One Last Summer

Chapter One

Nanami Nakamura

Beep

Beep

Beeeep

"Ugh.." I roll onto my back, atop of my bed. I slammed my palm over the alarm clock on my nightstand as it blared loudly in my ears. Soo loud! Why did I even have it on anyways, it's like, the first week of summer!
My eyes fluttered open to the sight of my lovely plan white ceiling.. Boring.
I groaned again and pressed my arm over my eyes to block out the blazing sun from my windows. I just wanna sleep.. I don't have anything to do other than what. Feed the cats and fish? They can wait till noon, right? Yeah they can wait. Totally..
"Nanami! Get down here and feed Moon!" Someone called from downstairs. That.. Was my mom calling for me at seven in the morning..
SEVEN IN THE MORNING!
It's too early to call for someone during the summer, plus like can't my sister do it?.. She's the morning person, not me!..
"Coming!" I sat up, then slid out of bed. Padding out of my room down the steps of our two story house. It smelt amazing. I guess mom had all the windows open again to let in the sea breeze, as we lived on the coast of Otaru, Hokkaido.
Once downstairs, I was hit with a sharp, screaming meow from Moon, our sharp little menace of pure black ball of fluff. Our four year old cat.
"Why hello to you too Moonpie."
"Meoww!"
"Yeah yeah I get it. Give me a second fur ball." I sighed as I reached for her food bowl on the cat tree. Once I had it I filled it to the brim with her favorite kibble. Then gave it back to her on the cat tree. She let out a content little sigh.
"Might as well feed the fish too now that I'm up.." I mumbled as I went out back to do just that.
Outside on the edge of our backyard, tucked under the shade of a thick old tree, I crouch down by the pond with the bag of fish food. I grabbed a handful and sprinkled it into the water.
"Greedy little things." I watched the cod dart towards the surface of the water to fight over the food.

Beep.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. The heck? Who's texting me this early, like none of my friends are morning people? Pulling it out of my pocket I read the message. It's from Sorato.

'You up?'

'Yes, you need smt?'

'Come outside.'

'What?'

'Come out here, we're gonna be late.'

I rubbed my forehead as I stood. Whatever could this guy want from me this early in the morning. Why didn't I think it was him texting me? He's the only person who'd text me this early! And what does he mean by 'we're gonna be late'?
"Niina, Sorato is here for you!" Mom called out to me from inside. I frowned then began walking back inside.
"Yes Ma, I'm well aware that he is."
Inside I went to the front door and pushed it open, revealing the tall young adult, Sorato Hayashi.
"Hm..?"
"Morning,"
I narrow my eyes at him, trying to see past whatever this is. "It's seven in the morning, Sora.."
"Yeah and?"
"Well.. Why are you here?"
And he shrugged.. "Aiko and Hoshi are waiting for us."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
He gave me a stupidly large grin like he isn't the bane of my existence! "Get dressed Niina."
"Excuse me?"
"Do you have a hearing problem? I said, get dressed."
I sigh then cross my arms. "Where are we meeting them? At seven in the morning."
"You'll see."
I stared at him in disbelief for a hot moment before turning around.
"You're annoying.." I muttered as he chuckled.
"I know, and don't care."
"Fine, you wait here, and I'll be back in a moment." I went back in as I shut the door behind me then hurried upstairs to change into day clothes.
Once dressed properly I went back downstairs, "Ma, Sora and I are going out! I'll be back later!" I called out to her.
"Alright sweety, be back before dinner."
She didn't even ask where we were going. She never does.
I grabbed my bag and hurried out after sliding on my shoes at the door. Sorato was standing by his mopped scooter, a bright purple thing that he got at sixteen from our friends. They thought it'd be cool to give it to our senior but he had really liked the gift.
He handed me a helmet, then he got on it as he slid his helmet on.
"Thanks" I mumbled, sliding on the helmet as I got on behind him. He started up the scooter and then began pulling out. I held onto the bars under me so I wouldn't fall off.

