The little party game lasted for about an hour. After Ebina publicly announced her "no romance" declaration, the atmosphere subtly shifted. Although no one explicitly said it, everyone tacitly avoided the topic of romance afterward.
Everyone present was inevitably influenced by Ebina's words.
Bearing the brunt was Tobe. With Ebina speaking so plainly, even Tobe couldn't deceive himself anymore, becoming distracted in the subsequent games.
Next was Kawasaki Saki. Having had her inner thoughts pointed out by Ebina earlier, and now with this development, it was hard for her not to make connections. Was Ebina advising her to give up, or telling her to be mentally prepared?
Kawasaki Saki didn't know. She planned to ask Ebina when they were alone later.
Finally, Shinra. His gaze towards Ebina became somewhat resentful. If you don't want to date, fine, but why drag me into it?
What do you mean by "even if I reject him, there are still many girls who like him"?
I keep you in my heart as a brother, and you kick me into a ditch!
Bakayaro!
If you had to give an example, couldn't you use Hayama? He also has many girls who like him!
Of course, Shinra only muttered these words in his heart. After all, after she finished that sentence, Shinra also received the mental damage compensation from Ebina.
Wish-power point +1.
Because he had too few wish-power points, and with his constitution breaking through 20, his body forging enterprise could be further improved, Shinra didn't rush to use the points. He planned to save them up and make a wish when his physical improvement encountered a bottleneck or when he had saved enough for a guarantee.
"That's about it for today. It's our class's turn for bath time."
Hayama checked the time on his wrist watch, then glanced at the despondent Tobe, sighed, and said, "Let's go, Tobe."
"You guys go first, Hayato. I... I want to be alone for a while." Tobe forced a smile.
Seeing this, Hayama couldn't say much more. He just patted Tobe's shoulder, wanting to comfort him to look on the bright side—maybe there would be a chance in university?
But realizing that with Tobe's grades, it would be difficult for him to get into the same university as Ebina, he ultimately didn't say anything more.
Soon, the people gathered together scattered.
"Are you going to Hiratsuka-sensei's place?" Shinra asked.
Yukino shook her head and replied, "I went when we just came back."
Although they played outside all day, she didn't sweat much. Since she was borrowing Sensei's room, Yukino simply rinsed off and didn't take a bath.
Shinra nodded. That was similar to him. He also showered in his room right after coming back and didn't take a bath either.
After all, taking a bath alone occasionally is fine, but not every day.
"Then want to walk around the atrium?" Shinra suggested.
It was only 8 PM, still a while before bedtime. Everyone else had gone to the bathhouse, and the room probably only had Tobe, who was heartbroken before even falling in love. Going back and staring at each other would be awkward.
Remember that earlier, Ebina used him as a shield to say the declaration of "not planning to date before university."
But thinking carefully, among so many people present at the time, he seemed to be the most suitable shield. Hayama was a member of the riajuu group, so he wasn't suitable. Tobe was the one Ebina wanted to avoid. The little angel Saika was popular with everyone. Hachiman... was pitiful enough already, so let him go.
Going around in circles, only Shinra, who didn't lack love, was the most suitable.
Not just lacking love; this guy is overflowing with it.
"Sure." Yukino also felt it was a bit too early to go back. Not that there would be no one there; their class's bath time was arranged early, so they should be done by now.
Precisely because of this, Yukino didn't want to go back. If she went back, she would definitely be asked various questions, like where she went today and how it was.
Her teammates wouldn't just make small talk; their questions were trickier because they would ask about Shinra. Once Shinra was mentioned, the other girls in the dorm would be like badgers seeing a watermelon. Regardless of what topic or activity they were engaged in, they would drop everything and gather around, excitedly asking her inexplicable questions.
That scene was like a temple fair during New Year's—simply terrifying.
The two came to the central courtyard of the ryokan. Although called a courtyard, it was actually no different from a small park. Plus, it was night and there were few people around. The few people seen sporadically were either normal tourists or school couples.
In their eyes, maybe Shinra and I are also a campus couple? Yukino suddenly thought.
Couple...
Mentioning this word, Yukino inevitably recalled the question answered in Truth or Dare just now.
I am the first opposite-sex person he had good feelings for.
Every time she thought of this, Yukino felt her heart beat faster uncontrollably, and her face would heat up. Even in late autumn, she could feel an indescribable warmth in her heart.
"Do you feel a bit cold?" Shinra looked at Yukino's somewhat thin body. Her clothes weren't thick. It was fine indoors with air conditioning, but outdoors it wasn't enough.
"It's okay." Yukino genuinely felt fine. It was cold outside, but there was no wind, so she didn't feel cold. Rather, coming out to feel the cold breeze could calm her somewhat restless heart.
"Just now..." Yukino wanted to ask Shinra what exactly he meant by that earlier sentence, but the words changed when they reached her mouth, "Just now, I saw that boy seemed to plan to give up."
"Actually, he should have given up long ago; he was just deceiving himself."
Can only say love indeed has magic, making people deceive themselves.
Even if hurt, one can lie to oneself that it doesn't hurt, it's proof of love.
Quite masochistic, comparable to corporate slaves buying coffee themselves to improve efficiency.
Cough, talking too much.
Yukino understood this well. She said, "Maybe for him, this was the last hope?"
Just like corporate slaves buying coffee. Do they like drinking coffee?
No, it's because they would feel worse without coffee.
