Chapter 39: Forest School ②

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Translator: Soafp

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Out of breath, we finished the hike and arrived at the campsite.

After the supervising teacher announced a break, I practically collapsed onto a bench in the shade.

“Good job. You must be really tired, right?”

Yuzuki sat down smoothly beside me with a bright smile.

It still felt awkward, but I answered as calmly as I could.

“Feels like I just did a year's worth of exercise in one go. I'm done for the rest of the year.”

“There's a ball sports tournament in autumn, you know? Isn't it a bit early to retire?”

“Wait, we have both a sports festival and a ball game tournament? This school seriously sucks.”

Just pick one already.

At least alternate every year.

Nodoka came over and sat down next to me.

“People like us should just get hit in dodgeball and get out as fast as possible—for the sake of the class.”

“Why am I getting dragged into that?”

“Then what, you're gonna run around seriously?”

“No, I'll just get forced in for like three minutes and call it a day.”

“That's basically the same thing!”

Yuzuki chuckled softly.

“You two really should exercise a bit more. I don't do that much either, but even just jogging regularly makes a big difference, you know?”

“Come on, Kitayama, you've always been a stamina monster. Your mom even said it felt like she was raising a son, not a daughter.”

“Eh? I don't think it's that bad. I'm just a little active.”

“That's not ‘a little.' You spun around on the horizontal bar and knocked one of my teeth out, remember?”

“T-that was a loose baby tooth to begin with!”

Alright… we're talking normally.

The nausea is still there, but I can handle it.

Looks like the exposure is working.

“Oh, so you guys were here. Man, it's hot…”

Fanning himself, Takagi sat down next to Nodoka.

Immediately, Nodoka's face froze.

Like a wary cat around a stranger, she clung tightly to my arm and leaned closer.

“…Do I seriously just get hated?”

“No, no. She's just shy.”

“Being shy around a classmate is kind of… something, though…”

Takagi scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“Nodoka, explain it to him properly.”

“Ah, y-yeah. S-sorry, Takagi-kun. I-I just get a bit nervous around boys.”

“I see. But Fukagawa's an exception?”

“Eh? Th-that's…”

Nodoka glanced at me, staring into my eyes.

Her cheeks faintly flushed as she answered Takagi.

“Ren's kind of… special.”

“Oho! You're special, Fukagawa.”

“Apparently Nodoka sees me as a girl. From now on, call me Ren-chan.”

“Stop that! Seriously, that's gross!!”

While Nodoka was genuinely protesting, Takagi had already moved over next to Yuzuki.

“But you know, you might actually look good in drag. You've got a slender build.”

“Oh yeah! His mom used to dress him up in girls' clothes when he was little! She always wanted a daughter. I think there are still photos somewhere.”

“That could sell pretty well. Not just Komori—bet that Sugawara senpai would pay a lot too.”

Takagi licked his lips dramatically.

Why is Yuzuki digging up my dark past like this…?

Even my mom gave up on that once I started growing into a guy.

But then, right beside me, Nodoka audibly swallowed.

“H-how much would it cost?”

“So you are interested, Komori.”

“N-no I'm not!? I'm not interested in Ren's crossdressing photos or his childhood pictures at all!!”

As always, her classic tsundere act was in full swing today too.

---

Apparently, there were more dropouts like me than I thought.

Dinner prep started a bit later than planned.

We all moved to the outdoor cooking area and began our assigned tasks.

As expected, the menu was classic curry rice.

Takagi confirmed everyone's roles.

“Alright, Kitayama and I will handle firewood and starting the fire. Komori and Suzuki will prep ingredients and make the curry. Fukagawa and Ito will handle the rice.”

““Got it.””

Suzuki was Takagi's friend—he looked intimidating, but apparently loved cooking.

…Meanwhile, Nodoka had completely frozen up.

I hoped she'd be okay.

Wouldn't want her getting hurt from being too nervous.

“Alright, let's get started too, Ito-san.”

“…Yeah.”

Ito, Yuzuki's friend, had been cold toward me the entire time.

She chatted happily with Yuzuki, but showed clear hostility toward me.

Probably judging me based on what she'd heard from Yuzuki.

