6.1
The night before I met with Karuizawa, I’d been enjoying the last fleeting moments of summer vacation in my dorm room when Ike, seemingly the three idiots’ representative, posted in the group chat.
Is it really okay for summer to end like this? Our youth’s slipping away.
It was simultaneously profound and moronic. Ike continued messaging before anyone had a chance to reply.
Is it really okay to let the precious summer vacation after our first year of high school end without experiencing anything amazing? he repeated, although this time, his phrasing was different.
No, it’s not okay! replied Yamauchi, agreeing with Ike’s sentiment. Considering that an unrequited love had broken Yamauchi’s heart, he probably yearned for a fresh start.
Yeah, I want to make the most of my youth, too! added Sudou.
In that case, we should rise up! Youth won’t come to those who wait. Now is the time of men who take the initiative! responded Ike.
Chasing youthful pleasures was all well and good, but how exactly were they going to go about it?
Do you have any good ideas? asked Yamauchi.
Ike was probably waiting for someone to ask that, because he posted a long message immediately afterward.
I thought of one! Right now, the pool’s open to everyone, yeah? We’ll invite those fine, gorgeous ladies to go swimming! I’ve got Kikyou-chan, right? Haruki, you go with Sakura. And Ken, you’re with Horikita!
Ike rattled off girls’ names, managing to casually reopen Yamauchi’s wounds.
If Suzune is going, then I’m in. Do you think she’ll go? asked Sudou.
Leave that to Ayanokouji-sensei! Right?
I wanted to respond with “as if,” but I couldn’t just come out and say it.
I mean, you’re going to help, right? You’re my friend, right? Sudou’s message, casual as it was over chat, certainly sounded like a threat. I noticed that he only used the word “friend” when he needed something.
I’ll see what I can do. Don’t expect too much, I replied.
After that, I temporarily suspended the chat and tried giving Horikita a call. It wasn’t just for Sudou. A part of me also wanted to invite her, especially now that her perceived social status had begun to rise.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“Can’t I call you without a reason?” I replied.
“Okay, I’m hanging up.”
“Wait, wait! Okay, to tell you the truth, some friends were talking about going to the pool tomorrow. They asked me to call you, since you’ve been sitting in your room all day every day.”
“By friends, you mean those three incredible idiots? I can’t imagine bringing myself to hang out with them.”
Three incredible idiots. It had a nice ring to it.
“I refuse,” Horikita said.
“Would you come if it was just the two of us?”
“No.”
Of course not. However, I had a secret weapon.
“Water bottle.”
Horikita’s attitude and aura changed drastically at those simple words, even over the phone. It would have been nice if she knew when she was beaten, but instead, she feigned ignorance.
“What do you mean?”
“You know, the words ‘water bottle’ have just been on my mind lately. Like getting your arm stuck in a water bottle. That kind of thing.”
“You have a very unpleasant phone manner.” Horikita sounded increasingly concerned.
“I just think honesty does us all good.”
“Okay. What do you need me to do tomorrow, and at what time?”
Horikita was desperate to protect her reputation. She’d do anything to keep people from finding out about the water bottle incident, including going to the pool.
“We’ll meet at 8:30 in the lobby, and plan to go our separate ways in the evening,” I said.
“Understood. But I won’t forgive you if you ever try this again,” she warned.
“O-okay.”
I had no desire to tempt fate. I didn’t think of this as blackmail, but rather, cashing in on the favor I did Horikita during the water bottle incident. She probably understood that.
I invited Horikita. I posted in the chat.
Great work, Ayanokouji! You’ve avoided being German suplexed onto concrete!
Apparently, my life had been in danger.
Invite Sakura for me! Please, I beg you, Ayanokouji! wrote Yamauchi.
He’d just been rejected the other day. Immediately afterward, he sent me a private message.
I don’t want them to know I was rejected! Please help me!
Well, that was sad. The guys would probably love it if Sakura joined us, but she wasn’t really a sociable girl. She always skipped swim class, because her chest size got her ogled by both sexes to a painful degree. It was also probably going to be awkward for her to go out with the guy she just rejected.
I decided I’d at least give her a call.
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