Around this time, it's about to go past 3 AM.

Nishino and the others returned to the hotel after dealing with the thugs. Everyone was extremely exhausted, and the heartfelt desire to quickly return to their rooms and sleep weighed heavily on their minds. Especially Nishino and Tarousuke, who were severely battered, were in rather dire physical condition.

In front of their own rooms, where they were greeted by such a bizarre scene, Francisca spoke.

"Ara? Y-You arrived surprisingly early..."

For some reason, Takeuchi-kun was standing next to her.

What he was carrying in his hands was a wine souvenir he had recently purchased at the Athens airport. It appeared to be relatively expensive, bearing a brand label and several years of aging. He had unwrapped it from its wooden box before bringing it to her door.

However, at that moment, he was left wondering about the fate of those bottles as he absentmindedly asked, "Eh? Why is Nishino here...?"

He kept switching his gaze between Nishino and the others.

"Tarou-san? And Rose-chan too... why are you with Nishino..."

The Class rep, whose name was the only one that wasn't mentioned, couldn't help but wonder, "Why only me?" or something along those lines. A slightly lonely feeling for the seventeen-year-old virgin. Leaving her emotions behind, the conversation proceeded on its own.

"W-Welcome back! You were quite late, weren't you? Since you didn't come back for a while, some young guys tried to pick me up. Making a good woman like me wait is such a crime, you know? Honestly, mou~!"

I must not allow Takeuchi-kun to speak any further.

Francisca howled, taking control of the discussion.

The words that continued to pour out of her mouth were forceful and filled with exaggeration. She understood that the futsumen in front of her valued his classmates, including Takeuchi-kun. She considered that if she made a wrong move, her own neck might be physically at risk.

"...Francisca?"

This caused Nishino to furrow his brow.

Yet, Francisca kept on speaking without hesitation.

Her aim was to prevent anyone from having a moment to speak.

"That's the situation, so could you please return to your room, young man?"

"Eh? Are you acquainted with Nishino, Onee-san?"

"That's right? We're here for a vacation together."

"Eh...?"

With a seductive smile, Francisca speaks confidently, asserting her statement to a degree that makes it hard to believe she is lying. While she may not be of much use in a fight, she is incredibly skilled in handling situations involving interactions between men and women.

With the opponent being in their mid-teens, it's her solo performance.

Explaining the process leading up to now would be too much trouble, so she relied on her beauty for a power play. While not as sleep-deprived as Nishino, she appeared quite tired after counting over twenty hours since her last sleep.

"Surely, you wouldn't let this Onee-san cheat in front of my boyfriend, would you?"

"Eh... boyfriend... um, that's..."

Francisca persistently appeals without saying it explicitly, 'Please don't bother me anymore.'

For Takeuchi-kun, this is a very unpleasant situation.

Given the constant admiration he receives from his surroundings, he's the type of handsome guy who aligns more with the geocentric theory than the heliocentric one. The unexpected rejection is quite a shock to him. It seems he had some confidence that he might succeed.

(1. Geocentric Theory: This theory, also known as the Ptolemaic system, posits that Earth is the center of the universe, and all celestial bodies, including the Sun, planets, and stars, revolve around Earth. It was the prevailing cosmological model for many centuries in ancient and medieval times.)

(2. Heliocentric Theory: This theory, often associated with the work of astronomers like Nicolaus Copernicus and Johannes Kepler, proposes that the Sun is at the center of the solar system, and the planets, including Earth, orbit the Sun. The heliocentric model replaced the geocentric model during the Scientific Revolution in the 16th and 17th centuries.)

(3. In the context of the provided text, the terms are used metaphorically to describe the person's attractiveness. "Geocentric" suggests being the center of attention or admiration, while "Heliocentric" implies being more modest or less self-centered.)

As a result, he had to switch topics temporarily to keep the situation going.

"Also, um, why is Tarou-san with Nishino?"

That question is directed at Francisca, not Tarou-san himself.

Takeuchi-kun is exceptionally skilled in these areas.

"Eh? Well, that's..."

Even the most cunning old lady cannot completely deceive Tarousuke's presence.

She had informed about his journey to Santorini from repeated contacts with various parties involved. However, she never expected that Nishino would return with someone. Her hasty excuse had left her stumbling over what to say next.

In that case, it was Tarousuke himself who decided to extend a helping hand. He promptly opened his mouth while maintaining an appearance of composure after seeing Francisca's bewildered expression. His posture, leaning on Nishino's shoulder, was far from dignified, but he judged it to be the only option at the moment.

