Two Nights in Hawaii for Two

"That's very rude."

Kiyoko chided Hayato as she watched his slightly impolite actions.

"There aren't many people, it's fine. Oh, right, Kiyoko-senpai."

"Yes?"

"You've worked hard these past two days."

"I'm alright, you guys are the ones who've worked hard."

Hearing Hayato's thoughtful words made Kiyoko's heart feel as sweet as honey, but she still wanted to be modest.

"From doing laundry to recording data, and even cooking for us, you've worked hard too, haven't you?"

"Okay~ You've worked very hard~"

Smiling indulgently at Hayato, Kiyoko didn't argue further.

After getting off the train, they went to the shopping street to buy some groceries. Just as they were about to head home, they ran into the president of the shopping street, who was packing up his stall at the entrance. Seeing familiar faces, the president greeted them.

"Yo, Kiyoko-chan, Hayato-kun, shopping together again today?"

"President Yamamoto, good evening. What are you up to?"

Since the president had greeted them, the two couldn't just ignore him and stopped. Hayato was curious as he saw the president packing up, because he noticed a familiar box.

"Ah, this? The shopping street is holding a lottery event recently. You guys received coupons when you shopped, right? You can use them to enter the lottery. The grand prize is a 3-day, 2-night trip for two to Hawaii!"

After saying this, President Yamamoto winked at Hayato. He thought this young couple would surely be interested in traveling abroad together.

As expected, that was the lottery box. President Yamamoto's words confirmed Hayato's guess. He then turned to Kiyoko to ask for her opinion. After a moment's consideration, Kiyoko took out the coupons from her bag.

"Well, we probably won't win the grand prize, but it's a waste not to enter for free."

"Since you said that, Kiyoko-senpai, you should draw."

Seeing Kiyoko's slight interest in the lottery, Hayato immediately let her draw. After President Yamamoto took the three coupons Kiyoko handed over, he made a gesture to invite her.

"Oh, too bad. It's a participation prize, a pack of tissues."

Kiyoko wasn't disappointed by her first failed draw; in fact, it would be surprising to win the grand prize. Shaking her head, Kiyoko started her second draw. As expected, it was another participation prize. After dividing the received tissues, one pack per person, Kiyoko moved aside.

"Last chance, Hayato, you draw."

"Huh? Can I?"

"The coupons were all obtained by you when you bought groceries. I've already drawn twice, so that's enough."

"Is that so? Oh, God of Fortune, please bless me to win the grand prize. I'm super excited to travel abroad with Kiyoko-senpai."

Hayato made a show of praying to the non-existent God of Fortune, a gesture that made Kiyoko laugh. Then, in front of the president, Hayato placed the bag in his hand on the ground, took Kiyoko's hand, and together they gripped the lottery lever.

"Hehe, the grand prize is a trip for two, so of course we have to draw together. Is that okay, President Yamamoto?"

Although Kiyoko was startled by Hayato's sudden hand-holding, they had done this before during their dates, so she didn't feel shy. President Yamamoto, however, was momentarily taken aback by the young couple's display of affection.

After getting President Yamamoto's consent, Hayato counted to three, and together they pulled down the lottery lever.

Completely different in color from the small white balls for the participation prizes, a dazzling golden ball popped out of the exit as the shaking stopped.

For a moment, all three of them froze. President Yamamoto was the first to react, shaking the bell in his hand.

"Co… Congratulations! The grand prize, a 3-day, 2-night trip for two to Hawaii! You actually drew it, Hayato-kun."

Hayato hugged Kiyoko's waist and spun her around twice.

"We really drew it, that's amazing! Kiyoko-senpai!"

While holding hands was fine, being spun around in the middle of the street was too embarrassing for Kiyoko. She lightly hit Hayato with her fist, asking him to put her down. After tidying her wrinkled clothes, she looked again at the golden ball representing the grand prize.

"It really is the grand prize," Kiyoko said, covering her mouth in disbelief. President Yamamoto opposite them took out a carefully packaged paper bag and handed it to Hayato.

"Here are the round-trip plane tickets and hotel accommodation vouchers. Please keep them safe. But to actually win, Hayato-kun, your luck is incredible."

