When I Helped Out At My Classy Classmate's Family Home, They Started Going All Out To Close In On Me From Every Angle. - Chapter 33: Maybe ―1

Maybe ―1

At Sakurazawa High School, it is customary for first-year and second-year students to go on a two-night, three-day school camping trip in late May.

A little after 8 a.m., we second-year students, dressed in our jerseys and carrying backpacks, gathered in front of the bus.

The camping trip is organized into groups of five. Our group consists of me, Ayame, Mikage, Shuuji, and Chika.

After the teacher took roll call, each group boarded the bus. Since our group was called first, we ended up sitting in the very last row.

“Chii and I want to sit next to each other. Is that okay with everyone?”

While deciding the seating order, Shuuji asked this. Since Shuuji and Chika are a couple, it was natural for them to want to sit together.

“I don’t mind.”
“I’m fine with it too,” Mikage added.
“Thank you, everyone. I’ll sit next to Shu-kun then,” Chika said cheerfully.
“I have a request too, if that’s alright,” Mikage chimed in, raising her hand with a smile.

“If possible, I’d like to sit next to Ayame-sama.”
“I’d appreciate that as well,” I added.
“That makes sense; Mikage-chan is Ayame-chan’s bodyguard, after all. I don’t mind. How about you, Tetsu-kun and Shu-kun?”

“We’re fine with it too,” Shuuji and I replied simultaneously.

None of us had any objections to Mikage’s request, so we readily agreed.

After listening to everyone’s preferences, Shuuji clapped his hands decisively.

“Alright, to meet everyone’s wishes, how about we sit in this order from left to right: Tetsu, Takamine-san, Tsukimoto-san, Chii, and me?”

“””Sounds good!”””

The remaining four of us nodded in agreement to Shuuji’s proposal.

Following the decided seating order, we took our seats on the bus.

“I’m really looking forward to the school camping trip,” Ayame said enthusiastically.
“Yeah, it’s exciting—like a field trip,” I replied with a smile.

Sitting beside each other, Ayame and I exchanged warm smiles.

It was only natural that Ayame ended up sitting next to me… or so I thought. After all, the seating arrangement was decided by mutual agreement. It must have been pure coincidence, right?

Going on a trip with everyone from school feels truly special. Perhaps it was the excitement of the unusual setting, but my classmates were all in high spirits—chatting, sharing snacks, and generally enjoying themselves.

Caught up in their enthusiasm, I took out some snacks from my backpack. It was a long-time bestseller—biscuit sticks coated with chocolate.

As I opened the package and placed one in my mouth, Ayame turned to me with a request.

“Could I have one of those Pocky sticks as well?”
“Sure, here you go.”
“Thank you. I’ll gladly take you up on that offer.”

When I held out the box, Ayame tucked her shiny brown hair behind her ear and reached for a stick.

Or so I thought.

Snap.

“Huh?”

I froze in place.

Instead of taking a stick from the box, Ayame had bitten into the one I was already holding in my mouth.

The stick we were both biting broke cleanly in the middle.

Staring dumbfounded at the scene, I suddenly felt my face grow unbearably hot. The shock caused me to drop the remaining half of the stick from my mouth.

As I sat there, stunned and wide-eyed, Ayame smiled at me with her cheeks slightly flushed.

“Your face is bright red. Were you surprised?”

Surprised didn’t even begin to cover it. The sheer shock made my heart feel like it might stop.

W-What the heck was that for?! First, there was the teasing during our ferris wheel ride the other day, and now this? Isn’t this going way too far!?

While I grumbled internally, I let out a frustrated groan, “Mmmph…”

I wasn’t about to let her keep teasing me without retaliation, though. It wouldn’t sit right. So, still sulking, I decided to fire back.

“You’re blushing too, Ayame.”
“W-Well, I can’t help it! This is really embarrassing, you know.”
“If it’s embarrassing, maybe you shouldn’t tease me in the first place…”

Why does she put so much effort into teasing me? It’s exhausting, and I seriously wish she’d stop.

Letting out a deep sigh, I gave Ayame a half-lidded glare as she averted her eyes in embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Shuuji and Chika were grinning at us, thoroughly entertained by the spectacle.