"This is quite the coincidence, isn't it? Were all of you safe?"

"Ah, y-yes, but it's Tarou-san who's in trouble! Aren't you injured!? Are you okay!? Your pants are soaked in blood, maybe we should call for an ambulance..."

"It's not a big deal. I'll be okay after a night's rest."

Hahaha. The ikemen laughs lightly.

Actually, he is in so much pain that he wants to cry while riding the taxi. He desires a bed more than anyone else at this moment. With the goal in sight, he pleads for a quick departure from here. Even his proud smile appears slightly strained.

"I-I see..."

"For now, take a break for today. I'll take care of the police and any other complicated matters. After all, it's your precious trip, right? There might have been a few accidents, but I think we should quickly forget the unpleasant things and head to explore other places, don't you agree?"

"...Understood."

When the admired Tarousuke speaks, even a handsome man like him loses his momentum. Nevertheless, Takeuchi-kun's dissatisfied expression remains unchanged. The main reason is the presence of Francisca, a extraordinary beauty, who has just appeared in front of him.

It was obvious to everyone that he was clearly aiming for a one-night stand.

The incident started when Suzuki-kun recounted a wild story last night about his orgy experience during his trip to Hawaii. Inspired by his story, the protagonist felt the need to also have a similar experience in order to prove himself. Just a few minutes ago, he set out for a hunting adventure.

He was completely ready to have sex. Having told Suzuki-kun that he wouldn't be coming back tonight, he couldn't possibly back down now. To be hindered by a futsumen is a disgrace to his reputation as an attractive man. His high self-esteem didn't help either, and now his frustration needed an outlet.

"......"

"What's wrong? Do you still have something you need from me?"

In the end, he locked onto the person who would likely have the weakest position in this situation—It was none other than Nishino. Although he didn't actually know the truth, that's how it seemed to Takeuchi-kun. But still, his tone of speech was somewhat reserved in front of Francisca.

"Speaking of which, Nishino, did you really have such a gorgeous girlfriend? Until the cultural festival, you were hitting on girls here and there, which means you didn't have a girlfriend at that time, am I right? It's amazing that you got one in such a short time. If it's really true, I feel like I should celebrate it."

The attention of those around also simultaneously shifted towards the futsumen.

"Yeah, I suppose so..."

Taking this into consideration, he pondered. What should be the top priority in the current situation? The answer that naturally came to his mind was to bid goodnight to Takeuchi-kun right now.

He was reluctant to let his personal matters be known to other classmates any further. This is because it would result in significant disadvantages, not just for Nishino himself, but also for them. Nishino has been increasingly worried lately that it might harm not only the individuals involved but also all of their classmates.

As for the Class rep, who had become involved in various matters, he resigned himself to the fact that there wasn't much he could do about her.

Furthermore, Tarousuke's injury to his leg is quite precarious.

Those reasons allowed the futsumen to make a quick decision.

"Francisca, come here for a moment."

"W-What is it?

"Just come here."

The blonde beauty stood by the door, tending to Takeuchi-kun. Despite his selfish and condemnable remarks, the futsumen summoned her with just a chin gesture. His words and actions were incredibly offensive. Nevertheless, Francisca approached him without showing any sign of displeasure.

Because Nishino and her interactions are always like this.

"...What's the matter?"

The blonde beauty tilted her head in puzzlement.

That gesture is a bit cute.

In response to this, Nishino took an utterly unexpected action.

"Nn..."

He held her chin and gently kissed her lips.

"!?"

In response to the unexpected action, Francisca's eyes widened. She was so taken aback that she forgot to push his hand away and trembled visibly, showing a strong reaction of shock. Her hands extended as if an electric current had surged from the top of her head to her toes.

As they observed that scene, Rose and Shimizu also exhibited noticeable reactions.

"Wha..."

"N-Nishino-kun!?"

Especially the former seemed even more surprised than the person whose lips were kissed.

His eyes were so wide open that you could see the edges of his sharply elongated pupils, and his mouth was moving up and down silently. As they were traveling in the taxi, the sweat that had finally started to subside began to break out again, forming droplets on his forehead.

The kiss lasted for about ten seconds.

Meanwhile, the faint moans that Francisca let out could be heard monotonously.

It's quite erotic.

Nevertheless, there's nothing anyone can say about this.

As their lips parted, a thin string of saliva stretched between them.

"Is this enough to make you believe?"

As soon as it was done, the futsumen turned back to Takeuchi-kun and went on.

