The calendar pages flipped by quickly, one scheduled event after another.
[As the days passed, your next scheduled event was almost here.]
[Tomorrow is the two-day, one-night 'Outdoor Instruction' course arranged by Chaldea Academy, which all students are obligated to attend.]
[The so-called Outdoor Instruction is an outdoor experience and travel activity organized by Chaldea Academy. Students can step away from their heavy studies to embrace nature, enjoying outings and camping. It is a highly popular extracurricular activity.]
[The students in your class were discussing tomorrow's trip with eager anticipation, unable to wait to go camping.]
[You've caught a slight cold, but it doesn't dampen your anticipation for tomorrow morning's outdoor instruction.]
[Although baseless, you suspect the cold was caught from being terrified by Tezcatlipoca.**]
The night before the outdoor instruction, in the school dormitory room, the three roommates were diligently stuffing things into their luggage.
"Did we bring the drinks, snacks, and ingredients?"
"All checked."
"Power banks and board games, too?"
"All checked."
The suitcase wasn't large, but thanks to the three men's efforts, it contained more than twice its capacity.
Looking at the jam-packed suitcase, Ei breathed a sigh of relief, opened a can of cold cola, and gulped it down.
"Ei, you have a cold, don't drink cold drinks," Gawain cautioned.
"It's fine. Just a little cold," Ei said casually. His condition wasn't serious; he wasn't dizzy or feverish, just slightly sniffly. A good sweat under the blanket tonight would likely fix it.
"You shouldn't underestimate a cold. If left untreated, the infection could worsen, and then you'll have issues with your lower respiratory tract." Gawain pulled out a first-aid kit from the cabinet. "Don't drink cold drinks. Take the medicine before you sleep."
"Alright, Mom Gawain."
"You'd better just take the medicine honestly. If your condition worsens, Director Finn probably won't let you go camping," Tristan added.
Since both of them had spoken, Ei had no choice but to put down the cold drink and wait for the water to boil. The outdoor instruction would likely be their last recreational activity for a while; after this, they would need to prepare for the monthly exams.
"Time flies. It's almost been a month already."
"More than that. The changing of the seasons happens in the blink of an eye," Tristan agreed. "Have either of you thought about where you want to go this summer? Should we ride our motorcycles to the beach, enjoy the sound of the rolling waves, the clear blue sea, and..."
"Swimsuits!!!" The three men exclaimed in unison.
They were all on the same page.
"But summer is still a long way off, and I don't have a license or a motorcycle," Ei wiped his nose with a tissue. "We'd also have to go get our motorcycle licenses together, which is very troublesome."
"Actually..."
Gawain held up his driver's license. Written clearly on it was:
[Riding B+]
Forget motorcycles; this was the level where he could drive a large truck.
"You sneak!"
"Hear me out, gentlemen. Many girls at this academy have the Riding skill. If we don't even know how to ride, how will we ever invite lovely ladies out on dates? We are Round Table Knights, the face of our King. We can't let outsiders think we don't even know how to drive. And most importantly..."
Gawain's gaze suddenly sharpened.
"Men who ride motorcycles are cool and more popular with the ladies!"
"A fallacy! Yet, there is a kernel of truth to it!" Tristan concurred.
"In short, I advise you both to get your licenses soon. It makes everything easier later on. We may not ride motorcycles, but we must know how to."
"Riding a motorcycle, huh..." Ei nodded thoughtfully.
If he had a motorcycle and a license, his daily range of activities would certainly expand significantly; he wouldn't always have to linger around the school. Speaking of which, he remembered Baobhan Sith seemed to have the Riding skill. If he was lucky, he might acquire it directly from her.
But the motorcycle itself was the problem. Even the cheapest light motorcycle would be a significant burden for a student. After finally finishing the mixer, he'd have to go back to part-time work again.
"Gentlemen, imagine this..." Tristan was already lost in fantasy. "When you take the girl you like out for a ride, you intentionally drive fast, making her uneasy, causing her heart to race, and forcing her to hug you tightly. The Suspension Bridge Effect naturally kicks in. In that moment, you can almost feel your souls clinging together—soul tight against soul, skin kissing skin. Your love will be realized effortlessly."
Damn it! That scoundrel made it sound so romantic! Ei was definitely moved by the image he described.
Tristan continued: "It's too cold for riding in the winter, so we should try to get our hands on a motorcycle before summer. Then we organize an outing, invite the girls, and I shall name this plan..."
"The Double-Ride Plan (Shuang Tie Zhi Hua)!!!"
[Your schedule has a new arrangement: the addition of after-school part-time work, a driving exam in May, and the Double-Ride Plan for the beach in summer.]
[You gained an Inspiration Die by envisioning the beautiful future that might occur.]
[You currently have five Inspiration Dice.]
After taking the cold medicine, he turned off the lights and went to bed.
Lying in bed, Ei received another message from Morgan, along with her selfie. In this selfie, the sexy and gorgeous Lady Morgan was wearing an apron in the kitchen. To be precise, she was only wearing an apron.
Aunt Morgan, I have outdoor instruction tomorrow and need to sleep early, but how am I supposed to sleep after seeing this!
Morgan: "This is your reward."
He paused, then replied: "What reward?"
Morgan: "I saw the video Baobhan Sith sent. You bravely protected her in a moment of crisis—even though you grabbed Tezcatlipoca's hand by mistake—but I appreciate the courage and consideration you displayed at that critical moment, and your care for my family touched me deeply."
So, she really saw that embarrassing video. Baobhan Sith clearly just wanted to humiliate me. How on earth did you interpret that hilarious video as me being handsome? Is this what they mean by 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'?
Morgan: "Out of respect, I asked Baobhan Sith for a copy of the footage. How about we keep your heroic figure forever and showcase it at our wedding?"
I do not want to be publicly executed at my wedding! If you really respect me, destroy the video immediately!
Just then, Baobhan Sith also sent a message.
Baobhan Sith: "I sent your embarrassing blunder to Mother, and she asked me for a copy without a word. It looks like her rose-tinted glasses for you are finally shattered. My prank is a huge success~!"
"..."
These mother and daughter are truly a handful.