It was another day of summer vacations.
My arms felt like they were no longer part of my body.
I walked out of the school gym slowly, bag slung over my shoulder, every step reminding me that Riku had absolutely no mercy in his heart. One day back, and he'd already reset my body to factory pain.
"Should've done more sit-ups during that month," I muttered to myself, flexing my fingers. Bad idea. Everything hurt.
The school grounds were quiet, almost empty. No classes, no bells, no rush. Just the summer air hanging heavy and warm, cicadas buzzing somewhere in the distance.
I liked this part.
Practice had been brutal, but it felt… right. Familiar. Like I was back where I belonged.
I headed home, cutting through the usual path, my thoughts slowly drifting away from badminton.
Today's the day.
Five days.
Beach resort.
Same trip, same families, same routine we'd followed for years.
It was almost funny how normal it sounded.
Every summer, both our families went together. No big reason. It just… happened once, then twice, and now it was a tradition. Parents planned it, we followed along.
And somehow, it had never been weird.
Until now.
I kicked a small stone on the road, watching it bounce ahead of me.
"Why does everything feel different this year?" I sighed.
Five days meant shared meals.
Shared schedules.
Same beach. Same hotel. Same everything.
And Saki.
I swallowed.
I told myself to calm down. This wasn't new. I'd done this trip more times than I could count. I'd shared rooms next to hers, eaten breakfast with her family, walked the beach with her laughing beside me.
So why was my chest tight just thinking about it?
I reached my street and slowed down instinctively.
Our houses stood there like always. Side by side. Nothing had changed.
And yet.
I stopped in front of my gate and looked next door.
Saki's probably packing right now.
That thought alone made my heart beat faster.
I rubbed the back of my neck and sighed. "Get it together, Haruto. It's just a trip."
Just a trip.
I opened the gate and stepped inside, already bracing myself for whatever chaos my brain was about to create over the next five days.
Summer vacation had only just begun.
And somehow, I had a feeling this trip was going to be anything but normal.
I dropped my bag by the door and kicked off my shoes, careful not to collapse right there in the entryway. My legs were filing a formal complaint.
"I'm home," I called out.
"Welcome back," Mom replied from the living room. "How was practice?"
I paused. Thought about Riku's smile. Thought about the floor. Thought about my soul leaving my body.
"…Refreshing," I said.
She didn't question it. Probably for the best.
I headed to my room and flopped onto the bed for exactly five seconds before remembering something important.
Packing.
I groaned and sat up. "Why does leaving for vacation require so much preparation when I'm just going to wear the same three shirts?"
I pulled my suitcase from under the bed and stared at it like it might pack itself out of pity.
Clothes first. Easy. I tossed in a couple of T-shirts, shorts, and then stopped.
Beach.
I dug around for my swimwear, found it, then hesitated.
For no reason. Absolutely no reason.
"…Stop thinking," I told myself and shoved it into the suitcase like it had personally offended me.
As I zipped one side closed, voices drifted in from outside. Familiar ones.
I froze.
I stepped toward the window and peeked out.
Next door, Saki was in her front yard, holding a small bag while her mom talked beside her. She looked relaxed, hair tied loosely, wearing a light summer top that made my brain short-circuit for half a second.
I immediately ducked back.
"Why am I hiding?" I whispered. "This is my house."
Still, my heart was doing that thing again.
A knock sounded at my door.
Before I could answer, my brother poked his head in. "Beach trip today, huh?"
"Yeah."
He smirked instantly. "Five days with her."
I grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. "Go away."
He laughed, dodging it easily. "Try not to drown. Or do. I'm flexible."
"I hate you."
"You love me," he said, retreating. "Also, Saki's outside."
My soul exited again.
"What," I said flatly.
As if on cue, my phone buzzed.
Saki: We're leaving soon. Are you packed?
I stared at the message.
Then at my half-packed suitcase.
Then back at the message.
Haruto: Almost.
Which was technically a lie.
I finished packing in record time, zippered the suitcase shut, and sat on my bed, staring at it.
Five days.
I stood up, took a deep breath, and headed toward the door.
"Alright," I muttered. "Here we go."
Summer vacation wasn't easing up on me.
It was accelerating.
Just as I stepped into the hallway, suitcase in hand, my brother was still there. Leaning against the wall. Arms crossed. Smiling like he had nowhere else to be for the rest of his life.
