Yukinoshita's Correction Method

"That's wonderful!" Iroha Isshiki exclaimed, tears welling in her eyes. "It's roasted corn... no, it's hope!"

"Uh..." Yui Yuigahama blinked, "Wild roasted corn should count as a hope, right?"

"If you actually see wild roasted corn on a deserted island, you'll have to worry about your mental state." Saki Kawasaki glanced at Komachi Hikigaya, who was filming nearby. "Want to reshoot?"

"No need." Komachi Hikigaya finished the shoot with satisfaction. "That's exactly the feeling I wanted!"

Saki Kawasaki: "... Fine."

Yukino Yukinoshita and called out, "Come and eat when you're done taking pictures!"

"They even have wild fried noodles here!" Dong Yunshan added.

The villa had prepared ingredients and drinks in advance, and after discussing it, everyone decided to make classic seaside dishes.

Fried noodles, grilled corn, takoyaki, curry rice...

"Great!" Iroha Isshiki happily took two bites of grilled corn. "This is the taste of the beach in summer!"

Yui Yuigahama took a big bite of fried noodles, cupping her cheeks in satisfaction. "I don't know why, but fried noodles by the sea always taste especially good."

"It's probably because all my memories of the beach are so beautiful," Komachi Hikigaya a cute smile. "Eating food that I used to eat at the beach brings back those wonderful memories, making the yakisoba even tastier."

"It could also be because they're hungry." Saki Kawasaki looked towards the flavorful fried noodles. "After playing all morning, everything tastes delicious."

At this point, everyone naturally looked towards the Dong Yunshan, which gets the most exercise.

Dong Yunshan, who was eating curry rice with gusto, looked up blankly. "Huh?"

"He always eats with a great appetite." Yukino Yukinoshita wiped his mouth with a tissue, reminding him sternly, "Chew slowly."

Dong Yunshan nodded in response, "Mhm."

After a satisfying meal, it's best to avoid strenuous exercise. Everyone lay under parasols, wearing sunglasses, and took a nap in the warm sea breeze.

The sand, still warm from the sun, seeps through the beach mat and onto the skin.

The azure sky is reflected on the blue sea, the boundary blurred into shimmering silver light.

The crashing waves lapped against the beach, then lazily receded, repeatedly inducing drowsiness.

"This scene will definitely be amazing..." Komachi Hikigaya struggled to lift her phone, then put it down halfway. "Well... I'll take the picture later."

"I think I ate a little too much..." Yui Yuigahama rubbed her bulging belly. "I need to work on losing weight from now on..."

"Does Yui Yuigahama- senpai still need to lose weight?" Iroha Isshiki lazily tilted her head to look at her. "Hasn't the nutrition already gone where it should be?"

"Huh?" Yui Yuigahama looked at Iroha Isshiki, then followed her gaze to her own ample bosom. Her cheeks flushed red at a visible speed. "This is not the place for me. I'd rather add it to my height."

"Being too tall isn't always a good thing," Saki Kawasaki yawned, her voice even more languid than usual. "You can't stand up after squatting down."

"Huh?" Komachi Hikigaya looked at the tallest Dong Yunshan. "Really?"

Dong Yunshan tilted her head. "Really?"

"Of course you don't." Yukino Yukinoshita rested her head on Dong Yunshan's arm, shifting her position slightly. "The taller you are, the more strength you need to stand up after squatting. If you lack exercise, it is indeed more difficult. Of course, it's not that you can't stand up at all, it's just that your center of gravity is higher, and you need to use your hands to support yourself or hold onto something to maintain your balance."

Iroha Isshiki glanced at Yui Yuigahama's noticeably taller position than the others. "Looks like this is the right spot."

"Being big has its troubles too. A lot of clothes make me look fatter," Yui Yuigahama muttered softly. "In the summer, I sweat a lot, and lying in bed feels like I'm being pressed down. Sleeping on my side feels like I'm dragging on my back... Ah!"

Remembering that Dong Yunshan was still there, Yui Yuigahama blushed and didn't continue speaking.

Dong Yunshan closed his eyes and snored loudly.

"It's so noisy." Yukino Yukinoshita pinched Dong Yunshan's mouth.

"Looking at it this way, being short and small Komachi Hikigaya sighed softly. "It's really great..."

"More exercise should help, right?" Iroha Isshiki Yukino Yukinoshita. "I feel like Yukino- senpai has changed quite a bit..."

"Her condition shouldn't be solely attributed to exercise." Saki Kawasaki paused, "... it also counts as a form of exercise?"

