As he walked along the deck, the salty sea breeze brushed against his face. The azure ocean stretched endlessly before him, seeming to merge with the sky.
Sakayanagi Arisu noticed Uesugi Hara suddenly take out his Terminal and start typing. Unable to resist, she asked, "Uesugi, who are you chatting with?"
"Ichinose."
"I imagine Classmate Ichinose couldn't figure out the exam and came to you for an explanation?"
"More or less."
"Hehe, it seems Classmate Ichinose trusts you a lot." A meaningful smile played at the corner of Sakayanagi Arisu's lips.
By then, tiny beads of sweat had appeared on her forehead. Uesugi Hara reminded her, "If you're tired, go sit down over there."
"Together?"
Uesugi Hara didn't refuse. He'd gotten enough exercise after lunch, so he might as well take a break.
Actually, he'd run into Sakayanagi along the way, and then she'd latched onto him.
Beneath the sunshade, the canvas blocked the sunlight and cast a patch of shade.
Uesugi Hara fetched two glasses of freshly poured orange juice from the bar and handed one to Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"You're welcome."
The two sat in their chairs, chatting casually.
"Uesugi, when did you leave that place?"
"Three years ago, I think. After I got out, someone helped me find a high school to attend."
"What was high school like?"
"You never went to high school?" Uesugi Hara asked, somewhat surprised.
"Because of my health, my father had people come to our home to teach me until I came to this school," Sakayanagi explained, her tone tinged with helplessness.
"Such a sheltered young lady."
"Mhm." She smiled softly.
"If this school didn't have all those strange exams, it'd be much like a regular school."
"I see."
Uesugi Hara looked down at the boys and girls