Late July.
The blazing sunlight that pierced the skin and the deafening chorus of cicadas had completely dyed Advanced Nurturing High School in the colors of sumr.
With the first sester's closing ceremony just around the corner, my daily life could be sumd up in a single word:
Fulfilled.
After school, I would head to the student council room and finish the mountain of paperwork expected of a vice president in barely thirty minutes using the absurd processing power of my "Aizen specs."
If there was one miscalculation, however, it was that this room had an extrely high chance of attracting that man.
"Yo, talented first-year vice president. Working hard on chores again today? If there's anything you don't understand, I, the future student council president, can personally teach you, you know?"
It was Nagumo Miyabi, a second-year. Ever since I beca vice president, he had constantly gone out of his way to bother , trying to one-up whenever possible.
(Ugh, Nagumo again… He's seriously annoying every single ti! I just want to finish work quickly and go see Hiyori! I'll just brush him off politely as usual!)
Internally sighing dramatically, I tried to answer normally with, "Thank you for your concern, but I'll be fine."
However, what ca out of my mouth was anything but ordinary.
"—A firefly mistaking itself for the sun and attempting to illuminate the heavens is truly laughable. Before you burn yourself away without ever realizing your own limits… you would do well to quietly disappear into the darkness."
(WHYYYYYY!? The taunting poem ca out again!! Why does my mouth always pick fights with Nagumo in the most ridiculously condescending way possible!?)
"…Tch!! You little first-year brat… don't get cocky…!"
A vein bulged on Nagumo's forehead as the murderous intent and hostility he directed toward shot up yet another level without limit.
Thus, while unknowingly (?) farming hatred from Nagumo to the absolute maximum, I exchanged a few work reports with Secretary Tachibana before elegantly leaving the room.
Afterward, I headed to the library, where Hiyori waited for in our usual seat by the window, and together we enjoyed a quiet and sweet reading session.
Sotis, Ichinose, Kanzaki, and the others from Class B would ask for my help, and I would give precise guidance during study sessions aid at improving our class's academic ability.
(…There are a few gigantic anxiety factors like Nagumo-senpai, but still… this is amazing. This is the "perfect youth" I always wanted!)
As tears of joy flowed in my heart, I savored these peaceful days.
However, on the day of the closing ceremony that would conclude this tranquil first sester—
Within the solemn atmosphere of the gymnasium where all students had gathered, I was once again forced to experience the terror of my cursed fate:
The "automatic poem conversion function."
"—That concludes my address as student council president. Next, our newly appointed student council vice president this sester: first-year, Aizen Sosuke."
Called forward by Horikita Manabu on stage, I stepped quietly up to the microphone while the eyes of the entire student body pierced into .
(Okay, a closing ceremony speech! 'Good work this sester, everyone. Sumr vacation finally starts tomorrow, so don't overdo it, stay safe from accidents and injuries, and enjoy your vacation!' …Perfect. A flawless template speech!)
I cleared my throat once, looked across the gymnasium, and slowly opened my mouth.
"—The tedious days of crawling through the mud and rejoicing or despairing over aningless scores now co to a temporary end."
(WHAAAAAAAAAT!? NO!! Did I just compare the entire student body to bugs crawling in mud right from the opening line!?)
The previously silent gymnasium instantly froze to subzero temperatures.
Not only the first-years, but even the second- and third-years stared at in shock.
"...From tomorrow onward, you shall be granted a fleeting peace. But do not forget this: the scorching sun rcilessly lts the waxen wings of those who do not know how to gaze toward the heavens, sending them plumting to ruin. Whether you lose yourselves in a poisoned celebratory cup, or discern the calm before the storm… I can only pray that, on the next battlefield, you do not shatter too miserably."
(Translation: Sumr vacation starts tomorrow, but don't get hurt playing around too much! And don't let your guard down just because it's break! Be careful about tests after vacation too, and enjoy yourselves responsibly!)
My overwhelming pressure and villain-charisma-filled poem speech echoed through the gymnasium's sound system and struck every student's eardrums.
"W-What the hell is with that guy…? His presence is insane…"
"A first-year vice president… just how dangerous is he?"
"A poisoned celebratory cup…? Does that an sothing's happening during sumr vacation…?"
As the entire student body reacted with confusion and caution, Ryuen Kakeru sitting among Class C let out an amused laugh.
"Kukuku… now that's an interesting speech."
anwhile, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji in Class D quietly turned his thoughts over behind his hollow eyes.
