**Day 23 – Noon – Inn – White Weirdo Pervert**
We couldn't reach a conclusion, so we compromised: a scouting party to the forest entrance. Hunt monsters along the way, level up, and observe the situation.
It's just an excuse. Everyone simply wants to get even a little closer to Haruka-kun. We're not splitting into five parties—we advance in a single wedge formation.
"There's not a single monster—can't level up~?"
Really, not one. No one's fighting. The forest has been wiped clean. Exterminated. Annihilated. There's only one person who could have done this. Only one suspect.
I could make a brilliant deduction… but "mentally high-schooler, physically elementary-schooler" is a forbidden phrase. It's a taboo keyword that sends Vice Class Rep C into a rampage.
"Should we go a little deeper?"
No "should" about it—everyone's possessed, pressing deeper. No matter how many times we stop them, hold them back—they keep advancing.
"The person telling everyone to stop is the one moving forward the most. Kinda kills the persuasion, don't you think?"
Shot down. Completely shot down. If Haruka-kun won't let us approach, there's a reason. Therefore we must not approach.
But everyone is taking one more step forward. One more step closer. If we keep going, maybe we'll reach him someday. If we don't… maybe he'll disappear…
Even if we wanted to level up—there are no monsters.
Just deeper into the forest. Deeper.
・ ・ ・
It's been hours now. Probably over three. We've definitely exceeded the planned time.
But no one—no one at all—says "let's turn back." No one will say it. So I have to. Even though I want to say it the least, I have to. Haruka-kun finally acknowledged me as a proper Class Rep. He recognized me. So I have to say it. And yet—one more step. Another step—toward that cave… In this world that dragged us here, where we couldn't laugh, couldn't think about tomorrow, didn't know what to do anymore, just asking "why" and "how come" over and over… That cave was the first place we felt relief. The first place we laughed. The place where we laughed so hard. Where we scolded Haruka-kun every day, thanked him every night, excitedly talked about "tomorrow, tomorrow" together. And now Haruka-kun is there alone. He's probably still there. So…
No matter how far we go, not a single monster.
The return trip was silent. Heavy footsteps. No monsters appeared, yet we didn't get back until nightfall. This is wrong. We should be leveling up. Instead we're returning having done nothing.
When I finally said "Let's go back…" everyone looked at me with pained, pitiful, wretched, heartbreaking, sorrowful expressions—then bowed their heads and nodded. Nodded while gasping in pain, in agony… I'm sure my face looked the same.
・ ・ ・
Odacchi and the others took rooms at the same inn. We rearranged room assignments to monitor everyone—no one sneaks out. Because we would. Everyone would. Including me.
A quiet dinner for the first time in ages. Even Signboard-chan was fidgeting anxiously. Sorry… We finally reunited with Odacchi and the others—that was the original goal. Yet everyone eats in near silence, then just stands around with nothing to do. Just because one person—Haruka-kun—is missing… The girls who were always too noisy, always causing chaos and getting scolded—even Odacchi and the others, who were called masters of not reading the room—are now lost in thought, worrying, suffering, agonizing… No answers. Nothing.
I never knew nights could be this long.
Because we were always making a huge fuss,
always messing around,
the day would end in the blink of an eye.
Time flew by,
never enough time, always wanting more—
No one knew nights could drag on this long.
**End of Day 23**