I hope you're ready, Rui!
Hehehe. I could say the same for you, Tsukasa.
Alright, take your positions!
For tonight's final pillow fight, we have Tenma versus Kamishiro! Gentlemen, let's rumble!
*Roar*
Ah, a triple throw right out of the gates! Unfortunately for you...
I watched what you did against Miyake, so that's not going to work on me!
What?!
He dodged them?! By spinning?!
Cool!
Go Kamishiro!
H-Hey, you guys...
If you break any of the inn's stuff, you're automatically disqualified!
The first to get hit five times loses, but this is probably gonna take a while...
Now it's my turn!
Let's see how you deal with a pillow bombing!
Huh...?!
He just threw all the pillows into the air...!
Wait, that means...
They're gonna hit us!
Wah!
Hmph... That was clever, but I narrowly avoided all of them!
Ah, impressive...
Hm...?
What's the big idea, Kamishiro...?
Those landed right on top of us...
Yeah, what he said!
We're fighting for Tenma now!
Oh? I thought we were supposed to fight as individuals. Three versus one seems a bit unfair, no?
Y-Yeah!
We decided from the start that it should be one-on-one...
No matter...
Miyake, you're my last hope.
Huh?!
What do you mean?!
Ah, you fight even though you're outnumbered! That is commendable! Comrades, prepare for battle!!
Roger!
Hehe... We may be fewer in number, but we still plan on winning. I hope you're prepared to have your confidence shattered.
No, victory shall be ours!
Attaaack...!!!
W-Wait, stop!
If we fight all at once—
Boys, it's past curfew!
What's going on here?!
Huh?!
Oh...
I knew this would happen...
That's two nights in a row.
I'll be asking for letters of apology from each of you.
Come get me once you've finished writing them. I'll escort you back to your rooms after that.
*Sigh*
Honestly, does the Weirdo Wombo Combo ever learn...?
Grr...!
How could I have made such a foolish mistake...?!
Not only am I a class representative, I am a future star! I'm supposed to lead by example, but I've been scolded two days in a row by the teachers!
Yes, we did go a little too far back there...
Still, this has all been so new for me.
New?
Yes, between our pillow fight...
...sightseeing with everyone...
...getting separated, reuniting with everyone and seeing the parade together...
They all felt like new experiences.
It felt like I was working on a show. That sort of wonderment...
I'm so glad that I got to spend this time with you and the others today.
Rui...
And I have you to thank, Tsukasa.
Me?
Yes.
Miyake actually mentioned something earlier...
*Sigh*
Today was so much fun. I'm glad you decided to join our group, Kamishiro!
You are?
Hehe. I really appreciate it.
Of course.
I got to know you a little better, and...
To tell you the truth...
When you first transferred to our school, Rui, you always seemed to have fun tinkering with your drones and stuff at your desk...
But there were also times when you looked really bored.
That apparently made him think that he had better not disturb me...
But then, he said that I began smiling more after I began spending more time with you, Tsukasa.
As a result, he decided that he wanted to get to know me better.
Oh, I had no idea...
Yes, well...
I believe it's evidence of just how much I've changed.
How about we take a group photo together?
A group photo?
Yes.
I'd like to have something to commemorate this day with.
(Tsukasa was right in saying that I never usually make such suggestions.)
(But I probably said that because the time we spent together is so precious to me.)
The old me was convinced that I'd never be able to actually get along with anyone.
But that began to change after we started doing shows together at the Wonder Stage.
Now, I don't need shows or anything to get to know someone. On top of that, I want to share smiles and laughter with them.
So, Tsukasa...
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to change the way I have.
I see...
The only response I can give right now is, “You're welcome!”
Still...
I don't think I deserve all the credit.
What?
Think about it, Rui. If you were firmly against changing, then it wouldn't have mattered what I did. Things would've remained the way they were.
However, you wanted to be a part of a group, and you've been having fun as a result.
And that has nothing to do with me...
You're here today because that's what you chose.
Yes, you may be right...
Also, there's something else that I need to ask you!
Yes?
Why are you talking like everything's in the past already?! Our trip is not yet over!
We should keep having fun until we all have to go home!
Yes, I agree!
Which means we should go over once more what we'll be doing tomorrow. How does an early-morning walk along the Kamo River sound? Don't worry, I'll ask the teachers for permission.
Ah, that sounds splendid!
We can watch the sunrise while we're there! What a way to spend our youth! Saki will surely enjoy hearing about it!
Also!
We should try skipping stones!
Skipping stones...?
Oh, when you try to get flat rocks to bounce across water?
Wait, have you never tried?
Okay, watch! You hold it like this and flick your wrist!
Hehehe... Your form seems a bit odd.
What do you mean?!
You can get stones to skip endlessly by doing this! Skip! Skip! Skip! Oh...
Tenma! What's all this about?! “Skip! Skip! Skip!”?!
Argh!
What are you doing here?!
You didn't think anyone would hear you shouting?! Also, where's that letter of apology I asked for?!
Nooo, I'm sorry!
It slipped my mind while talking with Rui here...
But it looks like he already wrote his.
What?!
R-Rui, how?! When...?!
I finished writing it before you came to talk to me.
T-Traitor...!
Finish writing it already, Tenma!
There's a teachers-only party that I'm not about to miss!
O-Okay, I will!
(Hehe. Sorry, Tsukasa...)
(But this is also going in my album of precious memories.)
(Tsukasa's given me so many reasons to smile.)
(Which has in turn allowed me to make new friends and establish new connections.)
I wonder what the future has in store for me next...