[School Trip VI]

Some time after the skies over Guam had quieted down, a call came into Nishino's phone. 

The person on the other end was someone who had been repeatedly called by them as well. 

According to his words, it was Francisca, who had just arrived in the area. She had contacted the Futsumen in a great hurry, following the commotion triggered by Nora's wonder power immediately afterwards. Shortly before, she had called Rose, but at that point, her subordinate was out of reasoning. 

She shared the information with Nishino. 

The scene was immediately taken into her custody and they were retrieved. 

The destination was a corner of a military facility set up on the island. 

Nishino and the others were taken to a reception room that seemed to be reserved for guests. In contrast to the simple and sturdy construction of the facility, the room was carpeted and furnished with valuable furniture and decorative items to make it look nice. 

"It's quite a feat to meet you face to face in a place like this." 

"I've told you before. That I've come up through the ranks for a lot of reasons." 

"Yeah, come to think of it, that's what you said......." 

Everyone is sitting on an expensive leather sofa. 

Nishino and Francisca face each other over a low table. 

It is an extremely unprofessional scene for the Futsumen. 

The disparity in appearance between them and the people they are talking to is particularly staggering. 

Nishino had been the object of strange glances in various places before his visit. 

However, the other party is quite serious and speaks calmly.

" I appreciate your help with Rose."

"I don't mind. I've been trying to communicate with you for some time now."

In addition to Nishino and Francisca, Rose and Gabriella, the Chairwoman, and Nora could be seen at the same place. On the way there, Francisca, who was leading the group, explained that Nora's father and the bandaged man who appeared to be an acquaintance of Nora's were being interviewed at a separate location. 

Rose and Gabriella are on either side of Nishino. The Chairwoman was next to Francisca. Nora was sitting on a bench. No one said anything, but they naturally fit in that way. 

"But it cost you a lot of money this time, didn't it? From now on, you'd better do your research." 

"Oh? I didn't lose any money, did I?" 

"I understand her father is your local collaborator."

Nishino said, looking at Nora. Naturally, the attention of the others turned to her. 

She shrugged her shoulders and became smaller as she was stared at by everyone. She had been quiet as if she were a stray cat, but she looked especially uncomfortable. Her face was downcast, and her gaze was fixed on her own feet. 

She seemed to know exactly what she had done. 

"They're not only local collaborators, but they're also the ones who were involved with the base in the first place."

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

"I wonder if it's more like you're doing us a favor? I'm really glad they're with us. We've been having some difficulties with them recently, but I'm sure they'll be happy to cooperate with us for the time being."

From the moment they met until now, Francisca has been smiling all the time. 

Naturally, the Futsumen's voice is filled with doubt. 

"You really didn't have a clue about his daughter, did you? " 

"Of course not. I mean, who do you think she's been working with?" 

Francisca's gaze turns to Gabriella. 

She looked at her and responded to this with an aloof, light-hearted remark. 

"I'm an old lady, so I'll just do what I normally do." 

"It is never like that. Please trust me." 

In any case, the person in front of him would not speak honestly. 

The Futsumen thought so and refrained from the words that would follow. 

Instead, her subordinate flooded her with complaints. 

"But still, you arrived very early, didn't you? Even though you arrived in the country, you must have traveled a long way from the mainland. You must have been enjoying your vacation alone, leaving us to do all the work. " 

"You don't think I rushed to the island after receiving a report from you?" 

"How can you say that when we couldn't get in touch with you?"

"That's why I couldn't get to him even if I wanted to."

"Well, then, it's your job from here on out, and I hope you'll put your work ethic to good use. I'm on vacation. I've done what I had to do, and I'd like to get back to enjoying the scenery as soon as possible. 

"What will you see and do in Guam?"

"That's the word of a lonely person who has no one to share the trip with."

By the way, the series of exchanges were conducted in Japanese so that even the Chairwoman could understand them. And for today, she agreed with Rose's opinion. There is only one day left of the school trip, and Shimizu still has many places she wants to visit. 

However, she is not able to find any opportunities to speak up, so she is just listening. 