Something in me snapped.
I pointed at him.
"You," I said. "Why are you still here?"
He blinked. "Good afternoon to you too."
"It's been more than a month," I continued, irritation bubbling over. "Don't you have a job? A workplace? A boss who misses you? Money to earn? A life?"
Mom glanced over from the kitchen. "Haruto."
"I'm serious!" I said. "Shouldn't you be… working? Somewhere far? Like very far?"
My brother raised an eyebrow. "Wow. You want me gone that badly?"
"Yes," I said instantly.
Then realized what I'd said.
"…I mean— not like that."
He laughed. "Relax. I took leave."
"For a month?"
"And extended it," he said casually.
My eye twitched.
"Extended it," I repeated slowly.
"Yep."
I stared at him, horror dawning. "Why?"
He shrugged. "Family trip. Thought I'd come along."
My blood ran cold.
"…Come along."
"Five days," he added helpfully. "Beach resort. Sounds fun."
"No," I said. "No, no, no."
Mom stepped in, cheerful as ever. "Isn't it nice? He hasn't joined us in years."
"This is a disaster," I whispered.
My brother leaned closer, voice low. "What's wrong? Afraid I'll embarrass you in front of Saki?"
"I am not afraid," I snapped. "I am concerned."
He smirked. "Same thing."
I turned away, gripping my suitcase handle like it was my last anchor to sanity.
Worst part?
There was nothing I could do.
No law against older brothers.
No emergency exit.
No escape route.
He was coming.
And he was going to witness every single one of my panics in real time.
I swallowed hard.
Five days.
This trip was officially cursed.
My brother watched my expression carefully, clearly enjoying the slow collapse of my mental stability.
"Relax," he said, smirking. "Don't worry."
I narrowed my eyes. "That's never a good sentence when you say it."
He leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice like he was about to share a secret.
"I'll make sure you two share the same room."
Time stopped.
"…What."
I felt it. The full shutdown. My brain blue-screened. My soul attempted to flee again but tripped on the way out.
"You can't do that," I said weakly. "That's illegal. That's a crime. That's a violation of the Geneva Convention."
He paused.
Then waved a hand. "Don't worry. I'm joking."
I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding.
"Oh thank—"
He tilted his head.
"Maybe."
I screamed internally.
My mom called from the kitchen, "What are you two whispering about?"
"Nothing!" I shouted back immediately.
My brother straightened, completely innocent. "Just sibling bonding."
I stared at him, horrified. "You're enjoying this."
He grinned. "Immensely."
I turned away, clutching my suitcase again.
Five days.
Beach.
Family.
Saki.
And now… him.
I stepped toward the door, muttering under my breath.
"If I survive this trip," I said, "I deserve a medal."
Behind me, my brother laughed.
Loudly.
Way too loudly.
We finally stepped outside, suitcases lined up near the cars like we were about to migrate.
That's when I realized something was wrong.
Very wrong.
"Why are there… two cars?" I asked slowly.
My brother, Kyosuke, adjusted his sunglasses like a villain in a low-budget movie. "Efficiency."
I looked again.
Saki's family car was parked in front.
My parents' car behind it.
Kyosuke casually grabbed my suitcase and tossed it into Saki's family car.
"…Why did you put it there," I asked carefully.
"Oh," he said, completely innocent, "I figured it'd be fun if we mixed things up."
Before I could object, my parents were already getting into their car.
"Drive safe!" my mom called cheerfully.
"See you there!" my dad added.
Traitors.
Saki's dad was already in the driver's seat, adjusting the mirror. Her mom sat in the passenger seat, mid-conversation about snacks and traffic.
Kyosuke opened the back door.
"Alright," he said, gesturing. "Hop in."
I hesitated.
Then he slid in first.
Window seat.
Of course.
I swallowed and got in next.
Middle seat.
Of course.
And then—
Saki climbed in.
Next to me.
Of course.
The door shut.
Click.
The car suddenly felt… very small.
I sat perfectly straight, hands on my thighs, not breathing too hard, not thinking too much.
Kyosuke shifted beside me.
Just slightly.
Which pushed me.
Just slightly.
Toward Saki.
I stiffened instantly.
"Oh, sorry," Kyosuke said gently, smiling like an angel. "Did I push you?"
"Yes," I said through clenched teeth.
"No, I didn't," he replied smoothly.