Hayato bid farewell to President Yamamoto excitedly and, on the way home, his steps seemed to float. Unlike Hayato's mood, Kiyoko was still somewhat bewildered. How could it be that after two participation prizes, they actually won the grand prize on the third try when they drew together?

Could it be that being together was truly fate?

Blushing, Kiyoko dismissed the somewhat narcissistic thought and secretly glanced at Hayato. Seeing him so happy, she realized he was truly looking forward to going to Hawaii with her.

"Ah, Kiyoko-senpai, the date on this is next Friday. Today is Sunday, so we'll need to take time off if we want to go," Hayato said to Kiyoko after opening the package at some point and seeing the date.

"Hmm, right, Hayato, do you have a passport?"

Asking this question proved that Kiyoko also wanted to go. Hayato, happy as he was, hadn't completely lost his ability to think, but he didn't point it out.

"Yes, I got one in my first year of high school. Kiyoko-senpai, what about you?"

"I got mine in my first year of high school too."

Stroking his chin, Hayato said something that made Kiyoko very shy.

"Then, in the end, it will depend on whether your parents will agree to this, Kiyoko-senpai."

After looking around and seeing no pedestrians, Kiyoko, filled with shame and indignation, picked up her school bag and made a move to hit Hayato. For a moment, the small path illuminated by the streetlights was filled with the laughter of the young man and woman.

Returning to her own home, at the dinner table Kiyoko told her parents about Hayato winning the grand prize. Her father didn't say anything, just nodded to show he understood. From Kiyoko's understanding of her father, no refusal meant agreement. Her mother, however, was a bit naggy.

"Oh my, you're going out again right after returning from training camp, and three days means you'll have to take Friday off."

Smiling wryly as she endured her mother's nagging, Kiyoko still received her permission. After dinner, Kiyoko immediately shared the good news with Hayato.

"My parents agreed to let me go to Hawaii with you."

A kitten setting off fireworks.

"Really? That's great! Ah, I'm already looking forward to it. Oh, I saw there's a beach nearby this hotel. Kiyoko-senpai, do you want to bring a swimsuit?"

"Ah, but I haven't bought a swimsuit in years."

Kiyoko wasn't wrong about this. She had been practicing track and field in junior high, and in high school, she was responsible for the volleyball club. Plus, she naturally had few friends, so no one had ever invited her to the beach. The members of the volleyball club did have the thought, but not the courage.

This meant that besides the school swimsuit she wore for swimming lessons, Kiyoko hadn't worn any other swimsuit in recent years.

"That's easy! Since the gym is closed for maintenance tomorrow, let's go buy a swimsuit after school."

"Mmm~ Okay, I'll do as you say."

While Kiyoko was messaging Hayato in her room, her parents downstairs were discussing the matter in the living room.

"Honey, are you really okay with our daughter going abroad with Hayato from the Kuroba family? For three days and two nights."

Changing the channel on the TV, Kiyoko's father spoke.

"Hayato-kun, you know him. Don't you trust his character? We've watched him grow up since he was little. Besides, the kids are growing up. Look at Kiyoko, the way her eyes light up when she talks about Hayato, it's just like when you looked at me back then."

"Hmph, you were the one chasing me back then."

"But you fell in love with me later, didn't you? Oh, if you're really worried, just give that thing to our daughter."

Understanding her husband's words, Kiyoko's mother's eyes darted around, and she nodded before returning to their master bedroom. A moment later, she came out and knocked on Kiyoko's door.

Not long after, Kiyoko's father heard Kiyoko's indignant shouts at her mother from upstairs.

Smiling mysteriously, the old father shifted his position, leaned back on the sofa, and continued watching television.

After sending Hinata a message saying he couldn't train him tomorrow because he had something to do, Hayato contacted Coach Ukai and asked him to help train Hinata for a day. After receiving confirmation from both of them, he put his phone aside and started doing his homework.

Don't think there's no homework here. Hayato decided to get his homework done while he had free time.

After a while, he finally received a new message from Kiyoko. They agreed to go directly to the swimsuit store together after school tomorrow, and then they bid each other goodnight.

Hayato continued to bury himself in his homework, while Kiyoko sat on her bed, looking at the square box on her nightstand, blushing like a steam engine.