After watching Kaoru and Kei disappear into the forest, Kushida Kikyō did not immediately head for the showers.
If she had only just arrived and then went off to bathe without helping with anything, she would look completely out of place.
Camping required far more preparation than simply collecting firewood, even if Kitō Hayato had silently taken responsibility for most of the heavy work.
Since they were camping beside one of the school facilities, they already had access to restrooms and showers, which saved them a great deal of trouble.
Kikyō considered what else needed doing. Her own group still had food, so she could share some with Ai and the others. First, though, she needed to make sure the tents were protected against mosquitoes and insects.
She had barely begun working when she noticed Ichika standing beside her and quietly watching.
"Kushida-senpai seems very experienced with camping."
The overly familiar girl held out one hand.
"Would you like to hire an assistant? I'm inexpensive and hardworking."
To be honest, Kikyō did not know Ichika personally.
She had only heard about her from Suzune, so this should technically have been their first proper meeting.
Naturally, Kikyō showed none of that uncertainty.
"I can handle this much myself. Amasawa-san should use the showers while they're empty. Once everyone returns, there may be a line."
Ichika responded to Kikyō's kindness with an unconcerned smile.
"I can shower after we finish working. Besides, I wanted to discuss something between girls."
Her voice became faintly suggestive.
"Should we leave some private time for you and Mitoma-senpai tonight?"
So that was the topic she wanted to discuss.
Unlike Kei, Kikyō had long since become accustomed to this kind of teasing and gossip.
"That won't be necessary."
Kikyō smiled playfully.
"Managing to meet during the exam is already a little break from our responsibilities. We came here to camp and share food with everyone, not to monopolize his time."
"As long as everyone enjoys themselves, there's no need to pay special attention to us."
She nearly called Kaoru "Master" out of habit, but caught herself in time and maintained an exceptionally friendly smile.
"Kushida-senpai is so gentle. Mitoma-senpai must have accumulated several lifetimes of good fortune to find a girlfriend like you."
Ichika seemed affected by the force of that smile and almost looked jealous of Kaoru.
Kikyō decided this underclassman was not bad either.
In her eyes, any girl who knew Kaoru's reputation yet willingly remained beside him would eventually become part of his circle.
That included Tsubasa, Ichika, and Ai.
Kikyō therefore saw no harm in establishing a good relationship with them in advance.
"Why did Amasawa-san decide to travel with Kaoru?"
Kikyō began probing.
Ichika noticed nothing suspicious.
Instead, she discreetly checked their surroundings. Once she confirmed Tsubasa was helping Ai elsewhere, she leaned closer and lowered her voice.
"I can tell Senpai, but you must promise not to become angry."
"I promise."
Kikyō blinked innocently, already imagining several possibilities.
Whether those girls liked Kaoru or Kaoru liked them, Kikyō would not mind. She would not simply become jealous like Kei.
If something could not be prevented, Kikyō preferred to embrace it and control the direction it took.
Whatever type of girl Kaoru liked, she would gladly help him.
After all, she considered herself his most loyal companion.
She would almost prefer it if the two first-years grew closer to Kaoru during the exam. At least then she would not need to worry about him returning to 283 Production and forgetting the girls at school.
"Do you see little Nanase?"
Ichika nodded subtly toward Tsubasa.
"She seems to have unusual feelings for Mitoma-senpai. Recently, she's been visiting the Student Council constantly and finding reasons to stay near him."
Kikyō had heard of Tsubasa.
She was the prospective secretary Kaoru had recently recruited.
Unlike Kaho, whose interest in him was painfully obvious, Tsubasa had quickly become competent with Student Council work.
She had become so useful that even Honami felt awkward trying to steal private time with Kaoru in the office.
Tsubasa had special feelings for him?
Kikyō was delighted internally, though her expression remained calm.
"Does that mean Nanase-san was the one who suggested traveling with Kaoru yesterday?"
Kikyō also lowered her voice, making the conversation resemble an exchange of secrets.
"Hmm. Actually, I did too."
Ichika scratched her head with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Even though Mitoma-senpai appeared to be acting alone, he seemed reliable. I also heard Morishita-senpai's group happened to meet him on the road and asked to travel together."
Kikyō unconsciously began counting.
Then her cheeks puffed slightly.
Four girls had willingly joined his group.
Even if she did not truly object, she was still annoyed.
Such an important event was taking place, and she had not been present!
"That's understandable. You're all girls, so having a boy nearby to help with the difficult work is useful."
Kikyō showed no concern.
"If he has behaved strangely toward any of you, I apologize on his behalf."
Ichika examined her with open amazement.
"Kushida-senpai and Mitoma-senpai really are close. If I were in your position, I could never ignore something like this."