"......Y-Yeah."

Even Takeuchi-kun, as composed as he is, couldn't speak any further.

"That's why, Takeuchi-kun, I'm sorry but could you let me into the room? It's not something I'd normally ask, but it's quite late at night. It's truly tiring and I would appreciate it if I could rest until morning on this trip. I hope you understand."

"......"

Nishino's usual style deeply struck Takeuchi-kun's heart more profoundly than ever.

The sarcastic remark, which should have been left unsaid, ended up hurting Takeuchi-kun's sensitive spot.

The pride of the handsome man is now in tatters.

The futsumen's tyranny continues.

"Come, Francisca."

"Eh? O-Okay, I'm going, Okay? I'm going."

Beside Nishino, who maintains his usual cynicism, Francisca continues to stay close, as if snuggling up to him. Her expression, in contrast to her usual assertiveness, is notably more subdued and somewhat blissful. Her uncertain gaze briefly wanders towards the day after tomorrow, and then, sneakily, towards the futsumen.

Without delay, they entered the room just like that.

As they witnessed the two of them leaving, all of a sudden, a grinding sound of teeth echoed from nowhere. And then, with a snap, a sound of teeth breaking from its roots. Even more strangely, there was the sound of something being crushed, with a grinding and snapping sound. And finally, a gulp.

This is Rose's method of calcium consumption.

"Eeek..."

Witnessing the odd behavior of the mentally unstable woman next to her, the Class rep instinctively took half a step back.

It seems she has understood the bizarre actions performed within those clenched teeth.

"Nishino-kun, Nishino-kun, Nishino-kun, Nishino-kun, Nishino-kun, Nishino-kun."

The muttered words, spoken under one's breath, inexplicably reached Shimizu, who was just nearby.

"J-Just what in the w-w-world is this p-person..."

She's on the verge of tears, taken aback.

Her gaze was fixed on Rose, as if looking at something filthy on the street.

On the other hand, Takeuchi-kun, who is known for his skills, has also lost his target, and can no longer resist any further.

So, he quickly shifted his focus toward the next stage.

Seeking tonight's companion, his attention naturally turned to the blonde lolita. Since he had declared to Suzuki-kun that he wouldn't be returning tonight, there was no way he could go back to his room empty-handed. At the very least, he needed one souvenir story. His pride as the school's representative handsome guy compelled him to utter the following words.

"So, Rose-chan, should we also return to our room?"

Raising the bottle he held in his hand, he extended an invitation with a heartfelt smile.

However, the person of interest is already completely focused on Nishino, excluding everything else.

"I'm sorry? I need to have a brief conversation with him."

She said it openly and followed Nishino.

Not once did she look back at the handsome guy.

Even their gazes never met.

She hurriedly flapped her way and vanished on the other side of the door.

"Ah, wait, y-you..."

It was Tarousuke who raised his voice upon witnessing that appearance.

He meant Rose when he said "You."

It seemed as if he caught a glimpse of madness in the gaze of the mentally unstable woman. Being more perceptive to human subtleties than Takeuchi-kun, he couldn't help but feel uneasy when faced with Rose's intense energy, which could potentially harm Nishino or Francisca.

"Tarousuke-san, I-I'll, uh, lend you my shoulder instead!"

"Ah, sorry about that. I appreciate it..."

Appearing to grasp his thoughts, Shimizu offers her shoulder as a substitute for Nishino. It would be unbearable if one of her classmates were labeled as a criminal. Her position as the class representative likely played a role to some extent. Her overly active self-awareness compelled her to take action.

Or perhaps there was something else that concerned her?

In any case, they both followed after Rose.

They hurriedly entered the room.

In the end, Takeuchi-kun was left behind alone.

"...Oi, oi, oi! The hell is this? What the hell just happened?!"

His tightly clenched fist trembled slightly.

The whole group, having left Takeuchi-kun behind, returned to the room and immediately encountered another commotion.

"O-Oi, Nishino, why is this kid here...!?"

As they entered the living room, they were greeted by the sight of a Gothic Lolita girl left alone on the living room sofa. Given that she was the one who had caused the disturbance this time, Tarousuke immediately began to make a scene upon witnessing her. It's a natural reaction, one could argue.

Shimizu, who was lending her shoulder, was also surprised when he suddenly raised his voice.

"What? Do you know each other?"

"No, i-it's not like we, uh, know each other. It's more like we were kidnapped by her without any explanation."

On the other hand, the person who was yelled at by him spoke casually.

