Chapter 68: Outing

Outing

Beginning of October.

The outing of Yuuta’s class was set to be camping for one night. They reserved a campground owned by the Yoshiwaras and had even a big bus as well as a camping car prepared, making this a rather luxurious camping trip.

The campground came with a cottage and it was decided that you would be lodging there. Meanwhile, the girls would set up tents and spend the night in them.

In his former world, camping by yourself was popular for some time, but the camping trip of Yuuta’s class was completely different from that. It wasn’t about spending some time in nature without using any modern technology, but being in nature while using all modern conveniences necessary for having a great time.

Once they arrived at the campsite, they immediately started to work on the roles they had agreed upon beforehands. Some set up the tents, some started to prepare curry for dinner, and some got a campfire going. Everyone was enjoying the outing.

Yuuta didn’t spend his time at the cottage without doing anything either. He actively blended in with the girls and helped out wherever needed. He set up tents, peeled onions for the curry while crying, carried firewood for the campfire, and generally enjoyed a busy but fun time.

Ever since consulting Ayaka about Yuuta-kun, he hadn’t experienced any headaches. He didn’t know whether this was owed to him having come to terms with things or just pure chance, but Yuuta was able to spend each day full of energy and productivity.

════•°• ⚠ •°•════

“Hauu…we’re getting a taste of Yuuta-sama’s tears.”

“No, no, wait. They didn’t drop into the food.”

Hearing the story about Yuuta having cried while peeling the onions, Aoi ate her portion of the curry while feeling deeply moved.

But, Yuuta’s tears hadn’t been added as a secret ingredient.

This work is hosted on mananovel.com

“I wonder why the curry we made ourselves tastes so great.”

════•°• ⚠ •°•════

After everyone finished the delicious curry, it was time for the campfire. Underneath the perfectly starry sky, they surrounded the beautifully blazing fire and cheerfully chatted with each other.

At that point, they had a talk about the cultural festival.

“All of you, thank you for going ahead with the preparations for the cultural festival. I hear everything is proceeding smoothly while following the plans we decided on at the beginning of the second term. I also think that it was good for it to take a shape that allows us to get the help of many temporary affiliates.”

They’d have the temporary affiliates help out at the cultural festival to be held in Yuuta’s school building. After having been chosen by Aoi and the indirect affiliates, the temporary affiliates were proceeding with the shop preparations full of joy and delight. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

Not even in their wildest dreams had they imagined that they’d be able to help with the shops during the cultural festival of Yuuta’s class.

Aoi took the explanation from Yuuta.

“The outfits to be worn at the various shops will be provided as Angel Suits. Moreover, we will also have the female students visiting our school festival change into outfits made as Angel Suits. We will proceed with Moe-san acting as manager for these outfits.”

“Okay!” Moe answered energetically.

She had grown remarkably during the training camp in August.

“Please continue working on your respective job under your supervisor. The business hours will last from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. At the end, a concert and fashion show will be held at the great hall from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. Yuuta-sama will see off all those going back home after 3 p.m. with a Goodbye-Hug.

We will go with this schedule from Monday until Saturday. On the last day, Sunday, we won’t have any visitors from the general populace. We will hold a cultural festival for Yuuta-sama alone♡”

『Okay♡』

All of the girls were looking forward to that Sunday.

At that point, Yuuta took over from Aoi again.

“About Sunday…umm…as a matter of fact, I’d like to give everyone in the class…a dress as a present from me.”

『Kyaaa♡!』

Yuuta was still talking, but loud cheers from all the girls in class echoed throughout the night sky.

“Being able to make you happy is a joy for me. However, you see…the evening party will be held together with the male students, but since I will be giving dresses to all of you, everyone can participate in the ball. Even so, I was told that the whole class attending the ball would be too much.”

It was normal to give a dress to not only the direct affiliates but also the indirect affiliates. But, the girls attending the evening party would be two or three at the most, Yuuta had heard from Tomoe.

“Please allow those three to be Aoi-san, Manami-san, and Moe-san. In return, it’d be nice if we could have an evening party for the class after the official ball.”

