Chapter 496 - Reporting, Contacting, and Commotion
"—A week…"
"…on a southern…"
"…island…"
"…for a…"
"…vacation, you say…?"
"I never said anything about a southern island, and it's not a vacation… and, wait, how did you guys synchronize like that? You're amazing."
Monday. After somehow surviving the morning session of the incomprehensible spell incantation listening party with a cool expression while my brain was filled with question marks, the usual crew gathered in the cafeteria for lunch.
When I told them about my upcoming 'plans,' the three of them, excluding the esteemed Miss Shijo, pulled off a dramatic unison that would have made Mi-na and Ri-na proud.
Setting aside the childhood friend pair, even Mizuki, who's supposed to be the sole cool-type in our group of four, normally jumps in on these things, which is one of her good points.
I don't know if she does it intentionally or not, but I don't dislike it.
And in most cases, it's a given that her best friend next to her will be letting out a nervous laugh similar to my own partner's, with an "Ahaha…"
"A trip with the 'Princess' is super enviable…!"
"So it was true you knew her in real life… I mean, if that's what's going on, then of course it's true."
Shoko, who's apparently a 'low-key' fan of Alicia, voiced her envy while gripping her chopsticks tightly. Toshiki followed up, muttering, "This doesn't feel real," as he munched on a baguette sandwich, giving me a strangely impressed look.
Even if you look at me like that, I'm just going over for the patently pathetic reason of 'having her tutor me'—also, Shoko-san, your udon is getting soggy.
Stop trembling with emotion and eat up.
"In that case, is our study group unnecessary?"
The question from Mizuki beside me was a natural one. We had planned ours first, even if we hadn't set a detailed schedule, and it would be incredibly rude of me to just say, 'Oh, Alicia is tutoring me now so it's fine'—
"Sorry, but I'd actually like to ask you guys to do this regularly so that this kind of situation doesn't become necessary. So, if anything, I need your help more than ever."
"I see. Understood."
"In that case, let's plan a session for right after you get back. It'll be a good way to check and see how much you've caught up, you know."
"Yeah, that would be a great help."
Following Mizuki's swift nod, Kaede, sitting next to her, offered her support as well.
I bowed my head in gratitude once more… and was met with a fluffy smile that seemed to say, 'But of course.'
"We are your exclusive team, after all."
"Helping you is our job."
"…Look, I'm really, really grateful, but I'm pretty sure 'tutor' isn't in the contract."
Though I do fully intend to take you up on the offer.
"Haaah… but a trip sounds nice. I wanna go to a southern island too."
"I told you, I'm not going to a southern island—I don't think. Probably. Maybe."
"Have you already notified the school?"
"Yeah, I contacted the chairman, for now. The dates aren't set in stone yet, though."
He had told me to contact him 'anytime, for any reason,' so when I called him this morning, he just cheerfully approved with a "Have a good time," without even asking for details.
Is that really okay for an educational institution?
"Hey, let's us go somewhere too! Like, for summer vacation, let's go all out and go abroad or something!"
"Going overseas right off the bat is a high hurdle… and getting a passport is a pain."
"Oh, okay. Then we'll just go as a group of four and leave you behind, Toshiki."
"Hey, wait, that's just cruel…!"
"I want to go to London."
"I want to go to Italy!"
"Ah, haha… Going abroad would be a lot, but it would be fun if we could go somewhere to hang out."
As always, things got lively in an instant. Compared to high school, a university student's summer vacation is so long it makes you wonder, 'Is this really okay?'… But from the looks of it, my schedule won't be empty this year, at least.
I welcome that with open arms. Let the springtime of youth overflow without limit. However, there is one thing I must be careful about—
"Just please, spare me the four-person trip that leaves Toshiki behind, okay?"
"…!!!!! Hey, Nozomu, I'm incredibly moved right—"
"A three-on-one trip with girls would definitely get me throttled from all sides."
"For self-preservation?! I knew it!!"
And so, it's important to never forget to protect oneself. In all seriousness, if I did something like that, I have a feeling those three over there would cause a huge scene.
Nia would pout, Sora would get lonely, and Alicia would be silently jealous. And then, each in their own way, they would demand something unreasonable to make up for it. I'm sure of it.
A three-on-two ratio with Toshiki is still risky, but at least it leaves room for excuses, so he absolutely cannot be left out… and besides that, a trip without our boisterous, energetic member would be pointless. If the time comes, I'll drag him along even if I have to.
Also, as for other possibilities—
"What about you, Nozomin? Is there anywhere you wanna go?"
"Inland."
"That instant reply is just too funny. What, do you hate the ocean or something?"
I wonder if a day will come when my real-life friends and virtual-world friends will meet and interact.
There would be security issues and all that… but my four friends here, by virtue of their 'Yotsuya-affiliated' status, are already a bit outside the realm of ordinary people.
Having been selected as the acrobat's exclusive team, they've already passed the credit check, so the hurdles might not be as high as I think—but, well…
"Wait a minute? But you're going to the sea this time, right? If you're going to the sea, that means there's a sea, right? And if there's a sea, does that mean… swimsuits—?!"
"What, did you say…!?"
"The Princess, in a swimsuit…"
"That's the kind of thing that would cause a catastrophe if it got out. You should be careful. But, that aside, I'm looking forward to your 'report.'"
"………………She said the water's still cold, and we're not going for a swim."
…The thought of introducing these Arcadia geeks to my friends from the virtual world is just too terrifying. For now, I'll let that 'what if' remain just a thought.
He's breathing in some delicious air in both the real and virtual worlds.