Solitude

The uproar by the pool gradually subsided with Horikita Manabu's verdict and departure. A heavy, awkward atmosphere enveloped Class D. Sudo Ken, Ike Kanji, and Yamauchi Haruki sat slumped on the ground like wilted eggplants, heads buried low, enduring the angry, contemptuous, or disappointed gazes of their classmates.

"How... pathetic!" Karuizawa Kei crossed her arms, making no effort to hide her disgust.

"To do something like this... I can hardly believe they're our classmates!" Hirata Yosuke, too, rarely dropped his gentle demeanor, his tone turning stern.

"Disgusting!" Kushida Kikyo's voice remained sweet, but beneath it lay icy contempt; her eyes looked at the three as if they were trash.

Sakura Airi hid behind Horikita Suzune, her small face pale, her gaze at Sudo and the others filled with lingering fear and a hint of relief.

Horikita Suzune's cool face still held a frosty expression, but her concern was more for the class's cohesion. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, like a background prop, silently observed everything.

Amid the condemnation and disappointment, Ichinose Honami let out a soft sigh and walked over to Kazama In. She didn't join the accusations but looked at the three dejected boys, her voice gentle yet firm:

"Sudo-kun, Ike-kun, Yamauchi-kun... While this behavior was truly, terribly wrong and unacceptable..." She paused, her blue eyes carrying sincere admonition, "Fortunately, because of Ryuen-kun's... intervention (she chose her words carefully), and the Student Council's prompt handling, the worst outcome didn't happen. No girl was actually harmed—that's a blessing in a misfortune."

Her gaze swept over everyone, her voice clear: "What matters is that you truly recognize how serious your mistake was, how much damage it caused. The point deductions, demerits, public reprimand... these are harsh punishments. I hope you'll take this as a lesson, reflect deeply, and never repeat such behavior! Class D... needs unity and upward momentum, not this kind of shameful conduct."

Ichinose's words, like a clear spring, slightly diluted the hostility in the air. Her tolerance and understanding calmed some of the originally angry classmates. Though Sudo and the others were still mortified, Ichinose's refusal to kick them while they were down let their tense nerves relax a fraction. They buried their heads even lower, shoulders trembling slightly, as if genuinely feeling ashamed (at least on the surface).

In the days that followed, Sudo, Ike, and Yamauchi did indeed rein themselves in. Though old habits die hard and they still occasionally said stupid things, vile acts like upskirt photos—crossing the line—never happened again. They seemed truly frightened by the public exposure, utter humiliation, and total point deduction, and had learned at least some lesson. Kazama In's "punishment plan," while exacting a heavy price, appeared to have had some effect.

The atmosphere eased slightly under Ichinose's mediation. Someone suggested switching gears to play volleyball or swim. Hirata Yosuke took the cue to disperse the group, letting Sudo and the others cool off alone. The crowd gradually scattered, leaving only Kazama In and Ichinose Honami by the pool.

Ichinose looked at Kazama's calm profile. The shyness from that accidental touch on the court seemed to surge back, her cheeks flushing as she asked softly, "Kazama-kun... aren't you going to play?"

Just as Kazama In was about to answer, a voice with a unique rhythm—sweet yet tinged with a hint of coldness—cut in abruptly:

"Oh my, it seems I've come at a bad time? Am I interrupting a 'cozy' moment for you two?"

They both turned.

Sakayanagi Arisu was leaning on her ivory-white carved cane, carefully supported by Kamuro Sumire, slowly walking toward them. She wore an exquisitely detailed white lace one-piece swimsuit, vintage and elegant, with tiny pearls adorning the neckline and hem, making her already fair skin look like fine porcelain. A light beige gauze cover-up draped over it, but it couldn't hide her meticulously crafted beauty and nobility. Sunlight fell on her pale gold curls, as if enveloping her in a holy glow. But her eyes were smiling knowingly as they flickered between Ichinose and Kazama, especially noting Ichinose's flushed cheeks and how close they stood—the smile held a barely perceptible chill.

Kazama In looked at this childhood friend, who was like a delicate doll, but his mind involuntarily flashed a faded scene: young Sakayanagi Arisu in a puffy princess dress, too weak to run fast, always leaning on a small, decorative cane, following behind him with a soft voice calling, "In-nii, wait for me." Back then, her eyes were clear, her smile pure, without all these convoluted thoughts now.

