— I remember going through a similar test in elementary school. I was scared stiff back then! I didn't think I'd get a chance to pull off something like this too, — Tobe, shining like a polished kettle, buried his head in a pile of clothes, looking for something suitable for himself.
— If only there was something relatively tolerable here, — Miura wrinkled her nose, looking discontentedly at the alien costume, already quite worn and patched in places. — As if we are planning to engage in cheap cosplay.
— Oh, don't grumble, Yumiko, — Ebina chirped cheerfully, looking at the resulting Onmyoji image with a satisfied look. — The main thing here is to create an atmosphere!
And she waved a not-quite-suitable magical girl wand, shouting a phrase from some anime and pointing her weapon at her friend. Goldilocks measured Hina with a tired gaze, whispered something under her breath, rubbing her forehead, and, apparently deciding not to contradict the overly motivated person, returned to attempts to find a suitable outfit for herself.
— I completely agree with Ebina, — Totsuka adjusted the wizard's hat, simultaneously fixing the hems of the purple cloak. — At their age, I could fall into terror from a contorted face... Eek!
At the end, the boy screamed loudly, jumping in place. Turning sharply, he stared with wide-open eyes at the maliciously giggling Komachi standing behind him. The girl, seizing the moment, managed to sneak up on him from behind and tickle his sides.
— Komachi! — with notes of offense in his voice, Saika frowned, trying to hide his embarrassment. — W-why?
— He-he, — my sister stuck out her tongue and put a "paw" to her cheek. — Couldn't help myself, my inner "cat" ordered me to play a prank on the poor little mage.
Yes, she found in the heap of clothes issued to us by the camp authorities something remotely resembling a cat costume. At least the fake ears and tail definitely fit the appearance of a bakeneko, but I doubted the paws, "top," and pants. It looked more like... I don't know. But definitely not a cat. Rather, a puma.
However, everything suits my precious.
— I don't quite understand what exact actions are required of us? — Yukino inquired, tying an obi at her waist and thereby completing her image of the "snow maiden." Surprisingly, an ordinary white kimono and loose, long, black hair, coupled with an indifferent expression, perfectly complemented the picture, which is why it was very easy to confuse Snowball with the legendary Yuki-onna.
I wonder, did she think about this when she chose exactly this combination of things? Or was she simply guided by reason, selecting clothing elements suitable in color scheme?
For some reason, I lean more towards the second option. Quite in Yukinoshita's spirit.
— Hikigaya, — feeling a touch on my shoulder, I sighed mentally.
Was sitting calmly in the distance, bothering no one, but there is always a person who is not satisfied with this. Right, Yui?
— Did something happen? — turning my head, I barely maintained an indifferent expression upon seeing her outfit.
If someone tells me that a short leather top with a cutout in the center of the chest — clearly a size smaller, since it hugged Doggy's "assets" more than enough — and a mini-skirt of the same style should inspire terror, then I... will agree. Only with a small clarification: terror will be experienced by any male teenager from about fourteen years old. And that's because hormones will strangle him.
— What do you mean what, are you going to participate at all or not? — resting her hands on her hips, Yuigahama leaned forward, adding a special awkward piquancy to the situation.
Although who am I to be indignant about such a thing? If life gives you lemons — make lemonade and don't grimace.
— Of course, do you have doubts about this? — raised an eyebrow.
She stared at me unblinkingly.
I smiled innocently, calmly entering the battle of gazes.
Well, come on, compete with the champion in this field.
— If you are going to participate, then why are you sitting in place and not choosing a costume for yourself? — she didn't last long, however, even having lost the battle, the girl did not intend to retreat.
— Do I need to?
— You need to, — so much confidence in the voice, I am downright amazed.
I have a special strategy for such cases. Stupid and simple, but it didn't become less effective from this.
— What for? — tilted my head.
The main thing is that Doggy doesn't catch on to the trick ahead of time, for there is one answer option capable of leading to a stalemate.
— Because separating from the others is bad! — oho, gotcha.
Placing bets: how quickly will Yui snap?
— Why?
