Chapter 38

June is the month for the school trip.

I thought that a super-rich elementary school like Suiran would definitely go abroad, but unexpectedly, the destination is Kyoto and Nara.

It’s so ordinary...

Well, the level of the accommodation and meals was different from that of an ordinary school trip.

We enjoyed Kyoto cuisine, which was rich in Kyoto vegetables, and kaiseki featuring yudofu, and relaxed at a high-class ryokan.

It’s a bit too sophisticated for elementary school students.

However, if such a high-class ryokan were to have a pillow fight and someone accidentally made a hole in the shoji, it would be a big problem.

I need to keep a close eye on things.

I shouldn’t have taken on the role of class committee member in the year of the school trip.

I have to go and call out students who are late for the assembly time, and scold those who are talking during the tour guide’s explanation. It’s quite troublesome.

But my class is still okay. We don’t have troublesome students like Chikage or Ensho, so it’s relatively calm.

The girls have been cooperative from the start, helping with roll call and adhering to the lights-out time, making my job much easier compared to other class committee members.

The class president is also doing his best to manage the boys, and when some of them get too rowdy and the president can’t stop them, we surround them with “Kisaragi Reika and her friends” and use our smiling pressure to quiet them down.

My class is generally peaceful.

The teacher must have anticipated this and appointed me as the vice president, even though there were other girls who were more serious and had experience as class committee members.

Well, if the school trip can proceed smoothly and without trouble, it’s fine to be used.

The other class committee members seem to be having a hard time.

The class committee members of Chikage and Ensho’s classes can’t keep up with the girls who are always clinging to and causing a commotion around them.

Ensho is still trying to control himself, but Chikage is completely indifferent, making it a lawless zone.

Some of the girls even move their seats during meals, and you might wonder if they are really from good families.

Since the class committee can’t stop them, the homeroom teachers have to intervene, and they reluctantly return to their original seats.

It’s all so tense.

When they were younger, the girls who screamed and fussed over Chikage and Ensho were cute, but as they grow older, some of them become more troublesome and need to be watched carefully.

Some of the girls who are likely to become flashy nouveau riche in the future are already starting to look at our group with a bit of disdain.

I was thinking, "I’m glad I’m not in their class," when I felt the desperate gaze of the class committee members from Chikage’s class asking for help.

I pretended not to notice.

I mean, who would want to meddle in other classes?

I’m already busy with my own class...

“Kisaragi-san, the class committee members from Class 3 are sending an SOS...”

I don’t need such unnecessary reports, class president.

“Is it just your imagination?”

“No, those eyes look really desperate. It’s almost lights-out time, and they’re still making noise outside their rooms.”

“But it’s another class’s problem.”

“That’s true, but the ryokan staff also seem to be troubled.”

I feel bad about that.

After all, it’s strange to use such a refined and traditional ryokan for a school trip where elementary school students can’t appreciate the aesthetics.

“Why don’t you go, class president?”

“...You know that’s impossible, right?”

Yeah, I know.

Girls’ groups can be scary, but I’m scared too.

Besides, Chikage and girls from other classes are mixed in. The class committee members from those classes can’t stop them either.

It’s scary, but as a fellow class committee member, I understand their struggles.

There’s no choice.

I went to Kikuno, who is in the same class as Chikage but usually behaves more moderately.

“Kikuno-san”

“A, Reika-sama”

“It’s quite noisy. It’s almost lights-out time.”

“Yes, those girls are causing trouble for Chikage-sama without considering his feelings...”

Kikuno replied with a frown.

“Indeed. This ryokan is Chikage-sama’s mother’s favorite, and she always stays here when she visits Kyoto. If she finds out that the students are causing trouble and disturbing the ryokan, what would she think?”

This is information from Aira.

“What? Chikage-sama’s mother’s favorite ryokan?!”

The girls who overheard our conversation glanced at us.

“Kikuno-san, you’re responsible and will be fine, but to avoid being disliked by Chikage-sama’s mother, you should be careful. I’ve heard that she is strict with manners.”

The girls who overheard us gradually quieted down.

“Oh, it’s lights-out time. Good night, everyone.”

“Good night, Reika-sama.”

“Good night, Reika-sama.”

This should be enough for now.

Directly scolding them would be too confrontational. I don’t want to make enemies.

If I go overboard, I might be seen as a goody-two-shoes and be disliked.

Besides, Chikage should be the one to scold them! It’s his mother’s favorite ryokan, after all.

Even if they don’t have a connection, they shouldn’t be causing trouble.

He usually looks away and pretends not to care, but he’s probably only thinking about what to get as a souvenir for Yurie-sama.

I’ll have to tell Yurie-sama through Aira and let her give them a good scolding.

During the day, we visit shrines and temples and choose souvenirs.

The girls are most excited about the shrine for matchmaking. After all, when the person you love is right there, your prayers to the gods become more sincere.

Kikuno, who is in the same class as Chikage, apparently introduced her desired match to the gods during her prayer, saying, “Chikage Masaya-sama is standing under that willow tree! Please, I beg you!”

In addition to that, they buy love fortune slips and matchmaking amulets, and everyone is busy despite the short stay.

I thought matchmaking shrines would only be fun for girls, but I was surprised to see many boys seriously drawing love fortune slips.

Even the class president was drawing one seriously. I wonder who his target is.

I also drew a love fortune slip with everyone. It was a good fortune. It’s a bit ambiguous...