Chapter 225: School Trip

Available?

Where?

Can’t see it!

Himekoji met the dumb ‘reward’ he got after completing the options with complete suspicion.

Whatever. He never planned on getting tangled up with a woman like Yukinoshita anyway…

He threw the whole thing out of his mind.

……

After venting their excitement and enthusiasm, the football club guys finally remembered Himekoji was still lying on the ground.

So, they turned back.

“Join the football club, Mihara!”

Hayama extended a hand to Himekoji, a bright smile spreading across his face.

But before Himekoji could answer, there was a loud “PONG!”

Hayama was suddenly, without warning, shoved aside by Number Seven Beast, who rushed forward –

“Aki, join Meiwa High School!”

“You get it! Only at Meiwa can you find your value and chase your dreams!”

“The national high school championship finals – that stage was made for you!”

“Win the championship! Use it as a springboard to the pros! Let’s go together, partner!”

Number Seven Beast grinned, teeth gleaming white in the sun.

He thrust his hand out towards Himekoji, offering the most passionate invitation.

It sounded so good…

The old Himekoji might not have refused.

But he wasn’t that guy anymore.

His life changed after he started high school.

It wouldn’t be sweat and green pitches anymore.

He didn’t play football anymore!

That amazing half-hour had just been a cheat, an illusion.

“Sorry, I don’t think so.”

Himekoji understood his situation. He refused quickly.

“What a pity, partner!”

Number Seven Beast instantly withdrew his hand, turned around, and walked off.

Himekoji, still waiting for the guy to pull him up, crashed back onto the grass…

What the heck? Who pulls someone halfway and just lets go?

Just because he said no?

Alright then. That straight-to-the-point style? Pretty cool!

He’d underestimated this guy!

“Join the football club.”

Luckily, while Number Seven Beast just ran off, Hayama had much better manners. His hand stayed patiently offered to Himekoji.

“No thanks. I’m already in a club.”

“Huh?”

Hayama looked at him like he was saying–

“Even if you want to say no, at least come up with a believable excuse” – total disbelief.

Himekoji felt hurt and annoyed.

“Come on, seriously? Hayato never asks people!”

“With you, Toyosaki’s team would make a big improvement! Next time, maybe we could even reach the finals!”

“Not ‘maybe’! Definitely!”

“Haha, damn right!”

Other club members crowded around, chipping in one after another.

This scene felt new to Himekoji.

Before, which club hadn’t bolted at the mere mention of the ‘Pervert’ name?

When was he ever this wanted?

The attention was overwhelming. It was Yuigahama who rushed over to rescue him.

“Aki’s already part of our Service Club! So, stop bothering him.”

“What? He actually joined a club?”

“He isn’t in a ‘Go Home Club’?”

Hayama and the others gasped in shock.

……

After the football match, Himekoji’s life went back to normal.

Maybe some things changed, or maybe absolutely nothing did.

Tobe and Kaito sometimes invited him to play football, but Himekoji always said no.

People still pointed at him when he walked across campus.

But those stares didn’t all carry the same disgust anymore.

Of course, this wasn’t a big deal to Himekoji. He never cared how others treated him – before, now, or in the future.

Also–

That whole “Conquer Yukinoshita chance is available!” thing was probably fake.

Because after that day, nothing Yukinoshita-related happened at all.

Yukinoshita treated him the same as ever: cold and detached.

Honestly, Himekoji thought it was perfectly fine like this.

……

Friday.

Himekoji reported to the Service Club on time.

This week, his attendance rate was surprisingly amazing. He’d actually shown up every day for the first time!

Not that it was worth bragging about…

……

“Himekoji, shouldn’t you be writing? You really seem to have a lot of free time.”

Himekoji slammed the finished first volume of Ore no Imōto onto the desk, frowning slightly in frustration.

You’re even more idle…

Thinking this sarcastic thought to himself, Himekoji replied casually—

“I am writing it.”

“Then faster! Write faster!”

His Dead Fish Eyes suddenly wide open and sparkling with enthusiasm, Hikigaya pulled over his stool and sat right behind Himekoji.

“Write it right here, okay?”

“Hardly okay!”

Are you the taskmaster or the editor?! Stop rushing me for manuscripts!

This Dead Fish Eyes cute girl sat so close that it made Himekoji feel just a bit uncomfortable.

“Why?”

Having just finished volume one of Ore no Imōto, Hikigaya was itching to see the next volume and badly wanted to read the next part quickly.

“Can’t you see I’m still troubled over how to fill out the School Trip preference form?”

Himekoji snapped irritably.

“Huh? School Trip? Oh right, the School Trip is almost here!”

Hearing this, Yuigahama nearby suddenly cried out in exaggerated surprise.

Seriously, that reaction was way too forced…

Haven’t the class discussions been centered entirely around this lately?

Don’t act like you just noticed it now!

Suddenly hearing the phrase “School Trip” within the club room, Yukinoshita’s eyebrow twitched almost unnoticeably.

It seemed she was also affected by the topic.

“Akito, have you decided where you want to go yet?”

“Was just about to decide…”

His form was still completely blank.

For Himekoji, the School Trip held no fun; it was just being forced to accompany those classmates he didn’t get along with, dragged around here and there.

He had already endured this dullness last year.

The guys in his group completely ignored his input and opinions right in front of him, making their own plans and schedules as if he didn’t exist.

All Himekoji could do was just shut his mouth and follow along.

It was very boring.

“Troubled by the School Trip.”

Yukinoshita, who had been quietly reading her magazine just a moment before, lifted her head now. With a look that said “Just as I thought,” she gazed at Himekoji.

“Pervert-kun’s trouble is finding classmates willing to be in your group, isn’t it?”

“Like you could find one either.”

Himekoji didn’t even try to deny it.

The School Trip regulations required groups of five.

A full five people!

For Himekoji, the difficulty level was just way too high.

“Me?”

Yukinoshita tilted her head, confused.

“Don’t you also have no friends in class?”

Let’s speak plainly – someone who’s in the same boat shouldn’t mock another!

Don’t you also have no friends?

At first listen, this might sound like a harsh accusation. Yet, Yukinoshita didn’t seem bothered in the slightest.

“So?” Yukinoshita fired back.

“So, you can’t form a group either?”

……