Nodoka had been like that at first too.

I roughly rinsed the rice and added water.

“Is this about right?”

Honestly, I barely had any experience cooking rice.

So I asked Ito.

She sighed blatantly before answering.

“That's too much. Pour some out.”

“Got it.”

I glanced over at Nodoka.

She was focused on the cutting board, skillfully using a knife.

…As expected, she wasn't even trying to talk to Suzuki, let alone make eye contact.

Both Nodoka and Suzuki were excellent cooks.

Neither of them said a word, yet their hands never stopped moving.

The scene felt oddly surreal.

“Sorry to keep you waiting!”

Yuzuki arrived carrying chopped firewood and approached the stove.

With practiced ease, she crumpled some newspaper and lit the fire.

Coming over to me, she shyly clasped her hands behind her back and spoke.

“So? I'm pretty good at this, right?”

“Y-yeah. You're reliable.”

She must have gone on trips and camps often with her camera—she looked very used to it.

Trips…

For a moment, I remembered the photography club's summer camp.

The nausea surged up instantly, and I barely managed to suppress it.

“W-we should put the rice pot on the fire soon. Is it okay now?”

“Ah, y-yeah…”

I quickly placed the pot over the stove.

Then, forcing a smile, I asked Ito:

“Do we just wait about 30 minutes like this?”

“…Take it off the fire a bit before it's done, and let it steam for about 10 minutes.”

“Oh, right.”

Maybe because I was so obviously avoiding her, Yuzuki remained standing there, lowering her gaze slightly.

Just a small trigger was enough to bring back the trauma.

Emotional scars really are that stubborn.

I made a mental note to be especially careful when dealing with Airi, who carried similar pain.

“Kitayama! Sorry, but can you help carry some firewood?”

“Ah, yeah, coming!”

Called by Takagi, Yuzuki quickly left the stove.

Had he noticed my state? Or was it just coincidence?

Either way, I was grateful.

I let out a quiet sigh of relief—

“Hey, Fukagawa-kun.”

Suddenly, Ito spoke.

“What is it?”

“Do you think of Yuzuki as someone convenient?”

“…Huh?”

What is this, out of nowhere?

“You happily accept her feelings, but you don't actually give anything back. What's that about? Are you planning to just take the good parts while holding her feelings hostage?”

“Ito-san, I think you've got the wrong idea…”

“What wrong idea? Like earlier—you drank the water she offered you, and then gave it to someone else. Don't you feel bad for her at all?”

She was even more stubborn than Nodoka had been.

In Ito's mind, I was already the villain.

No matter what I said, she wouldn't listen.

“Look, Ito-san. Yuzuki and I are already broken up.”

“And you're the one who dumped her! Even though she didn't do anything wrong!”

Nodoka was the same, and Ito too—maybe they're just the kind who care deeply about their friends.

…At this point, does Yuzuki have some kind of irresistible charm among girls?

“Fukagawa-kun, you're using Yuzuki, aren't you!? You dumped her for some ridiculous reason, flirt with other girls, and yet you won't accept her feelings!”

“I've been avoiding her this whole time. She's the one coming to me. You know she asked to be in the same group today.”

“That's a lie! You're enjoying it, aren't you? It feels great having a girl who likes you cling to you, right? You like being able to control girls however you want!”

This is going nowhere.

What am I supposed to do?

Her voice kept getting louder—and before I knew it, people from other groups were staring.

“So what do you want me to do, Ito-san?”

“If you're not going to reflect and properly get back together with her, then stop getting involved with her completely! Just set her free already! Yuzuki deserves someone better than you anyway!”

“…Got it. From now on, I won’t be involved with her anymore.”

Well, that works.

If Ito convinces Yuzuki, that's actually convenient for me.

Just as I thought that—

Behind me, there was a loud clatter as firewood crashed to the ground.

When I turned around, Yuzuki stood there, frozen, having dropped everything she was carrying.

“Y-Yuzuki…”

Ito looked at her in shock.

Their eyes met.

Yuzuki walked straight toward her—

And before anyone could stop her, a sharp sound rang out.

Smack—

Yuzuki struck Ito across the face with all her strength.