[School Trip III]

The third day of the school trip was scheduled for a hands on learning experience in marine sports. 

Although it was labeled as a learning experience, it was actually a recreational trip to the sea. There were several activities available, including wakeboarding, parasailing, and scuba diving, and each student could choose the one he or she wanted to try. 

This is an event that students have high expectations for, along with free activities during the trip. 

Nishino, naturally, was also determined to enjoy this to the fullest. 

Putting aside the request from Francisca, which was not progressing well, he intends to enjoy the school life to the fullest during the day. If the Futsumen decided that the situation would not improve by worrying about it, he quickly changed his mind. 

He chose a scuba diving experience course. 

Because the Chairwoman had chosen the same course. 

And since Nishino had chosen this course, Rose and Gabriella would also be accompanying him. In addition, Matsuura-san would be accompanying them this time. And it was not only the Futsumen who were watching for Shimizu's movements. Risa-chan and Suzuki-kun followed his lead. Takeuchi also chose the same course in search of Rose. 

After a brief lecture and an hour of practice in the beach shallows, the students boarded the boat and departed from the harbor. The aim was to encounter sea turtles in shallow water, about 10 meters deep. The instructor told them that there was a high probability of encountering a sea turtle. 

Looking up overhead, the blue sky extends as far as the eye can see. The surface of the water, reflecting the sunlight and sparkling, is beautiful. The waves were calm today, making it a perfect day for diving. The boat heads for the desired dive site with the excited students on board. 

"Diving is quite an interesting hobby!"

"Diving underwater is different from that on land. You have to be careful with your power." 

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing." 

"Nice then " 

"I don't want you to fall apart underwater, okay?"

"I won't make that mistake. It's rookies like you who need to be careful with poison."

"Don't worry, Gabu-chan. I have everything under control."

The boat Nishino and his friends boarded was about nine meters long and three meters wide. Excluding the instructor, the boat filled the entire capacity of eight people. Because of the number of people on board, the boat was rented exclusively by the group. 

The other students who had chosen to experience diving were also on their boats, each in a group of a few people. The destination was the same, and there were several boats scattered around the area. 

There were three instructors accompanying the students. One of them was driving the boat. 

"Takeuchi, are you guys talking about? What's poison?" 

"No, we're talking about a game, Risa-chan." 

"I see you play games too, Takeuchi."

"Gabriella showed me a game she's into."

The wide boat deck is roofed. Benches are lined up under it, facing each other on either side. On one side are Rose, Nishino, Gabriella, and Matsuura-san. On the other side are Takeuchi, Risa-chan, Chairwoman, and Suzuki-kun. 

Everyone is preparing to dive into the sea, and oxygen tanks can be seen at their feet. 

"Chairwoman, if you need anything, just let me know. I will do my best to support you." 

"Suzuki-kun, do you have diving experience?"

"I have dived in Hawaii before. I even got my license." 

"That's great!" 

"If you pay for it, you can get it in a couple of days." 

"Matsuura-san, you could at least give him a compliment at a time like this." 

"You are right......." 

The conversation between the high-spirited individuals naturally became lively. Thanks to Takeuchi's witty and casual manner in adjusting Nishino's and Suzuki-kun's positions, there was no conflict between them. As for Suzuki-kun, he was able to keep his position next to the Chairwoman, a situation that could not have been better. 

Thanks to this, it didn't take long for the ship to reach its destination. 

As soon as the vessel stopped, the instructor gave the order. 

Following his instructions, those carrying equipment descended from the deck into the water. Except for Matsuura-san, who had a scare just before entering the water and lightly bumped her tank against the step, there was no delay and everyone was able to enter the water without incident. 

The bottom of the sea was covered with white sand, and coral and rock surfaces could be seen in places. 

The sunlight shining down from the surface of the sea poured down on them. 

The clear blue ocean, illuminated by the sunlight, was crystal clear. In the middle of the sea, brightly colored fish swim in groups at a distance where you can touch them if you reach out your hand. If you look far into the distance, you can see the endless deep colors of the sea. 

The air that comes out of the mouth rises to the surface of the sea, shimmering. 

Even the casual sequence of air bubbles seemed magical in this place. 

" Fugaga ! Fuugagaga ! "

" ...... " 

An excited Gabu-chan acts violently underwater. 

Her body language and hand gestures show her excitement. 

Rose, watching her, can only give a blank stare. 

Rose, like Suzuki-kun, holds a diving license, although she does not announce it to the public. In the course of her work, she often has to hide underwater. The shallow, warm, calm sea is a ripe one for diving during the daytime. 

Underwater, Nishino's behavior draws more attention than his pursuit of fish groups. 

He is looking at his classmates who are having a great time, and he is looking at them with a distant look in his eyes. He is maintaining a certain distance from everyone else, and he is calmly maintaining neutral buoyancy in the water. His appearance suggests that, like Rose, she is quite accustomed to the water. 

" ............ " 

It would have been nice to see her drawing a little, she thought honestly. 

Then, she could have enjoyed the lecture with the students. 

On the other hand, the members of Class 2A seemed to be enjoying themselves. 

All of them were so moved by the sight of the underwater scenery that they could not talk. 

Even though they could not talk, they communicated with each other through gestures and enjoyed exploring the underwater world together. Even the Chairwoman, who usually takes a step back in her behavior, had a twinkle in her eye as she experienced diving for the first time. 

About ten minutes after they began to dive, something unusual happened. 

Something unusual happened. 

Matsuura-san, who was relatively close to the boat, was the first to notice. 

"........" 

As if weaving between the rocky surfaces dotting the seafloor, the shadow of a huge fish suddenly appeared. 

It was a shark. 

It was a big one, perhaps five meters tall. 

It had a large mouth full of sharp teeth. The tip of its nose pointed forward. There is no way you could mistake their vicious faces for anything else. It was more powerful than anything you could see in an aquarium. 

The instructor who was also present noticed something unusual. 

A whistle was sounded without a moment's delay. 

The other people present confirmed the shark's presence. 

Everyone turned pale and began to swim toward the boat in a panic. 

Matsuura-san, the Chairwoman, Risa-chan, and Suzuki-kun were relatively close to the boat, so they were able to get out of the water quickly. The same was true for the instructor who was taking care of them. 

