Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e Volume 3 Chapter 1

THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL

The eternal summer sea, the infinite blue sky. the clean air, the rustling salty sea breeze that gently wraps the body.

Here in the heart of the Pacific Ocean without feeling the heat in the middle of a hot summer.

Yes, this is indeed sea paradise.

"OHHHHHHH! This is the best AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

From the deck of the luxury ship came the loud shout of Ike Kanji who stood with both hands raised. Normally, complaints and phrases like "SHUT UP!" suddenly flew out of nowhere, but today for a whole day there was nothing and everyone finally enjoyed a happy moment. There was a marvelous view from the best spot on the reserved deck chair.

"What the hell with this fantasy view! I'm really super excited !!!!"

A group of girls led by Karuizawa appeared from the inner room. She pointed at the sea and with ear to ear said:

"That's right, what a horrible sight..."

Kushida Kikyō, one of the girls from the group who was chatting, was also excited and sighed while looking at the sea.

After enduring many hardships, the mid-term and final exams we finally welcomed the summer vacation. Waiting for us with open arms.

Koudo Ikusei High School has organized a luxurious two-week trip. A cruise on a luxury ship.

"I'm glad I didn't leave school, Ken. If this trip was an ordinary trip, it would have been impossible for me. How does it feel to be someone who was almost kicked out who came in last place even in the final exam? Tell me, how does it feel? "

Even though this question was instigated by Yamauchi Haruki, Sudō Ken who was far away looking at the sky, just laughed out loud. The beggarly and cold appearance of looking like a lone wolf merged completely into the figure of a laughing classmate.

"All of this is just a piece of cake if I rely on my abilities. Didn't they say that I could demonstrate my ability to play the lead role and solve everything with my intelligence?"

Despite the suffering a while ago, this trip seemed to have completely destroyed everything. It was like this blue sea washed away all the troublesome things and difficult situations.

"I would have never dreamed of being able to be a part of such a luxurious trip, and for 2 weeks, 2 WEEKS. When mom and dad hear about it, they'll be so shocked that they'll pee their pants."

As Sudō said, from an ordinary person's point of view, this was a non-standard trip. In a high school supported by the state, there is actually no need to pay miscellaneous fees or tuition. And of course, even for this trip. These were all special facilities.

And needless to say, the outside of the ship we were on and the facilities were also very satisfactory. From the first-class restaurants and theaters where you can enjoy plays or live performances, to the classy spa that comes with everything. If I ever thought of traveling as an individual here, I would need to spend 100,000 yen in the off-season.

Finally, a wonderful and praiseworthy trip begins today.

The schedule will go like this.

In the first week, we will take advantage of our summer vacation by staying at an inn built on a remote island.

Then, the following week we will be living on a cruise ship. At 5 am, the first-year students will board a bus together and head to Tokyo Bay, where a passenger ship will depart from the port where the students board.

While eating breakfast in the ship room, the students can behave as they please. In addition, a very fortunate thing is that all the facilities on the ship can be used for free. For us, usually worried about shortages and expenses, this is a life saver.

Kushida suddenly turned to me and looked at me attentively. Backed by the ocean and blue sky, Kushida seemed to glow even more and I don't know why but my heart was pounding, even though this was bad.

There was no way, no way she was... towards me.

"Well then, what about Horikita-san? Aren't you always with her?"

I couldn't let myself be caught in the fog of her vision. It seemed like she was only thinking about Horikita.

"Come on, now, I'm not her guardian..."

I don't remember meeting her on the ship after breakfast.

"You don't look like someone who enjoys traveling, do you prefer staying indoors?"

"I guess so."

"Around noon we can go to a private beach, island and swim freely, I can't wait!!!"

It seems like this school has a small island in the south, and we are heading there now.

"Attention to all students. Please gather on the deck, you will be able to see the island soon. In the meantime, you will be able to see a very meaningful and beautiful scenery".

This strange announcement suddenly echoed throughout the ship. Kushida and the others noticed it and quietly seemed to be waiting to see what would happen.

A few minutes after some of the students began to gather, the island appeared.

Ike let out a shout of joy. The students noticed it and they began to crowd on the deck at once. When the whole mass crowded into the place, some powerful students pushed us so that they could take our place well.

"Ah so troublesome... Hey, go away! You outcasts!"

At that moment, one of the particularly intimidating boys pushed my shoulder. Abruptly, I grabbed the ledge of the deck to avoid losing my balance and falling. The students laughed at me in disgust.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

Sudō became very upset and intimidated on the spot. Kushida who was worried about the situation, came to my side. The other girl who followed behind the student and saw this incident actually had a very pitiful face.

"You have to understand this school system, this school is based on merit, there are no human rights in class D. 'Disabled' have to behave obediently, they are like outcasts. This side, we are all class A".

Class D then went off the bow (of the ship) like they had kicked us out. Sudō looked unhappy, still he didn't give up on not fighting and was able to put up with it which proved that he was becoming a bit more mature. Or was it just because he understood and accepted the lowly position of D class?

"Hey everyone, you're all here. What's going on?"

