The morning of the fourth day of the school trip.
Tomorrow it will be time to go back to school.
Since this is the second time we are completely free, I want to make it a day with no regrets.
Yesterday's spot tour apparently resulted in 10 groups, or one-half of the total 20 groups, earning 20 or more points, all of whom earned 30,000 private points.
Meanwhile, the members of the 15th group, to which Mii-chan and Miyamoto belonged, were disqualified because of time, so it seems that they will be taking a study session at the ryokan today.
I felt a little sad, but I can't help them.
As soon as the study session is over, I hope that they will soak in the hot springs and enjoy their trip as much as possible.
Since it was now time for the large bath to be cleaned, I quickly finished changing my clothes.
Like yesterday, I thought about watching TV, but today, Kitou is facing the screen, having come here before me.
I don't know the details, but it seems to be a fashion feature that concerns Kitou.
"Hey, Ayanokoji. We're going to have a snowball fight outside."
"Snowball fight?"
Watanabe, who had also finished changing, showed me his phone.
It seems that people are now gathering to have snowball fights that anyone can join in on.
"That sounds interesting, let's go check it out."
"Ryuen, Kitou, what about you?"
Kitou was too absorbed with the TV to give a reply, and Ryuen quickly headed for his usual seat, making his answer clear.
"Let's go, then."
"Yeah."
In the room is left both water and oil, but I'll trust their consciences here.
When Watanabe and I went outside the ryokan, a large number of students had already gathered.
"Good morning, Kiyotaka-kun, Watanabe-kun."
Yousuke, who was standing near the entrance and holding his cell phone, called out.
"That's a lot of people. Was everyone so interested in a snowball fight?"
"I don't think it's just that simple. It's a snowball match where you bet private points. I say bet, but the only qualification to participate is to pay 1,000 points. The winning team will receive the points from the losing team." I see.
If you lose, you will lose less money, and if you win, you will get money to buy one or two additional souvenirs.
With how light hearted it is, it's no surprise that everyone is so excited.
"But, is it okay? Even though there is a lot of space, it is still on the premises of the ryokan."
"Mhm. I've asked, but they don't mind if it's an early hour. I think it's a big factor that it's only us students on a school trip staying here."
The rules remain the same, simple and clear; no catching, only evasion. Students who are hit by snowballs must leave the court.
However, the snowball has to be of a certain size; for example, if it is in powder form and the ball scatters in the air like a shotgun shell, it doesn't count even if it hits.
Both self-reported and referee judgements will be effective.
Well, not many would intentionally mislead others for the sake of a few private points.
"How many people are participating?"
"We should have about 30 people so far. Will you join too, Ayanokoji-kun?" "No, I..."
I thought about refusing, but, a snowball fight, huh?
If I do not participate this time, I may never have the opportunity to experience it again.
"I want to try it out, but I don't have a team."
"It's okay. I'll assign you to the teams where we're short on numbers, if you'll wait a bit." Yousuke seems to be taking care of all the troublesome things, for which I am very grateful. In fact, that's why he may be remaining here by the entrance.
Taking care of things on his own can be a difficult task, but Yousuke may actually feel more secure if he can manage everything himself.
As I was waiting for about 10 minutes before the deadline, Horikita, who must have heard about the snowball fight in the ryokan, also showed up.
"I heard about this, but I didn't realize there were so many people here."
"Maybe you'll join us?"
"That's right... it is a school trip, after all. If you have a vacancy, I'll join you."
It seems she didn't plan on joining, but I think she was impressed by how popular the event ended up being.
"It's a match, then, Horikita."
Ibuki, who emerged from the crowd, challenged Horikita as if she was waiting.
"...You were here too, Ibuki-san? Really, you're always coming out from everywhere. But that's fine. It's just a game, but if you want, I can give it to you." Not liking the answer, Ibuki clenched her fist.
"It may be a game, but a loss is a loss. Don't arrange excuses for later like a kid, okay?"
"I'll return that line to you exactly as it is."
Yousuke seemed to be taking a close look at the situation of the two, and when he looked at his mobile phone, he showed consideration for assigning them to different teams.
It wouldn't be exciting with them on the same team.
While I was stealing a glance, I spoke to Yousuke in his ear and asked for a little favour.
"Good morning, everyone."
Before us, Kushida appeared along with Yamamura, Nishino, and Amikura.
"As expected, Kushida. You invited Yamamura and the others too, huh?"
"Huh..? Well, yeah."
I thought she was going to turn to her usual smile, but Kushida replied in a distracted manner.
But she quickly turned back to her smile.
"Nishino-san and Yamamura-san said they would wait in the room until we leave, but that would be a waste, so."
"That's the right decision."
We have spent time as a group up to this point and our relationship is improving, albeit gradually.