『Ohh, an evening party for us♡!!』

Even while feeling slightly embarrassed, Yuuta nominated Aoi. He had already told her that he’d give her a dress for the evening party. A special dress for her alone.

“We won’t participate in the evening party with the other male students until the end. Instead we will slip out halfway and come back to our school building. Afterwards, I’d like to dance with everyone in the great hall. I plan to visit a tailor introduced to me by Tomoe-san together with you after coming back from the outing. Please choose a dress design to your liking over there.”

Yuuta would give a dress chosen by himself to Aoi, but choosing dresses for all the girls in class would be too much of a challenge for him. He had already picked the dresses for Manami and Moe, who would be attending the ball besides Aoi, and thus he’d get the other girls in his class choose the dresses that suited their taste.

Also, the tuxedo worn by Yuuta would be chosen and given to him by Aoi.

As they surrounded the campfire, the talks about what sort of evening party they would hold got all heated. Given that it’d be difficult for Yuuta to dance for a whole musical piece with every girl in class, the girls considered the option of having several girls dance with him across one song to lower his burden as they kept planning how to create a fun class ball.

═════════•°• ⚠ •°•═════════

And then, the campfire ended and bedtime arrived. Yuuta went to the cottage while the girls returned to the tents they set up during the day.

It had been decided that Tomoe would also stay at the cottage, but in a different room. The two of them had a little chat in the living room before going to sleep.

“Good work. You must have piled up quite a bit of exhaustion over the course of today?”

“No, most of the things were handled by everyone else. I only helped out a bit here and there, so I’m not that tired.”

“The curry with your tears in it was very delicious, Yuuta-sama.”

“Hey, I already told you that none of my tears fell into the food.”

While they chuckled at each other, they enjoyed the small-talk before retiring to bed. Tomoe always watched over Yuuta with a gentle smile on her face. As if loving Yuuta, who had recovered from that incident, dearly.

“Oh my? Good grief…ah well, it cannot be helped, I guess.”

“Hmm?”

“Aoi-sama and Manami-san are headed this way. I’m sure they’d like to wish you a good night, Yuuta-sama.”

Tomoe’s eyes had perceived the two girls in their cute jerseys outside the window. The bell of the cottage’s door rang soon. Tomoe opened it.

“Tomoe-onee-sama♪ We came here as we want to wish Yuuta-sama a goodnight♪”

“Saying it cheerfully doesn’t make it any better. It’s wrong for you to visit the room of a gentleman at such a time.”

“It’s because you’re present as well, Tomoe-onee-sama.”

“I couldn’t stop her as she wanted to show the cute jersey, which she bought as pajama, to Yuuta-sama.”

“Didn’t you say you want him to take a look at it as well, Manami-san?”

“If I can get Yuuta-sama to look at it, I would love to show him anything, be it my jersey, pajama, or even lingerie.”

“Yes, yes, you can stop right there. Go back to your tent and head to sleep once you bid goodnight with Yuuta-sama.”

Yuuta could see Aoi and Manami wearing their adorable jerseys while smiling as he happily listened to the three women having their little conversation at the entrance door.

“Yuuta-sama♪”

“It’s a very cute jersey. And it looks even more adorable if it’s worn by someone as cute as you, Aoi-san.”

“I’m happy to hear that♡!”

“Oomph!”

“You mustn’t jump at him like that. You should gently embrace him like this.”

“Is there any need for you to erase your footsteps, Manami-san?”

“It’s a habit. Please do not pay any attention to it.”

“Mmh♡ I got my refill of Yuuta-sama’s scent♡”

The two, who remained glued to Yuuta for a while without going back right away, enjoyed talking with Tomoe and Yuuta for some time. Yuuta himself was also glad. Aoi and Manami wore lovely jerseys which exposed their belly buttons while sticking to him from both sides.

When he worried about them sleeping with their bellies exposed while laying in a tent in the mountains, he got to know that they had also brought belly wraps with them. It seemed like they chose those cute jerseys for the sole sake of showing it to Yuuta.

“The relationship between you three is truly great and that makes me happy as well.”

