"This loser aside for now."
Leaving the still-flushed Fujiwara behind, Rinji seed to recall sothing and walked over to Shirogane.
"President, do you rember what I ntioned before?"
"Huh?"
"That I might need to take so ti off this sester."
"Take ti off, huh…"
"Rinji, are you talking about Chinese New Year?" Kaguya recalled that Rinji had indeed brought it up last sester.
Though his nationality was unclear, Rinji was, after all, Part-Chinese.
As a Chinese person, it was only natural to go ho for the New Year.
Of course, anyone with study-abroad experience knew that when China celebrated New Year, other countries usually didn't have a holiday. Either you returned early to celebrate, or you just ignored it.
But Rinji didn't care if the school gave leave or not. When the ti ca, he would vanish on his own.
"Rinji, you really do whatever you please," Kaguya said helplessly. "First sester was suspension, second sester you transferred out to avoid trouble, and now this sester it's New Year. You really stick to the tradition of disappearing for at least a month every term."
"When things co up, they can't be stopped."
Rinji did a quick calculation.
"In about two weeks I'll head out. I should be back around mid-February… maybe even later, since I have a lot of relatives to visit."
Shirogane thought for a mont. "The student council doesn't really have an issue, but… if you request a whole month of leave, the school might not approve it."
"If they don't approve it, so what? I'm not asking for their opinion."
"As lawless as ever. I thought you'd finally beco normal this sester." Kaguya sighed.
"I've improved a lot this sester, okay? Shinomiya, since the start of this term, have I mouthed off at you even once?"
"…That's true."
Their relationship had gone from mutual dislike in the first sester to being able to talk like normal friends in the third. Rinji had clearly learned to restrain himself sowhat.
"So Rinji-kun might disappear for another month?" Iino asked.
If it were anyone else skipping a month of classes, Iino would imdiately brand them as an irresponsible delinquent. But if it was Rinji…
He wasn't a good student to begin with. Based on his past record, this was actually normal for him.
Better this than causing trouble and getting punished.
Still, as a dutiful mber of the discipline committee, Iino protested.
"It's still best not to skip classes. A whole month is really too much…"
"Oh, right. Since I'll be away so long, I probably won't be able to attend midterms this sester."
"Please go ahead, Rinji-kun."
Not taking midterms was great! That ant no one would compete with her for the top rank in their year.
"So… you're going back ho in about two weeks?"
"Yeah, a stranger in a foreign land should return ho once in a while." Rinji spread his hands. "That's the life of a foreign student. One day, President, when you study abroad, you'll feel hosick too."
"Ah… I guess so."
"Especially after you experience Arica's city planning and idiotic public transport."
"Oh…"
---
"That's how it is, Ai."
Back at ho, Rinji told Hayasaka about it.
"In two weeks, I'll be heading back ho. Can you get leave around that ti?"
"…I don't think I can," Hayasaka said, troubled.
Unlike Rinji, she wasn't so free-spirited.
Humans were social creatures. Since she was already part of Shuchiin's little society, she couldn't just ignore its rules. Even if she didn't care about school regulations, her family and friends wouldn't just accept her vanishing for a month.
Constraints from the environnt were everywhere.
Two weeks later was the second-year school trip. Hayasaka naturally had to attend. With Rinji suddenly deciding to leave for a month, she really couldn't go with him.
She just couldn't live like him, detached from society, doing whatever she pleased.
"That's a sha."
"Yeah, if I had the chance, I'd love to visit your hotown too," Hayasaka smiled. "It's been a long ti since I last saw your mother."
"Yeah, I haven't heard from my mom in ages either. This trip ho will be a chance to see her." Rinji smiled.
"Actually, I've got a lot to do this ti. Visiting relatives, calling on my parents' old colleagues… and what I'm looking forward to most: another real PK with my dad."
"What a strange father-son relationship. Do you two really have to fight every ti you et?"
"It's a yearly tradition."
"And this year… there are things I have to ask him."
"Hm? Like what?"
"I only found out during winter break. Turns out I used to have an older sister, but Dad never ntioned her once. So I want to take this chance to ask him about it."
"I see… I always thought you were an only child."
"I thought so too. But if I really did have a sister, that wouldn't be so bad, right?" Rinji said with a smile.
After he spoke, Hayasaka suddenly stood, walked behind him, and hugged him from behind. Her chest pressed against the back of his head, her hand stroking his hair.
"If you're hoping for an older sister to take care of you, I can play that role."
"Ah… thanks," Rinji muttered, blushing.
…
This trip ho would be a bit of a triumph.
When he ca to Japan, his dad gave him a hundred million dollars. That money had already multiplied several tis over. Returning ho now would be impressive.
But honestly, Rinji really wanted to bring a girlfriend ho.
Hayasaka's refusal wasn't surprising. After all, this wasn't just a simple trip abroad. Explaining things would get complicated, and it might even shake her worldview.
Still, Rinji wanted to bring a girlfriend ho.
He pulled out his phone and made a call.
"Hello? Rinji."
"Karura, how's school on your end?"
"Pretty good. Sa old daily life," she laughed. "I'll be at your place again this weekend."
"Good… By the way, in two weeks, can you get leave from school?"
"Why?"
"I want to go ho to visit family."
"Mm, then I'll go request leave~"
"Thanks."
As expected, communication between two abnormal humans was easy. Neither Rinji nor Karura were the kind to be bound by rules.
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