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 38: Maybe ―6

Maybe ―6

The first day’s recreation had ended, and night had fallen.

After a relaxing bath, I returned to the room with Shuuji.

“Ah, that felt amazing. So refreshing, don’t you think, Tetsu?”

“…”

“Tetsu?”

“Ah, sorry! I was just lost in thought!”

“…? If you say so.”

Shuuji furrowed his brows, puzzled, but he didn’t press me further.

I felt bad, but I couldn’t help being so absent-minded. Ever since the hypothesis struck me—that Ayame might be subtly paving the way to be with me—it had been eating away at me.

If she’s “paving the way,” it’s essentially the same as saying she wants to date me. The thought that Ayame, a flawless beauty, might have feelings for me left me far too restless to focus on anything else.

But there’s no definitive proof that my hypothesis is correct.

Maybe Ayame had enlisted Shuuji and the others to help her get closer to me.

Maybe she had orchestrated everything—like Mom unusually pushing me to take a part-time job at Hanamori or Yuri-san giving me couple’s seat tickets.

Then again, maybe it was all just a coincidence.

And that’s what made it so troubling. The uncertainty gnawed at me. I kept obsessing over whether Ayame was paving the way or not, leaving me completely distracted.

Could my hypothesis be correct? Or am I just overthinking this?

Lost in unanswered questions, I turned the corner in the hallway.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Whoa!?”

A sudden voice made me jump in shock.

My eyes darted around until I spotted Mikage standing in the shadows like a ninja.

“W-What are you doing here, Mikage!? Why are you lurking in a place like this!?”

“I’ve come to escort you and Kanazu-san.”

“Escort?”

I tilted my head in confusion. Mikage nodded in response.

“Ayame-sama and Akanei-san have invited you two to their room.”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

Ayame and Chika’s invitation essentially meant we were being allowed into their room.

Being invited into the girls’ room during a trip—this is the quintessential setup for a youthful romantic comedy. In other words, it’s a situation many guys dream of.

Naturally, I felt elated by Ayame and Chika’s invitation. I wanted to accept and visit their room.

However, my sense of ethics and self-preservation outweighed my excitement and desire.

“I appreciate the invitation, but I think I’ll pass.”

“Why is that?”

“Well, even if Ayame and Chika are okay with it, the other girls in the room might not feel the same way, right?”

“You needn’t worry about that. Everyone has approved of inviting you two. In fact, they’re looking forward to it. You will undoubtedly be warmly welcomed.”

“R-Really?”

I hadn’t expected to be granted permission. And being told that they’re even excited about it? I was completely at a loss. At the very least, it seemed there was no need to worry about causing trouble for anyone.

Still, there were other concerns lingering in my mind.

“Even if the girls are okay with it, the teachers won’t be. They’re patrolling to make sure no students cause trouble. If we’re caught, it won’t end well.”

“That’s not an issue either. I will guide you both so that the teachers don’t notice. I’m adept at sensing presences, so you can leave that to me.”

“…You’ve casually mastered a skill that only exists in fictional stories, huh?”

The thought of someone in real life who could sense presences was beyond imagination. I couldn’t help but marvel at Mikage’s extraordinary abilities.

In any case, it seemed there was nothing to worry about. There wasn’t any issue with visiting Ayame and Chika’s room.

Even so, I couldn’t shake off a lingering sense of guilt.

Is this really okay? Going into a girls’ room feels inherently problematic…

“Come on, Tetsu! This’ll be fun!”

Shuuji said cheerfully. Unlike me, who was hesitating, he seemed totally on board with Ayame and Chika’s invitation.

“No one’s against it, and with Tsukimoto-san around, there’s no chance the teachers will catch us. So, what are you hesitating about?”

“Well, I mean…”

“Both Chi and Takamine-san invited us because they want us to come. Don’t you think they’d feel sad if we refused?”

“Uwaa… F-Fine, I get it.”

Pressed by Shuuji, I finally nodded.

“Then let us proceed. Please stay close to me.”

After confirming our agreement, Mikage began walking ahead.

“Tetsu-kun, Kanazu-kun, welcome!”

“We’ve been waiting for you! Come on in!”

Despite my lingering worries, we managed to reach Ayame and Chika’s room without any issues. Ayame and Chika greeted us warmly as they opened the door in response to Mikage’s knock.

“Excuse us!” Shuuji announced cheerfully as he stepped inside, but I couldn’t shake off my doubts.

This went way too smoothly, didn’t it?

We didn’t see any teachers on the way here, nor did we need to take any detours.

Even with Mikage guiding us, I couldn’t believe it was this easy. On trips like this, it’s expected that some students might push the boundaries, and the teachers surely know that. They wouldn’t patrol so carelessly.

No, this kind of ease shouldn’t be possible—unless Ayame was involved.

If Ayame had also included the teachers from Sakurazawa in her web of groundwork, then everything about how smoothly we got here would suddenly make sense.

The idea of teachers turning a blind eye to rule-breaking to support a student’s romantic endeavors was utterly absurd.

However, the Takamine family, which owns and runs Hana Mori, has connections with powerful figures in many fields. If Ayame asked one of those influential people in the education world to help her out, the teachers would have no choice but to comply.

The theory that “Ayame is filling in the outer moat” was starting to feel disturbingly plausible.