The campsite was buzzing with quiet life as the sun climbed higher in the sky.
Dew still clung to the grass, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves above as birds chirped and campers stirred awake.
Ayaka stepped out of her tent, freshly washed and dressed in shorts and a breezy top.
Her hair was loosely tied, a touch of sleep still lingering in her eyes.
But when she spotted the table at the center of the site, she blinked.
Two men were already there—Akihiko and Makoto—and they were in the middle of what looked like… a silent competition.
Makoto was manning the portable grill, sleeves rolled up, forearms dusted with seasoning as he flipped thick slices of ham and scrambled eggs in a cast-iron pan like a pro.
His green eyes sparkled as he added a flourish, dramatically sprinkling chopped parsley with a confident grin.
"Here's your breakfast." he smiled.
"That's not sweet enough." Akihiko muttered, pouring cold-brew coffee into paper cups nearby with elegant precision.
"Jealous?" Makoto shot back, not missing a beat as he flipped a pancake with a flick of his wrist.
Akihiko raised an eyebrow, looking calm in a dark grey shirt that clung just right to his frame. "Of your cooking skills? Not in the slightest. Of your theatrics? Slightly."
Ayaka's lips twitched as she stepped closer. "Are you two… competing?"
"No." they both said at the same time. Then, simultaneously: "He started it."
Keiko, already seated with Yuki—who looked freshly radiant from her engagement glow—leaned over to Ayaka and whispered, "They've been doing this since sunrise. Who could chop onions faster. Who could light the fire better. Who could brew the coffee smoother."
"And who won?" Ayaka whispered back.
"Us." Keiko smirked. "We're getting a five-star meal."
Kazumi stretched and yawned exaggeratedly as he wandered over. "Damn, I woke up to a drama."
Takeshi plopped down beside him. "It's not a drama. It's like a dating TV show: Tent Edition."
Makoto turned, holding a golden-brown pancake in a spatula. "Ayaka—taste test?"
She blinked. "Uh—sure?"
He held it out to her, and as she leaned forward, he tore a small piece and gently pressed it into her mouth with his fingers.
The subtle graze of skin-to-skin was deliberate, playful.
"Mmm..." she mumbled, chewing. "It's… actually amazing."
Makoto beamed. "See? I've got many talents. Is that sweet enough for you Dr. Nakamura?"
Akihiko walked past her at that moment, brushing close as he placed a cup of coffee in her free hand. "You'll need this to balance the sugar overdose."
Their fingers brushed.
Ayaka jolted slightly.
He didn't look at her—just sipped his own coffee like it was no big deal.
But her pulse was racing again.
After breakfast, everyone pitched in to clean up—and then the group transitioned into activity mode.
-----
Later that morning, the camp games began.
The first challenge? Kayaking.
Pairs were made quickly.
Akihiko ended up with Kazumi, while Makoto was teamed up with Takeshi—though not by choice.
"This is war." Makoto said as they dragged their kayak to the riverbank. "I'm not letting silver-hair win."
"I can hear you." Akihiko called from downstream, already settled in his kayak like a sleek panther, paddle in hand, muscles tensing as he waited.
"Oh I know." Makoto muttered, hopping into their boat.
He looked at Ayaka who was both watching them as they settle. "I plan to win and impress."
The race was on.
Takeshi tried to focus on paddling, but Makoto was effortlessly powerful—his shirt soaked as water sprayed across his back, the sun catching on his golden hair.
He could hear Akihiko and Kazumi just a few feet away, quiet and fast.
"A little more to the left." Makoto said, steering them expertly.
Ayaka averted her gaze—and there was Akihiko, eyes sharp, jaw clenched, cutting through the water with fierce precision.
The contrast between his cool control and Makoto's charismatic energy made her dizzy.
They hit the finish at nearly the same time.
"I think we won." Makoto said breathlessly, water dripping down his neck. "By a hair."
Akihiko's kayak slid beside theirs. "You mean I've let you won."
Kazumi, grinning, slapped the water. "Let's say it was a tie. Or we'll be hearing about this for the rest of the trip."
------
Later in the forest clearing, Keiko clapped her hands with too much glee. "Obstacle course time! You'll be in pairs again."
Ayaka stood beside Makoto again, already suspicious.
"Makoto and Kaito!"
Makoto smirked "Another win then."
Akihiko and Kazumi exchanged a look.
They already knew.
"Akihiko and Kazumi!"
Kazumi threw himself onto the grass in theatrical agony. "WHY. WHY IS IT ALWAYS US???"
"You're very dramatic." Akihiko said, adjusting his gloves.
"No—I'm traumatized! We lost the kayak race then the sack race because your legs were too long, and we lost the blindfold maze because you walked into a tree!"
"I was following your voice." Akihiko replied without emotion.
"Oh wow. Gaslighting and sabotage. Impressive."
"You were yelling in three directions at once."
Everyone was laughing now, especially Keiko who had doubled over with tears.
When the whistle blew, Kaito and Makoto were already mid-run, leaping over logs, crawling under netting.
Meanwhile, Akihiko and Kazumi were… arguing while racing.
"Left! LEFT!"
"That is your left."
"No, it's YOUR—agh, forget it, just—CLIMB!"
By the time they finished, Kaito and Makoto had already crossed the line, high-fiving in sync.
Kazumi staggered behind Akihiko, wheezing dramatically. "This is psychological warfare."
Akihiko handed him a water bottle. "Or poor strategy."
"You know what, Ice Prince?" Kazumi said, taking the bottle. "You might be good at surgery, but you are the worst teammate ever."
"And yet." Akihiko replied coolly, "I keep being paired with you. Curious, isn't it?"
------
As the heat mellowed into golden sunlight, the group lounged back at the campsite.
