Chapter 23: Three-Person Date

<1st Year Special Class>

<1st Place—Hoshikawa Himari>

<8th Place—Yoo Juju>

—Whirr.

‘Oh, unexpected results.’

Sitting at her vanity, Ruah checked the midterm rankings displayed on her smartphone screen. It might seem cruel, but it was Felix Academy’s policy to publicly announce the rankings.

—Whirr….

‘Himari maintained first place, and Juju moved up two spots.’

Both of their scores were more than enough to remain in the special class.

—Whirr….

“I should praise them.”

“Who?”

—Click.

Suah, who had been drying Ruah’s hair, turned off the hairdryer and spoke. As usual, she had cleaned Ruah’s dormitory room and even helped her wash.

“These two.”

Ruah pointed to Himari and Juju’s names. Suah tilted her head.

“I know Ms. Hoshikawa, but Yoo… Juju? That’s an unusual name. Do you know her?”

“We became close recently. After clearing a Gate together.”

“You mean, the one you were in with her?”

“Yeah. We even went to the boss room together.”

Looking in the mirror, Ruah noticed Suah’s expression darken.

“What, what’s wrong?”

“I was really worried back then.”

—Grab.

Suah wrapped her arms around Ruah’s small body in a tight back hug, leaving Ruah unable to move and forcing a sheepish smile.

“Do you know how shocked I was when I heard about the accident? I thought I’d never see you again….”

Her younger sister nuzzled Ruah’s neck. She smelled nice.

“B-But I’m perfectly fine, see?”

“Yeah.”

Ruah let Suah hug her for a while.

‘She’s being clingy….’

Although Suah was a diligent and model student, she didn’t hide her affection for Ruah. Ruah was surprised at first, but she accepted it, thinking Suah must feel comfortable enough with her to act that way.

“You shouldn’t put yourself in danger like that again. It’s dangerous.”

“Y-Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Suah finally released Ruah after she gave a vague reply.

“So, since midterms are over, I’m going out with them this weekend.”

“Going… out? With the students…?”

“Yeah, they invited me to the mall. The big one on the mainland… huh?”

Ruah, mid-explanation, noticed something strange and looked back at Suah.

“Sniff.”

“Why, why are you crying?”

Suah wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Flustered, Ruah offered her a tissue.

“I’m so proud… my sister is going out with other people….”

“…….”

“Sniff, you’ve grown up so much… do you need some allowance? Buy yourself something delicious.”

“I have money, you know!”

Ruah pulled away from Suah, exasperated.

“Y-You’re making a fuss over just going shopping…! I can go out normally too!”

“But, it’s your first time, isn’t it? Going out of your room on a weekend.”

“Ugh….”

She couldn’t deny it.

“Anyway, okay.”

Suah nodded, wiping her tears.

“You’re going this weekend, right?”

“Ah, if you’re free, Suah, you could come too….”

“No, no, I can’t do that. They asked you, not me.”

Suah waved her hands, refusing.

“But if you have any trouble, call me anytime. Okay, sis?”

“Okay, I will.”

She replied, but she doubted she’d have any trouble just shopping.

Saturday, 11:00 a.m.

Ruah was looking at herself in the mirror, wearing an outfit she hadn’t worn in a while. A beige dress, a short jacket, a small pouch slung across her shoulder, white socks, and flats.

‘Suah bought these clothes.’

Excited, Ruah twirled in front of the mirror. She looked like an elementary school girl excited for a day out.

‘Is this okay…?’

Just then, the doorbell to Ruah’s room rang.

—Ding-dong!

“Ah!”

Startled, Ruah slapped her cheeks a few times to regain her composure.

“Who is it?”

“Teacher, it’s me, Hoshikawa Himari.”

“Oh, okay!”

Having received a message last night that Himari would come to pick her up, Ruah opened the door without surprise.

“Good morning, teacher.”

Himari stood at the door. She was in casual clothes, unlike usual.

“……!”

Ruah’s jaw dropped as she saw Himari’s outfit.

“Is something wrong?”

The black leather jacket caught her attention first. Combined with the skinny jeans that showcased her long legs, it created an atmosphere completely different from her usual demure image.

It was an outfit that only appeared once in a specific event in the game, but seeing it up close, it was incredibly attractive. She looked like a rebellious city girl.

“Uh… it’s just unexpected….”

“If you don’t like this outfit, I’ll change.”

“No! No! I like it! That’s why I was surprised!”

As Ruah waved her hands in denial, a smile appeared on Himari’s face.

