The checklist given by Hasumi had six items in total:
Build sandcastles and take sand baths, learn to swim, play beach volleyball, set off fireworks, smash watermelons, and visit the seaside house.
All of these were to be completed together with Tsurugi, and photos had to be taken as proof, though I thought Hasumi probably intended them more as keepsakes than anything else.
I thought for a moment and asked cautiously, "Judging from this, these seem like pretty peaceful activities, right?"
"You're too naive, sensei!" Azusa said solemnly, offering her unique insight. "If the list were written plainly, what if it were stolen by someone? I've told you many times, codes are the foundation of communication!"
Surprisingly, she had a point. I nodded while pulling out my camera to take a backup photo of the checklist.
This was also one of the props Hasumi had lent for the task.
But come to think of it, after yesterday's date, who was shyly saying on Momotalk that they didn't want to use codes with each other anymore?
"Even with such a list, there's some intention hidden behind it. After all, the other party isn't just anyone, it's the Trinity's Justice Task Force. If in this one chance we were deemed 'useless,' it would mean never seeing the next day's sun. So we can't be careless even for a moment."
"Ahhh, Azusa-chan is saying scary things again…"
"In summary," Azusa concluded, "To complete the task successfully, sensei, please stay within my line of sight."
Ah, the gun revealed at the other side of the paper!
Hifumi blinked, flustered for a moment, then forced out a smile:
"W-Well, since we accepted the mission, we just have to do it. And they've officially lent us Crusader-chan (Tank)… ehehe…"
The blonde, golden-eyed girl took a deep breath, joyfully exclaiming: "The ocean, swimsuits, sunshine, and a tank! This is what I've always imagined as the perfect summer vacation!"
Wait… how did the tank even come into this!?
Seeing her companion so excited, Azusa said calmly: "…If Hifumi thinks it's fine, then it's fine."
Hifumi turned back to smile: "So, let's put aside all the overthinking for now… Rather than clinging to sensei, it's better to focus on completing the checklist first, right, Azusa-chan?"
Azusa didn't reply, instead giving that inscrutable look again, silently watching her fellow momo enthusiast.
As for Hifumi, she just wore a slightly uneasy, confused expression, as if she had no idea why her study partner was staring at her like that.
Truly admirable friendship.
"Slurp." Mashiro licked her popsicle as she came over to me. "Sensei, want one?"
"Ah, thanks."
I had just taken a brand-new popsicle from Mashiro, possibly one previously used by a girl and still 99% intact, when a loud crashing sound erupted.
Could it be that Hifumi and Azusa had already started fighting over me?
Startled, I turned to look and saw that both of them were staring at something not far away.
There, a ghostly figure was running around in strange postures, letting out piercing screams and maniacal laughter:
"The ocean! The ocean! Kuhahahaha! Kehihihihi!"
Clearly, she was very excited.
However, the commotion didn't attract our immediate attention.
Other beachgoers noticed Tsurugi's bizarre behavior and quickly panicked. Shouting "Monster!" they scrambled away, leaving the beach completely empty within the blink of an eye, except for us few remaining.
The once lively beach became deserted in an instant, leaving only the odd screams of Tsurugi, still obliviously running around, echoing in our ears.
"…Sensei," Hifumi looked at me cautiously, "I-Is it really okay to give up?"
"Look on the bright side," I said, licking my popsicle to comfort her. "No random people interfering, doesn't that make it easier to complete the checklist?"
Azusa, stepping closer to me, nodded: "Sensei's right. Hifumi, let's stop overthinking for now."
"Y-Yeah, that's true…" Hifumi looked up at the sky, frustrated and helpless. "This is nothing like the perfect summer vacation I imagined!"
Taking advantage of her companion's lament, Azusa politely asked me if she could try the popsicle in my hand. But Mashiro, at just the right moment, offered her a new one, foiling Azusa's plan.
Too pure, too eager, too obvious.
Watching Azusa enjoy her popsicle without sulking, I thought she still had a lot to learn from Hifumi in this regard.
After a while, Hifumi patted her cheeks, calming herself:
"F-First, let's start with the simplest task. Let's see… building sandcastles and sand baths, how about that?"
It only required staying in place, using the sand and seawater around, and could be done with bare hands.
"Then I'll give it a try first," Hifumi volunteered, then asked, "Sensei, could you take photos at the right moments? Just capture the happy feeling!"
"Isn't that a little putting the cart before the horse…"
"Of course! Although I want to enjoy it purely, the task must be completed first…!"
Hifumi said nervously: "I don't want my nails to suffer if I fail, so I have to find a way to finish it…"
I thought even failure shouldn't result in something that extreme…
Even prisoners of Arius didn't face such punishment.
Still, Hifumi had another reason to worry.
"Ah!? S-Sorry!" Hifumi suddenly panicked. "D-Did I do something to make you upset…!?"
Tsurugi, who had somehow finished her frantic running, silently approached, panting, a sickly smile on her face, her cheeks unnaturally flushed.
Even though she hadn't done anything, her appearance alone would scare most people, including Hifumi.
I explained: "It's fine, she's just full of energy."
"R-Really?"
"Of course. Tsurugi, smile for Hifumi to prove it."
The obedient Tsurugi immediately grinned wildly: "Kehihihihi…!"
"No no no, I believe you, I believe you!"
Hifumi waved her hands frantically, then awkwardly tried to change the subject: "A-Anyway! Let's get started now!"