After a frenzy of swimming, splashing, and diving, Mash and the group took a break on the beach, fully embracing summer.
"Phew, we went hard," Mash said.
"Totally!" Hifumi agreed.
"Ugh, waves made me dizzy," Koharu groaned.
"You okay?" Mashiro asked.
"Barely…"
"I'm hungry," Mash said.
"There's a food stall nearby. Shall we check it out?" Hanako suggested.
"Seconded," Azusa nodded.
They headed toward a cluster of food stalls.
"…Huh?" Mash paused.
"That food truck… looks familiar. And that smell…" Hifumi said.
"Choux cream!" Tsurugi shouted.
"Eek, so loud!" Koharu flinched.
"Never heard her that loud," Mashiro noted.
"Azusa-san can yell like that?" Hanako mused.
"Ever since that incident, Azusa-chan's been eating five choux creams a day," Hifumi laughed.
"Glad she likes them. If I'm right…" Mash trailed off.
They approached a medium-sized food truck with a choux cream sign, staffed by multiple students.
"Hey!" Mash called.
"Welcome! Order—Sensei!?" a student gasped.
"For real!?"
"Sensei!"
"Long time no see… Tsurugi-senpai!?"
"Hifumi-chan and Koharu-chan too!"
"Trinity, Gehenna, and delinquents? What's this group?"
"Who're you calling delinquents!?" Koharu snapped.
"It's true, though," Azusa said.
"Shut it, Gehe-mi!"
Everyone except Mash and Tsurugi gawked at the sight: Gehenna and Trinity students in choux cream-themed aprons, working together harmoniously.
"What's up?" Mash asked.
"Listen, Sensei," a Gehenna student began. "Our leader was like, 'Summer means the beach, and the beach means business!' The manager agreed, so we set up here, but… it's dead. Leader's fault for bad research."
"Research failure," another added.
"Wanna fight!?" the leader barked.
"Calm down," a Trinity student soothed. "Leaders stay cool."
"Ugh, sorry…"
"So, yeah, new business venture… total flop," a Trinity student sighed. "Should've known Trinity students don't go wild at the beach."
"Except Tri-mi over here," a Gehenna student teased.
"Where's Koyuki-chan and Robo-Manager?" Mash asked.
"Guarding the main shop," the leader replied.
"Got it."
"Who are they, Sensei?" Tsurugi asked.
"Oh, right, introductions."
Mash signaled, and the Choux Cream Club stepped out, striking poses.
"Favorite flavor: chocolate! Gehe-mi!"
"Mont Blanc! Gehe-ko!"
"White chocolate! Tri-mi!"
"C-Caramel! Tri-ko!"
"Matcha! Mob-mi!"
"Strawberry! Mob-ko!"
"And classic custard! We are—"
"The After-School Choux Cream Club!"
Hifumi and the others stared, dumbfounded, while Mash and Azusa clapped enthusiastically.
"Nailed it," Mash said.
"Where!?" Koharu cried.
"Total flop!" Hifumi added.
"Should've skipped it!" Tri-ko wailed.
"It's unique! The manager said so!" Gehe-mi protested.
"Look at the customers—only Sensei and that girl are into it!"
"Why!?"
"Awesome job, Choux Cream Club," Mash praised.
"You came up with that intro, Sensei?" Azusa asked.
"Poses were their idea," Mash clarified.
"Ugh," Gehe-mi muttered.
The club returned to work. Hifumi's group relaxed, sensing no malice.
"They're good kids," Mash said. "They just work together after school at the choux cream shop."
"Trinity and Gehenna getting along? Unbelievable," Hanako said.
"I thought so too, but their bond's real," Tsurugi said.
"Don't you care about other schools' opinions?" Hanako asked.
Mob-e, the leader, replied casually, "Why bother?"
"Huh?"
"Caring about others' eyes is pointless. We do what we want, and no one's got a say."
"Fair point," Mash said.
"Don't you get flak?" Koharu asked.
"Some say, 'Why hang with Trinity?' But so what? Tri-ko and Tri-mi are friends. I don't care."
"We see Gehe-mi and Gehe-ko as Kivotos students, not just Gehenna," Tri-mi added.
"I see," Hanako murmured.
"Same Kivotos, same students," Azusa echoed.
"Politics, old grudges—boring and meaningless. Perspectives change," Mob-e said.
"Aren't you in Gehenna's student council?" Mash asked.
"Like I said, perspectives change."
"Guess so."
The Choux Cream Club laughed casually. Hanako, seeing such camaraderie, was amazed. Azusa, impressed, asked, "Ever fight?"
"Yup," Mob-e said.
"Really?"
"Sure. Busy shop, clashing ideas for new items—stuff happens."
"Did you make up?"
"Of course, or we wouldn't be here. You fighting with someone?"
"Not exactly…"
Mob-e swiftly prepared a choux cream and handed it to Azusa with a smile. "Hate your friend?"
"No way. I love them."
"Then it's simple. Spill your true feelings. If that doesn't work, punch 'em."
"Savage," Koharu said.
"Barbarian," Mashiro added.
"Muscle-brain," Hifumi muttered.
"Shut up!" Mob-e snapped.
"She's right," Tsurugi said. "Words fail, a little force works. I do it often."
(And it ended disastrously, I saw it…) Hifumi thought.
"Azusa, next time you see them, let it all out," Tsurugi urged.
"Got it," Azusa nodded.
"I wanna try fighting too," Mash said.
"Sensei fighting is terrifying, stop!" everyone said in unison.
"Why so serious and synchronized?"
"Anyway, orders?" Gehe-mi asked.
Hifumi's group ordered choux creams, finding them surprisingly perfect with the beach vibe. Full and content, they prepared to return to the sea, but Azusa lingered.
"Mob-e, right?"
"Yup. What's up?"
"I'm Azusa. Can I… bring that friend to your shop someday?"
"Hell yeah, come anytime! Right, guys?"
The club nodded enthusiastically. Azusa smiled, said, "Thanks," and ran to rejoin Hifumi.
Mash stayed behind. Once Azusa was out of sight, Mob-e asked, "Sensei, is she connected to that masked girl?"
"Yeah. Azusa's from a rough place, similar to her. You get it."
"Gotcha… Thought their vibes matched. So she's…"
Mash nodded silently.
"Protect her, Sensei. Promise," Mob-e said.
"Always. No matter what," Mash vowed.
He left for the beach, where they played until evening.
"…Hifumi," Azusa said.
"Azusa-chan! Sensei was just—"
"I need to talk. Alone."
"Talk?"
"Yeah. Just us."
"Okay."
Azusa pulled Hifumi to a secluded spot for a serious conversation.
Mash and Tsurugi watched silently, while the other three were elsewhere.
Their youth continues.
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