Miss Heir wasn't very kind to me.

Chapter 237, Section 12: "Can camping without any unexpected events really be considered camping?"

It turns out that the heiress has a real talent for horseback riding.

Aside from showing a slight panic when first mounting the horse, she was quite at ease for the rest of the time.

Her back had a beautiful curve, and when she held the reins, her shoulders and back were straight and upright, clear and unyielding, with her slightly raised chin exuding confidence.

Her beautiful and dignified demeanor made her seem like a genuine young female knight.

To Masumi, it was impossible to imagine that just last night, she had been so weak and limp, like a flower petal battered by a sudden downpour, trembling and meowing adorably.

However, the postures are all pretty much the same.

He gripped the reins, feeling the horse's movements through his muscles, and felt the refreshing scent of Mount Haruna blowing in his face.

The view from horseback is exhilarating, making you feel like you can forget all your worries.

Masumi suddenly realized that she might really like and be suited to riding.

If I had to say what sport I've done in my 22 years of life so far that could be considered related to cycling, it would be my first year of high school when I cycled to school to exercise.

However, this operation was quickly thwarted by the numerous slopes in Kobe.

Comparing the two, Masumi clearly prefers the former.

Compared to a cold, inanimate object like a bicycle, he preferred sports that required teamwork, like horseback riding.

"Masumi-nii, look over here!"

Chiai and Asami waved and laughed at him from outside the racecourse, holding up their phones to make their presence known.

Masumi also cooperated by striking a few poses for them to take pictures.

After dismounting, he saw Qian Ai shaking her head and sighing.

"The staged photos are too obvious. I still don't realize that our previous poses were more natural."

"Chiai, please forgive Masumi-kun. This man gets carried away when he has the upper hand. He's a tyrant who likes to ride on others and act like a bully."

"Waaaah! Masumi-nii is so mean!"

"Wait a minute, you two, stop standing there talking to yourselves."

Masumi said irritably, then turned to Asami, emphasizing her protest:

"You're exaggerating when you talk about me. Have I ever ridden on top of you and acted like a tyrant?"

"Oh my, Masumi-kun is so bold, he doesn't even try to hide his boyish thoughts."

Asami put on a mischievous smile, her upturned lips revealing her pearly white teeth, and gently nudged Masumi's side with her elbow.

"Where's the riding whip?"

Masumi said expressionlessly.

"Eh, what is Masumi-kun trying to do!? I was just teasing you a bit, isn't that a bit petty?"

Mami covered her buttocks and took a few steps back, shrinking her body.

"I think it's really unfair that only the horse's rear end gets whipped."

"Wait! It's outrageous to lump me in with horses! My self-awareness as a girl has been trampled on by Masumi-kun."

She couldn't help but protest.

"Really?" Masumi said casually, "In some ways, I think you two are quite similar."

For example, the part where you're about to get beaten up.

"That's even worse! How do I resemble those big guys at all!"

As if to deliver a fatal blow to the bewildered Mami, Masumi took a step forward.

Seeing that Masumi was about to get serious, Ms. Mami had already turned pale.

"Chihiro, help! Masumi-kun is going to use violence against me!"

The two of them inexplicably became very enthusiastic.

Qianai stared blankly at the two bickering, sighing whether out of helplessness or exhaustion.

Then she simply ignored it, picked up her phone, and looked at the photos she had just taken.

"Hmm... these first few photos definitely look more natural."

"Speaking of which, Qian'ai took a lot of photos, let me see them!"

A strange light shone in Mio's eyes as she brought her face close to the phone screen, causing the original owner, Chiai, to be pushed aside in confusion.

"Didn't you take a lot of photos just now, Sister Mio? Why are you so excited?"

"After all, I can never get enough of seeing Masumi riding a horse~ I really want to experience it with Masumi."

As Mio spoke, she cupped her burning cheeks, a dazed blush rising on her skin.

Chiai frowned, puzzled: "I don't understand at all why Mio-neechan is so insistent on being with Masumi-nii."

"Unlike in TV dramas, riding a horse is so swaying back and forth that it's scary and you don't know where the fun is."

"Hmph~ Little Sister Qianai is still a child after all, she doesn't understand many of the fun things in life."

Mio smiled coyly, feigning nonchalance.

"It's Mio-neechan who's the one! She's only two years older than me, so don't talk to her like a mother."

Qian Ai puffed out her cheeks, expressing her dissatisfaction and protest.

"If you're afraid of falling, just hold on tighter."

Mio's expression was nonchalant, as if she didn't take it seriously.

"I was clinging to the horse's back so tightly that my face was pressed against the saddle and my feet were in the stirrups. It was still terrifying."

Qian Ai said, still feeling lingering fear.

"That's because Qian'ai is too incompetent."

"No way! Asami-nee is the same as me."

