Carpe Diem¹

You’ll catch a cold if you sleep here.

I wasn’t sleeping. I was listening to the egg. Dude, you took so long to get here.

I apologize for the worry.

What were you up to?

I was doing the 88 Temple Pilgrimage.

Oh… You took on that crazy 145-kilometer pilgrimage like it was nothing… You got that endless stamina and an iron will, my bro.

No, I stopped when it started growing dark. I planned to complete it, but…

I couldn’t make it in time. I’m sorry.

……

Hah-hah-hah…

We don’t gotta rely on any gods, dude. We already got something up our sleeve.

Hm?

Believe in the story progression, my friend.

Ugh… I can’t do this anymore!

What do these kids think they’re doing?! This is terrible!

Chief, for confirmation, you are drinking non-alcoholic beer, correct?

Yeah, you got a problem with that?!

No, not particularly.

There is nothing we can do about the weather tomorrow.

This island does not see many rainy days, so I am sure that nobody expected rain on the day of the festival.

I know that, but…

(It’s past dinner time, and I still haven’t seen any of the boys.)

(I know where they are from their GPS data, so I’m not worried about that, but…)

(The whole team’s fallen apart right before the festival… This is all my fault.)

(But…is there anything else I could’ve even done?)

(I couldn’t even properly convince Akuta-kun. Maybe I’m not fit to lead people.)

(At this rate…)

At this rate, I’ll never become a good teacher!

Please calm down, Chief. You are a tour guide.

How saddening. You seem to be quite distressed.

Y-Yeah… I’m sorry.

Please, have some water.

Thank you…

……

I know that I’m a tour guide and not a teacher. But as an adult, I’m more experienced than them…

So…I wanted to teach them things, but now I’m the one being taught.

Nothing’s going well… I’m ashamed of myself.

……

A life without failure is a life without excitement.

Huh?

There is nothing to feel about a life that does not have its ups and downs.

Even if you encounter failure, it will make your successes feel cathartic in the long run.

I believe that failing in and of itself is a talent.

……

(He has such a gentle expression on his face… He’s trying to cheer me up.)

(He’s right… Not everything has to go well.)

(It doesn’t have to be perfect…)

You’re right… I’ll accept whatever happens.

But only after I try absolutely everything I can…!

Where are you heading at this hour?

I’m heading to KOBE!

I’m going to see if I can borrow a weather control device from them!

You are going now? Transportation from this island is⁠—

I’ll figure it out!

I feel a lot better now that you’ve told me my failures can lead to cathartic successes… Thank you for that.

It’s not so bad if I look at it in the long term. But…

But I think that’s only something we can say because we’re adults.

Experiencing summer as a kid doesn’t last forever. It only happens once in your life.

As their external club advisor and the chief of HAMA Tours, it’s my duty to make sure that they can store their summer memories as 16 year olds in the best frame possible!

Chief…

Please don’t try to stop me!

I have no intentions of stopping you.

Huh?

The final ferry.

If I were to drive you with all my power, you would make it in time.

Ah.

Ah…

……

(It’s kinda awkward to bump into each other now… Maybe I should’ve waited a bit longer to come here.)

(God, why do I have to think about these things now…? This is so annoying.)

(I knew it was easier to be alone…)

Good morning, gentlemen.

Good morning…

Do you know where Muneuji went?

He and Isotake-kun already left.

Oh… Okay.

They’re motivated. Good for them, even though there’s no real point.

Mr. Saku-chan, do you know where Kinugawa-kun is? He wasn’t there when I woke up.

He left for the atelier early this morning. He is working with Gannosuke-san to set up the lanterns.

The two of you are the only ones still here.

Nanamegi-kun, you are to set up the sound equipment. Kurama-kun, you are to set up a food stall.

The festival starts today. I advise you to help with the preparations early, as the day shall be quite busy.

Okay, okay, alright.

Only one “okay,” please.

Okaaaay.

……

The weather’s really nice.

Is it…

Is it really supposed to rain today, God…?