I did not wait long at the main entrance before Hifumi, Koharu, and Azusa arrived, all changed into Trinity's standard gym uniforms.
…And, as expected, Hanako showed up wearing a one piece swimsuit, confidently claiming that it perfectly met the requirements of not being afraid of getting dirty, being easy to move in, and simple to wash.
However, no matter how reasonable she made it sound, Koharu still kicked up a fuss and forcibly demanded that Hanako change into the same gym uniform as everyone else.
It could only be said that the suspicion of her being a traitor had once again risen sharply.
By the way, after seeing what I was wearing, everyone only showed a brief moment of surprise and then said nothing more, which made me feel oddly uneasy.
Was it that the girls were simply well mannered, or that in their eyes, I was just the type who normally wore a silk scarf?
After thinking it over, it had to be my refined and gentle aura, even the original style of the outfit itself having been smoothly assimilated.
Perhaps this too was a sign of my world shaking charm.
In any case, under Hifumi's direction, everyone quickly threw themselves into the big cleanup.
Outside the building, corridors, the lobby, rooms, classrooms, the gymnasium, the simple kitchen and dining area…
Time always flies when you are focused on work. In the blink of an eye, it was afternoon. While the annex could not be said to be completely transformed, through everyone's joint efforts, both inside and out had gone from utter mess to clean and orderly.
We gathered once more at the main entrance. Looking at the fruits of our labor, I could not help but sigh.
"With this, we're finally done."
Hearing that, the girls all showed relieved smiles.
Except for one person.
"Ah, there's still one place that hasn't been cleaned yet," Hanako reminded us.
"Huh, is that so…?" Hifumi, who had personally drawn up the cleaning plan and checked each area, blinked in confusion.
"Yes," Hanako nodded with a smile. "The outdoor pool."
The moment those words reached my ears, I became alert.
Was she planning to use this chance to peek at my robust and perfect bod, usually sheath beneath my uniform?
With caution in mind, I quickly followed the girls around to the other side of the annex. Enclosed by fencing and greenery, a swimming pool long abandoned, its bottom and walls stained with grime, appeared before us.
In fact, while cleaning the school building earlier, I had already seen this pool through a window, and had even engaged in serious academic contemplation on how Trinity students used to take physical education classes back when this annex was still in use.
The members of the makeup study club must have seen it as well. It was just that, aside from Hanako, no one had paid it much attention before.
"It's pretty big. Where should we even start…" Azusa murmured, then frowned in confusion. "Wait, come to think of it, swimming isn't part of the make-up curriculum, is it?"
Koharu could not help saying, "If it has nothing to do with the exam, then leaving it like this should be fine. Do we really need to clean it?"
But Hanako, the one who proposed it, shook her head and corrected her. "No, no, please think about it carefully, Koharu-chan. A pool filled with sparkling clear water, a fun training camp, students playing around… Doesn't that sound delightful?"
And a super handsome Sensei, beloved by all students of Kivotos, forced by the atmosphere to strip down to just his underwear, maybe with a silk scarf on top at most, the rest omitted.
My feelings were mixed, excitement and indignation all tangled together, leaving me unsure whether this was a gain or a loss.
Koharu seemed to think of something and jumped in shock. "Huh, what!? I don't get it, what are you even talking about, I don't understand these riddles at all!?"
"But it is true," Hifumi said from the side. "Looking at a pool just left like this… it does feel kind of lonely."
"It's such a big pool, there must have been a time when it was used. It might have once been a place full of laughter."
As Azusa said this, something seemed to cross her mind, and her expression turned forlorn. "Even so, it still ends up like this. [Vanitas vanitatum]… That is the truth of this world."
…Vani vani?
I suddenly remembered something that had happened not long ago, something that had left a deep impression on me, and my brow furrowed slightly.
"It's an ancient language," Hanako explained from the side. "All is vanity… Yes, perhaps that really is the case."
So that is what it meant?
Still, it feels somewhat similar.
I temporarily suppressed this sense of déjà vu that only grew stronger the more I thought about it.
Along with the suspicion that arose together with it.
And then, after a brief silence, Hanako called out again. "Azusa-chan, Hifumi-chan, Koharu-chan! Let's play now!"
"Wait, then what about me?"
At my unconscious question, Hanako's smile seemed to stiffen for a moment.
Beside her, Koharu had already turned red and begun to scold me sharply. "Pervert! What are you trying to do! Death penalty!"
"Ahaha… but leaving Sensei alone to just watch from the side also feels a bit awkward…"
"What are you saying! There's no way we'd let him watch!"
Damn Koharu. So strict, and with pink hair too. She must be the mole.
Azusa said in confusion, "Is that so? I don't really mind."
"…Hehe, of course the Sensei can join us too," Hanako said with a smile, cutting off the argument. "Anyway, let's start cleaning now, then fill the pool with water and jump in together!"
She then explained her reasoning. "From tomorrow on, we'll have to keep working hard with our studies, right? Then today is our last chance. If we don't have our fill of fun now, we might get tired partway through because of other things…!"
At first glance, it actually sounded somewhat reasonable.
Without giving anyone time to think, Hanako urged us on. "All right, all right, hurry up and change into clothes that can get wet! Let's start cleaning the pool!"
"…Yes." Azusa nodded. "Even if everything is vanity, that cannot be an excuse for not giving it our all today. No problem, I brought a swimsuit. Wait a moment."
With that, Azusa quickly ran off.
…Was what I noticed earlier just my imagination?
Watching her back, I could not help but think so.
"Okay, Hifumi-chan too! And Koharu-chan, hurry and change into a swimsuit… no, anything that can get wet is fine!"
Hifumi thought for a moment. "Yes, it would feel uncomfortable to leave only this place uncleaned… I'll go change too."
"Eh!? This has nothing to do with remedial lessons at all… Ugh, why…"
Koharu let out a frustrated wail, but when she noticed Hanako silently moving closer, she was so frightened that she immediately agreed.
Hanako's scheme had succeeded just like that.