Summer!

The ocean!

A trip!!!

And so, we are currently cruising across the Pacific Ocean aboard a luxurious cruise ship.

Well, I'll skip over how we got here.

There's no need to explain it.

"Ayanokōji, take this!"

"Wha—?!"

The moment I looked away for a second, Shibata splashed a huge amount of water at me.

"Haha! Seeing Ayanokōji make that dumb face is rare!"

"You've done it now, Shibata. I'm taking you down!"

"Uh oh!"

Right now I'm playing in the pool installed on the ship's rooftop area with my classmates.

We're in the middle of a splash fight.

"Take this!"

"Haha! Too slow!"

"Why you..."

While I was chasing Shibata around like before, a gentle voice called out.

"Everyone, how about we take a short break?!"

The one who called out was Ichinose.

On this luxury cruise ship all facilities are free to use and you can even rent swimsuits.

When Ichinose appeared wearing a white bikini, the male students around us and those sitting poolside quickly looked away.

But please don't blame them.

Ah... the world is peaceful today.

"That sounds good. I'm tired and it might be smart to finish lunch before the crowds arrive."

"Then let's do that. Know any good spots?"

With comments from Shibata and Kanzaki, the conversation naturally turned toward our usual group having lunch together.

Not that I'm tired of them, but it's a group lacking novelty.

Just then—

"Huh... Ayanokōji-kun?"

I heard a familiar voice.

"Hirata."

I responded as well.

When I turned around, Hirata was standing there with his girlfriend Karuizawa beside him.

Looks like a date.

"Huh? Wait, are you two actually close?"

Amikura asked in surprise.

I suppose it would look strange for people who once had a falling-out to greet each other like this.

"Ah... something like that. Anyway, what a coincidence. Hirata, are you on a date?"

I asked lightly, trying to ease the mood.

But Karuizawa glared at me.

On top of that the other Class B members looked slightly uncomfortable.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to drag you all into my personal relationships. See you later, Hirata. Let's talk again sometime."

To resolve the awkwardness quickly, I kept it brief.

When I looked at Hirata, he gave a small nod.

"Looks like we interrupted you. See you later, Ayanokōji-kun."

"Yeah. Enjoy the cruise."

"You too."

He quickly walked away while pulling Karuizawa's hand.

After watching them leave, we returned to the previous topic.

"So, we were talking about lunch, right?"

"Yeah, that's right. Does anyone know a good place?"

Kanzaki reacted immediately to my comment, but no one could answer his question.

Well, it's only the first day.

"I think I saw a sign earlier recommending the restaurant on the sixth floor."

Amikura broke the brief silence.

"A restaurant sounds good."

"Yeah, works for me. They probably have a good variety of food."

"I agree! Let's go there!"

Looks like a unanimous decision.

Even in moments like this their sense of cooperation stands out.

"Ayanokōji-kun, that's fine with you too, right?"

Apparently I hadn't answered yet.

Careless of me.

"Of course. I'm interested in the restaurant."

During the first semester I went to karaoke and cafés with them, but I've never been to a restaurant.

Of course I understand the concept, but knowledge only becomes real through personal experience.

"Ayanokōji-kun is kind of... cute."

"I know right. It makes you want to teach him all kinds of things. The gap from his usual behavior is just..."

"As expected of Honami-chan's best friend."

"I'm happy we agree, Mako-chan!"

It's been a while since I heard a conversation I couldn't understand.

What do they mean I'm cute?

Cute should describe people like Ichinose, Amikura or Sakura.

In other words the exact opposite of me.

"Ayanokōji, I'm jealous."

"What do you mean, Shibata?"

"Here's something useful. When girls say 'cute', it's actually a higher compliment than 'cool'. It's the ultimate praise."

"...Is that true, Kanzaki?"

I'm not doubting Shibata, but it doesn't quite make sense to me.

So I asked Kanzaki, but he tilted his head.

"Sorry. I'm not knowledgeable about those things."

"Even Kanzaki doesn't know something?"

"Do you think I'm some kind of supercomputer?"

