An Ordinary Last Vacation

"Tch, why did you bring extra people along?"

Masumi Kamuro looked at Airi Sakura and Kikyo Kushida beside Toru Hasegawa, sighing with genuine feeling.

"Kamuro-san, we meet again."

Kikyo Kushida waved without a hint of embarrassment, her face beaming with a bright smile.

Masumi Kamuro simply responded with a brief nod.

"Let me wait for my backup," Toru Hasegawa said, spotting a figure approaching. "Hashimoto-kun, over here."

"Why did you call him?" Masumi Kamuro complained.

Toru Hasegawa glanced at her briefly. "I have to consider my public image. If I'm a guy surrounded by three girls during the holiday, wouldn't that look a bit strange to outsiders?"

Obviously, he would be seen as a playboy, but as long as there was one more guy, it wouldn't be a problem.

Masayoshi Hashimoto, I choose you!

"You actually care about your public image?" Masumi Kamuro retorted.

"Why wouldn't I?" Toru Hasegawa looked at her strangely. "If the misunderstanding deepens, I'll be quite troubled."

Besides, reputation is important!

"What about me?" Masayoshi Hashimoto's face darkened as soon as he walked over and heard the conversation.

Toru Hasegawa smiled. "You already have the image of a playboy, so it's fine."

"Why does this feeling of being unable to refute you exist?"

"Because I'm stating facts."

Soon, the group hit it off, but they remained standing in the same spot for a long time.

"Um, Kamuro-san, is there anywhere you want to go?" Toru Hasegawa asked circuitously.

After all, according to the original plan, this was supposed to be a date for the two of them. Now that it had become a group of five, he couldn't very well ask her directly in front of everyone else.

"Let's just wander around; I haven't been to most places anyway," Masumi Kamuro gave a vague reply.

"Alright." Toru Hasegawa nodded; his situation was actually much the same. "I heard the school sells summer uniforms. Let's go check them out."

This was information Toru Hasegawa had recently obtained. That morning, he had accidentally torn his clothes by using too much force, so he had to put on a spare uniform. While buying a new set, he discovered that the school actually sold summer uniforms.

They cost a significant amount of points, but that had nothing to do with Toru Hasegawa.

Simply put, he currently had a bit of capital.

"Eh? They actually sell summer uniforms?" Kikyo Kushida was slightly surprised to learn this unexpected information.

To be honest, most first-year students had this same frustration. Although there was air conditioning inside the classrooms, it wasn't everywhere.

As the weather approached May, it began to get slightly hot, and sweating while walking on the road was inevitable.

"Yeah, I only found out by accident."

The five of them arrived at the uniform shop. Just as Toru Hasegawa said, they did sell summer uniforms, but they cost 10,000 points.

"I'd like to call this the school's point-recovery program," Toru Hasegawa said after seeing everyone's reaction.

The school strictly required students to wear uniforms during school hours, which provided enough of a market for summer uniforms. Although the basic uniform was free, if you wanted to be a bit more comfortable in the hot weather, you had to pay points.

A clever scheme indeed.

"Are you going to buy one?" Toru Hasegawa turned his gaze toward Masumi Kamuro.

"I don't have a reason not to, do I?"

"That's true."

In the end, everyone bought two sets of summer uniforms, except for Toru Hasegawa.

Because he had already bought his.

It was quite troublesome for the girls compared to the boys, as they needed to be tailored due to differences in body measurements, and it would take some time to receive them.

"Alright, since it's the end of the month, there's no need to keep things hidden anymore," Toru Hasegawa said, his peripheral vision tracking Kikyo Kushida. "By the beginning of next month, we should be able to see the results—the truth about this school."

"Well, most people probably don't have a real sense of it yet, right?" Masayoshi Hashimoto said nonchalantly.

Seeing this, Masumi Kamuro looked at Toru Hasegawa with a blank expression. "I'm sorry, but I'm one of those people you're talking about who doesn't have a sense of it."

"I can tell." x2

"Um... what are you guys talking about?" Kikyo Kushida asked, looking confused.

"Well, the general idea is..." Toru Hasegawa tried to weigh his words, but immediately gave up. "Starting next month, we'll be enemies."

"Eh? But aren't we friends?"

"That's the malicious part of this school," Toru Hasegawa smiled. "Learning how to handle the relationship between friends and competition is an essential lesson in growing up."

"You say that as if you're already an adult," Masumi Kamuro retorted mercilessly at Toru Hasegawa's remark.

"It wouldn't be impossible for me to be your old man."

"Who would want you!"

"Haha."

After exchanging a few casual quips with Masumi Kamuro, Toru Hasegawa noticed that Airi Sakura had remained silent the entire time, so he tossed a topic toward Kikyo Kushida:

"How has Airi Sakura been doing in class lately?"

"Hmm... generally speaking, not much of a difference? But she does seem a bit different than before, though I'm not entirely sure myself." Kikyo Kushida said while thinking, providing a reasonably good answer.

"It seems Airi Sakura is also working hard in her own way. Very good, very good."

"Are you interested in being someone's father, by any chance?" Masumi Kamuro suddenly asked with suspicion.

"No, I have absolutely no such strange interests." Toru Hasegawa flatly denied it. "I just feel that if Airi Sakura continues like this, it won't do. Even a small change would be good. Kikyo Kushida, how would you rate your own academic performance?"

"Hmm... it's alright, I suppose. Why the sudden question?" Kikyo Kushida tilted her head.

Toru Hasegawa shifted his gaze to Airi Sakura: "Then, Airi Sakura, how do you think you're doing? Didn't you just have a quiz yesterday?"

"Eek—below average, I guess."

After all, she didn't seem like the type to focus on her studies, so having those kinds of grades was actually acceptable.

Toru Hasegawa decided to rephrase his approach slightly: "Even if it's just for my sake, would you be willing to let Kikyo Kushida tutor you? Of course, this is assuming both of you are willing."

"?"

This strange phrasing instantly drew the attention of everyone except Airi Sakura.

The group's gazes immediately locked onto Airi Sakura.

And the girl's blushing face spoke louder than any explanation.

Masumi Kamuro now wanted to grab Toru Hasegawa by the collar and demand an explanation.

Even Masayoshi Hashimoto looked on in disbelief; only Kikyo Kushida wore an expression that suggested "as I thought."

"If this is Toru Hasegawa's wish..."

"No, no, no, that's the wrong way to think about it." Masumi Kamuro quickly interrupted Airi Sakura. "You must remember that you are always studying for your own sake."

Toru Hasegawa breathed a sigh of relief; it was great that Masumi Kamuro could say that for him. "I didn't expect you to say something like that. I'm impressed, Masumi Kamuro."

"So, what is your opinion, Kikyo Kushida?"

"Helping a classmate is my wish, so it's no problem at all."

A pleasant smile appeared on Kikyo Kushida's face. She had gained quite a bit of useful information today; coming here had truly been the right choice.