Among the students who came in groups, one kid called out to me.

Although we felt that the situation was unpleasant and unfair, there was no need for unnecessary worries. So it was better not to heed it.

That child's name was Yōsuke Hirata. The leader of Class D.

I am also the leader of the group I belong to.

The division of space in the group will be decided at that time. While I just hoped not to be called by Ike and Sudō people who were close enough, the group ended up being over-capacity.

Just when I was alone, Hirata's arrival like a Messiah calmed the situation.

"Tell me Hirata, how far are you with Karuizawa?"

Ike pointed at Hirata who actually never tried to approach Karuizawa.

"Why don't you take the opportunity of this long-awaited trip and try to be more flirtatious with her?"

He looked pleasant like that, having also heard that Hirata hated it when other girls looked at her.

"We're just following our own pace, huh sorry I have to go now. Miyake-kun seems to be in trouble".

His cell phone rang and Hirata returned to the ship while boasting. Being busy is the destiny of popular people.

"What's wrong with him? Is he really just worried about his classmates?"

"But Karuizawa is Karuizawa, and it seems like they haven't been very close lately so... maybe... they've broken up? If that's the case, then that sucks. Kushida-chan will have more opponents".

Sure, they could be less close than when they started dating. But I don't think they fought or the situation got worse. Because it did seem like they were good friends when I saw them talking.

"I've decided Haruki, I'll say it to Kushida-chan on this trip"

"Well, what if she dumps you Ike, that would be very awkward. Is that okay?"

"This is just my selfish reasoning, after all, isn't Kushida-chan very cute? That's why I think most boys want to ask her out. But, as long as she's out of reach of me and their society, and she's never been shot at, I'm sure there's a possibility that Kushida-chan's heart will be shaken by my sudden confession of love. But there is little hope there".

"I see... You've made up your mind.."

"Ah... yes."

Yamauchi wanted to explode against her, but he did nothing. He looked up from the deck restlessly as if searching for something.

"What's the matter?"

"Ahhh, nothing..."

After ignoring me absentmindedly like that, in the end Yamauchi no longer touched the subject of Kushida.

"Hey hey Kushida-chan, do you have a minute?"

"Uhm? What's wrong?"

Ike directly approached Kushida who was calmly looking at the sea nearby. Obviously, it was a suspicious move.

"Well... how should I say... It hasn't been about 4 months since we met? Because of that, all this time I've been thinking if it doesn't matter if I call you by your first name. You see, it sounds cold and unfriendly when I call you by your last name".

"Now that you mention it, Yamauchi-kun called me by my name before I realized it"

"Uh, I guess it's bad that I call you Kikyō-chan".

Ike exclaimed a little deflated but Kushida beamed indifferently.

"Of course, there's no problem with that! Should I call you Kanji-kun too?"

"UUUUUOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH KIKYO-CHAN AAAAAAAAHHHHHH"

Ike yelled and screamed in a pose like someone going to heaven or someone who had just received a package with a platoon movie.

Kushida laughed softly. I guess he found it strange and funny.

"First name uh? ...Come to think of it, what's Horikita's first name?"

Sudō naturally asked me if I knew it.

"Tomiko, Horikita Tomiko."

"Mhm Tomiko... that's a cute name. As expected, the feeling is perfect."

"Ah no, I was wrong, it's Suzune"

"You... don't make more mistakes. Suzune uh? It feels as perfect as Tomiko, but 100 million times more"

Whether Horikita's name was Sadako or Sam, it would be selfish to guess it or say it without permission.

"During this summer vacation, I will also call you by your first name Suzune, Suzune..."

Well, it looks like the boys want to get closer to the girls during this vacation.

Meanwhile, neither of the boys called me by my first name nor did I call them by their first names.

"That's right. Hey look over here, Ayanokoji. You're going to make me try practicing. Now you practice saying Suzune's name too"

"Practice? Why? Practice, you said... it's not normal".

You can't do something like practicing saying someone's name... unless you do it before the person themselves.

Don't tell me that simple-minded Sudo intended to make me into an imaginary Horikita.

She looked at me sharply.

Maybe it was because she was imagining the opposite sex, but that gaze was very dirty.

"Say, Horikita, do you have a moment? I need to talk to you for a while"

"I'm not Horikita."

I immediately felt disgusted and turned away with a disapproving face.

"YOU IDIOT, it's practice, I don't want to do it either, but it's important to me, mhm maybe or maybe not. Because if I don't practice, I can't do well. It's important for me to try it anyway."

I really don't want to hear such a bastard sentence.

Ahhh, what can I do, I'll just go along and be patient.

"Horikita. It's not strange that we always behave like strangers to each other. We've known each other for so long, it seems like we would call each other nicely by first name, how about we do that too? Someday... little by little?"

"......................."

Without realizing it, I wanted to hit Sudō's head as much as possible. But I endured patiently and mentally like an adult would do. Just like an adult would do.

"Say something. Why don't you practice with me?"

"No, no... What do you want me to say?"

"Just something that Horikita can reply to. Since you've known him for a long time, you should know what he'll say, right?"

