"Splash—"
"Hey, Ichinose, why'd you splash me?"
Kitahara looked helplessly at Ichinose, who was playing in the pool.
"Hehe, Kitahara, you've already finished your work, so..." Taking advantage of Kitahara's distraction, Ichinose edged closer, then swiftly pulled him off the side of the pool.
"Splash—"
Before Kitahara could react, pool water rushed into his nose and mouth.
"Cough, cough... Ichinose, you actually ambushed me? Well, don't blame me for what happens next."
With that, Kitahara suddenly kicked through the water toward her. Ichinose shrieked and turned to flee, sending sprays of water pattering against the parasol by the pool.
"Got you." Kitahara's hand closed around Ichinose's slender ankle.
"Ah! Kitahara, that's cheating!" Ichinose cried out. The moment he caught her ankle, she lost her balance and fell backward.
"Splash—"
Water flew everywhere. Kitahara quickly let go of her ankle and wrapped an arm around her waist instead, keeping her from choking on the water.
Ichinose instinctively grabbed Kitahara's shoulder. Her damp strands of hair clung to her cheek, and clear droplets still glistened on her lashes.
They looked at each other from close range for a second. Ichinose's face instantly flushed red, and she shoved him away. "Ki-Kitahara, you're so sneaky! That's cheating!"
Kitahara staggered back two steps, then couldn't help laughing. "Weren't you the one who ambushed me first?"
"That... That's different!" Ichinose argued, her face red.
"How is it different?" Kitahara replied with a chuckle.
"..."
The B Class students watching them fool around nearby began discussing them among themselves.
"I told you, there's definitely more going on between those two than just friendship."
"Yeah, I didn't believe it at first, but now it really seems possible." Even Kanzaki, who was usually so serious, couldn't help joining in.
"Exactly..."
"..."
"Hey, what are you discussing over here?" Kitahara and Ichinose asked as they came over.
"N-Nothing, we were just talking about what happened between you and the president just now," Shiranami hurriedly explained when she saw them approaching.
"Oh, that..."
Kitahara thought back to when he'd parted ways with the president.
"Before you came to find me, Horikita Manabu got a message on his phone and broke into a smile."
"I hadn't even had time to lean over and see what could've changed him so much..."
"Before he pushed me away by pressing a hand against my forehead."
Kitahara shrugged helplessly. "That president, after telling me, 'This is a private matter,' sent me on my way."
But after hearing you talk about Horikita Suzune's speech just now, I finally understood what that message had been about.
After hearing Kitahara's explanation, Ichinose said, "I had no idea President Horikita cared so much about his little sister."
"He definitely cares about her, but he's not very honest about it."
"I see... By the way, Kitahara, did you find anything in the changing room?" Ichinose asked, remembering the incident.
Even the others who'd still been talking turned to look at them. If things really had happened the way the president said, it would've been downright perverted.
Seeing their worried expressions, Kitahara paused before saying:
"There really was someone in there..."
Everyone's curiosity was piqued. Even Kanzaki, who was usually calm, leaned forward without realizing it.
"What was there?" Ichinose pressed nervously.
"There was actually..." Kitahara deliberately drew out his words. Seeing everyone holding their breath in suspense, he suddenly laughed.
"Just a repairman. His clothes looked a little like a cleaner's, which led some students to think he was cleaning the place and put up a sign."
"As for why Sudo was there, it might have something to do with the president's claim that someone had tried to peep."
The others agreed with Kitahara's explanation. Otherwise, why would he have tried so hard to keep everyone out at the time?
No one asked Kitahara whether Sudo had actually managed to do anything. They could all imagine for themselves: if he'd gone in and found someone else there, could he really have carried on?
Besides, if he really had managed it, would Kitahara have brushed it off so casually?
Seeing their reactions, Kitahara thought to himself, President, I really did my best this time. Whatever rumors spread in the end are no longer my problem.
Back in his dorm room, Kitahara took out his phone and saw a message from the president.
[The Student Council has given Yamauchi, Ike, and the others major demerits, and D Class's Class Points have been reset to zero again.]
After receiving the message, Kitahara replied:
[If their Class Points get reset again, won't that make them suspicious? How will you explain it?]
[Chabashira has explained everything to them, so you don't need to worry.]
[All right. In that case, there's nothing more I need to say.]
"..."
"Sudo, you did it again! You got our Class Points reset!"
"Exactly! Why'd you disrupt public order?"
At that moment, the D Class group chat was filled with people calling Sudo out.
That was right: Chabashira had just informed them that D Class's Class Points had been reset to zero for the month. She explained that it was because Sudo had disrupted public order at an entertainment venue.
So the D Class students, who knew nothing about the real reason, began condemning him. Only the Sudo Quartet and Horikita knew what had actually happened.
That was why Sudo, who might once have argued back, now silently accepted their accusations. After all, if they learned the real reason...
It wouldn't just be a matter of simple complaints. It would become a question of whether they could stay alive.
As the argument in the group chat grew more heated, Hirata said:
"Everyone, let's calm down for now. Chabashira-sensei just informed me that we'll be going on a cruise next week, and all the entertainment facilities on board will be free."
"Really, Hirata? Chabashira-sensei really kept her promise." Karuizawa Kei typed.
"Yes, that's right."
"Woohoo! Long live Chabashira-sensei!"
Just like that, the class's argument was quickly replaced by their anticipation for the upcoming cruise.
It seemed Chabashira had expected this all along.
Current Class Points:
Class A: 1004 cp Class B: 906 cp Class C: 492 cp Class D: 0 cp