Beneath The Maple Tree

[HIKARU'S POV]

I had a great time with Higan today too, yet he seemed kinda off? I guess he was just tired?

I thought as I packed my things up. We had been going out a lot together recently, and tomorrow was the day we were going on the beach trip with my whole class. I was excited but also a bit scared since I had never been away from home for long. Mom and Dad were on a business trip, so it was just me and Butler Ray today. I couldn't wait for tomorrow!

After finishing up, I quickly changed and went to bed, my mind racing with thoughts of the beach, the sun, and the waves.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring. I jumped out of bed, my heart racing with excitement. Today was the day! I dressed in my favorite beach outfit—a light blue shirt and comfortable shorts—and grabbed my beach bag, making sure to pack sunscreen and a towel.

As I made my way downstairs, I spotted Ray in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. "Good morning!" I chirped, my enthusiasm bubbling over.

"Good morning, young master," Ray replied with a smile. "Are you ready for your trip?"

"Absolutely! I can't wait to see the ocean!" I said, practically bouncing on my toes.

Ray raised an eyebrow, a hint of concern flickering in his eyes. "Just be careful, alright? I've heard some of your classmates are a bit... Rowdy..."

I waved off his comment, thinking it was just Ray being overly protective. "It'll be fine! I'm just excited to spend time with everyone."

.

.

.

After breakfast, I grabbed my things and headed out to meet my classmates at the school. The sun was shining brightly, and the air was filled with the scent of salt and adventure. As I arrived, I spotted Higan standing a little apart from the group, his head down, fiddling with his phone.

"Hey, Higan!" I called out, waving enthusiastically.

He looked up, and for a moment, his expression was unreadable. Then, a soft smile broke through. "Hey… I was just waiting for you."

As I approached, I noticed he was wearing a dark hoodie, even though it was warm outside. "Aren't you hot in that?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion.

He shrugged, his gaze flickering away. "I like it this way."

I shrugged it off, thinking he was just being his usual shy self. "Ready for the beach?"

"Yeah," he replied, standing up and adjusting his hoodie. "Let's go."

The bus ride to the beach was filled with laughter and chatter from my classmates, but I found myself sitting next to Higan, who was quiet as usual. I tried to engage him in conversation, but he seemed more focused on the scenery outside the window.

"Isn't this exciting?" I said, nudging him playfully. "The beach, the sun, and all of us together!"

He turned to me, his expression softening for a moment. "Yeah, it's nice."

When we finally arrived, the sight of the sparkling ocean took my breath away. "Wow! It's even more beautiful than I imagined!" I exclaimed, running toward the water.

Higan followed closely, his eyes fixed on me rather than the waves. "Be careful," he warned, his voice low and serious.

I laughed, splashing water playfully. "I will! Come on, join me!"

He hesitated for a moment, then stepped into the water, his hoodie still on. "You're going to get wet," I teased, splashing him again.

Instead of laughing, Higan's expression darkened slightly, but he quickly masked it with a smile. "I don't mind."

As we played in the water, I felt a sense of freedom I hadn't experienced before. Higan was always close, his presence a constant reassurance. But there was something in the way he watched me, a flicker of intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Let's build a sandcastle!" I suggested, my excitement bubbling over.

"Sure," he replied, his tone flat but his eyes glinting with something I couldn't quite place.

We gathered sand and started building, and I couldn't help but laugh as Higan meticulously shaped the towers, his focus unwavering. "You're really good at this!" I said, impressed.

"Thanks," he muttered, his gaze still fixed on the castle. "But it's not as good as you think."

I smiled, brushing sand off my hands. "I think it's perfect."

As we walked along the shore, the sound of laughter and splashing water from my classmates faded into the background. The sun dipped lower, casting a warm golden hue over everything, and I felt a sense of tranquility wash over me. Higan walked beside me, his presence both comforting and slightly unsettling.

"Do you like the beach?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation light.

"It's okay," he replied, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "But I prefer it when it's just us."

I blinked, surprised by his response. "Just us? But it's fun to be with everyone! We can play games, swim, and build more sandcastles!"

He turned to me, his expression serious. "I know. But sometimes, I just want to make sure you're safe. You never know who might be watching."

I laughed nervously, thinking he was joking again. "Higan, you're being silly! We're all friends here. Besides, it's just a beach trip!"

He didn't laugh. Instead, he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You don't understand. People can be unpredictable. I just want to protect you."

I felt a shiver run down my spine, but I brushed it off. "I appreciate that, but I can take care of myself! I'm not a little kid anymore."

He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I know you can. But sometimes, it's not about being able to take care of yourself. It's about who you trust to be there for you."

I opened my mouth to respond, but the sound of my classmates calling for us interrupted. "Hey, you two! Come join us for a game of beach volleyball!" one of them shouted.

I turned to Higan, my excitement bubbling over again. "See? Everyone's waiting for us! Let's go!"

He hesitated, his expression darkening for a moment before he forced a smile. "Sure. Let's go."

