Yui, Akio, and Krish stood at the college gate,
waiting for the others. The sun was starting to rise higher, but still, no sign of the rest of the group.
"Ahh, where are they? Even Akane and Rex are late this time, and Kaizen's probably still sleeping," Yui muttered, crossing her arms in mild frustration.
Krish chuckled, leaning against the gate. "Yeah, I bet by the time they got to Kaizen's house, he was still passed out. You know how he is."
Akio suddenly perked up, pointing down the road. "Guys, they're coming! Look!"
As the group approached, Yui grinned. "Whoa, whoa, look who finally decided to show up. What took you guys so long?" she teased.
Akane, visibly exhausted, sighed, "You already know what made us late."
"Kaizen," Rex chimed in with a laugh.
"Kaizen?" Yui raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"
Akane sighed, her voice tired. "Yeah... Kaizen," she muttered in frustration, her voice barely above a whisper.
Yui looked concerned. "Whoa, Akane, are you okay? You sound exhausted."
"She's fine," Rex jumped in with a chuckle. "She's just been yelling at Kaizen the entire ride here. Poor girl's worn out."
"Wait, speaking of Kaizen, where is he? I don't see him with you guys," Krish asked, looking around.
"Oh, he's still sleeping in the car," Rex said nonchalantly.
"Wait, what?!" Yui and Akio exclaimed in unison.
Krish laughed. "You're kidding me, right? He's still sleeping?"
Rex shrugged, still laughing. "Yeah, apparently he couldn't sleep last night because he was too excited for the trip."
Yui smirked. "What is he, a little kid or something?"
"That's Kaizen for you," Rex said with a sigh. "No point in trying to understand him."
A few moments later, the car door opened and Kaizen stumbled out, stretching with a massive yawn. "Hey, guys," he said, rubbing his eyes.
"Well, well, look who's finally awake," Akio teased as the others chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm up now," Kaizen replied with a sheepish grin. "Sorry for all the trouble, guys."
Rex waved it off. "Don't worry, man. We've come to expect it from you by now."
"Hey, the college bus is here, let's get on!" Akio called out, waving at the approaching vehicle.
After a bit of chit-chat and last-minute adjustments, everyone finally boarded the bus, ready for the much-anticipated trip. Excitement buzzed through the air as the engine roared to life and the bus rolled out.
After a while, they arrived at their destination — Fiji Mountain Hill Station. The bus came to a halt, and the students eagerly stepped out, stretching their legs.
"Ah, finally! We're here!" Kaizen exclaimed, groaning as he stretched his arms. "Man, my legs are sore from sitting in that bus for so long."
Krish took a deep breath, his eyes closed as he embraced the crisp mountain air. "Ahh, now that's what I'm talking about. The fresh air, the view… Look at this place! Nature at its finest. It's so peaceful up here."
Yui and Akane nodded in agreement, standing beside Krish as they gazed at the scenic surroundings. "You were right, Krish," Yui said. "This place is amazing. Just like you told us."
Akane smiled, her exhaustion fading. "Yeah, it's exactly what we needed."
Rex glanced around, his expression softening as a nostalgic smile formed. "You know... I've actually been here many times before," he said quietly.
Yui turned to him, surprised. "Really? You've been here before?"
Rex nodded. "Yeah, a few times on family trips back in school. The air, the slopes, that sound of the waterfall in the distance—it all feels the same." He looked around, eyes thoughtful. "It's kinda weird being back here for a college trip instead."
He paused, then turned to Kaizen with a smirk. "Hey, Kaizen, remember? You were here three times too. Bring back memories, right?"
Kaizen frowned slightly, trying to recall. "Hmm... I don't remember that much, but yeah, buddy," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "I did come here a few times. Feels... oddly familiar, now that you mention it."
Rex laughed softly. "You probably don't remember because you were too busy trying to race people up the trail last time. You almost fell into the pond, remember?"
Kaizen blinked. "Wait, that was here? Damn, I thought that was a different trip."
Krish burst out laughing. "Of course it was here! You were the legend of clumsy adventures even back then!"
Rex grinned. "Yeah, some things never change."
---
Before anyone could continue teasing Kaizen, Akio pointed toward the parking area. "Hey, guys, look! The second-year students' bus is here too!"
Everyone's mood shifted as the second-year bus pulled in, and students began stepping out. A wave of tension washed over the group as familiar faces emerged.
"There they are… Kaito and the others," Rex muttered, his eyes narrowing.
Yui and Akane exchanged uneasy glances. "They're huge," Yui whispered. "Especially that guy next to Kaito."
Krish frowned. "Yeah, look at the size of that guy's muscles… he's built like a tank."
Akio stepped forward, voice low but determined. "Look over there. Hana's holding the recorder we need. We have to get that recorder first."
"Wait, wait," Krish said quickly, raising his hand to calm them down. "Don't make a scene here. We have to be smart about this. Let's wait until we're all settled at the stay place, then we can come up with a plan."
Yui nodded. "Krish is right. We can't risk blowing our cover."
Kaizen smirked, cracking his knuckles. "It's a good thing we're staying at the same place this time. I'm gonna teach them a lesson they'll never forget."
Before anyone could add more, the teacher's voice rang out. "Everyone, get in line! We're heading to the stay place."
The students fell into line, following the teacher as they made their way to the hill station lodge. Conversations quieted as everyone focused on the next part of the trip.
As Kaizen and the group entered the lodge, they froze in their tracks. Standing at the counter were two familiar faces.
"Dante… and Mileisa?" Yui whispered, eyes wide with surprise.