[Ikki – POV]
It's already been a year and a half since I started junior high.
I've gotten fairly comfortable with Kuroka during that time, and she even agrees to spar with me once in a while, though she still monopolizes my bed, and she logs more playtime on the games in my room than I do.
But honestly, more than getting stronger, the thing that made me happiest was something else entirely: I finally outgrew Kuroka in height around the time I became a second-year!
The first time I met her was when I was still in elementary school (though technically I had graduated, I was still classified as an elementary student), so it wasn't surprising I was shorter. But still, having the mind of an adult, it kinda bugged me... I started drinking milk more regularly without even noticing.
As for school, I somehow ended up in the same class as the Three Pervert Idiots again in second year. I'm pretty sure the teachers intentionally grouped the troublemakers together to contain the chaos. The girls in our class? Definitely not thrilled about it.
I think one girl even burst into tears when they announced the class roster... I'd like to think it was for some other reason, but... yeah, still not great.
Anyway, my role this year seems to be keeping those three in check. The girls constantly give me looks of pity and even bow their heads, begging, "Please, just do something about those guys!"
Fortunately, I've trained enough that I can take all three of them down at once. Plus, I can use senjutsu to sense their locations, so I know right away if they're lurking around a locker room or something. The girls seem to appreciate that... though it's not exactly the kind of recognition I want.
Senjutsu is supposed to be good for stealth and scouting, but this use of it...? I have my doubts. Still, my conscience won't let me leave those three unchecked, so I've decided to just accept it.
At first, the perv trio got mad at me for always catching them mid-peep or filming attempts. But lately, their attitude's softened a bit.
Why? Well, I'll talk dirty with them sometimes, if it's not bothering anyone. I don't have the same raging libido they do, and besides, with Kuroka living in my room, I can't exactly keep that kind of stuff around... I just don't have the guts for it.
Once, when one of them asked, "Then what is your ideal form of eroticism, huh?!", for some reason, Kuroka flashed through my mind, and I blurted out:
"The thrill of almost-but-not-quite-seeing something."
Since then, they've called me things like "The guy who keeps public and private life separate but has a solid core of perversion," "Closet Pervert," and "The Tease Enthusiast." I honestly don't know what came over me that day...
Anyway, the past year and a half with Kuroka and the Gremory household has been relatively peaceful. There were a few stray devils who showed up, but the Gremory team handled them before it became a problem.
And now, tomorrow, we're finally going on our school trip. Destination: Kyoto! One of the key locations from the original story, and also somewhere I visited on a school trip in my previous life. Back then, I was still just a kid, so I didn't really appreciate the charm of the ancient city.
Now that I'm mentally an adult and experiencing it a second time, I'm hoping to really enjoy it.
"Kuroka, like I told you before, it's a two-night, three-day trip. Is there anything you want me to bring back? If not, I'll just grab something random."
I ask as she lounges on the bed, lying on her stomach and kicking her feet while reading manga.
"Hmmm... If you bring back some yatsuhashi, that'll be enough, nya. I'll leave the rest to you, nya~"
"Got it."
With thoughts of the upcoming trip in my head, I fell asleep that night.
====================
The Day of the School Trip
We gathered at school first, then took a bus to the station with the bullet train that would take us to Kyoto.
Our groupings were mixed-gender as usual, but unsurprisingly, no girls wanted to be grouped with our idiot foursome.
Matsuda even protested to the teacher: "Sensei! Our group's the only one without girls! This is discrimination!" But his appeal fell on deaf ears.
"Revolution!"
"I've been waiting for this moment! Counter-revolution!! Heh heh heh... You've only got strong cards left, right? This game's mine!"
We were playing a fierce game of Daifugō on the train, facing each other with the seats reversed. Apparently, they'd added a bonus wager, first dibs on peeping at the girls' bath. Issei and the others were playing with ferocious intensity.
When Motohama pulled a revolution, Issei and Matsuda looked utterly crushed.
"Here! A staircase revolution!"
"GYAAAAAAHHHH!"
Motohama's scream echoed through the bullet train. Way too loud.
"Nice! Good job, Ikki!"
"Indeed. Motohama is down. That leaves a duel between Issei and Ikki! I won't lose!!"
"Bring it on!!"
...I am definitely going to stop these guys from peeping at the hotel. I thought grimly as we continued hurtling toward Kyoto.
"We'll soon be arriving in Kyoto. Please mind your step and check for any forgotten belongings..."
The announcement echoed through the cabin. We'd finally arrived.
I grabbed my bag and stepped off the train.
"Ladies of Kyoto~! Here we come!"
"Yes! Kimono beauties! Gleaming napes! All must be immortalized with this camera!"
"Heh. Even a kimono won't stop my scouter from working. If you want to know that girl's hip size, just leave it to Motohama."
"Alright, move it, you damn pervs."
Kyoto, being a classic school trip destination, was packed with students from other schools too. If we lagged behind, we'd lose track of our own group.
We passed through the ticket gates, did a quick roll call, then followed the teacher toward the hotel we'd be staying at.
It was about a 20-minute walk. The hotel was pretty standard. Not the "Sirzechs Hotel" or the "Serafall Hotel" or anything like that. Actually... did those hotels even exist before the peace treaties?
In the lobby, the teacher gave us the usual warnings, not to make a racket at night or press the emergency buttons for fun, or else we'd be "tied up and beaten" (put nicely, of course).
"Alright. Once you've dropped off your bags in your rooms, you're free to go out in your groups until 5 p.m. Be sure to take at least one photo of the places you visit. If you don't, we'll assume you were slacking off somewhere weird, and you'll have to write a report about it after the trip."
There were some complaints, but once the instructions were over, we all headed to our rooms.
"Okay! The other groups will go off sightseeing once they drop their bags. That's our window. We scout the best peeping spots, girls' rooms and the bath!"
"Hell yeah!"
"Let's go!"
I almost stopped them then and there, but since they weren't actually causing damage yet, I figured I'd step in when they made a move.
"I'll be waiting in front of the hotel. Hurry up when you're done. If we fall behind schedule, you guys are writing my report for me."
Saying that, I left them and headed outside. No way I was tagging along for all of that.
"Don't worry, Ikki. We won't take long. Beautiful encounters with the ladies of Kyoto await!"
Just as I stepped outside, I saw a woman in a black kimono standing there.
"Nya~"
...Kuroka?
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