The Summer Vacation Peeping Incident

The final exams arrived as scheduled. Thanks to the study sessions, not a single student in Class 1-C was expelled.

The students also welcomed summer vacation, and the school entered a more relaxed phase.

Hoshida No spent seven consecutive days taking part in promotional shoots for the Martial Arts Club and interschool exchange matches.

Karuizawa Kei and Ichinose Honami had gone looking for him together several times, but he was never around.

Only after Kei anxiously called him several times did Hoshida No return her call during a break.

"Brother No! Where have you been these past few days? I couldn't find you anywhere!" Karuizawa complained.

"I've been handling things for the Martial Arts Club. I had my phone on silent," Hoshida No's voice came through the phone.

"Honestly... I thought you'd disappeared," Kei muttered.

Then her tone brightened. "By the way, we talked it over with Kikyo, and we're all going to the beach near school tomorrow! You have to come. Honami's been wanting to see you, too."

Ichinose Honami's voice came through the phone, correcting her: "Kei, don't put it like that."

Kushida Kikyo laughed. "That's right. Hoshida, you should definitely come relax with us."

"Sure. What time and where?"

"Tomorrow at nine in the morning, at the school's main gate! It's a promise!"

After hanging up, Hoshida No glanced at Morikawa, who was still filming, and murmured, "I could use a break, too."

Meanwhile, Horikita Suzune spent those seven days following the early-summer vacation improvement plan she had drawn up to the letter.

Morning runs, self-study, reading, and physical training—all scheduled down to the minute.

She didn't accept any invitations to group outings. To her, socializing pointlessly with people who didn't matter was nothing but a waste of time.

Her attention remained fixed on catching up to her brother and raising the Class Points. For now, she believed improving her own abilities was the best course of action.

The night before their planned outing, Hoshida No's phone rang again. The caller ID showed Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

"Hoshida."

"Go ahead."

"Yamauchi Haruki, Sotomura Hideo, Ken Sudō, and Kanji Ike are planning to sneak into the women's changing area tomorrow morning, while the beach is less crowded, and take pictures."

Ayanokoji's voice betrayed no emotion. "They seem to think it'll be an exciting summer vacation adventure. I'm going to stop them. Also, Horikita Suzune somehow got wind of it and said she'd get involved."

Hoshida No was silent for two seconds.

"That's a risky move," Hoshida No remarked. "Are you telling me because you want me to stop them? You and Horikita should be able to handle it."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "You're going to the beach tomorrow, too, aren't you? It's no trouble to handle it while you're there."

"The place hasn't changed. I'll be there," Hoshida No said, then ended the call.

Even if Ayanokoji hadn't told him, he would've stopped them. Peeping was disgusting, after all.

The next morning at nine, at the school's main gate.

When Hoshida No arrived in a simple dark short-sleeved T-shirt and casual pants, he found a small group already gathered.

Karuizawa Kei wore a fresh-looking dress. As soon as she saw him, she waved.

Beside her, Ichinose Honami wore a light-colored top and a knee-length skirt. She smiled and nodded in greeting.

Kushida Kikyo looked especially cute. She waved and called, "Hoshida, over here~"

From Class C, Hasebe Haruka and Sakura Airi had come, too.

Hasebe had been invited by Kushida, while Sakura seemed to have worked up the courage to join them. When she saw Hoshida No, her face turned slightly red, and she greeted him quietly.

To Hoshida No's slight surprise, Horikita Suzune was standing not far away. She had changed into white casual clothes and was carrying a suitcase, presumably with her swimsuit inside.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood at the edge of the group, like a prop in the background.

"Oh? Horikita's coming with us, too? That's great!" Kushida Kikyo said, putting on just the right amount of delight.

"I have my reasons," Horikita Suzune replied curtly, her gaze seeming to drift between Hoshida No and Ayanokoji.

The group took a bus to the beach.

On the way, Kei naturally took the seat beside Hoshida No and quietly told him about the amusing things that had happened in Class B over the past few days.

Honami sat in the row ahead, occasionally turning around to join the conversation with a warm smile.