(…Sosuke. Was that a declaration of war against the entire student body? Or a warning that he already knows everything about the school's "sumr vacation exam"? Either way… he's unfathomable. That man alone always watches us from far above the board…)
Only one person interpreted my broken safety-warning poem as a divine proclamation of despair born from godlike insight, and Ayanokoji raised his vigilance to the maximum.
Completely unaware of all that, I descended from the stage with elegant steps while internally crying tears of blood.
(I hate the student council already… I just want to go back to the library…)
Several days after the closing ceremony—
With the school-sponsored luxury cruise vacation just around the corner, the main mbers of Class B—myself, Hiyori, Ichinose, Kanzaki, Shibata, Shiranami, and Amikura—had co to Keyaki Mall to shop for vacation supplies.
"Man, sumr vacation's finally here! And we get a two-week luxury cruise!? This is the best!"
Shibata laughed excitedly with his hands behind his head.
"Fufu, I'm really looking forward to it too! Let's all play in the ocean and eat lots of delicious food together!"
Ichinose agreed happily while Shiranami and Amikura excitedly chatted too.
"Maybe I should buy a new swimsuit!"
"We'll need floaties too!"
(…This is great. This is exactly the page of youth I always dread of! Shopping with cute girls and good guy friends! The only downside is that other students avoid us because of my intimidating aura, but whatever!)
Having almost no experience spending holidays with friends my age, simply walking together with everyone filled my heart with excitent.
We moved through various stores in the mall, buying sunscreen, sandals, and travel goods one after another.
Then our group entered the massive sports store's swimsuit section.
"Alright then, boys, wait here for a bit! We're gonna go pick swimsuits!"
With that, Ichinose and the girls disappeared into the colorful rows of swimsuits.
Left behind, Kanzaki, Shibata, and I browsed n's swim trunks while killing ti.
"What kind are you getting, Aizen? Black or purple would totally suit you."
"—Fuh. The color of the cloth that covers my skin has no influence on the grand sche of things."
(Translation: I'm just getting simple black trunks.)
As we chatted casually, a timid voice suddenly called out from behind .
"Um… Sosuke-kun."
Turning around, I saw Hiyori standing there, pressing two bikinis against her chest while looking up at shyly.
One was a cute pink swimsuit decorated with frills.
The other was an elegant pure white swimsuit.
"…Sosuke-kun, um… which swimsuit do you think suits better?"
Moist eyes.
Slightly flushed cheeks.
And the devastating cuteness of her tilting her head while waiting for my answer.
(————————!!!!!!)
A nuclear explosion went off inside my brain.
(C-C-CUTE!!! What is that upward glance!? Is she an angel!? No, I already knew she was an angel, but still!! Asking which swimsuit suits her!? The destructive power is way too high!!)
Inside my head, I was rolling around on the floor while spraying nosebleeds.
(Calm down, Aizen Sosuke!! She's your one and only strongest best friend! If you look at her with impure thoughts, this precious relationship will collapse! I'm a gentleman! Stay calm and give stylish advice!!)
Suppressing my rampaging desires with all my might, I fixed my gaze on Hiyori with supre composure and mature elegance.
"—A pure pearl has no need for gaudy colors."
(Translation: The pink one's cute too, but I think white suits you best!)
"…If it is you who wears it, then a garnt of pure white, like moonlight quietly illuminating the night, would be the most fitting. It will surely bring out your radiance more beautifully than anything else."
(Translation: Your beautiful silver hair and pale skin would absolutely look best with that pure white swimsuit!!)
After hearing my overwhelmingly stylish poem—that is, my desperate complint—Hiyori blinked once…
Then her face turned bright red all the way to the tips of her ears.
"P-pure white…! I-I see… If that's what Sosuke-kun says…"
Clutching the white swimsuit tightly, Hiyori gave an incredibly happy smile.
"Then I'll go try this one on! …Ah, but…"
Just as she started toward the fitting room, she suddenly stopped and smiled mischievously.
"…Please save seeing wearing it for the vacation itself. Think of it as sothing to look forward to."
"————!!"
After Hiyori disappeared into the fitting room, I froze like a statue while internally pumping my fist toward the heavens.
(Sothing to look forward to!! I've been granted a vacation reward!! Thank you, God! I'm so glad I ca to this school!! I'm going to enjoy sumr vacation with everything I've got!!)
Kanzaki and Shibata laughed in exasperation.
