Chapter 159 Pool Party
With Captain Muto's strong recommendation, the club advisor finally agreed to make an exception for the first-year, Hikigaya, to participate in the upcoming off-campus club exchange activity.
The date was set for the first week of September, right when school started.
Since it was currently mid-August, there was still more than half a month of preparation time. Consequently, Hikigaya's summer vacation began to get busy. He went to the club every day on time to participate in martial arts training.
Occasionally, when classmates saw him on the road, they would complain behind his back about him being a "normie." Being so proactive about participating in club activities during a holiday was rare, even among normies. In Class D, only Hirata Yousuke from the soccer club would participate in club activities during the holidays.
Hikigaya never would have imagined that one day he would become the same "kind" of person as Hirata Yousuke—though he personally didn't see it that way.
Time flew by, and soon it was the end of August. Only three days remained of the precious high school summer vacation.
For Hikigaya, there wasn't much to miss about this holiday. The first half was a "vacation" that was actually an exam, and the second half was filled with substantial club activities.
"Everyone has worked hard during the training this period!
Based on the consideration of balancing work and rest, since there isn't much of the holiday left, the club will be closed for three days.
Take advantage of the final days of the break and go have fun with your friends!" Captain Muto announced the end of the intensive training.
"Captain, you're going on a date with your girlfriend tomorrow, right?"
"Shhh~ Those who know, know!"
The club members cast suggestive glances one after another.
"I heard the captain's girlfriend is from the swimming club and is known as the 'Mermaid of Advanced Nurturing'~~"
"Urusai! Mind your own business!" Captain Muto replied with a playful scolding laugh. Then he looked at Hikigaya.
"Hikigaya, the swimming club is hosting a pool party recently. Are you interested in coming to play?"
"Uh, that shouldn't be necessary, right?" Hikigaya's eyes darted around as he made up a random excuse.
"I'm not very good at swimming."
"Ha! A pool party is for playing in the water, it's not like I'm asking you to be in a swimming race." Captain Muto slapped a hand on his shoulder and said with a laugh, "Perfect timing, you can bring your girlfriends along to play."
"What 'girlfriends,' and plural?
Captain, don't listen to any strange rumors!" Hikigaya looked annoyed.
Regarding the matter of the off-campus list recommendation, he owed Captain Muto a huge favor, so it wasn't easy to refuse the invitation.
"Uh, I'll think about it after I get back."
"Then it's a deal! See you tomorrow at Gymnasium No. 4."
'No, I haven't agreed yet!'
.
.
.
Meanwhile, in Room 412, Ayanokouji's room.
"So, why are we having a meeting in my room?" Ayanokouji Kiyotaka looked utterly speechless.
At this moment, Yamauchi Haruki, Ike Kanji, Sotamura Hideo, and Sudo Ken were in the room—a group that could be called the "Great Sages of Class D."
"It's your honor, Ayanokouji!"
"Who told you to run off on your own before, leaving the single life behind to date Manabe-chan?"
During the uninhabited island exam, because Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was close with Manabe Shiho, Yamauchi and the others felt intense jealousy and had declared they were breaking off their friendship with him! However, after hearing later that the two had a falling out, Yamauchi's gang had accepted Ayanokouji back into the fold.
"Manabe and I were never dating in the first place... forget it." Ayanokouji Kiyotaka suddenly felt that dealing with Yamauchi and this group of guys with bizarre logic was even more difficult than dealing with instructors in the White Room!
"From now on, we shall discuss the plan for 'Operation Delta'!" Yamauchi Haruki said with a straight face.
"There are only three days left of summer. No matter what, I don't want my youth to be left with regrets!" Ike Kanji stood with his chest out, sounding like he was talking about a major life-altering event.
"Haruki, Kanji... to be able to find comrades as like-minded as you, I am truly moved to tears!" Sotamura Hideo inexplicably started crying.
Probably because they had done so many stupid things together, their relationship had reached the level where they called each other by their first names. Of course, Ayanokouji was the exception, belonging only as a "registered member" of the Yamauchi small group.
"So, what exactly are we doing?" Sudo Ken was as impatient as ever.
"I've scouted some intel: the swimming club is going to hold a pool party.
Anyone outside the club is allowed to sign up freely!"
As soon as Ike Kanji spoke, everyone's spirits instantly soared.
"Girls!"
"Swimsuits!!"
"Saikou!!!" (The best!!!)
At this moment, the Yamauchi small group reached a high degree of consensus. To avoid being excluded, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka followed the trend and shouted along a bit.
However, he keenly sensed that things weren't that simple.
"If it's just about participating in a party, there's no need for us to hold a 'battle strategy' meeting here, is there?" Ayanokouji Kiyotaka stared at Yamauchi expressionlessly.
"Oh-ho!"
"Even Ayanokouji has seen the light?"
"Truly, we are all men!"
Ike Kanji had a sleazy grin on his face. Ayanokouji Kiyotaka immediately felt an ominous premonition. And the strategy explanation that followed confirmed his suspicions.
"Thi—this kind of thing isn't very good, is it?" Sudo Ken's brow furrowed, his expression looking a bit troubled. "If we get caught, we are 100% finished!"
"Ken! Since when did you become such a cowardly wimp?"
"This is a battle we've bet our youth on! Fight! Fight! Fight!" Ike Kanji banged on the table, shouting nonsensical slogans.
"This has nothing to do with whether I'm brave or not, right?" Sudo countered.
"If we're found out, forget playing basketball; we might even be expelled."
Ever since experiencing the expulsion crisis, Sudo Ken had learned to use his brain.
"Then we just have to make sure we aren't found out!" Yamauchi Haruki turned his gaze toward Ayanokouji.
"Ayanokouji, we're partners, right? So you'll participate in our plan too!"
"Well... for now, let's just hear the plan..." Ayanokouji Kiyotaka really wanted to escape, but to prevent Yamauchi and the others from doing something even more egregious without his knowledge, he could only listen for now.
"Next, the Professor shall state the battle plan!"
Sotamura Hideo was a computer expert and could also program. Using parts purchased from an electronics store, he had assembled a mini remote-controlled car with a camera installed on top.
The specific plan was to find a way to secretly place the remote-controlled camera car in the girls' changing room.
"In the end, isn't this just peeping?" Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's paralyzed face twitched slightly. He truly couldn't understand how people could be so "abstract."
"But this is a man's youth!"
"Even if you make a few mistakes during your youth, they can be forgiven!!!"
Ike Kanji argued righteously.
Chapter Read ahead (160 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting