The morning sun broke through the towering trees, casting golden streaks across the campsite. The crisp mountain air buzzed with anticipation as students stretched and yawned their way out of tents. Today was the day for challenges, and excitement rippled through the group as the teachers gathered everyone for instructions.
"Alright, listen up! Today, we're splitting into teams for a scavenger hunt!" one of the teachers announced, holding up a small notebook. "You'll need to find a list of items scattered around this area, but here's the twist—you have to use what you collect to prepare a meal afterward. Creativity counts!"
Groans and cheers echoed in equal measure. Ito grinned, nudging Kyomi. "Hope you're good at finding food, because I refuse to eat anything suspicious."
"You're assuming I'll be in your team," Kyomi shot back with a smirk. "For all you know, I might end up with someone who actually listens."
Ito feigned offense, crossing his arms dramatically. "I listen! I just filter out the unnecessary parts."
Meanwhile, Axel caught Emi's gaze as they were paired together, along with a few other classmates. Emi's expression was calm as usual, but there was a flicker of something beneath it—perhaps amusement, or something more distant.
The scavenger hunt sent teams scattering across the surrounding forest, searching for mushrooms, herbs, and anything edible. Emi moved with a quiet confidence, identifying wild greens with ease. Axel watched her, admiring how effortlessly she navigated the terrain.
"You're pretty good at this," he commented, plucking a bundle of mint leaves from a bush.
Emi glanced at him, a small smile forming. "You learn a lot when you spend time observing."
Axel knew she meant more than just the forest. He let her words settle, deciding not to push the thought further.
After an hour, the groups returned, arms full of gathered ingredients. The cooking challenge began, with makeshift stoves and stone-lined fire pits coming to life. Laughter and shouts filled the air as teams scrambled to turn their finds into something edible.
Ito, predictably, was struggling. "How do you mess up boiling water?" Kyomi huffed, watching him with disbelief.
"The fire is too strong!" Ito defended, waving at the billowing steam.
In contrast, Emi worked with calm precision, chopping wild onions and stirring a fragrant broth. Axel helped where he could, stealing glances at Emi every so often, wondering what else she was quietly capable of.
Their team's dish turned out surprisingly well—a simple but flavorful soup infused with mountain herbs. When the teachers judged, they praised the balance of flavors, and Axel caught the way Emi's lips curled slightly at their approval. It was a small victory, but one that felt oddly meaningful.
By that time the teachers had already set up an activity for the second part os the day—another scavenger hunt spread across different parts of the forest near the campsite. It was a group activity, and each team had to find specific objects hidden in marked locations while solving small riddles given to them.
Naturally, this time Axel, Emi, Kyomi, and Ito ended up in the same team. With their map in hand, they set off into the woods, following the first clue. The usual banter between them started almost immediately, with Kyomi teasing Ito about his navigation skills and Emi trying to hold back her laughter at Axel's unimpressed reaction to the clue being written in overly poetic language.
"Who writes these clues? 'Where the morning light kisses the emerald waves'—just say 'by the stream,'" Axel grumbled, scanning the surroundings.
Emi smirked. "Maybe they wanted to make it sound more mystical."
"Yeah, well, now we're lost in the poetry of it," Ito muttered, rubbing his forehead.
They eventually found the first item near a small clearing, and as the game went on, Axel found himself sneaking glances at Emi. He had already confirmed his suspicion that she was connected to LumeNoir, yet he no longer felt the need to chase after proof. Instead, he watched her enjoy the moment—laughing with Kyomi, arguing playfully with Ito, and occasionally catching him watching her before flashing him an amused smile.
By the time they finished the hunt, the sun was high, and the group returned to the campsite to rest before lunch. After a brief meal and some time lounging around, the teachers announced another event—canoeing on the nearby lake.
This time, they were paired in twos, and Axel found himself in a canoe with Emi. The water was calm, reflecting the endless sky, and the soft splashing of paddles created a rhythm between them.
"You're awfully quiet," Emi noted as she paddled beside him.
Axel hesitated before answering, looking at her carefully. "I was just thinking... about what someone once said. That sometimes, art should be admired without needing to know the artist."
Emi's paddle slowed slightly, but she didn't stop. "That's a nice way of looking at it."
Their eyes met briefly, and for the first time, Emi didn't look away. It was subtle, unspoken, but Axel felt like something had shifted between them.
As the day wound down and the group returned to camp, the evening was filled with more activities—small games, cooking together, and preparing for the bonfire later that night. The stars were bright when the students finally gathered around the fire, sharing stories, jokes, and occasional dares.
As laughter filled the air, Axel excused himself for a moment, stepping away to stretch his legs. Just as he was about to head back, he noticed Emi sitting alone near a tree, gazing up at the sky. Without thinking, he approached and sat down beside her.
"Thinking about a song?" he asked, breaking the silence.
She chuckled softly. "Maybe."
They sat there, side by side, the night breeze cool against their skin. There were no direct confessions, no grand revelations—just the quiet understanding that something had deepened between them. And for Axel, that was enough.
As the fire crackled in the background and the laughter of their friends echoed through the night, Axel realized something. Whether Emi ever chose to tell him the truth didn't matter. What mattered was the connection they shared in these fleeting, beautiful moments. And as long as he could protect that, he was content.
The night continued with lighthearted games, storytelling, and soft music playing from someone's phone. The second day of the camping trip ended not with dramatic revelations but with a quiet promise between two souls under the same vast sky.