It is more meaningful to spend time together, whether as participants or spectators.
"Would you like to join?"
Ibuki said so to Kushida.
"Hm? The snowball fight?"
"Right. Horikita and I decided to fight."
"Really? But I don't think I should. I'd be sad if I hit someone with a snowball. I would feel too bad to throw them."
"Huh?"
Ibuki made a sickened gesture, as if Kushida's attitude is truly sickening.
Seeing that, Horikita immediately slammed a chop into Ibuki's side.
"Ouch! What the hell!?"
"You're dealing with me, aren't you? If you think about extra things, you'll quickly lose." "There's no way I'll lose. I'll make sure you cry!"
I see.
I had thought that the distance between Horikita and Kushida had changed recently, but it seems that Ibuki was also involved.
These crooked three, but strangely enough, I think blowing off steam like this may be good for them.
The number of participating students continued to increase and eventually became 42 people in 6 teams.
Four teams of seven gathered by themselves. Two teams of stragglers like me were formed.
It's not in the form of tournaments, etc., it's just one match.
Yousuke, perhaps thinking of how exciting it would be, designated Ibuki and Horikita specially as the third and final match.
The first match, a team of seven boys led by Ishizaki.
And a team of seven boys led by Sudou.
It is truly a clash of men.
At the start, powerful snowballs flew from left and right. After all, with a total of 14 snowballs, it is difficult for everyone to avoid them all.
In about 10 seconds of that, six people disappeared from both teams.
By the way, Ishizaki, who was excited, also left in those 10 seconds.
Meanwhile, Sudou seems to have put his frustration at being rejected by Horikita into his snowballs, kicking out the opposing team one after another.
However, Ishizaki's team included Albert, who is agile enough to avoid the snowballs, and he has been fighting hard, defeating two so far.
Yamamura watched the match quietly, so I tried to get a little closer. "It's exciting, huh?"
She replied as she noticed my presence.
Her facial expression was the same as usual, but she seemed to be enjoying herself somehow.
"Yeah, I guess so."
Yamamura exhaled, breathing into her palm.

On her hand, she was not wearing the gloves that she was supposed to have bought again at the ski resort.
"Have you forgotten your gloves again?"
"That's right."
I tried to take off my gloves, but I was stopped by Yamamura.
"I'm sorry, I'm just kidding. I've brought them with me."
Then, she took a pair of gloves out of her pocket. She faintly smiled.
"So you make jokes too, Yamamura."
"...it isn't very fitting, huh?"
Instantly, the smile disappeared, and she regretted unnecessarily speaking.
"No, it's fine. I feel like we've made a little bond as a group."
This is a change that would have been unthinkable, at least from day one.
"I felt it, too. I was always in the shadows, so I was less likely to be noticed no matter what I did, but... Kushida-san, Nishino-san, Amikura-san. Everyone looked at me, and accepted me between them. It's thanks to the group."
Without the school trip, impressions of Yamamura would remain low until graduation.
It was a memorable school trip for Yamamura, and other girls.
There must be a lot of students in other groups who are similarly shortening distances.
When she finished putting the gloves on her hands, Yamamura pointed them at me and spread them out.
"It's not just the girls, but the boys also. This is different from what I always had in mind." Unlike on the first day of the group, Yamamura's attitude also included softness.
Of course, it was a clear change, but it was a small percentage compared to other students.
"The school trip that I thought was too long at first will also end today, right?" "That's right."
A school trip spent with members you don't like, that time must have seemed terribly long and slow. However, just by recognizing the others as simple members of the group, a change comes about that is hard to believe after such a short time.
"I'm sure you weren't the only one who changed, Yamamura. Kitou, Watanabe, Amikura, and
Nishino also must have changed to a greater or lesser extent after this experience."
The group has been in constant trouble, but, in some ways, this has spiced things up.
"I think Kitou-kun's bad words toward Ryuen-kun are decreasing, little by little."
"Really?"
"Ever since we formed the group, he's been saying that he's going to kill him or send him to hell, though."
That in itself is a lot of trouble. Well, it's not so much that those two have become friends, but rather that they have just bumped into each other so much that they have become numb to each other.
However, Kitou's image changed a lot for me. Originally, I didn't think he was the type to talk at all, but when I interacted with him up close, he talked surprisingly well.
There may be a lot of problems with what he's saying, but...
In particular, students in the Sakayanagi and Ryuen classes are often wary of each other.
They have almost never had the opportunity to see the good parts of the other person before.
"Tokitou is also very attached to Sakayanagi."
"Speaking of which... it seems like they've been talking all this time in the group."
Even now, they are watching the snowball fight side by side, and they are talking happily about many things.
Suddenly, I looked at Yamamura from the side and saw that the joyful look she had just displayed had faded.
The closest words that can express that expression must be "I'm not amused."