Okay, she's thinking.
— We-ell, because in... — she put a finger to her lips, selecting a suitable argument. — Exactly! Because otherwise, you might have disagreements with your comrades!
There are literally no words to describe all that terrible horror that covered me as soon as I heard her remark.
How can it be, they might dislike me...
It seems the expression on my face told Yuigahama that she needed to find another reason.
— And Hiratsuka will have an extra reason to run over you? — now undisguised uncertainty seeped through the girl's voice.
Continuing to press with my "unimaginable" intellect.
— Why?
— She is a teacher!
— A-a-and? — won't hide it, drawled with pleasure.
There is something pleasant in this, when you realize that, without exerting extra effort, you are confidently moving towards victory. One should only remember certain boundaries that are undesirable to cross. Still, I do not intend to drive Yui to actual hysteria, and I don't want serious resentment from her side.
Doggy drew her eyebrows together.
— You are mocking me, aren't you?
Guessed it.
— A little bit.
— Hikigaya, you are a fool, — demonstratively pouting, Yuigahama turned around and marched briskly towards Yukinoshita, who for some reason was enthusiastically hovering around Komachi.
I, shaking my head, returned to observing the remaining group members, still deciding what to choose as costumes.
Yeah, Tobe really lacks a sense of taste.
Otherwise, I cannot explain how a squid head correlates with an elf costume from a cheap fantasy. And why is he trying to put this on Hayato?..
***
After everyone decided on the outfits, we had almost an hour and a half left before the start of the "test of courage," which we spent on re-checking the chosen path for the elementary schoolers. In the end, the task was to scare the little ones, not to force them to get lost in a dark forest, thereby achieving not the most pleasant consequences.
Actually, everything was quite trivial: marked the places where the participants would hide, blocked any deviations to the side with cones so that the kids wouldn't go off the road and get lost, and checked the remaining props. In principle, nothing complicated.
It remained to check everything against the maps, which, of course, was dumped on me, since I did not intend to participate in this directly. For the sake of this, I had to spend a few minutes of intimate conversation with Hiratsuka, but I managed to achieve what I wanted.
The only moment that spoiled the plans for blissful idleness lay in the fact that not only I decided to shirk the event under a plausible pretext.
— Are you still not finished, Hikigaya?
Skewed a glance at Miura, impatiently tapping her foot on the ground.
Copied my passages, you see, squeezed a comfortable chair from me, because of which I had to look for another one to sit down, and she expresses dissatisfaction on top of that?
Unprecedented impudence!
— As you can see — no.
— Will you be long? There's five minutes of work here, — the girl was indignant, poking a finger at the stack of maps lying on my knees.
— I know, — checking the current sample against the previous ones, put it aside.
— So why are you stalling?
Sighed.
— Miura, tell me for mercy's sake: when will everything start?
— In about half an hour, — judging by her facial expression, she didn't quite understand what I was driving at.
— Then it will take me about that much time to finish the assignment.
— But why?
— Because Hikigaya is a lazy blockhead who is ready to crawl at the speed of a snail if thanks to this he won't have to strain himself unnecessarily, — Hiratsuka answered for me, having finished the conversation with the elementary schoolers.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Rumi hiding behind her back, diligently avoiding direct eye contact.
Hmm, and what did she forget here?
After we helped her take photos, Tsurumi had to return to her classmates since they found an activity for them. Most likely so they wouldn't get underfoot while we complete the preparation for the test.
— I suspected a similar option, but naively believed in the best, — Yumiko snorted, however, I did not catch obvious contempt in her tone.
And not that it hurt somehow, especially since Shizuka is completely right. Sometimes it is worth acting calmly, with feeling, with sense, with arrangement, carefully considering every step. Especially in those cases when the completion of one task promises you receiving the next.
— Do not pin hopes on anyone but yourself, and you will be happy, — at my remark, Goldilocks rolled her eyes but did not comment on anything.
— Wonderful words, — seizing the moment, Sensei wedged in again, simultaneously gently pushing the elementary schooler forward. — In any case, I have a new party assignment for you.
