Chapter 34

"So what's everyone else doing?" Syl asked.

"I want to go swimming as well, and meet a bunch of new people!" Kushida said with a smile.

Ike and Yamauchi nodded at each other. They were now definitely going to be near the swimming pool at all hours of the day.

Sudo was torn… Should he watch the girls, Ahem! I mean go swimming, or play basketball?

Sudo looked at Syl. "Would you help me practice? Just for like an hour or two a day? I can't help but feel that I want to get better after our game, we barely beat those three after all."

Syl thought for a moment. "Sure thing, as long as it doesn't get in the way of my plans!"

Hirata spoke up again. "What are your plans, Syl?"

"I want to hunt a bear!" He said giddily.

"..."

No one said a word in response.

"Pardon?" Ike asked.

"I was thinking of killing a bear!"

"I don't think that would be possible on a cruise ship…" Ayanokoji input.

"Bah! I'll find a way! Me and my trusty walking stick won't let this opportunity slide! When else are we gonna get to go hunting!?"

Ayanokoji just sighed.

What an idiot!

At this point someone walked up. "Aren't you talking about something interesting, Syl-boy?"

Syl looked up at the tall boy and smiled. "Why, wanna join, Koenji?"

"Fufufu. Perhaps I will. I haven't tested my perfect body for a few months now."

He then just walked away while looking at his mirror.

Syl chuckled. "Cool! I might have a partner!"

The rest of his classmates look baffled.

What the fuck was happening?!?!!?

Syl just moved on normally. "So, Hirata and Ayanokoji. What are you gonna do?"

Hirata scratched his cheek. "I'm not sure yet, but Karuizawa and some of her friends did say they want to hang out sometime."

"Bah! Damn playboy! What about you Ayanokoji?"

"I don't have any plans yet." He responded.

"Then, we should hang out sometime!" Syl said with a smile.

"Alright." Ayanokoji nodded.

Syl thought for a moment. "Say, why don't we get some food right now? I don't have anything to do!"

"Sure."

Syl turned to the rest of the boys there, and Kushida and smiled.

"Then, see you guys later! Have fun swimming and creating a harem!" Syl laughed.

"I'm not making a harem or anything." Hirata said awkwardly.

"Why cause your 'girlfriend' wouldn't let you?" Syl chuckled and elbowed him.

"Haha, well that too…" Hirata looked around awkwardly.

Syl just smiled and walked away.

Kushida called out to the two. "Hey, can I join you guys?"

Syl chuckled. "Sorry pumpkin, no angels allowed! We don't wanna go to hell after all! If you heard this… well you get the point!"

Kushida giggled. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Pfft~! HAHAHAHA! Oh god, that was a good one!" Syl nearly fell over laughing.

Everyone else just thought he was overreacting to Kushida's joke about being an angel. Alas, none of them understood the funniest part about the joke! Only Ayanokoji did, but he wasn't gonna slip up and laugh…

Syl wiped a tear from his eye. "Sorry Kushida, I'd love to chat but I actually have something I want to ask Ayanokoji. You know, guys talk. The real men are talking today!" Syl made a muscular pose when he said the last part.

"Hahaha! But I'll be so lonely without you! Can you really not let me come?" She pouted.

Syl smiled. "Then does anyone else here want to keep Kushida some company?"

"ME!" Both Ike and Yamauchi jumped at the chance.

Syl whispered to Ayanokoji. "She just shot herself in the foot there. I didn't even have to try."

"Yeah, that was a big mistake to say in front of those two." Ayanokoji agreed.

Syl just laughed and looked at Kushida.

"Have fun you three!" He winked at Kushida who was currently extremely pissed but didn't show it on her face.

Syl just walked away with Ayanokoji. "Piece of cake eh?"

Ayanokoji silently nodded. Then he looked back at Hirata and then towards Syl.

"Syl, do you know something?"

Syl's face froze for a second, before a smirk formed on his lips. It was different from his usual smile, more genuine.

"I know a lot of things. You're gonna have to be more specific."

Ayanokoji hesitated for a moment before he replied. "Nevermind then."

"I already told you. I'm good at reading people." Syl responded to an unasked question.

"Is that so?" Ayanokoji said as he pondered something.

"Honestly, to me, it was pretty obvious. They don't seem very close and they constantly seem like they just forget they are even dating each other, at least Hirata does, Karuizawa is a lot better at hiding it. Thought that might just mean that she has more reason to perform the act than Hirata. And you know the kicker? They don't even call each other by their first name. It's been 3 months, most couples are deciding whether to say 'I love you' to each other first by now, not debating about calling their girlfriend by their name." Syl ranted.

"What does that mean?" Ayanokoji asked.

Syl chuckled. "You already know."

"Why would you think that?" Ayanokoji asked.

Syl ignored his question.

"Are you gonna make a move? I bet Chabashira is trying to make you do something."

Ayanokoji was shocked. Though he didn't show it on his face at all!

He was still as dead fish like as ever!

What a guy!

"I'm not sure what you're talking about."

"So she did do something." Syl responded with a smile.

"What?"

"If she hadn't made a move yet you would have asked something like. 'Why would she do that?' Both trying to get information out of me and subconsciously responding properly. You saying 'I'm not sure what you're talking about.' was a subconscious response to try and defend yourself by making you seem clueless. Plus it also shows you didn't need to get any information out of me, which implies you already know what I'm talking about." Syl said with a huge smile.

Ayanokoji was silent.

"Seems like I was pretty on the mark then. Don't be too shocked, I already told you I'm good at reading people." Syl continued.

"Even if you were right, about any of this. Why would you even care?" Ayanokoji asked.

"I wanna see you make a move. It's always a fun time when you do." Syl replied honestly.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about. What have I even done?"

Syl shrugged. "You already know that. Anyway, feel free to do whatever you want. I won't stop you if you're helping the class."

Ayanokoji stopped walking side by side with Syl and stood still.

Syl continued walking and was about to walk away. It was already dark and he was ready to go back to his room anyway.

Ayanokoji was standing under the moonlight with the wind blowing his hair to the sides.

"Did Chabashira do anything to you?" He finally asked Syl, who was now 10 feet away.

Syl turned his head back. "Nope! She probably thinks I'm going to do everything I can for the class's sake."

Ayanokoji didn't miss a beat as he responded immediately. "So you're not going to help the class?"

Syl paused for a moment. "I haven't decided what to do yet, but I have a fun idea…"

"Does this idea make you the class's enemy? My enemy?" Ayanokoji asked in a cold emotionless voice.

Syl finally turned to face him. "I'm not your enemy, Kiyotaka. I actually really want to be your friend in the future."

Ayanokoji peered into his eyes. "I thought we were already friends."

Syl turned and walked away. "You know what I mean."

Ayanokoji didn't respond.

Syl turned his head back one last time and bolstered a huge smile.

"See you on the island, Ayanokoji!"

Ayanokoji watch Syl's retreating form. "So he even knows about that..."

Ayanokoji sighed under the moonlight.

He looked up at the moon.

"What does being someone's friend even mean?"