As we joined the group, I tried to shake off the tension from our earlier conversation. The game was lively, filled with laughter and playful shouts. I felt a rush of adrenaline as I dove for the ball, and for a moment, I forgot about everything else.

Higan, however, stood a little apart, watching me with an intensity that made me feel both flattered and uneasy. I caught his eye a few times, and each time, I felt a strange mix of warmth and apprehension.

After the game, we all collapsed onto the sand, panting and laughing. I turned to Higan, who was sitting a bit away from the group, his hoodie still pulled tightly around him. "You should join us more! It's fun!" I called out.

He looked at me, his expression softening slightly. "I'm fine here."

I frowned, feeling a pang of disappointment. "But I want you to have fun too! Come on, let's go for a swim!"

He hesitated, then shook his head. "I'll just watch."

I sighed, but I didn't want to push him. "Okay, but don't be a stranger!" I said, running back to the water with my classmates.

As I splashed around, I couldn't help but glance back at Higan. He was still watching, his gaze fixed on me with an intensity that made my heart race. I tried to focus on the fun, but the feeling of being observed lingered in the back of my mind.

After a while, I swam back to the shore, feeling a bit tired but exhilarated. I flopped down on the sand next to Higan, who was still sitting there, his expression unreadable.

"Did you enjoy watching?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

He nodded slowly, but his eyes were distant. "Yeah. You looked happy."

"I was! It was so much fun!" I said, beaming at him. "You should have joined us!"

He turned to me, his expression suddenly serious. "I don't want to get too close to anyone else. I just want to make sure you're safe."

I felt a chill run down my spine again. "Higan, you're being really intense. It's just a beach trip with friends and teachers."

He leaned in closer, his voice low. "You don't understand. I care about you. I want to be the one who protects you."

I swallowed hard, feeling a mix of confusion and concern. "I appreciate that, but I don't need anyone to protect me. I can handle myself."

He looked at me, his eyes searching mine. "But what if someone tries to take you away from me?"

I blinked, taken aback by his words. "Higan, no one is going to take me away. We're all just friends here and the teachers are around too!"

He leaned back, his expression softening again, but there was still an intensity in his gaze. "I know. But I just want to make sure you know that I'm here for you. Always."

I felt a warmth spread through me at his words, but the underlying tension still lingered. "I appreciate that, really. But you don't have to worry so much. We're all friends, and I want you to enjoy this trip too."

He nodded slowly, but I could see the conflict in his eyes. "I'll try," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Just then, one of our classmates called out, "Hey! Who wants to go for ice cream?" The suggestion was met with cheers, and I felt a surge of excitement.

"Let's go, Higan! Ice cream sounds amazing!" I said, jumping to my feet.

He stood up too, but his expression was still serious. "Okay, but stay close to me."

I nodded, a little taken aback by his insistence, but I didn't want to dwell on it. We walked toward the ice cream stand together, and I tried to focus on the fun of the moment.

As we reached the stand, I scanned the flavors, my mouth watering at the sight of all the colorful options. "What are you going to get?" I asked Higan, who was still standing a bit apart from the group.

"I'm not sure," he replied, his gaze distant again.

"Come on! You have to pick something! It's a beach trip tradition!" I urged, trying to coax him into the spirit of things.

He finally stepped closer, glancing at the flavors. "Maybe just vanilla," he said, his tone flat.

"Vanilla? That's so boring! You should try something fun, like strawberry or mint chocolate chip!" I exclaimed, trying to get him excited.

He shrugged, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I'll stick with vanilla."

I sighed but decided not to push him further. "Alright, I'll get strawberry then! It'll be delicious!"

After we ordered our ice cream, we found a spot on the sand to sit and enjoy our treats. I took a big bite of my strawberry ice cream, savoring the sweet and tangy flavor. "This is amazing!" I said, grinning at Higan.

He took a small lick of his vanilla, and I watched as he seemed to relax a little. "It's not bad," he admitted, a hint of a smile breaking through.

As we sat there, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. The sun was setting, casting a beautiful glow over the beach, and the sound of laughter and waves filled the air. I turned to Higan, wanting to share the moment. "Isn't this perfect?" I asked.

He looked at me, his expression softening. "Yeah, it is."

Just then, a group of my classmates ran past us, splashing water and laughing. I felt a surge of joy and jumped up. "Let's go join them!" I said, grabbing Higan's hand and pulling him up.

He hesitated for a moment, but then he followed me, his grip on my hand firm. As we ran toward the water, I felt a thrill of excitement. The waves crashed around us, and I couldn't help but laugh as I splashed water at my friends.

Higan stood a little back, watching me with that intense gaze again. I turned to him, splashing water in his direction. "Come on! Don't just stand there!"

He finally stepped into the water, a small smile breaking through as he joined in the fun. I felt a rush of happiness as we played together, the tension from earlier fading away.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and purple, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. I was surrounded by friends, the ocean at my feet, and Higan by my side. Everything felt right, even if there were still whispers of unease in the back of my mind.

But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the joy of the moment, hoping that this beach trip would be the start of something wonderful for both of us.

_To_Be_Continue_