Chapter Ninety-Three: The Thin Line Between Falling Plums and Defeated Hounds
Nighttime.
After finishing her bath, Nagi returned to her room wearing the yukata provided by the hotel.
In the spacious Japanese-style room, she greeted the other girls before slowly walking toward her bedding, which was located in a corner.
Although she was undeniably a girl now, Nagi always felt that if she slept among so many high school girls, there would be an FBI agent bursting in any second to take her away.
After settling into her spot, Nagi noticed a few bright and lively girls in her class, whose faces were now showing excitement.
On the other hand, some of the more introverted girls gazed at them with a hint of “admiration.”
Curious, Nagi hurried to ask a nearby girl—
Upon learning the truth, Nagi’s first reaction was admiration.
One had to admire these middle school students, full of energy and bursting with vitality, still in their adolescence.
Even after experiencing an extraordinary disaster today.
They were still thrilled about the upcoming “nighttime activities during the school trip.”
For middle school students with plenty of energy, the most attractive idea was probably sneaking into each other’s rooms under teachers’ noses to have fun.
It could be said that this was a traditional activity during school trips.
Although for those still single, sneaking into an unfamiliar space where someone they barely knew was present wasn’t exactly a thrilling experience.
However, for these adolescents, who yearned for adulthood, this was a symbol of “youth.”
If one didn’t experience such moments during middle school, they would feel like their youth was missing a crucial part.
Perhaps this is the perspective of students in a prestigious school?
As a “pseudo-elite,” Nagi had her first sense of being out of sync with these “young people.”
…..
On the other side.
In the boys’ room.
“Are you really going?” Kanade looked at the boys who were already prepared, feeling somewhat conflicted.
It seemed they had privately agreed with the girls.
They would sneak into the girls’ rooms during the school trip that night.
Kanade had learned of this plan from Rinne, who was well-informed.
The boys who volunteered for this plan had already turned their sportswear inside out and put it on.
This was all to conceal their surnames on their chests.
That way, even if they were found by the teachers, as long as they kept their heads down and escaped back to their rooms, they wouldn’t be easily recognized.
One could say their precautions were thorough.
The boys in the room were visibly excited, their faces showing a serious yet exhilarated expression, accompanied by a sense of determination akin to “fighting to the death.”
Kanade unexpectedly understood their reaction.
Perhaps it was because of the brutal hellish scene revealed by the QR code that Rinne had just shown them.
Now they were eager to heal their eyes, recently struck by the sights of “wrinkle hell,” with the adorable forms of the same-age girls, right?
Kanade originally didn’t intend to participate in the event.
Although he was nominally one of the few boys with a “girlfriend.”
He was essentially a somewhat introverted boy.
Such a risky move in the dead of night, sneaking into girls’ rooms, was not something someone like him could pull off.
Not to mention that he had just caught the attention of the PE teacher today.
If he were to be caught again, his reputation would be completely ruined.
So Kanade planned to stay put in his room.
However, Rinne’s words immediately drew his attention to the seriousness of the situation.
“Kanade, aren’t you coming?” Rinne lowered his voice and leaned closer to Kanade’s ear to whisper, “It seems the room the boys are planning to sneak into is Nagi’s room!”
As the first beauty of Hoshikage School, Hoshimiya Nagi, and the mixed-race beauty Hinata Mana, it’s no surprise that their room was highly popular among the boys.
Now all the boys were eager to head to her room, hoping to heal their recently traumatized eyes.
At Rinne’s words, Kanade instinctively turned to look at the excited boys, eager for adventure.
His mind flashed to Nagi’s unsuspecting, natural personality.
Although she was technically his “girlfriend” now, the fact that he and Nagi were “fake lovers” was well-known among these boys.
They might treat little Nagi as a target—
Just the thought of that innocent and natural Nagi being surrounded by these scheming boys made Kanade’s stomach churn.
This made Kanade realize once again that he really had a beautiful childhood friend he couldn’t let go of.
—Hmm, he was just worried that little Nagi would be deceived by bad men.
—It definitely wasn’t because he wanted to see little Nagi unguarded before bed.
—And it certainly wasn’t because he was hoping for a lucky lecherous incident.
“Yeah, that’s it.” Kanade mentally prepared himself.
At the same time, he silently joined the team of boys about to infiltrate the girls’ room.
……
On the other side.
Having learned about the boys coming to visit from the girls, Nagi’s mind began to race.
After her bold move at the open-air hot spring was gently and hesitantly rejected by Kanade for the first time.
She could only use the most classic “promise” from ACG works, attempting to plant a seed in Kanade’s heart that would grow into a reunion in the future.
After all, in Kanade’s eyes, she truly was a “childhood friend.”
One who had set countless flags throughout their lives.
For instance, promises like “I will always be with you” or “I want to be your bride when we grow up.”
She could say none of them were left behind.
Before their impending separation, she established another “flag” — that if neither found a partner when they grew up, they should happily be together.
Nagi essentially buried every possible clue she could.
This promise was an incredibly useful “flag,” as its wording implies friendship, viewing each other as close “buddies” or “childhood friends,” while the extended meaning carried a subtle desire to transcend from “friendship” to “love.”
This meant that her relationship with Kanade had never crossed the boundary of “childhood friends” prematurely.
Thus, when they reunited later, she would be able to present herself as “the plums that fell from the sky” instead of the “defeated hound” who had faced rejection — these two situations were worlds apart!
In ACG works, a protagonist with the “plum that fell from the sky” attribute has a significant advantage!
As long as the male lead remembers a “promise” of “being together or getting married when they grow up” made with the plums that fell from the sky, it can solidify victory in the romantic game.
Though Nagi didn’t believe that after a few years apart, Kanade would forget about her and the promise.
But after all, Kanade was just an adolescent boy. During this incredibly sensitive and complex period, different surroundings and interpersonal relationships might cause significant changes in him.
The years they spent apart might truly shift her standing in his heart.
Moreover, with “Tsukimi Kanade” being a constant amnesiac in the original work of “Hoshihakuki 2.”
She still needed to add several layers of insurance.
From a mental perspective, Nagi felt she had done everything she could.
However, from a physical perspective…
Nagi couldn’t help but think of the scenes in ACG works she had seen or played, where the male and female leads developed bonds during school trips.
In the upcoming sneak into the girls’ room, there would definitely be Kanade’s figure.
Because he was a gentle and kind person.
He would never be at ease with his innocent beautiful childhood friend being in the same room with these boys at night.
What she could achieve through this opportunity was—
Timing it just right for the teacher to come check on them, making him hide under her covers, and then she would act cute and not let him leave, ultimately hugging him tight to spend the night together…
“Star… Hoshimiya… Hoshimiya-chan?” A nearby girl’s voice pulled Nagi back to reality: “Are you okay? Your face suddenly turned really red!”
The girl seemed a bit worried.
Hearing this, Nagi slowly reached toward her cheek—
Hotter than she had imagined.
