Chapter 203

Of course I know, you fucker.

And she isn't some pro; she's just better than average. Stop exaggerating.

Feigning ignorance, I widened my eyes and asked, "She's good at skiing?"

"Yeah. Miyuki goes to a ski resort with her family every winter."

"I didn't know that. Are you any good?"

"I'm not great, but I know how to ski. I've gone with Miyuki's family a few times."

It pissed me off how he seemed to be flexing his closeness with Miyuki's family.

He might just be answering my question innocently, but considering what a snake Tetsuya really was, that definitely wasn't the case.

"What about you? Are you any good?"

I shook my head at Tetsuya's question. "Never done it."

"Really? You should take this chance to learn from an instructor. It's super fun; you'll definitely like it."

I'm going to learn from Miyuki, though... Look at him pretending to care.

I ended the conversation by patting the back of this guy putting on a whole one-man show, and obediently walked over when Miyuki told everyone to gather around.

"Miyuki, wanna go check out the observatory with the others? I heard there's a really nice spot nearby."

Tetsuya approached Miyuki—who was taking a sip of water after delivering some announcements alongside the homeroom teacher—and offered that invitation.

Practically lying down on the lobby sofa, I perked up my ears and eavesdropped.

"Sorry. I have some things to do."

"Things to do?"

"Yeah. I need to call the ski resort with the teacher to check on the rental equipment. Plus, some of the kids who stayed behind might come looking for me with questions, so I should stay put."

"Ah... I see. That's a shame."

"I'm really bummed too. Let's go later if we have time."

"Got it. Is there anything I can help with?"

"It's fine. We finally came on a trip, so you should enjoy yourself."

"It just hurts my heart a little that you can't."

"I'm going to have plenty of fun starting tomorrow. Don't worry about me and go have a good time."

"I will. Should I at least send you some pictures?"

"Yeah, that sounds great."

"I'll get going, then?"

"Yeah. Have fun and be safe."

Tetsuya waved sullenly and left the ryokan with his two friends.

So he did manage to make friends. I thought he'd end up going out all alone and pathetic.

I wasn't sure if I should call that a relief or not.

"Matsuda-kun, what are you doing now?"

Miyuki had approached at some point and sat down across from me.

Letting out a long yawn, I replied, "I'm going to hang out with you."

"I'm just going to be sitting here, you know?"

"Then I'll just sit here too."

Miyuki's lips curled into a wide smile.

She seemed pleased that I was staying with her.

Seeing how happy she was almost completely repaired the mood Tetsuya had ruined.

It was even endearing how she kept Tetsuya at arm's length while drawing me closer.

It was a little annoying how nicely she treated him, but they were childhood friends who had known each other for over fifteen years... That kind of reaction was only natural.

Though I'll make her draw a firm line soon enough.

Shifting her seat right next to mine, Miyuki asked, "Matsuda-kun, what are you going to ride when we get to the ski resort?"

"Whatever you ride."

"Then do you want to snowboard?"

"Are you good at it?"

"I just know how to ride, really."

I bet she's great at snowboarding too, even if not quite as good as she is at skiing. Look at her acting humble.

Was there anything my Miyuki couldn't do? I was starting to wonder.

"Then teach me. I've never ridden one."

"Really? Not even once? Have you never been to a ski resort with your friends?"

"Yeah."

"Is that so...? Then I'll teach you properly."

Suddenly, Miyuki's eyes seemed to blaze with enthusiasm.

I didn't actually want serious instructions; I just wanted to have a sweet, flirtatious date with her...

Looking at her, it seemed like she was going to turn it into an actual lesson.

"Oh, and give me the key."

Miyuki checked to make sure there was hardly anyone around before holding out her hand.

I took the key to the room I had reserved out of my pocket and placed it on her palm.

Miyuki's face flushed slightly as she quickly pocketed it.

"What time should I head over...?"

"I'm not sure. Wouldn't nine or ten o'clock be about right? Whoever gets there first can just leave a message."

"Okay..."

"Are you looking forward to it?"

"What are you talking about..."

Snorting as if the very idea was absurd, Miyuki spread her thumb and index finger and pressed them against my jaw.

Then she started shaking my head side to side.

Chuckling at her random behavior, I asked, "What are you doing?"

"Just because."

She used to freak out just from holding hands in empty spots, but now she was the one openly showing affection first.

She was undeniably adorable.

"I'm going to call the ski resort in a bit. You'll help me, right?"

"What do I need to do?"

"I need to ask if the snow gear and accessories are all prepared, and count the number of snowboards and skis."

"Can't you just ask them over the phone?"

"You take notes next to me."

"Got it."

"And try to write neatly."

"You can read my handwriting even if it's a mess."

"Still."

"Alright. Enough nagging..."

"Why do you think this is nagging? Aren't you being too twisted?"

"That's just the kind of guy I am."

"No, you aren't."

"Yes, I am."

"No, you aren't."

Ah... Just having these trivial little conversations fills me with love.

I was enjoying myself so much that I could confidently declare this a highly satisfying trip even if we headed back to the Academy right this second.

There wasn't much to do on the first day.

Once our brief free time ended, we just ate dinner and recovered from the fatigue of our travels. That was it.

Having bought some sake earlier to drink in the room later, I lazed around in the warm room until nightfall, then pushed my sluggish body up when an announcement called for a head count.

I slid the door open and stood out front with Tubby.

Every single student in the boys' Lodging was wearing a yukata.

It seemed they were trying to soak in the feeling of being at a ryokan after having a blast in the hot springs.

