Ch.207Epilogue. Training Camp (1)

It’s hot.

If I had to choose between winter and summer, I would pick summer without hesitation.

In my previous life, I might have given it a bit more thought.

The country where I lived had quite a few unbearably cold days in winter, and when it snowed, it came down heavily, causing major transportation problems for at least a few days.

Moreover, my profession was greatly affected by the winter season.

The dry air made it easy for fires to start and spread, and since it was cold, people used fire more frequently.

When entering and exiting a burning building, you almost always get soaked. After all, you’re spraying water everywhere to put out the fire. The problem is that water freezes when it meets cold air.

Both the person holding the hose and the person coming out drenched end up covered in ice. The stress when your belt freezes and won’t come undone is immense.

No matter how hot summer gets, experiencing such a terrible situation even once changes your perspective.

But here, I don’t need to put out fires, and winter isn’t severely cold. At least by my standards, winter was “bearable.” It doesn’t snow often either, so it’s not too bad.

The problem is summer.

Saitama is hot and humid, but Tokyo is especially bad. What’s more, my school is in Minato Ward, which is right by the sea. It would be strange if it weren’t humid.

Plus, maybe because it’s still the 2000s, even this wealthy school hasn’t bothered to install central air conditioning in the old building.

“So hot…”

“Ugh…”

That’s right. The club room has no air conditioning. In this hot weather.

I wonder how I survived last summer without air conditioning.

Come to think of it, I was probably fine because I had so many worries that gave me chills down my spine. I understand why people look for scary stories when it’s hot.

What’s more concerning is that this weather isn’t even the peak of summer yet—we’re just entering summer. There’s still a month left before vacation.

“Is it because there are more people in the club now?”

Izumi offered a hypothesis.

Thinking about it, that might be true.

Whether it’s true or not, you know how feelings work, right? Like when you see someone in warm clothes during winter, you somehow feel hotter too.

The room wasn’t that spacious to begin with, and now there were seven of us, so that might be it.

“…Should we change locations?”

Izumi, who was confidently reading a mystery novel despite being a third-year, suggested. It seemed she couldn’t concentrate at all.

“Agreed…”

Even Kaoru, who was usually so energetic, spoke with a fading voice, and we all got up from our seats.

We didn’t decide where to go.

Just somewhere cool would be fine.

*

“Ah, that’s better. Now I can breathe.”

Looking for somewhere close and preferably cool, we ended up at a nearby fast food restaurant.

This is Minato Ward, after all. The name simply means “harbor,” but in reality, it’s one of the wealthiest areas in Tokyo. Befitting a neighborhood where rich people live, there are many cultural facilities, and each one is quite comfortable.

Naturally, the fast food restaurant we were in was also very spacious.

Sometimes, while attending school—

Living in that small apartment, I occasionally feel a bit awkward, but I can’t help thinking how convenient it would be to live in a neighborhood like this.

After graduation, I probably won’t come here often. Kagami might have the ability to find a place around here, but somehow it feels wrong to ask for such a favor.

Maybe I could stay at Yuu’s place if I attend a university in Tokyo.

…No, by then, Mr. Yamashita and Ms. Mori will be married, so it would be their newlywed home.

I guess commuting from Saitama would be better.

Sitting where the air conditioning reached me, my mind cleared a bit, and I calmly observed my surroundings.

Izumi and Kaoru were sitting with expressions that looked like they might melt.

I wonder if those two can afford to be this relaxed? Then again, I don’t think they studied particularly hard in middle school either. Maybe they’re just aiming for a decent place rather than somewhere too prestigious. Somewhere they can go together.

Even though Japan’s university entrance exams are in mid-January, I can’t help thinking they should start getting nervous soon.

“…”

But now what do we do?

We came here with the sole purpose of escaping the heat, but we didn’t actually think about what to do next. We’ve already achieved our goal of “escaping,” and technically, we’re not doing club activities anymore—we’ve essentially just gone home early.

Is this okay?

Last year, with everything that happened, I was fine with “moderate activities,” but this year is a bit different, isn’t it?

Next year, Izumi and Kaoru will graduate.

Until now, we didn’t have any third-year students, so there was no sense of urgency, but knowing there are “people we won’t see next year” makes me a bit anxious.