On the other hand, Gabriella, who had been jumping around, Nishino, Rose, and Takeuchi, who were concerned about her, and the instructor who was with them were a little far from the boat. They were also enjoying diving in a somewhat deeper area. 

Naturally, they were late in noticing the sharks. 

It was the instructor who made the first move. 

He left Nishino and the others behind and swam to the boat. 

At the same time, the shark made a straight line for Gabriella. 

It began swimming through the water at a tremendous speed. 

"Huh !? " 

In just a few seconds or so, the two were close to each other. 

Gabriella's reaction was poor. She tried to use her power in a panic, but the current moved only slightly under the shark's nose. Rather, the prosthetic hand hit the regulator and caused free flow due to the mishandling of the limb. 

A large amount of leaked air turned into air bubbles and headed up toward the sea surface. 

Unable to breathe properly, Gabriela begins to drown. 

She is in a complete panic. 

A shark with a wide open mouth approaches to swallow her up. 

" Fugagagagaga ... " 

As the huge jaws closed, blood stained the sea a bright red. 

The translucent blue color was clouded by the blood. 

The blood was so thick that it blocked the view of Nishino and the others who were hurrying to get to her. 

" ...... " 

Looking at the scene, the Futsumen wondered what was wrong with it. 

It was too good to be true. 

Around them, many other students were enjoying diving. Each of them must have an instructor to supervise them. If a large shark was approaching, someone else would have noticed.

What's more, the shark had somehow managed to bite Gabu-chan's leg. 

The person who was attacked was no longer able to use his strength. All she could do was thrash about, flailing her arms and legs like a lunatic. At this rate, she would probably drown within a few minutes. 

Rose, who is physically superior to the shark, approached the shark as quickly as possible. 

With both arms and legs around the neck of the shark, she struggles to get a hold of the fish. 

" ............ " 

The Futsumen extended his hands,. 

Rose with her right hand and Gabriella with her left, each grabbing an arm. 

Then, they head straight to the surface. 

The shark, attached to the former, went deeper with it. 

Nishino, without caring about the shark biting Gabriela, tries to pull them all toward the sea with his huge body. Rose, who was unexpectedly dragged, looked at Futsumen with a shocked look, wondering what on earth he was up to. 

She appealed with her eyes that she had to do something about this big guy first. 

Nishino, however, didn't care and pulled them along with him. 

The girls were soon carried to the surface by him. 

"Nishino! I'll take care of the sharks......" 

"There's no need to rush. Just stay calm and check the situation."

As soon as she emerged from the surface of the sea, Rose barked as she took off her regulator. 

By watching her demeanor, the Futsumen understood that she was, more or less, concerned for Gabriela's safety. Because the girls are usually quarrelsome, it was he who warmed his heart to the series of reactions. 

"How can I stay calm?" 

"Look closely. It's not a shark." 

To the raging Rose, Nishino points between her legs as if to admonish her. 

The shark has already disappeared from his view. 

Held by her legs is yet another marine creature. 

The one they were trying to watch today, even diving into the ocean to watch it. 

"What's the meaning of this?" 

" It's a sea turtle. " 

" Eh ...... " 

Having been pointed out by Nishino, Rose suddenly realized, too. 

The creature she held in her hands was more lumpy than she had expected. What's more, they are not that big, and moreover, their movements are slow and sluggish. It was hard to believe that it was a fish, which jumps around even on land. 

Her attention naturally turns to her own crotch. 

" ............. " 

And there, indeed, was a turtle. 

The sea turtle was picked up and gave Rose a wistful look. 

Please give me a break. 

Please don't be rough with it. 

At least, that is how it seemed to the two people watching the turtle. 

After staring at each other for a while, there was no sign of violence. 

It is likely that they have given up on escaping on their own, having understood her monstrous strength. 

"Do I make myself clear?"

"...... Yeah, you're right, it does look like a sea turtle."

The individual is about one meter long. 

Its face was sticking out of the sea. 

It was being held by Rose and was limp. 

It was not even biting Gabu-chan. 

When she opened her legs, the other one ran away, heading underwater in a great hurry. 

"Turtles are surprisingly charming and endearing creatures."

" I don't deny that. " 

With the threat gone, their attention turns once again to Gabriella. 

She is unconscious and limp, but shows no signs of injury. Her leg, which should have been bitten, is clean. And even if the shark was real, her legs are prosthetic, so no blood would flow from them. 

"By the way, Nishino, I know you didn't expect this, but ......" 

"Yeah, I didn't think we'd be attacked at this time." 

What came to both of their minds was the opponent they had been facing just last night. 

He was a person of unknown gender and age, and his face was unknown.

"You definitely saw the sharks at first, didn't you?" 

"I saw them. Seems to be a pretty superior force to be reckoned with."

"[ Normal ] I'm surprised you had trouble dealing a shark." 

"When it comes to abilities that don't affect the body, there are only so many ways to deal with them." 

Seeing that Rose had calmed down, Nishino released her arm. He pulls Gabriella under him and quickly holds out his body to her as she floats right in front of him. Although she is no longer under threat from the shark, she has stopped breathing. 

There is no doubt that the situation is time-sensitive. 

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to resuscitate her. I'm going to go check the underwater." 

"Okay " 

Leaving Gabriella in Rose's care, Nishino headed back into the water. 

At sea, the instructor noticed the three of them and in a great hurry turned the boat around. Voices of concern for them were raised in rapid succession from the boat. Perhaps noticing the commotion, the boats of other groups began to move around. 

Without caring about the reactions of those around them, the Futsumen headed for the bottom of the sea and dove. 

He hurriedly looked around in the sea, which had regained its serenity. 

The shadows of the uneven rocky bottom were a must-see. 

However, after a few minutes of looking around, he could not find any human figures that looked like them. In the meantime, one of the instructors entered the water looking for Nishino. Deciding that further searching would be difficult, he decided to return to the boat. 

◇ ◆ ◇

The diving experience was temporarily halted due to an unexpected shark incident. Nishino and the others had to follow the instructor's instructions and return to land by boat. The same was the case for the other students who were playing around the area, as well as for the guests from other places. 

Gabriella, who had drowned, was quickly revived by Rose. She was initially a bit sick because she had drunk some seawater, but after a while, she regained her composure. There was no sign of any abnormalities in her sense or body. 