Does she have a liking for Tokitou, or does she have something on her mind about Sakayanagi?
It's a sign that either one of them is true.
"Yamamura, what do you think about Sakayanagi?"
I asked the question not because I want to probe, but because I am genuinely curious about the relationship.
"What do you mean..?"
Yamamura, who had her attention somewhere else, was startled when she heard me calling out to her.
"I was wondering how you feel when you look at the competent leader of A class from the point of view of an ally."
"Well, I'm not really sure. I've never been close to anyone, let alone Sakayanagi-san. " Saying that, she laughed at herself.
The faintness of her presence means that she has no friendly relationships.
In other words, is she simply feeling a longing, like envying Tokitou's casual conversation?
"Then why don't you take this as an opportunity? You may actually become friends."
"I don't have the courage to do that."
"What about Kitou, then? Isn't this group conduct making you two get closer?"
"Huh... that's, he's a boy, so..."
It was intended as a light joke, but Yamamura pulled back more than I expected.
"Sorry. I guess I got a bit ahead of myself."
Even if they do not think anything of each other, it is natural for someone to be sensitive when it's about a man and a woman.
"I don't mind. You said it for me, right? Thank you."
I looked at Yamamura, and looked over the students around us.
New encounters, new friendships.
Then, truth and lies; those who can see through, and those who can't.
A school trip in which the exchange of checks makes for a gut-wrenching experience.
Which class will be the winner in the future?
"I can't right now, but I'll give it some thought."
At the end, Yamamura added on and replied so.
"That's fine."
We stopped exchanging words here and turned our attention to the game.
Although Albert was showing his strong arm, he did not seem to have much accuracy in hitting his targets, and the winner was ultimately decided by Sudou's agility and precise attacks.
As expected of Sudou, who is a top-class performer in sports under any circumstances. Horikita also gave a generous round of applause to Sudou.
At a distance, Onodera also seemed to be supporting him in her own way.
Following on, is the second match.
Although the competition was mixed gender, there were no students with outstanding results like Sudou and Albert, and the matches were more like an extension of play than a serious competition.
It wasn't long before it was settled, but they both had a good time, and they ended up celebrating the good fight.
"It's about time, right? Good luck."
Finally, the third match. The battle between me and Ibuki, and the Horikita team begins.
"Let's do our best together, Yamamura"
"Huh..?"
When I called out to her, she gave me a dazed look.
"I asked Yousuke to let you enter as well."
"Huh, huh!? I-I can't do it. Let alone being able to fight myself, I'll only hold you back."
"Don't worry, I'll make up for the points if you lose."
"It's not that kind of problem..!"
"Just being there with the right number of people is enough of an asset. Let's go." "But..."
As I walked out, Yamamura followed after me with a little hesitation.
She would gather a lot of eyes on her if it was noticed that she was alone, so she came along to avoid that.
"I'm, I'm warning you, you know?"
"It's okay. You saw the match earlier, it's just for fun."
"But... it's not like that for some people."
"I'll definitely win!"
Ibuki, who was burning with fighting spirit, picked up some snow, clenched it, and began image training for the sequence of actions up to throwing it.
[TL Note 33 : Image Training, sports term for training while imagining in your head.]
"You can just leave her alone."
I instructed Yamamura to move to the very back of the line.
The students in front of her would target her, so I'm trying to avoid that.
I'd rather have her focus on having fun for as long as possible than hitting someone with a snowball and knocking them down.
When the match started, like the previous two matches, the fighting students in the front gathered a lot of snowballs.
On the other hand, snowballs that miss or are aimed at the rear are also flying by, but if she is careful, she won't be hit.
"Whoa, whoa!"
Without time to gather and throw snowballs, Yamamura was desperately trying to avoid them.
However, one of the several snowballs came at an angle to hit around Yamamura's left hip.
"...ah!"
In order to help Yamamura, I forcefully pulled her right arm to let her avoid the snowball.
"S-sorry, you saved me!"
"The numbers are starting to dwindle and the fighting in the front is getting more fierce. Let's make some snowballs now."
"Oh, ah, umm... okay!"
We hastily made some snowballs, which turned out a lot bigger than expected.
They don't look like they would reach, but that in itself is fun so I won't say anything.
"Hey..!"
With a weak yell, a large snowball flew through the sky.
Then, it landed on our own side.
"Ah..."
"Don't worry. Now we should make one smaller and throw that."
"Y-Yes!"
Yamamura started collecting snow again in a hurry.
In the meantime, the game progressed faster and faster, and a few students were defeated.
Yamamura, hoping to make at least one person fall, completed her second snowball, but she was so focused on throwing that she was forced to exert herself and threw it almost directly downwards, with less distance than before.
"Ah, ugh..!"
