[sfx: footsteps]
Kei: [taking a deep breath, exhaling] The air is so clean here. I'm glad it's a sunny day.
Rokuta: You went to all the trouble of planning this trip for us, Kei-chan, so I wanna play lots!
Itsuki: Though, now that you mention it, it is rather unusual for Kei to suggest an outing like this of his own accord.
Kei: I... suppose it is. It's just that now that the battle is over and we've reached a major milestone, I wanted to show my appreciation for the two of you, as best as I can.
Rokuta: ...! ...
Kei: Rokuta?
Itsuki: Are you feeling ill?
Rokuta: Ah--! Uh, nope! Don't worry 'bout it!
Itsuki: ... [sighs] So, was our destination on this outing to a lake of some description at the summit?
Kei: Yes. I was thinking we could take the cable car up. There's a lake at the top of the mountain, and it seems that the view from there is beautiful.
[sfx: Footsteps]
Rokuta: Ahh...! I wonder what the lake is like! Is it big?
Itsuki: There are lakes large enough such that they give the impression of being an ocean. One supposes that would make them popular tourist destinations.
Rokuta: Ah! Look, there's the cable car station! But... huh? Looks like there's no one here?
Itsuki: There is a notice posted here. ... hm? It seems... "today, service will be temporarily suspended on account of equipment malfunction".
Kei: Eh?
Rokuta: "Suspended"!? Eh-- so we can't ride the cable car??
Kei: ...
Rokuta: --! Well, then, looks like we're walking!
Itsuki: I am quite certain that it is dangerous to simply climb up this way. And furthermore, we are not dressed for hiking.
Kei: I'm sorry... I should have confirmed before we came...
Itsuki: You are not at fault, Kei.
Rokuta: Hey, there's another sign. [jogging over to it] Umm... "Come and join the grape-picking experience being held today!"... is what it says! It must be somewhere around here, right?
Itsuki: [phone tapping] Yes. It looks to be within walking distance of here.
Rokuta: Then how 'bout we go? I wanna try picking grapes!
Kei: I think that sounds like a good idea. Itsuki, what do you think?
Itsuki: Of course, I have no objections.
Rokuta: Yay!
Itsuki: According to the map, it should be just up ahead.
[sfx: footsteps]
Rokuta: Hey, Itsuki-nii, what all's involved in a "grape-picking experience"?
Itsuki: It seems as though you are able to pick and eat as many grapes as you are able to within the allotted time.
Rokuta: [gasp] "Eat as many as I can"?!?
Itsuki: Do not eat every grape on that farm. There are other tourists besides just us there.
Rokuta: 'Kaaaay. I guess it'd be real sad if someone else got there and there were no grapes left, huh?
[sfx: footsteps fading away]
[sfx: crowd chatter]
Rokuta: [laughing, running ahead] Whoaaa~!
Kei: This truly is a large farm.
Rokuta: Ooh! It says you can pick apples over there! Ooh, and over there is a sweet potato field! [laughing and ooh-ing and ahh-ing in the bg]
Itsuki: Calm down. We came here with the purpose of picking grapes, did we not?
Rokuta: Oops, sorry! But they all look so fun, it's hard to choose what to do! Kei-chan, which one do you wanna do?
Kei: Seeing as it was what you first decided on and what brought us here, Rokuta, I think I would like to try picking grapes.
Itsuki: I agree. First, we should check which ones are at optimal ripeness before we pick anything.
Rokuta: Huh? What's it matter if they're all edible?
Itsuki: Is there anything you won't eat?
Rokuta: Hmph, well, I'm just gonna pick whatever looks tasty! [laughing and running ahead]
Itsuki: ... if Rokuta eats as much as he wants, I am certain that there will be nothing left for anyone else.
Kei: With this field being as large as it is, I think it will... probably be okay for him to eat as much as he wants.
Itsuki: Mm. That may be so. Well, then, let's also pick at our leisure.
[sfx: twig snapping]
Itsuki: Kei, the grapes here are...
Rokuta: You both got yours? 'Kay, then, let's get started! On the count of three, show what you've got. Okay, one, two... three!
[sfx: birds chirping]
[sfx: digging sounds]
[sfx: crickets chirping, footsteps]
Kei: [sigh]
[sfx: Itsuki approaching Kei]
Itsuki: Kei.