"Well, okay, we'll take custody of the girl." 

"That's fine, but isn't the father also being held at this base? "

"Yeah, what about it?" 

"You don't want to provoke him, do you? There'll be more missiles in the air." 

"...... I'm going to need a little help from [Normal] for a while."

Before he began pursuing an adolescent lifestyle, he would have nodded his head in agreement, depending on the reward. Also, if it had been before he witnessed Shimizu's lascivious behavior, he would have come to terms with it under the guise of protecting his classmates' school trip behind their backs. 

However, these days, he also values the time he can spend with the Chairwoman. 

And when it comes to a once-in-a-lifetime school trip, he cannot afford to neglect it. 

Perhaps that is why the words that followed naturally leaked out. 

"Then, if that's the case, I'll do it." 

"Wait a minute , Nishino-kun !?" 

"Oh, really? Then I suppose you'll have to go along with us."

A smile appears on Francisca's mouth. 

Rose became flustered and looked back and forth between the two. 

Gabu-chan didn't seem to care one way or the other, and a voice was heard. 

"So why don't we get going? I'm hungry." 

"Come to think of it, I haven't had lunch either." 

Then, as if on time, the Chairwoman's belly made a lovely sound. 

Everyone's attention turned to her abdomen. 

Shimizu is surrounded by Nora with lunch just around the corner. 

"I thought I was supposed to be the one doing that, but you beat me to it!" 

"Wait a minute! I wasn't trying to do anything!"

"I personally like that about you." 

The Chairwoman blushes and makes a bunch of excuses. 

Gabu-chan urged Francisca not to take Shimizu's presence lightly. The two had interacted privately in the past, such as when she took care of the cooking of the bento and did other things with her. This time, she was trying to repay the favor she had done for Francisca. 

Francisca's eyes changed in response to this remark. 

Nishino continued to make additional comments to the hungry girl. 

"Francisca, the MVP in this case is the Chairwoman. Without her help, we would have been eliminated without understanding what was going on here. Frankly speaking, I consider myself to have been helped in a significant way."

"It's a rare thing to have you say that much." 

"If you were in the field, wouldn't you be more useful than you are?"

"If that's the case, I'll feast my eyes on you." 

Francisca looks at Shimizu and smiles deeply. 

The person who was told about this was unaware of the tactics used by the various parties involved. 

Unable to come up with a good response, the Chairwoman had no choice but to lower her gaze out of shame. 

◇ ◆ ◇

From then on, with Francisca and Nora, they were free to move on.

Although the purpose was to keep Shimizu company, for Francisca, it was also to protect and preserve the mentality of an unknown person with different abilities. She was anxious to take the initiative while Nishino and Gabriella were cooperating. 

The destination was a suite at a luxury hotel in the Tumon area. There are three bedrooms alone. A spacious living and dining room with a counter kitchen. There is also a bar counter and a treatment room. 

The living room opens onto a terrace of more than 500 square meters, where you can see a private pool and an outdoor dining area for barbecues. Beyond the terrace, the ocean of Guam stretches on and on, and you can enjoy ocean views as far as the eye can see. 

Looking at the best guest rooms in the area, Rose commented to Francisca. 

"Your idea of a feast is always the same." 

"I hear it's the most expensive room on the island, but what's wrong with that?"

"Well, I don't think that everything should be expensive." 

"Even so, it's definitely better than a cheap room, isn't it?" 

Currently, they are enjoying a late lunch in the outdoor dining area. 

The menu is barbecue. 

They are grilling meat, seafood, etc. by the pool as they please. 

"How could you hold up a room without a reservation?" 

"It was just after the previous guest had checked out." 

"What happened to the guest who was waiting for you next?" 

"I don't know. I guess the hotel will take care of that." 

"You're the same old bitch who's always doing the wrong thing." 

"I hope you're aware of it, since you're a part of it." 

Francisca is unapologetic when questioned by Gabriella and Nishino. 

Her subordinate, who pretends to be unaware of the situation.