From then on, what was done on the boat was to check for sharks. 

What kind and how big were the sharks that showed up? 

What helped us solve this problem was a waterproof action camera that Takeuchi had attached to his mask. The camera's lens captured everything that happened underwater, from the moment the shark entered the water to the time of the accident. 

But somehow, not even a glimpse of the shark appeared in the video. 

Still, if any figure was sought, it was a sea turtle. 

It was about the same size as the one Nishino and Rose had identified. 

As it approached them, the instructor sounded a whistle. Immediately afterward, a panicked Gabriella was seen drowning. Her prosthetic hand slammed against the regulator, and the air leaking out could be clearly seen. 

Immediately after, Nishino and Rose rushed toward her. 

Takeuchi, who was shooting the video, initially tried to follow suit. 

However, around the time the video showed the Futsumen, the handsome man decided to turn around. From then on, the video showed him returning to the boat. After getting out of the water, the sky was shown for a long time, along with the voices of the people who were making a lot of noise, probably because they had taken off their masks. 

Fortunately, the scene of Rose picking up the turtle was not filmed. 

And by the time we finished checking the footage, the boat arrived at the harbor. 

As a result, the shark disturbance at the site was treated as a kind of mass panic phenomenon caused by the instructor's misjudgment and the ensuing panic. 

The presence of the shark was not confirmed by the other instructors and participants diving around the site, nor by the survey conducted immediately after the accident. Furthermore, there was no one who could convince a third party that the shark had not been caught on film. 

The fact that Nishino and Rose testified that it was a sea turtle and not a shark was also significant. 

However, only those who did not witness the shark could honestly believe this. 

"Chairwoman, that was definitely a shark, right?" 

" Yeah. I think Risa's right, too." 

Chairwoman and Risa-chan nodded to each other under the parasol, looking out at the beautiful ocean. 

From their point of view, it is a complete disappointment. 

They were sitting on the sheets on the beach, looking at the sea in a daze. 

After taking off their diving gear, the girls were visiting the beach in their swimsuits. 

After lunch, the sun was still high in the sky. However, they did not feel like diving again and decided to spend the rest of the day playing on the beach. This was the same for the other students, and there were a few familiar faces in the area. 

They were spending their time swimming in the shallows, playing beach volleyball, and doing whatever they wanted.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, but the store was crowded. ...... What's that? Where's Rose and the others?"

"Chairwoman, what do you think of this? Isn't this tropical?"

Takeuchi and Suzuki-kun, drinks in hand, came below them. 

The former scurried around, taking in the absence of some members under parasols. Before they headed out to make purchases, Nishino, Rose, Gabriela, and Matsuura-san were in the same place. These were the people who had been working together in a casual manner since the dive. 

"Rose and the girls are in the restroom. Matsuura-san is with them." 

"Oh, I see." 

"Where did Nishino-kun go? "

"Oh, he went to the restroom on his way to the store."

Suzuki-kun sits next to Chairwoman and Takeuchi sits next to Risa-chan. Thank you, you're welcome, and so on. The positioning was done spontaneously as drinks were passed around, mainly by Takeuchi, who respected Suzuki-kun's wishes. 

"Takeuchi, don't you think that was definitely a shark?"

"I don't know......."

Risa-chan asked Takeuchi a question. 

He hesitated to reply, helped by the presence of Nishino and Rose. It was a targeted guess that there might be some kind of human disturbance going on again. Then again, as a good-looking man, he found the Futsumen's words credible.

"I mean, Takeuchi is really great, isn't he?" 

" Huh ? Why? " 

"You were about to go for the shark." 

"No, I ran away after all. It was a turtle, not a shark."

At first, the handsome man thought that he might be able to use his own poison. 

But those thoughts fizzled out when he saw the Futsumen's figure. 

Takeuchi felt a little bitter about that fact. 

On the other hand, Suzuki-kun and Risa-chan, unaware of his feelings, were excited. 

" Even if so, it's not half bad when you're afraid!" 

"The instructor was running away as fast as he could!"

"He was really pissed off afterwards, wasn't he?"

"What's that? I'm curious." 

"Remember when we had to wait at the port after the boat came back? At that time, he was being yelled at really hard by someone in the back who seemed to be his boss." 

"In Takeuchi-kun’s video, you can see him running away."

They still can't seem to get over their excitement, and they are constantly lifting up the handsome man. Rumors are likely to spread to other students this evening. By tomorrow morning, they will have earned the title of shark hunters. 

"But, that being said, Nishino-kun and ......" 

Overhearing their exchange, the Chairwoman suddenly muttered. 

What leaked out of his mouth was Futsumen's name. 

"It looked like a sea turtle to him, and that's why he wouldn't run away." 

"Rose said the same thing. I wonder if it was a turtle after all?" 

" ......... "

As Chairwoman, she was not happy with the outcome. 

Meanwhile, the Futsumen, who had parted ways with Takeuchi and the others, had joined Rose and Gabriella, who had also left the Chairwoman's group. The location was away from the area lined with parasols, at a corner of the beach where rocky surfaces could be seen in places.

The less crowded spot was the perfect place for a secret discussion. 

"Nishino, how did it go after that? " 

"I'm sorry to say I didn't find anything." 

"........I see."

"Perhaps they approached us, mixed in with the boats of other guests. The fact that they were trying to cause an accidental death and how quickly they disappeared suggests that they are familiar with this type of maneuvering. I guess we need to be very careful in the future." 

"When you say it like that, it sends shivers down my spine."

"If you feel any discomfort, no matter how trivial, then you should pay close attention."

There are no other people in the vicinity besides them. 

Beside Nishino and Rose, who are talking face to face with each other, Gabriella is crouched on the beach, playing with the sand. In her hand is a small pile of sand that she has dug up and piled up. 

"Excellent. Next time, I will never be fooled. I will definitely catch you." 

The way she mumbled and grumbled, you could see the resentment she felt toward the other party. 

She was clearly frustrated, a complete change from her initial approach to the dive. 

"It is not good to be too tense. You should keep your shoulders relaxed." 

"It's humiliating. I'm not going to stand by and be treated this way."

"I don't think so, but did you just wet your pants because you were scared of a shark? "

"I didn't! I didn't pee my pants! No, I didn't!"

Apparently, she had hit the bull's-eye. 

