On the other side.
Hikigaya arrived at the beginner slope.
After half of yesterday.
Most people had already gone to the intermediate or advanced slopes.
Therefore.
There weren't many people left on the beginner slope, basically only types with extremely poor athletic nerves.
Hikigaya also saw the chubby Sotomura Hideo.
He was continuing to play in the snow with Hondo and others from Class D.
However.
The other party seemed to be pretending not to see him, and the people from Class D had faces full of disgust, so Hikigaya didn't bother them.
Soon.
Hikigaya returned to the camp.
The original place for changing into ski gear.
From a long distance.
He could see Sakayanagi Arisu sitting on a bench reading, wearing a down jacket.
Below was a white pleated skirt with black fleece leggings and white high-top leather boots.
He should have just said it directly.
Hikigaya stopped his skis.
Looking at this scene, he couldn't help but let out a sigh.
If she was just reading.
It would definitely be better and warmer inside the camp.
There was absolutely no need to be outdoors.
Although Sakayanagi Arisu looked very rational, it was impossible for her not to look forward to the school trip at all.
It was just that her legs were inconvenient.
She couldn't participate in most activities.
She could only silently appreciate everyone skiing with a fake smile.
Clearly.
To say she didn't want to at all was definitely impossible.
She was just powerless.
Unfortunately.
Sakayanagi Arisu was too stubborn.
Though she talked about controlling others, she never asked for help or showed her vulnerable side in critical places.
Why bother.
Thinking of this.
Hikigaya stopped not far away, and after about thirty minutes, he pushed off with both hands and arrived in front of Sakayanagi Arisu.
The beginner slope was basically just a flat area; only a very slight slope was quite safe.
"Yo."
Hikigaya stopped in front of Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Ah la, Hikki? Why are you here? Shouldn't you be on the advanced slope with Masumi and the others right now?"
"Those are my words. If you're reading, why aren't you inside?"
Hikigaya walked step by step to stand in front of her.
"It's too stuffy inside, I came out for some air. What about Hikki?"
Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, returning the question.
Completely lying.
After all.
Just taking a breather, thirty minutes is enough.
It's just that this fellow's toughness was so stubborn.
"I came to find you for skiing."
Hikigaya walked to Sakayanagi Arisu's side, placed the double skis in front of her, and said with a smile on his face:
"Get on. Although we can't go to the intermediate or advanced slopes, we can try the beginner slope."
"Hmm?"
Looking at the skis in front of her, Sakayanagi Arisu immediately understood.
She smiled indifferently:
"It's completely unnecessary. I don't have much interest in skiing anyway. Hikki,you should go do your own thing."
"Alright, alright, get on. Standing here is also quite silly."
"Is this out of pity for me?"
"How could that be? If you come to Hokkaido and don't experience skiing once, wouldn't that be a great regret?"
As he spoke.
Hikigaya bent down, snatched the ski pole placed nearby, held it in his hand, and tilted his chin toward his back, threatening her to "get on board."
"Really, now."
Seeing this.
Sakayanagi Arisu felt somewhat helpless.
Leaning on Hikigaya's hand, she walked slowly to the back of the skis and stood firm.
Her hands circled around Hikigaya's lower back.
"This should be fine, right?"
"Yeah, hold on tight. Although I've learned, I'm still a beginner after all. If we fall later, remember to fall to the side."
"Really..."
Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't help but hug Hikigaya's lower back tighter.
She murmured:
"You clearly have more important things to do right now."
Dealing with Kushida Kikyo, handling Machida Koji, or scouting the personality weaknesses of people from other classes.
The school trip was an excellent opportunity for all of it.
Now.
It was a complete waste of time.
"Those things can wait until the afternoon."
"Right now, nothing is more important than taking you skiing."
"Hold on tight."
Saying that.
Hikigaya gripped the ski poles and pushed back slightly; the skis under his feet carried him and Sakayanagi Arisu forward gently.
