Chapter Text
The sweltering, unforgiving rays of the summer sun left everyone in Ibuki’s van sweaty, tired, and in a bad mood. It was stuffy, skin sticking together with sweat piling in their loose clothing. It didn’t help that there was no air conditioning in the van, which led to every window in the van being rolled down.
“Ugh, how much longer until we make it to that inn?” Hiyoko whined from the back seat, who was stuffed between Ibuki and Kazuichi. She lazily fanned herself, looking stickily uncomfortable as her blonde hair stuck to the back of her sweaty neck.
“A few more hours, Hiyoko.” Mahiru sighed from the passenger seat as she checked the map. Hiyoko whined in annoyance. They had taken a few stops and detours which led them to being off-track to getting to the inn. The van’s unreliable engine was a reason for those many stops. Mahiru rubbed her sweaty forehead as she felt an oncoming headache.
“Don’t worry Hiyoko! We’ll be there faster than you can say Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis!” Ibuki chimed in with a big grin. She seemed to be the only one in the group that was unbothered by the heat.
“There’s no way that's a real word…” Hina mumbled from the furthest back seat.
“Pneumono- wah? What the hell does that even mean?” Kazuichi asked as he stared dumbfounded at the happy-go-lucky Ibuki.
“Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, as defined by the Oxford Dictionaries, is an artificial long word said to mean a lung disease caused by inhaling very fine ash and sand dust.” Ibuki responded.
“And you just remember that by heart?!” Kazuchi asked dubiously.
Ibuki nodded and grinned.
“T-That's impressive, I-Ibuki…” Mikan meekly chimed in from beside Hina.
“If by impressive you mean stupid, then yeah! Real impressive Ibuki.” Hiyoko mockingly said as she snickered to herself.
Before Ibuki could respond, the engine let out a loud sputter before crackling then finally popping. The van immediately stopped. The group was totally silent as Hajime pulled the car key from the ignition.
“Well isn’t this just great..” Hajime muttered as he plugged the key back in the ignition, but with no luck as the car didn’t start back up. Kazuchi sighed as he opened his door and hopped out.
“I’ll check it out.” Kazuchi said annoyedly.
“Do you need any help?” Hajime asked, already unbuckling his seatbelt.
“Nah you’d just get in my way, man.” Kazuichi responded as he popped open the hood of the car. Mahiru in mild amusement as she looked over at Hajime, who sheepishly looked out the window.
Kazuichi immediately noticed the engine had looked significantly worse than the last time he checked. The engine was in such rough shape that it almost looked as if someone had purposefully messed with it. Kazuichi growled in frustration as he began working, trying to salvage the van’s engine.
Back inside the suffocating van Hiyoko began whining about their new situation. “This isn’t fair! It’s hot as hell in this stupid freaking car and now we have to deal with this again? Ugh, thanks a lot Ibuki!”
“What did Ibuki do?!” Ibuki asked incredulously. Mahiru couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
“This is your van, peanut-brain! This piece of crap has been breaking down on us every freaking hour!” Ibuki gasped at Hiyoko’s words.
“Vanzilla is not a piece of crap! She has been there for Ibuki on her darkest of days! She is Ibuki's day-one!” This time Hiyoko rolled her eyes as she stuck out her tongue.
“Gross. You sound like Kazuichi now.”
“Girls, can we not bicker? It’s too hot for that.” Mahiru interrupted, rubbing her eyes as she felt the exhaustion beginning to creep up on her.
“Ditto...” Hina agreed as she laid her head on Mikan’s shoulder.
Silence fell over the group of college students with the only sounds coming from Kazuichi tinkering with the engine and cicadas chirping loudly nearby. Mahiru quietly huffed to herself as she looked back down at the map. At this rate the group wouldn’t make it in time to the inn for their reservation, which meant potentially losing it.
After a few minutes of waiting in the boiling heat, Hiyoko yelled out in irritation to Kazuichi. “Hey moron, how long do you plan on taking?! We’re dying in here!”
“Can you be any more damn impatient? I’m working my ass off out here!” Kazuichi yelled back, the heat getting the better of him.
“We got places to be, idiot! Why don’t we just call a mechanic since you clearly can’t fix it?” Hiyoko retorted.
“I doubt any of us have any service out here…” Hajime said but was promptly ignored by the two.
“I can do this, okay?! Just give me a minute to get this thing up!” Kazuichi yelled out, frustrated with the engine and Hiyoko’s needless whining.
“That’s what she said!” Ibuki chimed in but no one paid her any mind.
“Oh my god Kazuichi I’m going to beat your wimpy ass if you don’t get this car running in the next minute!” Hiyoko shouted. Hajime closed his eyes and began rubbing his head in annoyance while Hina and Mikan gave each other a look. Ibuki, meanwhile, happily swung her feet.
Mahiru decided it was best to try to calm everyone down. “Guys, please. This isn’t getting us anywhere.”