"Aizen, you and Shiina really are on the sa wavelength…"
But their voices never reached my ears.
After finishing our shopping, arms full of bags, we headed to a yakiniku restaurant inside the mall.
Tonight's dinner also served as our pre-vacation rally.
"Alright! Let's eat a ton today! Cheers!!"
At Ichinose's lead, everyone clinked their glasses together.
at sizzled loudly over the grill.
Using my Aizen-spec dynamic vision and perfect heat control, I expertly grilled the at and distributed it to Hiyori, Ichinose, and the others at the perfect timing.
"Wow! Aizen-kun, you're really good at grilling at too! Thanks!"
"The at Sosuke-kun grilled is delicious."
"Hey, Aizen! Pass so of that kalbi too!"
A warm, lively, peaceful ti.
However, once everyone had eaten their fill, Shibata excitedly declared:
"Man, I seriously can't wait for this luxury cruise trip! Swimming in the pool every day, eating good food, sleeping all day… it's heaven!"
At that mont, Ichinose's expression turned slightly serious as she set down her chopsticks.
"…Shibata-kun. I'm excited about the cruise too, but I don't think it'll end with just having fun."
"What do you an?" Kanzaki asked.
Shiranami and Amikura also looked at her curiously.
Ichinose glanced at Hiyori and beside her before turning back to everyone.
"A few days ago… when I was talking with Aizen-kun and Hiyori-chan, Aizen-kun told us sothing. He said, 'There's no way this school would prepare a peaceful sumr without a reason. During sumr vacation, there will definitely be a special exam that causes major class point fluctuations.'"
"Wha—!?"
Kanzaki's eyes widened in shock.
"An… exam…?"
"R-Really!? But how could we…"
The classmates beca visibly shaken. Naturally so—until now, only Hiyori, Ichinose, and I had discussed this.
"W-Wait…! That insane speech Aizen gave during the closing ceremony…!"
Shibata suddenly pointed at .
"'Poisoned celebratory cup' and 'calm before the storm'… you were warning us about the special exam!?"
(That's right! My poem was a kind warning not to get carried away by the vacation! Thank goodness Ichinose explained it to everyone properly!)
I slowly set down my glass and nodded quietly.
"—The paradise this school offers is nothing more than an obvious illusion. Behind every sweet fruit, there always lurks a fatal poison."
(Translation: There's no way this is just a normal vacation. There's definitely sothing hidden behind it!)
"…Sosuke-kun says this."
Hiyori gently translated for everyone.
"'There's no way the school would prepare a luxury cruise for no reason. Either during the trip or at our destination, a harsh exam ant to test us is definitely waiting.'"
"…So it really is like that…"
Kanzaki's expression tightened, while Shibata and the others beca serious too.
"We don't know what kind of exam is waiting. It could be another harsh competition where classes fight over points. But…"
Ichinose smiled brightly.
"I believe that our current Class B can absolutely overco it! Just like Aizen-kun said, as long as we have our teamwork, we'll be fine no matter what kind of test cos!"
"Hell yeah! No matter what the test is, we'll overco it together as Class B and earn enough points to reach Class A!"
"Indeed. We must not let our guard down, but simply being prepared in advance is already a major advantage. As long as we remain united, we have nothing to fear."
In response to Ichinose's words, Shibata, Kanzaki, Shiranami, and Amikura all nodded firmly.
Hiyori smiled warmly too.
"Fufu, let's all do our best together."
(…Yeah. This really is a wonderful class.)
Watching these dependable companions, my chest ward from within.
Sumr vacation was about to begin. Knowing this rit-based school, there was no way they'd simply let us relax aboard a luxury cruise. A survival exam on a deserted island? A battle of wits aboard the ship?
I didn't know the details, but there was definitely a harsh trial waiting ahead.
(But I have these companions. And I have Hiyori, my strongest translator and best friend. …No matter what exam cos, I'll crush it all with my Aizen specs and absolutely protect this peaceful everyday life and our vacation!)
"—Now then, let us empty our cups. …May the next battlefield beco the supre stage upon which our victory is celebrated."
"""CHEERS!!"""
Together with my stylish toast—this ti, even without Hiyori translating, everyone sohow understood it ant "Let's do our best!"—the unity of Class B reached its peak.
Beyond the smoke of the yakiniku grill…
Awaiting us quietly yet inevitably was the giant crucible known as the "Midsumr Special Exam," soon to begin its curtain rise.
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