— And what is it? — I feel that all my Napoleonic plans for sports bolt-kicking are finally covered. And since that's the case, I don't see the point in dragging it out — come on, dump a heap of problems on Hachiman, I am ready for anything!
However, taking into account the context of the situation and its participants, I assume that the essence will lie in...
— For the duration of the "test," look after Rumi, — yes, exactly such a request I expected.
Predictable.
— No problem, — to my surprise, Miura responded first.
— Hikigaya? — satisfied with her agreement, the woman turned her gaze to me.
— I support, — shrugged.
What's the point of asking if the answer is extremely obvious.
— Excellent. I knew I could rely on you, — did it seem to me or did Shizuka exhale with relief?
Hmm, is someone dumping their duties on students, unhesitatingly using their power and authority?
Respectable. Well, only in the case when it does not promise serious trouble.
Why have such privileges if you have no opportunity to use them for your own benefit?
Correct — none.
A voice calling the teacher from the distance forced Shizuka to hastily say goodbye to us and walk quickly towards the stout man — the one who greeted everyone on the first day — thereby leaving us alone with Tsurumi.
Silence fell.
I decided to finish checking the maps, for there was no longer any sense in delaying the process while Yumiko and the girl cast suspicious glances at each other.
— Want to do something? — Goldilocks was the first to get tired of the staring game.
Rumi, bristling, shook her head.
— I see, — the girl muttered.
An awkward silence reigned for a couple of minutes, broken only by the rustling of pages from my side.
Miura, as if feeling responsible, looked around in search of something to occupy the unexpectedly fallen "gift."
— Um-m, aren't you hungry? I have a couple of apples from dinn...
— We ate an hour ago, — Tsurumi interrupted her quite rudely, making the interlocutor grimace.
I think if not for the prevailing circumstances, she would definitely have expressed herself causticly about this. However, apparently feeling pity for the elementary schooler, Yumiko swallowed the peculiar attack, smiling crookedly.
— Okay... — and fell silent again.
It seems the "lioness" of the pride does not possess weighty skills in the field of communication with children. I wonder, does she have a younger sister or brother?
Need to help her out, extending, so to speak, a helping hand. In addition, I will make life easier for myself.
Running through the maps for the last time, loudly cleared my throat, attracting Goldilocks' attention.
— Miura, could you take this to ours? — she looked askance at the extended sheets, and then at me.
— Have you been told that you can be extremely insolent? — the girl was indignant for form's sake, at the same time taking the papers. — Look, Hikigaya, first and last time you are using me as a courier!
— Of course, of course, — I smiled, mentally rolling my eyes.
Instead of saying "thank you" or nodding silently, she absolutely must cause a scene. No argument, in our society it is necessary to constantly maintain the chosen role, but sometimes one can make indulgences?
Waiting until Goldilocks — before that snorting loudly and demonstratively once more! — left towards the classmates standing at the edge of the forest, I stretched, not hiding the pleasure from the work done.
— Why aren't you participating with your comrades? — Rumi, relaxing a tiny bit in Yumiko's absence, came closer.
— Same question. Didn't you want to try yourself in the test of courage?
— I wanted to, — she muttered quietly, squatting down and hugging her knees.
— But? — wanted to offer her to sit in Miura's place, however, thinking soberly, realized that in the end I would remain sitting on the grass myself. Upon returning, my classmate won't chase the child away, but she will start nagging me. So, to avoid future headaches, made a stoic decision and got off the chair, collapsing onto the grass next to Tsurumi.
— Think for yourself, — the schoolgirl snapped, but did not move away.
— Don't want to, — shrugged.
— Then want to!
— No-ope, — yes, I know it looks childishly stupid, but I want to stir up the small fry a little.
— Definitely a fool, — the girl finally looked at me. — What's difficult here? I will feel uncomfortable! They will be having fun, and I will stand aside and watch again! Think that's pleasant?!
Got through after all. It's slightly easier with children in this regard; their emotional component dominates the rational one much stronger. Undoubtedly, there are rare exceptions, but, fortunately, not in my case.