Yukino Yukinoshita released Dong Yunshan's mouth and poked him.

Dong Yunshan has started snoring again.

"Let's start exercising!" Yui Yuigahama tried to get up, supporting herself on the beach mat. "So that I can stand up, so that I can grow up, so that I can be healthy..."

Yui Yuigahama couldn't sit up successfully even after trying three times in a row.

Yui Yuigahama lay back down. "Hmm... I should rest before getting up, because of all this."

Soft laughter filled the air as everyone enjoyed the sea breeze and closed their eyes to listen to the surging waves.

The snoring of the Dong Yunshan also disappeared.

Iroha Isshiki had assumed the upperclassmen would discuss more mature topics.

But... it's fine as it is now.

Put aside those complicated and difficult things for now, and simply enjoy this moment of leisure.

Get some sleep...

Yawning, Iroha Isshiki dazed expression.

Everyone seems to be awake?

Not entirely.

Saki Kawasaki found a large inflatable mattress, lay on it, and floated on the beach, rising and falling with the waves.

It seems they've moved to a different place to sleep.

Yui Yuigahama is squatting on the beach, building a sandcastle.

Komachi Hikigaya shifted and overlapped her poses, trying to create a grand and majestic feel.

Further out at sea, Dong Yunshan and Yukino Yukinoshita were swimming, seemingly engaged in some kind of competition.

Iroha Isshiki squinted and watched for a while, then noticed that the two of them had ended up hugging each other while swimming.

It looks like they kissed?

She sat up from the beach mat, stretched out a big yawn, Iroha Isshiki's face turned into a relaxed and comfortable smile.

As her seniors entered their third year and began preparing for university, Iroha Isshiki rarely bothered the Service Club anymore.

That tense and busy atmosphere constantly reminded Iroha Isshiki that the carefree days of the past were coming to an end.

But thinking about it carefully...

The busy time I'm spending preparing for university now is probably just a short break at the beach in summer.

When you wake up, the happy times will continue~

Chapter 897 Test of Courage

"I've been trapped in this forest for two weeks now..." Iroha Isshiki said, leaning on a stick she had found, her steps faltering and her expression weary.

"At first, I thought I could easily get out," Yui Yuigahama, shaking her flashlight to illuminate the bushes. "I never expected it to take so long..."

"If you get lost in the mountains at night, continuing to wander will only lead you deeper into dangerous territory and reduce your chances of being found." Yukino Yukinoshita picked up a stone and a branch, placing them at the base of a tree to mark her location. "This will help me mark my position and also prevent me from getting lost again."

Saki Kawasaki shone her flashlight on the roots of another tree nearby. "Are you sure you can really avoid it?"

"At least next time we see a mark, we'll know we're lost..." Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the spot illuminated by Saki Kawasaki's flashlight, where there was a mark made of stones and branches. "We're lost?"

"With food running low and their bodies growing increasingly exhausted, the girls, who had unexpectedly drifted to a deserted island, are now lost in the mountains. Staying put and waiting for rescue might be the best strategy, but the presence of terrifying beasts makes them afraid to stop." Komachi Hikigaya's voice was low as she pointed her phone camera at Dong Yunshan. "Beasts!"

Dong Yunshan instantly entered a state of focus, her hands curling into claws as she grabbed at the air, then tilting her head back and howling. "Awoo~~~!"

Yukino Yukinoshita shivered, pulling her coat tighter around herself, and glared at Dong Yunshan with annoyance. "Keep your voice down."

"That's actually a bit scary..." Yui Yuigahama shone her flashlight on Dong Yunshan's face. "If I didn't know it was you who sent it, I probably would have been startled too."

"That's nothing," Dong Yunshan chuckled. "You haven't heard of the really scary stuff yet."

Komachi Hikigaya's eyes lit up. "There's something even scarier?"

Dong Yunshan nodded. "I have a friend who is good at ventriloquism. In order to cooperate with another friend's exorcism, I specially learned a couple of moves."

"Wait a minute..." Yukino Yukinoshita realized the problem, "To cooperate with the exorcism... you learned scary ventriloquism? How are you cooperating?"

Saki Kawasaki: "They should be cooperating with being driven away."

"Let me show you how to create a dark and stormy night atmosphere by combining a tooth whistle and a throat whistle." Dong Yunshan cleared his throat twice and opened his mouth slightly.

"Huh?" Hearing a faint sound of wind, Yui Yuigahama looked around in confusion, only to find that the leaves were not swaying at all.

