Since their last conversation, Chabashira Sae never sought out Kure Ragna alone again.
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, mid-July arrived.
The sweltering heat of summer settled over the school, with temperatures nearing 40°C. Fortunately, Advanced Nurturing High School had excellent air conditioning.
The campus was almost entirely enclosed, with few open-air areas, ensuring that students remained cool even when moving between classes.
Physical education classes had also shifted to the swimming pool, making the summer heat slightly more bearable. The only real discomfort came from the brief walks between the dormitories and the school buildings.
On the surface, life in Class B remained peaceful.
But that was only on the surface.
Beneath the Calm
Ever since the midterm exams, Kure Ragna had been handling everything from behind the scenes—unnoticed, uncredited.
The Sudo incident, where a fight nearly escalated out of control? Handled.
The stalker following Sakura Airi? Dealt with.
Even Sakura's broken camera, which had been sent in for repairs, was returned without any issues.
Yet, for some reason, when she got it back, she didn't seem as happy as expected.
Meanwhile, his relationship with Kushida Kikyo had taken a strange turn. In class, they interacted like normal classmates.
But on weekends? She dropped the act completely. At first, she would only stop by his place on Friday nights. Eventually, she started staying the entire weekend, reluctantly returning to her own dorm only on Sunday night.
Not that it was a huge problem. If anyone saw them leaving the same dorm room together, rumors would spread like wildfire. And dealing with that would be a pain.
But soon, things would change.
Because summer vacation was finally here.
The Announcement
The final exams had concluded yesterday. By evening, Chabashira had already posted the results in the class group chat. Today, however, the students were required to gather in the classroom for the official announcement.
When Chabashira entered, she wasn't wearing her usual OL uniform. Instead, she had opted for a more casual outfit. Though far from revealing, it was a rare sight—enough to make Ike and Yamauchi nearly pop their eyeballs out.
"Alright, let's get to it," she said, skipping unnecessary pleasantries.
She pinned a large, printed sheet with the class's grades onto the blackboard.
"As you already know, your scores were sent to the group chat last night. If you haven't checked them yet, now's your chance. The class points will be added to your personal points next month."
"If the class rankings had changed, the adjustments would be applied in the next semester… but seeing as nothing changed, that's irrelevant."
She let the information settle before moving on.
"Now, onto something more important—the summer school trip."
That immediately grabbed everyone's attention.
"As per the school's arrangement, all first-year students will be heading to a private island in the Pacific for vacation."
Excitement Erupts
The classroom exploded into gasps and excited whispers.
"A freaking island vacation?!"
For most students, the idea of a school trip only brought to mind Kyoto or Osaka. Maybe, if they were lucky, a short trip to Tokyo.
But an island getaway? This was on another level.
"Wait, wait, wait—Teacher!" Ike Kanji practically jumped out of his seat. "Are we getting there on a luxury cruise ship?!"
Chabashira's lips curled into a mysterious smile.
"You'll find out tomorrow," she said, offering no further details.
Her cryptic response only fueled their excitement.
"This school trip will last for two weeks," she continued. "Be sure to prepare enough clothes for half a month. We depart tomorrow at 3 PM sharp. Understood?"
"Yes!!" The class's response nearly shook the room.
After wrapping up the announcement, Chabashira left, allowing the students to bask in their excitement.
Speculation Begins
"Kure Ragna, do you think we'll actually be on a luxury cruise?"
Before he could even react, Karuizawa Kei had darted to his side, clutching his arm with sparkling eyes. The sheer anticipation radiating from her could have powered a city.
All around them, students were losing their minds.
The usual idiot trio—Ike, Yamauchi, and Hondou—were literally jumping up and down, pounding the floor like gorillas in heat.
Meanwhile, Kushida Kikyo approached with a charming smile.
"It would be amazing if we were, don't you think, Karuizawa-san?" she said sweetly.
Yet, while speaking to Kei, her body subtly turned toward Kure Ragna—an unspoken challenge in her posture.
With the two girls flanking him, he sighed and finally answered.
"It's highly likely," he said, standing up. Kei and Kushida instinctively followed.
"Think about it. We're leaving at 3 PM, meaning we'll probably be spending the night onboard. That alone suggests a cruise."
He paused, letting them process.
"This isn't just a small class trip—we're talking about the entire first-year. That's over 120 students. If we're spending the night at sea, comfort and safety are priorities. Renting a luxury cruise ship would be the logical choice."
Kei nodded rapidly, eyes shining.
"Plus," he continued, "remember the 100,000 yen we each received on the first day of enrollment? The school clearly has the budget for extravagant events. So yes—a cruise ship is very possible."
"That makes so much sense!" Kei practically vibrated with excitement. Without thinking, she wrapped herself around his arm again, grinning ear to ear.
"Luxury cruise… island tour… hehehe…"
"Don't get too carried away," he said, tapping her forehead lightly. "Make sure you actually pack your stuff tonight. And don't forget to wash your clothes. If you leave them sitting for two weeks, they'll be moldy by the time you get back."
"I knooowww," she whined, still beaming.
Behind them, Kushida Kikyo followed silently.
Her gaze flickered between Kure Ragna and Kei—and for a split second, the ever-sweet smile faltered.
Just for a moment.
But it was there.
A flicker of something colder.
Something darker.
Something real.
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