, don't mind if my sweat turns into a torrent! I'm tired, you understand?"
"Leave the digging to me if you are tired."
"No way!"
Yes, the obstinate Daichi volunteered to be a dirt digger in this two-person team. Daichi, unfortunately, is not a manual worker. His breathing has been labored since the first excavation.
Shuhei offered to take over the task, but Daichi believed that whoever did the heavy lifting was the best.
Daichi almost fainted after finishing the last dig, reaping what he sowed. When they all fell down the hill, Daichi did not have a single ounce of strength left in him.
Shuhei was responsible for carrying him down the hill.
"Hey, Yoshimoto." Daichi, who was once again on Shuhei's back, called out.
"Hm?"
"Don't you mind carrying me?"
"No. you're light."
Daichi lightly tapped Shuhei on the shoulder. "That's not what I meant! People constantly compare us and refer to us as rivals. "I believe you are annoyed and dislike me, so you shouldn't be so nice to me."
"What did you say, Daichi who despises you?"
"You're constantly compared to others; you should despise that person, right?" Daichi cocked his head, trying to see Shuhei's expression from the side. "I even consider you my enemy."
Shuhei chuckled.
"What? What are you laughing at?"
"Daichi, it appears you're very honest, huh?"
Daichi's face was filled with confusion. "What do you mean?"
"You mentioning directly that you consider me your enemy is a little...unusual."
"What's so unusual about this?" Daichi was becoming irritated. "I just say like it if I like it and hate it if I hate it. What's so unusual about that?"
Shuhei didn't answer. But the smile didn't disappear from his normally expressionless face. Shuhei's expression returned to normal only after they arrived at the activity's starting point and dropped Daichi off.
"Thank you," Daichi said heartily.
Shuhei gave a nod. "My pleasure."
Down the hill, signaling the end of the event. Mr. Sakaguchi dismissed the students as soon as the supply bags were returned.
Everyone turned around and left, leaving their group of friends behind. Likewise, Daichi and Shuhei. The two of them, who appeared to be warming up to each other, exchanged cold looks.
Daichi acted hostile even after they met at school, as he always did.
•~•
The painting club ended at 6 p.m. Daichi took uninspired steps out of the art room.
Someone called Daichi from behind as he was changing his shoes in front of the lockers.
"Daichi."
The name's owner turned around. When he found out who had called him, his already wrinkled face became even more irritated.
"Why are you here? The lockers for the first graders are not here." Daichi frowned. He quickly put his shoes on, shut the locker, and turned to leave.
Shuhei, the person who had called Daichi earlier, trailed behind him. He eventually matched Daichi's steps and walked alongside him.
At first glance, they appeared to be friends who had gone home together.
"What are you doing following me?"
Shuhei cast a glance down the path they were about to take.
"I want to go home."
Daichi's brow furrowed slightly. "Is your home at the down of the hill?"
Shuhei replied with a nod.
Daichi snorted, not seeing any signs of deception on his interlocutor's face. He walked up and down the stairs one by one.
Daichi quickened his pace in response to the sound of footsteps beside him. However, Shuhei appears to have done the same thing.
Daichi glared at Shuhei, his hands on his hips, irritated.
"Don't follow my steps!"
Shuhei was stunned for a moment. "Uh…,"
"I mean, why do you do it when I slow down or speed up?"
The person being reprimanded appeared perplexed. "Um... maybe it is just your feelings," Shuhei said, scratching the back of his head despite the fact that it didn't itch.
Shuhei's act of acting innocently irritates Daichi for some reason.
"Then you go first. I don't want to be going with you!" Daichi said.
Shuhei tugged at the corners of his lips, forming a mocking crooked smile. "Why waste time walking together or alone when the result is the same?"
Daichi's gaze was drawn to Shuhei's slightly pointed teeth at that moment.
"Ah ... He has canine teeth ..." Daichi thought.