078.0 – He Who Has No Idea What a School Trip is

Hey, that's a rude title.

I "at least" know what a field or school trip is, but not to the extent of knowing its concept. When G still had a not so secure mind—which led to his memories leaking in to my mind, I saw his friends describing to him what happens in a school trip. Mykes says that the school trip is an event to learn outside our usual education, but in the end, what happens is that you just mostly "enjoy" yourself.

I say that but I think G and I share the same sentiments for school trips. I have studied in Blue Ink ever since my first year, and I haven't even tried to join one as it happens every year. The only change is that Orio had become more dangerous since our fourth year, so those activities were halted until last year. Nonetheless, both of us have a stupid reason as to why we don't attend them—we just don't find it fun, and Nico, Iura, Guren, and Shuri knew it well and can attest to that.

Not like I'm actually friends with them, though. But you get the point.

But then again, things have changed because of Tenth. With his term as a principal, I still don't know if he can actually make my school trip experience fun, but things have changed, I repeat. If it wasn't for Tenth, I would have never considered on joining my first school trip. Yes, my first.

And yes, I have already paid the fee knowing that there is no certainty if I will actually be disappointed or not. In the end, we have our own preferences.

I even had to go to school yesterday just to stop by the cashier because as you have seen on my last reaction on the last chapter, I completely forgot about it. Also, Rin is not the kind of person to tell me that "come on, French Fries, this is our last year as a high school student!" but I know that she will still nag me for a different reason I don't plan to know if I don't join. Dare I say, I can definitely see her crying like a child and throwing a tantrum in front of me so I paid before letting her know. Guess what, she was actually happy when I told her.

Oh, yeah. 2019 is the year for bullet trains in this country.

"What's with that forceful topic shift, Potato?"

"I ran out of words to say."

So, Sunday.

Tomorrow, the 2nd of December is the day of our departure. Rin handed out the brochure of our school trip just this Friday while she was scolding me. From what I have read, we will go beyond, plus ultra on northern Cotona, and so the location of the trip will be a province beside the mountains of Payns, which is the coldest province in Orio. Well, Pacific Ring of Fire, so there are hot springs there. It is apparently going to be a three-day trip with three days and two nights. If point-to-point with the up and recent bullet trains thanks to North's technology, the travel time will just be an hour when it is five by car.

I wonder how long it will be if I jump my way to there.

"Actually, Gin, why are we having breakfast in your room?"

"Just for a little change."

Ding Dong

"Oh, they're here."

"Who?"

"Autumn couple. I invited them for a meal.

Say, did I get better on making soba noodles?"

"Hard to say when I haven't tasted noodles that are made by masters, but it's better than your previous attempts. Wait, I could have sworn that you told me that you'll teach me how to make your style of yakisoba. The other noodles suck but the flavor remains the same in a good way.

Hey, wait. Shouldn't you be opening your door for those two?"

"Pardon the intrusion. Oh, the heater is on," the door of my room was then suddenly opened by Nagi who up and grabbed a cushion and joined on our table.

"Morning. You know, you two could've taken your share of yakisoba in the kitchen before coming up here."

"As if I would know that that's what Haku was trying to say!

By the way, thanks for opening the door for us, Haku. Paw."

And so the cat did.

…

"Man, this is some good noodles."

"Say that again when you actually meet an expert who spent his entire life perfecting them."

"Lend me for a ticket to Japan, then."

While eating, Shiro noticed something and took Ringo's right hand, "So your hand is fine now?"

"Yep. It healed quicker than I expected."

"Well, that's good. We actually asked Rena when we overheard you two talking about WT in the afternoon break this Friday.

So it's true that you suspended your classmates, Gin?"

"Before this gets to a misunderstanding, the story you might have heard may be unclear. Yamaha and Kae really intended to spill a bit of hot broth on Rin's hand, sadly. It wasn't really because of ill intent, though. Well, not entirely.

They did that because they thought that Rin was getting really tired so they had to make her rest in that way. You should really fix that stubborn behavior, Rin."

