Chapter Text
“So, what are you doing this summer vacation, Yusaku?”
Takeru and his friend were descending the steps of Den City High School after another long day at school. All around them, students were chatting amongst themselves as they were making their own plans for the upcoming summer vacation. Many were planning picnics with their friends while others wanted to visit every shopping mall to enjoy the air conditioning. It was already well into July and the days were growing hotter as the annual summer heat descended onto the city.
“Nothing,” Yusaku said. “There isn’t anything I want to do, anyways.” And he was right about that. He never did anything every summer vacation except surf the web on his laptop in the plaza with Kusanagi and Café Nagi, his hot dog van. Before he met Kusanagi, he had been doing the exact same, albeit in his run-down apartment room. When it got too stuffy, he would be on his laptop directly outside of his home instead.
“I see…” Takeru looked down at his shoes. He appeared to be hesitating about asking something that was lingering on his mind. “Well… I don’t know if you’ll want to… but I was thinking…”
His friend stopped to look at him. “What is it?”
Takeru cleared his throat and straightened his back. “Well, I’m going back home to my friends and family for the summer. But since you mentioned not having any plans, I was wondering if you wanted to come with me.”
Yusaku was silent for a few seconds as he contemplated over this offer. “I don’t really know anything. I’ve never been out of Den City before.”
“You don’t have to know anything!” Takeru exclaimed. “Come on, I’d like you to meet my grandparents. I think they’ll really like you. Also, my best friend, Kiku! I know for a fact that she’ll absolutely adore you!”
“I don’t mind meeting them, but… what would I be doing in the countryside? I can’t swim nor can I play any sports.” It was basically a nice way of paraphrasing that he had literally no hobbies outside of the computer.
Takeru chuckled upon hearing this. His friend could be so clueless sometimes, though it was understandable given how he had lived independently all his life. “I’ll teach you everything there, so you don’t have to worry about a thing,” he reassured him.
The two had reached the city plaza, where it was bustling with activity. People of all ages were out and about, enjoying the various vendors and activities of the day. Kusanagi was waving to them from his truck, having already seen them approaching from afar.
“What’s up?” he greeted them as they reached Café Nagi. He was already preparing two glasses of iced coffee for his friends.
“I was asking Yusaku to come with me back to my hometown for the summer,” Takeru explained.
Kusanagi smiled at Yusaku. “I absolutely approve of this idea, but I don’t think he has any money for the train fare. I’d like to help him pay for it, but I can barely pay rent for my brother and I.”
Takeru grinned. “He doesn’t have to pay a cent.”
Yusaku turned to look at him in shock. “I won’t let you pay for it.”
“That’s not what I meant,” his friend said as he opened his backpack and took out two bright red tickets. “Remember that game I wanted to play when we were at the mall the other day? Well, when you weren’t looking, I won two train tickets! We both get a round-trip to anywhere in Japan completely free of charge!”
“I’ve never heard about this,” Yusaku said with his signature blank expression. “Is that why you asked me to go with you?”
Takeru was in disbelief. “I wasn’t going to let a perfectly good ticket go to waste!” He went and put his arm around the other boy’s shoulders. “Stop being such a stubborn grouch and come visit my hometown! You can bring your laptop, too. We have Wi-Fi in the countryside, you know.”
“Well…”
“You should go, Yusaku,” Kusanagi chimed in. “I’ll manage just fine here. Besides, knowing you, this may very well be your only chance to get out of this city in your lifetime.”
Yusaku sighed; two-against-one was not a battle he would win. “Fine, I will go.”
“Alright!” Takeru cheered. Kusanagi couldn’t have looked prouder.