— Therefore you decided to just run away? — arched an eyebrow.
— Yes, — Rumi didn't deny. — Why suffer unnecessarily? Can't fix anything anyway.
— Who knows, I wouldn't be so categorical.
— What are you talking about?
More instinctively than on purpose, reached out and ruffled the little one's hair.
Maybe I really am obsessed with this?
— I'm talking about "can't fix anything," — fortunately, the girl didn't avoid the affection, but accepted it... with barely noticeable pleasure?
Although, being honest, any manifestation of warmth and care in situations when you feel frankly crappy is difficult to perceive in a negative way. At least, in middle school, I sometimes wanted someone to just hug me and say that everything would work out and be fine.
— Still don't understand.
— Well... — I paused, deciding whether it's worth talking about or not. Fine, it will be useful to her. — Look, Rumi...
Shifted gaze to the darkening sky for a couple of seconds, choosing the right words.
— When you are subjected to bullying at school, usually you have two options: either fight, defending your interests, or silently accept insults. I already spoke about this, right? — waiting for Tsurumi's nod, continued slowly: — However, one needs to understand that in the second case too there is an opportunity, say, to avoid such unwanted attention. And partially regain past positions.
Genuine interest lit up in the elementary schooler's eyes as soon as she heard this.
— How? — so much undisguised hope in the voice made my heart skip a beat painfully.
— Let's think together. We have conditions: a class, hypothetically, of thirty people, where one of the students is considered an outcast. It is clear that the majority will bully and humiliate him in every way, even if they don't like it themselves, since the "herd" instinct dictates its rules. Let's assume that someone decided to go against the general opinion after all and came out in support of the "loser." What will happen to him?
Tsurumi thought, frowning, after which she answered uncertainly:
— He will also start being bullied for company?
— Correct, — ruffled her crown again as a reward. — Now we have a situation: instead of one person, we have two. Consequently...
— Less insults towards the first participant?
— Well done, — chuckled. — Again going into the realm of fantasy: seeing all this, a third student decides to speak out in defense of the "outcasts."
— The load is even less, — the schoolgirl muttered quietly.
— So-o-o, — I drawled, hinting to her to continue developing the thought.
— Um, then a fourth, fifth might appear... and, in the end, the outcasts will cease to be outcasts because many people support them?
— Absolutely correct, — emitted a short laugh. — But there is a problem: this happens extremely rarely, so, rather, it should be called a kind of miracle.
— Then why did you tell me about this? — the girl asked with noticeable resentment in her voice.
— Because there is a third option. Let's go back to the beginning, only rephrase a little. A second student appeared in the class, whom everyone starts to bully little by little, that is, for some reason he becomes an object of mockery. You see this. What will you do?
— Help him? After all, together it will be easier, — Rumi responded almost without hesitation.
— Turns out, you will try to go through the already voiced option? — smiled softly.
— Is there another? — the little one tilted her head in bewilderment.
— Yes, — sighed and closed eyes for a short while. — For example, instead of uniting with him, demonstratively humiliate him and join the bullying.
— ... — Tsurumi opened her mouth, but said nothing.
— Splash him with water, start insulting, do what others do. Become part of the crowd and, I assure you, at some moment the entire focus of attention will shift to another victim, allowing you to exhale calmly. A very simple and effective way.
— That... that is disgusting! — the elementary schooler exclaimed, abruptly jumping to her feet. — How will I differ from them?
And pointed a finger at the silhouettes of the rest of the kids, huddled near the edge of the thicket, getting ready to go on an "exciting journey."
— In no way.
— But there is no sense in this!
— There is. Someone else will suffer instead of you.
She twitched at my remark as if from a slap in the face.
— Disgusting, — lowered her head.
— Yes.
— Revolting! — clenched fists.
— Yes.
— I will never do such a thing! Better I endure it myself!
— Yes.
— Will never behave like those fools! — the girl's face turned red.
— Correct, — rose from the grass and put a palm on her shoulder, looking into her eyes, trying to calm her down. — Don't worry, I can't even imagine that a clever girl like you decided to engage in such nonsense.
