Upon returning to the gathering area, I was greeted by the number of students already raring to get out and enjoy their last few hours in this place. They all had grins and refreshed expressions as though all the burden that they were shouldering had been cast off.
When they spotted me, some of them invited me to join them to go to the peak or some other places they wanted to visit. I smiled and politely declined which was the easiest way to brush them off.
While they expressed that it was a shame I couldn’t join them, none of them were rude or insistent.
Mhm... That’s great. I think after the events of yesterday where I got to spend some time talking with all of them – dancing with some even – they got a little familiar with my personality. I doubt they’re going to be persistent in blocking me or talking to me even in school. Still, I would probably expect them to greet me every time.
As to how it would develop from here when I started getting more and more high-key with my girls, I had no idea. I mean, they said girls are more vicious to each other than boys are.
Most of the time, we just fight and beat each other up but girls, especially those driven with envy, can do horrifying things just to get their way...
Hopefully, it won’t get to that. And if it does and my girls get affected by it, I may have to change my approach in public...
After getting past all of those invitations, my feet brought me into the path leading to the girls’ cabin area. Although I could already use my phone and message my girls about my whereabouts and plans, I couldn’t help but want to check on them again.
Since the camp was already over and there was no more activity left, the restriction to go here was already lifted – though I doubt if anyone other than me could figure that out. Like always, I ran into some girls who were more or less pleased with my presence. Some were even flirty as though they wanted to get closer to me. But none of those works. I just came off as indifferent to them.
Of course, to not make them feel embarrassed, I still responded to those girls appropriately. I gave them head pats.
Was that enough? Maybe... They went on their way after it, after all.
Soon, when I reached their Camp Area, I also got face-to-face with some of the Camp Managers remaining there. Some teased me, acting like it’s still forbidden for me to come.
I played along which earned me some goodwill from them. However, unlike Shiina and Sara, most of them treated me like a little brother they could dote on. So instead of giving them head pats, I became the receiver of it.
When I finally got past them, Shiina and Sara who were watching from a distance were giggling and snickering as though they just witnessed something adorable.
In fact, Shiina pinched my cheeks as soon as I approached her. Sara looked like she wanted to do the same but she’s too shy to do so.
They both anticipated that I would be showing up so they also waited there.
Since I already had my phone with me, we exchanged numbers and the two sent their first messages to me.
It’s nothing but a simple greeting but Shiina being Shiina also attached her photo to it... Not that sensitive but it’s more than enough to activate a young man’s neurons into haywire.
When I stared at her with narrowed eyes, she put a finger on her lips, gesturing for me to keep it to myself before winking provocatively.
Really, she’s doing a lot to cultivate my interest in her. As much as I would like to scold her for it, I had no time, so I just replied to the message saying, ‘Thanks for the meal.’
With that, I walked away from them while Shiina was gleefully holding back the blush from occupying her face. Sara, on the other hand, blinked in confusion, not knowing what went on between us. Well, they’re both adorable that way.
Shortly after that, I finally reached my girls who were already gathered together along with some of our classmates and their friends. Of course, Watanabe was also around, jotting down the events of today.
In any case, it’s pretty much like our gathering during lunch so it’s not that weird even for Rae’s friends. I spent some time with them just talking and sneakily doting on the girls close to me.
Around fifteen minutes later, I separated from the girls after accompanying them out of their cabin area. They’re going to explore too as it wasn’t every day we could visit a place like this.
As I was making my way to the bridge connecting the two hills, I pulled out my phone, checked my messages, and opened the most recent one.
“Onoda-kun, I’m almost done. Where shall we meet?”
Her reply to my initial message was that she wanted to meet up somewhere but she said she still needed some time to prepare. That’s why I got the time to spend with my girls.
Looking at the time this recent message was sent, it was only a minute ago. Was she having second thoughts? She’s been preparing for so long already.
Well, I guess that’s only normal. Her decision yesterday was partly out of impulse. And unlike the first instance when I first satisfied her curiosity, she’s probably overthinking a lot of what will happen.
In any case, I already have a plan on how to approach this. Even if the situation turned more sexual in nature, I decided to properly educate her. Maybe this would also be considered a preparation for that group date.
“I’m about to pass the bridge, senpai. Just tell me where to go.” I typed in my reply and looked ahead of me.
The same as our hill, most second years were already trickling out to explore the place. There should be fewer students there at this time, making it easier for me to sneak in and meet up with her.
But the problem is... where will we go to get some kind of privacy? Sure, there are probably a number of obscure places out here like that one area with the shrine and the haunted manor but with students spreading out to explore the place, there’s a higher chance for us to be exposed if we’re not indoors.
We could use one of the cabins, I guess? But that’s only if she could sneak me in.
Ah. Well, there’s no point thinking about that myself. I better meet her first.
A while later, Otsuka-senpai’s reply never arrived. However, that’s because there’s no need to.
As soon as I crossed the bridge, I saw her emerging from the path towards their gathering area.
She was still wearing her comfortable shirt and pants and her hair was still wet. She most likely had just finished showering.
When she spotted me, her round purple eyes brilliantly shone and her sizable chest seemingly jumped up in delight before an excited grin appeared on her lips.
Ah. I was the one who was overthinking there. This girl never had any second thoughts. In fact, she appeared to be thrilled just looking at how much she prepared herself.
After cautiously looking at her left and right, Otsuka-senpai approached me. When she was certain that no one was paying attention to us, she hurriedly snatched my hand, gripping it as tight as she could before saying, “Follow me, Onoda-kun. Uh... I found a place that we can use.”
