Island Landing

Shiina Hiyori gently released Hoshino Kanade's hand, her fingertips still carrying a trace of coolness from his palm.

Ahead, a teacher was shouting through a megaphone, "Class C students, prepare to disembark!"

A slight commotion arose from the end of the line. Shiina stood on tiptoe, looking towards the end of the pier, her silver-gray strands of hair lifted by the sea breeze.

"It's our class's turn," she said softly, her violet eyes turning to Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona.

She took half a step back, clasping her hands in front of her, her tone serious like a discussion about mystery novels in the library. "Well then... I'll head over first."

After a brief pause, her gaze lingered for a moment on their clasped hands, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her lips. "Please be sure to remember our promise, okay? We're going on 'vacation' together later."

"Mhm, see you on the island," Hoshino Kanade nodded, the coolness lingering on his left palm not yet completely gone.

Shiina Hiyori gave Kiyona one last knowing smile before turning and merging into the moving crowd of Class C.

Her slender figure gradually receded into the scorching air, eventually disappearing around the pier corner.

Hoshino Kanade watched Shiina disappear into the Class C group. As he withdrew his gaze, he felt Kiyona's fingertip gently pinch his right hand.

He glanced sideways. Kiyona was gazing in the direction Shiina had left, the sea breeze ruffling the strands of hair on her forehead.

"She's really looking forward to it," Kiyona's voice was as clear and cold as ever, not revealing much emotion, but the knuckles of her clasped hands subtly dug into the gaps between Hoshino Kanade's fingers, tighter than before.

The corner of Hoshino Kanade's lips curved up. He gently caressed her cool backhand with the pad of his thumb. "Yeah, it's the first time."

He paused, his gaze falling on her slightly flushed ear tips and the fine beads of sweat on her forehead. His voice was deep and steady. "What about you?"

Kiyona didn't answer immediately.

Her free left hand had, at some point, pulled a small, individually sealed wet wipe from the designated side pocket of her backpack.

It was an item she had packed before leaving, claiming it was for "cleaning necessities."

"Hold out your hand." She tore open the packaging, pulled out a wipe infused with the cool scent of menthol, and naturally wiped Hoshino Kanade's sweaty left hand.

The icy, comfortable sensation instantly spread from her knuckles to her wrist bone, dispelling the stickiness of summer.

Hoshino Kanade obediently let her wipe his hand, watching her lowered eyelashes.

"You brought this specially?" he asked softly, his gaze focused.

Kiyona didn't stop, still diligently cleaning the sweat from his fingers, her voice faint. "Afraid you'd get heatstroke." The reason was concise and direct.

The smile in Hoshino Kanade's eyes deepened. "Thanks for looking out for me, 'Survival Expert'."

He reversed his grip, gently holding her wrist holding the wet wipe. His thumb brushed against the delicate skin of her wrist, feeling the similarly warm temperature there.

Kiyona looked up, her cool gaze meeting his.

Hoshino Kanade said no more. He naturally took the wet wipe from her hand and gently wiped the fine beads of sweat from her forehead and cheeks.

Kiyona stiffened slightly, her body instinctively wanting to pull back, but her wrist was held firmly and undeniably by Hoshino Kanade.

"Don't move," his voice was deep and steady, with an unquestionable tone, yet his movements were extremely gentle.

His fingertips brushed across her slightly hot cheek, bringing a touch of coolness.

The coolness of the menthol spread with his gentle movements.

Kiyona's ear tips seemed to turn even redder. She turned her face away, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyes. She didn't struggle further, allowing him to wipe her meticulously.

"...You're meddling," she murmured softly, her voice lacking any real blame, sounding more like an inaudible sigh.

The steam from the evaporating wet wipe, carrying the scent of menthol, lingered between them, seemingly separating them from the surrounding clamor of the heatwave and the occasional complaints (like Ike Kanji's wails).

The teacher ahead finally called out, "Class D, begin island inspection!" The long line finally began to move slowly.

As Hoshino Kanade's shoe soles touched the scorching sand, an intense heat immediately transmitted through the shoe.

He instinctively looked back, his gaze sweeping over the azure sea.

The massive white cruise ship was anchored in a nearby bay.

At this moment, the coolness and firmness belonging to Kiyona in his palm, along with the menthol-scented care from moments ago, quietly dispelled the surrounding heat.

Even though this was his first time undertaking such an exam, the excitement surging within Hoshino Kanade at this moment was not merely the thrill of rational calculation.

He closed his fingers, gripping Kiyona's hand tighter, the pads of his fingers lightly caressing her backhand.

"Let's go," his voice was steady, his gaze directed towards the depths of the lush, dappled forest, which seemed to hide unknown challenges as well as their own secret moments.

"The vacation has begun." He turned his head to look at Kiyona. His eyes held a calm certainty.

Kiyona met his gaze. Her cool face still showed little expression, but the hand he held tightly had its fingertips slightly curled, embedding deeper into his palm, silently conveying her agreement.