Gabu-chan's face turned red and she screamed. 

Her hand movements to handle the sand also became violent in response. 

"I don't know who you are, but I won't allow it. Someday I will make them squeal." 

".......I see."

Exhaling her frustration, she diligently arranges the piles of sand. 

She must not be able to stay without moving her body. 

Rose, looking at her from the side, told Nishino.

"In any case, the timing of the attack suggests that they have been watching us all morning, or that they knew in advance that we would be heading out to sea." 

"I'm curious about the local collaborator that Francisca instructed us to go with."

"Do you think it's the same person as the shark we saw today?"

"Perhaps he is already dead?"

It was the clerk at the restaurant we had visited last night. 

The dialect of the other party sounded different to Nishino and Gabriella. Recalling the exchange at the time, Rose understood that the culprit of today's shark ruckus was also at the scene yesterday.

"Even so, I didn't think the schedule for today was already prepared." 

"Wasn't sister being followed on her first day? "

"I wouldn't be so naive."

"They can fool your sensory organs, but you can never be sure."

"Is the other party trying to deceive the sensory organs? I'm worried about the handling of the data you got." 

"I'm not sure how persuasive you can be when you're playing in the sand."

"In any case, I am concerned about the handling of the planned data." 

"I'll contact my useless boss about that as well."

"Yeah, that's a good idea."

With their immediate plans in place, the meeting was over and Rose turned on her heel to head back to the beach. Gabriella also stood up, dusting off the sand from her hands. Nishino followed her back and started to walk away. 

At the same time, a familiar voice was heard in the area. 

"Oh, Nishino, there you are!"

"Matsuura-san, what's going on? You came all the way to a place like this." 

"Isn't that my line?"

Matsuura-san came from the direction they were just about to head. 

She checks out a familiar face and rushes up to them. 

"I met them as I was leaving the restroom. Taking a quick stroll in that vein." 

"Come to think of it, you and Rose and the others sometimes talk at school."

After Nishino's excuse, her gaze turned to Rose and Gabriella. 

The blonde Lolita, who found the look disturbing, immediately voiced her displeasure. 

"How did you end up in a place like this?  " 

"I was waiting for you in front of the bathroom, but you never came out, did you? I don't think they went back to Takeuchi, so I wondered where they went. I don't feel comfortable in that group without Nishino-kun and the others." 

"I'm sorry, I didn't think you were waiting for me."

In fact, like Rose and Gabriella, Matsuura-san was looking for a good time to be alone with Nishino. However, as a result of the Futsumen's intentions, the girls had gotten to him before she did, and she had to wander alone on the beach. 

After walking around aimlessly, she finally caught him. 

"Sorry, I thought that with the Chairwoman with us, there would be no problem." 

"I was thinking, when we were doing the audition, isn't Nishino-kun even more pointed when he speaks off campus than when he speaks in the classroom? Is it possible that you are creating a different character than you do on campus?" 

"Do you think so?" 

While securing control of the conversation, Matsuura-san shows off her own female body. 

Wearing a triangle bikini with little fabric, she crosses her arms under her chest and raises her flabby boobs in front of the Futsumen. What do you think? She also occasionally wiggles and wriggles to assert herself around her buttocks. 

From Rose's point of view, it was a resentful sight. 

No matter how much she wanted it, she could not get it. 

Gabu-chan looked down at her own buns and hoped for the near future. 

"Oh, that's right. Speaking of character building, the Chairwoman has been talking a lot about Nishino-kun." 

"What's wrong with the Chairwoman? "

"She said she's going to try to educate you during this trip."

"Educate me?"

The virgin's heart beat wildly as he heard the somewhat dangerous-sounding words. 

However, this was clearly denied the next moment. 

"You don't read the general atmosphere, do you? That kind of thing." 

"..............."

Matsuura-san was quick to reveal the existence of the Nishino training project to the person in question. 

She thought it would be faster to hit him head-on than to go around him. She decided that at least the boy in front of her was not so stupid that he could not understand the meaning of what she was saying. 

She also thought that if she told him here and now, the Chairwoman would take care of the rest. 

This is a very different action from Ogino-kun, who casually brought up the subject and was crushed. 

And it was only for a short time that words were exchanged between the two. 

Having found an opening for himself in the topic, Rose voiced a rebuttal. 

"Is that so ? I think it's fine the way it is" 

"It's just plain annoying, isn't it?"

"Isn't that a matter of personal sensibility? It's a matter of personal taste."

A virgin who has learned the ways of the world and is seduced by the lightest of women. This is Rose, who has caught a glimpse of the perilous situation that is about to come in the not-too-distant future. Recently, he has been having more and more contact with the opposite sex, and she is concerned about this. 

As Matsuura-san, the first representative of light women, she would like to ask for agreement elsewhere. 

" What do you think, Gabriella? " 

"I'm fine with Nishino Gokyou being Nishino Gokyou."

"...... What is that? I'm feeling deep love all of a sudden."

It was a straight-forward response in every sense of the word. 

It was an irritating question and answer for Rose, who had been harboring similar feelings in her heart. 

That should have been my line, she thought, glaring at Gabu-chan.

"Sister, what's wrong with your scary face?" 

"...... It's nothing."

On the other hand, Nishino's heart was filled with apologies when he heard about Shimizu's movements. 

He reflected on his past behavior, saying that he had caused her trouble even in his travels. He is a Futsumen who has been repeatedly criticized for his behavior in the past. Even so, he naturally pretends to be cynical, which is bad.

This is because, for him, it is perfectly normal. 

It is just as if a person from a rural area naturally speaks in a dialect. 

However, he reminded himself that it is important to be considerate. 

His feelings toward the Chairwoman made Nishino more aware than ever of his own conduct. 

"Thank you Matsuura-san for all you've done for me." 

"There is no need to thank me or anything." 

"I'll be very careful from now on."

"Oh, and don't tell the Chairwoman about this, okay?" 

"I understand."

As for Rose, it is nothing more than an afterthought.

As if naturally interrupting their exchange, a suggestion also leaked out. 

"By the way, shouldn't we go back? We've got the whole ocean to enjoy." 

"Yeah, I guess so."

Nishino and his friends decided to return to Takeuchi-kun and the others after the strategy meeting. 

◇ ◆ ◇

The night of the third day of the school trip has arrived . 