Kei: Huh?
Kei: ... Ah... It just seemed that Rokuta was acting... a little down.
Itsuki: Ah. You mean when you mentioned wanting to show us your appreciation after the battle, correct?
Kei: Yes. But as it is now, I don't think it's that he dislikes traveling in and of itself...
Itsuki: So you are at present unsure what has caused it.
Kei: One time, back when we were children, Rokuta had a fever, but he didn't say anything about it. When I asked him why he didn't tell me, he said it was that he didn't want to make me sad. ... I feel like maybe I'm sensing some similarities to the way Rokuta acted back then.
Itsuki: Sometimes, it is precisely because something is very important that it becomes difficult to bring it up.
[sfx: twigs snapping]
Rokuta: Hehe, I did it! I got some big ones! Aaaah~ [eating a grape] Mmm! This one's really sweet, too!! Hehe!
Itsuki: For the time being, just keep an eye on Rokuta. If there is anything that concerns you, simply ask me. We can think things over together.
Kei: I will. Thank you, Itsuki.
[sfx: Rokuta running up]
Rokuta: You two! You stopped picking! Is somethin' the matter?
Kei: No, not at all.
Rokuta: Well, then, you'd better hurry up and pick more grapes before we're out of time! It'd be a real waste not to eat as much as you can while you can, y'know?
Itsuki: We are about to obtain some more grapes as well.
Rokuta: Then let's have a race to see who can find the biggest bunch! Ready, set...
Itsuki: Hey, Roku--
Rokuta: And GO!! [sfx: taking off, laughing]
Itsuki: We had not yet agreed to participate.
Kei: [laughs] Well, I suppose we'll just have to find the biggest bunches of grapes we can, won't we?
Itsuki: You are as excessively soft on Rokuta as you ever are.
Rokuta: Kei-chaaan! Itsukiii! If you don't start lookin' soon you're gonna lose~!
[sfx: all three putting forth their grapes]
Itsuki: I believe that is Kei's win.
Rokuta: Wow, that's amazing, Kei-chan!
Kei: Thank you. But the bunches that both of you were able to pick are very impressive as well.
Itsuki: Then let's take a measure. Whoever has the heaviest bunch of grapes will be declared the winner.
Rokuta: Well then, let's get 'em in order, and...!
[sfx: grapes on the scale]
Itsuki: As expected, Kei's were the largest after all.
Rokuta: Wow, that's amazing, Kei-chan!!
Kei: Yes. Thank you.
Rokuta: Uh, Kei-chan, you don't seem that happy about it...?
Kei: No, it's nothing. I just would have preferred it if you or Itsuki had come in first place.
Rokuta: ... aha hah... but I'd be happiest if Kei-chan were the one to win, so.
Itsuki: Rokuta...
Kei: Alrighty!! So, Kei-chan came in first place this time, but I'm not gonna lose a second time! Round two starts: right now! [running off]
Kei: ...
Rokuta: Time was up so fast...! I don't wanna go home yet!
Kei: I feel the same way. I do think we should still have some time before we have to make the train back home...
Itsuki: It seemed as though we passed by a sweet potato digging experience on the way to the grape hunting. Let's inspect that.
[sfx: footsteps fading away]
Rokuta: And here goes... nothing! [pulling up a potato] Got it! It feels super nice when the potatoes pop out of the ground! You guys oughta try, too!
Itsuki and Kei: Okay.
Rokuta: Do your best, Kei-chan!
[sfx: sounds of strain]
Kei: Nn... I can't... pull it out.
Itsuki: It seems that the bulk of the sweet potato plant is already out of the soil. One would expect it to have come loose already...
Rokuta: It's alright! I have faith that Kei-chan can pull it out!!
Kei: [sigh, deep breath, straining, until, THUMP]
Rokuta: Kei-chan!
Itsuki: Kei!
Kei: ...! I got it...! Rokuta, Itsuki, I pulled it out!
Rokuta and Itsuki: --!
Kei: Hm?
Rokuta: [laughing] Kei-chan, you're amazing! But you've got a bunch of dirt on your face! Itsuki-nii, do you have a handkerchief?
Itsuki: Here you go.'
Kei: Thank you.
Rokuta: Now it's Itsuki-nii's turn!