Our acquaintance level was 4 months, so there was no way I could know such a thing.

Even so, Sudō insisted that I play Horikita's imaginary role. I clenched my fists subconsciously to threaten someone.

"I'm one step away from becoming an adult and I have to do something like this in Horikita's name? Feel free to practice on your own."

Instead, Ike acted as a substitute.

While looking a little shady, Sudō said: "Horikita... is it okay if I call you by your first name?"

"Um, yes... Sudo-kun isn't a handsome guy, is he? I mean, it looks like he doesn't have much money either. He's not my type at all, can't you see? ah, sorry. sorry. He's an outcast, huh?"

Ike was acting as a gyaru (women who follow fashion trends usually characterized by brown hair or blonde hair, flashy clothes and accessories) high school student, on the contrary, without seeing anything, so Sudo who was even while on deck, decided to strangle him and make him writhe in pain.

They were always so full of energy, the two of them. Just by looking at them, the fatigue was piling up and piling up. Even so, it seemed like fun.

After a while, the commotion around was getting louder.

The enthusiasm of the students also increased a lot when the island could be clearly seen with the naked eye and the distance was getting shorter. I thought the ship was directed to the island, but I don't know why we passed the pier and the ship started circling the island.

The area lent by the state to manage this island is 0.5km. The highest elevation is 230m. It's a very small island when viewed from the perspective of the totality of Japan as a country, but when viewed by a hundred dozen people on a cruise ship like us, it's even too big.

Somehow, the ship circled the island and showed it in full. It kept circling around out of bounds without changing speed. Although the ship barely made a splash, it was really traveling at an unnaturally high speed.

"It's a very mysterious sight... I'm impressed, aren't you, Ayanokoji-kun?"

"Oh, yes, yes you are."

I looked at Kushida whose eyes were shining at the sight of the desert island, and my heart skipped a beat. After all, Kushida is really cute. I want to protect that smile and that childlike behavior.

"From here, we will land on an uninhabited island owned by the school. Students should change your clothes, check your bags and luggage properly and don't forget to take out your cell phones. After that, please gather on the deck. Please keep all your personal belongings in your room. There is a possibility that you may not be able to go to the toilet for some time, please prepare everything properly now. "

This announcement echoed all around. It turned out that the docking place at the private beach was near. It looked like Ike and the others were about to turn back into high spirits.

I also turned my feet back to the group room. Then I put on the jersey I used during gym class, returned to the deck and waited for the ship to reach the island. As we approached the island directly ahead, the first-year students' enthusiasm reached its peak.

"From this moment on, starting from class A students, we will begin to disembark in order and it is forbidden to bring cell phones on this island. So please, hand them over separately to your homeroom teacher and get off the boat".

With the teacher's voice on the loudspeaker, the students descended the ship's stairs in order.

"Whew, please hurry up! Even though we're lightly dressed, we're all sweating here".

The deck of the anchored ship was exposed to too much sunlight. No wonder many complaints came out. Class D stood on the ship ready to disembark while enduring the heat, and in the end Horikita also joined in.

At first glance it seemed like a normal situation, but something was wrong. There seemed to be a feeling of restlessness and discomfort. Even Horikita, who was usually a methodical and meticulous person, seemed anxious about his outward appearance. Even so, he kept his black hair disheveled so as not to change his overall appearance. He looked rather cold and he unconsciously rubbed his hands while waiting for the landing on the island.

"What were you doing just now?"

"I was just reading a book in my room. 'To the sound of that bell'... You wouldn't know."

Come on. It was one of Ernest Hemingway's, wasn't it? An unrivaled masterpiece, there's no doubt about it. I've thought about it for a long time, but Horikita's hobby of reading this kind of book is amazing... But, I wondered about the priority of reading even during this wonderful trip. Well, under these circumstances I also doubted whether I liked the room as a good place to read books or not. But let's forget about it. The person himself wouldn't say anything on that topic and prying curiosity from here would be a rude gesture.

"I'm anxious about how it goes, but if it's forbidden to bring personal belongings, then I can't do anything".

Regretfully and awkwardly, I cleared my throat.

This isn't the kind of thing people say when going down to the shore.

Going ashore and leaving the ship took longer than I thought. Probably because the teachers divided and packed the students on two sides and they kept checking their luggage.

"Hey, strangely aren't they too strict or how should I put it, careful? They should confiscate cell phones during the test, not now. It seems like it's even forbidden to carry too many personal items"

"Certainly if someone is just playing in the ocean, I also feel like they don't really have to do that"

By the way, behind the ship was a helicopter. Speaking of incompetence and strangeness that one was unnatural as well. Well, it's true that it's a bit suspicious, but maybe I'm thinking too much.

If students brought cell phones to the sea, maybe some of them would end up getting wet or damaged. Bringing additional personal things could also cause a lot of trash to pollute the beach. If someone suddenly falls ill, helicopter delivery could come in handy and maybe it's nothing like the story told, right?

Soon our turn would come and we would get off the line after passing a strict inspection.

At that time, I hadn't realized this place would be the boundary between heaven and hell.