"It's true you're that reliable."

* * *

After that I changed out of my swimsuit into my uniform and enjoyed lunch with them.

I ordered a margherita pizza, but Ichinose shared some of her carbonara and Amikura gave me some of her bibimbap.

Apparently that's something friends do.

Maybe I'm simple-minded, but it made me want to keep getting along with them.

* * *

Excerpt from the internal diary of Ayanokōji Kiyotaka '15', dated 20XX/8/1

The night breeze feels pleasant.

That's what I was thinking.

It's currently ten o'clock at night.

The playful atmosphere inside the ship has finally settled down and everyone has probably returned to their assigned rooms.

Yet despite the late hour, I'm standing on the fifth-floor deck enjoying the night breeze.

"It's beautiful..."

I muttered while looking up at the sky full of stars.

It's an ordinary sight I never saw or cared about in the past.

Yet now it feels incredibly beautiful.

Perhaps I really have changed since coming to Kōiku.

But being watched isn't a very pleasant feeling.

Who could it be, stalking someone as ordinary as me at this hour?

"Who's there? I know you're there. Come out."

Without turning around, I said that.

A moment later, a face I seemed to recognize peeked out.

Beautiful eyes, refined facial features.

Even in the dim lighting, her glossy brown hair was clearly visible.

"Good evening, Ayanokōji-kun from Class B."

She smiled gently as she spoke.

But my mind didn't waver.

If she wasn't from Class B, she wasn't trustworthy.

At least for now.

"Being known by someone when I don't know them doesn't feel great. As basic courtesy, why don't you introduce yourself?"

"You're pretty strict. But you're right. I'm Matsushita Chiaki, from Class D."

Class D again.

Well, whatever.

I no longer expect anything from them.

There's no point.

I don't even care anymore.

"So what do you want? Did you come to vent some personal grudge at me?"

I don't remember who got expelled, nor do I care.

But directing that resentment at me would be misplaced.

Especially in this school.

"No, no. I heard rumors about you... they say that if it's for victory or for Class B, you don't hesitate to cut off other classes."

A warm summer night wind blew across the deck.

It brushed my neck, making me uncomfortable.

"So what? Yes, I'd do anything for my friends. But what does that have to do with you? I don't feel like wasting time talking with someone from Class D."

Grouping all of Class D together might be unfair.

But can you blame me?

They managed to get seven students expelled at once.

Back then I said Hirata bore responsibility in order to bring him back, but the truth is the ones who got expelled were the ones at fault.

After all, some of them remained.

Which means the difficulty wasn't that high to begin with.

"I want you to make me an ally of Class B."

Matsushita's proposal was unexpected.

I never imagined someone in this school would happily betray their own class.

Though considering that class, it made sense.

Honestly they probably have no hope of rising through the ranks.

"What reward do you want?"

"Obviously... joining Class B."

"Why Class B? Wouldn't Class A be better?"

"Class A is currently busy fighting internal factions. Even if they unify, true unity will be impossible. But your Class B has strong solidarity. If I leak information from other classes, you'll become the strongest."

Leaking information from other classes.

Which means she also noticed the possibility of a class war during this vacation, something Kanzaki had predicted.

Not bad for someone from Class D.

Though I don't really care.

"By the way, Matsushita. Did you consider that I might expose this conversation to your class?"

Someone who planned this carefully couldn't have overlooked that.

But if she had somehow forgotten, I might just throw her into the ocean.

"Because if you're the kind of person who made those decisions, you'd keep me alive at least long enough to determine whether I'm useful. And right now you definitely wouldn't expose me. The moment I made this proposal, I secured one chance. After that all I have to do is prove my value."

It seems she's more sensible than expected.

Still, her abilities remain unknown.

Just as she said, it might be worth using her once.

If she harms my friends, I'll simply cut her off.

"Alright. I've also heard from my classmates about possible events during this vacation. Show me what you can do there. Then I'll decide how to proceed."

"Understood. I'll definitely be useful."

After that we exchanged contact information and Matsushita left.

‘Protecting my friends... is harder than I expected.’