Actually, initially I gave this example to lead the little one to the thought that one can "create" this very second outcast with one's own hands, but judging by her complete rejection of such methods, it is not worth developing the topic further.
— And know what? — I cast a glance at the forest where Rumi's classmates disappeared. — Let's better change the topic, moreover, I had an incredibly stupid idea.
By the way, somehow there are too many of them today.
— Which one?
— Do you, by chance, want to secretly follow your "comrades," — I specifically made air quotes, — and watch their reaction?
— Wouldn't that be a violation of the rules?
— No, of course not! — and added: — Especially if no one finds out about it.
— Won't find out what, Hikigaya? — Yumiko's voice filled with suspicion rang out from behind.
Do they have a habit of sneaking up unnoticed from behind or what?
However...
Turning to the girl, smiled broadly.
— Miura, I have a business proposal for you.
Goldilocks narrowed her eyes, but, after brief deliberation, chuckled:
— Spill it...
Mentally I rubbed my hands.
The more accomplices — the less scolding.
***
— That was complete idiocy! — Yumiko laughed hysterically, bent over double and trying to catch her breath after the forced run.
— Agreed, sometimes he is a complete fool, — getting down from my back, Tsurumi sprawled exhaustedly on the grass, not worrying about staining her clothes.
I, wiping sweat from my face, snorted loudly, still feeling the frantic heartbeat echoing in my ears. It is one thing to rush headlong yourself, and another — to do the same, but with additional weight in the form of a petite, but still not weightless girl.
— Well... — clearing throat, arched back, achieving a juicy crunch. — We could have just calmly come out of the bushes to the asked question, and not legged it.
— Yeah, right, — sarcasm just poured from Miura's words. — To then feel like complete dimwits who agreed to a stupid adventure? And, generally, Rumi ran first!
The girl, continuing to rest her palms on her knees, jerked her head towards the elementary schooler. She rolled her eyes at such an accusation.
— Yes-yes, let's blame everything on the little girl, especially when we know the true culprit.
Their gazes crossed on me.
— Understood-accepted, taking all the sins of mankind upon myself, — smirked, finally coming to my senses.
Pride takes over for my endurance.
— Damn, I'm all sweaty! And hairstyle disheveled! — Goldilocks clicked her tongue discontentedly, trying to return her hair to a less "wild" look. — Hikigaya! You bear responsibility for this too!
— Definitely, for such is the role of a man in modern society, — approaching the girl, reached out a hand to her, causing the classmate to freeze.
— What are you doing?.. — I showed a small twig with a meaningful look, which I took out from the tangled light locks. — Huh? Thanks...
— Always welcome, — bypassing her in a circle and not noticing additional foreign objects, headed to Rumi, who continued to act like a log.
— Going to get up? — squatted next to her.
She shook her head negatively.
— Tired? — raised an eyebrow mockingly.
— Yes, — the schoolgirl turned up her nose.
It remained for me to scratch the back of my head, trying to understand — where and how the small fry managed to spend strength, considering that someone spent most of the escape on my piggyback.
However, Komachi was the same.
— I see, — so better not fill my head with this. — Did you like it at least?
Tsurumi skewed a glance at me.
— A little bit, — oh, trying to save face? How adult. But I remember perfectly well her giggling when we captured Cap and Tobe's attempt to scare a group of small schoolgirls. Don't know what effect they wanted to achieve with their eccentric costumes and ridiculous phrases, but one thing I can say for sure: they left an impression.
...Still cracks me up.
— That's wonderful. At the same time, you won't lie to mom when you say that you participated together with everyone.
— But...
I didn't let her finish, gently interrupting.
— Participated. Was in the forest? Was. And the fact that you watched everything from the side — leave behind the scenes. Factually, not a gram of lies, the main thing — present correctly, — winked at the girl.
— What are you teaching the child, Hikigaya? — Miura was indignant, crossing her arms under her chest.
— Basics of adult life, — at my remark Goldilocks rolled her eyes.
— Answer prepared for everything?