"Last hope, huh... Well, with this, Ebina-san's commission should be considered complete. Tomorrow we don't need group action; we can go wherever we want." Shinra stretched.
Tomorrow was the free activity day of the school trip, not by group but by individual.
Miura Yumiko and her friends planned to visit Toei Kyoto Studio Park, a famous period drama theme park. They asked Shinra if he wanted to go, but he refused.
Are you kidding? Shinra had been there before. Not only had he been there, but the person in charge there knew him.
The reason was naturally that Sakurajima Mai had filmed commercials there before, and there would be a period drama invested by Shinra and starring Mai filming there later. Although going there might not necessarily expose him, to avoid complications, Shinra decided to play it safe.
Besides that, there was the Service Club's action. Hachiman wanted to pray for his sister Komachi's upcoming high school entrance exam at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. Shinra and Yukino needed to buy souvenirs for Haruno, possibly detouring to a local characteristic commercial street on the way.
Although a commercial street, because it was quite famous, it was basically no different from a tourist attraction.
"Miura-san isn't following you?" Yukino asked.
"They are going to the Studio Park. I'm not interested in it, so I'm not going." Shinra was now an evil adult who lied without blinking an eye.
"Is that so..." Yukino looked thoughtful.
Shinra was a bit strange. He asked, "Since when did you care about Miura so much?"
Yukino shook her head, revealing a rather subtle smile on her face, "Rather than me caring about Miura-san, it's better to say Miura-san cares about you a lot."
Originally Yukino thought Shinra would be at least a bit flustered if not guilty, but unexpectedly, he didn't play by the cards at all.
"Jealous?"
"Je... who is jealous?" Yukino stammered, then as if making up for it or changing the subject, she said: "Please don't be sentimental. I just found that Miura-san's inexplicable hostility towards me is largely because of you."
"Is that so?" Shinra touched his chin. Later it might be so, but initially probably not.
"She should like you." Yukino said in a certain tone. She was also a bit nervous when saying this, observing Shinra's facial expression, seemingly wanting to explore his true thoughts.
"I'm so outstanding; it's normal to like me." Shinra replied in a matter-of-course tone, narcissistic to a punchable degree.
Immediately, he changed the subject, staring at Yukino: "In comparison, Yukinoshita-san seems to care about these things very much?"
Yukino's expression froze, becoming visibly nervous. Her small hands with nowhere to put pinched the hem of her clothes tightly. She looked left and right and said: "Who cares about you? I'm just asking casually."
Asking, but not casually.
"Is that so..." Shinra imitated Yukino's tone.
"Then what does Yukinoshita-san think about my answer to Ebina earlier?"
Yukino's small hands gripping the hem of her clothes tightened even more, but she showed no intention of falling behind verbally. In a moment of quick wit, she directly applied what Shinra said earlier.
"I'm so outstanding; it's normal to have good feelings for me."
Yukino glanced at Shinra unconsciously, wanting to see his expression.
However, even she didn't realize how naive and charming her expression and actions were when she said this, completely unlike her usual cold beautiful girl image.
"Yes, yes, yes."
"What are you laughing at?"
Yukino raised her eyebrows. Is what she said wrong? Or does this guy Shinra think she isn't qualified?
Unconsciously, Yukino narrowed her eyes, dangerous light flashing in her beautiful eyes.
"I just think Yukino is very cute."
Instantly, the dangerous light dissipated, replaced by a panic... and imperceptible joy.
"Wh-What nonsense are you talking about?!"
Feeling the air around gradually becoming sticky, she felt it would be dangerous if the topic continued. She wasn't fully prepared yet.
So, Yukino stood up from the bench and said: "It-It's getting late; time to go back to rest."
Before she could take a few steps, her hand was held.
Yukino: !!!
"Wh-What?"
The girl didn't look back, but her heart felt like jumping to her throat, and her throat was a bit dry.
Could it be he wants to confess now?
Thinking of this, Yukino's small face tightened a bit more, facing a formidable enemy.
"You are going the wrong way. The exit is over there." Shinra pointed in the opposite direction of Yukino.
Although it was the central courtyard, going back to the room in Yukino's direction required a big detour, while the direction Shinra pointed could go upstairs directly.
Yukino: ...
"Oh."
A nameless fire surged from her heart, but she didn't know how to vent it. Yukino took a deep breath, then revealed a perfect and decent smile, "I just haven't been there; wanted to walk there."
"Didn't we just come from there... uh, okay, then go out from there."
Shinra felt the increasingly heavy 'killing intent' on Yukino and wisely chose to follow his heart.
The two separated at the staircase.
Yukino pushed open the room door and found the noisy sound that could be heard in the corridor stopped abruptly. Then pairs of curious eyes locked on her.
How about... squeezing with Hiratsuka-sensei?
Yukino thought so.
On the other side, Shinra also returned to the room and found that Tobe seemed to have regained his past vitality. At this moment, he was having a hearty mahjong battle with other boys in the class.
"Today, thank you very much." Seeing Shinra return, Hayama took the initiative to walk to him and speak.
Shinra waved his hand and replied: "No need to thank me. It was a simple matter originally; you guys insisted on making it so complicated."
Hayama was silent for a moment and said: "Some things are not what I want to make complicated, but... anyway, still have to thank you."
"Entrusted by others, loyal to others' affairs. Moreover, I didn't accept this commission because of you."