The Succubus's Plaything

Chapter 45: Notes

"Dude!" Minoru hisses at me when I finally open the door and he stumbles in. "It's almost breakfast time and the teachers are beginning to go around knocking! If you waited any longer, I would have been caught!"

I laugh nervously. "Yeah, sorry about that.."

He looks over my shoulder, and doesn't spot Hina who is hiding in the bathroom.

"Wasn't Hina supposed to be here?" He looks about ready to give me a good talking to, but changes his mind when Hina emerges from her hiding place.

"Have they been past my room?" She asks Minoru. She appears to have made good use of the bathroom mirror, because her hair is neatly brushed and put back in a ponytail.

"Yup. I sat tight until they passed by, and slipped out at the first opportunity I got." Judging by his breathing he must've gotten pretty stressed.

We all spin around to look at the door that Minoru closed behind him, that once again someone knocks on. "Breakfast! We're gonna leave in an hour, so you'd better hurry up and come down!" I recognize the voice to be that of our PE teacher who also came with.

None of us make a sound as we hear his footsteps disappear in the hallway.

"How are you going to get back to your room?" I turn towards Hina when I'm sure that it's impossible for someone to be listening.

"I don't think I will, I'll get anything I need after breakfast. I'm just gonna sneak into the elevator after you guys and then I should be fine."

...

Breakfast is thankfully pretty uneventful. Aside from announcements, nothing really of note happened. Minoru has been keeping quiet about last night, and hasn't even mentioned it to Gabriel, which honestly surprised me, until I realized that he doesn't want to mention his own embarrassment. He should've thought a little more with his head I suppose.

"And then I want to check out the local arcade that we walked past. I spotted some real classics through the window." Gabriel is trying to get us to come with to an arcade we saw yesterday on our way to find food.

"We've got arcades back home though." I'm not in a particular mood to get my ass kicked.

"It's a pass for me." Minoru seems to be on the same wavelength as me on this matter. "We will be heading back home soon and I want to swing by a few souvenir shops."

"Won't we do that anyway with the class? And also this hotel has one." Gabriel challenges.

"It's about the experience, not just the goods. Shopping for clothes is boring, but souvenir shopping is a whole other matter."

"Sure.." Gabriel looks skeptical, but accepts the argument.

...

My eye catches on Hina, who has been keeping more of a distance than she has been for the past couple days. Her hair is still up in the ponytail from this morning, but somehow still manages to occasionally blow into her face.

The teacher is explaining the history and significance of Shofukuji Temple, but I am frankly bored of that, and evidently by observing the other students, everyone else is too.

"At that point, Buddhism had already been around in Japan for a long time, but when Eisai returned from his journeys in China, he brought back the new teachings of zen buddhism, which quickly caught on with the samurai class. Following the rapid popularity growth, this temple was erected as the first of its kind on the island." And so on and so fourth our teacher goes on and on, continuously diverting and connecting this topic with similar ones.

Next week in school we'll be writing a report on our trip, but any specific information I can technically look up, so if I pay attention or not really doesn't matter.

Our teacher seems to notice the growing uninterest, and addresses this. "Remember, when you'll be writing about this next week you won't be allowed access to the internet. Your notes and memory will be your only resources."

Huh? This is the first I'm hearing of this! Come to think of it.. Glancing back at Hina, she is holding a notepad and rigorously jotting down notes. It's low.. but might it be possible that I can ask her for a copy?.. I've barely paid attention to anything our teachers have been saying.

When we finally start moving again I discreetly make my way over towards Hina's direction.

"Hey Hal, what's up?" Hina notices my presence before I can open my mouth to address her.

"Bored mostly. U?"

"Same, busy being a model student though." I take a moment to mentally make note of the duality in her behavior. Obviously, I know that she's a great student and has the position of class president to show for it, but it's like a one-eighty from her carefree attitude when class isn't in session. I guess that just means she's good at setting her priorities right though?"

"I didn't realize we should've been taking notes.. I mean, barely anyone has been." I put my hand into my pockets as I admit. "Could you maybe send me a digital copy of yours once we get back?.."

Hina giggles. "If you want my notes you're gonna have to pay for them."

Unsure of myself I laugh with her. "I don't really have much to pay you though."

"Not money silly." She quickly spins her head around to make sure no-one is paying attention. "There is plenty else you have that I want. I'll let you decide the price, but set it fair, okay?" Hina grins and winks at me. Of course I know exactly what she means.

Yup. One-eighty from being the perfect model student. In a way, impressive, but terrifying. 

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Hina: I'm rather pleased with how things are turning out.

Lupus: I'm glad that's how you feel.

Valorie: Sure you are.. With what you told me last time.. Let's just say I'll be questioning your judgement for a while.

Lupus: No really. I ship the triangle.

Hina: Wait, who are you?

Valorie: Me?

Hina: Yeah. 

Valorie: I'm Valorie, Inesa's mother. Nice to meet you.

Hina: Oh.. I'm Hina, nice to meet you ma'am. 

Valorie: *giggles amused* Please, drop the politeness. You'll find I'm far from being a stick in the mud. 

Hina: Alright. Valorie, nice to meet you. 

Valorie: That's better. So.. Yuki-onna.. I assume that you have every intent of being an obstacle for my daughter?

Hina: With respect, yes. 

Valorie: No sharing?

Hina: Huh? Sharing!? No of course not! Sharing a guy sounds awful. 

Valorie: Hm. Ok, well then I wish you the best of luck. You'll need a boatload of it. Inesa does have my genes after all, so I find it difficult to imagine that she could loose. But good luck nonetheless.