Homeroom started like any other morning.
Fluorescent lights buzzing. Chairs squeaking.
Shinbou sitting next to me like a quiet statue.
Hinata behind me, doodling aggressively on her notebook.
Then, our homeroom teacher walked in holding something that could only mean trouble: a clipboard and a smile.
Bad combo.
"Alright, everyone," he said, clapping his hands once. "Big announcement today!"
Hinata perked up immediately. "If it's surprise exams, I'm jumping out the window."
I braced myself.
The teacher grinned. "We're going on a field trip!"
The class erupted some with cheers, some with groans.
"Where to?" someone shouted.
"Nara Village Forest Lodge, two days, one night," the teacher said proudly. "Outdoor activities, team-building, and of course… report assignments."
"Ah," Hinata muttered. "The academic catch."
The room buzzed with excitement, but all I could think about was one terrifying possibility:
Room arrangements.
And the second one:
Group activities.
And the third, unspoken one:
What if I get partnered with Shinbou? Again?
I peeked sideways.
He looked… indifferent.
Calm. Blank. As if this were just another school formality.
But his fingers were tapping the edge of his desk again. Slow. Repetitive. Unconscious.
Nervous?
Or just tired?
---
After class, Hinata threw her arms around my neck dramatically.
"THIS IS IT!" she cried. "Nature! Suffering! Potential romance!"
I laughed. "In that order?"
She grinned. "No, but maybe in my case. Guess who's volunteering for the photography committee?"
I blinked. "Photography…?"
She nodded. "Itsuki is going too. He's in charge of documenting the whole trip. You're looking at his assistant."
I blinked again. "Since when are you into photography?"
"Since five minutes ago when he walked by and asked if I wanted to help."
My jaw dropped. "He spoke to you again?!"
"Yep." She tried to act casual but failed. "I didn't panic this time. I just said, 'Sure.' Real smooth. Real chill."
"And now you're assigned to work with him all weekend."
She squealed into her scarf. "I'm gonna die."
---
Later that day, we had to fill out group preference forms.
"Write the names of two classmates you'd prefer to team up with."
Easy. I wrote Hinata first.
And then…
I stared at the second space.
My pen hovered. My heart thudded.
Do I write his name?
Do I even want to?
I bit my lip, then scribbled:
Shinbou Ryusei.
A second later, I erased it.