Of course, I was doing the exact same thing, so I couldn't really judge.

It wasn't long before the homeroom teacher arrived and started counting heads from the end of the hallway.

I had been hoping Miyuki and the Vice Representative would come along, but since this was the boys' Lodging, they must have skipped it.

It was ridiculous how Doki-Aka, the absolute peak of trash games, strictly enforced logical plausibility at times like this.

While these thoughts spun through my head, the homeroom teacher finished the head count and nodded in satisfaction before speaking.

"Good. I'll be in the room immediately to the right of the hallway, so come find me if anything happens. Everyone get some rest. And if you sneak out to drink and cause trouble, a simple demerit won't be the end of it, so keep that in mind."

Basically, he was telling us that if we were going to drink, we should do it in our rooms.

Once the teacher delivered his warning and returned to his room, the hallway erupted into a lively clamor as the students brought out the alcohol they had bought.

Then, as if they had prearranged it, they began crowding into a few select rooms to settle down.

"Matsuda, do you want to drink with us? Takumi asked if you wanted to hang out in his room."

This came from Tubby, who was clutching a large Black Plastic Bag.

Taking a moment to seriously contemplate who Takumi even was, I smiled and shook my head.

"I'm good."

"Then are you just going to stay here?"

"Nah. I'm going to take a walk."

"...In this weather? Dressed like that?"

"Do I want to freeze to death? Obviously I'm going to bundle up. Let's drink tomorrow if we have time."

"Yeah? Alright."

This punk Tubby really must have gotten comfortable around me.

Whenever I called him before, he used to shrink down and stutter out his replies, but now he was acting completely confident.

Throwing on a coat, I turned the corner of the hallway as if I were heading outside, leaving the Lodging where my class was staying, and slipped into the room I had booked separately.

Since Miyuki hadn't arrived yet, I left her a message and called the lobby, asking them to bring up a sake that turned sweet when warmed, a tokkuri to hold it, and a portable burner.

After receiving the items from the staff and placing the sake in a hot water bath to warm it up...

Slide.

The sliding door opened quietly, and Miyuki stepped inside.

"I'm here... What are you doing?"

Keeping her voice low as if someone might be nearby, she walked in with slightly flushed cheeks.

A faint scent of alcohol drifted from her, suggesting she'd had a quick beer with her friends.

Giving her pale, slender ankles—visible beneath the hemline of her thin yukata—a quick glance, I replied.

"Warming up some sake. What did you tell that Miho girl or whoever it was?"

"Just... that I was going to take a walk and then watch a movie..."

Our excuses are similar. Is she starting to take after me?

No, maybe I'm the one starting to take after her.

"Did you drink?"

"Yeah. A can and a half of beer."

"Why?"

"They kept pestering me to drink, so I didn't have a choice."

After saying that, Miyuki trotted over and settled comfortably across from me.

She stared blankly at the tokkuri sitting in the middle of the bubbling pot before lifting her head.

"Have you drunk it like this before?"

"Very rarely."

"This is my first time trying sake..."

"You've never been offered a glass by your dad?"

"Beer, maybe, but never sake..."

"Yeah? You're going to like it."

Confident that the sake was heated to the right temperature, I carefully pulled the tokkuri out.

After checking that it was comfortably warm, I poured a little sake into Miyuki's cup.

"Try it."

"We're drinking already? Without any snacks?"

"Just take a little sip. See how it tastes."

"Why am I the one tasting it? Matsuda-kun, you could just try it yourself."

"Stop grumbling and just drink it."

Pouting her lips at my words, Miyuki slowly brought the cup to her mouth, tipped it back to taste the alcohol, and—

"Huh...?"

She widened her eyes, smacked her lips, and took another sip of the sake.

"Why is this sweet?"

"Good, right?"

"Yeah. It's incredibly sweet...?"

Judging by the smile spreading across her lips, the sake was a hit.

Pride swelled in my chest. This is exactly why you need to come prepared.

Before I knew it, Miyuki had drained her cup in one go. She scrunched up her face in a look of pure bliss and held out her empty cup.

"Give me more."

"You need to drink it slowly. What are you doing?"

"But it's so good. Hurry up and give me more. Fill up your cup too, Matsuda-kun."

Was she trying to speedrun this like she did with the highballs on Christmas?

I was planning to slowly set the mood, talk for a bit, and then naturally lie down together or head to the open-air bath. If she got plastered this quickly, that would complicate things.

"I'll order some snacks, so hold off until then. I need to warm it up some more anyway."

"Will it get sweeter if you heat it more?"

"Probably not?"

"Then I want to drink it now."

"Stop throwing a tantrum. You need to pace yourself so you don't get as drunk."

Letting out a long huff through her nose in disappointment, Miyuki adjusted her posture.

Chuckling at how intensely she was glaring at me, I gestured for her to come closer.

Miyuki lifted her hips and dragged her cushion over to sit right beside me.

Considering how slightly disheveled she looked when she got here, and the way she was acting right now...

I was starting to suspect Miyuki hadn't drunk just a can and a half of beer, but closer to five cans.

It was a refreshing side to her. I like it. She feels like a mischievous little kid.

With that thought in mind, I wrapped my arms around Miyuki—who had scooched right up to me—and slowly, languidly... began rocking our bodies back and forth, as if we were sitting in a rocking chair.

Slip.

At that, she draped both of her legs over my thighs and settled into a comfortable position.

Gently patting the back of the girl who had thrown her arms around my neck and completely surrendered her weight to me, I spoke.

"Be honest. How much beer did you actually drink?"