Chapter 93

When I received the news from Serika about the cottage sleepover plan, I was so happy!

Actually, I was a bit worried, but it seems I was included in the headcount. I'm glad. I was getting suspicious.

I offered to use my family's cottage, but it seems we'll be going to a different student's cottage. Ah, I'm looking forward to it.

"Kishigen-san, you seem to be in a great mood today!"

When I went to the cram school, Umewaka-kun looked at my face and said that. It seems I was smiling to myself.

"Yes. I made plans to go on a sleepover with friends."

"Wow, that's great! By the sea?"

"No, it's a resort."

"Wow! As expected of a young lady. Don't you want to go to the sea? Summer means the sea!"

"True. Do you like the sea, Umewaka-kun?"

"Of course! I went this year too, the sea! Girls in bikinis are the best!"

"...Oh, I see. Do you like girls with good figures, Umewaka-kun?"

"Sure! A man's romance, perfect figure! If my Bear-chan were a human girl, she would definitely be a devilishly sexy, charming young girl! Kishigen-san, you think so too, right?"

"Yes."

"Right? Is there such a girl somewhere? A girl like Bear-chan!"

...Didn't you say I look just like Bear-chan? Or just the hair, or the hairstyle. I'm not a devilishly sexy, charming young girl.

I brought cute dog-shaped chocolates I found, but I definitely won't give them to him.

On today's dog-obsessed boy's ears, silver bones are shining.

When I went to the toilet, the short-haired girls came in after me. Since I started talking to the dog-obsessed boy, they have been looking at me more intensely. I plan to continue coming to this cram school even after the summer course ends, so this is a bit troublesome. I need to do something about it soon.

"Kishigen-san, you and Umewaka are getting along well. But you only talk to Umewaka, right?"

Here it comes.

"I'm shy and can't easily start conversations. I actually want to get along with Moriyama-san and the others."

"Hmm~"

Moriyama is the name of the short-haired girl.

The short-haired girl doesn't seem to believe my words at all.

She looked at me suspiciously through the mirror.

"Most of my friends at Suiran are girls."

"Hmm, really? I thought you were targeting Umewaka?"

A direct question.

"No way. I have someone I like."

So, you're not my rival.

"Really?! Who? Who? Someone from Suiran?"

The short-haired girl took the bait.

Who?... Who should I say?

Of course, I don't have anyone I like. I just said it to show that I'm not interested in the dog-obsessed boy.

Who should I say? I don't want to imagine someone too close, as I don't know where our connections might overlap. Of course, not Daitokuji or Enjo.

"It's a friend of my brother. I just admire him unilaterally."

"Wow, really! What's he like?"

"He's a very nice adult. When he comes to my house, he brings cute bouquets. He's someone I've admired since I was little."

"Hmm~"

"What, what? Does Kishigen-san like older men?"

Another girl, Sakaki, also took the bait.

"Yes. I like gentle, calm, and mature men."

For example, like my brother.

"Really? So older men are your type. Then Umewaka is completely different. He's not calm at all."

The short-haired girl's attitude softened.

"Umewaka-kun is more like a younger brother type."

"Right. He really needs a lot of care."

"Is the person you like a celebrity?"

"I don't know if they're a celebrity... but they are the son of a company."

"Wow, celebrities are the ones young ladies like. Umewaka is no match at all."

It seems the short-haired girl's suspicion of me being a rival has significantly diminished.

"Umewaka-kun seems to like devilishly sexy, charming young girls. He said he hopes there's such a girl somewhere."

"What, is he saying such nonsense? But I see. Devilishly sexy, huh."

The short-haired girl looked at me from head to toe and smiled.

"Umewaka is really rude. If you have any trouble with him, let me know. I'll help you."

"Yes, thank you."

It seems she's reassured by my modest figure...

The self-proclaimed straightforward girl is also self-proclaimed big sister material, so if I ask for help, she'll easily comply. She can be a good ally if I have a conflict with other girls. However, if the conflict is with a boy, she'll quickly betray me and side with the boy.

"I brought some delicious chocolate. Would you like some?"

"Ah, I love chocolate."

"I want to try some celebrity chocolate too."

It's still a tightrope, but I managed to get the short-haired girl to stop seeing me as a rival.

When I returned and talked about my imaginary crush with the girls while eating chocolate, the dog-obsessed boy came in shouting, "Bear-chan chocolate!" and I ignored him.

To drive the point home, I said, "Umewaka-kun says my hairstyle is just like his dog. He always compares me to his dog. He even said his dog has better fur," and the short-haired girl eagerly went to confront the dog-obsessed boy, saying, "What's that? Umewaka! That's rude to Kishigen-san!"

Sakaki, who was eating chocolate, smiled and said, "Kishigen-san, you're good."

---

Here we are, in Karuizawa!

The participants, including me, are six people. The cottage belongs to Kikuno-chan's family.

I share a room with Omi Ayame-chan. When I opened the window, it was cooler and less humid than Tokyo.

After excitedly unpacking our luggage, we went to the living room to discuss our plans.

We decided to have breakfast brought by the caretaker and to cook or eat out for other meals.

After that, we all went to the main street to buy jam and other souvenirs and enjoy sweets.

We had dinner out and returned to the living room for a chat session with snacks.

As we talked about school gossip, the topic inevitably turned to those two.

Daitokuji-sama and Enjo-sama, which one do you prefer?

"I, of course, prefer Daitokuji-sama. I've been a Daitokuji-sama fan since elementary school."

"I prefer the gentle Enjo-sama. But of course, I like Daitokuji-sama too!"

"Hey, that's a bit presumptuous!"

"But recently, it's annoying how middle and high school students are trying to get close to them."

"True. We've liked them longer."

Should I eat the blueberry jam I bought earlier? But it's night, so I should probably hold off. But just one bite...

"Rika-sama, which one do you prefer?"

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"Come on, you didn't hear? Daitokuji-sama or Enjo-sama. Rika-sama, you must prefer Daitokuji-sama, right?"

"Oh, Rika-sama is close to Enjo-sama."

"If that's the case, Rika-sama seems close to Daitokuji-sama too."

What a misunderstanding!

"I'm not particularly close to either of them. Please don't misunderstand."

"But Rika-sama, you're sometimes called by Enjo-sama, right? He doesn't do that to other girls."

"...Hey, I heard Rika-sama was invited to the Daitokuji family's tea party. Is that true?"

Where did you get that information!

Everyone exclaimed, "Wow!"

"Amazing! That's official recognition by the Daitokuji family!"

"Rika-sama! I'm jealous, but I'll support you!"

"Hey...!"

"Why did Rika-sama hide such an important thing?"

Please stop saying such scary things!

"Everyone, calm down! Don't say such strange things."

"But...!"

"Hey..."

"Does Daitokuji-sama have someone in mind?"

"Ah..."

Everyone looked at each other.

It's a well-known fact that Daitokuji has liked Yurie-sama for years.

Since everyone became quiet, I decided to go back to my room and sleep.

The next morning, Ayame-chan asked, "Rika-sama, I heard you go to a cram school. Is studying difficult?"

What, suddenly?