Touching

Inside the water park, the massive wave pool buzzed with noise, the slide area echoed with screams, and the outdoor pool sparkled under the sunlight. The mixed group from Class D and Class B quickly dispersed, each heading for their preferred attractions.

Sudo Ken, Ike Kanji, and Yamauchi Haruki were buzzing with energy, enthusiastically inviting everyone to play beach volleyball, especially urging the girls from Class B—including Ichinose Honami and her friends—to join their team.

"Come on, come on! Volleyball's the best way to beat the heat!"

"Yeah, yeah! Ichinose-senpai, play with us!"

"We're short on players!"

They were overly eager and excited, their eyes darting around as they exchanged knowing glances only they understood. Ichinose Honami found their enthusiasm a bit excessive but didn't think much of it, assuming the boys just wanted to show off in front of the girls. Smiling, she agreed and pulled two Class B girls into Sudo's team. Kazama In and Ayanokoji were also called over by Hirata to join the opposing side.

The volleyball match began. Kazama In had excellent athletic instincts—his reaction speed, jumping ability, and strength far surpassed ordinary people. Even casually receiving and spiking the ball, he moved with effortless grace and clean precision, drawing low murmurs from the sidelines. Ichinose Honami was also quite active on the court; her athletic skills were solid, with well-structured saves and passes.

During a fierce rally, Ichinose lunged forward in a desperate dive to save a tricky drop shot! She managed to get the ball up, but her momentum threw her off balance, sending her crashing toward Kazama In, who was standing at the net ready to block!

"Ah!" Ichinose let out a startled cry.

Kazama In reacted instantly, sidestepping while extending an arm to steady her.

But Ichinose's charge was too forceful, and the two inevitably collided! His arm firmly caught her by one shoulder, but on the other side... Ichinose's soft, full chest, separated only by the thin swimsuit, slammed solidly against the outside of his muscular forearm!

In that instant, the sensation—warm, soft, springy...

"!" Ichinose Honami recoiled as if electrocuted! Once steady, her entire face flushed crimson like a boiled shrimp, the redness spreading to her neck and ears. She lowered her head, instinctively covering her chest with both hands, her heart pounding so fast it felt like it might burst. She couldn't bring herself to meet Kazama's eyes, her voice barely a whisper: "S-sorry! Kazama-kun! I didn't mean to!"

Kazama In's arm was still held in the supporting position. He registered the soft impact from that moment, a faint, almost instinctive physiological reaction flickering in the depths of his ink-black eyes, but it was more a recognition of pure physical contact. He quickly withdrew his arm, his expression unchanged, his voice calm and flat: "It's fine. Nice save." He seemed completely unaware of the special nature of that "accidental" contact—or rather, to him, it was just part of bodily collision, no different from bumping a shoulder or arm.

Yet his overly calm reaction only made Ichinose more flustered and embarrassed. "He... didn't he feel anything? Or does he just not care?" Her mind was in turmoil, and she was distracted for the rest of the match.

Kazama In, meanwhile, had completely dismissed the little incident. His gaze appeared focused on the game, but he had already taken in every small move from Sudo's trio. They kept checking the time, glancing toward the women's changing room, exchanging signals, and communicating with clumsy codes... All of this was transparent to Kazama In.

"Photo plan in progress. Target: women's changing room. Method: create a distraction, sneak in to place hidden cameras." Kazama In calmly assessed internally. He was fully capable of exposing them before the plan was executed, or simply stopping it. But he chose silence.

Three reasons:

1. Necessity of punishment: Sudo's trio had repeated offenses and needed a harsh lesson. Letting them fail at the brink of success, even paying a price, would be far more effective than stopping them early.

2. External disruptor: He keenly sensed another force—likely Ryuen from Class C—also watching this matter, possibly intending to exploit or sabotage the plan. Letting Ryuen intervene might bring a more dramatic "educational" effect.

3. Controllable scope: He believed things wouldn't spiral out of control, and the privacy of girls like Sakura wouldn't truly be violated. He was confident he could manage the situation at the critical moment.

The match continued, but Ichinose's state was clearly affected. Soon, a Class B girl on her team clutched her stomach, looking uncomfortable: "Ichinose-san, I'm feeling a bit off... I want to go to the restroom."

Another girl chimed in: "I'll go with you."

The two had barely left the court when they hurried back, faces anxious and confused.

