Episode- 16

"Viva! Field trip~~!!!!!!"

　A variety of excited voices echoed throughout the classroom.

　Following the sports festival, there was another school event.

　This time, the field trip is limited to second and third year students and involves them forming groups of four and heading to Tokyo.

"What should we do? Where should we go?!"

"Hmm, anywhere is fine for me."

"What are you talking about, Tohsaka? are not you want to go on a food tour. That's what I want to said, right?"

"...Fujita-kun? I was thinking recently, you're trying to make me look like a glutton, aren't you?"

"Hasn't it taken root already?"

"It hasn't taken root!!!"

　We put four desks together and started talking.

　The members of the squad were the familiar Tohsaka, Usami, Reo, and me.

"Really, Aika, say something too."

"I want to go to Mount Takao!"

"That's not it! I mean, is Mount Takao in Tokyo?"

"It was in Tokyo. It was in Hachioji, about an hour by train from Shinjuku, I think."

"Wow, Asahi-kun, you know a lot about this. Is mountain climbing your hobby?"

"The group of women from the Asahi family."

"Ahh."

　Reo has two older sisters, both of whom have very strong personalities, and naturally their mother is also strong, so the men in the Asahi family are by far the weakest in the family.

"The other day, I was woken up early in the morning and taken to the mountains. I desperately hoped that if it was a dream, I would wake up... while I was on the train."

"Good job little brother."

　Good, I'm on my brother's side.

　Well, the sea has me at its mercy.

“I mean, there aren’t many students who go mountain climbing on field trips, right? It’s more like, you know, the so-called tourist spots in Tokyo…”

"But climbing a mountain is like life, isn't it? It makes a great field trip."

"There are no field trips that focus on 'learning'"

"Aika, let's do that another time."

"Yeah, rejected."

"Huh?! No way..."

　The proposal was rejected and Usami hung her head.

"So, where do you all want to go?"

　Usami puffed out his cheeks and asked in a sulky voice.

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　In response to Usami's question, we groaned, put our hands to our chins, and ten seconds later...

"temple"

"Shopping district"

"Nearby"

"A sense of unity!!!"

　Usami stood up and put his hands on the desk.

"Actually, you all have no sense! I'm going to have to point it out one by one, so prepare yourself!"

"What's that knock?"

"One-eyed! What kind of temple is Asahi-kun? Do you want to do some training? Do you want to become a monk?"

"Well, doesn't that sound like something you could learn? Besides, there are a lot of temples in Tokyo, like Meiji Shrine..."

"Shut up! Who wants to "study" on a field trip?! Rejected!"

"That's not what you said earlier!"

　Ignoring Reo's mutterings, she changed her target to Tohsaka next to her.

"Okay, next! What is Kaori's shopping district? Is she a housewife? Or a professional?"

"P-pro-pachi? I was just thinking it might be good for eating around or something."

"Shut up! High school girls don't go to greengrocers, butchers, or fishmongers! Rejected!"

"That's an idea from a generation ago!"

"Also, she's just a naturally gluttonous character! And yet, it's unfair that she doesn't gain weight no matter how much she eats! Totally reject it!!! Gain some weight!!!"

"Why did you have to finish me off... ugh."

　She overkilled Tohsaka, and now it's my turn.

"Yes, the last one!"

"...gulp."

"Close range! Out of the question! Rejected!!!"

"Three shots!!!"

　Three bullets were fired into a spot that would surely cause a fatal blow, leaving me in a panic.

　I wonder. It doesn't really matter where it is, I just said it randomly, but... this treatment hurts the most.

"Really... No one's come up with any good ideas. It's troubling."

"Don't say that, Mount Takao!!!"

　The other three comment on Usami, who is standing with her arms around her.

　The meeting is lively, but it doesn't move forward.

　I guess this is exactly it...

"Any groups that haven't submitted their action plans should use their time after school to create one and bring it to me. That's all."

　As the teacher spoke, the classroom became bustling and busy.

　As for us, we just sat there at the desk scratching our heads and thinking, "Hmm."

　In the middle of the desk was... a blank action plan.

"In the end, nothing was decided..."

"So that's what they mean when they say that fighting produces nothing..."

　This means I'll definitely be staying.

"What should I do? Should I just write something up and submit it? That would be the quickest way, right?"

"Usami is no good. Yama is good at whatever he does."