After returning to the hotel from the beach, Rose and Gabriella used their free time after dinner until they went to bed to meet again today to respond to Francisca's request. The scene is the guest room where they stay. 

According to the promise we exchanged in advance, it's almost time for Nishino to come . 

At that time, the terminal trembled in Rose's bosom . 

Turning to the screen, Francisca's name is displayed . 

"I just got a call from that woman." 

"Finally she called." 

She had repeatedly contacted Francisca during the day, but she never received a response. It was some time after dark when a return call came in under Rose. Her subordinate stood in the middle of the room, holding a phone to her ear as her boss called. 

Gabriella hung over the edge of the bed and watched this quietly. 

"I'm sorry it took me so long to get in touch with you." 

"Isn't that a little negligent of you?"

"I had some urgent business to attend. So what's this about?"

"I ran into him and his associates at the location." 

"Oh, really? No wonder you've been slacking."

"I would like to expect them to at least do a preliminary inspection of the site."

"What can we do about it? It's a rare case. People like you, who happen to be stuck in one place, are rare. I would like to secure them if I could, but have you already disposed of them?"

"We have been engaged by the other party. If you have any information, could you please share it with me? If you don't, you could lose one of your most cherished assets permanently." 

The eyes of the subordinate, which agitated her boss, glanced at Gabriella. 

Having been made the focus of the negotiation, she looked unhappy and glared back at Rose. However, Gabu-chan was well aware of the perilous situation they were in, so she did not speak out in rebuttal.

"What, are you taking it out on me for interrupting your trip? You have him. " 

"I hope you understand that I'm asking you for advice."

In response to Rose's words, Francisca also showed a reaction . 

I'm at a loss for words to continue, and I can feel a sign of silence over the phone . 

With a slightly more serious voice, the boss asked his subordinate for confirmation . 

"...... I'd appreciate a detailed report." 

"I hope you'll love to hear it."

Rose told her the events of the last three days. On the first day, she was sent home with empty data after making contact with the other party. On the second day, she and Nishino were defeated without success. On the third day, Gabriela was attacked during a dive. 

She told them everything, including the fake shark and the dimensionality of the Futsumen. 

The reply from Francisca, given in response, was not good. 

"I'm sorry, but I don't have any information that I can give you at this time." 

"What about the existence of people with similar abilities? " 

"I'll send you the data of the people who might be in the same boat."

"Yes, I'd be happy to check on that as soon as possible." 

Gabriella, who was repeatedly brought up on the subject, silently watched the exchange over the phone, thinking that her sister was treating her lightly again. She is a well educated woman and never interrupts the middle of a call. 

In front of her, Rose and Francisca continue their conversation solemnly. 

"This job, however, does not need to be done at the risk of her life. I am sorry that I asked you to do this unilaterally, but I would appreciate it if you would lower your priority from now on. I will arrange for additional personnel immediately."

"You are unusually generous." 

"We'll provide the transportation for the return trip. You'll have to stay on site."

"Yes, I think that would be a good idea."

The content of the instructions was pleasing from Rose's point of view. 

Now she can enjoy her school trip from then on. At least I won't have to sneak out of the hotel at night and not be able to sleep well while working hard. Although there are only two days left, she strongly decides to enjoy the trip to the fullest. 

With their immediate plans set, the girls end their call. 

Rose put her phone down from her ear, and Gabriella immediately asked her to confirm. 

"Sister, what did the old lady say?" 

"You are useful sometimes, aren't you?"

"Sorry?"

"She said we could leave the work and enjoy the trip."

"I see."

Gabu-chan understood her sister's words quickly and gave a small nod. 

She is unwilling to be left to be beaten by an enemy she has yet to see. The humiliation of peeing is something she is unlikely to forget for the time being. However, she was not willing to disobey the client's instructions and take the initiative to fight. Because, at the moment, they were at a great disadvantage. 

In the meantime, there was a knock at the door of the guest room. 

"Well, it looks like he's here." 

"Wait a minute. Were you not listening to me just now?" 

Gabriella was the first to move toward the sound. 

Rose follows in great haste. 

They passed a short corridor and faced the door to the guest room. 

But when they opened the door, standing on the other side was a strange teenage boy. What was going on, she wondered, as not one, but two stood side by side, staring at them with nervous faces. 

Rose and Gabriella tilted their heads as they opened the door. 

"Who are you ? " 

"My name is Kikuchi, I'm in the same class as Nishino!" 

"I'm Araki, also in class A with him! " 

Only two days left of the school trip. 

The students were beginning to feel lonely and impatient with the passing time. Everyone was trying their best to enjoy the trip, to see what they could do to make this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity even better. 

Such speculation motivated some students. 

Mainly boys from the middle caste and below. 

More specifically, the "no-girlfriends" who are the same age as the rest of the students. 

" Rose-chan, please go out with me !"

" Gabriella-chan, will you go out with me ?" 

Yesterday, these guys had not been able to get any results, having been shunned by Matsuura-san. 

Among them, the presence of Nishino, who accompanied Rose and Gabriella  into the girls' room, had been rumored since the card game on the first day. From the standpoint of those who looked down on the Futsumen, this was not an interesting story. 

Why Nishino? 

These adolescent thoughts exploded on the last day of the school trip that was just around the corner. 

The students, with the intention of making friends with Rose and Gabriella, visit the place where they are staying. In the hallway, a few more boys are sobbing in the shadows around the bend, as if to watch their every move. 

"Oh, I see..." 

"I guess I feel better while traveling."

They looked at them and muttered, as if they had reached a mutual decision. 

The girls were calm as they answered. 

"I am sorry, but I cannot reciprocate your feelings." 

"I don't know anything about you, and I'm not interested in you at the moment." 

Rose and Gabriella both declined. 

The two boys, who had been hopeless from the start, backed down. They left, repeating their apologies and saying they were sorry for saying such strange things out of the blue. Perhaps because of this, the atmosphere did not deteriorate in the slightest. 

Immediately afterward, the bustle of the boys could be heard from far away. 

"I knew I couldn't do it."

"I didn't make it either."

"Of course you didn't."

"I told you not to do it."

"I mean, why'd you go?"

"I mean, don't you feel like this is a good memory?"

"Maybe I should tell someone."

"Rose, you were so sweet to turn me down."

"I know. That smile was great."

