Our last day of school before the transfer ended, and Hikari and I left the campus together.
Since our farewell party was scheduled for Sunday, we’d be seeing everyone again then.
In front of the school gate, a sleek black luxury car was parked, with Tsuzuri-san standing nearby waving at us.
「「Good afternoon, Tsuzuri-san! 」 Sorry to keep you waiting.」
「It’s fine, both of you. Now hop in—we’ll stop by your houses to pick up your luggage first.」
With that, Hikari and I got into the car.
◇◆◇◆
After stopping by our homes to grab our things, we sped along the highway for several hours.
Now we were in one of the rooms of a traditional inn in Y Prefecture.
For the record, Hikari was currently off enjoying the hot springs.
「Huh? Why are we in a luxury inn?」
「Well, since I had the budget for it… I splurged a little♪」
「What is this… My impression of you is slowly falling apart…」
「Yuuki-kun… here’s a life lesson: adults lose the moment they start thinking too deeply!」
「Ah. Uh, sure… got it…」
「Well, I’m paying for my own stay out of pocket, though!」
「…Seriously?」
「Anyway, enough about me. We’re meeting the rest of tomorrow’s rescue team here.」
「Right, who are they again?」
「It’s the Kagura Team—the group you took the exam with before.」
Oh yeah… now that she mentions it, I remember them.
They were the ones all dressed in miko outfits… weren’t they?
「That face says you don’t really remember them… Well, it’s a five-member team. Three in the front line, two in the back. Their leader, Kagurazaka Rinka-chan, uses a pretty interesting weapon.」
「Oh? What kind of weapon?」
「It’s called a pata. It’s a combination of gauntlet and sword.」
「That sounds awkward to fight with…」
「You’d think so, right? But apparently, the gauntlet part is articulated and can move.」
「Whoa, that sounds amazing. I’d love to see it.」
「You’ll get to tomorrow—it’s just a meet-and-greet tonight.」
「Roger that. By the way, Tsuzuri-san, aren’t you going to the bath?」
「I’m waiting for the Kagura Team. They should be arriving in another 30 to 40 minutes. You can go ahead and bathe first if you’d like.」
「Hmm, maybe… Haruka and Touka aren’t here yet, so…」
「Oh? Planning to bathe together?」
「Of course not!!」
「Eeh～ But I heard from Himeka-san that you, Hikari-chan, and she all bathed together before.」
「I—uh—I don’t know what you’re talking about!」
「Okay, then how about that little romantic moment with Haruka-chan the other day…」
「I’m going to the bath!!」
I bolted from the room and out into the hallway.
How the hell does she know about that?!
「Guess I’ll kill some time with a soak in the hot spring. Now where’s the facility map…」
While walking around looking for the layout, I turned a corner and—bam—ran right into someone.
「Kyaa!」「Whoa!」
We collided, and I accidentally knocked the other person over.
「I’m so sorry! I wasn’t paying attention…!」
The woman I’d knocked over had deep crimson hair and a refined, well-formed face.
She looked oddly familiar, but I couldn’t place her—there wasn’t anyone like her around me normally.
Also… her legs were splayed in a rather elegant M-shape, and I could see fabric under her skirt that matched her hair color.
I quickly turned my head away in a panic to avoid looking any further.
「Oww… Hey you! Where do you think you’re walking, huh!?」
「I’m really sorry! I was looking for a facility map since I don’t know my way around…」
「…Fair enough. I was also distracted by my phone, so let’s call it even.
But why are you looking away instead of helping a lady up?」
「Um… well… your skirt wa—」
Just as I was about to explain the real reason, I caught a vicious punch to the gut.
I’m pretty sure my feet left the floor for a second.
「Tch.」
「Gah—cough, cough!」
She brushed right past me, walking off without another word.
(…Okay, yeah, I did kinda stare for a second. So that one’s on me. But man, she didn’t even shout—just threw a clean hit. Solid punch, too.)
The pain lingered, so I cast a quick Heal on myself.
Hopefully she didn’t hurt her hand punching me…
◇◆◇◆
After a brief soak in the hot spring, I returned to the room assigned to me,
only to find Hikari, Haruka, and Touka already gathered there.
「Yo, Haruka, Touka! Been a couple days. Hikari, you got back earlier, huh?」
「Onii-chan!」
「Good afternoon, Yuuki-oniisan.」
「Ah, finally back huh, Yuuki～」
Each of them greeted me in their own way.
「And why, may I ask, are you all in my room like it’s normal?」
「Because we were waiting for you, obviously.」
「Wait, don’t tell me—the other group’s here already?」
「Nope, not yet. Tsuzuri-san said she’ll let us know when they arrive.」
「I see… So what are you all doing here, then?」
「「「We were bored!」」」
「…Of course you were.」
Well, I guess I don’t mind—beats being bored by myself.
「Oh right—Haruka, Touka, are you two moving into the dorms at the new school?」
「We’re actually going to be living in an apartment nearby with Tomoe-chan.」
「Dang, that’s pretty cool.」
「What about you, onii-chan?」
「Hmm… It’s a bit of a commute from my place… What about you, Hikari?」
「Wherever you go, I go. Whether it’s moving or commuting, I’m with you.」
「Uh, r-right…」
「Still head-over-heels for Yuuki-san, huh.」
「Onii-san’s so loved～」
「Yeah… guess I really am…」
I replied somewhat reflectively, and Hikari blushed as she murmured,
「Hearing it said out loud like that is… kinda embarrassing.」
「Well, either way, we’ll figure it out once we start commuting.」
「Exactly. Depending on how it goes, we might end up moving anyway.」
Just as we were chatting, someone knocked on the door.
Touka answered with a 「Coming!」 and Tsuzuri-san stepped in.
「Yuuki-kun, you’re back too, huh? Good timing—everyone participating tomorrow has arrived. Let’s go.」
She led us to a small banquet hall.
Inside were five girls—including the crimson-haired one I’d just collided with earlier.
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