The meat and seafood sizzling on the grill were the result of the hotel staff's hard work in response to Francisca's sudden request. The wicked old lady and all her acquaintances were enjoying the food with a light hearted smile on their faces. 

On the dining table, expensive champagne and beautifully cut fruits were served. The sight of them enjoying these while sitting by the private pool, which glistened in the sunlight, was like a picture of a rich man's vacation. 

"........."

As the Chairwoman, she is nervous whether she wants to be or not. 

The meat on the grill, for example, is a steak in her sense. The thickly marbled meat is dripping with oil, and is being cooked appropriately by Gabriella's hands. To her, it is nothing more than a waste of meat. 

However, overwhelmed by her surroundings, she is afraid to comment on that fact. 

She feels a sense of inferiority to the other people who are relaxing as they please. She felt out of place and uncomfortable. 

So Shimizu decided to look for someone else to talk to. 

Her attention turned to Nora. 

She was standing by the grill, looking at the meat on the grill without doing anything. 

Even to the casual observer, she is depressed. 

She is just there. 

She has barely touched her food. 

She has been like this ever since her father called her a monster. 

"Hey, can I talk to you for a second? "

"......"

Francisca is concerned about her, but she does not seem to have the intention of conversing with others, and as far as she is concerned, she does not reply back. As a result of several one-way exchanges, Nora became an ornament on the terrace. 

As the Chairwoman, she was not pleased with this behavior. 

"Can't you hear me?" 

" .......What ? " 

Because of her, Shimizu had to miss a day of the school trip. 

Shimizu took a step forward, hoping to at least elicit a word of apology from her. 

Francisca was also a little concerned about the consequences of Simizu's actions. 

"Don't you think it's human nature to do terrible things to others and then play the victim when you get hurt a little? How long do you intend to continue this kind of attitude? You are the culprit here."

"........."

Francisca is too shy to speak out strongly because of the power Nora possesses.  

Shimizu thought that even if she fell into a state of panic again and had to brandish her pistol, it would not be a problem because it was Rose to whom the muzzle of the gun would be directed. 

The Chairwoman had also heard stories from Nishino and Francisca about the overwhelming endurance possessed by the blonde Lolita in the next class. In the past, she had witnessed her grow a limb that had been severed. At worst, Nishino would stop it. 

As a result, there was a straightforward response from the other party. 

"Are you going to get scared and upset again?" 

"Are you the one who wants to get shot by me again?"

"........."

The pistol was still strapped to Shimizu's thigh. 

Nora's expression became tense as she recalled this fact. 

As the Chairwoman, she had no intention of taking the initiative to shoot the gun. However, the most recent experience of having a gun snatched at her head had put not inconsiderable pressure on the other party. The fact that she was not accustomed to handling the weapon even with an unfriendly look on her face made her particularly anxious. 

"I'm having a horrible time on the school trip because of you."

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

Staring into the other's eyes, the Chairwoman said with a serious face. 

She is rather serious about her disappointment. 

Naturally, her gaze became stern. 

Perhaps that's why Nora also turned to her. 

"I'm sorry " 

A few moments later, an apology slipped out of her mouth. 

She bowed and issued an honest apology. 

Shimizu immediately nodded in response. 

"As long as you apologize properly, that's fine." 

" ... Huh ? " 

Hearing the consent obtained without a moment's hesitation, a voice of doubt leaked out from Nora. 

Compared to the forceful entanglement she had just had, this was the exact opposite of a willing consent. Her irritation was short-lived. After receiving an apology from the other party, a calmness returned to the Chairwoman's face. She continued her words solemnly to the other party, who showed a puzzled expression. 

"In exchange, would you be my friend? " 

"Friends? What does that mean?" 

The series of exchanges were in Japanese. 

Nora doubted her own ears. 

She wondered if she had misheard a word or an expression. 

However, Shimizu continued to speak. 

"Of course, if you don't like it, I'm not saying you have to. ......" 

Between her abduction at the shopping mall and her reunion with Nishino and the others, the Chairwoman had a definite feeling about the exchanges she had had with her in English. She knew that if she tried hard enough, she could communicate in English if she chose the right person to do so. 

