Chapter 34: Stomachache?

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people. Can also mean Mr.
-chan: A common suffix among people you’re close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it’s cutesy and childlike.
-senpai: A common suffix and noun used to address or refer to one’s older or more senior colleagues in a school, workplace, dojo, or sports club.

“Hello—”

“Takasaki. You’re late.”

“…”

“I’m sorry,” I managed. “I was asked to help deliver the 7th-period materials. The teacher said she’d be here by the staff room, so we won’t have to wait much longer—I presume.”

Excusing myself, I couldn’t help but notice the fuming mess of a girl standing there. Why was Yuki in such a foul mood? I would seriously ask myself that, but two seconds later I realized she just had this permanent b-face. Though, I do feel she’s staring more daggers at me than usual.

“What’s up with you?” I nodded in Yuki’s direction.

“…” The annoyed girl had silence for an answer.

“She’s been like this since she got here. No, it’s gotten even worse since you arrived.”

Ah, then I’m the reason? Regardless, I shouldn’t even bother at times like this. It’s her we’re talking about. Yup, I should leave it be! Do not touch the angry Yuki!

“Speaking of which,” I fished for another subject. “How will you bring your camping equipment to school, boss?”

“Big backpack. Huge.”

“Damn. Would be tough without one of those, for sure. I need to figure out what to do myself…”

I’d asked my dad about it, but all we had was a sizable bag, though not on the hugest of sides. We didn’t really need one bigger than that before, which wasn’t a problem then. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to carry a tent or a wood-chopping stand. Not to mention the icebox.

“I’m late.”

As I mulled over what to do with my luggage, the tardy teacher walked inside.

“Well then, let’s get started on today’s discussions. Oh, before we begin, here’s a list of things we bought last time and what we each will bring from home,” the boss handed her a paper.

“Oh, you’re well prepared, I see. Hm, hm, understood.”

I recalled the teacher did mention she’d look over what we planned to bring. Was something amiss? I asked myself emptily.

“So, for today’s discussion, we’ll have to organize our camping trip. The site will be the Takasako Campground, as discussed prior.”

“I’m ready to go anytime. Maybe Yuki is too,” I blundered. Crap, I ended up prodding the tiger with a short stick—as per a recent habit—, and those knives-for-glares she threw at me came back in an instant.

“What’s up with you today, Yuki? Even I’m scared,” the teacher noted.

See? Even adults are intimidated! I laughed to myself.

“Teenagers are a pain. I am one, so I know.”

“So, Yuki? What is it?”

The boss was the right person to reach out to. Well, it wasn’t like Yuki was a conversational genius, but she was softer on our senior than on anyone else.

“I’m always ready.”

“I’m also ready anytime.”

“What’s up with you zoomers and your lack of planning? Be specific,” the teacher quipped before stopping at our following silence.

“…”

“…It’s nothing. Sorry.”

Oh, you managed to guess it! Slow teacher.

“We’re good with anything, so it’s up to you, teacher.”

“Right. When would you like it to happen?”

Following our prodding, the teacher opened her schedule for the day and checked it. Come to think of it, is being a teacher so hard on your schedule? My question had a swift answer. One glimpse at her little booklet gave me almost pages upon pages of things she had to do. Well, tests are basically upon us, so it’s the busiest time regardless.

“How about the first Saturday and Sunday in June? You guys have just enrolled so your tests will be quite light. As a teacher, I still have to apply midterms though; I’ll be busy grading everything this week.”

Indeed, we had been students in this school for just a month and a half. Despite being here for such a short span of time, we still had tests. They were called that but were more akin to pop quizzes than anything. There was nothing difficult yet, so as long as we memorized some easy things, we’d be golden.

“I know this is out of left field, but are you okay on your tests, boss?” I asked.

“I’m very smart.”

“Whoa, surprising.”

“Hmph.”

She gave me the stink eye, which was expected of anyone but her. Even the sulkiest of girls—Yuki—broke character and stared blankly at her.

“I didn’t mean anything bad by it,” I corrected.

“Oh really?”

Gullible. Too gullible. No way you’re very smart.

“—Tell you what, we’ll go on the fifth and sixth of June; that is, the first weekend of that month. That’ll be two days and one night. Is that okay?” The teacher finished looking at her schedule.

“That’ll do.”

See, unlike the teacher, the boss had already gotten used to this exchange. She didn’t even bother checking in with us. Hey, but look! Yuki aside, it’s not that I don’t have anything to do! It’s just that my hobby—reading novels—is one very flexible pastime. In fact, I am unbound by the chains of space and time!

“Today’s club activities ended pretty fast, didn’t they?”

“The real work didn’t start yet. In that case, I’ll go home and study quickly.”

“Oh, you do study, don’t you?”

“If you can find the time, you should, after all,” saying that, she left quickly. Was she in some kind of a hurry?

“You guys should go home soon, too.”

“‘Kay.”

Yuki and I were left alone together as she stared swords at me. Welp, if she doesn’t need me, I’d like to dip.

“Want me to walk you home?”

“Why should I go with you?”

“Right. Well, I’m off. See ya.”

I had just passed the school gates after a handful of minutes, but one glance behind me and I noticed Yuki was there. I sighed. Hey, if we’re leaving separately, could you leave some space between us? It’d be better to walk home together than to endure knives on my back every step of the way.

With that in mind, I slowed my pace so that I could walk alongside her. —Ay, why are you slowing down too?

“What’s up with you today?”

“…Do you have any other friends in this school?”

That wasn’t a question she’d usually ask me. What’s going on?

“Not really… I have a childhood friend, but we’re not that close. Anyone else in my immediate circle is part of the excursion club.”

“…”

Hey, you asked, so don’t leave me hanging! Regardless, I still didn’t understand the purpose of her sudden question. Without me noticing, we were side by side, so striking a conversation wouldn’t hurt.

“Speaking of which… How will you bring your camping equipment?”

“…”

Not going to answer? Okay. I’ll just keep talking on my own until she finds anything interesting and interrupts me.

“Wouldn’t a normal bag be bursting at the seams? Ah, but the boss said she lived closer to the store, so she brought hers home without an issue. Won’t we have a ton of baggage then?”

“I don’t have a big bag.”

“And what about a carrying case?”

“Not that either.”

I needed to prepare something for myself, and Yuki should have a backpack or carrying case for herself as well. That being the case, I should just ask her about it.

“Then maybe we could go to a Home Depot? I need to bring an ice box as well as my own tent, so I figured something like a carry cart to be nice to have.”

“Why should I go with you?”

“If you don’t want to, it’s fine. Thing is, there’s one of those stores right close to the station I get off at. That’s all.”

Even if she wouldn’t go with, I still had to get my stuff regardless.