Chapter 31: Bon Voyage

That afternoon, the Help club members met inside their clubroom. They were still waiting for a request to come their way.

"I think it's fine if we just closed shop today and prepared for the school trip tomorrow."

Angelie spoke to the quiet club members.

"Yeah, it's not like people will come anyway. We have a terrible reputation already."

Sanaka was scrolling on her phone.

"I wouldn't call it 'terrible'. Probably just a 'misguided' one."

Kiba offered his thoughts while looking outside the window.

"Because of you."

Akuma looked at Kiba.

"You're one to talk."

Angelie butted in while writing something on her notebook.

"And you haven't done anything significant."

Akuma turned his glance to Angelie.

"At least I really want to help. Unlike you and your plans that keep on backfiring on you."

Angelie glared back at Akuma.

"Well, we were able to finish the request of the Vice President—"

"Don't bring up that guy!"

Akuma shouted at Sanaka.

"Don't blame me if he's a lot cooler than you!"

Sanaka stuck her tongue out at Akuma.

"What do you see in that guy? He's average, at best."

Kiba turned to Sanaka as he leaned on his chair.

"For starters, he's not creeping out girls, unlike someone I know."

Sanaka gave Kiba a snide glance.

The conversation devolved into arguments about past things that happened. The four of them went back and forth with either insults or past mistakes. Only Mimi was not involved with the infighting. She noticed that the door slid open and someone peeked inside.

"Excuse me, is this the… Help Club? Um, are you… busy?"

A male student talked directly to Mimi, who was also jotting down on her notebook.

"Please wait a moment. I will ask."

Mimi turned towards everyone who was bickering.

"There is someone here. Should we hear him out—"

"We're closed!"

The four of them shouted simultaneously without looking at Mimi. She looked back at the male student who was still peeking through the door.

"There you have it. Please come back—"

"You guys are scary!"

The student quickly closed the door. Running footsteps could be heard from the hallway. Mimi let out a sigh. The four continued to squabble about random things until they ran out of things to say and it became quiet.

"Mimi-san, did you say something earlier?"

Angelie looked at Mimi.

"There was someone who wanted to talk to us. He screamed that we are scary and left running away."

Mimi closed her notebook and looked at everyone.

"I believe it's time to go home."

Everyone nodded silently.

---

The following morning, Akuma went down from his room to the dining table. He brought with him a duffel bag and placed it beside him as he sat down. He wore a red shirt and jeans. Yuurei was already eating breakfast, which was toasted bread, bacon and eggs.

"Wow, you're in casual clothing. It's a school day, right? Are you skipping class and going on a date? With which one of them??"

Yuurei bombarded him with questions.

"What is this about a date and which one? Does he have several girlfriends?"

Their mom was standing at the kitchen counter. She turned around after hearing what Yuurei said.

"Oh, Mom. I wish you saw it. There were two girls who visited him but on different days!"

Yuurei looked at their mom while chewing down a piece of bacon.

"Wow, I'm surprised he was able to fool two girls. Especially since he's looked grumpy recently."

Their mom covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide open while she stared at Yuurei.

"I'm right here, you know."

Akuma ate a strip of bacon and pointed at his sister.

"Yuurei, stop insinuating things that are not true. And Mom, stop gossiping about your son like he is one of your neighbors."

Akuma didn't look at his mother and continued to eat the toasted bread next.

"Oh, come on. It's because you never share these kinds of things to us. What about that girl who visited you while you were in the hospital? Is she girl number three?"

Their mom sat down on the principal seat on the opposite side of Akuma and Yuurei.

"What? There is a third girl?! What does she look like, Mom?"

Yuurei slammed her hand on the table and leaned towards her mom.

"Hmm. She was a cute girl with short orange hair."

"Oh! That's Onee-san! That's one of the girls who visited him here. It's two to one against that other girl. Good… good."

Yuurei stared at the table while biting a piece of bread. Akuma just shook his head.

