And so, the big day has finally come! Yes, I'm talking about the school trip announced by the principal a week ago. The entire high school is now gathered on buses, which are speeding towards the destination. The reason we all are so excited is because the place we are heading to is nothing short of a resort! And this was only announced a few days ago, which took us by surprise.

But I’ll tell you something, the true reason I am excited is because I saw in this trip the golden opportunity to win Murakami's heart! Yeah, if I do this correctly, I'll be able to take the next step up my harem staircase, and since I'll have both of them by my side, I won't have to hold myself towards Loveta anymore! Oh yes, I may be a perverted and ambitious guy, but what harm does that do? I'm happy, and this is all that matters! Thank you, Hansuke, for your books, and Phanta, for your advices, thanks to you I'm realizing the meaning of life, and discovering the imminent desires, but still hidden inside my chest!

At the moment I’m sitting on the right side of the bus seats, next to Taichi and Hansuke. One is concentrated, playing on the smartphone, and the other, sleeping? It's the first time I've ever seen Hansuke not reading his books, and just taking a nap... Hum, it must have to do with the bad sleep at night, I’m sure. There are a few others students in the same situation. Anyway, Murakami, my target, is sitting on the left side, two seats ahead, talking to her friends. She looks a little uneasy—Hm?

She looks back at me, and when I go to wave hello to her, she quickly looks away.

Phew, as I imagined, the mission to conquer her will not be easy, especially after how our relationship has become since that day... Tch, damn you, Lamya!

When she died, Murakami was rescued, and slowly regained her consciousness. She was very concerned about her family who had stayed at home, subjected to the gas, especially her sister.

“They are ok,” I told her “When I arrived, I saw your parents passed out but still breathing, and I placed them outside the house—”

“What about my sister? Is she okay too?” The worry in her eyes was very apparent, her shaky voice betrayed her emotional imbalance.

I stayed silent for a few seconds, after all, I didn't even know she had a sister... How could I tell her that I didn't find anyone else at her house? Of course, I didn't search all the rooms, as some were locked. Her sister was obviously there, but unfortunately, I didn't find her in time.

Her eyes widened at my silence, and before I could say anything else, her cell phone rang, and she promptly answered the call. It was her parents.

From the side, I just watched her expressions. The moment was tense, and the reaction that could unleash on her face could be of any kind, at any moment.

“So, she’s fine?! That's great...”

A sigh of relief came from both of us.

Murakami promptly hugged me as a thank you, and so we managed a way out of that unhappy dungeon. Luckily, the place we left was not far away, surprisingly it was close to our school.

Apparently, everything went well, but, for some reason, on the same day on Aether, Murakami didn't seem eager to talk to me about the incident, in fact, she seemed to avoid talking to me altogether. She was just focused on fighting the corrupted.

At times she was serious, at others... distracted. The same attitude was demonstrated at school the next day, and on all the following ones after that one. This attitude started to irritate Loveta for some reason, who was already showing a bad mood since I went to the park with her that day...

Well, thinking about it now, did I do something that she didn't like? After we went on the deadly spinner, she just got completely discouraged and wanted to go back to the inn... Tch, I don't know, but I feel like it's all my fault. I wanted to at least ask the two of them why they're like this, but I'm afraid things will only get worse...

Phanta said that I should figure this out by myself and that this time she wouldn’t be helping me... Phew! The only thing that comes to my mind is my hatred toward Lamya. After all, if it wasn’t because of her, none of this would be happening to start with.

The worst thing is when I think about the end of this whole story, which still leaves me very confused. I thought Lamya's death, or disappearance, would cause some sort of commotion at school, but it turned out that the case was simply hushed up. It was said that she moved schools, and nothing more... I wonder why?

Anyway, I need to find a way to make peace with Murakami, and on top of that win her heart. The same goes for Loveta. Yes, this task will certainly not be easy.

“Hey, hey, Kazuki, look here for a moment.”

“Hm? Whaaaat!?? How did you win?!”

Taichi was showing me his smartphone screen, and there it was written 'Victory'! Yes, he just beat the 'God’s Nightmare' event.

"Haha, don't doubt my skills! So, our bet is still on the line, isn’t it??”

I break out in a cold sweat.

The bet... I can't believe it... Will I really have to—

“He used hack.” Says Hansuke, while yawning.

Taichi stares at him as if he didn't believe what he had just heard.

“Hey! Weren't you sleeping?? How did you—"

“Hmph, I woke up a few moments ago when the hottie in my dream got three dicks.”

“Damn...” Still not believing what was happening, Taichi turns to me, forcing a smile.

"...So, you used hack, smart ass?" I look at him, in anger.

Now he was the one sweating cold. His body stands still on the chair.

“Oh... it's just that... Damn it! Hansuke you wretch! Why did you rat me out?!”

“I just enjoy appreciating the desperation on your face, that’s all.”

“...Thanks Hansuke, now we know who will actually have to pay the bet here.”

His eyes moisten. “Kazuki, you know... It's already clear that this event can only be won using a hack... So... please... have mercy, I know you're a nice guy, and won’t be making me do that kind of thing, right…?”

"Oh, of course not, I would never do that to a friend... Except when that same friend wanted to do the same thing to me! Using hack on top of that!! You will do it, and if you don't, things will only get worse!”

Hansuke helps me confront him eye to eye ominously, making his soul escapes through his mouth.

Nope, he's not the kind of guy who would get clumsy like that over a simple bet, the problem is that, unlike the others we've done, the penalty for this one, in particular, was perhaps a bit too much. The pity, for the one who couldn't complete the 'God’s Nightmare’ event before the other, was nothing more, nothing less, than confessing their love to the girl they love, in public!

Of course, we knew the risks, and the inconvenience of it, but I think the desire to outdo each other in a game spoke loud to our hearts. Now, seeing the reality before his eyes, Taichi must have realized that this task will be much more difficult than he had imagined and that if the result is not positive, the consequence of his act would become disastrous!

But honestly, I think this will be the best for him, after all, it's past time for him to confess to Hana. I'm tired of hearing excuses day after day. What I think is that it may be bitter, but it is a medicine that will cure him somehow, for better or for worse. And if I were the one that loses? No... this medicine wouldn't work for me, at least not in the situation I find myself in now... If Murakami rejects me, my coexistence in Aether could become very complicated, and my dream of making a harem would be far, far away... Glad I'm not him anyway, haha!

BLAM!

The front doors open, and teacher Saori enters our bus.

“Attention class! We’ve just arrived at the resort!” The euphoric joy of the class takes over the atmosphere. “We are now going to head to the great hall, and there the principal will explain the entire schedule! Remember that the intention here is to have fun, but we will not tolerate any act of disorganization! Those who break the basic school rules will find themselves with me!” She exclaims, with blood in her eyes. The class's euphoria gradually subsides.