Chapter 192: The School Trip Ends!
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 192: The School Trip Ends!
After stepping out for some fresh air to calm my racing heart, I returned to find the President sitting formally on the floor. She looked much neater than when she had just woken up.
"You're back?"
The President greeted me with a slight bow, her posture formal.
I was so used to seeing her act like a villainess that seeing her suddenly behave like a prim and proper lady was a shocking contrast.
Is this the President's 'serious mode'?
"Why are you acting like this all of a sudden? It's creepy."
A vein twitched on her forehead.
As I spoke and rubbed my arms, a crack appeared in the President's perfect poker face, but she quickly regained her composure and said.
"As a daughter of the Saionji family, I have received an immeasurable favor. It is only right that I show my benefactor the proper courtesy."
"What did I even do? The Vice President was the one who planned everything, not me."
But the President shook her head at my words.
"Shinjiro is a retainer who has been with me since I was a child. However, you, my benefactor, are an outsider with no connection to my family's affairs. Therefore, as a member of the Saionji, it is only natural that I repay the kindness I have received."
"...Okay, I get it, my bad. So please, stop with the formal speech. It's making me super uncomfortable."
"A wise decision, Yoo-Sung-kun."
As soon as I hastily apologized, the President finally dropped her 'serious mode' and placed a hand on her chest.
"But everything I just said came from the heart. As a daughter of the Saionji family, I will never forget the debt I owe you, Yoo-Sung-kun."
"I get it, so stop with the cringey lines!"
Seeing me recoil, the President chuckled, "Fufu," and nodded.
Just then, Satoru, who had been quietly listening to our conversation from a corner, asked.
"Kim Yoo-Sung, what the hell were you up to yesterday?"
"The President was in a tough spot, so I just helped her out a bit."
"You call that an explanation... No, never mind. Let's just drop it."
It seemed he'd given up on thinking about it any further.
"Well, since Yoo-Sung-kun is back, I'll be on my way. Thank you both for your consideration."
"Ah, yes. Take care."
Ryuji, sensing the mood, saw her off. The President grasped the ends of the skirt she'd been wearing since the engagement ceremony yesterday and gave a slight curtsy.
The movement was so natural, it was clear she'd done it more than once or twice.
Click!
After the President, our guest for the night, left, the three of us guys were left alone in the room. We exchanged meaningful glances before reaching a conclusion.
"I'm hungry. Let's go get something to eat."
*
No sooner had we started heading to the dining hall for breakfast than Karen and Sasha rushed over to us.
"Kim Yoo-Sung! Where on earth were you yesterday!"
"Kim Yoo-Sung! Where on earth did you go yesterday!"
The two of them said the exact same thing in unison, as if they'd planned it.
Come to think of it, while I might have told Rika, whom I met at the bus stop, I realized I hadn't told these two where I was going.
So I scratched my head and made something up.
"Well, I met up with an acquaintance in Kyoto yesterday."
"An acquaintance? Was it a guy or a girl?!"
"It was a guy?"
"Oh, then it's fine."
"We were worried for nothing."
Hearing my answer, the two of them backed off easily, looking a bit let down.
It was like a storm had just passed.
"...What was that all about?"
"You deceptive bastard."
As Satoru muttered beside me, Ryuji, who knew what happened yesterday, let out a troubled laugh. "Hahaha..."
The three of us were walking side-by-side to get food when it happened.
"Ryuji!"
With a cheerful voice, someone suddenly leaped onto Ryuji's back.
Glomp!
"Whoa!"
Ryuji turned around, a look of surprise on his face.
And when I realized who was clinging to his back, I couldn't help but be shocked.
"Hattori!"
How is she here?!
I'd definitely seen her fighting one-on-one with Mahes, who had possessed Ryuji's body on the 19th floor yesterday, yet she was acting incredibly friendly. She didn't look like someone who'd taken a beating at all.
The person in question cleared up my confusion with her own words.
"I was completely smitten by how gentlemanly Ryuji was yesterday! I've never felt this way before in my life! This must be love!"
Woooooah!
Her voice was so loud that all the students passing by cheered.
"Hey, Ryuji! You've got game!"
"Hitting on the transfer student as soon as she arrives!"