And these boys' movements were not limited to the two who visited their rooms. As Gabriella pointed out, all of the nonmotivated members of Class 2A, who were in the mood because they were on a trip, decided to put their feelings they had been keeping in their hearts to the person they wanted to be with. 

"Hey, look at the group chat.Kaneko got Satake-san's blessing." 

"Oh, really?" 

"Really?" 

"Kaneko's dad is a lawyer, right?"

"His house is huge, too."

"Come on, don't be so backward."

"I remember Satake-san wanted to get a job."

"I envy those who have a big house."

"That's for real."

It is just like Nishino when he was just awakening to his youth. 

After seeing the boys off, the two girls retreat to the guest room, exchanging a few pleasantries. 

"You are acting so naive again, aren't you?" 

"I think it's much healthier than being a bit of a bitch like you sister."

"Shut up."

"I now understand why some of the boys' movements have been the subject of rumors."

"Rumors ? " 

"You don't know about this?" 

Gabriella pulls out her phone from her pocket and shows the screen to Rose. 

What is displayed there is a group chat on a messaging app. The statements of an account that appears to be that of a female student consisting of several people are being posted one after another in an ongoing manner. As Gabu-chan moved her finger, past conversations flowed from bottom to top across the display. 

Even after going back a good amount of time, the changes in date and time are minimal. 

Quite often texts are exchanged. 

What is being discussed are a series of confessions from male students. 

"What's the fun in being so enthusiastic? " 

"Don't they have high expectations?"

"That's a bit harsh, but I don't know."

"Whether or not they accept the confession or not, the fact that they have been asked by the opposite sex must be of some value to them. Otherwise, they would not go to the trouble of telling others about the fact that they were approached."

"I don't think there is anything more dangerous than relying on others for one's value." 

"I think you sister should distance yourself from him and look at yourself again." 

"I'm not dependent on him. I just want him to be mine. " 

"I think that's a terrible thing to say. " 

The movement among the boys in Class 2A seemed to be a topic of conversation in other classes as well. As was the case with Rose and Gabriella, it seems that sudden confessions are being made in various places, transcending class boundaries. 

Because of Nishino, it is Class 2A, which has undergone a massive confessional move. 

If he had known about it, he would have been thrilled to receive that awfully adolescent event. Unfortunately, however, the Futsumen was not a member of one of the many chat groups in the class. 

Naturally, this information never reached him. 

As he was doing so, there was another knock at the door of the room. 

A dry knocking sound echoed through the room. 

"Is it the same kind of thing again? " 

"Let's go check it out." 

Gabu-chan, moving ahead of the others, looked into the door scope. 

There she sees the waiting person. 

She immediately opened the door and responded. 

Rose also saw him and hurried to the doorway of the room. 

"We have been waiting for you." 

"Why don't you go inside for now? There might be students outside."

"That's true."

Rose and Gabriella stand in the doorway and exchange words. 

To this Futsumen gave a small nod and said. 

"Oh." 

"Would you like to see my underwear all over the bed now? " 

"I'm so dirty, I just want you to clean me up!"

".............."

At their urging, the Futsumen silently took a step forward. 

At the same time, Rose made her move. 

She changed her posture from one of inviting the other into the guest bedroom. 

He turned around and unleashed his fist at the person who stood behind him. 

"Ah... " 

The Futsumen's reaction was remarkable. 

He took a pistol from his pocket and pulled the trigger against her without hesitation. 

A high-pitched crack echoed through the room. 

The target was set on Rose's head. 

However, the bullet released from the gun was perfectly still at the tip of the nose. 

Gabriella's strength caught it beautifully. 

After a few moments, the bullet fell to the floor without success. 

Unfortunately, the bullet only grazed her cheek. Perhaps because the preliminary movement was too large, it seemed to have given the other party an opportunity to avoid it. 

The resistance from the firing prevented her from continuing the offensive. 

"That's where I want you to guess, sister." 

"Wouldn't you like to bring him home with you if you could?"

Without a pause, there was a change in Futsumen's behavior. 

He turned on his heel from them and fled the guest room. 

Having witnessed this instantaneous decision and series of actions, Rose and Gabriella instantly understood who the other party was. They did not expect that the person who visited their living room in this way was who he appeared to be. 

"I was prepared for at least one shot." 

"How could he not respond to your sister's insincere greeting with a sarcastic remark?" 

"I hate it when you talk about him like you know what you're talking about." 

They chased after the fake Nishino in such a hurry. 

They ran out of the guest room and into the hallway. 

The other party is at the end of the turn at the end of the hallway where the girls are staring. 

Following his back, the two girls ran forward down the hallway. 

However, just after passing the corner, they could not find the other party there. 

"Where did he run off to?" 

"Did he not hide like a chameleon with his strange powers? " 

"If you're so sure, why don't you do something about it?"

"I already have, but I don't feel a trace of it."

"I see." 

The girls naturally stop in their tracks. 

They spent the rest of the day staring at the corridor, where no one else was in sight. 

A few seconds have passed since they stopped, and Gabriella murmurs.

"Sister, why don't you go back to the room and wait for the real one to arrive?" 

"Okay. And while we're at it, let's call the others."

"What others?" 

"To his classmates who know about him." 

"I see."

Rose had just been warned by her boss not to cross any dangerous bridges. 

She nodded her head at this point and decided to return to the guest room to meet up with the real Futsumen. 

◇ ◆ ◇

At the same time, the Chairwoman was relaxing in her room after finishing dinner at the hotel. 

Today, she plans to head to Risa-chan's room in a short while from now. There, she will meet up with her and Takeuchi's group, and plans include strolling around the hotel and playing games in the guest room. 

Matsuura-san, her roommate, is not here. 

As soon as she finished her meal, she immediately left the room in search of Nishino. 

A confessional move came to the unfriendly members of Class 2A. She decided to use this to get closer to the Futsumen. She told him that she might not return to her room tonight, a comment made just before she left. For Shimizu, it was a statement that made him feel threatened, but he had no choice but to keep quiet and let it go. 

In the few moments of spare time that had been created in this way. 

In the pocket of her skirt, her phone vibrated with a buzzing sound. 

When she took it out and checked the display, she saw Rose's name there. 

" ......... " 

It was the Chairwoman who took one look at the call and felt disappointed. 

