I, the mastermind behind the scenes at Soubu High, refuse to be caught in a bloodbath.

"I named the mother cat Emily, but I'll wait until the kittens are a bit older. Right now, I can't even tell them apart."

"...If you could tell the difference, you wouldn't be called Yukino Yukinoshita, you'd be called Yukino Izanagi."

"Comparing me to Izanami is truly rude; the kind of relationship between siblings is only allowed in mythology!"

After Himekoji and Yukinoshita returned from buying cold drinks, they saw Hikigaya with a resentful look on her face and Komachi, who seemed to be acting cute all the time. When she saw Yukinoshita coming over, she immediately waved and greeted her, "Yukino-nee, ya hello~!"

"Oh...cough, hello, Komachi."

Yukinoshita was almost led astray by Komachi.

"And this Himekoji-nii-san, ya hello!"

"Hello, it's nice to see you again." Himekoji then looked at Hachiman and said, "Long time no see."

"H-long time no see." Hachiman said, turning his head slightly to exchange a few words with Yukino, then looking around before asking Hiratsuka Shizuka, "By the way, where's the zaimokuza?"

"Who was that again?"

Yukino tilted her head in confusion and asked.

"Well, let's call him that for now, but he said he wouldn't participate because of things like Comiket and deadlines for fighting game competitions."

"I see."

“So I called someone else over—” Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded her chin to the side and said, “See, here he is.”

"Hachiman~~Hachiman~~"

With a smile as bright as a flower, Totsuka Saika waved to Hikigaya and ran over. Indeed, that smile was more dazzling than the summer sun. Himekoji suddenly thought of Mariya. It seemed that the little angel Mariya would always give him a smile like that, no, a smile that was even more charming!

Why isn't Ju here? I'm unhappy!

So Totsuka started greeting the girls with Yuihama's "Ya hello~". For a moment, Hikigaya showed a perverted smile. Himekoji couldn't help but cough to remind him, and he then restrained himself and turned his head away, coughing loudly.

"Hachiman, are you sick?"

Totsuka leaned in and touched his forehead. Hikigaya's face suddenly turned red. Himekoji clicked his tongue twice and then ignored him.

Meanwhile, Komachi clung to Yukino, saying she wanted to hand over her brother to someone else. Yukino seemed quite reserved but managed to handle it. In the end, Komachi clung to Yui, who was happy about it, but Komachi looked worried. Finally, she tugged at Hachiman and said, "Brother, Yukino is in big danger, really, big danger! If we don't do something soon, it'll be terrible! It's really the most urgent situation!"

"Uh, is something bad going to happen to me?"

Yukinoshita was startled by Komachi's sudden announcement.

"Huh? It's nothing, it's nothing. I was just joking with my brother. Hahaha, Yukino-nee's luck has been super good lately. Komachi already checked it out for Yukino-nee before she left."

"Alright, enough nonsense, everyone get in the car. Himeko, you sit in the front seat."

"Yes Yes."

How could I refuse an invitation from Ms. Hiratsuka? Although I remembered that Hachiman should have been sitting in the passenger seat, since Himekoji was also in the Service Club, Hachiman was assigned to the last row of three seats with Ayaka and her sister.

Then, naturally, in the middle is the "Dumpling Method" and "Peace".

Everyone got in the van. After Himekoji and Hiratsuka Shizuka fastened their seatbelts, she started the engine and stepped on the gas. The van, carrying all of them, gradually drove away from the familiar station. Connecting to National Route 14 from here was the fastest route to Chiba.

Author's Note:

PS: Seventeenth update.

Chapter 106 Chiba Village, [Himekoji Haruto] Just kidding.

However, for some reason, Professor Hiratsuka drove towards the interchange. The direction indicated by the car's navigation system was undoubtedly leading them onto the highway.

"Excuse me, aren't we going to Chiba...?"

A sense of unease crept into Hikigaya's heart. Hiratsuka Shizuka heard his question and a smile appeared on her lips.

"Let me ask you first, when did you start to have the illusion that we were going to Chiba Station?"

"This isn't a misconception. When people say they're going to 'Chiba,' they usually mean Chiba Station..."

"You thought it was Chiba Station? Wrong, what a pity! The correct answer is Chiba Village!"

"Teacher, what are you so excited about...?"

"Himekoji, say something! Driving like this is so boring."

"I found your conversation with Hachiman very interesting, and I didn't have the heart to interrupt you."

"You piece of trash, you bastard, watch out or I'll... cough! Let's get this on the topic!"