But the sound of the wind lingered clearly in my ears, with a strange, dry quality that seemed about to crack, as if it were squeezed out from some broken ruins. It grew sharper and more piercing, then suddenly dropped and rose again with a whoosh, carrying a vague sob and whisper.

Feeling a sudden chill, Yui Yuigahama rubbed her arms and stared at Dong Yunshan's mouth. Seeing his lips slightly open and close, she finally confirmed that the hoarse, terrifying sound she was hearing was coming from his mouth.

Dong Yunshan raised an eyebrow and suddenly raised his voice, as if a strong wind was really sweeping up, or as if something strange was howling and approaching.

At the moment it reached a certain critical point, the Dong Yunshan suddenly stopped. The abrupt silence did not bring peace of mind; instead, it made people even more uneasy.

"Whoa~" Iroha Isshiki stomped her foot hard, her voice trembling slightly, "I've learned something new..."

"That was really scary." Yui Yuigahama grabbed Yukino Yukinoshita's hand. "I... wait, Yukino, your hand seems to be shaking..."

"No." Yukino Yukinoshita said sternly, "Alright, it's time to go back... Hmm?"

Hearing the strange sound, Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly and glared at Dong Yunshan: "You still..."

"Shh!" Dong Yunshan glanced sideways. "It wasn't me."

"That is..." Yukino Yukinoshita opened her eyes slightly and shone the beam of her flashlight toward the source of the sound.

The next moment, a terrifying figure with disheveled hair came into view.

"Aaaaaaah!"

A desperate scream instantly echoed through the summer night.

Despite Yukino Yukinoshita holding him tightly, Dong Yunshan caught the flashlight that had fallen from her hand and illuminated the figure. "Teacher?"

"I'm not a teacher anymore," Shizuka Hiratsuka said breathlessly. "Did you hear the sound of a wild animal just now?"

Everyone turned their attention to the Dong Yunshan.

"Uh..." Dong Yunshan blinked, "I was just demonstrating my ventriloquism—Teacher, what are you doing here?"

"Come relax a bit," Haruno Yukinoshita's voice rang out. "I've been busy with all sorts of things lately, but I heard you guys came to the beach, so I thought I'd join in the fun."

Dong Yunshan asked, puzzled, "Then why are you so late?"

"I have to work during the day..." Haruno Yukinoshita glared at Dong Yunshan, "You're having an easy time now, do you know how much I have to do every day while running Cloud Snow Tea and managing Little Snowflake?"

"That scared me to death..." Yui Yuigahama patted her chest, still shaken. "Why didn't you call?"

"I wanted to give you a surprise," Shizuka Hiratsuka sighed, "But we got lost in the woods."

Saki Kawasaki: "Haruno Yukinoshita- senpai lead the way?"

Shizuka Hiratsuka was taken aback. "How did you know?"

"To make the test of Test of Courage more effective, we had Yukino- senpai lead the way," Iroha Isshiki chuckled. "And unsurprisingly, we got lost~"

Haruno Yukinoshita chuckled, "Yukino has always been terrible with directions."

"What are you laughing at?" Shizuka Hiratsuka glared at her. "You're terrible with directions too."

"I was enjoying the scenery along the way, and Yukino..." Haruno Yukinoshita looked at her sister, "Yukino?"

"You... you guys..." Yukino Yukinoshita glared at Shizuka Hiratsuka and Haruno Yukinoshita, her eyes brimming with tears, "Why did you suddenly come here?"

"We weren't in a hurry at first, but then we heard the howls of wild animals and some strange noises, so we thought we'd leave quickly..." Shizuka Hiratsuka paused, "Were you scared?"

Yukino Yukinoshita hugged Dong Yunshan even tighter. "No way!"

Haruno Yukinoshita pointed to Dong Yunshan's hand, which was stroking Yukino Yukinoshita's head. "Then why didn't you make him stop?"

Belatedly realizing what was happening, Yukino Yukinoshita pushed Dong Yunshan's hand away, shrank back slightly, and then grabbed his hand back. "I like it, is that not allowed?"

Dong Yunshan gently stroked Yukino Yukinoshita's soft, long hair. "Of course."

Yukino Yukinoshita puffed out her pink cheeks and bumped her head against his chest.

Everyone returned to the villa and, to the rhythmic sound of the waves, began preparing a barbecue.

Everyone worked together skillfully, lighting the charcoal fire, mixing the seasonings, preparing the ingredients, and setting up the tables and chairs...

Shizuka Hiratsuka happily opened the insulated box, turned over the drinks and ice inside, and buried the room-temperature beer inside.