In the blink of an eye, it was Saturday.
"Miu, it's about time. We should get going." Takeru looked at Miu, who was still getting ready, and gently urged.
"I know, just a bit more, almost done." Hearing Takeru, Miu quickly replied.
Another ten minutes later, Miu, wearing a white pleated skirt, excitedly ran out and eagerly asked Takeru how she looked.
"Very cute." Looking at her, Takeru replied helplessly.
However, hearing Takeru's words, Miu puffed out her cheeks, sensing his slight perfunctoriness.
"Alright, no matter what Miu wears, she's the cutest in my eyes." Seeing her reaction, Takeru patted her head reassuringly.
Hearing this, she calmed down, her face turning slightly red. Clearly, his words were effective.
Then, Takeru took Miu's hand and hurried to the meeting spot. Upon arrival, he found he wasn't the last.
Yui and Ui hadn't arrived yet, and neither had Rikka.
Rewind five minutes to Yui's house. Ui looked tiredly at Yui, who was still in bed.
"Onee-chan, Onee-chan, it's time to get up." Noticing the time, Ui urged.
"Five more minutes..." Hearing Ui, Yui said lazily.
"Onee-chan, didn't we agree to go on the trip with Takeru-senpai and the others today?" Seeing Yui's state, Ui said helplessly.
"Eh? What time is it?" Hearing Ui, Yui sat up, much more awake.
"This..." Hearing Yui's question, Ui was momentarily speechless. Just then, a ringtone sounded… Yui's phone.
"Good morning!" Mio's voice came from the phone.
"Morning." Hearing Mio, Yui lowered her head, then sincerely apologized.
It wasn't yet the agreed time, though, so with Ui's help, Yui quickly got ready.
When they arrived, they were only five minutes late. No one blamed them, as after spending more time together, everyone knew there were a few problem girls in the club.
One was scatterbrained Yui, another was chuunibyou Rikka. Sylphyn, though somewhat narcissistic, hadn't caused much trouble yet. The last was Ritsu, who loved teasing Mio.
"Alright, everyone's here. Let's set off!" Scanning the group and confirming the count, Takeru announced.
Ten people participated: Takeru, Miu, Tsumugi, Yui and Ui, Mio, Ritsu, Sylphyn, Rikka, and Nibutani.
As for Yukino, she and her sister, Haruno, were returning home this weekend. Others had various commitments. Hiratsuka, feeling newly joined and unfamiliar with everyone, plus being the elder, declined.
Though Tsumugi felt slightly regretful, seeing so many participants excited her.
On the train, the group's large presence drew curious glances, with many envious and jealous looks directed at Takeru.
Facing these stares, Takeru remained unperturbed, leading the excited Miu and Yui to find seats.
"Finally made it." Sitting on the spacious train, Yui sighed in relief.
"I told you so many times not to sleep in!" Sitting opposite Yui, Ritsu propped her chin, looking at her.
"Sorry, I was too excited to sleep." Hearing Ritsu, Yui scratched her head.
"Sorry for the trouble." Hearing Ritsu, Ui nervously apologized.
"Ah, that, I was just kidding!" Seeing Ui so serious, Ritsu quickly waved her hands. Not having spent much time with Ui, she knew Ui was earnest and worried about misunderstanding.
"Besides her, someone else seems the same." Mio smiled and shook her head, looking towards Tsumugi on the right. Tsumugi had closed her eyes, seemingly in a light nap.
"Tsumugi-chan!" Hearing Mio, Yui and the others looked at Tsumugi.
"She said it was her dream..." Yui recalled Tsumugi mentioning that going on trips with friends was her long-held dream.
Takeru watched the lightly sleeping Tsumugi and the similarly dozing Rikka with amusement.
"Hehehe, viscous is nice..." Suddenly, the napping Tsumugi giggled softly, talking in her sleep.
"Viscous?" The observing Mio stared at her blankly.
"What kind of dream is she having?" Yui wondered curiously.
"Good, let's take a photo for memory's sake!" Seeing this, Ritsu excitedly took out her phone.
"Isn't that a bit mean? Tsumugi-chan and Rikka-senpai are too pitiful." Seeing Ritsu's action, Ui felt somewhat embarrassed.
"It's for memories, memories!" Hearing her, Ritsu insisted.
Ritsu then left her seat, went beside Takeru, and aimed her camera at the sleeping Tsumugi and Rikka.
However, the camera sound and flash quickly woke them. Instinctively, they assumed defensive postures before recognizing Takeru and Ritsu with the camera, then relaxed.
"Ah, sorry!" Realizing she, the trip organizer, had fallen asleep, Tsumugi apologized.
"Hehe, sorry, sorry." Hearing Tsumugi, Ritsu scratched her head.
"Anyway, more importantly, tell us, where's the villa?" Ritsu asked expectantly.
Hearing Ritsu, Miu, Rikka, and others looked at Tsumugi. Even Nibutani, sitting a row behind, focused.
"Let's see..." Hearing Ritsu, Tsumugi looked out the train window. Soon, as the train passed through a tunnel, the vast, magnificent sea came into view.
"We're almost there!" Noticing the change, Tsumugi said with a light smile.
"Wow, amazing!" Hearing this, everyone looked out the window, where seagulls circled.
Seeing the azure sea, Takeru felt refreshed. Compared to last time here clearing mutated beasts, coming for leisure felt different.
"Yui!" Suddenly, Ritsu had an idea and whispered to Yui beside her.
Seeing Ritsu's hand on the window, Yui instantly understood and excitedly stood, placing her hands on the window.
"Okay, one~ two!" Counting, they both pushed the window open. Instantly, sea breeze rushed into the train. Feeling the wind, everyone opened their eyes.
"Wow, it's the smell of the ocean!" Yui exclaimed excitedly.
"Let's go swimming!" Ritsu also cheered.
Watching the cheerful duo, Takeru and the others smiled. Seeing everyone so excited, Tsumugi sighed in relief.
"Wow, it's huge!" Arriving at the villa Tsumugi arranged, everyone marveled, especially Nibutani, who hadn't been exposed to such luxury.
"Hehe, I wanted everyone to stay somewhere even more spacious, but could only borrow this medium-sized one..." However, facing their amazement, Tsumugi felt somewhat embarrassed.
"..." Hearing her, Nibutani felt somewhat attacked.
"Medium-sized? This?" Even Ritsu and Mio stared blankly at the enormous villa.
This villa could easily accommodate another ten people, yet it was considered medium-sized?
"Wow, so spacious, so amazing!" As the villa door opened, the luxurious interior decoration came into view. Besides the vast indoor space, the furnishings were extravagant.
They felt like country folk visiting a grand estate, examining everything curiously.
Takeru, however, wasn't as impressed, having spent considerable time in imperial palaces.
Of course, while palaces covered larger areas and were lavishly decorated, modern designs offered more comfort.
For now, the less experienced members were delighted, especially Miu and Nibutani. The others, tempered by numerous mission worlds, had some resistance to such opulent accommodations.