"Onee-sama, would you like to take a shower together? I've sweated a bit."

"Go ahead and drown by yourself."

"That's unfortunate."

She still couldn't move by herself, lying on the sofa just as when Nishino and the others had left. Nevertheless, she managed to move only her head and neck to follow Rose's whereabouts. The silver-haired Lolita was head over heels for the blonde Lolita.

In front of her, there was another person present—an unfamiliar man dressed in a suit. He sat with a large shoulder bag beside him. He was probably the doctor Francisca had called. He appeared to be in his mid-forties, a handsome Westerner with neatly cropped blond hair and striking blue eyes.

"Francisca, I'm counting on you to tend to this guy here."

"Eh? Oh, sure. I got it. But you..."

"This one's in critical condition. We can't leave his injury alone for too long."

He points to Tarousuke using his chin while saying that.

"Wait, Nishino, g-give me a moment. Let me explain first..."

"I'll do whatever you ask later, so go get some treatment first. Your leg's at risk of necrosis."

"Wait... for real?"

"For real. The next few hours will be crucial."

Tarousuke had easily assumed that his injury wasn't that serious, perhaps due to Nishino's relaxed attitude. He never expected that life in a wheelchair was just around the corner.

"......"

He's an ikemen whose face grimaces as he obediently follows the instructions.

The patient is accompanied by the doctor and heads towards the bedroom adjacent to the living room.

His expression was deathly pale.

Due to the fact that she was lending her shoulder, Shimizu ended up accompanying him. However, with Tarousuke lying down on the bed, there wasn't much else to do. She had been watching for a while, feeling a bit idle. Soon, she returned to where the others were.

On the other hand, Nishino switched to the space on the sofa that the doctor had just vacated a while ago, and then he sat down.

In the living room, there were Nishino, Rose, Francisca, Shimizu, and the Gothic Lolita girl.

Rose and Francisca sit on both sides of Nishino. Across from them, Shimizu, who doesn't comprehend the silver-haired lolita's peculiar fetish, sits next to her without any resistance. These two are meeting face-to-face for the first time at this moment. She never imagined that the girl sitting next to her was the one who had planned to kidnap her classmates.

"When will the woman over there be shipped?"

Nishino asks Francisca.

"I think it will arrive in two or three hours."

"You're still efficient when it comes to those kinds of procedures."

"P-Praising me won't yield any results, okay?"

The futsumen responds as if he's gotten the hang of it.

In response to his casual remarks, Francisca, appearing more nervous than usual, answers. Since the kiss earlier, her reactions have been strange. More specifically, her gaze never stops following his every move.

Meanwhile, as for the girl who was brought up, she is single-mindedly in the pursuit of Rose's affection.

"That's too bad. I wanted to spend more time with you, Onee-sama."

"I wish to part with you as soon as possible."

"If it's alright with you, would you be willing to come with me?"

"I don't want to."

"We will provide wonderful cuisine and tasty beverages."

"You really don't listen to what people say, do you...?"

Due to that, she's under a lot of stress because she can't even have a conversation with Nishino even if she wants to.

While that was happening, the futsumen got up from his seat.

Francisca, feeling concerned that she might have upset him during the entire exchange, wondered. Normally, the legs of this old lady, who usually strikes extravagant poses, were now neatly aligned side by side, which is unusual.

"Do you have another errand somewhere?"

"I'll go check if there's another room available. I'm rather sleepy."

"There are two beds, aren't there?"

"Someone else will be staying, right?"

He briefly glanced and, using his gaze, pointed towards Rose as he spoke.

"So, would you like to sleep in my bed? Wonderful services are included until morning."

"Stop with the pointless jokes. My mouth still feels unpleasant with your saliva."

"You did pretty well for a first time, you know?"

"If I hadn't done that, Takeuchi-kun wouldn't have backed down. There's no way I can let the situation be known. If things go wrong, it could put my classmates in danger. That's all there is to it."

"Ara? It seems you're not denying that it's your first time."

Francisca put on a delightful smile.

"......"

As if saying, 'I can't deal with her any longer'  Nishino's gaze shifted towards the bedroom adjoining the living room. There, on the bed in question, Tarousuke was in the midst of treatment. With each injection and procedure, he let out a rhythmic, 'Uh, ah, guh,' in a somewhat satisfying groan.

Having judged that the treatment was progressing smoothly, the futsumen began to walk.

His feet made a hasty exit from the room. After a brief passage through the living room, the sound of the door leading to the indoor corridor closing, patan, softly resonated all the way to the living room. Just as he had declared a moment ago, he must have headed to the hotel's front desk.

