Chapter 70: Off campus study sessions, pajama parties

I’d spent the entire day in a daze. The last bell finally rang, signaling the end of the school day.

Ito-sensei, our homeroom teacher, entered, his hair tousled, a light jacket draped over his tracksuit. His casual style was a stark contrast to the academy’s prestigious image, but I was getting used to it.

“Alright, everyone, early dismissal today!” he announced cheerfully. “But take this. It’s the permission slip for next week’s field trip.” He placed his hands on his hips and grinned. “It’s an overnight trip, so get your parents’ signatures and submit it by Monday. Got it?”

““Yes, sensei!!”” The class chorused, rushing towards him to collect the forms. I joined the line and received mine, my eyes scanning the details. ‘○○ Resort’.

‘A resort for an overnight trip… this school is something else…’ Ito-sensei, after distributing the forms, quickly concluded homeroom. “That’s all for today. Have a good weekend, everyone! See you next week!”

We all stood up, a chorus of “Weekend~!” and excited chatter filling the air. The post-exam, pre-weekend excitement was palpable.

I packed my bag, and Mizuki, looking at the permission slip, grinned. “Aya-ring~ Rina-ring~ want to go shopping this weekend~?”

“Shopping?”

“Yeah, just some snacks and stuff for the field trip. It’s an overnight trip, so we need supplies for the evening~”

Right. An overnight trip required snacks. I smiled and turned to Aya. “Want to come, Aya?”

She blinked, her response slightly delayed. “…Sure.” She nodded slowly, and the awkwardness of the past couple of days resurfaced, my heart skipping a beat.

“Great! Then let’s meet tomorrow and hit the department store!” Mizuki said excitedly. “We can check out the new snacks and drinks!”

“Sounds good.”
“Okay.”
“It’s settled then!”

We made plans to meet the next day and headed towards the school gates, the sky tinged with the warm hues of the setting sun, a cool breeze a welcome respite from the summer heat. “Have a good weekend~” The farewell greetings echoed through the air.

“See you tomorrow afternoon!” Mizuki confirmed, holding up her fingers. “How about 1:00 PM, in front of the department store?”

“Sure!”
“Okay.” I and Aya nodded, and then, for once, we parted ways without our usual trip to the convenience store. I walked home with Aya, but the awkward silence between us remained, a strange mix of excitement and shyness.

****

Back at home, I pulled the permission slip from my bag and handed it to my mother.

“What’s this?”

“It’s for the school field trip!”

“A field trip~? Ah, the overnight one. Where are you going?” She unfolded the permission slip and read the details. “Oh? An overnight trip?”

“Yeah.” A two-day, one-night trip to a luxury resort. As expected of a prestigious academy.

‘Of course, my parents are paying for it…’ I sighed inwardly. The reality of being a Takamari Academy student…

“Looks good! Have fun.”

“Okay…” I mumbled, looking at the price, slightly overwhelmed.

But a part of me was already looking forward to tomorrow, and to next week’s field trip.

‘Shopping with Aya and Mizuki tomorrow… can I even handle that?’ The awkwardness between Aya and me was still there, but having Mizuki with us might help. Just the thought made my heart race.

I pinched my cheeks, a nervous flutter in my stomach, and, once again, had trouble sleeping, my mind filled with anticipation.

‘Tomorrow… with Aya and Mizuki…’

****

Twenty minutes before the meeting time. I arrived at the department store, loafers and all, but this time, I was early! No last-minute dash today.

I remembered our first awkward encounter here, at the beginning of the semester. Things were different now; we were closer, more comfortable with each other. Aya and Mizuki felt like… real friends.

While it still felt a bit like they were condescending to hang out with me, considering their family backgrounds, neither of them ever acted superior.

I waited, my hands clasped nervously. I’d chosen a summery lavender dress, a typical, mass-produced style, but cute and not too flashy. Deciding on my outfit had been surprisingly easy today, which was probably why I was early.

Mizuki, waving and calling out from afar, was the second to arrive. “Over here, Rina-tan!”

‘Rina-tan… seriously…?’ She was waving enthusiastically, Aya standing beside her. Ah, they’d come together. I waved back.

Aya, standing beside Mizuki, looked down at me and said softly, “Hello.”

Her simple greeting made my heart skip a beat. The awkwardness from yesterday’s near-kiss still lingered between us. I fidgeted with my bag strap, forcing a smile. “So… snacks?”

“Snacks, games, all sorts of fun stuff~” Mizuki replied, her eyes sparkling.

“Games?”

She grinned mischievously. “We’re sharing a room, remember~?”

“Ah…!” I almost stumbled backward, surprised. I’d assumed the resort rooms would be large, accommodating ten people or so… but a triple room…? Just the three of us?

“The rooms are pretty spacious. And since we’re sharing a room, we can have a sleepover~!” Mizuki cheered, raising her arms in the air.

‘A-A sleepover?!’ My mind went blank. Sharing a room was surprising enough, but a sleepover too?

Sharing a room… with Aya… spending the night together… could I even sleep?

Mizuki, crossing her arms, grinned. “Hmm~ we need snacks, card games… lots of stuff!”

“Card games…?”

“Yeah, we’ll be up all night! Ghost stories, relationship advice… hee hee~” Her words painted a vivid picture of a typical sleepover: a night of girl talk and whispered secrets.

Of course, this hadn’t happened in the novel. The protagonist was male, and by this point in the story, he and Aya were already dating, their secret rendezvous on the resort stairs filled with stolen glances and whispered words, but they hadn’t shared a room.

But… what about Aya? She seemed surprisingly calm. “Mizuki, relationship advice? What are we going to talk about?”

“…Huh?” Mizuki, surprised by Aya’s nonchalant response, grinned mischievously. “There are plenty of budding romances in the student council, you know~? For example~”

“…Stop it,” Aya said, cutting her off, and Mizuki pouted playfully.

“Aw~ don’t be so serious~. So, lots of snacks, it is!” She changed the subject smoothly and headed into the department store, and I followed, my mind still reeling.

Sharing a room.

A sleepover.

Relationship advice.

And… Aya.

I glanced at her. She seemed calm, as always, but her ears were slightly pink. ‘…Don’t tell me she’s thinking the same thing…?’ My heart pounded, and I hurried after Mizuki.

“Wait, Mizuki! You’re too fast!”

“Hurry up~ we’re going on a shopping spree today!”

And so, we began our preparations for the sleepover. Why were we even buying new pajamas?! And, once again, we ended up choosing matching outfits, three sets of identical pajamas added to our overflowing shopping bags.

The reality of sharing a room with Aya, of spending the night together… it was starting to sink in.