Hostage, provoke. 

I asked her about the meanings of words I didn't understand, and she was surprisingly polite about it. 

A series of events had now made Shimizu take a step forward. 

After ruining a school trip for a day, she still wanted to have a relationship with someone. A native English-speaking friend of the same generation and the same gender who could accompany her in her poor English conversation without hesitation. This is the kind of person that the Chairwoman has always wanted. 

These days, the Internet makes it possible to talk to people far away from you. The woman was abducted at gunpoint and even had to go on a school trip, so it's okay for her to cooperate a little, she said, making a series of excuses in her mind. 

She chose a brown-skinned, petite girl standing in front of her to be her English conversation teacher. 

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

On the other hand, as Nora, she is kind of happy. 

Her mother has died, her father has rejected her, and she is at the mercy of an unexplainable force that is playing with her immensely. And yet, a girl of her own age walks up to her. And she is the one who held a gun to her head and unilaterally kidnapped her. She has taken the liberty of holding out her hand to become my friend. 

This felt good to my heart, which was hurting right now. 

Even the slightest slight sounded as if it was meant to cheer her up. 

Perhaps that was why her heart was more easily moved than the Chairwoman had imagined. 

As a result, they set aside their respective agendas and formed a friendship that transcended national borders. 

"...... Friend, please." 

"Really?" 

"Really." 

"You're sure I didn't mishear you?

"No mistakes." 

"...... Well, then, um, hey, nice to meet you, okay?" 

Smiling, Shimizu extended her hand. 

Nora took it in a tight grip. 

The Chairwoman was bewildered by her friend's immediate decision, but she was pleased to have done so. 

She was aiming for the Tokyo University of Foreign Languages. 

From Francisca's point of view, Shimizu had done a good job. She was watching the whole exchange with a glass of champagne in her hand, and she smiled with relief that the danger of the missile going off had been somewhat removed. 

Perhaps sensing her feelings, one of her subordinates immediately interrupted her. 

"She has more spirit than you do, Francisca." 

"I wish you could be as dependable, Rose." 

"If something should happen to you again, would you mind if I abandoned you by accident?"

"In that sense, your successor is right in front of me." 

The sterile conversation between Francisca and Rose was a recurring one. 

By the way, the exchange between the Chairwoman and Nora sounded more adolescent than this. At least it was a far cry from the blondes who were hurling sarcasm at each other. The scene of them holding hands was just like a scene from a school drama. 

In this situation, there was one man who could not stand idly by. 

It was Nishino. 

"I have something to tell you about your father."

"...... My Papa?" 

"I would appreciate a change of location if this is a touchy subject." 

He looked at Nora and Francisca alternately as he continued. 

This was the phase in which Shimizu had just gotten the former's mental state under control in a good way. If possible, the latter's honest desire was to keep things quiet. She is also very aware of the Futsumen's communication problems. 

"I want that man in your custody, Francisca." 

" Are you serious ? " 

"......... Hmm?"

"So I don't owe you a thing this time."

For Francisca, it was not a bad suggestion. 

She was the one who had heard beforehand from Nishino that his stance on the current fiasco was one-sided assistance to Rose. However, even so, the fact that there was no compensation was not good enough. It would be troublesome if she was cited in any way in the future. 

In that light, it made sense to settle the matter here and now. It would not be too much to ask for a bandaged man who was with Nora's father, was the word that flashed through Francisca's mind. 

But it was too much for her to nod her head so she lightly agitated the Futsumen. 

"I wonder how much it would cost to rent a human-sized, autonomous weapon that can simultaneously shoot down multiple missiles from the ground. What would it cost to rent it from someone else, and what would we get in return?" 

"Well, that's fortunate." 

"The terms I've just given you are sufficient. Or not enough?" 

These exchanges are refining Nishino's cynical sensibility on a daily basis. 

From the Chairwoman's point of view, there is nothing but to wonder if that could be stopped. But by no chance, she can't even raise her voice to Francisca to point out the problem. A situation that should have been rammed through, Shimizu decided to weigh in on the action based on Nishino's training project. 