Still, after a few calls or so, she was ready and took the call.

"Hi, this is Shimizu."

"I know this is sudden, but if you see an imposter of Nishino-kun, could you let me know?"

"Huh?"

The blonde lolita started saying strange things again, the Chairwoman thought. 

Rose continued to speak, regardless of Shimizu's confusion. 

"Remember the sharks that were all the rage during the lunchtime diving experience? You can assume that something similar is going on in the hotel. Maybe someone else is impersonating him."

" Eh, maybe that's the shark we saw in the sea ... " 

"That's all I wanted to tell you. Well then, I'm counting on you."

The exchange of words was short-lived, and the line was unilaterally disconnected. 

The call lasted only a few dozen seconds. 

The Chairwoman stared at the phone screen and let out a sigh . 

"They say you're an impostor, but how am I supposed to decide whether you're an impostor or not?" 

Shimizu did not remember receiving any explanation after the shark incident. 

It was too abrupt an advice and urging. 

Nevertheless, the sensitive Chairwoman recognized from the past that the mysterious powers of the Futsumen group or some similar phenomenon was causing a commotion in the immediate vicinity. As a result, imposters and the like are probably circulating. 

" ......... " 

The phone is in standby mode and the display has faded away. 

Looking at the darkened screen, I was conscious of the existence of an imposter I had yet to see. 

As I was doing so, there was a light knock at the door of the guest room. 

"Ah, yes " 

Reflexively, the Chairwoman heads for the door facing the hallway.

Thinking that Risa and the others might have arrived, she rushed to the door. The girls had been going back and forth between each other's rooms rather casually even up until yesterday. After a short distance, she pushed open the door without hesitation. 

Standing there was the very person she had just been talking about. 

"Eh, why Nishino-kun..."

"I'm sorry I came in here unannounced." 

"I don't mind, but........."

With advice from Rose, Shimizu is even more nervous than usual . 

I naturally stare at the person in front of me as if I am judging the item . 

He stood in the corridor and said in an unconcerned manner.

"If you don't mind, maybe the two of us can have a brief conversation?" 

The Chairwoman thought. There is something a little strange about this guy. 

Specifically, his tone of voice was strange. 

He is a Futsumen who usually speaks in a strange manner, but at this moment, it was even stranger. Normally, his behavior is quite normal, but perhaps it's because I have been infected by his usual behavior for so long that I feel uncomfortable listening to it. 

Just hearing a few words from Shimizu sent shivers down her spine . 

"What's the matter? Chairwoman."

"That's my line, Nishino, what's going on?"

"I have been thinking about a few things."

I was reminded early on of the advice Rose had given me. 

She asked me to let her know if there is an imposter of Nishino-kun. 

In terms of imposters, none could be more suspicious. 

He looks exactly like someone she knows. The eyebrows, which have been growing thicker and thicker since the host incident, are a perfect match. And yet, her strangely refreshing manner of speaking is extremely creepy to look at. I honestly thought that his usual behavior would be better than this. 

That's probably why Shimizu's heart was alarmed at how absolutely different it was. 

"Um, uh, you know, ...... Hey, can I have a minute?"

"Okay. Can I wait here?" 

"Um, yeah. Okay, please."

Leaving the unfamiliar Futsumen at the front of the room, the Chairwoman retreated to the guest room. 

She closed the door and checked that the auto-lock was engaged. 

Pulling a phone from her pocket, she called Rose in a great hurry. 

"There it is! There it is, the Nishino-kun imposter!" 

"Oh, really? Where is he?"

"In front of Matsuura-san's room and mine. You know where?"

"In front of Shimizu-san's room? I don't know why he went out that way......."

[Was the caller Chikako Shimizu? If so, she shared the group with him. Could it be that he was checking on her at some point and decided to take her hostage? ]

[That's a possibility.]

From the other side of the phone, I could hear not only Rose's voice, but Gabriella's as well. 

The Chairwoman felt her spine stiffen as she listened to the extremely noisy conversation between the two women. 

"I'll be right there. Keep him busy." 

"Uh, yeah......." 

To be honest, I didn't want to deal with the Chairwoman. 

I had the feeling during our brief exchange that he was kind of creepy. 

But, unable to refuse, I nodded my head. 

The line was cut off again by Rose, unilaterally and with a snap. The Chairwoman looked at the too-short call time on the phone display, and stiffened for a moment. She wondered to herself if she should just let it go. 

After some time, she made up her mind and headed back to the doorway of the room. 

"I'm sorry, Nishino. I made you wait." 

"No, it's nothing to worry about." 

"Oh, yeah? By the way, my room is a little messy."

"Then why don't we talk in my room? Ogino-kun's not there right now."

"..........."

A casual invitation from a Futsumen is also hard from the Chairwoman's point of view. 

The pick-up line that would normally resonate in the chest in some way resonated with Shimizu's mentality as if she was being tickled on the side of her stomach. It was embarrassing. She wished she had worn at least some makeup, and remembered the good-looking guy she had glimpsed in the past. 

"I'd like to at least hear your story here." 

"I have something for you. Preferably in a secluded place......."

As Rose instructed, Shimizu desperately tried to buy time. 

Then, within a few minutes, a person came from the corner of the corridor. 

"Oh, there he is indeed." 

"I can't have him running away again. Get him strapped down now."

"Yes, sir."

Not only Rose, but Gabriella was with her. 

When the girls saw the Futsumen in their path, they hurried down the corridor. The former one, who was ahead of them, even raised his fist in the air, which was quite a frightening sight for Shimizu.

"...... This is the feeling, sister, wait a minute ......" 

"I'll make you regret your disguise." 

Rose's arm extended toward Futsumen's abdomen. 

However, the small fist that was thrust out failed to catch the target. 

A few centimeters from its front, it came to rest as if it had punched an invisible wall. The energized body was forced to make all the joints in her body creak. Her mouth emitted an inarticulate scream as her muscles ached. 

She was further crushed by something invisible and ended up slumped to the floor. A scream escaped her as she felt the intense pressure, unable to move a limb or even the tips of her fingers. Rose understands that the person in front of her is definitely the real thing. 

Looking at the figure, she heard a voice from the other side of the room, as if she were dumbfounded. 

"You guys couldn't be more wrong, did you get fooled again?" 

".........."