After confirming that those footsteps had completely receded, Rose spoke.

"Hey, haven't you been acting strange for a while now?"

The crazy woman unusually did not follow Nishino. Instead, she started an interrogation session. The partner in this endeavor is none other than Francisca.

"What are you talking about?"

"You were following him with your eyes until the very end, weren't you?"

"So, what's the matter?"

"Typically, you wouldn't even make eye contact and would act as if you two were uninvolved, am I right?"

With a cold and disdainful glare, the blonde lolita stared at the crotch old lady.

She, too, wouldn't usually direct such a serious gaze towards Francisca. Although they've spent quite a bit of time together, they aren't exactly on the best terms. That's precisely why she assesses the other's changes accurately and points them out without hesitation.

"You've stated this previously, you're not into Asians, remember?"

"Yes, that's right. They're not my preference."

"He's Asian, isn't he?"

"So?"

"......"

Francisca muttered indifferently and stood up from the sofa.

She headed towards the dining kitchen facing the living room. From the fridge, she took out a can of beer, and with a satisfying pop, she opened it. She took a gulp and enjoyed the refreshing feeling as it quenched her thirst and awakened her heated body.

Rose continued to gaze at her intently.

"Um, R-Rose-san, there's something I want to ask too..."

Is it okay to speak now? Shimizu asked meekly.

"I'm sorry, but could you do it later?"

"......Okay."

The person currently holding the lowest position in this place right now is the class rep.

Shimizu, who had lost her place in the living room, left the smelly old lady's room without talking to anyone or being talked to.

Feeling exhausted for the day, she moved quickly in search of a bed. However, as soon as she left the room, she realized a significant blunder. She had absolutely no idea where Takeuchi-kun had reserved a room.

Furthermore, her handheld device became inoperable after being submerged in water, making it difficult to get in touch.

Nonetheless, the clever class president never gave up and headed straight to the hotel's front desk. Her plan was to have them check the guestbook for confirmation. She didn't aim for Tokyo University of Foreign Studies for nothing. Moreover, it was a chance for redemption, considering her previous failure in ordering tea earlier in the day.

Time for a brief overview of Shimizu's actions here.

As soon as she reached the reception counter, she launched a preemptive strike. With her once formidable English power, she managed to acquire a writing instrument, chanting 'Pen purīzu, pen purīzu'  While verbal conversation might be challenging, there was some room for communication through written words. She shamelessly embraced the stereotypical Japanese communication style.

Talk, and you lose. Be talked to, and you still lose.

She was quite confident in using written communication through gestures instead of her tongue.

However, her mission ended in failure.

As for the room she finally inquired about—it turned out to be the room Tarousuke had used for a photo shoot.

The hotel staff must have been impressed by the presence of so many Asians for the photo shoot. Consequently, the night shift staff interacted with Shimizu as if she were associated with the photography team, having formed a one-sided assumption. Once she gave up on conversation, the class president's defeat was sealed.

Due to this, she became a lodger without a place to stay.

"...What should I do?"

With nowhere else to go, she made her way back to the front desk. Taking a seat on the sofa arranged in the entrance, she let out a deep sigh. It seemed like spending the night here was her only option. Her grim circumstances weighed on her mind, adding to the fatigue in her body.

—What unexpectedly reached her ears was the familiar voice she had become accustomed to hearing recently.

"Can't sleep, Iinchou?"

"......"

It's you again, huh? Shimizu thought. By this point, she can't help but think that she has a good connection with him. Before the school festival, he was a classmate with whom she never remembered exchanging words, but in just a few weeks, the opportunities have increased considerably.

"I'm sleepy. Very, very sleepy."

The stressful environment naturally made her words become harsh.

"Then, just sleep."

"Because I can't do that, t-this is why I'm here!"

"Did you encounter a problem?"

"...T-That's..."

Being questioned so directly caught her off guard, causing her to lose her momentum.

Shimizu was someone who couldn't possibly admit to being lost, even if she had to bite her tongue. Especially when it came to Nishino, she didn't want to let her guard down, driven by her pride as a woman. Therefore, she reluctantly decided to forcefully change the topic of conversation.

"I-I could ask the same to you, Nishino-kun. Why are you here?"

"Ah, just a little nightcap."

He holds up a bottle of alcohol in one hand, showing off where he procured it from.

"...Hmm?"