Kikyō smiled shyly, although her eyes glittered.
"That's because I understand him well enough. Loving someone can be like that. Sometimes there's nothing you can do."
Ichika seemed affected by the answer and fell into thought.
Kikyō was about to continue drawing the underclassman into the conversation when Ichika suddenly cried out, instantly seizing her attention.
"Yabai, Senpai! There's a bug here!"
The instant Kikyō saw the insect, her heart nearly stopped.
Fortunately, she was braver than most. The two girls frantically sprayed the creature near the tent entrance until it fled.
Once it was gone, Kikyō pressed a hand against her pounding chest.
Sleeping beside insects all night would easily qualify as one of the worst experiences of her life.
After that, neither girl felt like continuing their gossip.
Kikyō sprayed the entire area for much longer than necessary, then sealed the tent in an attempt to banish every possible insect from existence.
...
Once she finished treating the tents, Kikyō saw Miki and Airi returning.
"Good work. Yamamura-san and Airi can rest for a while. The school showers are empty right now, so you should take the opportunity to wash."
Both girls brightened at the news.
They dropped the firewood and hurried away together.
Kikyō watched them leave hand in hand with mild suspicion.
She knew Miki was one of Airi's friends, but something about the atmosphere between them felt slightly strange.
In the end, Kikyō did not dwell on it.
She took the food from her own group and went to help Ai and Tsubasa.
Several groups would be eating from the same pots tonight. It would be unfair to leave all the work to those two.
The moment Kikyō reached Ai, she finally understood Kei and Kaoru's concerns.
Ai's approach to food preparation could rival the worst stereotypes about British cooking.
Had Tsubasa not been supervising her, they might genuinely have produced something resembling stargazy pie.
"Why can't we grill insects?"
Ai still looked dissatisfied.
"Just because we don't have meat, does that mean we can't have a barbecue?"
"Morishita-senpai, I don't think we need to eat insects yet."
Tsubasa rejected the proposal as gently as possible.
"Some species are difficult to identify as safe."
Most edible insects were specifically raised for consumption. Wild ones could carry all kinds of bacteria and parasites.
"Fine. But I still think we should gather some for bait."
"Senpai, we don't have fishing rods."
"We don't need rods. I heard some island residents use bait to attract fish, then catch them with spears."
"We don't have spears either."
"..."
After spending a short time with Ai, Tsubasa had become somewhat accustomed to her unusual thought process.
Ai constantly invented bizarre plans without warning.
Tsubasa could now reject them with a completely calm expression while still remaining polite.
Ai looked disappointed.
She felt certain Kaoru would have understood her reasoning.
"What are you discussing?"
Kikyō approached with her supplies.
Ai glanced at her—or, more accurately, at the food in her hands.
"Morishita-senpai."
Tsubasa lied without hesitation.
"I think I saw several small crabs on the beach earlier."
Ai's eyes immediately lit up.
The tide was currently low, so crabs might genuinely be moving across the sand.
"I'll leave this to you, Nanase Tsubasa."
Ai stood.
Without the slightest trace of guilt, she announced, "I'm going to admire the scenery on the beach."
Kikyō blinked as Ai suddenly fled.
She had no idea what secret exchange had just occurred.
"Kushida-senpai doesn't need to worry. Morishita-senpai does this often."
Tsubasa gave a helpless smile.
Earlier that day, Ai had claimed she was observing nature and spent half an hour studying ants.
Tsubasa had already become numb to the older girl's strange behavior.
She had previously wondered whether Kaoru treated Ai too harshly.
Now she understood that his attitude was entirely reasonable.
Kikyō moved beside Tsubasa with a smile and set down her food.
"I have roast chicken, pork miso soup, and a bag of mixed vegetables. If you don't mind, we can eat them together tonight."
"Wouldn't that be a little unfair to your group?"
"It's fine. We were planning to eat these tonight anyway."
"Then thank you, Senpai."
Tsubasa was exceptionally polite toward Kikyō, probably because she was not only an upperclassman but also Kaoru's girlfriend.
Kikyō watched her work for a while.
Tsubasa's cooking ability seemed to surpass Suzune's.
Even with only canned goods and limited ingredients, she had not turned everything into an indistinguishable paste. Instead, the preparation looked orderly and smelled delicious.
Then again, Suzune was the type who cared only whether a meal was edible and filling.
Among the girls Kikyō knew, perhaps only Honami could compete with Tsubasa's cooking.
Kikyō studied Tsubasa's profile.
She was not the kind of overwhelming beauty who immediately drew every eye, but she looked incredibly well-behaved. Her smile was sweet enough to make anyone instinctively want to protect her.
Combined with her competent cooking, she was exactly the kind of polite and responsible girl older relatives adored.
