Loading was finished, and it was time for each club to split up and board their respective buses.
I wondered if the seating order was fixed. As I approached President Ichikawa, who was standing near the bus entrance, she casually announced something outrageous.
“Alright everyone, just sit in whatever seats you like~”
...Huh?
My vision went dark. It was what you’d call a blackout.
...What is that angel saying? Does she realize she’s saying something incredibly difficult?
For all the normies out there asking 'What's the problem?', let me explain.
A bus usually has two-person seats lined up in a row. In other words, 'pairs' are inevitable. The same phenomenon as 'Please pair up and stretch' in PE class is happening right here.
To think I’d be tormented by such a thing even during summer vacation... Good grief...
By the way, if someone says, 'If you're troubled by pairs, how about the five-person seat at the very back?', that’s out of the question. That is a place where only those at the top of the social hierarchy sit.
I could only stand still near the Archangel who had just uttered those demonic words. What should I do?
In a blacked-out world, as my weakness and youth of simply standing still raced through the days (sorry if you don't get the reference), I suddenly saw a ray of light.
“...Konuma-kun, if you’d like—”
“Takkun, let’s sit together!”
Princess Erina’s slender hand suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Eh...?”
Is this person... actually willing to sit next to someone like me? Is she an angel?
I’m sorry for calling you a demon or a great demon in my heart all this time...
...Wait. Before that, I feel like Archangel Amanel-sama was about to say something.
“Ichikawa, um, by any chance,”
Since there was a possibility I had brushed off the true angel’s kindness, I spoke to Ichikawa.
“What is it? I am the President, so I will be sitting in the President’s seat,” she replied curtly.
“President’s seat...? Oh, is that so?”
“Yes, it is.”
Um, why are you using polite speech, Ichikawa-san...?
Unable to do anything about the angel in front of me who was turning her nose up at me, as my weakness and youth of simply standing still raced through the days (sorry for the second time if you don't get it, yes, over and over again—),
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Let’s sit down, Takkun.”
Ignoring Ichikawa, Erina-san pulled me along.
“O-Oh, okay...”
I was led onto the bus by Erina-san.
Wait, no, I mean.
“Erina-san, shouldn't you be sitting next to Hazama?”
When I whispered that, Erina-san let out a sigh.
“Takkun is still Takkun even after summer vacation starts, huh?”
Is it a trend for everyone to use my name like an insult?
Then, Erina-san leaned her mouth close to my e-e-e-ear so others couldn't hear.
“Erina hasn’t confessed to Kenji yet, right? Since Kenji still thinks Erina likes Takkun, for now, it wouldn't make sense unless Sakoshu and Kenji are together and Erina and Takkun are together, right?”
She looked at me with a face that said, 'Are you stupid?'
Even if you tell me that, it’s a bit complicated and I don’t really get it... What was that again?
While tilting my head, I walked toward the back of the bus. Sako and Hazama were sitting in the two seats on the left side. Sako was by the window, and Hazama was on the aisle side. (Foreshadowing)
The two seats next to them happened to be empty.
“Oh, Konuma, Erina. You guys should sit there.”
“O-Oh, thanks.”
Even though he hadn't specifically reserved them for us, I ended up thanking him.
When I slid my gaze to the side, Sako was looking at me with a face that said 'Huh?'.
“Takuto, you’re sitting with Erina?”
“That’s right~”
Erina-san answered in my place.
Then, Sako pouted her lips by zero point a few millimeters.
“Sakoshu, is that a duck face?”
“It’s not.”
Erina-san teased her playfully, and Sako looked out the window with a huff.
Sako reveals her emotions quite honestly to Erina-san and Hazama. Only in her own way, though.
Somehow, I thought that was a very good thing. Sorry for thinking that while you're sulking, but it made me feel a bit warm inside.
In that opening, Erina-san said,
“Erina wants the window seat!”
She tried to sit in the inner seat, so I said,
“No, I want the window seat too. Let’s do Rock-Paper-Scissors.”
She gave me a dubious look.
“Ehh...? What happened to 'ladies first'?”
“No, that doesn’t matter here. It’s Rock-Paper-Scissors.”
What are you saying, Erina-san? This is Japan.
“Ehh~”
“Alright. Rock, paper, scissors!”
I put out rock, and Erina-san put out scissors. I won.
“Geez, the worst! Erina really wanted the window seat... Erina gets it on the way back, okay?”
You’re going to sit next to me on the way back too, Erina-san...?
“No, depending on the situation, we'll do Rock-Paper-Scissors again.”
Actually, why I won't give up the window seat is a mystery, and why Erina-san is trying to sit by the window is also nonsensical.
Can you see the seating arrangement? (Foreshadowing resolved)
The bus departed.
At first, Erina-san was happily talking about roll cakes and psychology tests, but gradually her voice became mumbled, and finally, she fell asleep.
Since I had been up early and for some reason couldn't sleep at all last night, I was in a 'I've only had three hours of sleep' state, so I must have fallen asleep before I knew it.
“Wow, it's the sea!”
I heard a loud voice from a small animal-like junior in a nearby seat. When I opened my eyes slightly, I felt a weight on my left shoulder.
“Mmm...?”
When I quietly looked toward the weight, E-E-E-Erina-san was leaning on me, asleep.
“Hey, Erina-san!”
If Hazama sees this, that 'Love' thing is going to drift further away!
Wait, she smells good! Like fluffy sugar candy!
“Mmm...?”
Erina-san woke up with a muffled voice. Please stop with the muffled voice...!
“Takkun, what’s wrong...?”
Erina-san, who looked at me while rubbing her eyes, suddenly saw the window and her eyes went wide.
“It’s the sea!!”
Saying that, she leaned over toward my side to get closer to the window.
I reflexively pulled my body back, but Erina-san’s face was right in front of mine.
Seriously, you should use this natural demon side of yours on Hazama... You could drop him in a second... I would have fallen in an instant...
“Hey, Takkun, it’s the sea!?”
Erina-san turned toward me while pointing out the window.
“Wait...!!”
At that moment, literally right before my eyes and nose, were Erina-san’s eyes, nose, and lips.
“Ah...”
It seemed it was unexpected even for Erina-san. Her cheeks turned bright red, and she quickly sat back in her own seat.
“S-Sorry, Erina can be a bit like that sometimes...”
“Ah, no, I’m the one who should apologize...”
While we were both acting fidgety, Taira-chan suddenly popped her head up from the seat in front of us.
With a smirking grin, she said this.
“Seniors, it really is summer, isn't it?”