“I like your outfit too, teacher.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Whenever Himari made such straightforward compliments, Ruah would blush, unsure how to react.

“Now, let’s go. Juju is waiting.”

“Okay.”

Ruah locked the door and left the dormitory building with Himari, heading towards the parking lot. It was a warm spring day, almost making Ruah feel guilty about going to an indoor shopping mall.

“Ah, there she is.”

Soon, Ruah spotted a short-haired girl standing in a corner of the parking lot.

Juju was wearing an orange hoodie and short shorts. Her long, tanned legs, though not as long as Himari’s, were noticeable. She was leaning against a tree, chewing bubblegum, looking bored.

“Teacher.”

“…Huh?”

Seeing Juju, Himari suddenly took Ruah’s hand and held it tightly.

“Juju! I brought the teacher!”

Juju, who had turned around at Himari’s call, smiled brightly, but then, seeing Ruah holding hands with Himari, she popped her bubblegum with a disgruntled look.

“You’re here, teacher!”

She quickly ran over and took Ruah’s other hand. Ruah now looked like a child holding her parents’ hands.

“Hi, Juju. Did you wait long?”

“No, I just got here.”

“Oh, that’s good.”

Ruah subtly released both of their hands. She felt like a strange rivalry would start again if she let go of one hand before the other. Himari and Juju withdrew their hands, looking slightly disappointed.

“So, shall we go to the shuttle?”

On weekends, there was a regular shuttle bus from the artificial island, where Felix Academy was located, to the mainland for the convenience of students and staff. Unless they had their own cars, students usually took the shuttle.

“We’re not taking the shuttle today.”

“Huh? Then how are we getting to the mall?”

“Himari has a car.”

“This way.”

Himari led Ruah to a corner of the parking lot. There was something covered with a cloth, occupying one parking space.

‘Oh… don’t tell me it’s that?’

Of course, Ruah knew what it was.

“Ta-da!”

Juju whipped off the cloth.

“Hey! Juju, that’s not fair!”

“Hehe, what does it matter who does it?”

Revealed beneath the cloth was a motorcycle. It was quite large, both in engine displacement and size, the kind of thing a macho, bearded biker would ride.

“This is my mode of transportation. I brought it from Japan.”

Himari said, stroking the motorcycle’s handlebars.

“It was my brother’s, but I’m using it now.”

Ruah nodded. This was the motorcycle Himari’s deceased brother had left her. Showing this motorcycle to Ruah was proof that she had opened up to her quite a bit.

“But this can only seat two people, right?”

Juju asked. Indeed, despite its large size, it couldn’t carry three people.

“One person can ride here.”

Himari calmly pointed to the other side of the motorcycle. A sidecar was attached. The kind often seen in old cop movies.

“I attached it yesterday.”

“I-Isn’t this a bit… undignified? Being all the way down there by yourself.”

“It’s fine. I’ve checked the safety.”

“Then who’s going to….”

Juju looked back and forth between Ruah and Himari, then sighed. Himari had to drive, and if she put Ruah in the sidecar, she and Himari would have to ride hugging each other. In the end, the sidecar was Juju’s.

“Here, let’s go. Teacher, take this.”

Himari handed Ruah a small helmet. It miraculously fit Ruah’s head perfectly.

“It’s the one I used when I was little.”

“Give me one too.”

Himari grumbled and handed a helmet to Juju, who was sitting in the sidecar. With her gauntlets and katana also in the sidecar, it looked a bit cramped.

“Excuse me.”

Himari lifted Ruah and sat her on the back of the motorcycle before sitting in front herself.

“Please hold on tight, teacher.”

“O-Okay.”

Ruah did as she was told. She could feel the smooth leather of the jacket and Himari’s body heat.

‘This is the closest we’ve ever been….’

“…….”

Ruah, resting her cheek against Himari’s back, suddenly felt a gaze and turned her head. Juju, sitting in the sidecar with her arms crossed, was looking at them with a disgruntled expression.

“…Hmph.”

She seemed sulky. Ruah thought for a moment, then reached out.

“Juju, your grades went up.”

“……!”

Ruah’s hand landed on Juju’s head. As her small hand gently stroked her hair, Juju blushed.

“Good job.”

“Mm…!”

Her disgruntled look vanished, replaced by a shy expression as she averted her gaze.

“Th-Thank you.”

“Huh?”

“For the compliment… and for coming with me today!”

—Vroom!

The engine roared beneath them.

“Let’s go.”

Speaking in a strangely stiff tone, Himari revved the engine.

The motorcycle, carrying the three of them, smoothly exited the parking lot and sped towards the shopping mall.