When Yukinoshita, the one who took the initiative, told them they should do something during the cultural festival, they were startled.
If it was Yui who took the initiative, they might not have been surprised, but it was Yukinoshita who took the initiative.
"Is there something that you want to do?" Shishio asked.
"Not sure." Yukinoshita shook her head and said, "The summer vacation is still long, and we can discuss what we will present at the culture festival." She looked at Hiratsuka and asked, "Is that okay, Hiratsuka-sensei?"
"Why not? Do it. It's youth! You should do what you want!" Hiratsuka agreed without hesitation since, as young people, they should do many things since when they became an adult, even if you wanted to do something, you wouldn't be able to do it since you had something known as "responsibility" on your back.
"Even so, do you have any ideas about something we will do at the culture festival? We are a service club. Do you want us to become volunteers to help with the culture festival?" Hikigaya asked, but frankly, he didn't hate the idea since when everyone volunteered, he could skip the work and stay in his hiding place.
"No." Yukinoshita shook her head, but she didn't answer Hikigaya's question for a moment. "I think it is better to have something that has a shape."
"Something that has a shape?"
Hearing the answer, they also thought for a moment, but Hiratsuka said, "Well, you don't have to be in a hurry. We're about to arrive at the camp. You should talk after that."
"Okay."
They nodded, but they were thinking about what they should do during the cultural festival.
Their trip from Shinjuku to Gunma prefecture didn't take a long time, especially when they used the freeway.
The place was in the mountain area, filled with various greeneries.
Shishio could see red cedars, maple trees, zelkova trees, lilacs, and even black pine. Yet what attracted him the most was the Tsubaki flowers that extended around the lodging house.
The sound of cicadas and the beetles that lay lazily on the tree.
Shishio felt that it was nice to stay on the mountain.
"Hmm~~!"
However, unlike him, who was interested in flora and fauna around the area, they all stretched their hands high, feeling slightly sluggish from the long travel.
"Let me help."
Shishio looked at Yukinoshita, who had always wanted to do everything alone.
"Thank you." Yukinoshita nodded.
"What are you being reserved for?" Shishio realized there was something weird about this girl, but he wasn't sure what since he couldn't read her mind. Unless she told him what was going on, he wouldn't be able to say anything.
Yukinoshita didn't say anything and just pouted.
The two opened the trunk of the car together.
Yukinoshita was about to take her bag, but she noticed Shishio, who sat in the car's trunk lazily. "What are you doing?"
"You don't need to be in a hurry, right? Let's just rest and enjoy nature for a while." Shishio patted the free space next to him. He knew they didn't need to be in a hurry, especially when everyone checked the surrounding area curiously and Hiratsuka did a smoking break.
Yukinoshita stared at Shishio for a moment and nodded. She straightened the back of her pants and sat next to him.
The air was fresh, and the scenery made their eyes brighten.
Yet what Yukinoshita liked the most was the fact she was right next to him. When they couldn't meet each other and hadn't talked during the summer vacation, she felt everything was empty. She might not have had this feeling before, and she was okay being alone, but because of him, everything changed, and it made her uncomfortable.
There were many things that she wanted to say to him, but when they saw him after a while, she felt her head was blank. She was slightly nervous and unsure what to say until he greeted her naturally like they usually did at school.
Yukinoshita took a deep breath, and the raw fine air inhaled into her lungs, making her mood even better.
Still, even so, she had something to complain to him about, and she also had something to say, but she must admit she was quite embarrassed to say it.
On the other hand, Shishio didn't know about Yukinoshita's struggle and talked with Hikigaya. "Have you been here, Senpai?"
"Yeah, I did come here during middle school for the science camp." Hikigaya looked at Shishio and asked, "How about you?"
"Me? I am from Kyoto. Do you think I have come here?" Shishio asked.
".........." Hikigaya.
"But thank you for asking. Your communication skills have become better." Shishio gave a thumbs up.
Hikigaya looked at the sky and let out a long sigh, enduring a feeling to beat this guy up. Even worse, Yukinoshita also chuckled, which made him even more depressed.
Still, this feeling wasn't bad since this stupid banter was more interesting than being ignored or talked about from behind.
Shishio might talk badly, but it sounded more like sarcasm, which made people hard to hate and even be closer to him.
He knew that only a carrot wasn't enough to make a relationship. He also had to hold a stick, so their relationship would be even closer. His explanation might be weird, but if he had to say, it was like a group of shonen manga characters who became closer after a certain conflict.
Even though it might be a cliche, conflicts, problems, and troubles were needed to make one relationship with others closer.