"Ichinose-san! Something seems wrong at the women's restroom and changing room! A lot of girls are blocked at the entrance, saying there's some kind of emergency cleaning inside? There's a 'Cleaning in Progress' sign at the door, but it feels weird!"

Ichinose Honami immediately grew worried. The women's changing room issue involved the privacy and safety of all the girls. "I'll go check!" she said, starting to head that way.

"Hey! Ichinose-senpai!" Ike Kanji jumped out, putting on a look of "concern" to block her. "Don't rush, don't rush! It's probably just temporary cleaning! Look, it's hot out—the cleaners have it tough! We're almost done with this set; let's go check together after we finish!" He exchanged glances with Sudo and Yamauchi as he spoke.

Yamauchi quickly chimed in: "Yeah, yeah! It'll probably be done soon! Going now won't help, it'll just get in the way!"

Sudo even planted himself on the path toward the changing room: "Finish the game first! Finish first!"

Their obstruction was too obvious, and even Ichinose frowned, sensing something off. She was about to say something...

Just as the standoff reached its peak, several figures appeared around the corner of the corridor leading to the women's changing room—Ryuen Kakeru, Albert, and Ibuki Mio!

Ryuen wore his signature, malicious grin, his gaze sweeping mockingly over the court, lingering especially on Sudo's trio. He didn't even glance at the "Cleaning in Progress" sign at the changing room door, striding straight past with his group.

What left everyone utterly stunned was that Ibuki Mio, following behind Ryuen, suddenly and without warning kicked out as she passed the sign!

"Bang!!!"

The fake "Cleaning in Progress" sign was sent flying by her fierce kick, slamming into the wall with a loud crash before clattering to the ground!

This sudden act of violence and the loud noise instantly drew the attention of everyone nearby!

Naturally, this caught the notice of those playing volleyball outside, and the group hurried over, witnessing everything from a short distance away.

"What are you doing?!" a girl immediately demanded.

Ryuen ignored her completely, instead facing the direction of the women's changing room and speaking in a voice loud enough for those nearby to hear, laced with malice: "Oh? The 'cleaning' inside is pretty lively, huh? Need a hand?"

This was a direct exposure of the elaborate ruse Sudo's trio had set up! It drew everyone's attention straight to the women's changing room!

"Damn it!" Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki's faces went pale instantly!

Sudo Ken's eyes turned red with desperation! He knew Ryuen's interference had completely blown their plan!

In that critical moment, Sudo Ken let out an exaggerated, agonized scream: "Ah—!!! My leg! My leg's cramping! It hurts so much!!!" Clutching his calf, his face twisted in pain, he collapsed to the ground, rolling and wailing in "agony."

His over-the-top acting, combined with his earlier vigorous blocking, was so fake it was laughable!

Ichinose Honami, Hirata Yosuke, Karuizawa Kei, and the others were stunned by the sudden turn of events! Horikita Suzune watched Sudo writhing on the ground, then glanced at the kicked sign and Ryuen's sneer. Her cool eyes instantly grasped the situation, her expression turning grim.

Kazama In stood beside Ichinose, watching the farce coldly. He saw Sudo's theatrical "cramp," Ryuen's triumphant malicious grin, Ike and Yamauchi's panicked expressions... Everything was as he had anticipated, even more "spectacular" than he'd imagined.

Ryuen's gaze cut through the chaotic crowd, locking onto the calm figure of Kazama In by the court. He bared his teeth in a sneer full of provocation and a sense of "cooperation well done."

Kazama In met his eyes, his ink-black depths utterly unruffled, as if watching a farce that had nothing to do with him. He merely tilted his chin slightly, gesturing toward the women's changing room—where, beneath the sign Ibuki had kicked away, a disguised, inconspicuous micro-camera lay quietly disguised as a cleaning tool.

Ryuen followed his gaze, his smile growing more vicious. He gave Albert a subtle signal. Albert's massive frame shifted imperceptibly, his huge foot "accidentally" stepping onto that micro-camera...

"Crack!" A barely audible snap was drowned out by Sudo's howls and the girls' chatter.

The photo plan, disrupted by Ryuen's malicious interference and Kazama In's cold detachment, had completely failed, exposed in the most humiliating way possible. By the poolside, the summer sun still shone brightly, but it was now overshadowed by a layer of stupidity, malice, and silent judgment.