Itsuki: I do hope that it isn't too deeply buried...
Rokuta: You'll do fine! 'Cause I'm gonna be cheering you on a bunch!
Kei: I can think of no greater support.
[sfx: Itsuki straining]
Rokuta: Do your best! [laughing]
Rokuta: Ah...! Amazing!! There's so many pretty stars all over the sky! ... ah! A shooting star! That was a shooting star just now!
Kei: ...! Yes. I saw it too. I think this might be the first time I've ever seen one so clearly.
Itsuki: Yes. Me, as well. ... it's beautiful.
Rokuta: This is all thanks to Kei-chan!
Kei: Huh?
Itsuki: Kei, you are the one who brought us here, and since we are here, we are able to see this starry sky.
Rokuta: And, on top of that, I had a BUNCH of fun hunting for grapes and digging potatoes! Thanks, Kei-chan!
Kei: I should be the one saying that. I wanted to take this trip because I wanted the two of you to enjoy yourselves, but in the end, I was the one who ended up having fun.
Itsuki: We didn't do anything to warrant that. Kei, perhaps you should give more consideration to things that you can enjoy as well.
Kei: As long as the two of you are happy, then I don't really care what--
Rokuta: That's not how this works!!
Kei: Eh?
Rokuta: Kei-chan, you're really kind, and you always try to consider us first and foremost, and... that makes me really happy. But, it also... makes me feel a little lonely.
Kei: ...!
Rokuta: I don't want to always be protected. I want to be able to stand next to you, Kei-chan, but you're always hanging one step behind, keeping an eye on me.
Itsuki: Indeed. I do think you have a tendency of deferring your own needs, Kei. Please remember that we care about you as much as you care about us.
Rokuta: Me, and Itsuki-nii too -- we love you a lot, Kei-chan.
Kei: Itsuki... Rokuta... [sigh] It's no good. I couldn't put the most important things I have to say into words.
Rokuta: ...?
Kei: It's really difficult to express your feelings to your loved ones in a way that doesn't cause any misunderstandings. But trust me when I say that I feel the happiest, Rokuta, Itsuki, when I'm by your side.
Rokuta: Kei-chan...
Itsuki: Kei...
Kei: I realized this all over again while we were having our battle with VISTY. I am who I am today because of the time I've been able to spend with them. Your faces were the ones that came to mind when I had that thought.
Rokuta and Itsuki: --!
Kei: Every moment that I am able to spend with the two of you becomes a precious memory to me. And I'd like to make many more of those memories in the future, as the three of us.
Itsuki: I agree. ... ... I have almost no memories of my own childhood. But time I spend with the two of you fills in even those voids in my past.
Rokuta: You're an important member of the family, too, Itsuki-nii.
Kei: Mmhm.
Itsuki: If we are family, then there is no need to hold back with us to such a degree, Kei.
Kei: That wasn't what I intended to do...
Rokuta: But then... so are you really holding yourself back on doing the stuff you want to do because of me, Kei-chan?
Kei: I'm not holding myself back at all. ... if the two people who are so irreplacable to me are able to share their honest feelings with me, then nothing would make me happier than to be able to respond to those feelings.
[sfx: WHUMPH]
Rokuta: [big ugly tears] WAAAAAAAAH! KEI-CHAAAAAN!!
Itsuki: ... ... [laughs]
Kei and Rokuta: --!
Itsuki: Is something the matter?
Rokuta: Itsuki-nii, you laughed!
Itsuki: Was that... a laugh, just now?
Rokuta: Yeah!!
Itsuki: ... I don't know how to quantify it. But looknig at the two of you just now made my heart feel warm.
Rokuta: Me, too!! I feel really happy when I see you smiling, Itsuki-nii!!
Itsuki: Is that... so...?
Kei: Yes. People want to see the people they care about the most smiling.
Itsuki: ... I see. Then, that's good. Perhaps I am the happiest of all right now.
Kei and Rokuta: ...!
Rokuta: Let's go home, then!
Itsuki: Hey. Don't run, Rokuta. This path is dangerous.
Rokuta: [laughs] Kaaaay~. [running back] Then, let's all three of us go together!
Kei: Mmm.
[sfx: Rokuta grabbing Kei and Itsuki's hands]
Rokuta: [laughs] Now, let's set off on the path back home!!