The morning of the trip came faster than I wanted.
Trip day.
I groaned into my coffee like a tired salaryman. Though she was still sick, the sudden aura shift ever since I found out Saki's little getaway definitely gave her a bit of a pep in her step. My eyes drifted towards her slightly as she sat on the end of the dinner table with a small smirk on her face.
"Normally, I'd never let you go on a luxury weekend trip while you're sick, Saki... But not only would I have to fight you, but I'd have to fight four war criminals in eyeliner."
Saki, still sniffling like a drama heroine in a hospital bed, grinned.
"Hehehe, that would be quite the boss battle, Oni-Chan, but I would defo be the strongest. But to be honest, I think you're just jealous that I'm gonna have a better weekend than you."
My eyebrow slightly twitched, "hehe don't be foolish little sister, the joys of going to a village is an experience a mere human like you cannot fathom, especially with you going on a… Average trip yourself.
"Oni-Chan, I can see your tears, ya know," Saki said with a flat face.
"Shit," I muttered, unable to hide my disdain and jealousy.
She was right. Who was I trying to fool? I was absolutely jelly. This little gremlin was about to live her best five-star life while I babysat four emotionally unstable swimsuit models. I didn't answer her. I just gave her the cold, dead eyes of a man who had accepted his fate.
After we finally got ready. Saki flashed a peace sign while dragging her ridiculously expensive suitcase, the kind of suitcase that screamed "stolen from a celebrity," toward the door. Meanwhile, I was stuffing backup socks into a plastic bag like I was going on a camping trip during a recession.
"Hey, Saki?" I asked.
"Yes my bestest Oni chan." She replied, still showing off her smug grin.
"Just how did you get that suitcase?"
She paused before slightly tilting her head to the side, her smile had completely gone…
"Well. Long story short, I was just given it." She said, tapping her chin, but I could see she was nervous all of a sudden.
"Byyy?" I replied, stepping forward slightly.
But before she could answer.
BEEP BEEP.
A sleek, jet-black limousine pulled up outside.
"OH! Look at that there here!" Saki shouted as she opened the door. I could have pressed her for more information, but knowing her, she probably won it for the best otaku award or something.
Letting out a sigh, and saw the unreasonably long car."…You weren't joking?" I blinked, staring out the window like a caveman discovering fire.
Saki waved with smug enthusiasm.
"They said we'd ride in style!"
The limo door popped open, and out stepped Nao, Reina, Arisa… And Yuki. Dressed in casual-trip fits and sunglasses, they looked like a J-pop girl group ready to debut. Arisa even winked in slow motion.
I think there was a wind machine…
I'm not sure.
But either way, I wasn't ready for this drama show.
I opened the door and helped Saki out first, as any good big brother would. But the moment she stepped out, she was instantly swallowed by the girl group. My gremlin sister had been accepted into the idol society.
Saki blinked up at them. "Whoa. You guys are real?"
Nao leaned down. "So this is Saki-chan? You're even cuter than your brother!"
Saki giggled as she patted my back and nodded her head. "He's a pain, but without me, he'd be a crusty loser. I keep him alive and moisturised."
"One minute of fame and she's already left me… And please never say those words again without context…" I muttered in defeat.
Yuki stepped forward, arms folded. She gave Saki a rare soft smile… And then turned to me like I was public enemy number one.
"You're lucky you've got a sister pass. Otherwise, we would've left your pervy ass behind."
"Wow, thanks, Saki."
"YOU KNOW I'VE GOTCHA BIG BRO!" She shouted, turning around, giving me a grin and a thumbs up.
I swear I saw a star shine from her teeth.
Arisa clapped her hands. "Okay, okay, let's get this party loaded up!"
The team began to move, and Saki, being Saki, forgot to take her bottle. And of course... My luck had just run out.
"Saki, look, you've already left your water bottl- WOAH!"
I bent down to grab Saki's water bottle, the same one I told her not to bring, and tripped.
I didn't just fall. I launched. Like a warhead.
Straight into Arisa's…
Pillowy demise.
WAMPF
"…."
"Smells like roses." I thought to myself. My entire face was submerged. It was soft. Like a dream. A sinful, fluffy cloud.
Arisa gasped.
"SOOUUUUTAAAA!!"
Time froze. Wilhelm, the limo driver, even lowered his shades for a better look.
"My my, Mr Souta," I swear I heard him say.
I shot up like a guilty man on trial.
"I SWEAR I TRIPPED! I SWEAR ON OUR UNPAID RENT!!"
The girls just stared at me. Including Saki, who was now doing her best to keep a straight face while quietly dying inside.
"Oni Chan, honestly, couldn't you wait till you got there, and why do such a thing in front of your own sister?" Saki said, wrapping her hands around her body and shaking, clearly milking the situation.
"DAMN YOU! BAD SISTER!" I shouted… In my head, I knew saying that out loud would most likely get me killed.
But instead of gross or the usual perverted name-calling…
"…"
SLAM.
The limo door shut.
And they left.
They actually left me. I stood there for a second just taking in the situation. "They've just left me…" I muttered in disbelief. Staring at the now-empty road.
One minute later, I got a text from Saki.
[WELP. Guess you're biking to school. Enjoy, maid-chan 😎]
"FUUUUUUUUUUU"
"I hate my life."
And so, with my plastic grocery bag of shame flapping on my back, I peddled behind a luxury limo filled with judgment, confusion, and bras I never asked to meet.