"Well, okay, okay? In that case, I'll take you up on your offer."

"Well, that's good to hear."

It was the old lady who was inwardly gutted at the unexpected gain. 

Immediately afterward, Nora overheard their conversation and voiced her doubts. 

"My dad, what are you going to do? " 

"You can rest assured. We'll not harm him." 

The Futsumen turns to her and talks to her, in a pompous manner.  

"By the looks of it, your father is not much older than 30. He is too young to make a decision about his relationship with his family. People's minds change easily. That is why you, as a daughter, should never be pessimistic about the present, but use your time to make your own future better." 

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

The youthful conversation between Shimizu and Nora. Nishino wanted to be a part of it. The price he offered Francisca for this was unbelievable for the person who was offered it. However, Nora would not know this fact for a little while longer. 

She gave me a look that said, What is he talking about?

The comments of the Futsumen, who likes to speak in abstract terms, are always a source of confusion. 

But he can't help it, because he like it that way. 

Nora, who had been one-sidedly admonished, decided to check with Francisca later. 

"And everyone, please don't just talk, but help me grill too. It was fun at first, but it started to sound less and less fair. Also, please save some of that champagne for me." 

As they were doing so, a voice called out to them from another place. 

It was Gabriella, who had heard about the barbecue and was the first to grab a pair of tongs. 

She seemed to be inexperienced in this kind of thing and was happily grilling the meat. 

However, she seemed to be getting tired of it. 

"Then I'll take over for you. Can I borrow that for a minute?" 

"Thank you very much. I'm sure I can trust you with it."

The Chairwoman raises her hand here and there and receives a pair of tongs instead. 

She stood up to make sure that the high-class meat would not be grilled any more cruelly. Shimizu, however, is not unmoved by Gabu-chan's words, which imply that she is an experienced chef, but she passes the baton to the Chairwoman. She quickly and efficiently grilled meat and fish. 

The quality of the food improved dramatically when Shimizu took over the grill. 

Francisca walks up to her. 

Her voice is delivered close to her ear so that it does not echo in the surroundings. 

"By the way, there is something I want to discuss with Shimizu-chan."

"What is it ? " 

"Would you be willing to stay here tonight and socialize with her?" 

" Eh, um, that's ... " 

"Of course I'll pay you. Or rather, I'm willing to pay your price." 

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

The Chairwoman somehow understood the intent of Francisca's statement. 

However, the unpretentious manner in which she spoke may have also helped. 

Shimizu felt as if she had been offered a job as a prostitute. 

◇ ◆ ◇

The next day, the final day of the school trip, Nishino and his friends were gathered at the airport. 

The only thing left to do on the trip was the flight home. The students gathered in the lobby with their large bags in their hands, and everyone was reminiscing with their schoolmates about their trip. They are all saying how they wish they could have had more fun. 

Nishino's group was no exception. 

"Guam is really great, isn't it? I wish I had more time for activities." 

"Speaking of which, what have you been doing since yesterday, Matsuura-san? "

"Huh? You're curious? Chairwoman." 

"...... That's right." 

"Nishino-kun gave me a lot of money. I was playing with Ogino." 

Matsuura-san is in a good mood. She has been smiling since they met up at the hotel this morning. 

She is happy to talk about how wonderful this school trip was, even though no one has asked her about it. As the Chairwoman, who belongs to the same group as Matsuura, she is always talking to her, which is a bit annoying. 

"I mean, isn't the Chairwoman the one who's going off on a trip and getting into too much trouble?"

"I told you not to say that."

It was Nishino and the others who had stayed at the hotel with Nora, assisted by Francisca's request. 

It was only tomorrow morning when they returned to the hotel after the hospitality provided by the old lady. 

Although they had informed their roommates in advance, this fact had more or less an impact on the girls. If the other party was a Futsumen, there was no way for Matsuura-san not to tease Shimizu. 

"Did you have sex with Nishino-kun after all?"