Kushida kept the bus lively, looking after the somewhat bashful Sakura and Hasebe, who had a tough-girl look but was actually a little impatient.

The beach was sunny, and the water was a vivid blue. Once they changed into their swimsuits, the atmosphere seemed to grow even brighter.

Karuizawa Kei had chosen a slightly stylish two-piece swimsuit that showed off her youthful energy. She ran over to Hoshida No and asked him to help put on sunscreen.

"Brother No, I can't reach my back."

Hoshida No took the sunscreen and applied it for her without hesitation.

But when his fingertips occasionally brushed her back, Kei's ears turned a little red.

Ichinose Honami's swimsuit was more modest, but it still traced her graceful figure.

She didn't make a similar request. She just sat beneath a beach umbrella, gazing at the sea and occasionally chatting with Hoshida No about her summer plans when he came over.

Kushida Kikyo's swimsuit was cute, with a hint of flirtatiousness, and drew plenty of attention.

She led Sakura and Hasebe to play in the shallows, though her gaze kept drifting toward Hoshida No.

When she saw Hasebe Haruka decide without a second thought to adjust her swimsuit strap because it felt uncomfortable, right in front of Hoshida No, nearly untying it to retie it, while he simply looked away and gazed elsewhere, Kushida's expression darkened slightly.

Hasebe, for her part, didn't seem to care at all. Once she had fixed it, she came over and said to Hoshida No, "Hey, Hoshida, want to race later? Kikyo says you learn really fast."

"Sure," Hoshida No agreed.

Wrapped in a large towel, Sakura Airi was too shy to venture far from the beach umbrella. She could only watch Hoshida No and Hasebe, who had once saved her, with admiration and gratitude.

Horikita Suzune had indeed changed into her swimsuit, but she sat some distance from the others with a book in her hands. She was clearly distracted, though, and kept glancing toward the entrance to the changing area.

While Kei and Kushida were starting a game of beach volleyball and Hoshida No was being pulled away by Hasebe to go swimming, he noticed Horikita Suzune suddenly get up and hurry toward a secluded spot behind the changing area where supplies were stored.

Ayanokoji also stood up from the water at almost the same moment and wiped his face.

"Hasebe, wait a moment." Hoshida No stopped the race and headed that way. Hasebe paused, then followed him.

The narrow passage behind the changing area was tense.

Yamauchi Haruki held up his phone, his face flushed, while Sotomura Hideo hid behind him.

Ken Sudō and Kanji Ike stood in front of them. Facing them was Horikita Suzune, her expression icy.

"Hor-Horikita! Mind your own business! We haven't done anything!" Yamauchi insisted.

"Hiding here with a phone pointed at the ventilation window of the changing area—what else could you be doing?"

Horikita Suzune's voice was cold. "Delete any photos you may have taken immediately, then go back and confess to Chabashira-sensei. Otherwise, I'll report you straight to the school."

"You...!" Ken Sudō was annoyed. He felt that Horikita was being too heartless.

"Report them to the school?" Hoshida No's calm voice cut in. The group jumped and turned to see Hoshida No, Ayanokoji, and Hasebe Haruka approaching.

The moment Hasebe saw what was happening, she flared up. "Yamauchi! Sotomura! You actually dared to do something this sleazy?!"

"H-Hoshida..." Kanji Ike looked flustered. Hoshida No's standing in the class had changed dramatically.

Hoshida No didn't look at Ike or Sudō. He walked straight toward Yamauchi and held out his hand. "Phone."

His tone was even, and he didn't glare, but Yamauchi Haruki felt an inexplicable pressure—one that made his skin crawl even more than Horikita Suzune's icy rebuke.

He remembered the rumors Ryuen Kakeru had spread: Hoshida No was a dangerous guy who'd stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

"W-Why should I give it to you...?"

"You were caught attempting to take pictures. The evidence is clear," Hoshida No said calmly.

"If you hand it over to the school, the lightest punishment will be a severe warning and a huge deduction of personal and class points. If the photos exist, you could be expelled."