"Get together! Get together! Get together!"
A classic move by the popular kids—their expert hyping made the commotion grow uncontrollably.
But there was one huge problem: Ryuji had just gotten a girlfriend two days ago.
"Ryuuuujiiiiiii?"
His girlfriend appeared, her voice like a demon crawling up from the depths of hell.
"W-Wait! It's a misunderstanding, Maiya!"
Ryuji frantically waved his hands, but it seemed Yaguchi wasn't listening.
"Talk is useless!"
Yaguchi charged, raising her fist to deliver an iron punishment.
Pow!
But the one who easily blocked Yaguchi's fist was Hattori, who was still clinging to Ryuji.
"...What do you think you're doing?"
"Don't you think throwing a punch just because you're angry is a bit barbaric, Yaguchi-san?"
"I don't want to hear that from a homewrecker who's hitting on someone else's boyfriend."
"You've only been dating for two days, right? High school couples break up and get together all the time."
At this blatant declaration of NTR, Yaguchi's face turned bright red.
"You bitch!"
"Kyaa!"
After having her hair grabbed first, Hattori grabbed Yaguchi's hair in return.
And so began the catfight, instantly turning the dining hall into a scene of utter chaos.
Watching the fierce battle between the two women over Ryuji, Mahes crossed his arms and muttered.
「What a shitshow.」
Chiaki agreed.
「It is a shitshow.」
*
'Why me! Why am I so unluuuucky!'
Since both of them came from martial arts families, Hattori and Yaguchi's brawl in the dining hall was practically a WWE match. They were eventually dragged outside by a furious Mr. Matsuda to be lectured.
Ryuji, the cause of the fight, was taken along with them.
Despite all the chaos that morning, things were thankfully sorted out, and we checked out of the inn we'd stayed at for three days.
"Thank you for having us!"
After we all bowed to the innkeeper who came to see us off, we boarded the tour bus.
The President had said she was taking a different bus with another class, so we didn't see her.
Even though it was the last day of the school trip, everyone seemed full of energy, probably because they're young.
The girls were chattering away about their group trip to Universal Studios Japan in Osaka yesterday.
Honestly, I was a little tempted.
You don't get many chances to go to an amusement park when you get older.
If I ever come back to Osaka, I'll have to make sure to go.
Making a silent vow, I looked over at Rika, who was happily chatting with the other girls.
"Ahahahaha, really?"
She was talking with her usual energetic smile.
The gloomy expression I saw yesterday felt like a lie, but the truth is, no one can be positive all the time.
'She asked me out on a date.'
I know full well what her feelings for me are.
And until now, I've pretended not to know.
Because I didn't want to hurt her.
But now that I've confessed my love to the President, I have to give her an honest answer about her feelings.
Before it's too late.
Feeling a whirlwind of complicated emotions about her, I crossed my arms and closed my eyes.
I planned to get a little shut-eye before we arrived at Kyoto Station.
*
"Good work, everyone! Don't wander off on your way home! Your parents are worried, so go straight home!"
We left Kyoto Station at 11 AM and arrived at Tokyo Station around 1 PM.
Instead of going back to school, the second-year students were dismissed right in front of Tokyo Station. They paid no mind to the words of Mr. Matsuda, the head of student affairs, and were already gathering in small groups to discuss where they'd go hang out.
"What should we do?"
"We've had our fun for three days. I'm tired, so I'm just going to go home and rest."
As Satoru said that and waved his hand dismissively, the others started to agree one by one.
"Alright, let's call it a day here. Good work, everyone, on the trip."
"The class president did all the work. Thanks to the course you planned out so thoroughly, we had a great time yesterday."
"Fufu, it was nothing."
"See you at school tomorrow!"
"Bye! Bye!"
Everyone waved and went their separate ways.
Once those who were leaving left, only our usual group for walking home remained.
Rika, standing beside me with her hands behind her back, said.
"Well then, Ryu-chan, let's go home too."
"Okay."
"Ryuji, stop by my place for a bit before you go."
"What? Yuika is waiting at ho—Alright. I'll stop by."
That guy Ryuji... he's already whipped. I can see the tough road ahead for him.
The four of us then walked side-by-side down to the subway platform.