A massive ship moved slowly across a vast, boundless sea, its silver-white hull emblazoned with the golden name "Speranza."
The sea was calm and peaceful, like the expressionless protagonists who couldn't manage a single facial expression.
On deck, a blond man was sunbathing.
He wore a smile, one hand running through his beautiful hair while the other held a mirror.
A gentle breeze blew past, carrying his thoughts toward the blue sea and sky... For one second. Then his attention returned to the mirror in his hand, and he resumed admiring his gorgeous face.
Overcome with emotion, and thoroughly enjoying every moment, he couldn't help but sigh with heartfelt satisfaction:
"I'm still the most beautiful~"
His voice was deep and booming, full of vigor, and it carried straight to the ears of a girl nearby who stood by the railing, admiring the scenery alone.
"Freak!"
The girl had clearly taken offense at the sound.
Himeno Yuki pursed her lips. This time, she cursed without holding back.
She had no idea how she'd gotten so unlucky. On a cruise ship with 160 people, she'd still managed to run into this blond weirdo. It was almost as if someone had arranged it all behind the scenes.
She was helpless against the inexplicable forces of fate, so all she could do was silently pray that the man would admire himself in peace and stop saying such unpleasant things that ruined the view.
But just as she turned back to admire the blue sea and sky before her, another familiar voice sounded behind her:
"Himeno, why are you standing here by yourself? Come join us~"
"Yeah, yeah! It's no fun being alone."
"Since everyone's out here having fun, we should spend time together and get closer."
But I think our relationship has already gotten as close as it can. If we get any closer, I'm going to start feeling weird about it.
Looking at the three girls in front of her, brimming with enthusiasm, Himeno Yuki worried to herself.
She cared about keeping a proper distance from people and liked having some time alone.
But ever since she'd joined Class B, she'd been met with more warmth than she'd ever experienced before. There was almost always someone around her, asking after her and making sure she was all right. Even back in the dorm, she got caught up in endless group calls and a constant stream of private messages.
She didn't want to be a yuri girl!
But she didn't know how to say no. She was the textbook definition of a people-pleaser.
She had to admit, the people in Class B were very warm. They were so warm that no one in the class ever felt overlooked. It was practically one big, loving family.
But that kind of enthusiasm put enormous pressure on someone with her personality...
"Okay, I'll be right there~"
And there she was, agreeing again before she could stop herself.
Whenever someone in the class invited her to join them, the thought that "it would be too coldhearted to turn down all these enthusiastic angels" kept circling in her mind, guiding her words until they inevitably became "Sure" or "Okay, no problem." It troubled her immensely.
Sigh.
She sighed softly, and couldn't help wishing she could change her own personality. If only she could learn to turn people down decisively...
"Sorry, I refuse."
...Wait, what?
Just as she was about to follow the girls who'd invited her, that deep, booming voice sounded beside her again.
She turned to look. A boy with a rather... unusual green hair color was saying something to the blond man. His smile was a little strained, much like the one she'd just forced herself to give.
"Koenji, everyone in our class is very friendly. I think it'd be better if you spent more time talking with them..." Hirata said, sounding a little troubled. He was working himself to the bone trying to help the class grow closer!
"Oh, Hirata boy, I'm not the only lone wolf in the class, you know. I'd suggest starting with the others. You'll have a much better chance that way."
Koenji spoke with a look of pure contentment, still immersed in admiring his own magnificent beauty.
"Are you talking about Ayanokoji-kun?"
"Ayanokoji's been talking with us more lately. He's even playing in the pool with Sudo and the others right now," Hirata said earnestly.
"I don't think he considers you his friends~ Perhaps you should consider whether you're just imagining things?"
Koenji spoke with an ever-composed smile. His seemingly inborn confidence made Hirata falter for a moment, a hint of self-doubt flashing across his face.
"How could that be...? I think Ayanokoji-kun is happy to spend time with us. I can guarantee it!"
"Oh? Very well, Hirata boy. Let's see how it turns out."
With that, Koenji abruptly stood up from his folding lounge chair and headed toward the main body of the ship, a confident smile on his lips. He glanced with interest at the second-floor pool area, his well-proportioned, muscular body seeming to gleam in the sunlight.
Hirata watched him go, feeling helpless. He could only wish that the class would come together sooner.
Meanwhile, Himeno Yuki found herself thinking a little better of the blond guy. It took some nerve to so calmly and decisively reject a classmate's well-meaning invitation without dragging things out. Maybe she shouldn't call him a freak anymore.
For a moment, she even thought Koenji's body, gleaming in the sunlight, looked just a tiny bit handsome?
"Freak."
A moment later, she couldn't help cursing herself.
The pool area on the second deck of the cruise ship.
A group of girls in the prime of their youth were playing dodgeball in the pool.
Among them were Kushida, Karuizawa, Sakura, and the others from Class D, as well as several girls from Class B, including Ichinose and Shiranami Chihiro.
All of them were big shots with names and everything!
They'd been randomly divided into two teams and were playing together amid laughter and chatter.
"Nice shot!"
"Whoa, that one went way out of bounds."
"I'm calling a foul! That was a handball!"...
Under a beach umbrella by the pool, Ayanokoji and several boys from Class D were watching the game with great concern.
At first glance, it was obviously just a friendly game for fun, but to Ayanokoji and the other boys, it was an incredibly intense battle of dodgeball.
There were countless balls on the field, so there was no need to worry about an unfair distribution of possession.
Their eyes could even keep track of multiple balls at once!
The dodgeballs flew through the air, desperately trying to get noticed, but nobody paid them any attention.
The balls in the girls' chests were just bumping into each other, yet they drew everyone's attention.
And Ayanokoji and the others had long since lost track of the balls...
"It's such a relief we didn't get expelled, Sudo~"
"Yeah!"
Ike and Sudo exclaimed tearfully.
Before you continue