"This trip is off to a fantastic start," I said in between breaths. As my bike was struggling to hold onto its frame.
And by the time I arrived at school, I looked like I'd survived a natural disaster. My bike squeaked like it was crying for help. My back was soaked, my bangs were glued to my forehead, and my socks? Unsalvageable. I dragged myself into the front courtyard like a background character that had strayed into the main plot.
Then came salvation.
"Ah, Souta, sir." The voice of my saviour said.
Wilhelm, standing by the limo with a single embroidered towel in hand, offered it to me like a knight presenting a holy relic. I took it without a word, pressing it to my forehead like a man about to weep.
Yuki walked past and muttered, "Smells like cheap detergent."
Arisa gave a pity clap.
"Yay~ Our maid made it. Good job, peasant-I mean good job Souta~"
Nao tried to fan me with her hand like I was overheating,
"Don't worry, Souta, I'll help you!"
"Yeah, sure, thank you, Na- OW!"
Only to accidentally slap me across the face. Saki, meanwhile, poked her head out from the limo, wrapped in her luxury spa blanket.
"Fight on, Oni-chan. I'll be sipping herbal tea in a hot tub thinking of your suffering."
I rubbed my cheek, giving her an evil glare. "You're evil."
Wilhelm chuckled as he opened the door for her. "Enjoy your spa retreat, young miss. I have the itinerary, and we'll begin with a vitamin drip and cucumber eye treatments."
"…She's not a celebrity, Wilhelm… It's just my anime-loving sister that should be in bed right now?"
"She is to me," Willhelm replied with a smile.
And like that, after saying a proper goodbye, the limo pulled off, taking Saki to her luxurious recovery and leaving me, the human ragdoll, in the dust.
I was so mentally broken I didn't even notice someone slap my back hard.
"YO, SOUTA MY MAN!"
I turned around and was met with the wild grin of Shinji Takemura, my self-proclaimed friend, professional loudmouth, and part-time disaster. I should have mentioned it before. I met him during the second day of school, but honestly, I know saying this was strange back then, and I definitely needed all the friends I could get… But he's a weird guy.
Imagine if a golden retriever drank three Red Bulls, put on a school uniform, and then said, "Let's ruin the vibe." That's Shinji.
"Heard you're on the same trip as the Four Horsewomen of Emotional Trauma. Brave, man. Bold."
I blinked at him. "I thought you were sick."
"Faked it. My mom bought it. Boom. Strategy." He winked.
"But why would you need to fake being sick to go on the tri- Never mind, just forget it." I gave up right there, and then, my mental energy was already at an all-time low.
Before Shinji could say anything further, the teacher started her roll call and ushered us all onto the school bus. The sound of people talking about the same thing, 'on how the trip was going to be sooo good!' echoed throughout the bus." I tried to make a beeline to the middle seats, neutral ground, the Switzerland of bus real estate, but I was too slow.
Every seat was taken…
Except for the very back.
Six seats.
Five girls.
One me.
God is cruel, or maybe this is my punishment for using Arisa's bosom as a pillow.
I turned around to retreat, but the teacher called out.
"Souta! Don't block the aisle. Take a seat!"
"But I want to sit bac-"
"Move it, Souta!" She shouted a bit louder this time.
"Oh god, please forgive me," I muttered to myself.
Like a man condemned, I slowly walked to the back of the bus.
The girls were already waiting like judges on a panel. And there it was, the tension. The unspoken question of who gets to sit next to him war.
Nao was the first to launch.
"Shotgun!" She yelled, slamming her bag down beside the window.
"I mean… Not that I want to, I just called it. It's, uh, tradition. Yup."
Arisa leaned over with a smirk.
"I think it's only fair I sit next to him; he's seen more of me than anyone else here."
Yuki didn't even bother responding. She just scoffed and looked out the window. Reina stared blankly for a moment… Then stood and said softly,
"I'll sit with Souta."
Everyone froze. Even the bus driver might've blinked in surprise. Reina calmly sat beside me, and the rest reluctantly took the remaining seats. For a moment… Peace.
"So…" I said awkwardly. "Looking forward to the village?"
She looked down at her lap.
"…I think it'll be peaceful. Maybe we'll see some stars."
I blinked, looking out the window.
"Oh. Yeah. Stars are nice."
Arisa leaned forward between the seats.
"Oooh~ Are you two on a date now? Should I tell the driver to take the long scenic route?"
I sighed. "Just ignore her, Souta," I told myself, closing my eyes.
Reina blushed faintly and turned to the window. Before I could enjoy the brief calm, Arisa leaned over my other shoulder.
"By the way, Souta, just FYI: if Reina falls asleep, I'm switching seats. You're my body pillow, remember?"
"I never agreed to this-"
SMACK.
Nao slapped my shoulder again.
"You're not gonna nap, right? I brought Uno. Let's play on your lap."
"LET ME REST IN PEACE."
"NOPE, LET'S PLAY!!!"
And thus began the bus ride from hell.
One girl on my left was watching clouds, one on my right was pretending I was a cushion, and two behind me were plotting something involving Uno cards and my dignity. After losing another round of Uno thanks to Nao… Underhanded Tricks, I looked up, ready to just go back home and saw him.
Shinji, two rows ahead, turned back, held up a peace sign, and mouthed:
"I envy you, and I hate you."