"Hey, Reo, don't take chances."

"Fujita you little shit!!!"

"Usami, wasn't you just a normal cute high school girl?"

"It's just normally cute though!!!"

"I don't think a cute high school girl would get angry like that..."

　"Seriously?" Usami sulks, crossing her arms as Tohsaka looks dumbfounded.

　……that's right.

　We kept having this conversation and dancing.

　It will “mountain”. … Yes.

　Well, enough joking around here.

　I've really gotta decide quickly.

　I glance at the clock and count backwards to see how many minutes I have left to make a decision.

　...We don't have much time.

“Anyway, let’s make a decision quickly. There are only a limited number of places we can visit within the time we have, so if we get serious about it, we can make a decision right away!”

"That's right. Let's decide quickly."

"It's unusual for Fujita-kun to be enthusiastic about this, so let's all do our best."

"That's right."

"Okay! Come up with an idea!!!"

"Whoa!"

　--Thirty minutes later.

"...Maybe our teamwork is catastrophically bad?"

"Well, in a way it's a good thing. I mean, normally you don't go off on this many side streets. And how many side streets are there anyway? Where did the main road go?"

　We were feeling exhausted and sighed.

　The planner was still blank on the desk, and so, in essence, we hadn't decided anything.

　I glance at the clock.

　The time I had counted backwards had already passed.

　It can't be helped. I'll have to ask the Umi to be patient for a little while...

"Oh, by the way, Rintaro, is today the day you have to cook?"

"Eh? Ah, yes."

"Then wouldn't it be better if you went home earlier? You have shopping to do."

"Well, yeah."

　When I answered uncertainly, Reo sighed in exasperation.

"Geez, Rintaro, you're reading the atmosphere too much. Just hurry up and go home. It doesn't matter where we go on our field trip, right?"

"Seriously, anywhere is fine. But if possible, closer--"

"There's nothing nearby."

"Ah, yes."

　Usami's reaction speed was amazing.

"But are you two okay?"

"Yes, please."

"That's fine. But I'll decide for myself instead!"

"...Reo, please stop us from going to Mount Takao."

"It's okay, I'll do my best to stop you."

"Thank you."

"Everyone seems to be united except for me... I guess this is a necessary evil."

　Glancing at Usami who was muttering to herself, I got ready to go home and slung my bag over my shoulder.

"Well then, sorry, but I'll leave the rest to you."

"Yes."

　With that cheerful reply behind me, I left the classroom.

　　　　　♦ ♦ ♦

　Fujita-kun has returned home.

　Those of us left behind steadily filled out our action plan.

"By the way, Fujita can cook too."

　Asahi smiled at Aika's words.

"I know what you mean. I think it's a bit careless."

"How carefree."

　But in reality, the Fujita we see is very carefree, and, to be honest, we don't really get the impression that he does housework.

"...But you know, Rintaro is pretty amazing."

　Asahi-kun looks out the window as if reminiscing about the past.

"His family consists of him, his father and his sister, but his father is always working. Rintaro takes care of the house and his sister."

"What? Fujita?"

"That's right. The other day when we went to the sweets paradise, He gone home early, right? That's because He thought it would be lonely for his sister to come home and find no one there, so He try to stay home as much as possible. He go before his sister."

"So that's how it was..."

　But, somewhere inside me, listening to Asahi-kun's story, I found myself feeling convinced.

　Fujita is a kind person, so rather than being surprised, I thought it was expected when he showed that side to him.

"Well, maybe he's a siscon... but he's actually a pretty good guy."

　More than what Asahi-kun said, the expression on his face as he talked about him said it all.

"Sorry for suddenly bringing this up. How can I put it... I just wanted you two to know. Ah, I guess it's not really the best thing to talk about other people's houses. Please keep this a secret from Rintaro."

"Of course."

"Got it!"

"Ahaha, that's a relief."

　As if nothing had happened, Asahi picked up his mechanical pencil and resumed writing.

　Seeing Asahi like that, Aika rests her chin on her hand.

"Even so, I really do like you, Fujita. What's that, a FIBC?"

"What's with the 'FIBC'? Stop making up words."

"JKs make up words!"

　As I watched the two of them having a pleasant conversation, I remembered what Asahi-kun had said earlier.

"You're really cool, Fujita-kun."

　I muttered quietly so the two of them couldn't hear, and then, satisfied, joined in their conversation.