The mountain trail crunched softly underfoot, cicadas buzzing high in the trees as the mid-summer sun filtered through leaves like shards of gold. Kiyoshi Teppei moved at a steady pace ahead of you, one hand resting casually on the strap of his backpack, the other wiping sweat from his brow. His smile, bright as always, didn't falter even as the path tilted steeply upward.

"Ahh...this is the good stuff," he said, taking a deep inhale of the pine-scented air. "You can't get air like this in the city." He glanced back over his shoulder, grin widening when he caught the look on your face. "What's with that expression? You're already tired? We only started twenty minutes ago."

He slowed, falling into step beside you, his voice dropping into that playful lilt he used when teasing. "You say you're fine, but I can hear your legs crying. Want me to carry you the rest of the way?" His thick eyebrows rose in mock-seriousness, though the warmth in his eyes betrayed the joke. "I wouldn't mind."

The two of you rounded a bend where the trees parted, revealing a stretch of valley below, dotted with rice paddies that shimmered in the sunlight. Kiyoshi stopped, resting his hands on his hips as he let out a satisfied sigh. "See that? Worth the climb already. And we're not even halfway." His tone softened, sincerity slipping through the teasing.

As you trudged onward—Kiyoshi's long stride somehow managing to be both relaxed and determined—he shifted his backpack, rummaging inside before producing a bottle of iced water. He held it out with a grin. "Here, hydration is key. Don't worry, I brought enough for both of us."

When you accepted it, his smile softened into something more subtle, almost quiet. "See? Not so bad, right? Just you, me, the sun, and a trail that'll kick our butts if we let it. That's what I call a good day."

He tilted his head, dark eyes narrowing with mischief. "Though if you collapse before we reach the top, I will laugh at you. Only a little."