B's Log May 2025: Short Story

Newly-Produced Short Story Series: Chapter 7

Our First Time

A quartet consisting of Saimon and Shiki from TCW, Nayuta from cozmez, and Rokuta from 1Nm8 were enjoying camping at an auto-campsite out in the outskirts.
As the sun began to set and the temperature dropped with it, everyone set about preparing a fire.

Rokuta: Like this, and then like that... okie dokey~!
Nayuta: Hey... are we sure this guy knows how to chop firewood?
Shiki: That whole stump he was using for a chopping block... is completely broken into pieces now.
Nayuta: It... suuuuure is.
Rokuta: Huh!? Was I not supposed to chop it up!? I'm sorryyy!!
Saimon: It's not something that you'd really expect someone to break... but, I suppose that you can't un-break something that's already been broken. I'll go have a talk with the manager later and apologize.
Rokuta: I'll go with and apologize too!
Saimon: How kind of you. Then, we'll go together later.
Nayuta: Seriously, what kind of freaky strength does that guy have?
Shiki: I'll chop up the firewood. Nayuta-kun, can you please go ahead and light the fire?
Nayuta: Sure. I'll just use the charcoal left over in the barbecue to start it with.
Saimon: That's a good idea. Let's do just that.

They managed to light the fire without any problems, and everyone gathered around the campfire to relax.

Nayuta: S'warm... this is pretty chill.
Shiki: I agree. Just watching the fire makes me feel at ease for some reason.
Rokuta: Look! My roasted marshmallows are done!
Nayuta: That's not "roasted", that's "burnt to a crisp".
Rokuta: How'm I supposed to eat this?
Nayuta: I mean it's basically inedible at this point.
Rokuta Aww...!!
Shiki: Rokuta-kun, if you hold it a little further away from the heat when you roast a marshmallow, and rotate it slowly, then it turns out a lot better. See? Like this.
Rokuta: That's amazing!! Shikki, you're so good at this!! I wanna eat it!! Is it okay if I eat it??
Shiki: Of course. Here you go.
Rokuta: !!
Rokuta: It's so yummyyyyyyyyy!! It's super soft and it melts in my mouth!
Shiki: I'm glad.
Nayuta: Shiki, I want one too.
Shiki: Sure, no problem!
Saimon: Fufu.
Shiki: Is something wrong, Owner?
Saimon: Not at all. I was just thinking that it's nice to see the three of you getting along.
Rokuta: Ah~! Camping is great! I love getting to eat lots of yummy food and relaxing!
Nayuta: You already ate everything that we picked up at the service center on the way in.
Shiki: He also ate all of the food that Itsuki sent with him, didn't he?
Rokuta: Hehehe.
Saimon: Well, I suppose our cargo will be a bit lighter on the return trip, then.
Rokuta: Hey, hey, everyone, what've you had the most fun doing?
Shiki: I suppose I'd say fishing. I never expected I'd catch that many fish.
Nayuta: You're the only one who caught anything, for some reason.
Saimon: It was very unfortunate, Nayuta-kun, that the only fish you managed to catch at long last got stolen by a bird.
Nayuta: That bird better watch its fuckin' back.
Shiki: That really was extremely unfortunate.
Saimon: One supposes that even though there are a few mishaps, that's all part of the joy of camping.
Rokuta: What'd you hav fun doing, sensei?
Saimon: I quite enjoy drinking whiskey while watching the campfire, just like this.
Rokuta: Is alcohol really that tasty?
Saimon: It is. Once you're older, Rokuta-kun, you should stop by my bar. I'll treat you to a drink.
Nayuta: You really sure you want to have that on record? If he keeps up the way he is now, he'll drink everything you've got.
Shiki: Haha. That may be true.

The group's collective laughter echoed throughout the campsite.
Each person spent their time in a way they most enjoyed, and the night wore on.

Rokuta: Ahh, I'm getting sleepy after eating so many sweets.
Nayuta: Are you an infant?
Saimon: Well, it is getting late.
Shiki: So it is. I didn't notice how late it had already gotten.
Rokuta: Then, I think I'm gonna head off to bed~
Saimon: If so, then you should go brush your teeth. I'll come along with you. Shiki, Nayuta-kun, what are you going to do?
Shiki: Um, what are we doing...?
Nayuta: I'm gonna stay here a bit longer.
Shiki: Then I'll do the same.
Saimon: Understood. Well, then, I'll just have to ask you to clean up after the fire. Goodnight, then.
Shiki: Yes! We'll take care to extinguish it properly before we sleep. Goodnight.
Rokuta: Night night~
Nayuta: Uh-huh.

Saimon and Rokuta took their leave, leaving the surroundings extremely quiet.

Shiki: ... I don't know what it is, but watching the campfire like this is very nice.
Nayuta: Yeah. Sleeping outside back when I was a kid got really old really fast, but camping's sorta fun.
Shiki: Yeah. I'm glad I got to come camping with you, Nayuta-kun.
Shiki: And I had a lot of fun spending time with the Owner and Rokuta-kun, too.
Nayuta: Mm. I suppose coming out with this group was a good idea.
Nayuta: ... hey, Shiki.
Shiki: Is something the matter?
Nayuta: Nah, just wanted to say sorry.
Shiki: Huh? What for?
Nayuta: Well, at the start I was complaining a lot about how much of a tedious pain everything was to do. But once I tried it, it was actually pretty fun.
Shiki: You don't have to apologize for it. I'm just glad you ended up having a good time.
Shiki: Ah, look, Nayuta-kun! Up there!
Nayuta: Whoa... that's really pretty.
Shiki: Right? I've never been able to see the stars this clearly before.
Nayuta: Huh, I think I just saw a shooting star.
Shiki: Huh? Where?
Nayuta: Over in that area... yeah, see, another one!

The four of them had enjoyed a pleasant time together, and the sound of Shiki and Nayuta talking and the crackle of the fire melted away into the clear night air.