It just wasn't very fast.
Hearing his words and feeling the cold wind blowing against her face, Sakayanagi Arisu turned her head slightly to look at the snow scene before her.
She couldn't help but feel it was exceptionally gentle.
She couldn't help but hug Hikigaya even tighter.
"Idiot, don't hold so tight. It's hard for me to maintain balance. What if we fall later?"
"I won't let go."
Sakayanagi Arisu said with a smile.
Her voice was uncontrollably a few pitches higher than usual.
In the past, she thought she was a genius and wanted to become the strongest existence, playing with the people around her in the palm of her hand.
Now she realized.
Perhaps being an idiot felt quite nice.
Hikigaya's mouth twitched, and his expression couldn't help but look a bit nervous.
(Already)
Although he had learned, and could probably even play on the advanced slopes, he hadn't reached the level of complete control yet.
He could only be more careful.
Hikigaya couldn't help but speed up, glancing at Sakayanagi Arisu who had her eyes tightly shut under his arm; however, her smile was even cuter than usual.
That was enough.
Two hours later.
Unfortunately.
They still fell.
It's impossible not to fall while skiing, let alone being a beginner carrying someone; it's just that the speed wasn't fast, so it didn't hurt much.
At this time.
Hikigaya sat randomly on the snow with his legs spread; Sakayanagi Arisu sat between his legs, leaning against his chest.
"How does your body feel?"
"You're really exaggerating."
Sakayanagi Arisu said with a smile in her eyes: "Although my body is indeed weaker than an average person's, it's not weak to that extent."
"That's good then."
Hikigaya also breathed a slight sigh of relief.
If something happened, he feared Chairman Sakayanagi really would take him to feed the sharks.
As they spoke.
"Hikki."
Sakayanagi Arisu took her phone out of her pocket, opened the camera, and placed her left hand next to her eye in an inverted V gesture.
"Oh."
Hikigaya understood immediately.
Holding Sakayanagi Arisu's petite body, he rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Click."
As the shutter sound fell, Sakayanagi Arisu looked at it and a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth before she handed the phone to him.
"A few more."
"Understood."
Hikigaya took the phone and held it up high.
After all, having a height advantage meant different shooting angles produced different images; giving the phone to him likely meant that.
"Are you ready?"
"3."
"2."
"1."
Just at that moment.
Sakayanagi Arisu cupped Hikigaya's cheek with her left hand and kissed his lips.
"Click."
"Honestly."
Hikigaya said somewhat speechlessly: "If you were going to take a photo like this, you should have said so earlier."
"Not really, it was just a spur of the moment."
Sakayanagi Arisu tucked her hair behind her ear, showing a charming side that made Hikigaya daze for a moment.
"I really hope the school trip ends quickly."
Sakayanagi Arisu said softly.
"It just started getting interesting, do you dislike the school trip that much?"
"That's not it."
Sakayanagi Arisu revealed a smile, her beautiful eyes shimmering:
"You and Masumi and the others seem to enjoy doing stimulating things. Should I give it a try here?"
"Haha, this joke isn't funny at all."
Hikigaya rolled his eyes.
Setting aside Kamuro Masumi and the others, Ichinose and her group also frequently cooperated with him.
But only Sakayanagi Arisu never did these things.
Even when people were nearby.
She just watched quietly.
Although there were some needs.
Due to her physical condition, Sakayanagi rarely requested such things.
After all, one time with Hikigaya was enough for her to rest for a long time.
"It's not a joke."
As she spoke.
Sakayanagi Arisu smiled and pulled open the zipper.
She pushed herself up from the snow and sat down.
"If you don't want to be discovered, you better hold me tight."
Hikigaya was dumbfounded.
He quickly used both hands to hold Sakayanagi Arisu firmly in his arms.
Feeling the icy little hand, he couldn't help but gasp.
Did this girl take the wrong medicine today?