Ayaka was sipping juice, cheeks still pink from the physical exertion, when Makoto sat beside her with a towel over his shoulder. "You know… I wouldn't mind if I'll be your teammate on the next games."
Before she could answer, Akihiko appeared, tossing a cold drink into her lap.
"Hydrate." he said, then sat silently on her other side.
Ayaka blinked.
Her heart thudded again.
Makoto raised an eyebrow. "I was just saying how great our coordination might be when we pair up."
Akihiko sipped his own drink. "Coordination or coincidence?"
Kazumi flopped into the nearest chair. "Can I please be someone else's partner tomorrow? I'm begging."
Keiko shouted from her tent, "Nope! We draw again. Maybe fate just wants you two to bond."
Kazumi groaned. "If this is fate, I'm starting to understand why villains turn evil."
Ayaka laughed, caught in the middle of it all, surrounded by tension, teasing, and growing feelings she wasn't ready to name—but couldn't ignore.
------
The next round of activities started, just when the sun dipped behind soft clouds and the wind became gentler.
Everyone had changed into lighter clothes, some in athletic shirts, others still in their tank tops from earlier games.
This time, it was a team-based archery challenge.
"Alright!" Keiko clapped her hands. "Pairs again. This time: One person shoots, one person assists and keeps score. Highest combined score wins!"
Ayaka, stretching her arms, heard the names being called.
"Makoto and Ayaka!"
The next pairing had everyone pausing in suspense.
"Akihiko and Kazumi!"
A moment of silence.
Then Kazumi suddenly stood up, handing over his heart.
"…We're doomed."
Akihiko calmly adjusted his sleeves, picking up the sleek black bow as if it were a surgical instrument.
"I've practiced this." he said flatly.
"You say that like it comforts me." Kazumi muttered. "Alright, fine. But if we lose, I'm telling everyone you blinked at the target and missed."
They approached the archery line.
Ayaka sat beside Takeshi and watched, biting into a cookie.
Akihiko stood with perfect posture, bow in one hand, arrow notched with meticulous precision.
His silver hair caught the breeze just enough to look unreasonably attractive.
His shirt clung to him in the heat—black, minimalistic, and rolled up at the sleeves to reveal his lean, toned forearms.
Ayaka blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Why was he suddenly… this attractive?
*Snap*
The first arrow hit the target—dead center.
Kazumi blinked, mouth slightly open. "Wait—wha—did you just get a bullseye?!"
Akihiko didn't respond.
He was already lining up his next shot.
*Thwack!*
Another bullseye.
Ayaka's cookie paused halfway to her mouth.
Takeshi leaned toward her and whispered with a grin, "Careful. You're staring."
Ayaka coughed. "I-I'm not."
"Oh really?" Takeshi teased. "Because I think your eyes are about to dry out."
"I'm appreciating good form." she muttered, turning slightly—only to sneak one more glance.
And she did mean form.
Because Akihiko looked calm as he fired again, jaw sharp, lashes low, fingers drawing the string back with smooth, silent control.
He moved like a shadow—clean, focused, no wasted energy.
"Final score: 110!"
Everyone clapped, shocked.
Kazumi threw his arms up in victory. "YES! I TAKE BACK EVERYTHING. THIS MAN IS A MACHINE!"
Akihiko handed over the bow with no reaction. "We won."
"Yes we did, partner!" Kazumi grabbed his arm and dramatically held it up like a boxing champion. "For once in our lives, we were not cursed!"
------
Later, it was time for something less serious—a wild, chaotic water balloon dodgeball game.
The rules were simple: Two people had to guard a flag while the others tried to steal it by soaking them with balloons.
And somehow…
"Akihiko and Kazumi will be the flag defenders!"
Kazumi grinned. "Now we're talking! You've got good aim. I've got speed. Let's wreck them!"
Ayaka and Makoto were on the offense. Ayaka had her hair tied back, laughter in her voice, ready for revenge.
They rushed in—Makoto went left, Ayaka right.
But Akihiko didn't even blink.
With frightening precision, he grabbed a balloon and pegged it at Makoto, hitting him square in the chest.
"Oh COME ON!" Makoto shouted, soaking wet.
Kazumi laughed like a maniac. "Direct hit!"
Ayaka zigzagged, trying to make it to the flag.
"Right side." Akihiko murmured to Kazumi.
"I got it!" Kazumi yelled, tossing a balloon in Ayaka's path.
She squealed and barely dodged.
Another balloon flew—Akihiko's again.
It landed just beside her feet, splashing her ankles.
She looked up to see him adjusting his grip, expression unreadable.
But there was a gleam in his eye.
He was enjoying this.
Ayaka grinned back, throwing a balloon in return—which he caught.
With one hand.
Kazumi lost it. "You CAUGHT IT?!"
Akihiko simply tossed it aside and stood like a silent wall in front of the flag. "Try again."
They won again.
------
As the sun dipped lower, Keiko called out scores from the day.
"And the most improved team of the day is… Akihiko and Kazumi! Two wins! Everyone cheers!"
Everyone clapped.
Kazumi bowed repeatedly like he just won an award. "I'd like to thank myself for not giving up. And my cold, robotic partner who somehow learned how to aim."
Akihiko just sat beside the fire, toweling his hair dry.
Ayaka sat across from him, heart still recovering from that water balloon catch.
Takeshi leaned in beside her again. "Still not staring?"
"I'm just…surprised." she muttered.
"He's always been good looking, Ayaka." Takeshi said casually, sipping from his bottle. "You're just finally noticing."
She shoved his shoulder lightly, cheeks flaring.
But later that night, as Akihiko walked by and dropped a towel on her lap without a word, their hands brushed.
And she did stare—just a moment too long.