Before long, the bus arrives at school.
In the end, I couldn't sleep a wink because of my nerves...
"Phew, I slept so well... Oh? Konuma-kun, you have dark circles under your eyes?"
Ichikawa tilts her head and peers into my face.
No, the reason I couldn't sleep this morning or on the bus is entirely your fault, Ichikawa-san...
"Like a rawr, right?"
Ichikawa laughs happily while making a "rawr" pose. ...Wait, isn't that way too cute?
We get off the bus, finish unloading the gear, and all the camp participants gather in front of the main gate.
"Is everyone from the Rock Club here?"
"""Yees!"""
"Is everyone from the Instrumental Music Club here?"
"""Yes!!"""
This exchange, which became a standard routine over the past three days, would probably be the last one.
"Finally, the closing remarks..."
Ichikawa nods several times with deep emotion.
"Well then, I'll start. Thank you so much for these three days! Okay, next is Yuri!"
Feeling embarrassed, she passed the baton to Azuma.
"Eh, that's it!? Um, first of all, great job everyone for the last three days! I also felt so many things during this year's camp. The scent of youth, the light of youth, the taste of youth, and the sound of youth... I'm so glad I could come to this camp packed with youth! Thank you very much! Instrumental Music Club, let's practice like our lives depend on it until retirement, and let the Rock Club hear a performance that surpasses today's!"
"""Yes!!"""
The word youth is starting to lose all meaning... Is that person the president of the Youth Club or something?
"Come on, Amane, say the usual thing!"
Azuma turned back to Ichikawa happily. The... the usual thing?
"Ah, right... Well then... I'll say it."
She cleared her throat with a small cough and took a deep breath.
"The training camp isn't over until you get home! Everyone, please be careful on your way back!"
Ah, it's that kind of thing!?
"Hey, everyone, everyone, why don't we stop by Yo-chika!?"
There it is, Yo-chika! By the way, Yo-chika refers to the food court in the basement of the Ito-Yokado in Musashi-Sakai. I only recently learned this myself.
"Ah, I want to go, but I'll pass... As expected, I'm just too tired..."
Azuma yawns. Well, that makes sense. Good work, Youth Club President.
"Sorry, me too. I have to get ready for tomorrow..."
Sako says apologetically, her eyebrows lowering by a fraction of a millimeter. Getting ready for tomorrow?
"I can go, let's grab something to eat."
Hazama agrees. Oh, that's good for her.
By the way, the members of the Cherry Boys, including Ando, were sent off early. It's hard to handle too many people at once. (Handle what?)
I mean... Hmm?
Azuma is a no, Sako is a no, and Hazama is a yes. That means!
If Ichikawa and I don't go, we can leave Erina-san and Hazama alone together!?
"Ah, I can go too—" "Ichikawa has business with me!"
I grab Ichikawa's hand as she tries to raise it and force it down, cutting her off. Phew, that was close.
"...Eh?"
Ichikawa turned toward me.
I wink at Ichikawa, signaling her to just go along with it for now. Winking at a time like this, I'm acting like such a normie... Taira-chan would get mad at me.
"Um, why are you suddenly blinking so much...?"
Ichikawa has a blank, puzzled expression. Honestly, does this genius beautiful girl not even know what a wink is...?
While I was exasperated, Azuma-nee-san whispered in my ear.
"Konuma, you're closing both eyes...!"
...It's my first time winking! I can't help it!
"A-Anyway, look, we have business, right!?"
When I said that, Ichikawa's face lit up as if she realized something.
"Y-Yeah, that's right..."
She nods, her cheeks slightly flushed. Eh, what's with that reaction?
"H-Huuuh? Well, I guess it can't be helped. Kenji, is it okay if it's just the two of us...?"
"Sure, that's perfectly fine!"
Hazama's refreshing smile explodes, and Erina-san smiles happily.
Erina-san glances over at me, gives a wink, and mouths the words.
'Thanks, Takuto-kun.'
Whoa, so that's a professional wink...
While I was mesmerized by it.
"Wait, Konuma-kun... my hand... it hurts, so please, a little more gently..."
"Hae!?"
I realized I was still gripping her hand after stopping her from raising it, and I quickly let go. No, it wasn't supposed to be a 'gentle' thing, was it!?
And so, the six of us walked together to Musashi-Sakai Station before parting ways with Erina-san and Hazama.
"Everyone, see you after summer break!"
Erina-san waves with a huge grin. Yeah, I think it's better when she smiles like that instead of her usual little devil smile.
"Later! The camp was fun!"
Hazama raises his hand sharply. He really is refreshing... He's like that hamburger steak restaurant chain exclusive to Shizuoka.
"Well then. Thanks for the camp. Konuma, once the song is done, send it to me immediately."
"...Sure."
Azuma, who is taking a train in the opposite direction, clenches her fist and raises it in front of her face.
"...What?"
As I stood there blankly, she said sheepishly.
"...Fist bump."
Fist bump...?
Ah! The thing Hiro and Baymax do! (Balalala~)
No, a fist bump... you don't even see those in shonen manga these days...
"Come on, hurry up...!"
"O-Oh..."
Rushed for some reason, I gently tapped my fist against Azuma's.
Azuma then gave a satisfied grin.
"Well, stay healthy, Amane and Sakohasu!"
With that, she ran off toward the opposite platform.
"I wonder why she didn't do that with us? The fist bump."
"...I don't know."
The two girls were acting somewhat sulky. Look, it's probably just that... wait, why is it?
We wait at the platform and board the Chuo Line headed toward Shinjuku.
"So, what business do you two have?"
After the train had moved a bit, Sako asked irritably.
"No, well, it's just something..."
I end up being vague. I especially can't tell Sako that Erina-san likes Hazama.
"Hmm..."
"S-Sorry..."
Under Sako's intense stare, Ichikawa looked down bashfully again. Why are you apologizing?
'Next stop is Kichijoji, Kichijoji.'
The in-train announcement played.
"We have to get off, right? Konuma-kun?"
"A-Ah, yeah, that's right! See ya, Sako. Good work."
"Yeah, well, it's fine since we have tomorrow..."
I wonder what Sako has tomorrow. She must have something she's really looking forward to.
Tilting my head in confusion, I get off the train with Ichikawa.
"Takuto, I'll contact you later."
As the doors were closing, Sako said that while waving her hand.
"O-Oh."
...For what?
"...So, do you have something you want to talk to me about?"
On the Kichijoji Station platform, Ichikawa asks with blushing cheeks.
"Ah, no, well,"
What should I do? I haven't thought of anything. I can't talk my way out of this...
"Yeah...?"
Ichikawa looks up at me with eyes that seem to expect something. What's with that look!?
"I just heard that Hazama and Erina-san wanted to discuss a surprise for Sako, just the two of them, so I thought I should leave them be... That's why I did it on impulse, you know...?"
While breaking into a cold sweat, I blather out the first thing that comes to mind. ...Wait, isn't the quality of this lie pretty high for something I just made up? Do I have a scriptwriter behind me?
However, Ichikawa's expression becomes increasingly displeased.
"Hmm...? Is that how it is...?"
"Ah, yes..."
Oh no, Ichikawa-san is mad...
"Konuma-kun. I hate lies. It's sad that this is how such a fun training camp ends..."
Ichikawa mutters while looking down at an angle.
"No, the camp is already over..."
"I told you it's not over until you get home, didn't I?"
Just as I thought that, she looked up and leaned in close to me.
"T-That's true..."
While I was faltering.
"So, make the lie true?"
"...What do you mean?"
When I asked, Ichikawa gave a bold smile and said.
"Konuma-kun, let's go do that 'business' now."