"...You guys seem to be having a lot of fun."

Rinne appeared holding a soft-serve ice cream, her face as indifferent as ever.

Beside her, Haiyue licked the chocolate ice cream she had bought, and as her lips parted slightly, her tongue, stained with chocolate, was faintly visible.

"Ah, Rinne, save me!"

As if she had found a savior, Mami went around to hide behind the heiress.

"I'm reporting Masumi-kun for abusing me. Rinne, use the shopkeeper's Command Spell to make him stop."

"...Did Mami do something that angered everyone this time?" Rinne sighed softly.

"I'm the victim! Why is Rinne siding with the bully Masumi-kun?"

With tears welling up in her eyes, Mami said, "My butt still hurts a little."

"I only used 20% of my strength," Masumi said innocently.

"At least 25%!"

Rinne said expressionlessly, "Let's put aside the accusations and trial against Masumi for now. I bought some desserts, let's all eat together."

"Huh? What did Rinne buy? It looks delicious."

Mami's attention was quickly drawn away.

“The cream used in the soft-serve ice cream is said to be made from milk from this ranch that is directly sent to the factory for production and then transported back,” Rinne explained.

"I see, that must have been really tough."

Mami said "Awoo" and took a bite of the tip of the soft serve.

Masumi's forehead throbbed; this guy was biting him.

There is an empty lawn on the ranch where many people rest or picnic.

Six people sat on the picnic mat they had brought and ate ice cream.

The mat is two meters long and was brought by Asami. It is said to be a prize from a certain outdoor-themed anime, and it has an image of an anime girl printed in the middle.

Masumi was a little surprised that Mami was so generous in offering her the picnic mat.

But Mami's explanation was convincing: I drew two, and they've been hanging on the coal stove without anyone buying them, so I might as well make the most of them.

Even so, it was still a bit cramped for six people to squeeze onto one picnic mat.

Haiyue sat between Rinne's spread legs, leaning back in a relaxed manner. Masumi, seeing this, thought, "How envious... no! So cramped!"

Because the seating was too cramped, Masumi had no time to observe the other people's situation.

Asami and Mio sandwiched him between their left and right sides, their shoulders touching, their buttocks spreading out in exaggerated semicircles on the mat, pressing against the outside of Masumi's thighs.

"Eating ice cream outdoors in autumn feels really immoral."

"Right."

Although her statement was cringeworthy in many ways, Masumi didn't respond.

After resting briefly on the lawn of the ranch, the six set off for their next destination.

◇

Looking out the window of the Red Comet car at the mountains dyed red by maple leaves, with the sun tilting towards the hillsides rising from the lake, the view is breathtaking.

"This scenery is really beautiful," Chiai exclaimed sincerely. "Is that mountain Mount Haruna?" Mami asked.

"It is Mount Chicheng."

It is one of the three mountains of Jōmō, along with Mount Haruna.

"Oh, Mount Akagi is quite large."

Asami got out of the car, stretched, and took a deep breath of air. Her proud breasts stood out, and the setting sun was sandwiched between the steep valley.

The biggest thing here is your mountain range, right? — But making such a comment would turn into a MeToo movement, so let's just leave it at that.

"The temperature here is much cooler than in the hot spring town, and the breeze feels so nice."

Mami looked completely at ease, surrounded by forests that gave the impression of abundant oxygen.

The chirping of birds, carried by the wind, travels through the trees, and the fresh air purifies the mind and body.

"After all, it's in the mountains."

“I think it’s nice to be cool,” Qian’ai tightened her coat, “but it will get so cold after dark that your hands and feet will get cold.”

"It's okay, we can all gather around the campfire to keep warm."

Asami said nonchalantly, rolling up the hem of her top to her abdomen and tying it in a knot to reveal her navel.

This guy is already challenging nature.

Although the temperature at this time is far from being bone-chilling, it indicates that other risks exist.

"...There are mosquitoes in the mountains and by the water, so it's better not to expose so much skin."

Masumi kindly reminded him.

"What are you saying, Masumi-kun?"

She seemed to have heard something funny, and laughed so hard that the earth shook and the wild rabbits scattered in panic.

"This is in the mountains. The mosquitoes would have frozen to death by now."

"I hope you don't get stung by mosquitoes and cry."

Miss Mami didn't care at all and patted him on the shoulder.

"Masumi-kun, have you forgotten? I grew up in the countryside by Lake Biwa, where the mosquitoes are huge and terrifying."

This guy seems to have been spoiled by the non-biting midges of Biwa Lake; learning a lesson might be a good thing.

Masumi was determined that even if Mami was itchy all over from mosquito bites and begged her to apply medicine for her, she would not soften her heart.

Yes, absolutely!

The group arrived at a car camping site in Onuma, which is located near the main crater lake of Mount Akagi and is a popular camping spot.