"I'm going to...... " 

The airport lobby was crowded with people. The Chairwoman could not resist blowing up, helped by the fact that the surrounding area was packed with students waiting for their flights. Immediately afterward, she was in such a panic that she had to deny Matsuura-san's question.

"How is that possible!?" 

It is true that she is aware of Nishino. 

However, she did not have the courage to come out in front of her classmates. 

"Is that so? But Nishino-kun, he left with so much enthusiasm." 

"Wait a minute, what does that mean ?" 

"What do you mean, yesterday at the mall." 

The Futsumen left the shopping mall, acting as if he was about to have a meeting with the Chairwoman. From Matsuura-san's point of view, the question is rather serious. In fact, she was almost accusing her of thinking it was strange that there was nothing going on at all in that situation. 

"A little bit of fun, with the Chairwoman."

"Sorry to be so one-sided. I'll get back to you as soon as I finished my business."

Matsuura-san, who had been given a hefty sum of money unilaterally and was even asked to sleep over last night in response to a teacher's rounds, figured she would not be spared from the morning routine. Matsuura thought she would not be spared. She never dreamed that someone kidnapped and confined the Chairwoman, and then using her to soften the hearts of the kidnappers. 

"Eh? What? Chairwoman, what do you mean by that?" 

Hearing about the exchange with Matsuura-san, Risa-chan poked her head in. 

As she is still conscious of Shimizu, she cannot keep quiet about the Chairwoman's private affairs. 

And the person she is interested in is someone she herself consulted with about her love life. Depending on the timing of their relationship, she may have to confront the Futsumen. 

"Wait, it's really nothing!" 

"But I just heard you say you spent the night out." 

"That's not what I meant. I ran into someone I know over here......." 

While the Chairwoman was struggling, Nishino made no comment. 

He pretended not to hear the conversation with a not-so-satisfied look on his face. 

The quality of the conversation is bad because, subjectively speaking, he thinks she is participating in a love conversation. 

He is a Futsumen who stayed in the same hotel room yesterday to protect the Chairwoman. In addition, Rose and Gabriella also followed him and shared the same accommodation. From the point of view of their classmates, this was nothing more than a sleepover. 

However, their exchange was short-lived, and there was a voice echoing through the airport halls. 

"Nishino ! Nishino !" 

The source is a brown-skinned girl who looks as young as them or slightly younger. 

She is the person they had just separated from this morning. 

She is Nora. 

She rushed toward the corner where the members of Class 2A were lined up. 

She stood in front of the person who had called her name. 

At this, the Chairwoman and the others broke off their exchanges of words and took notice. The name of the Futsumen was called out quite loudly, and the other students present began to look at the two people facing each other, wondering what was going on. 

"What brings you all the way out here? I thought we already spoke this morning." 

"She just told me that you helped her to get custody of my father."

Nishino's question to Nora was in English. His fluent, curly tongue was an attempt to show the people around him that he was trying to be cool. Everyone present was annoyed. This is one of the evils of English education in modern Japan. 

However, the girl on the other end of the conversation was also speaking in native-sounding English, which immediately made them squirm with irritation in their hearts. It is the same feeling that Shimizu had until last month. 

"Why did you protect my father?" 

"I couldn't just abandon him after you spoke so highly of him." 

"I was also told that you gave up a tremendous amount of money in exchange." 

"No, it wasn't that much. " 

Suddenly curious, Nishino looked around and saw that woman Nora mentioned, Francisca, a short distance away. His eyes met hers, and she responded with a small raise of her arm. She must have begged her to come to the airport at the last minute. 

In the face of the cynical Futsumen, Nora bowed her head. 

"Thank you very much." 

She bowed so deeply that the top of her head could be seen. 

This surprised the students present. They were all looking at the two of them with great interest, wondering what was the matter with them. The classmates, who were unaware of the situation, wondered if Nishino had caused trouble for someone else. 

" Thanks to you, I have not lost the only family I have left......" 

"That said, you will be separated from your father for the foreseeable future." 

"Even so, the fact that he is alive is a very big deal!" 

"..... I see."

Nora's tone of voice is laced with a slight sob. 

