Chapter 235: Hand-Holding…Success?

“Haah…”

Himekoji had a headache. Holding his forehead with one hand and leaning against the wall with the other, he let out a heavy sigh of frustration.

Honestly, what exactly was he doing?

It was childish and only brought him trouble.

Who was he, a pervert, to care about others?

“Ah.”

He lay back on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.

“It’s kinda cold.”

Himekoji, wearing only thin pajamas, curled into a ball.

The blanket Nanami had thrown to the floor was within easy reach, yet he did nothing, as if he hadn’t seen it.

What was wrong with him lately?

Himekoji couldn’t help but ask himself.

Wasn’t the plan decided from the start? To not get involved with anyone. To not form any ties with anyone.

Yet now, he was steadily straying from that path.

Arguments, something he hadn’t experienced the entire year.

Losing his cool, unable to control his temper or his tone, attacking each other… it was terrifying.

But…

The quiet solitude of being forever alone was even more terrifying.

…

When Himekoji awoke, he found himself lying on the sofa covered by the blanket.

It was midday.

Meaning, he’d just dozed off like that?

Still, he wouldn’t call it a surprise –

After all, the celebration yesterday ran late; he hadn’t slept until the early morning hours. Add to that Mashiro’s sudden night attack…

Himekoji being sleepy so early in the morning seemed pretty reasonable.

But, who had covered him with the blanket?

Bothering about this was the first thing Himekoji did after waking up.

Akiko?

Probably not. If she’d done it, she’d surely have been waiting by his side, ready to seek praise the moment he woke up.

Could it have been Mashiro?

Himekoji got up from the sofa and walked to the study. He found Mashiro still sprawled comfortably there on his bed, fast asleep, showing no signs of waking…

So not Akiko, and not Mashiro.

Himekoji went back to the living room and opened the fridge –

Milk, fruit, and all sorts of ingredients had been fully restocked.

“Ah, really…”

“If you don’t want others caring about you, then you shouldn’t care about others so casually either.”

…

After their argument that day, Nanami became even more thorough, wound up tight like a strained wire.

Carrying out her meticulousness to the extreme, the girl didn’t make a single mistake in the trio’s rotating shift duties ever again, perfectly handling every task.

It seemed she was determined to prove to Himekoji that she didn’t need anyone’s help at all.

…

The weekend passed in the blink of an eye.

Monday rolled around again.

Unlike the usual collective sighs greeting everyone’s return to school, today the classmates in the classroom all seemed unusually excited.

The reason, naturally, was that today was the day to decide the groups for the School Trip.

It took a whole two class periods to finish arranging it.

Though seriously speaking, deciding the groups really shouldn’t take that long.

After all, the groups who hung out together almost instantly stuck together.

In that case, what exactly were those two classes spent on?

Reluctantly admitting, it was probably a kind of “kindness” to the left-behinds, or perhaps a “torture”.

The whole two periods was just those leftover guys trying to see if they could pair up with anyone.

Usually, Himekoji was naturally one of them. But this time, his group was surprisingly decided early on.

Totsuka, Hayama, Kaito, Tobe.

Besides Totsuka, Himekoji had zero idea how he ended up grouped with these other three.

As for his ideal teammate Akiko, she’d been snatched away halfway by Miura.

As the Queen put it –

“I’ve taken a liking to your Imouto! Besides, boys and girls always have separate groups. Especially with a pervert like you – absolutely forbidden to be in a group with girls! Even if she’s your Imouto!”

Himekoji looked at her bright lips and couldn’t help thinking – not surprising for lips he’d once kissed; her words were truly different.

“Yeah! Exactly! Boys should be with boys! This grouping is super awesome! Whether it’s Himekoji x Hayama or Himekoji x Saika, it’ll be a feast for the eyes! Also, I never noticed it before, but Himekoji x Kaito looks unexpectedly great too! Hu-fu-fu-fufu…”

Only one person in the whole class could say things like that and laugh like that. Himekoji didn’t even need to turn around to know who was speaking up behind him.

“Huh? You didn’t mention me at all?”

Tobe pointed at his own nose, very unwillingly, looking towards the completely rotten Ebina who was drooling.

“Ah.”

Himekoji sighed and simply blocked his ears.

Going on a School Trip with these guys… felt like such a bother…

…

The whole of Monday passed with the final preparations completed.

Tuesday was the day of departure.

Since the entire grade was huge, they were split into different groups based on class.

Himekoji’s class was scheduled for the eight o’clock morning bus.

Everyone met at the train station at seven-thirty. They lined up and did roll call.

Finally, the leading teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei, counted everyone.

“Forty-one, forty-two, forty-three… Hmm, not only is everyone here, but there’s even one extra.”

Hiratsuka-sensei nodded, clearly pleased that her students had arrived on time.

A second later, she finally registered something wrong.

“It shouldn’t be one extra?”

Was her count off?

Puzzled, the female teacher counted the students again.

“Forty-two, forty-three…”

Yep, definitely one too many!

After carefully scanning the line, she finally spotted the extra person.

Hands on her hips, she marched over to Himekoji with annoyance.

“Himekoji, do you think this School Trip is just a vacation? Why did you bring your whole family?”

That’s right, the extra person was Mashiro.

As the teacher questioned him, the students waiting in line began whispering excitedly.

“Isn’t that Shiina from the Fine Arts Class?”

“She’s really with that Pervert?”

“I heard they’ve been living together for ages!”

…

“This… shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Himekoji stuttered, sweating under Hiratsuka-sensei’s glare. “Mashiro is going too, and her class’s teacher already knows.”

Mashiro had insisted on riding the same bus, leaving Himekoji no choice.

“It’s Mashiro, not Shiina.”

But Mashiro chose that exact moment to chime in unhelpfully.

“And didn’t we agree? That name is only for when we’re alone.”

“Himekoji!” The female teacher sighed dramatically. “Bringing your girlfriend is one thing, but publicly flirting right in front of everyone? That’s pushing it!”

“…”

Himekoji had no comeback. He felt Imouto pinch his waist indignantly from behind.

“And Mashiro’s ticket?” Hiratsuka-sensei asked, duty-bound to be thorough.

“Got it.”

“Fine. Board the bus.”

…

Just moments after that embarrassing scene, Himekoji unintentionally caused another stir once onboard.

After stowing his own luggage overhead, he reached to do the same for Imouto’s and Mashiro’s bags.

(He didn’t offer to help Nanami; hers was already stowed.)

“Here.”

Mashiro stood closest, so he offered her his hand first.

Mashiro tilted her head, looking slightly confused.

Instead of handing him her bag, she gently placed her hand in his palm after a pause.

Her hand was slim, incredibly soft, and cool.

…

“H-Holding hands?!”

“Hey! What’s that Pervert doing?!”

“Dog food first thing in the morning?”

“Are they dating? They must be dating! How can a Pervert even get a girlfriend?!”

…

“Huh? N-No! I meant your bag!” Himekoji stammered.

Crap! How did it become hand-holding?

And right in front of everyone!

Completely unprepared…