At the beginning of the year, I resolved to properly make a club magazine, but we haven’t written a single word yet. Of course, we still have several months before we need to show it to others, but still.

“Phew, good. Now I can think clearly.”

Kaoru exhaled deeply.

“Yeah, I can finally breathe.”

“Izumi, we really need to become successful people. Let’s earn lots of money and donate air conditioners to the school. If we say it’s senior club members donating for their juniors, the school probably won’t complain about electricity bills.”

“Well…”

Izumi laughed incredulously at Kaoru’s words.

“Anyway, since our brains are working again, let’s talk about what we planned.”

Kaoru cleared her throat with a “Ahem” and spoke.

“The two of us will only be active until this year. That’s obvious, since we’re third-years.”

The other club members turned their heads in concentration, especially Tsuneda, who looked a bit tense.

Kaoru and Izumi are the only literature club members graduating next year. Since there are many second-years, the club will continue to function normally even after they leave.

But in the next year or two, we’ll graduate too. That would leave Tsuneda alone.

Izumi at least had Kaoru beside her, so even if it was desperate, it wasn’t a hopeless situation.

But Tsuneda is different.

She doesn’t have many friends in her class, and if she only hangs out with seniors throughout her school life, her third year will be incredibly tough.

There’s always the option of putting everything aside and focusing solely on studies, but well, how many students would want that?

I’m not sure if I’m in a position to worry about Tsuneda that much, but since we’re at school anyway, I’d like her to enjoy her time both “as a junior” and “as a senior.”

“So, this year, I really want to do proper activities. That’s why we’ve decided to accept Harumi’s proposal.”

Harumi puffed out her chest with an “ahem” expression.

“We’re going to open a literary café for the festival. We thought about setting up on the first floor or renting the park, but it seems best to just use our own space. Other classes will be doing maid cafés anyway, so customers will be spread out.”

Kaoru explained leisurely, but for some reason, Izumi beside her was wearing a proud expression. It seemed the overall plan reflected Izumi’s intentions.

“It should be enough if we can accommodate one or two tables at a time. Oh, but since we might be a bit short on space, we’ve decided to borrow an empty club room. It’s not right next door, but it could work as a sort of ‘branch’ location.”

I nodded.

It’s definitely not a good idea to be overwhelmed by too many customers. I know this well, being a professional maid.

“For the attire, something more like traditional Japanese clothing. You know? After all, it’s a literary café.”

I think I understand what she means.

She probably wants us to write in the style of classical Japanese novelists. Like wearing a kimono with a maid-style apron over it.

It would look amazing on Mako or Yuu. Kaoru and Harumi would also look good… in a certain sense.

Actually, if you think about it, people would probably gather even if we just served in our school uniforms. Our school uniform is that classical.

“You’ve given this a lot of thought.”

The two of them had been coming to the club room less frequently since becoming third-years. Before, they were almost fixtures there after school.

“Yeah. We gathered ideas during breaks while studying together.”

So they are studying properly.

That’s a bit reassuring.

“So we decided to determine who will serve and who will guide, and I think Mako and Izumi definitely need to be included. Especially as guides.”

We all nodded, but the two in question seemed a bit flustered.

“I, I’d prefer to be on the preparation side…”

“I, I’m not sure if I can do it well…”

“That attitude is perfect. It’s very literary girl-like.”

Kaoru assessed them accurately.

The rest of us nodded too. Even Tsuneda.

Koko seemed to be nodding more because she found it fun rather than agreeing about the literary girl concept.

“Alright. Let’s think about this slowly. We still have a few months anyway.”

Kaoru said that, then closed her eyes once and opened them again.

When she reopened them, her eyes were sparkling much more than when she was talking about the café.

“Next is about the summer training camp.”

“Training camp…!”

“Wow!”

As soon as they heard “training camp,” two people reacted simultaneously.

Tsuneda and Koko.

Koko naturally loved such events, and Tsuneda had only recently become a high school student. I’m not sure if she likes manga or not, but even without exposure to such things, it would be strange not to have some romantic notions about these kinds of events.

By the way, we’re having a training camp this summer too.

I guess that’s to be expected.

Ironically, for a literature club training camp, almost all the participants from last year’s camp have gathered again.

Since we’re at it, should I invite Shii too?

