Chapter 54: Departure
Yo! I'm Hachiman, and I'm going on vacation!
Time flew by to the end of July. With the first semester's final exams successfully concluded, the next event was a two-week luxurious trip for all first-year students.
According to the itinerary, for the first week, students would enjoy the summer at a lodge built on a deserted island, and the second week would be spent on a cruise ship.
All first-year students were scheduled to take a bus together to Tokyo Bay at 5:00 AM.
A luxury cruise ship would then carry the students away. After breakfast in the ship's lounge, students would have free time to enjoy the services on board as they wished. Surprisingly, it was said that all facilities on the ship could be used free of charge, with no point payment required.
In the student dormitory, Hikigaya began preparing for the luxury trip scheduled to depart at 5:00 AM tomorrow.
That said, he only needed a few changes of clothes. Although he knew an exam would take place on a deserted island, he couldn't prepare much beforehand since the exam format was unclear. So, Hikigaya randomly pulled a few pieces of clothing from his closet.
'Right, I should also pack extra underwear and socks. I need them for when the flow is heavy... I mean, when I sweat a lot.'
Next, he packed his toiletries. He wasn't sure if the accommodation would provide them, so he'd bring them just in case.
'Alright, done! One bag is enough for my luggage.
Yeah—! I feel like I travel often; that's so cool! UNO, playing cards, Mahjong—it must be difficult for others to bring so much luggage.'
Hikigaya moved his packed bag to the bedside, plugged in his phone charger, set his alarm, and then lay down on the bed.
'I have to wake up early tomorrow, so I should get some rest early today. I'll be left behind if I'm late... But then again, if I'm late, I won't have to participate in the special deserted island exam. Wouldn't that be nice?'
The thought nearly made him abandon the idea of waking up early...
'I shouldn't let my imagination run wild. I should go to sleep early.'
.
.
.
At 4:30 AM the next day, before dawn, many first-year students were already waiting at the school gate. Hikigaya yawned, using the light from his phone to look for the meeting spot for the Class A students.
Hikigaya stood on the side and observed for a while, quickly finding familiar faces across from the noisy Class D students.
The Katsuragi faction was gathered around Katsuragi-kun, discussing something. Meanwhile, the Sakayanagi faction students stood behind Yukinoshita, whispering to each other, occasionally glancing at Yukinoshita.
Yukinoshita completely ignored their gazes, silently closing her eyes to rest. Beside her, Kamuro stood still with her arms crossed, her expression cold.
'Good, found them. Now I just need to quietly stand on the outermost edge, and I'm all set.'
Hikigaya Hachiman activated his "Shadow Skill." Using this skill enhances the effect of not being noticed by those around him, but perhaps because it has leveled up, it lately causes the additional damage of people saying, "That guy always seems to quietly sneak up without realizing it!"
Finally, at the agreed-upon time, four buses drove up to the school gate, and the homeroom teachers of each class stepped off the buses. The students, who had been chatting casually, immediately grew serious and formed neat lines.
'Taking attendance by class and boarding—is this a sports festival?'
Hikigaya carried his luggage and slowly boarded the bus responsible for transporting Class A students. The bus had plenty of empty seats, and Mashima-sensei hadn't assigned the students' seats, simply telling them to sit wherever they liked.
However, since this was a class activity, it involved many complex factors. Only after seeing the first person sit down would others follow in order. As the students boarded, they looked at each other, contemplating where to sit, feeling as if "the first move is guaranteed to lose this match..."
Perhaps impatient with the long delay in choosing seats, Katsuragi-kun spoke in a loud, steady voice: "Since the sensei hasn't assigned seats, just sit wherever you want. You can always change later anyway."
After speaking, he sat in the seat next to him, and the blond Totsuka Yahiko immediately loudly agreed with Katsuragi, sitting next to the latter.
Just as Hikigaya was still hesitating about where to sit, Kamuro tugged at his sleeve, leading him to a row of seats in the front of the bus. In the window seat, Yukinoshita was nodding off, asleep.
Yukinoshita rested her small head peacefully on the back of the seat, breathing steadily. Her seemingly smiling expression was completely different from her usual iron fortress, and this stark contrast made Hikigaya's heart unexpectedly quicken.
Just then, Yukinoshita's lips twitched slightly, and she opened her eyes.
"You startled me. The moment I saw your face, I woke up immediately."
At Yukinoshita's sharp tongue, Hikigaya finally snapped out of his trance.
'I was almost completely fooled by this girl. It'd be better if this woman slept forever.'
"Hikigaya..." Kamuro reached out her hand towards Hikigaya, taking his luggage and placing it on the rack. "Sit down quickly."
"Oh, thanks." Just as Hikigaya was about to sit down, he realized Yukinoshita occupied the window seat, and Kamuro sat in the aisle seat, leaving only the middle seat.
Seeing Hikigaya still standing hesitantly, Kamuro reached out and pressed him down onto the seat, then plopped down next to him. Two different scents wafted from Hikigaya's left and right, and soft, firm thighs pressed against Hikigaya's leg. The sudden contact made him jump.
'Physical contact is too unfair...'
That said, Hikigaya wasn't calm enough to pull away or dodge, so he could only remain stiff and motionless.
Soon, the departure music started playing. Let's travel on a beautiful day!
The vehicle had been driving for a while when Kamuro, who had been looking out the window, pressed her hand on Hikigaya's leg and leaned toward the window, as if she had spotted something interesting.
"Um... Kamuro-san?"
Due to the very narrow space, after Kamuro leaned toward Hikigaya, he could only move his body with difficulty to avoid a certain "milk wash" situation, but this pushed him right next to Yukinoshita. He accidentally pressed his hand onto Yukinoshita's black stockings. A wonderful sensation, as if his fingers were sinking in, came from his fingertips. Frightened, he quickly pulled his hand back, closed his eyes, and played dead.
"Hikigaya! And Kamuro-san, what exactly are you two doing?!" Yukinoshita huddled in, her voice sharp and piercing, like a blizzard blowing from the Arctic.
Although it was summer, Hikigaya felt a bone-chilling cold.
"What's wrong? I only wanted to look at the view outside," Kamuro replied carelessly.
"In that case, you come sit here with me. As for Hikigaya..." Yukinoshita shot Hikigaya a contemptuous, icy look: "You go squat in the aisle!"
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