In other words, Tsubasa seemed perfectly suited to becoming a wife and mother.
Ichika gave off no such impression.
The mischievous twin-tailed underclassman seemed better suited to being an unpredictable girlfriend who caused endless trouble.
Kikyō suddenly smiled to herself.
Tsubasa noticed.
"What are you smiling about, Kushida-senpai?"
Seeing the girl's nervous and confused expression, Kikyō hurriedly waved her hands while suppressing her laughter.
"It's nothing. I suddenly thought Nanase-san was very impressive."
"I-I don't have anything impressive about me."
Tsubasa shifted her gaze toward the spoon in her hand.
She was still thinking about the note Kaoru had received earlier.
"You're too modest. Your cooking looks wonderful. I wouldn't be able to manage dinner for this many people alone."
Kikyō praised her effortlessly.
Her own cooking ability was not bad either, and she occasionally enjoyed playing the role of Kaoru's cheerful little chef.
"That's only because most of the food was prepared in advance. We just need to heat it."
Tsubasa did not consider it her achievement.
If Ai had been more reliable, she would not even have needed to take control.
Kikyō had originally planned to discuss Kaoru with her.
However, once she noticed Tsubasa's lack of energy, she became curious.
This was not the right condition for forcing the conversation forward.
Kikyō began rapidly considering possibilities.
Unless the other person was someone extremely difficult like Suzune or the old version of Airi, there were very few girls she could not befriend.
As long as Tsubasa was willing to speak, Kikyō would eventually learn what was bothering her.
"This exam—"
Kikyō had barely begun when Kaoru returned with Kei.
"We're back!"
Kei ran toward Kikyō with flushed cheeks and took her hand.
"Let's hurry and shower. I feel filthy!"
At first, Kikyō allowed herself to be pulled several steps.
Then she remembered something and struggled not to laugh.
"We can't yet. Airi and Miki should be using the showers now."
"What?"
Kei looked deeply disappointed.
She glanced at her dirty hands, marked from gathering branches, and pouted.
"Fine. I'll wait—but only for a little while. I'm definitely washing properly afterward."
Kikyō laughed briefly.
Then something occurred to her.
She lowered her voice and asked Kei, "You two didn't do anything bad while you were away, did you?"
Kei's face instantly reddened.
She especially refused to look toward Kaoru.
"What bad thing? I didn't steal anything!"
Kikyō stared at her in disbelief.
She had deliberately arranged for Kei to spend time alone with Kaoru, yet Kei had not taken advantage of the opportunity?
"Really? Then what's that near your mouth?"
Kikyō decided to bluff.
"Eh?!"
Kei panicked and nearly reached toward her face before remembering her hands were dirty.
Kikyō immediately snorted.
The two of them had definitely done something.
Realizing she had been tricked, Kei attempted a weak defense.
"N-no! We only... kissed for a little while."
The longer she spoke, the less confident she sounded.
It had mostly been kissing, although the two of them had become far more carried away than she wanted to admit.
Kikyō maintained a stern expression for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Idiot. I'm not going to become jealous of you."
Kei's mood immediately improved.
Kikyō was never particularly afraid of someone stealing private time.
In her eyes, she would be far angrier if Kaoru became frustrated and suffered in silence.
As she had once told him, she was not obsessed with physical intimacy itself. She simply enjoyed it because the person involved was Kaoru.
That was why she did not object when the others grew closer to him.
Her only goal was to ensure that whenever Kaoru thought of affection and excitement, he would also remember her.
Naturally, her preferred solution was for everyone to enjoy themselves together.
She wanted Kaoru to associate any gathering of two or more girls with Kikyō's involvement.
Kaoru happened to look over and saw Kikyō giving him a mischievous smile for no obvious reason.
He wisely chose not to approach.
Instead, he carried the firewood over to Tsubasa.
"This should be enough. The school campsite has lanterns, so we don't need to waste too much wood."
Tsubasa said, "Senpai should rest. Dinner will be ready soon."
"You've worked hard too. What is Morishita-san doing?"
Thanks to his time alone with Kei, Kaoru could now look at Tsubasa without his thoughts immediately becoming unruly.
"Morishita-senpai went looking for crabs."
Tsubasa smiled.
"Senpai could join her if you want."
Kaoru lifted his head.
He could already see Ai moving stealthily across the beach.
She had rolled her trouser legs to her knees, revealing slim pale calves. Without her usual stockings, her legs looked surprisingly smooth beneath the last golden light of sunset.
Her silhouette appeared slender and delicate against the sea.
Then Ai suddenly lifted one foot.
A tiny crab had clamped onto one of her toes.
Kaoru's mouth twitched.
"No. I think I'll let her enjoy herself."