"How about we switch places and I drive? I'm not used to having a female driver I'm not very familiar with driving next to me."

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee---!!" *N

There was almost a huge commotion inside the car, but Yukinoshita and Hiratsuka Shizuka remained quite calm, truly befitting their names.

Well, then Hiratsuka Shizuka calmly rejected Himekoji's suggestion.

What do you do during summer vacation?

Hiratsuka Shizuka asked the question.

"Simply put, it's about attending classes and training."

"Are you attending tutoring classes?"

Yuihama, who was sitting diagonally behind Himekoji, asked in surprise.

“Studying at home can be considered tutoring, I guess…”

"Nothing special? Like a date or something."

"Yuigahama is really interested in dating," Himekoji remarked.

"There are a few special things, like rescuing a crying kitten, but there's no dating involved."

"Oh, I see. Himekoji-san's summer vacation is quite busy, isn't it?"

"Ah, I'm so busy that I want to hug Hiratsuka-sensei's leg and cry for her to save my life. If it weren't for Hiratsuka-sensei, I wouldn't even have a vacation!"

What if I want to kick you out of the car?

Hiratsuka Shizuka glared fiercely at Himekoji.

"Uh, the topic we just discussed... it felt a bit like sexual harassment."

Yuihama muttered to herself.

"Yuihama-kun, don't worry about it. That guy is just the kind of person who likes to mess around in all sorts of ways."

"Eh, does Yukino really understand?"

"I'm not entirely sure either; I can't say whether I'm clear or not..."

"So, is it clear or unclear?"

Yuihama and Hiratsuka Shizuka both complained in unison.

"I don't know."

Yukinoshita answered decisively.

"Hey, Himekoji, what are your ten favorite anime?"

"Hey, teacher, is it really okay for you to talk to me about this? I don't have time to watch anime... well, I have watched a little bit."

"Tell me about it!"

"For example, 'My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU,' 'White Album 2,' 'Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend,' 'Maria Holic,' 'G...' Okay, let's leave the last one out."

"What are all these things? I've never heard of any of them! Are they from the 60s or 70s?"

"...These are all fantasy species!"

Himekoji really wanted to add at the end: This is a real story!!

As the mountain ridges gradually came into view, it was not easy for the people of Chiba, who had lived on the Kanto Plain for a long time, to see mountains. Of course, on a very clear day, it was possible to see the snow-capped peaks of Mount Fuji. Since seeing such lush mountains was a rare thing, almost everyone who was still awake in the car exclaimed in amazement.

Himekoji was almost asleep when Hiratsuka Shizuka's sigh woke him up again.

"Mountains, it's mountains..."

"It really is a mountain."

Even Yukinoshita was moved, marveling at how nature could evoke such emotion in the cold and unforgiving Yukinoshita.

Yuihama was already fast asleep, her head resting on Yuki's shoulder. Just moments before, she had been full of energy, playing UNO and cards with the people in the back seat. Komachi was also sleeping soundly, her head resting on Hachiman's shoulder, while Totsuka's head was against the window, thumping loudly with each bump. Hachiman felt a pang of heartache seeing this, secretly regretting not switching seats with Komachi so she could sit next to him. But then he thought about it again, and his love for Komachi couldn't be suppressed. In Hachiman's mind, loving Totsuka and loving Komachi was like an angel and a devil constantly fighting.

As for who ultimately emerged victorious, only Hachiman knows.

"Ah, I remember what Chiba Village is. It was the place where I participated in a science field trip during junior high school."

Hikigaya sighed to himself from the back seat.

"Chiba Village in Gunma Prefecture is indeed a resort destination."

"You've been to Chiba Village too?"

"I only returned here when I was in the third year of junior high school, so I didn't participate in these junior high school activities. I only found out about them from my graduation yearbook."

"You're back here... Where did you go before? If that's the case, why did you come back?"

"How rude of me... Never mind, it doesn't matter."

"I never participated in any of these extracurricular classes during junior high school either."

Himekoji chimed in.

"And why are you doing this?"

"It was Yukinoshita, right behind me, who asked."

"Well... I'll leave the reason for now."

"I really didn't expect this. Even you, Himekoji, haven't been there."

Hachiman, who was sitting last, sighed softly.

"I'm not the kind of person who has a lot of free time, so my holidays are all booked up. If it weren't for Professor Hiratsuka Shizuka saving my life, I would still be in class receiving knowledge right now."

Just how busy are you...?

Yuki sighed softly.