-101- Nanaya Hirata Ayanokouji

The last day of the first semester.

On this day, the final morning homeroom of the semester proceeded as scheduled.

"First of all, let me commend you all. Everyone has successfully passed the final exams, and not a single person has been expelled. It's a world of difference compared to the beginning of the school year. It makes one wonder if everyone has been replaced."

Chabashira Sae made such a remarkably impolite statement while making the following announcement.

"Starting tomorrow is the official beginning of summer vacation. Some of you may have already heard from students in other classes that the school has arranged a vacation trip for you during the summer break. It will last for two weeks and will take place on a southern island, aboard a luxurious cruise ship. I'm sure you're all looking forward to it, aren't you?"

Chabashira Sae's remarks immediately elicited responses from everyone in the class.

"So excited!"

"A southern island!"

"Blue skies and the ocean!"

"And a luxury cruise ship!"

"Awesome!"

The students began shouting one after another.

However, whether it was Hori's imagination or not, it always seemed that almost all the overly excited shouters were male, which startled the girls.

In the end, it was Ike Kanji who let slip.

"Since there's the ocean, we'll get to see the girls in swimsuits, awesome!"

So, that's the reason why the boys are unusually excited, isn't it?

Despite Ike Kanji's enthusiastic shouting, he didn't seem to notice that the girls' gaze towards him was starting to fill with contempt and indifference, causing the boys who had been shouting along with him to shut their mouths and pretend to be very obedient.

Despite this, the students in the class were still very excited.

"I didn't expect to have such a fantastic summer vacation!"

"This school occasionally does good things, huh?"

"After working hard on the final exams, it finally pays off!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

Led by Karuizawa Kei, the girls in the class happily began to discuss.

Even Sakura Airi talked to Hori.

"I can't help but feel a little excited, Nanaya-kun."

Sakura Airi seems not to reject the idea of a luxury cruise ship tour during summer vacation.

However, this plain gravure idol who is not good at socializing will probably have a hard time, won't she?

And this hardship soon became apparent with the announcement made by Chabashira Sae next.

"Because this trip will be a two-week luxury cruise, the first week will be spent enjoying summer on a deserted island, and the second week will be spent aboard the cruise ship, allowing students to freely engage in various recreational activities and explore the tropical seas. Therefore, we need to decide on the room assignments before that."

Chabashira Sae took out a form to fill out and said so.

"During the trip, it will be basically three people per room. You'll form your own groups and come report to me. The school will arrange the rooms for you, and unless there are special reasons, there will be no changes. Make your decisions carefully."

Chabashira Sae's announcement ended here.

The students in the class immediately became more active than ever before, quickly forming groups with each other.

"Let's be in a group! Kushida-san!"

"And me! Don't forget me!"

As the popular figure in the class, Kushida Kikyou was immediately invited.

"Then, Karuizawa-san, let's be in a group."

"And add me."

After Kushida Kikyou, the second central figure in the girls' group was also warmly invited.

Naturally, the recently popular Sakura Airi also received a warm welcome from many girls in the class.

"Sakura-san, can you be in a group with me?"

"I'd like to chat more with Sakura-san."

Several girls appeared at Sakura Airi's seat.

"Um... um..."

When facing someone other than Hori, Sakura Airi reverted to that extremely nervous and timid appearance, indicating that there might be some trouble ahead.

And since there are popular people, naturally there are also unpopular ones.

For example, Hori.

For example, Horikita Suzune.

"How pathetic."

"Do you even have the right to say that to me?"

After being coldly spoken to by the neighboring Horikita Suzune, Hori's response was as ruthless as ever.

Although both of them were alone, they both appeared indifferent, sitting on their seats, one reading detective novels and the other reading literary books.

But compared to Horikita Suzune, Hori was still better off.

Because there were still people who came to talk to him.

"Aren't you looking for a team? Nanaya?"

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka approached Hori's position.

Seeing this boy, who still had no emotions on his face even after a semester, and whose eyes were as calm as dead fish, Hori sighed.

"You got left out?"

"...You're very perceptive."

Obviously, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was happily rejected by others.

This is not surprising.

In the class, the only people who interact with Ayanokouji Kiyotaka are Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken.

And now, those three are gathered together amicably.

"Summer vacation is the best time to get out of being single!"

"We have to work hard!"

"Yeah!"

Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki shouted excitedly, and Sudou Ken responded with great enthusiasm.

Seeing this situation, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka could only mutter in loneliness.

"Since it's three people per group, one person in the group of four is destined to be alone."

And Ayanokouji Kiyotaka is that person destined to be alone.

Even in that unpopular group, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka usually has no presence, doesn't participate in any topics, just quietly listens to others talk, and only responds when spoken to.

As a result, if three people need to be chosen from four, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka is definitely not someone anyone would think of.

That's the real tragedy.

"So, you came to find me?"

"Anyway, you're alone too, right?"

Hori and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka had this kind of conversation, causing Horikita Suzune, who was nearby, to turn her head away uninterestedly.

"Even if I join you, there's still one person missing, right?"

Hori didn't stop reading the detective novel, just posed this question to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

However, this question was quickly resolved.

"Nanaya-san, Ayanokouji-san, are you planning to team up?"

Unexpectedly, Hirata Yousuke, the leader of the boys' group in the class, approached at this moment.

"In that case, can I join too?"

The highly popular character who had no worries about teaming up actually took the initiative to propose such a suggestion to the two lonely boys in the class.

"Is that okay?"

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka immediately took the bait, asking Hirata Yousuke with an expression of anticipation.

Hirata Yousuke nodded with a smile.

"I want to help students in need as much as possible, so please let me join you."

It seems that Hirata Yousuke considered the positions of Hori and Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and then took the initiative to join.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka then looked at Hori, seemingly seeking his opinion.

Hori looked up from his detective novel, glanced at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, and then at Hirata Yousuke.

In the end, Hori nodded.

During the trip, Hori's two roommates were decided here.