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The party will be at Kaori’s place, not in my room. It was the owner and Saori’s suggestion. If we have it at my place, it might end up like the last mess of a party, so I appreciate it. That’s why there shouldn’t be any problems this time.

“I want to join too.”
“It’ll be in conflict with your schedule time-wise. If it’s the same as last year, the high society party should be in the evening, correct?”

In that case, it will be in conflict with the schedule of our party, so no joining for her. For this time, she’ll have to obediently just rest at home. If we have an after-party all the time, I’m going to get tired too.

“What? You’re not joining this time?”
“Nagatsuki, do you want me to join as well?”
“It’s hard to go back after tasting comfort.”

They really are treating me as a rest area. Ever since that event, Nagatsuki has been softer on Kotone. The happenings during the high society party and especially the after party really changed his perspective. The after party was a disaster, after all.

“Still Kisaragi, are you never satisfied unless you cause a problem?”
“Not at all. It’s obviously best to have peace and tranquility.”
“I don’t want to hear that from you.”

It’s how I really feel, though. Isn’t it just the best when things go as scheduled without any hiccups? Nothing to worry about and nothing to suffer through. When things go sour, someone gets a bad time. That time, it was me. Now then, how did things start to get sour this time around?

“So, what mischief are you up to this time?”
“On what basis are you making that claim?”
“Gut feeling.”

Again, what the heck is with your perception, people? It’s not like Nagatsuki enjoys the trouble. On the contrary, he doesn’t like it but I have no idea why he still came. As for Kotori, if she knows, she’ll definitely want to come with me. The worst part is that this happens the day before the party, so she can free up her schedule.

“I’d greatly appreciate it if you don’t get involved for at least this once.”
“I plan to keep away from the start. But look, Fumizuki seems awfully sad.”
“I wanted to play with Kotone more.”
“I’ll at least come to greet at new years.”

It’ll greatly depend on how exhausted I’ll be after the Shimotsuki visit. Either way, I’ll be visiting the Fumidzuki family after I settle things with my family. I’ll have to at least do the new year courtesy calls. After all that’s said and done, I have built amiable relationships with the families.

“Are you going to stay over!?”
“Hmm, I still don’t have my schedule organized, so I can’t be certain.”
“Please make time!”
“I’ll try.”

Somehow, I now have to stay over at their place. One more thing on the January itinerary. Still, what’s this feeling? While I think staying with Kotori should be fine, I feel a sense of dread. Is it from Kotori’s family or something?

“See you later.”

We split up and head to our own classrooms. Still, it looks like January is going to be chaotic. Shimotsuki and Fumidzuki, huh. I’ve never been to either home, so I can’t help but feel uneasy. Since I have no idea what will happen, it’ll be best to properly prepare myself.

“Is it really okay to make that promise?”
“There was no other choice from how it was going. You think I could refuse?”
“Not possible. It didn’t look like she’d let you say no.”

Kotori looks like a harmless little animal, but she occasionally shows a predaceous edge. Two contradicting sides, but Kotori is of the twelve families. It’s only natural for her to have some duality. It’s a bit different from the usual, but the usual is that the Fumidzuki turn weird when they get children. It’s scary.

“More importantly, you should think about your more imminent problems.”
“Which are?”
“You’ll know once you’re in your classroom.”

I wonder what problem she’s talking about. I’m too occupied thinking about promises and the future, so I might have forgotten some stuff. Classroom… classmates… Oh, is it about how I left my classmates to do my own thing?

“Well, I need to go back to my classroom. Apologize properly, okay?”
“See you at the cafe.”

Well, time to enter my own classroom. Naturally, I’ve already thought about my first greetings. There’s no need to check, but Kotori did tell me to apologize, so I’ll have to ask.

“Hello everyone, was it the greatest field trip ever?”
“Give thanks to our big idiot!”
“Ya~y!”

Seriously, this class is so easygoing. Because of the chat with Kotori and Nagatsuki, I’m the last one to come. Just as expected, everyone’s in a good mood. There are just two who are a bit… sulky, which is inevitable.

“I know you’re all grateful to our idiot, but don’t forget about your teacher here. With our brief meeting finished, we are done for the day.”

The field trip doesn’t end until you get home, after all. You can get dragged into things on your way home, so you can’t let your guard down. Enjoy it until the end of the night and after that, back to the studies. Which is the difficult part.

“Geez, you really overdid it this time, Kotone.”
“You barely made any memories with us, after all. How should we have her make up for this, Harumi?”
“I suppose we’ll have to make some plans for winter break.”

What are you planning? I’m ready to go if it’s an overnight stay at the hot-spring place we went to during the summer break, but there’s the issue of money. There was the field trip, this coming Christmas, and the New Year’s visits. I’ll obviously be spending. The money I saved from work is melting real fast.

“I’ll try keeping the trouble-making to a minimum.”
““I don’t think that’s possible.””

The field trip ended with Miyako and Harumi’s rebuttal. Being self-aware, I can only answer with a strained smile.