Chapter 85: The End and the Beginning
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 85: The End and the Beginning
At that moment,
Two shadows watched from a distance as Kim Yoo-Sung and Rika danced.
"Was it really okay to give it up? You wanted to dance with Yoo-Sung so badly."
Sasha shrugged at Karen's sudden question.
"It's not a big deal just because I gave up one folk dance. As long as Yoo-Sung is by my side in the end, I don't care about the process."
"...You've really got some nerve."
"What about you? Weren't you trying to get his attention?"
Karen shrugged as well.
"I decided to let Rika have tonight. Like you said, it seems there are still plenty of chances left."
Everyone was more or less at the same starting line.
The only difference was who had met him first.
And since Kim Yoo-Sung hadn't shown any special interest in anyone yet, they still had a chance.
That was the point Sasha was making.
"There will be many more events to come. And when that time comes, I have no intention of giving up my spot like I did this time. Today was... well, let's call it a reward for her mustering up the courage to save my friend."
"Hmph, listen to you, showing off."
As Karen scoffed and put her hands in her pockets, Sasha scratched her head and sat down beside her.
"You did good back there."
Karen looked at Sasha, surprised, then smiled softly.
"You too."
The two sat in a place hidden from everyone's view, quietly watching the campfire's logs burn away.
*
Everything must come to an end.
And so, the burning logs quickly turned to ash and died down.
With the campfire, the final event of the Forest School, now over, everyone swallowed their disappointment and headed back to their tents. Rika, walking slightly ahead of me with her hands behind her back, asked a question.
"Ryu-chan, how was the Forest School?"
Hearing her words, I quietly recalled everything that had happened over the past three days and two nights.
We did environmental cleanup, had a cooking contest, fought a bear during the test of courage, went to the marine ecological park, did a treasure hunt, and I even did a folk dance at the campfire—something I never thought I'd do.
When I thought back to my old self as a graduate student, it was an unbelievably packed period of time.
I'm sure that even when I'm an adult, I'll look back on this trip as a fond memory.
"It was fun."
"Heehee, me too."
Rika flashed a charming smile, then waved as we were about to go into our separate tents.
"Good night, Ryu-chan."
"Yeah, you too, Rika."
Before it got any later, we each entered our tents and slipped into our sleeping bags.
The last day of the Forest School passed in that quiet atmosphere.
*
Waking up early in the morning, we dismantled our tents before heading home.
They were rented from the campsite from the start, so it was only right to pack them up neatly before returning them.
Unlike setting them up, taking down the tents that had served us for two days didn't take much time.
I suppose it's because taking things apart is easier than putting them together.
After returning the tents, we left the campsite early in the morning.
On the way from Chiba back to Tokyo.
The tour bus, which had been buzzing with excitement for the trip just three days ago, was now unbelievably quiet.
Having camped out in an unfamiliar environment away from home for two nights, everyone was likely exhausted.
Among the students of Class 2-B, I was the only one who felt fine, but it was awkward to do anything in this listless atmosphere, so I just quietly played games on my smartphone until we arrived at school.
"Alright, just because we finished early doesn't mean you should go out and play too much! Go straight home, get some rest, and I'll see you all tomorrow with smiling faces!"
Matsuda, who had gone through a lot leading the students for three days and two nights as the second-year head teacher, clapped his hands and finally dismissed us.
The second-year students, who had gathered in front of the platform on the sports field, scattered and began to go their separate ways.
"See you tomorrow, guys."
"Everyone, go home and get some rest."
"Bye-bye~"
We said our goodbyes to each other and began our slightly early trip home from school.
But upon realizing we were heading in the same direction, Yaguchi muttered in surprise.
"Oh, right, we're all going the same way."
Unlike the class president, Sasha, or Satoru, who lived in different neighborhoods, the four of us, including me, all took the same subway line toward Setagaya.
If there was one person who was the most awkward to talk to among us, it was probably Yaguchi Maiya.
In the case of the protagonist, Sakamoto, he was another guy, and we'd opened up to each other quite a bit after being crammed into the same tent for two days. In contrast, I had surprisingly little interaction with Yaguchi.
