The girls on the other chairlifts had also seen what had just happened.
Karuizawa Kei looked at the three who had already reached the summit, then down at her own feet dangling in midair, and suddenly felt a little regretful. "That just now... looked super fun! If I'd known we could do that, I would've raised my hand too!"
Matsushita Chiaki's lovely eyes sparkled. "Right? Who knew?"
On another chairlift, Hoshinomiya Chie sighed.
"Kozue, did you see that? He carried them right up."
"I saw."
"If I'd known that was an option, I definitely would've stayed behind."
Chabashira Sae stared straight ahead. "What's so fun about it? The chairlift gets us up there just the same, and we get to enjoy scenery they missed."
Hoshinomiya Chie turned toward her with a mischievous smile. "Kozue, just be honest. There's no shame in admitting you're jealous."
"I am being honest."
"Really? You kept staring at Little Kitagawa as he went up. You even turned your head to follow him."
"With that much commotion, who wouldn't look?"
"If you want him to carry you, just say so. It's nothing to be ashamed of. Why hold yourself back?"
Chabashira Sae didn't want to continue this conversation.
Hoshinomiya Chie leaned closer. "Then when we head down, I'll go find Little Kitagawa, and you can take the chairlift by yourself?"
"We'll see when the time comes."
"Oh my, why not just say yes?"
"Hoshinomiya, just enjoy your scenery."
A few minutes later, the girls arrived at the summit one after another.
Kitagawa Kai waited near the exit with Suzune and Himeno Yuki, only to be greeted by more than a dozen looks carrying all sorts of meanings.
"Kai-kun, that was way over the top!"
"Before I even realized what was happening, you were already up here."