Morning at the River
The morning air was cool, carrying the faint scent of river water and pine needles. Mist still clung to the surface of the stream where students gathered for the first activities of the day. Teachers shouted orders, whistles blew, and somewhere down the bank, boys were already splashing each other in defiance of the schedule.
The Service Club and Chuuni Club stuck together, half because they had been assign, half because it was easier than scattering.
Yui knelt by the water's edge, sleeves rolled up, trying to wash vegetables for lunch. Her hands slipped, splashing water onto her own skirt.
"Ah! Cold, cold, cold!" she squealed.
Ras crouched beside her, taking the basket of carrots smoothly. "You're supposed to rinse, not swim."
"Mou! Don't laugh at me, help me!" Yui puffed her cheeks.
He chuckled lightly, dipping the vegetables into the current with calm precision. The water rippled around his wrists. "See? Simple."
Her pout softened into a shy smile. "…Thanks, Ras-kun."
From a few steps away, Yukino folded her arms. "You shouldn't encourage her clumsiness."
Ras glanced up, the corner of his lips lifting. "Encouragement makes clumsiness less painful."
Yukino blinked, then looked away quickly, as if the breeze had suddenly turned colder.
---
Later, while collecting firewood, Hachika walked beside Ras in silence. She kicked a rock out of the path, her expression unreadable as always.
"Your face says you'd rather be anywhere else," Ras said mildly.
"That's my face all the time," Hachika shot back.
He laughed softly, which earned him a sideways glance. "You really laugh at everything, don't you?"
"Not everything. Only what matters," he said, meeting her eyes.
Her cheeks warmed despite herself. She looked away quickly, only to stumble on a root. Ras caught her arm instinctively, pulling her against his chest before she could fall.
For a heartbeat, the forest was silent. Her hand pressed against him, her pulse quickening.
"Careful," he said gently, releasing her once she steadied.
Hachika muttered something unintelligible and walked ahead faster, her ears red. Ras only chuckled again, brushing the dirt off his sleeve.
---
The teachers had organize a river-crossing challenge. Students had to balance across stepping stones while carrying buckets of water.
Rikka declared, "This is a trial from the Abyss!" and promptly fell in with a splash. Yuuta tried to "summon wings of shadow" and nearly lost her bucket.
Yui wobbled dangerously on one stone. Ras, already across, extended a hand calmly.
"Take it," he said.
She hesitated, cheeks pink, before gripping his hand. He pulled her across in one smooth motion, the bucket sloshing but not spilling.
Her face lit up. "You really are reliable, Ras-kun!"
Behind them, Hachika muttered, "…show-off." But her eyes lingered longer than she meant to.
Ras: "someone is jealous~!" with a hint of teasing on his voice.
Yui: "?" as an airhead, it was surprising that she could think further.... or rather, she mayn just doesn't admit that she likes it.
---
By night, the campfire burned bright, students gathered in a circle. Ghost stories were told, marshmallows roasted, and laughter carried into the trees.
Yukino listened quietly, her profile outlined by firelight. Yui clung to every word of the stories, squealing at every jump scare. Rikka tried to outdo them all with dramatic "ancient curses."
Ras sat slightly apart, his smile faint but real, letting the fire's glow catch in his eyes. He looked like he belonged here.
Hachika noticed. And hated that she noticed. Her hand tugged at her sleeve, restless.
looking at her arms, ane memorized the hot memories last night, she blushed in contemplation.
Ras who's watching this: "???"
---
Midnight Again
Back in the tent, the girls eventually fell asleep one by one. Yuuta snored lightly, Rikka mumbled contracts in her dreams, Yui clung to her blanket, and Yukino lay still as a statue.
Hachika, once again, couldn't sleep. She rolled onto her side.
Ras was next to her, asleep, calm as ever. His face was relaxed, lips curved faintly upward. She bit her lip, cheeks warming.
"…idiot," she whispered.
Her hand hovered, hesitating. Then, slowly, it brushed against his chest again, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
Warm. So warm.
Her breath caught. This time, she didn't pull away immediately. Just lingered, her face hot, before retreating under her blanket.
Ras stirred faintly, his smile deepening just enough to make her wonder.
'humm, woman!'
---
Guild Chat
Later, when the camp was silent, Ras slipped outside. gazed empty, but the Book-UI and Guild chat flickered open, overlaying his sight of the night sky.
Ainz: Me, Kazumi, and Lin have cleared the anomalies surrounding the guild. Next week it's going to be Gojo, Ras, and Yaya.
Yaya: Yeey, free food! Gojo, please bring some desserts!
Gojo: noted!
Ras: (thumb emoji.jpg)
Lin: Now, now, Gojo, Ainz, do you think Ras is strong enough? Or are you still hiding something @Ras?
Ras: (Smily emoji.jpg)
Gojo: It's not good to throw out a straight question like that, Miss Lin. Right, Ras-kun? (wink-wink emoji.jpg)
Lin: …..
Ainz: I personally feel Ras is strong enough to beat Yaya and Kazumi all alone. You can ask Ichika and Satsuki how they felt when Ras entered the Guild.
Ichika: Yes, he's strong.
Satsuki: Yes.
Gojo: On the scale of survival, I think Ras is just below Ichika. My gut says so~ So just relax Lin-chan~ your sweetheart is in my world~ You don't want anything to happen to your lover do you~!
Lin: ...
Everyone else in the group: ....
Kazumi: hey, hey, what is with that tone! Gojo, do you really want to take the path of Yellow-hair! I'm gonna beat you with this Baka-goddess!
Gojo: ..... 'my hair is white, not yellow'
Lin: Because he is in your world that I'm not at ease! Much more, the amount of monsters keeps adding up!
Gojo: (shrugged.jpg)
Ras: It's okay. I have my own way of survival, just like what Miss Gojo said.
Yaya: food?
Ras: Except for food. I still buy it at convini (sad face.jpg)
Yaya: no food? (Sad face.jpg)
Gojo: It's okey, I'm the strongest after all~
The chat faded. Ras closed the UI and looked back at the campfire's dying glow. His faint smile lingered.
Tomorrow would be another day.