It seems that her father was an existence that she could never ignore, even after being directly confronted with his words of rejection. Otherwise, she would not have gone all the way to the airport to visit him, as the Futsumen imagined. 

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

Nishino was about to reply to the other party, who seemed to be overcome with emotion. 

Don't worry, this was nothing.

The words that came to his throat were his usual brusque and blunt ones. He is a Futsumen who believes that it is cool to talk while turning on his heel, looking away from the other person and putting his hands in the pockets of his pants. 

Suddenly, something came back to his mind. 

What matter was the existence of the Nishino Training Project. 

As part of the project, the Chairwoman told him about it. 

Nishino, aren't you treating the others lightly again?

I think it would definitely be better if you said something a little gentler.

He hesitated to continue with his words, which was unusual for him, as he had always spoken in a dismissive manner. 

At the same time, he reflected on his past mistakes. 

And then he came to a realization. 

This is the moment to follow the Chairwoman's instruction. 

This is the perfect opportunity to show the results of the education he has received in front of his own eyes. 

So Nishino decided to treat Nora kindly. 

"Don't worry, you are not alone. You can continue to count on me."

"......." 

With a short murmur, Futsumen hugged her body tightly from the front. 

Nora's body tensed up in response to the touch of his arms. 

However, there was no sign of reluctance. 

On the contrary, in the next instant, she responded by putting her arms around Nishino's back. 

"Wha... "

Whose voice is it ? 

Nishino's own kindness burst forth in the lobby of the airport, signaling the end of the trip. Upon closer inspection, the person on the other end of the line was a local student whom he had met at an exchange meeting. 

The students who were there also remembered her, a girl with a pretty face. 

The scene was reminiscent of the last scene in a movie. 

"If the woman who brought you here starts to give you trouble in the future, you can contact me. We're on the same boat, and I'll help you out if you need it. The Chairwoman likes you too, it seems." 

"...... Chairwoman?" 

"That's the girl you kidnapped yesterday." 

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

Still, the face quality of Nishino, which is not good enough by far, causes discomfort to the entire audience. The action should have been performed by a handsome man. The actor playing this role is not just one in the class, but many, and he is a Futsumen, the lowest-ranking member of the school's caste. 

This extremely unpleasant scene equally irritated the students who were sharing the scene. 

Some students understood the English spoken by Futsumen and raised their eyebrows. 

" Was she important to you ? " 

"She must have been important to you. But it's over. You don't need to worry about it."

The students of Class 2A, who were present at the event, were shocked and mentally numb with frustration as they witnessed the theatrical exchange taking place in front of their eyes. How could Nishino be in a good mood with a local girl? 

This was the culmination of a lesson by the Chairwoman, followed by Ogino-kun and Matsuura-san. From the point of view of the parties involved, the Nishino training project was a success. The beautiful exotic girl looked at Futsumen with an expression of not-so-satisfied face. 

However, as for Shimizu, it was a completely misguided landing.

" ...... "  

Indeed, it is, but it isn't. 

Why only in a situation like this? 

I mean, you didn't go that far with me either. 

The Chairwoman's heart overflowed with unvoiced thoughts. 

In this situation, she has no other choice but to be amused. 

The Chairwoman, who had initiated the Nishino training project herself, had been caught in the act. 

The conversation between the two continued for a while until the plane's boarding announcement was played. 

◇ ◆ ◇

After parting ways with Nora at the airport, Nishino and his friends soon took off from the airport in Guam. 

The return flight was only about four hours away. 

All they had to do was sit in their seats and they would arrive at the airport where they were to be dismissed. 

Some of the students were enjoying lively conversations about their memories of the trip, while others were exhausted and sleeping. The teachers are thinking about the trip that went by without a hitch, and are taking a sigh of relief that a weight has been lifted from their shoulders again this year. 

The Chairwoman, who had a filling meal in an expensive hotel room and a good night's sleep in a soft bed yesterday, is still full of vitality. On the return flight, she was chatting away, and even took the initiative in enjoying the in-flight service. 