Three of our team's front liners have been hit, and Yamamura has begun to gather the other team's gaze. I moved away from Yamamura to draw attention to myself, and moved forward.
I quickly gathered snow and threw a snowball at Nakanishi, who was trying to target us. I threw a wild snowball, but it backfired.
Yamamura also forgot to evade and looked frantically at the snow under her feet, which caused her to get hit on the head.
"Ah..!"
With the snowball she was clutching gone from her hand too, Yamamura hurried out of the area with her hands up.
She was sad, but also frustrated, and it showed on her face.
That being said, I hope she was able to experience at least a little of the tension and fun of a snowball fight.
After that, as we repeatedly threw snowballs at each other, people were defeated one by one and it was just Horikita left on the opposite team.
On our team, it's me and Ibuki.
In light of these circumstances, this is certainly advantageous.
Ibuki stood behind me and put her arms together.
"Move."
"I know."
Without evading, I took the ball Horikita threw with my hands. Catching is obviously not allowed.
"What are you trying to do?"
"Ibuki is asking for a one-on-one. Our team leader is saying she'll win, so I think I should listen to her."
I had little time, but I actually enjoyed the snowball match, so I don't need any more.
Forcefully defeating Horikita would not be interesting.
Meanwhile, I am purely interested in the confrontation between Ibuki and Horikita, whose strengths should not differ greatly.
"I don't like it a bit, but it's fine. I can now just focus on Ibuki-san too."
"So, good luck, Ibuki. I'm betting my souvenir on you."
"Just shut up and get out of here. There's no way I'm going to lose to Horikita, is there?" As the crowd watched on, the battle between Horikita and Ibuki was about to begin. There is no rule of draw in this fight.
Even if the referee decides that you have hit at the same time, it means that you will continue to fight an extended battle.
It is only a snowball fight, but for both sides it is a battle they cannot lose.
"It's great to have a true one on one fight, isn't it?"
The snowball fight was held with gloves, but at this point Ibuki took off her gloves and clutched the snowball in her right hand.
It must be a strategy to throw away the cold resistance but increase the accuracy of the delivery.
Horikita was afraid of losing control of her fingertips due to the cold, so she looks like she will fight without removing her gloves.
With this, Ibuki has the advantage in case of a short term battle, while Horikita will have the advantage in a long term battle.
"Sorry, I was completely useless."
Yamamura muttered as she moved her shoulders up and down, perhaps still a little out of breath.
"It's fine. Did you have some fun, at least?"
"Yes... I wanted to hit someone if I could."
After saying so, Yamamura only slightly raised the corners of her mouth.
She won't be able to fight in the snowball match with the same people, but there will be other chances for her to fight in some kind of competition.
I hope she will save her regrets until then and take her revenge.
Back in the gallery, we turned our attention to the two women facing each other one-on-one.
"A serious match.. huh?"
"Yeah."
Ibuki wanted to settle the match in the short term, but Horikita saw through that and prioritized evasion over attack.
"No stopping!"
Ibuki began to be impatient as she gradually became frustrated and the coldness of her fingertips began to get worse.
As the battle began to drag on, Ibuki's eighth snowball aimed at Horikita grazed her near the cheek.
"Come on, give me the win!"
"I don't think so."
Ibuki's strong fast-ball struck Horikita again despite her tiredness.
As soon as she evaded it, she released a snowball, which she had been holding for a while, as if it were a counter. But, Ibuki is strong.
She was tired, but still alert, and looked for an opportunity even as she lost her posture.
"It looks like you're at your limits too, so how about we end it here?"
Horikita, on the other hand, does not seem to want to fight for any longer and seems to be shifting to an attacking stance.
In other words, both of them were ready to give it everything they had.
A long one-on-one fight.
The snowball from Horikita that was heading toward Ibuki was scattered in the air.
I guess it lost its momentum because of her soft grip.
Therefore, it hit Ibuki in the form of splashes of fragments.
Horikita, on the other hand, tried to avoid a snowball flying from Ibuki just in time, but was unable to avoid it completely and it grazed the fabric on her left arm.
It did hit, but she also avoided it at the same time.
It's a subtle judgement.
However, Yousuke, who did not welcome any further delay, made a judgement call.
"Horikita-san hit! Ibuki-san's victory!"
"Alright!"
With an intense triumphant pose, Ibuki smiled.
Horikita was trying to act calmly, as this was only a snowball match, but her regrets seemed to be oozing out.
"Come on, loser! Please give me the 1000 points right away!"
Without paying attention to her hand trembling from the cold, Ibuki took out her cell phone and stuck it up to Horikita.
"It's very annoying... You don't have to talk like that, I'll hand them over."
"Come on, come on! Come on! Come on! Come on, come on, come on!"
Are they getting along or fighting? For a while, Ibuki continued to frolic and get carried away around Horikita.