Chapter 61

### Summer Camp Has Begun

I’ve arrived at the summer camp. Even though I’ve reduced the amount of luggage, I still packed everything tightly into a large suitcase. I wonder what I’ve brought with me.

The accommodation is more like a hotel than a retreat, and the room is a twin. This feels more like a trip than a camp, doesn’t it?

My roommate is Nanase Maho from a different class. We’ve hardly spoken before, but can we become friends? She seems a bit nervous.

After resting in the room for a while, we had a barbecue in the hotel garden. All the ingredients were prepared, so we just had to cook and eat.

As the leader of the girls, I checked with the committee president to make sure the plates and drinks were distributed. There are dedicated staff, so it’s more of a formality.

But this is my first barbecue in this life. The ingredients are much more luxurious than in my previous life.

Oh, there’s grilled corn! There’s no grilled noodles, though. I wanted some grilled squid, but it’s a shame.

Since it’s a barbecue at Ruihuan, it has a more elegant outdoor lunch feel. It’s a bit different from what I imagined, but it’s still fun.

I tried to sit near Nanase. None of my usual group is here, so I’m completely out of my element today.

I’ll try to be friendly and join the group.

“I didn’t expect you to participate, Rika-sama.”

“Me too.”

“Really? But I’ve always wanted to try it.”

“Didn’t you participate last year?”

“No, I was busy with remedial classes last year.”

“Did everyone participate last year?”

“I’m participating for the first time this year.”

“I’ve participated twice.”

More than half of the girls are first-timers. That’s good.

“By the way, we have a hike tomorrow. Are you okay with that, Rika-sama?”

Uh. That’s my biggest concern this time. The schedule says we’ll be walking for about two hours, but I’m not sure if I can keep up.

“I’ll do my best.”

I clenched my fist and declared it.

After the barbecue, we had a pottery experience. I made a plate using a hand-operated potter’s wheel, but it turned out a bit crooked. I’m not good at this kind of thing, but oh well.

In the evening, after dinner, it was finally time for the fireworks, which I’ve been looking forward to! In the upper class, fireworks are something to watch, not to do, so I’ve never had the chance.

The unique smell of fireworks makes me feel like it’s summer. This time, we only have handheld fireworks, no rocket or dragon fireworks. When I was little, I was scared of the unpredictable rat fireworks. I wonder what’s so fun about snake coils. I don’t get it, even now. There must be a demand for them, though. Hmm.

The committee president was doing sparklers a bit away, so I went over to talk to him.

“Are you doing sparklers, committee president? Aren’t you going to do something more exciting?”

“I like sparklers.”

Hmm. As expected of the committee president.

“Honda-san didn’t come, did she?”

I whispered so only the committee president could hear, and his sparkler dropped to the ground.

“She came last year…”

“Is that so? Has anything progressed since then?”

The committee president shook his head.

“Kisshouin-san, what do you think I should do?”

“Why don’t you just confess?”

“No way. If she rejects me, my school life will be dark.”

“It might work out.”

“But Honda-san likes Enjo-kun.”

The committee president started to pout.

“Honda-san was the vice president in the same class as Enjo-sama last year, so her type might have changed.”

“…Kisshouin-san, can you find out for me?”

“It’s difficult since we’re in different classes.”

We talked for a while, and by the time we finished, everyone else’s fireworks were almost over, so we started cleaning up.

After the fireworks, I returned to the room and took turns with Nanase in the bath. My hair has a loose perm, as per my mother’s instructions. I don’t know why she’s so obsessed with curly hair, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

When I curl my hair along the waves, it stays in place. I don’t want people to know about the perm, so I dry it thoroughly.

“Rika-sama, I can’t sleep in bright light. Is it okay if I turn off the light?”

“Sure. Let’s turn off the light.”

I brought a deck of cards, but we didn’t have time to play. Maybe we can play tomorrow.

Goodnight, then. I’ll turn off the light and go to bed.

### Early Morning

I was woken up early and made to do exercises in nature before breakfast. I’m not a morning person, so it’s quite tough.

Today is the hike, so I put on plenty of sunscreen and a hat. My backpack is heavy… I’m starting to regret coming.

The hike started. I thought it would be easy since the path was relatively flat, but the mountain trail seemed endless, and I quickly lost heart.

And there’s no one from my usual group to support me. I’m genuinely the last one in the line. As the leader, I’m at the back. It’s tough, and I want to go home.

Nanase and the others encourage me to keep up. I feel like a burden. It’s heart-wrenching.

Somehow, after two hours, we reached the destination, a farm. We had cold milk and lunch there.

Nanase took over as the leader in my place. I feel really bad about it.

On the way back to the hotel, carrying the heavy backpack, I thought, “I probably won’t come next year…”

### Evening

Maybe because of the fatigue from the day, I dozed off during the stargazing after dinner. When I returned to the room and took a bath, I fell asleep immediately.

### Midnight

I woke up in the middle of the night.

… I’m hungry.

I didn’t eat much for dinner because I was tired. I might not be able to sleep if I stay like this.

I remember bringing dried plums for heatstroke prevention. I’ll eat those.

To avoid disturbing Nanase, who can’t sleep in bright light, I put on a white cardigan, took the dried plums, and went out into the hallway.

To avoid being seen, I squatted in a dimly lit area at the end of the hallway and ate the red dried plums.

They’re sweetened with honey, so they’re easy to eat. Crunch, crunch…

“AAAAHHHHH!!!”

What?

A girl’s scream echoed nearby, followed by the sound of someone running away.

I don’t want to be caught eating dried plums in the hallway, so I hurried back to the room.

I threw the cardigan and dried plums into my bag to hide the evidence.

When Nanase woke up to the commotion, I pretended to have just woken up and went to check the hallway.

Oh no, my hair is messy because I didn’t dry it properly. I’ll comb it out with my fingers.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know.”

Only girls are staying on this floor. When everyone came out to see what was happening, one girl shouted,

“There was a messy-haired ghost devouring flesh and blood at the landing of the stairs!!”

Huh?

The girls started to panic, thinking it was a ghost or a monster, and the situation quickly turned chaotic.

Could they be talking about me?

My hair was indeed messy, and I had red dried plums in my hand, but I wasn’t devouring anything.

It seems the person who saw me was an occult enthusiast. She had come out to the hallway to get water because she was thirsty. She claimed to have seen a ghost.

The occult enthusiast started saying things like, “I have a sixth sense,” “There’s a bad vibe on that staircase,” and “The ghost had a face full of resentment.” Some girls even agreed, saying, “I feel the same way,” and “I’ve been feeling cold.”

What should I do…?

I can’t say it was me now. They’ll think I’m a glutton for getting up in the middle of the night to eat.

If the hotel gets a bad reputation for a ghost, it would be terrible, but my own safety is more important.

I crossed my fingers and prayed, “Please don’t find out it was me,” and Nanase and the others came over to comfort me.

“It’s okay, Rika-sama. We’re all together, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“You don’t need to be so scared.”

My heart ached!

“Thank you, everyone.”

I’m sorry. And I won’t come next year…

The ghost scare continued until the next morning. I hid the dried plums deep in my bag, curled my hair perfectly with a curler, and headed home.