A faint, almost imperceptible hint of gentle amusement appeared at the corner of Kazama In's mouth. Almost instinctively, he reached out, just like when he used to comfort that frail little girl, and gently ruffled Sakayanagi Arisu's soft silver hair.

"..." Sakayanagi Arisu clearly hadn't expected this. Her body stiffened for an instant. A flicker of surprise passed through her blue eyes, then was replaced by a pure, almost content warmth. She squinted slightly, like a cat being petted, her face showing a genuine, almost childlike enjoyment, even lightly nuzzling against Kazama's palm. "Hmph~ At least you still have some conscience, remembering when we were kids," she muttered softly.

But this scene, witnessed by Ichinose Honami beside them, stabbed like needles! She watched Kazama's natural, affectionate head-pat toward Sakayanagi, saw the momentary softness in his eyes, and compared it to his always calm, polite attitude toward her... An indescribable bitterness and loss surged up! Her blue eyes instantly misted over; she bit her lower lip unconsciously, lowered her head slightly, and her fingers fidgeted with her swimsuit strings. Her jealous, aggrieved expression was plain for all to see.

Kamuro Sumire stood behind Sakayanagi, her perfect poker face now showing a rare crack. Her gaze wandered, desperately staring at the distant pool surface, her mind screaming internally: "Miss's spoiled act... Kazama-sama's head-pat... Class B angel's jealous face... A full-scale asura field... Who am I? Where am I? Can I just disappear?"

Sakayanagi Arisu was far too perceptive. Ichinose's feelings were transparent to her. She enjoyed Kazama's touch, but her eyes precisely caught Ichinose's jealous expression. A playful curve tugged at her lips, like a cat discovering a new toy.

She tilted her head slightly, looking at Ichinose, her voice syrupy sweet but carrying a condescending declaration: "Ichinose-san, no need to look so tense~ My relationship with In-nii is much deeper than you imagine." She paused deliberately, savoring Ichinose's instantly pale face, before continuing slowly, "After all... we grew up together as childhood friends. And besides..."

A glint of mischief and malice flashed in Sakayanagi's eyes as she dropped her bombshell:

"Kazama's Father (referring to Kazama In's father) said long ago that he hoped I would marry In-nii, to strengthen the bond between families~" She watched Ichinose's eyes widen in disbelief, her mood lifting as she added, "But, seeing how much Ichinose-san 'cares' about In-nii... I could make an exception and give you a 'slot'~ After all, good things should be shared~" Her words floated lightly but exploded like a bomb in Ichinose's and Kazama's ears!

"!!!" Ichinose Honami's face flushed and paled in rapid succession, a mix of shame and anger! Share? A slot? What did she take her for?! She whipped her head toward Kazama In, her eyes full of grievance and accusation.

Kamuro Sumire's poker face completely crumbled, her mouth twitching almost imperceptibly. Internally: "Miss... that statement is way too... shocking! Kazama-sama is going to kill someone, right?!"

Kazama In: "..."

His hand was still on Sakayanagi's head, but the softness on his face had vanished, replaced by a near-petrified stiffness. His jet-black pupils contracted slightly as he looked at his bombshell-dropping childhood friend, then glanced at Ichinose, who looked about to cry. He felt a throbbing at his temples.

He'd heard of Sakayanagi's "engagement talk," but it was more of an adult joke he'd never taken seriously. As for "sharing slots"... that was pure fantasy! Utterly absurd!

A very strong thought rushed into his mind, even making him mutter aloud, breaking the eerie silence:

"...This plot... doesn't it feel exactly like the 'multi-relationship asura field' I wrote in that Love Song of Green Seasons?" He pushed up his glasses, trying to rationally analyze this chaotic situation, but then another, more terrifying book came to mind. His brow furrowed deeply, his voice carrying a rare, genuine worry:

"...Wait, at this rate... it's not going to end up like School Days, is it?" The image of a gleaming kitchen knife flashed through his mind...

Kazama In's heartfelt mutter, reflecting his helpless mapping of light novel tropes onto reality and the absurdity of the situation, splashed like cold water onto this vinegar-soaked, declaration-filled asura field. The atmosphere, already stretched to its limit, instantly became... even more bizarre and ridiculous. Sunlight, pool, beauties, and an Arbiter caught in a "real-life light novel dilemma," his head throbbing... The end of this summer was destined to be anything but peaceful.