However, this conflict had to be limited, and if a fight was done continuously and couldn't be solved, it might be better to end the relationship, but fortunately, he could solve most of his troubles.
As they talked, another car approached and parked near them. When they were in doubt, the door of the car was opened, and they saw a group of people inside.
"Hayama?" Hikigaya was dumbfounded.
Shishio looked at Hayama Hayato, and Hayama also looked at him. While he nodded, Hayama also nodded with an awkward expression.
'Hmm?'
Shishio tilted his head, wondering whether he had done something when he saw Hayama's expression. While they might have had a conflict, in the beginning, their relationship turned okay after he helped Hayama to solve the problem during the Workplace Tour Study. Still, even if they had a conflict, he wouldn't even bother to fix it since this guy was a male, and compared to Hikigaya, Hayama lacked something that made him interested.
Instead, he was more interested in Hina Ebina and Miura Yumiko.
Oh, there was also an extra character.
"Say, what's the name of the long-haired one? Tobi? Toba?" Shishio asked Yukinoshita and Hikigaya quietly.
"...." 2x
Yukinoshita and Hikigaya stared at Shishio speechlessly. "It's Tobe." 2x
"Thanks." Shishio nodded with a gentle smile toward Yumiko, who happened to look at him.
Yumiko blushed and quickly looked away.
"..." Hikigaya stared at Shishio speechlessly.
"Yahallo~! Shishio-kun!" Ebina approached him with a smile.
"Yo."
The two clapped their hands together, but Shishio didn't let go of her hand and asked, "Why are you here? I thought you would stay on the Ikebukuro for the entire summer vacation." He only came to the Ikebukuro with Ebina last time, and he had never visited that place again, but he heard there were many chaotic things there.
"Oh! Do you want to go to Ikebukuro again? Let's go there together after this trip!" Ebina held his hands tightly and excitedly, showing a heavy breath, and a heavy blush on her face.
Shishio was slightly overwhelmed by her intensity. "Ah, um, let's talk later. And it's impossible for me to like BL (Boys Lover), okay?" Even if he was able to defeat a famous martial artist, he was still unable to defeat this BL lover.
"Fufufu, it's okay. It's okay." Ebina moved closer and whispered, "If you don't like BL, I can try to dress like the maid you like."
'This girl...'
Shishio stared at Ebina and thought this girl might underestimate him since he hadn't done anything to her, but this girl was wrong. If she gave him a chance, he might pounce on her without mercy.
Yet their interaction surprised everyone!
'When are they so close?'
Even though it might seem weird and no one questioned it before when they watched how close Shishio and Ebina were, they realized the strangeness of their relationship. They realized their relationship was closer than they had thought.
Whether Yui or Yumiko, they were in shock since, as Ebina's friends, they knew Ebina's personality well.
Fortunately, Ebina didn't stay with him too long and returned to Yumiko.
Still, Shishio looked at Ebina, Yumiko, Hayama, and Tobe, thinking their relationship seemed to return to how it used to be, but it had nothing to do with him since he could see the curiosity of the eyes around him, wondering how he could be so close with Ebina.
"Hey, Hina, your relationship with him...?" Yumiko looked at Ebina with a complex curiosity. When she thought about it clearly, she also realized that the reason she could join Yui's birthday party was also that Ebina communicated with Shishio.
"Hehehe... are you curious?" Ebina looked at Yumiko with a mischievous smile.
"No-No, I am not curious or anything!" Yumiko denied Ebina without hesitation, feeling embarrassed.
"Hehehe, really?" Ebina continued to tease Yumiko, but inwardly, she just didn't want to be asked, so she kept doing this. 'Fortunately, Yumiko is simple.' She thought before she looked at the source of this problem, who was also troubled by the same trouble.
Ebina stared at him from the corner of her eyes. She knew her hobby was weird, and it was also the reason why she didn't approach anyone and didn't let anyone approach her since she didn't want them to see her in disgust. Even if there were many people who were curious and attracted to her, she knew their expressions would change the moment they saw the real her.
In other words, they would look at her in disgust.
However, what if someone could accept her?
Ebina was a girl, and she would be lying if she didn't have an interest in a relationship. She was rotten and disgusting, and this young man was also a scumbag and a bastard, so shouldn't they be a perfect couple then?
Ebina wasn't sure, but one thing was for sure, she wanted to go with him to the Ikebukuro together.
Anyway, everyone anticipated their days at this training camp.
Yet one person felt slightly alienated since this development was different from what he imagined.