Hiyoko pouted and crossed her arms, begrudgingly listening to Mahiru and staying silent. After another long silence washed over the group again it was suddenly interrupted by a loud crack and pop coming from the engine.
“Shit!” Kazuichi screeched. Mahiru and Hajime looked at each other before quickly getting out of the van. The sight wasn’t hopeful with black smoke coming from the engine and Kazuichi pacing nervously.
“What can we do?” Mahiru asked as she peered at the engine. She, admittedly, knew nothing about cars.
“There’s nothing we can do! The engine is busted! This piece of junk is worthless!” Kazuchi replied as he kicked the van in frustration. Hina and Mikan got out of the van, wanting to see for themselves what had happened.
“Woah, that definitely doesn’t look good.” Hina commented as she stared at the engine.
“There’s no way we can fix this, Kaz?” Hajime asked.
“No way man. We need parts and tools. Parts and tools I don’t have on me.” Kazuichi muttered as he ran a hand through his sweaty hot-pink-dyed hair.
“T-This is a n-nightmare…” Mikan mumbled, shutting her eyes and nervously holding her hands together. Mahiru gave the scared girl a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
Hajime stared at the distance in thought as he wracked his brain for any potential solutions. Suddenly, he remembered a conversation he had with Mahiru a few hours prior.
“Mahiru, didn’t you mention a town around these parts earlier?” Hajime asked, looking at the redhead.
“Uh, yeah. Saiko, if I remember correctly,” Mahiru confirms as she pulls the map out from her pant pocket. “Yup, Saiko. It’s only about a mile back east.”
Hajime nodded. “We can walk there and see if we can find a mechanic.”
“That’s a good idea, Hajime. Someone should stay behind however to watch the van.” Mahiru said, her eyes immediately looking over to Kazuichi, giving him a pointed look.
“Fine fine I’ll stay.” Kazuchi relented after a minute.
“I’ll stay too so Kazuichi isn’t lonely.” Hina volunteered with a warm smile. Mahiru nodded, giving Hina a small smile back.
“Alright so it’s settled; Hina and Kazuichi will stay here at the van while the rest of us will head down to Saiko to find a mechanic.” Hajime said, going over the plan. Mahiru, Mikan, Kazuichi, and Hina nodded in agreement.
“I’ll go tell Hiyoko and Ibuki what’s happening.” Mahiru said.
“I’ll come too, I need to grab a few things anyways.” Hajime offered, giving Mahiru a friendly smile. She smiled back.
“Alright.”
As Mahiru and Hajime went to tell Ibuki and Hiyoko, Kazuichi let out a quiet chuckle.
“Oh yeah, they definitely dig each other. You think they’ve boned yet?” Kazuichi grinned as he stared at Mahiru and Hajime, unabashedly.
Hina gasped and crossed her arms in a scolding manner. “Kazuichi!”
Mahiru and Hajime went over to the backseat of the van where both Ibuki and Hiyoko were laying lazily.
“Girls, we're going to walk to a nearby town to see if we can get a mechanic to fix up the van while Hina and Kazuichi stay here to watch it. We need to start leaving now before it gets too late.” Mahiru said as she reached over to grab her and Hajime’s respective bags. Hajime gave her a grateful smile as she handed his bag to him.
“Oooh, Ibuki loves to walk! She also loves to stroll, patrol, stride, and ride! Oh, but not the dirty kind of ride. Ibuki means the rollercoaster ride that makes your heart go ba-thump ba-thump ba-thump!” Ibuki gleefully commented.
Hiyoko grumbled. “Ugh, do I have to go, Mahiru? My feet are going to ache and I’m going to be all sweaty and gross!”
Mahiru wiped the sweat off her forehead, tiredly. “Well no, but–”
“But you have to Hiyoko! What if your dear, sweet Mahiru has her heart stolen by a suave gentleman who checks out all of Mahiru’s boxes?!” Ibuki interrupted as she energetically shook Hiyoko.
As Ibuki shook Hiyoko, she glanced over at Mahiru and Hajime, who stared at the girls in confusion. Hiyoko’s eyes narrowed at Hajime before she grunted and pushed away from Ibuki’s tight grip.
“Fine I’ll go! Just so no guys try to make any moves on big sis Mahiru!” Hiyoko gave in, crossing her arms and pouting childishly. Her already pink-tinged face from the heat seemed to darken in the slightest.
Hajime shot a look at Mahiru who simply gave him a smile and shrug back. Mahiru chalked up Hiyoko’s clinginess towards her simply being Hiyoko’s proneness to jealousy. Hiyoko hated it when Mahiru spent one-on-one time with anyone besides herself.
After a few minutes Mahiru, Mikan, Ibuki, Hajime, and Hiyoko were ready to head off. Hajime handed Kazuichi the van’s keys.
“We shouldn’t take more than an hour. We’ll be as fast as we can.” Hajime said as he looked down at the map. Saiko was only a mile away, which meant about a twenty minute long walk.