“Tomoe-onee-sama, you have a good relationship with Yuuta-sama as well♪”

“You’re always helping me out, Tomoe-san. Thank you for that.”

“Ah…for you to be as kind as saying something like that to me…it’s a salvation.”

A salvation. And a past where Yuuta ended up getting hurt due to her blunder. Until this very day, she was still regretting the events of that day.

Ouch…

A headache assaulted Yuuta. That instantaneous pain.

“Tomoe-san, right now I can happily laugh like this with everyone. I believe all of it was necessary. After all, I’m now brimming with energy after recovering from that incident.”

“Yes…thank you very much.”

Tears accumulated in Tomoe’s eyes due to Yuuta’s words.

So far, Aoi and Manami had never mentioned anything about this matter in front of Yuuta either. The incident of Yuuta being attacked in his first year of junior high was way too well-known.

“I pledge to use all of the Yoshiwara’s power to protect you so that such a danger will never again reach you, Yuuta-sama,” Aoi declared with a look full of determination.

“I won’t allow anyone wishing to harm you to get anywhere close to you, Yuuta-sama,” Manami continued after Aoi.

“No matter what happens, I will always assist you with everything I have,” Tomoe said while wiping away her tears.

The girls in Yuuta’s class were all related to the Yoshiwaras in one way or another. And Yuuta was well aware of that.

He had obtained the support of the Eternal Yoshiwara family, one of the five greater families of Nihon. Moreover, he also was protected by the organization. In short, the powers protecting Yuuta were mighty.

If I think about it carefully, I’m surrounded by quite powerful figures, am I not?

═════════•°• ⚠ •°•═════════

Suddenly Manami asked Tomoe, “What about the woman who hurt Yuuta-sama?”

“She has been imprisoned in a high-security prison.”

Ouch…argh…

He was being assailed by a series of headaches. Aoi and Manami didn’t notice as they were looking at Tomoe while glued to him. And even Tomoe continued to speak without realizing it as she was staring at the cup in her hands while recalling the events of that day.

The three people…didn’t know anything about Yuuta’s headaches.

“What is her prison term?”

“For the time being, she has been sentenced for life.”

“For the time being?”

“Umm…it was a sentence without a damage report or a lawsuit.”

Ouch…it hurts…ouch…

Yuuta ended up secluding at home while being depressed due to that incident, but he had never sued the woman who caused that incident. The court judged that it’d be difficult to get Yuuta’s testimony because of his fear triggered by the tragic incident and sentenced the woman for life in a high-security prison based on the videos of the surveillance camera, the circumstantial evidence, and the criminal’s confession.

“She herself has admitted the crime, hasn’t she?”

“Yes, she definitely confirmed that she did what she was accused of.”

Yuuta’s headaches gained in intensity. Even though they had vanished after a momentary pain attack so far, the pain now felt like his head was being cracked open.

And then Aoi asked Tomoe, “What’s the name of that person?”

“…Suzune. She is called Suzune-san. She was 26 years old at the time of the incident. She should have turned 29 this year.”

“Ugh!”

“Yuuta-sama?”

He held his head, trying to endure the pain. And only now the other three noticed Yuuta’s strange state.

“Yuuta-sama!?”

“Are you somewhere hurt?”

“Shouldn’t we call a doctor right away!?”

All three panicked. But their voices didn’t reach Yuuta.

S-Suzune-san? …Suzune-san…that woman is Suzune-san…ouch!

“Uuughh!!!”

“Yuuta-sama!”

The hands holding his head slipped off and tears started to trickle down from Yuuta’s left eye.

“Yuuta-sama! Yuuta-sama!”

Gasping hard, he answered, “…I-I’m fine.”

“Stay still! I will go call a doctor right away!”

The tears didn’t stop. Even when Aoi gently pressed her handkerchief against his face, the tears kept spilling out and yet Yuuta didn’t know how to stop them.

Why…?

Whose voice was that? And whose heart was it?

Why…Suzune-san…why…?

Yuuta let go of his consciousness without listening to the voice of his heart beyond that.