— Almost. Oh, right, — I turned attention to Rumi again. — Another wisdom from my side: develop the skill of a competent answer. Ideally, it should be absolutely empty, but at the same time correspond to the question asked.
— Don't listen to him, — Yumiko approached the elementary schooler and reached out a hand. Tsurumi, hesitating a little, grabbed it and rose from the grass. — Bad example is contagious!
— Oh, don't make an enemy of the people out of me, — snorted, also getting to my feet. — Moreover, my words contain a grain of truth!
— Even a fool hits the mark once in a thousand attempts, — hey, isn't it too often in the past half hour my mental abilities have been doubted?
— That is, you won't deny that I am right in some moments?
— Who knows... — the girl evaded a direct answer.
— Who?
— Hikigaya, — Miura sighed, dragging Rumi along, who was watching our dialogue with undisguised interest. — You have Yukinoshita and Hiratsuka for brain-draining. Kindly don't touch mine.
Took and shaved off on approach.
Primitive, but doesn't cancel the beauty of the approach.
— As you say, — perhaps, really won't bend the stick. After all, relations between me and Goldilocks are not high enough to arrange a full-fledged bickering.
Pity, because the tongue itches to continue...
Returning to the others, we split up. Yumiko left to her company, Rumi, not particularly burning with desire, trudged to classmates, and I, left alone, decided to sit on the steps in front of the fire.
In principle, nothing prevented me from joining the general fun — don't think Komachi or Doggy would be fiercely against my presence — but, will be frank: songs and dances are definitely not in the sphere of my interests. Did I make my contribution to the event? Did. Consequently, have full right to rest on laurels, observing what is happening from a safe distance.
To my utter surprise, no one rushed to disturb my peace. Somehow I already got used in this trip to the fact that as soon as I allocate time for myself, a person will definitely be found who needs something right urgently and now.
Well, complaining about such is a sin.
Therefore I settled comfortably and closed my eyes, partially immersing in the atmosphere of the action happening in the distance.
Crackling of the burning fire, joyful shouts of kids, someone's attempts to sing — judging by the voice, Tobe was the initiator — and barely audible rustle of tree foliage, whose branches were swayed by rare gusts of cool wind.
Yes, there is definitely a charm in this. Can even nap. Just a little bit, literally for a couple of minutes...
I was pulled out of slumber by the sound of approaching steps.
— Not disturbing? — Rumi asked quietly, stopping a meter from me.
Instead of words I, covering a yawn with a palm, patted the place nearby with the second, on which the girl readily sat down.
— Isn't it sad for you to sit alone while everyone is having fun? — she folded hands on knees.
I chuckled, trying to drive away the remnants of sleepy veil.
— Why would it be? — apparently, really got exhausted today, since really managed to pass out.
— Don't know, — Tsurumi admitted honestly. — I feel sad.
— That is good, — smiled.
— How so? — the schoolgirl raised eyebrows touchingly.
— Means, you haven't managed to get used to it yet, unlike me, — right, Hachiman, keep hands to yourself. She is not your younger sister!
— Will make it, after all holidays will end, and I will return to class again, — the little one became sad.
— Don't fall into despondency ahead of time. Never know what will happen in a minute, and you are already planning a couple of months ahead, — tried to cheer her up.
— What's there to guess? Everything is clear anyway, — tsk-tsk, didn't work.
— If so, then, repeat, stop fixating on this. In the end, they are not worth your worries, — of course, slightly egocentric, but often can't survive without this trait. — Listen, if I found myself friends, then for you, — couldn't resist and flicked the girl on the tip of the nose, making her say ouch, — definitely won't be difficult.
Glaring at me resentfully, Rumi rubbed the affected spot.
— Think I will succeed?
— Know, — now need to sound maximally confident. — Sit on the internet, search for thematic forums, visit some festivals... many ways, depends on desire.
She sighed.
— Fine, I'll try. Nothing to lose, — after which, looking around carefully, sharply clung to me, hugging by the waist, and whispered: — Thank you.
...And still couldn't escape responsibility.
Well, all for the best.
Laughed and hugged her back.