Saki glanced at me. "Are you okay?"
"I'm great," I said too fast. "Fantastic. Never been better."
Kyosuke shifted again.
Very gently.
I felt my arm brush Saki's.
My brain exploded.
I tried to move away, but there was nowhere to go. The door was on the other side. Kyosuke was a wall. Physics had betrayed me.
Meanwhile, Saki's dad started the car.
Her mom kept talking, completely unaware that a psychological war crime was happening in the back seat.
"So," her mom said cheerfully, "five days at the beach! It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Yeah," Saki replied. "I'm looking forward to it."
I nodded too, forgetting no one could see me. "Mm."
Kyosuke leaned back, arms crossed, perfectly relaxed.
I could feel Saki's warmth beside me. Her shoulder was close. Too close. Close enough that every tiny movement felt illegal.
I stared straight ahead, eyes locked on nothing.
Don't move.
Don't breathe.
Don't exist.
In the side mirror, I saw my parents' car following behind us.
Help was right there.
And completely useless.
Kyosuke glanced at me, then at Saki, then smiled to himself.
The car rolled forward.
And the trip had officially begun.
I sat there, completely frozen, desperately clinging to my last shred of hope.
It's fine, I told myself. An adult will intervene.
Saki's dad was driving. A responsible adult. A father. A man with morals.
Surely he'd notice.
Surely he'd say something like, "Hey, give them some space," or "Kyosuke, stop messing around."
Surely—
I glanced up at the rearview mirror.
Kyosuke did the same.
Their eyes met.
Time slowed.
For half a second, nothing happened.
Then—
Kyosuke's lips curled into a smile.
Slow. Knowing. Evil.
Saki's dad smiled back.
Not a normal smile.
Not a polite smile.
A suspicious smile.
A smile that said, I see everything… and I approve.
My soul shattered.
NO.
They looked away like nothing had happened.
Like they hadn't just formed a silent alliance.
Like my fate hadn't just been sealed without a single word spoken.
Kyosuke shifted again, just enough to press me closer to Saki.
I stopped functioning.
Saki, completely oblivious, adjusted her seatbelt and leaned back, humming softly.
Meanwhile, my brain was on fire.
This is it.
This is how I die.
Trapped between generations conspiring against me.
The car sped forward, sunlight flashing through the windows, my parents' car following behind like witnesses who would later deny everything.
Beach trip.
Five days.
No escape.
This wasn't a vacation.
This was a catastrophe.
And it had only just begun.
The car hit the speed breaker.
Not hard.
Not violently.
Just enough.
There was a small bump.
That was it.
That was all it took.
Saki's hand slipped off the armrest and landed straight on my thigh.
Direct hit.
Full contact.
No warning.
No mercy.
My entire body short-circuited.
I stopped breathing.
No, actually. I forgot how to breathe.
My brain screamed, DO NOT MOVE. ANY MOVEMENT WILL RESULT IN DEATH.
Her hand was warm.
Why was it warm?
WHY WAS I AWARE OF THAT.
I stared straight ahead like a soldier facing execution, eyes wide, spine locked, soul halfway out of my body.
Okay. Calm down. This is nothing.
She probably didn't even notice.
People put hands on thighs all the time—
—NO THEY DO NOT.
NOT LIKE THIS.
NOT HER.
Kyosuke noticed.
Of course he did.
I felt it before I saw it. That slight shift. That evil presence beside me.
He leaned back casually, glanced down for exactly one second, then looked at my face.
His smile widened.
I hated him.
I hated him so much.
Saki finally noticed.
"Oh—sorry!" she said quickly, lifting her hand back like she'd touched something hot.
Except the damage was already done.
My leg felt like it had been branded.
"It's okay," I said.
That was a lie.
That was the biggest lie I had ever told in my entire life.
My voice came out weird. Too fast. Too high. Like my soul was trying to escape through my throat.
Saki tilted her head, a little confused. "Are you… alright?"
I nodded.
Too aggressively.
"Yes. Totally. Fine. Perfect. Alive."
She smiled. A soft one.
Critical hit.
Kyosuke leaned back, hands behind his head, looking out the window like an innocent bystander.
I caught Saki's dad in the mirror again.
He didn't smile this time.
He smirked.
I looked away.
The car kept moving.
The beach got closer.
And I realized something terrifying.
If a single speed breaker could do this to me…
Five days was going to end me.