“Buy snacks, alright? We’re running low!” Hina commented. Mikan gave the brunette a small nod while Ibuki threw a thumbs-up.
The group headed out, saying their quick goodbyes to Hina and Kazuichi who waved them off. Hajime and Mahiru took the lead while the other three lagged behind. As Ibuki chatted Mikan’s and Hiyoko's ears off, the latter watched the pair in front closely as they walked a few feet ahead.
“Hajime I don’t think we’re going to meet the time requirement for the inn.” Mahiru admitted quietly, keeping her voice low in hopes to not catch the attention of the others.
“Have you tried calling them?” Hajime suggested as he looked up from the map.
“I did right before we left, but there’s no service out here.” She replied, her freckled face etched in worry. The trip had unraveled out of their control so fast; the whole situation left Mahiru with a pulsing migraine.
Hajime was silent for a moment before offering Mahiru a reassuring smile. “We’ll figure it out, Mahiru. I’m sure the inn isn’t busy enough to give away our reservation.”
“Yeah, you’re right. The inn will be logical enough to hear us out.” Mahiru tiredly smiled back before quietly chuckling.
“I’m not used to you being the optimistic one, Hajime. You’re usually so pessimistic.” Mahiru teased.
“What are you talking about? I’ve always been like this.” Hajime sarcastically replied as Mahiru’s smile grew.
“Well I for one think this is better for you. You’re more reliable like this rather when you’re freaking out over the smallest of things.” The redhead playfully said, feeling her mood lift from the casual conversation.
Suddenly, the duo found a pair of arms wrapping around their shoulders, pulling them in uncomfortably close.
“Hey hey what are you two lovebirds whispering about?” Ibuki piped in, unashamedly brass.
“Ibuki…! Don’t sneak up on us like that!” Mahiru scolded the energetic girl, feeling her cheek heat up at the insinuation.
“Oooh, Mahiru didn’t deny you two being lovebirds! Smooch smooch!” Ibuki giggled, her grip around the two tightening.
“We’re just friends, Ibuki.” Hajime grumbled as he attempted to pull away from Ibuki.
“Come on, you two are as cute as a baby pig! Oink oink! That’s pig Latin for ‘you two are totally made for each other’, teehee!” Ibuki grinned happily. Mahiru and Hajime finally managed to pull out of Ibuki’s iron grip.
“Ibuki!” They both said at the same time, turning to glare at her. The punk girl simply laughed and ran back to her friends that were still behind.
“I-Ibuki maybe y-you shouldn’t tease Hajime and Mahiru. I d-don’t think they a-appreciate that…” Mikan stuttered out as she nervously wringed her hands. Hiyoko crossed her arms as she turned her head, trying to hide her jealous gaze.
“Ibuki loves to tease her friends though! It’s her love language. And so is biting!” Ibuki said as she erratically bit Mikan’s arm. The nervous girl squeaked in surprise as Ibuki pulled away laughing. Hiyoko finally looked back at the girls, her eyes narrowed.
“There’s nothing going on with those two,” Hiyoko denied, pointing her head towards Mahiru and Hajime who were quietly conversing again. “Mahiru has higher standards than him.”
Mikan and Ibuki shared a glance.
"I t-thought you l-liked Hajime…” Mikan hesitantly said, not knowing where this conversation was leading to.
“Well, yeah, I like Hajime, but he’s not what Mahiru needs. He’s way too much of a pushover and he’s a total wimp.” Hiyoko bitterly scoffed as she found her gaze back on Hajime.
“H-Hiyoko I don’t t-think we should be talking about our f-friends like that…” Mikan softly objected, finding this conversation suddenly very uncomfortable.
“I’ll talk about whatever the hell I want, pig barf!” Hiyoko childishly insulted, causing Mikan to cower and apologize meekly. Ibuki blinked before awkwardly twirling her fingers.
“Uh, who wants to play yellow car?”
The group seemingly had made it to the town, if one could call it that. It was barren with a few buildings scattered around. There had even seemed to be a factory in the distance as it fumed black, puffy smoke into the air.
“Is this dump really Saiko?” Hiyoko asked incredulously, not bothering to hide her judgement.
“Looks like it…” Mahiru confirmed as she looked over Hajime’s shoulder as he checked the map.
“This place looks like a friggin’ ghost town! It’s giving me the heebie jeebies!” Ibuki dramatically shivered. Mikan quietly agreed, hugging herself tightly as her eyes darted around.
“Everyone’s probably inside because it’s so hot out. No need to scare yourselves.” Mahiru logically said, trying to ensure the girls don’t panic amongst each other.
“Still… Do you think there’s a mechanic around here? Seems like a pretty small town…” Hajime muttered as he scrutinized their surroundings.
“Let’s hope so…” Mahiru mumbled as they made their way into the desolate town of Saiko.