He drank to mask the pain from the swollen and bruised face he had suffered from the blows delivered by the sunglasses man in a suit. By the way, he was wearing an eyepatch over his left eye, which he had received from the doctor Francisca had called. Thanks to that, his favorite sunglasses were removed, and he looked a bit lonely with his ordinary appearance.

The class president gazed at him with a bored expression.

What came to her mind was the incident at the apartment of the futsumen that she had visited with Takeuchi-kun, Matsuura-san, and Rose not too long ago. In that same place, she recalled the sight of a hungover bastard peering through the front door.

"Isn't it the worst to be an alcoholic at your age?"

"If you're talking about the previous incident, that was just a coincidence."

"That so."

After exchanging words, the class president promptly turned her face away with a pout.

Observing her actions, Nishino began to think.

Why is she alone at the entrance? Nishino wondered. Perhaps there was some inconvenience in her room. It was already late at night. For a young girl to be out alone, it was an inappropriate time.

Nonetheless, no matter how deeply he contemplated it, the reason remained a mystery. Furthermore, even if he were to inquire, he never dreamed she would willingly tell him, even if he asked. Even a futsumen like him had reservations regarding their level of closeness.

Is it because of that? His arm moved naturally.

He reached into his pants pocket, and what he pulled out was the key to the hotel room that the futsumen had just reserved. A room he had obtained less than thirty minutes ago by speaking to the reception. It was his accommodation for the night. Furthermore, it was the only vacant room left in the hotel.

He casually tossed it towards Shimizu.

"Iinchou."

"Eh!?"

Upon being released, she frantically caught it with both hands.

"W-Wait, what's this all of a sudden!?"

"It's a compensation for dragging you into this mess."

"Hold on, 'compensation' you say... Isn't this a room key?"

Without delay, Nishino turned on his heel.

Upon confirming the number, the class president noticed it was labeled as "Room 901". Given their previous exchange, she grasped the situation swiftly. However, even she couldn't simply accept it without hesitation.

"Hey, w-wait a moment!"

"...What?"

The futsumen, who was just about to step outside, turned around.

"W-Where do you intend to sleep?"

"I'll go for a walk for a while."

"......"

Speaking in a casual tone, he attempted to leave the hotel just like that.

In that behavior, there was no sign of him paying any attention to the class president at all.

His aloof demeanor seemed to resonate with her peculiar traits.

"W-Wait... I told you to wait, didn't I!?"

She hurriedly walked up to Nishino and grabbed his arm.

"There's no need for you to leave, Nishino-kun!"

"That room is a double."

"......"

Faced with the conveyed information, the class president hesitated.

However, she seemed a little off tonight. Due to sleep deprivation, fatigue, and the repeated experiences of getting lost in a foreign country, it had made her feel a little high. Perhaps that's why she continued to make suggestions that she wouldn't normally utter.

"It's not a big deal! There should be at least one sofa, right?"

"...Well, I suppose there is."

"If it's like that, then there's no issue. Let's go!"

"......"

With a commanding tone, the class president forcefully dragged the futsumen along.

And when they finally arrived there, Nishino and Shimizu started arguing in the room again.

"Like I said, I'm fine with the sofa. How about you take a look in the mirror? You look terrible, you know? Since you're injured, you should just listen quietly."

"It's nothing serious."

"......"

As usual, Nishino, who never listens to what the class president says. His indifferent attitude like that was incredibly infuriating, and Shimizu gradually heated up. Eventually, after repeated exchanges, she took a step forward on her own.

"If that's the case, let's do it like this!"

She barked out, and her hand seized Nishino's arm.

"Oi, what are you intending to do..."

Unwaveringly, Shimizu forced Nishino onto the bed.

And then, she too, positioned herself beside him. Without the guts to look each other in the face, they naturally ended up with their backs turned toward one another. However, the current state they had reached was unmistakably sharing a bed, no matter how anyone looked at it.

"If it's just the two of us, w-we can sleep right on the edge!"

"Impossible, right? 'Double' is just in name only."

"I'm going to sleep, okay?! I'm already very sleepy! Yes!"

Saying so, she forcefully laid the futon.

On the cramped bed, they both lay down, facing away from each other.

On top of them, a thin blanket gently rested.

"And, uh, i-if you do anything strange, I'll scream loudly, okay!?"

"...I understand. Thank you, Iinchou."

"A-Also, i-it's not like I need your thanks or anything, okay!?"

Nishino finally decided to accept the class president's sincere goodwill.

Over the past few days, it was the happiest event for the futsumen.

—The dusty futon in this inexpensive room carried a faint smell of youth.