Oregairu: My First Masterpiece, Your Lie in April Chapter 40: Just Treat Them Like Puppies

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After putting down their luggage, Oikawa and the others followed Shizuka to an open square that looked a lot like a school field.

At the front stood a few staff mbers on a makeshift platform.

Below them, nearly a hundred elentary school kids.

Oikawa's first impression as he walked closer was... Chaos.

Dozens of fifth and sixth graders all talking at once. The noise piled up into an overwhelming wall of sound.

The last ti he'd experienced sothing this loud was at Yui's birthday gathering.

...

…No, this wasn't like Yui's birthday at all. This was much worse.

That had just been noisy.

This?

This was a mix of shouting, chatter, and pure, unfiltered kid energy. Loud and ssy.

Everyone else looked about the sa as Oikawa.

Yukino Yukinoshita had gone a bit pale. Yui Yuigahama looked equally shaken.

Only Kawasaki Saki seed unaffected.

Maybe that was the advantage of having younger siblings.

"Quiet down! Quiet down!"

The staff mber on stage shouted into a gaphone several tis before the noise finally died down.

What followed was the usual scripted speech.

With kids like these, a little intimidation went a long way.

After five or six minutes, they finally got to the point.

The first activity of the day was orienteering.

Sothing like those survival exercises you see in military dramas.

Of course, these kids weren't expected to survive in the wild. They just had to follow a set route.

And they even had a "camp activity handbook" to guide them.

"Looks like our job is to make sure none of these little gremlins get hurt," Oikawa muttered.

Yui looked a bit uneasy. "That sounds… really hard. I've never taken care of kids before."

"Just treat them like puppies."

Kawasaki suddenly chid in, making all three of them glance her way.

"What? Don't you have a dog, Yui?"

"Taking care of kids isn't that different. Just play with them and keep an eye on them."

It was a weird comparison.

But when Oikawa thought about it, it kind of made sense.

…And then, the more he thought about it, the more questionable it sounded.

He suddenly felt a bit sorry for Taishi and Keika. What kind of childhood had they endured?

…

"Everyone, say hello to the big brothers and sisters who ca to help!"

The staff mber's speech seed to be wrapping up.

"Please take care of us!" xN

Nearly a hundred kids shouting in unison was surprisingly impressive.

Before anyone else could step forward, Hayato Hayama naturally walked up, took the gaphone, and addressed the kids with a gentle smile.

"If you need anything, feel free to ask us."

"Let's make lots of great mories at this forest camp. We're counting on you too!"

He really did have that natural charm.

Honestly, Oikawa was kind of grateful he was here. Otherwise, he'd probably be the one stuck giving that speech.

"Alright, the orienteering begins!"

As soon as the staff mber shouted, the kids burst into action, forming little groups and heading off toward their designated routes.

"Okay, your first task is to support the orienteering activity," Shizuka said, turning to Oikawa and the others.

"Move with them. Keep an eye on them. Make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Stick together, Kawasaki?"

Hayato casually invited her.

At so point, Kawasaki had changed into sportswear. Even with knee-length shorts, her long legs were impossible to ignore.

Oikawa took the opportunity to sneak a few glances.

"Pass."

Kawasaki declined without hesitation.

The whole exchange felt completely natural. No awkwardness at all.

Honestly, that was a skill in itself.

"Yui, want to co with us?"

This ti it was Yumiko Miura asking.

"Uh… well… I'm part of the Service Club, so I'll stick with them. But we'll see each other later anyway. See you!"

It was obvious Yui wasn't nearly as good at turning people down as Kawasaki.

Still, sothing didn't quite sit right with Oikawa.

Why split into two groups at all?

Why not just go together?

While he was still thinking about it, Hayato's group had already left.

"Alright, let's get going too."

"The staff probably checked the route beforehand, but we're still in the mountains. There could be snakes or bugs, so stay alert."

Oikawa gave a quick reminder and took the lead.

No way he was letting the girls go first.

"Oh? Oikawa, you actually seem pretty reliable today."

Yui smiled, hands clasped behind her back as she teased him.

"What do you an 'today'? I'm always reliable. I'm a real man, you know."

Completely self-proclaid, of course.

"A 'real man' who collapses after running five kiloters?"

Kawasaki didn't miss the chance to shoot him down.

"Heh. I'm not the sa person I used to be. I've been exercising lately."

"Oh? So now it's five kiloters and one ter?"

Everyone paused for a second, then burst out laughing.

Even Yukino, usually so composed, let out a quiet laugh.

When soone serious made a joke, it hit way harder.

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