Stormy Summer

A Long Journey

We walked for a while and it was only when we walked right past the park that I realized that we were, in fact, not going to the park. I was about to comment on it when Rose beat me to it, "We just... The park was right over there..." she trailed off, vaguely motioning in the direction of the park.

Kuro only responded with an unintelligible hum as he and Bokuto kept on walking in front of us. Not knowing what else to say, or possibly just accepting that they won't answer us no matter what, we kept mostly quiet the rest of the way. The only thing breaking the silence being the chit-chatting between Charlie and Anna, who were discussing something, I couldn't quite follow, and by bypassing cars.

Akaashi, on the other hand, just seemed annoyed by this whole situation over-all, most likely annoyed that Bokuto and Kuro had dared to show up at his doorstep this late. Though it might also be just his normal mood plus the fact that, like all of us, he was tired.

By the time we walked past the store we were at earlier that day, the chattering had picked up and Rose, Charlie and, Anna had started a conversation with Kuro, most likely trying to get him to say where exactly we were going. I, personally would have tried to persuade Bokuto, instead of Kuro, since Bokuto seems like the kind of person, who would unintentionally spoil the plan, but Kuro had kept him out of the conversation successfully so far, and I wasn't really feeling like talking right now as I just played with the small keychain I still held in my hand.

Lost in thought, I hadn't realized that the conversation I had kept myself out of had turned to me without my noticing.

"Natsu?" Kuro looked confused as my eyes snapped to him, "Huh?" was my intelligent reply, resulting in a gentle smile spreading across Kuro's face, as he had, at some point, started walking backward, "You okay?" he asked, amused and I could see Bokuto tensing up a little, as he was walking between Akaashi and Kuro, though still facing away from us.

"Yeah... Just tired," I reply quickly, embarrassed that the attention was suddenly on me, "Good, I was just asking your friends here where they thought we were going," he started motioning to the three girls next to me before continuing, "and if you had been paying attention," he looked at me accusingly, "you would've realized that I asked you for your opinion, too," he raised his eyebrows at me.

"Sorry..." I trailed off for a second, thinking about his question as something suddenly came to mind again, "I'm not sure but... Wasn't there something going on at-" I didn't get to say anything further as Kuro suddenly had me in a headlock, holding my mouth shut, laughing nervously, as Rose and the others looked at us, bewildered.

"What thing is going on where?" Anna questioned as I struggled in Kuro's grasp. The question wasn't directed at Kuro, but rather at Bokuto, who suddenly seemed uncomfortable as he replied, "It's a... uh... surprise...?" it sounded more like a question though and Anna sized him up with a doubtful look in her eyes, making him look away from her and instead try to get Akaashi to talk to him or to engage in the conversation. Or do anything, really, as long as it got Anna's attention off himself. Akaashi, though, just looked away, "Can we keep going? It's getting pretty late and it's cold..."

"Don't say anything," Kuro muttered in my ear before letting me go. So I was right, I playfully glared at him over my shoulder, "Let's continue then," Kuro mused as he threw his arm over my shoulder and started walking again, this time we all walked more or less next to each other, though Bokuto still avoided walking anywhere near Anna.

I suppressed a yawn as we neared the train station, "We're taking the train?" Rose asked, confused, and curious at the same time. She was probably trying to remember me, Bokuto, or even Akaashi mentioning anything during the last few days, clearly unsuccessful. But it was no wonder that she couldn't remember anything. None of us even talked about the event on the outskirts of Tokyo, basically on the other side of town. I, myself, had just overheard a few of our classmates talking about.

I didn't remember what exactly it was all about though...

As we got on the right train, Kuro, who still had his arm around my shoulder, pulled me down next to him, so I was sitting between him and Bokuto.

"First, we have to get Kenma," Kuro mused, cheerfully, making Akaashi scowl in annoyance, "You're neighbors... Couldn't you have come get us together?"

Kuro shrugged, "He didn't want to," he yawned openly, "said he still had a boss to beat," Kuro concluded.

"No offense, Kuro-san, but what makes you think that he'll come along now?" I mentally agreed with Rose, though I already knew what Kuro's reply was going to be, "Kenma and I live close to the place we're going, so it might be that he'll be up to taking that smaller walk," he explained matter-of-factly.

Rose still seemed unsure though, and to be honest, I can't really blame her for it...