For most of the past two days, we had only exchanged a few words through Sakamoto.
She probably felt awkward around me, too.
As a result, the four of us naturally split into two pairs to talk, despite being together.
It was as if an invisible wall stood between us.
Perhaps realizing this belatedly, Sakamoto Ryuji spoke up with a friendly laugh.
"Come to think of it, you two have barely talked to Yaguchi, right? This one, she's surprisingly shy, not at all like she looks."
"Ryuji!"
Yaguchi, who had been hiding behind his back, blushed and scolded him, but Sakamoto had no intention of stopping his meddling.
"But she's a good person, so please get along with her. I'm not just saying that because we're childhood friends; she's a genuinely kind person."
"Awooo..."
Yaguchi's face turned red as she hung her head.
Seeing her exaggerated movements and reactions, I was certain she was the true heroine of this world.
Anyway, thanks to Sakamoto's meddling, we spent the entire way home listening to the story of his relationship with Yaguchi Maiya.
In short, the two had known each other since kindergarten and were Tokyo natives who had never once left the town they were born in.
Their parents knew each other, so they naturally became close and ended up where they are now.
It was a cliché, but it was certainly a fitting backstory for an old-school childhood friend character.
"My family runs a small martial arts dojo. Um... Kim-kun, if you ever want to try a workout other than weight training, you're welcome to stop by anytime. I'm sure my parents would welcome you with open arms."
"Huh? Oh... thanks for the thought."
As we chatted, we soon arrived at our destination, Chitose-Funabashi Station.
Sakamoto and Yaguchi waved and left first, and I prepared to say goodbye to Rika, who was getting off at the next stop, Seijo.
"Well, this is me. You get home safe too, Rika."
Rika hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Um, Ryu-chan, be..."
"Be?"
I repeated, and after a moment of hesitation, Rika finally said it.
"Be careful on your way home! And make sure to put ointment on your wound!"
I wondered what it was, but it was nothing major.
I told Rika it was fine and waved to her, watching her until the subway doors closed.
Rika, who had been waving back enthusiastically, leaned against the subway door.
And just like that, the long, three-day, two-night Forest School trip was completely over.
*
As summer truly began, so did the rainy season.
When the sweltering heat was combined with the rainy season, the humidity would naturally rise, and with it, people's discomfort index.
With June nearly over and July just around the corner, I was still being pestered by Fuma-senpai.
"Kim Yoo-Sung, it's not too late. Become my husband."
"Kim Yoo-Sung, if you become an adopted son-in-law now, a powerful secret manual comes with it."
"Kim Yoo-Sung, if you wish it, I can do this and that for you."
"Kim Yoo-Sung..."
"Kim Yoo-Sung..."
"Kim Yoo-Sung..."
"Enough!!"
At first, I tried to ignore her by pretending I couldn't hear, but the more I did, the more persistent a woman named Fuma-senpai became.
Finally, at my wit's end from the constant stalking, I waved the white flag and asked her frankly.
"Senpai, don't you want to marry for love?"
Fuma-senpai blinked, then placed a hand on her chest and said:
"I have already decided to offer this body for the sake of my clan. If that means an arranged marriage, then I will naturally offer myself."
"Okay, I understand that's your position. But still, you wouldn't want to spend your entire life with someone you don't love, would you?"
"That... is true."
"It's the same for me. That's why our opinions will forever run on parallel lines."
But upon hearing my words, Fuma-senpai replied with a bold expression.
"Kim Yoo-Sung, I know what you're trying to say. But there's a fatal flaw in your logic."
"Excuse me? What do you mean?"
"The part where you assume I don't have feelings for you."
Fuma-senpai declared it proudly.
"I believe you would be a fine husband for me. Therefore, my task for the rest of the semester was decided from the very beginning."
Now that it's come to this, I will make you see that I am the perfect bride.
"Do not underestimate a ninja's persistence, Kim Yoo-Sung."
Fuma-senpai said, her face completely serious.