"Or maybe I'm the one being tricked."

Rose could not come up with a good response when this happened. 

Instead, her gaze turned to Shimizu. 

She was barely free from the neck up. 

"Shimizu-san, are you sure he is an imposter?"

"He is not an impostor?"

"Although she claims so?"

" ...... "

Lying face down in the hallway, Rose looked up at Shimizu and complained. 

Her cheeks were twitching and shaking from irritation. 

Around this, Gabriella lined up right next to her. Like her sister, she had been wielding her power against Nishino, but was immediately prevented from doing so, and seemed to understand that the Futsumen in front of her were the real deal. 

Naturally, their attention turned to the Chairwoman. 

Still, Shimizu insisted on the abnormality of the person in front of her. 

"But it's weird! Just talk to him and you'll see!" 

"Are you two okay? Do I look different to you?"

As soon as Nishino muttered something, the force that had been holding Rose down was released. 

His tone of voice still seemed to be in character. His words and actions are dressed in a refreshingly unattractive manner that does not suit his face of a Futsumen. Shimizu wondered how he looked like in her mind. 

"Yes, it's more pretentious than usual......." 

"This is definitely not weird." 

Shimizu constantly giving them bad feedback. 

In response, Futsumen's expression finally broke down. 

"..... Is it really that weird?" 

His tone of voice had settled back to its previous tone. 

Despite her calm demeanor, there was a hint of disappointment in his tone. 

The Chairwoman's voice naturally rose toward him as she looked at him with a questioning look in her eyes. 

" Why are you like that ? " 

"No, I meant, well......"

He is quite serious, but from her point of view, it was like a one-sided tease. 

The cause is simple and clear. It is because Matsuura-san informed her of the existence of the Nishino training project as early as this morning. If she knew that the Chairwoman was the originator of the project, even the Futsumen, had no choice but to show his willingness to compromise. 

However, the vector of his efforts was pointed in the opposite direction. 

As a result, he was treated as an impostor, and Rose punched him in the stomach. 

" While I was traveling, I thought about trying to make it look like a student ... " 

"Why in the world would you do that?"

Matsuura-san told me, Oh, and don't tell the Chairwoman about this, okay? Therefore, I was afraid to tell her the circumstances of the incident. So, I made up a reason, and continued to pursue the matter. 

Apparently, she did not like the question and answer I had just given to her. 

"I used Takeuchi's way of being as a reference." 

"It doesn't make any sense at all to just copy his tone of voice!"

"Yes, it seems so."

He is the person whom Futsumen respects more than anyone else in Class 2A. 

For those on the side, there is nothing more annoying than this. 

"I mean, why does Nishino like Takeuchi so much?"

"Isn't it natural? He's done me a lot of favors."

"Eh, why would you say that? "

"He saved me from a close call at the school festival. He invited me on a graduation trip. While he was busy with the soccer team, he also helped me with club activities. I was also given a lot of flexibility in my work experience. Looking back, I am always indebted to you, Takeuchi."

"......"

Yes, that may be true, if you ask me. 

The Chairwoman now realized. 

In fact, there have been very few cases in which Takeuchi has acted maliciously toward Nishino. There have been cases where the interests of Futsumen have been compromised as a result of prioritizing the convenience of the class, but even these are mostly self-inflicted by the latter. 

One of the few exceptions is the relationship with Matsuura-san, which itself was originally triggered by Futsumen calling Rose "that woman" and encouraging him to do so. Moreover, at the time, it was right after Takeuchi had come out with his feelings for Rose. 

In this way, Shimizu did much worse to Nishino than Takeuchi did. 

At the school festival, he destroyed his relationship with Rose, even going so far as to commit an act of violence. He repeatedly caused trouble on the graduation trip, and as far as he was concerned, he did not even apologize. On the other hand, he has been involved in some dangerous things, but has been saved many times by the other party's goodwill. 

I think I might be in trouble. 

At the same time, the Chairwoman was filled with a sense of apology. 

"Oh, um, Nishino, I ......" 

And the woman who has repeatedly done more harm to Nishino than Shimizu can ever hope to do is still standing very close to her. She is standing close by, within arm's reach of Shimizu, watching their interaction. 

Yes, it is Rose. 

"What's wrong? Is something bothering you?" 

"I mean, you know, I've been ......"

Rose's brain whistles with alarm as she watches Shimizu's suddenly quiet appearance. 

A sense of exclusivity pulsed through her body, telling her that she should not let Shimizu talk any further. 

As if interrupting the Chairwoman's verbal exchange, the blonde Lolita interrupts their conversation. 

She looks at Futsumen from the front and asks. 

"Sorry to interrupt you, but why did Nishino-kun visit Shimizu-san's room? If you are not an imposter, it would be great if you could tell us why, just to be sure. It would make us feel safer."

"Yes, I came to give this to the Chairwoman." 

Nishino's arms moved in response to the confirmation that seemed to be coming. 

In front of Shimizu, he rolled up his shirt a little. 

Nishino's abdomen, which she caught a glimpse of, a slight six-pack, probably because he has been practicing breakdance with great effort recently. Nishino's bean sprout body has little subcutaneous fat by nature, and the effects of his muscle training were clearly visible to her. 

The Chairwoman's chest heaved with a thump when she received an unexpected glimpse of his abdomen. 

But it was short-lived. 

Her attention quickly turned to the pistol between his pants and abdomen. 

"Hey, what's with that thing? ......" 

"I thought it was for self-defense as things are getting lively around me."

"I was wondering if this has anything to do with the impostor Rose mentioned, Nishino? "

"I have yet to figure out who my imposter is. But I'm afraid it probably is."

"I have no choice. Would you please enter my room so that you can explain me in detail?"

Having understood Nishino's intentions, Rose took a half step toward the guest room. 

The Chairwoman could not refuse if her own safety was at stake. Shimizu was well aware that the Futsumen who approached her in this way was not the kind of person who would bring out a weapon just to flirt with the opposite sex. 

"I understand." 

Without any choice, the Chairwoman accepts the girls into her room. 

Around this time, Gabu-chan criticized the Futsumen once.

"Also, please refrain from the previous discussion for the time being, as it is confusing in any case." 

"...... Noted."

Following Ogino's failure, Matsuura-san's rooting around was also unsuccessful. 

The Nishino training project continues with no success.