Unfun and Games

Now Ishi found himself heading for the station that he personally disliked the most when going on the field trip as a first year. This location being the part where people got to enjoy a few fun games. He had chosen to delay going here as long as he could, but obligations meant that it wasn't going to last forever. So taking care of Chinae next was his next decision.

The reason why he chose to save Rinse for last? Well, it was simple. He was the most confident that she could handle things no matter what happened. After all, her job as an idol should've prepared her to be ready for unexpected things. In fact, that was why he was doing Chinae second-to-last. The other girl was also an idol, even if in secret. However, he also came to the realization that perhaps his leadership skills could use some improvement. Which is why he was heading to the games first.

As he approached the area, there were many targets lining up in a row. The whizzing of arrows filled his ears as he came up to Chinae, who was using one of the bows. She shot one out, which missed the bullseye by a good five meters as she aimed way too high.

"Tsk." Were she not with a bunch of students, in which she was forced to maintain a respectful manner. Chinae certainly had much harsher words to say about the activity she was trying. "How does anyone hit anything with this stupid bow?"

"You're starting to sound like Ryugi." He commented. That had definitely been a line he had heard before.

"Don't compare me to someone like her." She was offended that the idea those two could be even seen as similar. No one would ever believe that a gyaru and a dark loner had anything in common.

"It's just in the attitude." He beckoned her to hand over the bow. She did and he charged up a shot as he continued to explain himself. "I take it the two of you aren't the outdoorsy type." Ishi let off his shot. A perfect bullseye.

"Most of us girls aren't." She replied, referring to Rinse and Youna as well. "Also nice shot, I didn't know you were into this kind of stuff."

"I guess I'm more of a natural." He even got an offer from the school's archery club to join. Unsurprisingly, Ishi declined since he wasn't interested in competition against others. "I could even shoot an apple off of your head."

"Maybe I should be doing that to you." Judging by her terrible aim, it was more likely she'd end his life with a head shot before heading the apple. Then again, that girl probably couldn't even hit the broadside of a barn, let alone target his body.

"It's really not that hard." Ishi handed her back the bow, encouraging her to try it one more time. Chinae took the weapon and assumed her stance again. Just as she was getting started, he already had words of criticism.

"You need to stand a little more proper than that." He informed her, using his hands to reposition her body.

"Who said you could touch me?" She glared at him as he ran his hands over her arms.

"I'm just instructing you." He wasn't afraid of the silent threat. First because unless he did something really inappropriate, she wouldn't dare hit him in front of the others. The second reason being that he saw no issues with showing her this in this manner. "Now, pull back the arrow." Ishi commanded her to do so, all the while explaining what should be done during this time.

She did as he asked her, all the while he continued to touch her in order to make her posture proper. It was a strange feeling for her, despite already getting as close as she did to him during their so-called 'date'. When he was the one initiating the contact, Chinae felt a lot weaker in the legs compared to when she did. Perhaps it was because this was coming from Ishi Hirose. A boy that no one would've ever thought would get close to a girl. Yet here he was, without a single bit of tension in his muscles. "Don't grip too tightly, then release." She listened to his words and took her shot. "Follow through."

Then, as they stood together, the sound of the arrow hitting the mark filled their ears. Thanks to his advice, she was able to hit her first bullseye.

"Well, are you happy now?" She turned her head with a mischievous look on her face. "Bet a perv like you is excited you got to be so close to a girl."

"Hardly, seeing as I'm no pervert." He answered as he backed away from her personal space. "Still, congrats on hitting the target. Even with my help, it's impressive to be able to hit something like that."

"I'm sure that's the last time I'm doing that." She responded by placing down the bow. "How about we just go supervise the idiots doing the rock climbing? Probably should make sure that no one falls to their doom." Chinae said as she already began moving away without waiting for him.

"Sure, that is part of my job." He followed her as they moved towards the large rock wall. It was manned by the most adults out of all stations, as those were the people who were keeping the safety ropes in check for all the students.

"So, I heard about what happened to your class rep." She spoke as they walked. "I was relieved when I heard it was only a cut."

"I'm surprised you care." Chinae didn't appear to be friends with the rest of the girls. Then again, now that he was thinking about it, were any of them friends outside of their relationship with him? Neither this girl, nor Ryugi called Youna anything other than class rep. And the latter seemed to care more about Rinse as an idol rather than a person.

Well, at least he could trust that Chinae and Rinse were friends, even if the relationship was a bit… Complicated.

"I'm not heartless." She replied. "People just assume I'm someone that gets off on other people suffering." That wasn't what he was implying, but she wasn't wrong about how people viewed her on that kind of matter. Ever since Ishi learned of her other identity, he also began to believe a part of that act, wasn't that much of an act. "Some leader you turned out to be…" She muttered, but it was loud enough for him to hear.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Let's be real, you put someone like her on campfire? That's probably the most dangerous one out of all of them, then you went out and put Ryugi, who's so immature, on fishing. While I'm the one getting these dumb games." Chinae wished she could've swapped places with the gyaru. She unironically loved fishing.

"I'll be the first to admit that I didn't give your roles much thought." He conceded. "But honestly, I think it was for the best I gave you these jobs. It's not bad to go out of your comfort zone."

"Oh yeah, says the guy who's always complaining when he has to do something he wasn't want to do." She was right about him on that matter.

"True, but I think I've become a better person because I was forced to do those things." He countered. "And I think all of you could do with learning to get better." Ishi spoke not in a way that he was on a high horse, but more in the fashion of someone who had seen the light, and wanted others to learn from his experiences.

"I see." She could understand where he was coming from. After all, when she had to be Chiana, she certainly was challenged in many ways.

"Now that we're here." He said as they came across some climbing equipment. "Maybe you can try climbing up the wall?"

"M-maybe you should." She was hesitant to accept his offer.

"I don't have that much time, and getting into the harness will take too long." Ishi noted the sudden lack of confidence in her voice. "Are you afraid of heights?"

"No!" She answered quickly, but flustered. "I just don't feel like it."

"Well, that's too bad." He told her, handing her the end of the rope for holding other people up. "I guess you can stay on the ground floor and help out the other students."

"What?" She was surprised that he didn't bother to chase the issue. When Youna was in trouble, he came to her aid. So were things really that different in their relationship?

"I'm sure you're confused why I'm not going to help you get over your fear of heights." He knew that had to be her problem, especially since he normally did so for the others. "I would, but I don't have time to do it since I have to see Rinse."

"Right." She hung her head down in disappointment. Of course she'd end up getting shafted like this.

"But, if you ever have time when we're back in town." His next words got her ears perked up to hear more. "I don't mind helping you out with that." Chinae suddenly felt a feeling of happiness and excitement over the prospect. It was something she hadn't felt in ages now despite being an idol. "Especially since all of you came and helped me out here at the camp. Even though I complained about all of you coming in to try and bother me, I'm really grateful for everything you've done."

"Heh." Despite how he was making her feel, Chinae still played off her reaction to him cool. "Then you better not forget to repay that favor." She responded by taking him forcefully and turning the boy around. "And it's not going to be helping me get over some lame phobia." Ishi sighed as he walked away from the girl. When people say they're going to use an anything favor, that only spelled trouble for him. Still, he understood that it was on him, so the boy was willing to do whatever she'd ask of him. Hopefully it wouldn't be too bad.