Nothing significant happened for the next ten minutes or so, I mean we only had to wait for Sawano and his gang of camp managers to gather us up and send us to our next task or activity.

Obviously, I also found it tasteless to engage with my pettiness by annoying the two cucks. Everything I said earlier was enough. If they still couldn't come to terms with it, especially Fukuda, then there's nothing more for me to say. I simply waited inside our tent while also organizing my things.

Also, I don’t want to ruin the good mood I acquired from being able to spend time with my girls and get that intimate with all of them. Later, I’ll also find a way to visit the other hill to surprise Haruko and the other girls.

Soon enough, with the boys not having anything better to do, they gathered around in a circle, discussing miscellaneous topics that weren't that interesting to me.

It’s either about a show they watched, a sport that they tuned into, their favorite actresses or idols, and mostly about the girls they find attractive.

Of course, the last part was mostly talked about in passing. Only the loudmouths even brought them up.

I mean, even though I was steering clear from being friendly with the other guys, that kind of topic wasn’t something you discuss in a gathering like that. It’s more of a private topic between friends than simply schoolmates who may or may not pick on someone for their audacity to talk about someone. The girls in our school aren’t unreachable, unlike the actresses and idols, after all. Everyone has a chance to get a girlfriend or be close friends with them.

Sawano and the other camp managers didn’t stop that gathering, in fact, they possibly encouraged it. That’s one way to bridge the distance between us. For sure, some already become friends with one another. Just like how Hino thinks he’s now a buddy of mine.

But as I said, I was thoroughly uninterested in it. Although I got convinced to join within the circle that they created in the middle by Sakuma and the other boys who think they’re on good terms with me, I remained unless I was addressed. And even then, my answers were dry so they eventually became uninterested.

My consideration only extends to girls. I have no intention to even pretend to be approachable to these idiots.

Well, if it’s not in this public gathering, I might at least put up an act of being amiable.

There’s only one significant thing that happened during that gathering though. Or maybe not at all? It doesn’t involve me or any of my girls, after all.

It’s about that dude who’s lording over his groupmates. He got roasted enough that became like an over-ripened fruit that didn’t have any use anymore.

I guess they can band together to stand up for one another but I doubt it will stick after this camping trip.

Once we return to our usual school days, we’ll be like strangers to each other again, separated by the walls of our classrooms.

Anyway, that’s that.

After one of the camp managers who ran out earlier returned, Sawano and the other camp managers called for us to line up.

And there, they informed us of our next task; preparation for lunch.

The same as the previous tasks, it was going to be a group effort where each group would be given a specific assignment to accomplish.

The assignment was pretty simple too.

Fetching water.

Carrying the firewood that we collected during the Third Task

Setting up the tables

Helping out with the cooking

Going down the hill to pick up the food supplies. Those are brought over by the other college students.

We got assigned to the fifth one. It was probably the most taking or most relaxed, depending on what we were going to carry. But well, I just wanted to finish it quickly.

Once every group got their assignments, Sawano listed some guidelines we had to follow and reminded us not to stray far from each other.

The guidelines were pretty much the same as earlier and the reminder was probably for those who were having designs to sneak out after finishing their assignments.

In any case, since our lunch depended on this task, they once again emphasized that we had to hone the cooperation within our group.

Yeah. Good luck with that.

Ogawa was not that much of a problem anymore but Fukuda… is still going to be a problem.

Somehow, I’m starting to find the usefulness of having Sakuma around. He’s agreeable and someone who won’t be defiant.

-

-

Time passed and although Fukuda slowed us down a bit, Ogawa and Hino worked hard in carrying the supplies with me.

We finished and got our free time to spend before the actual lunch started.

It wasn’t actually heavy. The supplies we picked up were bags of rice. And those were only of the five-kilogram variety. Even someone who isn’t regularly exercising can easily carry two bags of those. The difficulty only came from the fact that we had to climb back uphill. Even if we were told to use the easier path, the burden of carrying them would still be a little taxing. And that’s probably why we were only tasked with carrying eight bags.

So, where did the cooperation come from when we could divide that amount equally? I honestly have no idea. Most likely, they probably thought that the tough climb could bring about camaraderie between us.

Was it successful? Of course not. Maybe it would work for the other groups but not with us.

As soon as I got freed from the burden of working with them, I split up and went on my way.

At the moment, the girls weren’t here yet. They were also assigned new tasks and were going to join us later.

Instead, I saw the teachers who were not around most of the time and the few professors sitting somewhere and observing.

I don’t know if that’s all they would do here but I immediately captured the figure of the two teachers I’m dying to see.

Shio and Eguchi-sensei. Sitting next to each other, their eyes also somehow focused on me. They probably followed my figure ever since I returned.

That immediately brightened up my sour mood for having to work with the cucks.

I failed to see them earlier but now that I know they’re still around this hill, spending time with them would also not be impossible.

Unfortunately, approaching them at this moment would be unwise. I have to find a way to go around with that.

As I was in the middle of that thought, Sawano’s voice came from behind me.

“Wait, Onoda-kun. Are you interested in an extra task?”

I turned around and raised an eyebrow at his sudden approach.

Understanding my doubt, Sawano laughed in a silly way as though he made a blunder.

“Ah. Sorry. I should’ve worded it better. I can see that you’re free. Can I request you to do something for me?”

This guy… What is he planning?

“Sir, I don’t think I can follow. Request? Task? And why me? I’m not the only free student around.”

“Oh! Yeah. I have to clear that up, huh? I thought you were the one suitable for this. If you’re uninterested then… I’ll find someone else.”

With the way he trailed his voice there, I already found him a little suspicious. Or rather, he’s purposely doing that to catch my interest.

I stared at him for a while before giving a standard answer, “Is this related to our camping trip?”

“No? This is kind of a personal request.”

“Hmm. Are camp managers allowed to do that?” I eyed him suspiciously which made his expression a little serious.

Then with a deprecating smile, he answered, “Maybe? There’s no rule on this. It’s fine if you’re uninterested. I’ll just find someone else to accomplish it.”

“Really? Okay then.” I shrugged and attempted to turn back around and walk away. If he’s going to play like this then it’s only normal for me to do the same.

And as I expected, before I could even take a single step, he called out to me again, “Wait, Onoda-kun. What about a pass to skip an activity in exchange for completing my request? I can give you that much as a camp manager.”

This… If he’s acting this desperate to get my cooperation, I wonder what kind of request he has for me. And why is he hell-

bent on getting my agreement?

That’s two points suspicious.