Inside the large bathhouse.
"Ah..."
Hikigaya soaked in the hot spring, leaning against a rock with a refreshed expression, the fatigue of a day's exercise swept away.
Kanzaki, Shibata, and the others beside him wore the same expression.
Except for outdoor activities that required moving in groups, most people in the inn gathered by class.
Not far away.
Were Ryuen, Sudo, Katsuragi, and the others.
Since everyone had their own friends, they didn't cause any trouble while enjoying the bath.
However.
Although nothing was said, the gap in status could be seen just by bathing.
Katsuragi from Class A occupied the best spot, followed by Ryuen and his group, then Hikigaya and his group, and finally Hirata and the others from Class D.
It wasn't necessarily dividing areas by class.
It was mainly because Ryuen and his group were too dominant, and neither he, Kanzaki, nor Shibata were people to quibble over such things.
It was mainly Class D.
They were huddled in a group; Ike Kanji and the others even spoke much more quietly than usual.
"How are things on your end?"
Hikigaya asked, leaning against the rock.
"I don't have any problems on my side."
"Same here, but living with people I'm not familiar with feels quite fresh."
Kanzaki and Shibata were both fine.
Both were capable individuals who could resolve issues if they arose.
"I envy you guys; it's miserable on my end."
Watanabe Norihito sighed from the side.
"I was grouped with Ryuen and Kitou-kun; it feels like they could start fighting at any moment. I don't know how I'll get through the next few days..."
"Is it that dangerous?"
"Yeah."
Watanabe briefly recounted the situation of Group 6.
Simply put.
Ryuen did as he pleased, completely ignoring those around him, and Kitou didn't seem to humor him at all.
Additionally.
There was Ayanokouji.
Now the whole school knew that in the Unanimous Voting Exam.
Ayanokouji personally executed his close friend, Sakura Airi.
It wouldn't matter if they didn't know, but now the whole school was aware.
Watanabe wasn't a fool.
Unless necessary, he didn't want to get close to such a cold-blooded guy who might stab him in the back at any time.
No matter the reason.
That fact couldn't be changed.
The Group 6 boys were a disaster.
"Watanabe."
Hikigaya frowned and said, "If there's something bothering you, it's better to just speak up."
"I know, I just hope it doesn't come to that."
Watanabe gave a weak sigh.
According to Watanabe.
Ryuen had arranged for him to carry some luggage or something similar.
It was just a small matter.
Watanabe didn't take it too much to heart.
Ryuen might also be testing their personalities.
However.
Though he might suffer some minor losses.
No major conflicts should occur.
Since it was Watanabe's own business, Hikigaya couldn't say much more.
Approaching ten o'clock at night.
The girls came to the boys' dormitory.
After all, half of them were Hikigaya's people; inviting them over wasn't difficult.
The only slightly unexpected thing was.
Kushida Kikyo followed along with an indifferent expression.
Inside the partitioned room.
After arranging for the girls to sit on the sofa, the boys stood to the side or sat directly on the tatami mats.
Machida Koji, Kamuro Masumi, Tsube Hitomi, Sakura Airi, Tokito Hiroya, Ibuki Mio, Sotomura Hideo, and Kushida Kikyo...
Looking at this group of people...
As expected, he had to handle it himself.
"Let's discuss tomorrow's plans first."
Hikigaya sat on the floor and spoke, "Tomorrow is free time; we just need to be back at the inn by 7 PM."
"Yeah, that's almost a whole day."
Tsube Hitomi quickly picked up the conversation.
Otherwise, the group discussion wouldn't proceed.
"But as long as we take the train or bus, we can go somewhere further. Does anyone have a place they want to go?"
There were many choices.
To be honest.
Hikigaya was a bit interested in trying horseback riding, as he had never done it, but he hadn't had enough of skiing today.
It felt like he wanted to do everything.
One day of free time wasn't enough.
Unfortunately.
He wasn't a real company boss.
He couldn't choose freely and had to adopt everyone's opinions.
As the self-appointed group leader.
Most of the time, he had to sacrifice his own private time.
There was no choice.
That's how the group was; there was no one else but him.
"I'm going skiing."
Even though she was a girl, Ibuki Mio sat cross-legged on the floor and spoke with a fierce expression.
They could only move as a group.
This was also why she came to participate in the discussion; perhaps she had already gathered information about Horikita Suzune's route through other channels.
"I don't have any particular opinion; anywhere is fine."
Tokito Hiroya said with a calm expression.
In reality.
Compared to the word "whatever," his attitude was significantly better than when he was alone with the boys.
With girls present.
There were some reservations felt.
Even if they didn't like someone, boys mostly tried to show their best side, except for types like Ryuen.
"Me too..."
The chubby Sotomura Hideo stood in the corner and spoke first, weakly.
Everyone present made him feel afraid; if he waited until the end, he would inevitably be in the spotlight.
He seemed to have decided to follow Tokito Hiroya's lead and just get through the school trip peacefully.
After all.
With his otaku personality, there seemed to be nothing particularly exciting about skiing in Hokkaido; it would be better to play by himself then.
As for Tsube Hitomi and the others.
Naturally, they followed Hikigaya.
What remained.
Were only Machida Koji and Kushida Kikyo.
"What about you two? Any other ideas?"
"Whatever."
Kushida Kikyo toyed with a strand of hair by her ear, speaking indifferently.
Hmm...
Hikigaya raised an eyebrow.
Hearing the word "whatever" now really gave him a headache.
But thinking carefully.
If it was "whatever," she could have just said it on her phone; why did Kushida Kikyo bother coming to the discussion?
Hikigaya had a rough guess.
But now wasn't the time to say it, so he turned to Machida Koji.
"Hikigaya-kun, do you have a place you want to go?"
Machida Koji had learned his lesson this time.
I won't say it.
I'll ask Hikigaya's opinion first.
"I'm fine with whatever too."
Machida Koji's mouth twitched.
Hearing those two words now gave him a headache.
"Then... let me think. How about going horseback riding?"
Machida Koji said with a smile.
In his view, whether it was Hikigaya, the chubby Sotomura Hideo, or girls like Sakura Airi.
Surely none of them knew how to ride a horse.
This would definitely be a proposal that people would resist.
Mainly to observe Hikigaya's ability.
However.
"Huh?"
Ibuki Mio glared at him fiercely:
"Do you mean you want all of us to cooperate with you?"
"No, I didn't mean that."
Machida Koji's face instantly stiffened.
"Then it's skiing. Anyway, I can't ride a horse, and probably few here can, right? In our rare day of free time, learning to ride a horse is just a waste of time."
"True..."
Watching this scene, Hikigaya was deep in thought.
Work is just work.
Machida Koji probably came with a mission, but at heart, he was a good person who couldn't be a bad guy.
Standing in opposition to everyone.
Even with many reasons, his conscience wouldn't be easily fooled, and he would naturally suffer from its pangs.
Facing a forceful girl like Ibuki Mio.
If no conflict occurred, it was fine, but once one did, Machida Koji seemed to have a bit of trouble handling it, especially when his side was in the wrong.
Perhaps.
He could use Ibuki Mio to keep Machida Koji in check.