"Oww…!" she let out as I flicked her forehead.

"All is good, but I gave them a punishment. The suspension you heard was just about them barred from entering the kitchen unless I say so. It was hard to hide my frustrations, you know."

"This potato rushed in our house to check up on me. He was so worried when he got home."

"You really like to embarrass me, huh, Rin?"

"Aaaanyway…!" Nagi chimed in. "Why do I see a pamphlet for the school trip in your room, Gin? Please tell me that it's actually Ringo's."

"…

I guess I won't have a clean record of not attending all of the trips for my whole high school life."

"Gin… did you put something in this yakisoba to make you say that…?" Nagi trembled in fear.

"Quit overacting. I'm doing this for Rin's request that she didn't ask me."

"Eh?" she faced me with confusion.

"You were like an open book, Miss."

"Are you sure you'll be home alive, though? You going on a school trip is pretty much the same as you entering a forest full of dinosaurs—no matter how strong you are, you'll get gnawed."

"I don't know… I think I can throw hands with a T-Rex…"

"I thought you were going to say something serious. What was even expecting from you?"

"But I'm still concerned about the trip. I don't really know if I'll enjoy it or not.

Well… I might actually enjoy the lounge the most since the hotels will have hot spring."

I really want to see the cute, little arms of a T-Rex, though.

"So you're only looking forward to the resting time, then."

"Sort of.

But my vocabulary of what's a school trip is that of a child and frankly, an Exile-born person. I can't deny that people underground aren't sheltered, but you get the point. Pretty much, I'll just run like a headless chicken there."

"I guess that's understandable for a 20 year-old that is not human," Nagi shrugged.

"I guess we'll try our best to make the trip fun for you," Shiro interjected. "Just don't expect that it's the same as our time in Chikami."

"Oh, right. Is G also going?"

"Nope. He said that they're a bit short on cash since recent repairs on their house took a blow on them."

"I'm jealous…" I drooped and got hit on the head by Rin.

"The only difference is that G actually went to his first and last field trip when he was five," added Rin.

"Woah, that was a blow straight to my gut."

"But considering the usual procedures…" Nagi paused, "we will wear our uniforms on our way there, but casual clothes can be worn after that; maybe much better if we still have our pins on. I know that you're an idiot so don't you dare wear shorts outside in the cold weather."

"Understood."

"You're seriously jotting them down?!"

"Tell me more."

"Hahh… Most of the time, the guys in the rooms will stay up late. Knowing you, I'm sure that you'll just ignore them and sleep anyway."

"No one can stop me."

"You know, provinces around Payns make sake derived from the traditional Japanese wines. The teachers used to drink at night."

"Eh. I'll refrain from drinking, alright? But I guess I'll buy a bottle as a souvenir."

"Just don't wear your uniform if you're going to, Potato."

"Right, right. I'm sure our fathers will like it. But I'll probably get scolded if I get seen with it in my bag so I'll pass it to Mato-sen.

By the way, has anyone of you gone to Payns already?"

"Why ask?" Shiro questioned, but all of them said no anyway.

"I'm just wondering how different the northern region will be now that the temperature dropped significantly and snowed."

"We really haven't thought about that, huh. But I think we'll be fine since we're not going up on the mountains."

"Still, it's better than having summer heat."

"All of us have watched Yu*u Camp, right"

"Weeeeee."

"Then let's establish the Secret Society BLANKET in Orio."

"…

You are finally saying something with sense, Potato. We're in."

▪ ▪ ▪

And so, the morning of the day for the trip begins with the uncertainty if *sparkles* will finally make its actual appearance on a chapter.

Chapter Message:

How nice would it be to not have a social battery of tennis ball when it comes to trips. And honestly, "78.0" doesn't really make sense because it's still literally 78.

Next chapter on Friday!

Thank you for reading!

Next

78.1: Bullet trains, 🗿, and soup. (Well, not really the 🗿)