Chapter 37: Sacrifice

"Teacher Hoshinomiya," Ichinose called. "I read in the manual that the school provides two tents and portable toilets. Can you tell us more about the specific models?"

With the leader's decision, Ichinose and the others moved on to planning their next steps.

"The school provides a large tent suitable for eight people," Hoshinomiya began. She then took a cardboard box from the staff, assembled it quickly, and placed it on a blue absorbent cloth. A square-shaped portable sitting toilet appeared before the group.

"Tada~!" she exclaimed, spreading her fair arms dramatically in a K shape, her hands trembling slightly. Her cheerful face beamed as she continued,

"Here it is—unlimited supplies of plastic bags and absorbent cloth! Lightweight, easy to carry, and, as a bonus, a free changing tent!"

"This… seems a bit…" murmured a girl hesitantly.

While the boys might grudgingly accept such an arrangement, it was clearly more difficult for the girls.

"I think it's hard for girls to accept this," Shibata pointed out tactfully, echoing the concerns of several female students. He added, "With forty people sharing just two portable toilets, things might get uncomfortable, especially during peak times. How about we buy an additional one specifically for the girls? It'll improve efficiency and comfort. What do you all think?"

"Agreed," Kanzaki said with a nod.

Their suggestion wasn't just practical—it also reflected consideration for their classmates. Hikigaya observed the discussion silently, amused by the thought that Kanzaki and Shibata might simply be trying to earn favor with the girls. But then again, they were already popular.

For Hikigaya, the idea of separate toilets was perfectly acceptable. He imagined the awkward scenario of someone accusing him of contaminating a shared facility: "Hikigaya used it! It's disgusting! I don't want to use it now!" Separating the facilities would spare him unnecessary drama.

"Eh?" Hoshinomiya pouted. "Even though the portable toilet is made of cardboard, it's actually very sturdy! It won't break even after seven days of use. I guarantee it!"

Hikigaya glanced sideways. Seven days? Does this teacher have experience using it herself? He wondered. But no one seemed to question the quality of the toilet further—it wasn't the main issue.

"Alright then," Ichinose said, taking in everyone's opinions. "Let's buy one additional toilet for now. If it's not enough, we'll get another later. We might also need extra tents, The manual mentions hammocks. With some insect repellent, they could be a cheaper resting option."

"And bathing?" Ichinose added. "Going seven days in the summer without a bath could lead to discomfort or health problems. Let's consider a temporary shower setup. Thoughts?"

Her proposal was met with unanimous approval. After all, theres nothing wrong with her choices. Between saving points and efficiency some points needed to be spent.

"By the way," Watanabe interjected, raising his hand, "I've used boiling water baths during camping trips before. They're really convenient. Do you think the school manual mentions anything similar?"

"It does and its very cheap," Ichinose confirmed, tilting her head. "But it might be tricky to organize for forty people."

"It's manageable," Watanabe assured her. "We just need to stagger the usage and assign someone to boil water. I'll handle it."
Ichinose smiled warmly. "That's great! It's so helpful to have someone with camping experience in the group. Please share more ideas if you have any."

"No problem," Watanabe replied confidently.

The discussion in Class B was harmonious, with everyone being thoughtful and considerate. It almost felt like a cozy housewarming meeting.

"Hikigaya, what do you think?" Ichinose asked, her smile bright as she turned to him. The rest of Class B followed her gaze. This was a rare moment—someone actually cared about his opinion. Hikigaya was momentarily flustered but quickly composed himself.

"Well," he said, "how about using that wooden cabin on the west side of the island?"

A stunned silence followed.

"What did you say?" Kanzaki asked, his brow furrowed.

"Uh…" Hikigaya raised a finger defensively. "I just thought the cabin might have a shower and toilet. Girls could stay there, solving a lot of problems. Right?"

The group exchanged looks. Wait… there's a cabin?

"How do you know about the cabin?" Kanzaki asked sharply. Why didn't you say anything before? Doesn't it make them look like idiots for having a serious discussion before? He thought

"Uh…" Hikigaya stammered. "I saw it when I was taking pictures while the cruised ship circles the island earlier." He explained to everyone who was staring at him suspiciously.

Ichinose clapped her hands excitedly. "Wow! Hikigaya, that's amazing! Next time, please let us know sooner, okay?"

"Ah… sure!" he agreed sheepishly. Seriously that was a big cabin why no one saw it aside from him he thought.

"Then it's settled!" Ichinose declared. "Hikigaya, please lead the way to the cabin!"

Feeling the weight of their stares, Hikigaya sighed and got to his feet, flanked by Ichinose and Kanzaki. The rest of Class B trailed behind in smaller groups. As they walked through the dense woods, Hikigaya couldn't help but feel awkward. Ichinose's short-sleeved sportswear brushed against him every so often, a result of the narrow path. He tried to brush off the feeling. It's just an accident. Nothing to overthink, he told himself.

But when Ichinose leaned in closer, Hikigaya had no choice but to edge toward Kanzaki. The other boy didn't say a word, but Hikigaya could feel the tension. Sorry, Kanzaki. Sacrifices must be made.