If a cabin attendant pushed a wagon to visit her, she would take advantage of the drink service, as she did every time. Perhaps that's why, when the flight was about to arrive in 30 minutes, she started to feel the need to pee. 

She quickly got up from her seat and rushed to the restroom. 

Just after she had finished, she was about to go back to her seat. 

"Oh, the Chairwoman was in the bathroom." 

A student walks down the corridor toward her side. 

Shoving the handkerchief in her hand into her pocket, the Chairwoman responds. 

"You too, Risa?" 

" I drank too many drinks " 

"I rarely fly, so I always order something." 

" Yes, I'm tempted to order a lot of things!" 

They moved a little off to the side from the front of the restroom and exchanged a few words on the spot. 

They were two people who had been seated apart on the return flight. Due to the fact that we were in different groups, they did not have as much contact during the trip as they did on campus. It also helped that they had not seen each other for a full day yesterday, so it was assumed that they had accumulated a lot of topics of conversation. 

"By the way, weren't some of the boys on the trip a bit of a mess?" 

"Did they come to Risa's room, by any chance?" 

"There were about three of them. And then they'd walk away with a nice smile on their face after they got dumped." 

"Oh, really? Sounds like you had a hard time."

"How did it go with Nishino-kun, Chairwoman?"

"Eh ? " 

"You know what Matsuura-san said at the airport. That you two snuck out of the hotel together."

"Ah......" 

From Risa-chan's perspective, this was the main issue. 

The Nishino and Shimizu's escapade, which had been tainted by Nora's flight into the lobby of the airport. In reality, it was a one-sided abduction and its reversal. Moreover, Rose and Gabriella accompanied them during the process, and there was not a single second of the scene where they were alone. 

However, Shimizu had not explained the series of events to anyone. 

If by any chance the teachers were to hear about it, it would be an unforgivable incident that would result in a drop in the student's internal exam score. Even with the poor test scores in recent years, the Chairwoman wanted to avoid anything that would reflect badly on the teachers. 

The concealment of such a matter, which came from such a sense of guilt, turned against her here. 

"...... Chairwoman, do you like Nishino-kun?" 

"........" 

Risa-chan confirmed this to Shimizu. 

The fact that she drank too many drinks was an excuse to get close to the Chairwoman. Risa-chan, who could not stand still after the exchange in the airport lobby, had followed her. 

"I-I don't have any feelings for Nishino-kun or anything!" 

"Really?" 

"Of course I don't! Don't get me wrong, Risa." 

By the way, there was a student on the plane who stood up to go to the restroom one step ahead of the Chairwoman. 

This person was in the private room right near where she entered. 

And he was about to go out right now. 

It was none other than Nishino. 

" ...... "

The plane's engines are constantly humming in the cabin. 

Still, the voices of their conversation are delivered to him firmly through the door. 

"Hasn't the Chairwoman had a lot of contact with Nishino-kun lately? It's the same with the school trip." 

"Even if that's the case, Nishino-kun is nothing to me! I'm interested in someone else!" 

"Oh, really?" 

After Risa-chan pointed out the obvious, Shimizu's mouth was full of nonsense. 

The Nishino training project she dared to implement during the trip also failed spectacularly. 

The Futsumen stood out from everyone else at the airport in Guam. 

Recalling his appearance, the current Chairwoman did not have the courage to reveal her fondness for him to her classmates, even if the other person was Risa-chan. Because she was embarrassed, and she could never lie about such feelings. 

Depending on the situation, it would probably hinder her school life in the future. If that were to happen, it would be an obstacle that she could not ignore in her entrance examinations. The wise Chairwoman had made up her mind that she would never do anything that would jeopardize her future by letting her love life get in the way of her future. 

Meanwhile, in the restroom, which is separated by a thin door, Nishino mutters to himself without saying a word to anyone. 

" ... Is that so." 

The surprise that overflowed in a small blur never reached anyone but the person in question. 

This is another youthful incident. 

He is a Futsumen who has unexpectedly fallen in love. 

However, he was not able to enjoy this fact as he was dazed through the door.