He paused. "Give it to me, and this stays between the people here. Your choice."

Yamauchi Haruki went pale. Ken Sudō spat and turned his head away. "Yamauchi, give it to him! Don't drag everyone else into this!"

Trembling, Yamauchi Haruki deleted several blurry photos from his phone. They hadn't captured anything at all. Then he handed the phone to Hoshida No for inspection.

Hoshida No quickly scrolled through it and handed it back.

"Get lost."

Yamauchi and Sotomura fled in relief. Kanji Ike slipped away after them.

Ken Sudō glanced at Horikita, then at Hoshida No. "...Thanks," he muttered before turning to leave.

Horikita Suzune furrowed her brows. "Hoshida No, by letting them off like that, you can't be sure they'll learn their lesson."

"Your approach would cause immediate, irreversible damage. Mine preserves the class's fighting strength and points, while keeping leverage over them."

Hoshida No looked at her. "In terms of results, the latter is better. As for the lesson..." He glanced in the direction Yamauchi had run. "It'll come in another form."

With the rumors Ryuen had spread, and the humiliation and fear he'd felt today, someone like Yamauchi Haruki could easily be driven to extremes.

Horikita Suzune fell silent. She couldn't refute Hoshida No, but she didn't agree with this compromise on an emotional level.

Hasebe put her hands on her hips. "What a bunch of scumbags! Good thing they didn't get away with it! Nice work, Hoshida."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka simply watched in silence.

(The author wants to say that this Ayanokoji only ever works behind the scenes. Writing him makes him seem like a bystander, and I really don't want to write him. If I didn't need him later, I wouldn't even have included him.)

The disturbance temporarily subsided. Everyone returned to the beach, but the atmosphere had shifted.

Kei and Honami keenly sensed that something was wrong, but thoughtfully didn't ask about it. Kushida asked Hasebe a few questions with a concerned expression, though a look of understanding and contemplation flashed in her eyes.

In the afternoon, Hoshida No unexpectedly ran into two people by a stall selling drinks.

Horikita Manabu, a third-year student, was still as upright and stern-faced as ever. Secretary Tachibana Akane followed at his side.

"Hoshida No," Horikita Manabu said first.

"President Horikita." Hoshida No nodded in greeting.

"I heard you've been active in the Martial Arts Club," Horikita Manabu said, looking at Hoshida No. "Morikawa thinks highly of you."

"I'm just fulfilling my duties as vice president."

"About Suzune," Horikita Manabu continued, changing the subject. "She seems to be sticking to that childish philosophy of hers. Still, it looks like she at least has someone around who can correct some of her poor choices."

He was referring to what had happened earlier. Hoshida No didn't think Horikita Manabu would pay attention to such a small incident. Either Tachibana Akane had reported it, or he was keeping tabs on his younger sister himself.

"I just chose the more efficient approach."

Horikita Manabu gave Hoshida No a long look. "Remember your place, Hoshida No. Too much efficiency can sometimes cost you other important things."

Tachibana Akane smiled and added, "We watched the training footage from the Martial Arts Club, Hoshida. You're really impressive. Keep it up!"

The two didn't stay long. They bought their drinks and left.

On the bus ride back, Yamauchi Haruki huddled in the last row, glaring darkly at Hoshida No's back.

What Hoshida No had done to him in the alley behind the changing area, humiliating him in front of the girls, made him hate Hoshida No so much his teeth ached.

Ryuen Kakeru had been right. That guy was a self-important dictator who'd sell everyone out to benefit himself sooner or later... A dangerous thought began to take root in his mind.

Hoshida No sat by the window, with a sleeping Karuizawa Kei beside him. Ichinose Honami sat across the aisle, quietly watching the scenery rush past outside. Kushida Kikyo was talking softly with Hasebe and Sakura.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sent him a message: Yamauchi's in a bad place emotionally. Ryuen's rumors may have found fertile ground.

Hoshida No replied: As expected. It's easier to drive a useless person with simple hatred.

Ayanokoji: What are you going to do about it?

Hoshida No: Watch. Wait for him to make his choice.