If she happens to enroll next year, I’m thinking of encouraging her to join the literature club, so I could introduce her to Tsuneda as a future junior.

…I’m a bit worried about what if Sasaki follows along, but I’ll think about that when the time comes.

“We’ve decided on the beach as the location. Last time we decided in a bit of a rush, but this time we had more time to plan leisurely.”

Izumi provided additional explanation.

“The period is mid-August. I’ll tell you more detailed plans once they’re more concrete.”

I nodded.

Looking around, I could see the children’s happy expressions.

There was Tsuneda, full of anticipation, and Koko too.

Mako, Harumi, and Yuu were the same. Mako and Harumi were openly showing their excitement, while Yuu was trying to look cool as usual, but she was listening intently to Mako and Harumi’s chatter.

Yuka was the same.

“The beach, huh…”

Yuka murmured with eyes that seemed nostalgic.

“We went to the beach last year too.”

And we met a yokai there.

That wasn’t the end of it; one of the heroines was also kidnapped by someone from a cult.

This year, there will definitely be no such incidents.

Thinking that, I felt relieved. A fun trip with no worries.

Actually, we’ve already had several such trips this year, but such journeys are always enjoyable no matter how many times you go.

“Oh, right. And I’ll tell you something to be cautious about in advance.”

Kaoru said with a mischievous grin.

“The training camp will also include courage tests.”

“…”

Hmm.

Hearing that makes me a bit anxious again.

Ironically, Yuka was grinning as if it sounded fun.

*

“Do you have more time today?”

On the way to the station after finishing our club activities(?).

Yuka asked me.

“I have time.”

Kagami probably won’t get angry if I come home a bit late, as long as I don’t miss dinner.

It was a compromise we had reached over the past few months by gradually adjusting our opinions. Kagami wanted to give us “things she couldn’t give before” while we were still young, but she also accepted that being too restrictive would be problematic in its own way.

Instead, we agreed:

‘If possible, come home for dinner. Even if it’s a bit late.’

She seems unable to give up on the idea of harmonious family meals.

Fortunately, Kagami’s cooking skills are improving day by day. As time passes, she’s becoming more serious about cooking, so honestly, I was looking forward to dinner time.

Is this how one gets influenced?

“Really? Then let’s go buy swimsuits.”

But that leisurely feeling I had was sent flying high into the sky by Yuka’s words.

“Swimsuits?”

“Yes.”

Thinking I might have misheard, I asked again, and Yuka confidently nodded in response.

“But we bought some last year?”

“You have multiple everyday clothes, right?”

“…Yes.”

I tilted my head, wondering why she suddenly asked such a thing.

Then Yuka said,

“Swimsuits are clothes too. They’re ‘wear.’ Obviously, you can’t use just one for your entire life, right?”

Well, I wasn’t planning to use just one for my entire life, but still.

It’s not like you wear a swimsuit every day. Is there really a need to have multiple designs?

“So, let’s go shopping, shopping.”

But Yuka said that with a very firm voice.

If she insists that much… well, I don’t see why not.

After all, having one more swimsuit won’t kill me.

“Koko, shall we go?”

“Wow!”

Koko responded happily to the word “shopping.”

She doesn’t have a habit of buying things yet, but she knows that every time we go shopping, she gets to eat something delicious.

“Let’s go.”

Yuka smiled happily and took both my and Koko’s hands in hers.

She seems to have a bit of Kagami’s tendency.

But she’s not quite like a mother; surely she doesn’t see us as something like little sisters?

Well, I guess it wouldn’t matter even if she did.

With various thoughts in mind, Koko and I followed Yuka.

The swimsuit Yuka picked for me was much more modest than last year’s. It emphasized cuteness a bit more, which is somewhat concerning, but as long as it’s not too embarrassing for me to wear, well.

The real problem came when we got home after shopping and told Kagami that “the training camp will be at the beach.”

“Let’s go buy swimsuits!”

Kagami’s eyes weren’t just “sparkling”—they were practically “flashing.”

“And let’s go on a summer trip too!”

Her enthusiasm was so overwhelming that I couldn’t bring myself to deny either suggestion.

As a result, I’ll be going on two summer trips, probably attending the festival, and even going to Comiket.

…

Well, this kind of life might actually be good.

Watching Koko exclaim “Wow!” at the news of another summer trip, I thought absentmindedly.