World Record

52. Camp

About one week pa.s.sed. Sat.u.r.day.

Iwato muttered so.
That’s right. The summer vacation started yesterday, and Iwato and the others have a holiday for some time from today.
However–

Iwato muttered so, and looked down at his hands.
He’s holding the game console borrowed from Tsumugu, and he advances the game by pressing the b.u.t.tons.
The game Iwato is playing right now is the popular Unknown hunting game, Unknown Hunter X, for short, NonHunX.
And, Iwato is currently confronting the Tamakitsune. A long-necked fox that attacks with bubbles.

Iwato who’s using a long sword, spam attack.
Concentrating on the weak spot, and attack persistently.

『you got the mail』

Suddenly, such sound can be heard.
Iwato thinks–Un, it’s my imagination.
In fact, he decided to ignore it because he’s just lazy to see it, but he had a hunch.
–If I see this mail, it would be troublesome later on.

Zuzazazaza! Gakin!

Iwato continues playing NonHun once again.
And the ringtone rang once again.

『you got『you『you『yo『y……』』』』』

The ringtone rang to the extent that it won’t let the previous ringtone finished the word.
Iwato sighs once as he turns the game console to sleep mode, and he taps the mail in his status application.
At the same time as the screen displays, the word《Hiragishi Eita》filled his inbox.

Iwato made such decision in an instant, and as he turns his eyes to the game console–the call ringtone started to rang.

(What on earth does he want…… I’m busy with NonHun right now. I’m trying to farm for the Tamakitsune skyscales)

Iwato said so in his mind, and looked down at the call window–and he answered the call without hesitation.

Yes, just when I thought that it’s Eita, the one who called was the cla.s.s rep.
If it’s Eita, I would just ignore it, but cla.s.s rep is my Overdye SRB’s regular customer. I can’t ignore her.
That’s why, Iwato answered the call–

『Yo, you answer cla.s.s rep’s call but you didn’t reply my mails, huh? What are you trying to do?』

[……Pardon? Are you perhaps mistaken me for someone else?]
『Don’t try to play dumb with a falsetto!』

The voice that can be heard through the call was Eita.
In order to deal with that, Iwato tried to use falsetto, but it didn’t work after all. And Iwato gave up.

As expected of Eita.
He crushed the excuse of saying 『Ah, yeah. I got』 but 『Actually, it’s NonHun』.
As expected of the best friend position.
Iwato sighs, and mutters 『No』 through the phone.
If NonHun is omitted, Iwato has no plans for his summer vacation. Only free daily life awaits him.
That’s why, Iwato said so–

『Then, want to go camping?』

[……What?]

Iwato asked so instinctively upon hearing Eita’s plan.

Takino Suzuran Park at Sapporo.
Although it’s called a park, the park area spreads about 400 hectares–in a easier way to understand, about 85 Tokyo Dome.
For Sapporo citizens, they can understand if one say 『Free entrance day』 or 『The difference in physique of the mascot character’s ill.u.s.tration and the costume itself』

Returning to the main subject.

It hasn’t change ever since the Disastrous Year. A major spot with many playgrounds that every children in Sapporo would come here at least once.
And, one of the thing included in Takino Suzuran Park is Takino Campsite. This time, Eita picked the campsite.
Because

Just be prepared and go already.
Iwato who wanted to say that, didn’t say it, but because Eita begged him, Iwato decided to accompany him.
However–

Saying that, Iwato looked at three familiar girls–Karen, Ayame and Tsumugu.
And, the car at the back.
The woman who came out of the car with a tired face–Nakajima sensei sighs, and she points her thumb towards Tsumugu.

She said that, and placed her hand on her forehead.
Upon hearing Nakajima’s words, Iwato guessed the situation somehow, but he twitched his face and smiled wryly.
After all–

That’s right.
Iwato didn’t tell the three about this camp. He doesn’t have any particular reason to do so, but it’s probably better to go alone as it’s Eita and cla.s.s rep’s date.
Therefore, the girls were not given any information about it, and he even say that 『I’ll be staying at Eita’s house』 today.
That’s why–he’s perplexed.

Tsumgu averts her eyes upon hearing Iwato’s words.
Iwato knew that Tsumugu’s action proves that she’s concealing something with guilty conscience.
And, he knew that even though Tsumugu only stands out with her hikkikomori status and melon soda, in fact, she’s a prodigy equal or higher than Ayame.
Before Tsumugu knew, Iwato has already moved to her front, and he pressed her cheek with one hand.

I won’t look at your eyes.
Upon perceiving such will, Iwato sighed.
One of Iwato’s skill, capable of detecting lie from the person’s words, eyes, and gestures.
Furthermore, the precision is quite high, and he can even detect with just the gestures, but when he sees the person’s eyes, it’s already 『Mind-reading』.
Hence, she desperately tries to not look at his eyes, and upon seeing that, Iwato reached the truth with another way.

Tsumugu dropped her shoulders, and Iwato turned his eyes towards Eita and cla.s.s rep.

Although he heard Karen’s shout, he ignored it magnificently.
Eita and cla.s.s rep have a complicated–60% joy, 20% confusion, and the remaining 20% shown in their expression, and the two nods.
And, Iwato said this when he saw that.

A reasonable retort indeed.

Nakajima-sensei muttered so when she saw those.
There are two cottage build adjacent to each other, and the outward appearance felt like 『camping』.
Even Iwato looked around the cottage instinctively as it’s his first time seeing it, and Ayame who saw his figure by chance, laughed.

And, Iwato’s sanity returned.
He immediately stops his action, and he fix the bag carried with his shoulder.

Nakajima-sensei consented to Iwato, and the two of them starts walking–to the same cottage.

Iwato pushes Nakajima-sensei who said so, away from the cottage, and turns around and starts walking to the cottage.
And–

Before Karen knew, she was already iron clawed by Iwato.

Saying that, Karen was somehow released from the cranium grip, and at the same time, she hide behind Ayame.

Iwato leaks a sigh upon hearing their conversation.
Certainly, I was surprised by the presents, but I was also happy. That’s why, my favorability is certainly rising when comparing to the past, but–

(Admitting it is…quite…)

Iwato muttered so in his mind.
I don’t think that this tiny rise in favorability will lead to love, but if I admit it, it feels like I lost.
That’s why, Iwato said this while sneering.

–as a friend.

The two ran to the other cottage while crying.