———————————

Sometime later we pulled up to our favorite local cafe, and he killed the engine. Two of our friends Aiko and Hoshi were already inside.
Aiko was also a senior last year, so she'll be going to college after this summer; unlike Sorato she'll be going to a local college for her art.
Hoshi and I are in the same grade, and going into our senior year.
Then when they both saw us, they came out to greet us.
"Yo, Sora! What's up my guy!" That's Hoshi Suzuki for you... He's kind of a weird guy.
"Hey Hoshi."
Aiko hits Hoshi in the back of his head, "Behave dude! Come on, can't you act right for once towards your elders?"
"What!? No, I am behaving, whatc you talkin' about Aiki??"
I slid off of Sorato's scooter, wobbling from the helmet.
"Ha," Sorato reached forwards and pulled the helmet off of me.
"Thanks, but I could've gotten it off myself, I'm a rather independent woman if you'd like to know."
"Independent my ass–" Hoshi started but was cut off before he could finish by Aiko hitting him again in the back of the head. "Ow.. Jerk..."
"Maybe it wouldn't hurt if you weren't such an idiot."
"I am not an idiot!"
"Yeah you are Hoshi-San." I said back to him with a chuckle.
"What, Niina!! Why are you soo mean to me!.." He whined, only causing us to laugh at him. He huffed, crossing his arms as he looked away. "You all are jerks.."
"It's okay Hoshi." Sorato patted his shoulder. "Let's go in and order breakfast already. I bet Nanami is hungry, as always."
"Huh-! I am not always hungry.."
Aiko laughed as she pulled us into the cafe. "Uh huh, sure. Says you who piled food onto her plate last year."
"Well— I- I don't have anything to reply with.."
"Like I said."
Once we were in line, we had begun discussing what we wanted.
"Hm, green tea honestly sounds good." Aiko hummed.
"Green tea? Ewww, you and your harmonizing drinks. I want Lipovitan! God they are amazing!" Hoshi grinned while pretty much bouncing on his feet, unable to stand still like a puppy.
Aiko sighed as she crossed her arms, giving Hoshi a disapproving look, "Lipovitan isn't good for you, know this Hoshi. Those can cause liver damage, I'm pretty sure of.."
"I don't care, they taste amazing!"
Aiko huffed and just went back to reading the menu as we waited for the guy in front of us to finish his order.
"Well.. I wanna get a latte, probably caramel, with chocolate drizzled on top." I practically drooled as I thought about my order. "Oh! And maybe a donut, a strawberry one at that. Hehe~"
"Of course Nanami begins to drool from the thought of food." Aiko laughed.
"Mhm, I might as well just get some tea like you Aiko-san." Sorato nodded. Soon we reached the cash register, and ordered our drinks and my donut, Sorato was kind enough to pay for us today. So kind of him.
"Thanks Sora, you're a life saver! I am like.. So broke right now." Hoshi clapped Sorato on the shoulder as we sat down in a booth. Hoshi is next to Sorato and Aiko is next to me on the other side of the table.
"It's no problem." He shrugged while sipping on his tea.
For a few minutes, we just sat there talking, enjoying our drinks while Hoshi complained about how long I was taking to fish my food.
Resting my chin in my palm, "Soo...Are you going to tell me why you dragged me out here with Hoshi and Aiko? You do know, I wanted to sleep in today?"
Sorato glanced at Aiko then Hoshi. "Oh, right."
"Wait, you haven't told her yet!" Hoshi grinned.
"No."
I narrowed my eyes. "Tell me what?"
Aiko pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and passed it to me. I stared at it. "What is it?"
"Plans," she replied.
I picked up the piece of paper and read the handwritten list of places around Otaru, places we've been wanting to go to but never could because of how busy we've been during the school year. But now it's summer.
"Huh? What is this for?"
"Its plans like Aiko said, dummy. We are doing this all this summer." Sorato leaned back with a smile.
"We are making the most of this summer together before Sora leaves for college in Tokyo." Hoshi said with a laugh.
Aiko clapped her hands together, "He's right, Nanami. We're making this summer the best one yet!"
"Sorato woke me up for you guys to tell me this?"
"Yap."
I smiled behind my palm and glared at them. "You guys are still annoying.
Sorato laughed. "That's what friends are for."
"Whatever.. But thank you guys."

After we finished breakfast, we headed out. The air had already warmed up from when Sorato and I left my house at seven. Otaru was already getting busy for the day.
Hoshi began to walk ahead of us . "The last one to the canal has to buy everyone ice cream!" He shouted as he took off.
"Wait, what?! HOSHI!" Aiko yelled back as she followed behind. "Get back here you, Idiot!"
Sorato and I looked at each other.
"Theyre idiots."
"Absolutely." He shrugged. "I'll meet you guys there, I gotta take the scooter. Can't leave it here."
"Okay, see you there, Sora." I smiled.
Maybe.. This summer isn't going to be as boring as I thought it would be.