Since we've come to the campsite, the purpose is obviously to camp.

Summer and autumn are the best seasons for camping on Mount Akagi, but the people in the coffee shop weren't the type to enjoy crowds, so they chose a spot a little further away.

With only a few scattered tents and campervans in the distance, the camping environment is ideal for Mio, as they do not disturb each other.

"...The only thing left to do was to get the others out of the way."

She murmured softly in a somber tone, and Rinne, passing by, offered a quiet reminder:

"Let's put aside any plans for trouble for now and hurry up and set up the tents before it gets dark."

"Don't you dare eavesdrop on me, you sly cat."

"Hey, why not a log cabin?"

Six people sat around a campfire under the starry sky, sipping sparkling wine and chatting, watching the sunrise over the valley of Mount Chicheng in the morning.

These are Mami's expectations for this camping trip.

...The last one would probably be difficult for Asami to achieve, but Masumi didn't dampen her spirits or offer criticism. Instead, she succinctly explained her earlier question:
"The rental prices for cabins and tents are not on the same level."

"So it's from an economic perspective." Asami puffed out her cheeks as if she were being difficult. "But if it's a tent, we can't take a shower, right? Aren't you afraid of sweating, Masumi-kun?"

“I don’t mind being all sweaty and drenched in sweat with Masumi,” Mio chimed in. “In fact, I’m looking forward to it.”

"No, no! Ms. Mio."

Asami shook her finger in rebuttal: "Sweating also has a sequence, which completely changes the nature of the process."

Mio was convinced: "Ms. Mami is right."

"...If you want to take a bath, just keep walking that way and you'll find the women's bathhouse and hot springs."

As Masumi unloaded her luggage from the trunk, she pointed in the direction and spoke.

"Ugh! This doesn't feel like camping at all."

"Here's a map of the campsite. Everyone take one so you don't get lost."

Masumi distributed the map to everyone.

In highly commercialized campgrounds like this, setting up a tent and cooking your own meals are probably the only sense of participation you get.

Masumi had already bought the tent, tools, sleeping bag, fuel, and other supplies at the store she came to.

Well, you don't even need to cook yourself; there's a venison curry restaurant right next door.

However, Masumi and the others still bought the ingredients. Besides the fun of cooking for themselves, with Rinne, whose cooking skills are at MAX level, there was no need to go against the grain.

The six people began setting up the camp with great enthusiasm.

There are three tents in total, each spacious enough to accommodate four people. Masumi can stay in one tent by herself, which is even more spacious.

"That's unfair. From an economic point of view, wouldn't it be better for everyone to sleep in one tent?"

Asami disagreed, raising her objections.

"stare--"

"Stop staring at me and get back to work."

Masumi delivered a chop to her hand.

"Ugh."

Lay a ground mat on the flat grass, then unfold the tent, and then assemble the tent poles to support the tent in sequence.

"Haiyue, after setting up the tent poles, tighten the tent ropes quickly, otherwise the tent will be unstable in strong winds," Rinne instructed.

"Ugh...it's so heavy..."

Masumi, who couldn't stand by and watch, stepped in to help.

"Leave it to me."

"Thank you... Masumi..."

As instructed, hang the tent on the tent poles with the two poles crossed.

Slowly bend the tent poles, secure the ends with clips, and then drive the tent pegs into the ground to firmly fix them in place.

"Masumi, first put down the spike, then tighten the rope. The spike must not be parallel to the rope, otherwise the spike will be pulled up by the rope."

"Ok."

Finally, lay out the outer tent and secure it in place.

That's it.

A perfect tent is fresh off the press.

"It's not as difficult as I imagined."

Masumi took the handkerchief Mio handed her and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Mami and Haiyue went straight into the tent and started rolling around inside.

"The tent...it's huge..."

"This is my first time sleeping in a tent! It feels so novel!"

Chiai said helplessly, "Let's play after we finish setting up the campsite, Mami-nee."

Following the same method, the other two tents were set up, and then the folding tables and chairs were unfolded one by one, and the cooking utensils for cooking were set up.

The insulated box was filled with mineral water, juice, canned beer, sparkling wine, and other beverages, making thorough preparations.

After finishing all this, it was sunset, and the sky was turning blue.

The campfires lit up the campsite with their warm, flickering light.

Masumi sat in a folding chair facing Mount Akagi.

The wind blows across the grass, which is dyed red by the setting sun; the world is eerily peaceful.

Aside from his time at the forest school, this was the first time he had ever camped with other people, and with girls he liked.

The cool and comfortable mountain breeze seemed to blow away all worries.

I truly hope that such peaceful and tranquil times can last forever.

I really hope that something like yesterday in the hot spring town doesn't happen again, something that's a little troublesome but not unpleasant.

only--

Can a camping trip without any unexpected events be considered camping?

(End of this chapter)