kscans

Chapter 496 - Reporting, Contacting, and Commotion

"—A week."

"On a southern."

"Island."

"On."

"Vacation, you say…?"

"I never said anything about a southern island, and it's not a vacation… Wait, how did you guys synchronize like that? That's amazing."

Monday. After surviving the morning session of the inscrutable spell-chanting lecture with a cool expression while my brain was filled with question marks, our usual group gathered in the cafeteria for lunch.

When I told them about my upcoming 'plans,' the three of them—everyone except the esteemed Miss Shijo—unleashed a unison so perfect it could have come from Mi-na and Ri-na themselves.

Leaving the childhood friend pair aside, Mizuki is supposed to be the sole cool-type in our group of four, but in times like these, she just goes along with it. That's one of her good points.

Whether she does it intentionally or not, I don't dislike it.

In most cases, her best friend at her side just lets out a laugh that sounds similar to my partner's, saying, "Ahaha…" We'll just call that part of the charm.

"A trip with 'the Princess'… I'm so jealous…!"

"So you really do know her in real life… I mean, if that's what's happening, then of course you do, but still."

Shoko, who, according to her, is a 'low-key' fan of Alicia, gripped her chopsticks tightly and let out a genuinely envious sigh. Toshiki followed up, saying, 'It doesn't feel real,' while munching on his baguette sandwich and giving me a look of strange admiration.

Even if you look at me like that, my only reason for going is the extremely pathetic one of 'having her tutor me'—Shoko-san, your udon is getting soggy.

Stop trembling with whatever emotion you're feeling and eat up.

"In that case, is our study session here unnecessary?"

This question from Mizuki next to me was a natural one. We had planned this one first, even if we hadn't set a detailed schedule, and if I were to just say, 'I'm good now that Alicia is teaching me,' it would be incredibly rude—

"Sorry, but I actually want to ask you guys to do this regularly so that this kind of thing doesn't become necessary. So, yes, it's 'necessary,' and I'm asking for your help."

"I see. Understood."

"In that case, let's plan one for right after you get back. It'll be a good way to check how much you've caught up, you know?"

"Yeah, that would be a great help."

Following Mizuki's swift agreement, Kaede, sitting next to her, also offered her support.

I bowed my head in gratitude again and again… and in return, I received a fluffy smile that seemed to say, 'But of course.'

"We are your dedicated team, after all."

"Helping you is our job."

"…Look, I'm really, truly grateful, but I'm pretty sure 'tutor' isn't in the contract."

Though I do fully intend to take advantage of your kindness.

"Haaah… but a trip sounds so nice. I wanna go to a southern island, too."

"I'm not going to a southern island—I don't think. Probably, most likely, maybe."

"Have you told the school yet?"

"Yeah, I contacted the chairman, at least. The schedule isn't set in stone yet, though."

He had told me to contact him 'anytime, for any reason,' so I called him this morning. Without even asking for details, he cheerfully approved, saying, "Please enjoy yourself."

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!"

"Going overseas right away is a pretty high hurdle… and getting a passport is a pain."

"Oh, really? Fine, then the four of us will go without you, 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 tough, but it sounds like fun if we could go somewhere to hang out."

As always, things got lively in an instant. Compared to my high school experience, a university student's summer vacation is so long it makes you wonder, 'Is this really okay?'… but from the looks of things, it seems my schedule won't be empty this year, at least.

And I welcome that. There's no limit to how much youthful fun I'm willing to have. But there is one thing I need to be careful about—

"Just please, spare me from a four-person trip with Toshiki excluded."

"…!!!!! Hey, Haru, I'm incredibly moved right—"

"A trip with three girls and one guy? I'd definitely get chewed out from all sides."

"So it's self-preservation! I knew it!!"

And so, I must remember to protect myself appropriately. In all seriousness, if I were to do something like that, I have a feeling the other three would cause a huge scene.

Nia would pout, Sora would get lonely, and Alicia would get jealous with a straight face. And then all three of them would demand something unreasonable to make up for it. I'm sure of it.

Even with Toshiki included, making it three girls to two guys is still risky, but at least there's a sliver of an excuse, so I absolutely cannot leave him behind… and even without that, a trip without our boisterous, fun-loving member would be pointless. If the time comes, I'll drag him along even if I have to.

Also, another possibility is—

"What about you, Haru? Is there anywhere you wanna go?"

"Inland."

"That immediate answer is way too funny. What, you hate the ocean or something?"

I wonder if there will ever be a time when my real-life friends and my virtual friends meet and hang out.

There would be security issues and all that, but my four friends here, by virtue of their 'Yotsuya employee' status, are already a step outside the bounds of normal civilians.

They've already passed the credit check by being selected as my personal support team, so the hurdles might not be that high—but still,

"Wait a second. But you're going to the sea this time, right? If you're going to the sea, there's going to be 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 disaster if it got out. You should be careful. But, that aside, I'm looking forward to your 'impressions.'"

"…………She said the water is still cold, so we probably won't be going for a swim."

…the thought of introducing these Arcadia nerds to my friends from the virtual world is just too terrifying, so for now, I'll let that 'what if' remain just a thought.