"So, Akuma, aren't you going to be late for your school trip?"

"So that's why you're dressed like that, Onii-chan. I'm jealous. Our trip is two weeks away. Where are you going, anyway?"

Yuurei stared at her brother while waiting for a reply.

"It's still early. And we're taking the high-speed train going to Kyoto, so even if I got left behind, I can just follow them there."

Akuma drank his orange juice.

"Oh, so you're planning to have a date first, huh? But which one of them—"

"I'm going."

Akuma stood up without acknowledging what his mother was saying.

"Don't be such a killjoy! Share some details with me and your sister!"

His mom called out to him in futility. Akuma left the house with his duffel bag in tow.

---

Inside the train station, most of the second-year students were gathered while waiting for their departure. Students were not yet divided by class. They were mingling with their friends from different classes. Angelie, Mimi and Sanaka were standing in front of a pastry shop inside the station waiting area.

"I want to buy something before the trip. I don't want to end up being hungry while on the way there."

Sanaka was looking at the list of pastries. She was wearing a grey long-sleeved t-shirt and short, pink ruffled skirt.

"I think this will just be a short trip."

Mimi was looking at the other students walking around the waiting area. She was wearing a green, sleeveless dress with a layered, above-knee skirt.

"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to have something ready, in case you do get hungry."

Angelie was drooling over the pastries on display. She was wearing a dotted, white tank top and blue shorts.

"I'm liking this trip already. Why can't we always wear casual clothing, even at school?"

Kiba appeared out of nowhere, squatting beside the girls, directly forming a line with them. He was closest to Mimi, then Sanaka and Angelie. He was wearing a cap and sunglasses, a brown short-sleeved, unbuttoned shirt on top of a white t-shirt and black khaki shorts.

"What are you doing down there, Kiba-kun?"

Angelie raised her eyebrow as she looked at Kiba.

"Enjoying the view, you could say."

Kiba pushed up his sunglasses.

"Don't you dare look at our direction, okay?"

Sanaka was already counting how many pastries she will buy.

"But beauty should be appreciated—"

Before Kiba could fully turn his face towards the girls, Mimi slammed the hand bag she was carrying to his face.

"Causing trouble already, you lewd vampire?"

Akuma appeared in front of everybody.

"It's only trouble if anyone complains."

Kiba smiled at Akuma as blood dripped from his nose.

"Then I will complain to the teachers that there is a miscreant among us."

Mimi walked towards the teachers and students that were already gathering according to their class.

"When did you become so serious, Mimi? Where has that sweet, innocent girl gone to?"

Kiba went after Mimi.

"She never existed, I'm afraid."

Mimi didn't look at Kiba. They walked further away while still bantering.

A teacher called out to the students. They were officially starting the trip and that meant students should gather up with their classmates and homeroom teacher. There were five classes in the second-years, from class 2-A to 2-E. There were five homeroom teachers and three additional teachers present, including a supervisor, to help in organizing the trip and looking out for the students. The five classes were going to occupy at least three passenger cars of the train. The classes formed their groups at the platform area where the train entrance door would stop and open.

"I'm going ahead."

Akuma turned around to go towards their classmates.

"Wait! Akuma! Help me carry this."

Sanaka called out to Akuma. When he turned to look at Sanaka, she was carrying a large paper bag containing assorted pastries and breads.

"The heck is that? We're having lunch when we get there. You know that, right?"

"I get hungry while traveling. Here, take it already. It's heavy."

Sanaka forced the paper bag on to Akuma.

"Hey, I didn't agree to this!"

Akuma's knees almost buckled due to the weight of the paper bag.

"Just how much are you going to eat? It's like you haven't eaten in days."

"Stop complaining. I'll give you one pastry. Happy?"

Sanaka started walking towards their classmates.

"You sure you and that damned Saint can finish all of this?"

Akuma walked slowly behind her.

"Huh? That's just for me. She's buying her own."