Vol. 3 Ch. 1 Ep. 16: Crack in the Surface

Ahhh! I feel so much better now!

Showered already? It's still early.

Are you forgetting? Hifumi slept in so long this morning that she didn't get the chance to take a shower.

H-Hey! You don't have to say it out loud... It's embarrassing.

You only slept in because you were up late last night preparing our mock exam. You aren't the one who should be ashamed.

If anything, I regret letting you down after all of your effort. Let me know if you would like to sleep in tomorrow as well. I'd be more than happy to help you wash up in the morning to save time.

Wh-What? That's okay, I think I'll manage!

She can wash herself! She's not a child!

I know, I'm simply trying to be efficient. There are several advantages to bathing together, such as water conservation.

She has a good point, but it's not like we have a luxurious bathhouse where we can all spread out and get to know each other better.

Oh, I know. What if instead we all went skinny dipping in the pool next time? It'll be just as good as a bathhouse!

That doesn't make sense at all! Prohibited! Completely prohibited!

I don't particularly mind, but what advantage would there be? Swimsuits are required for the school pool.

Think about how liberating it would feel...and so much fun! Heehee! ♥

Enjoyment? I hadn't considered that. And it would be...liberating, you said?

Stop corrupting her! Stop, stop, stop, stop!!!

You're nothing but a degenerate and a corrupter! Trinity already has enough perverts with you running around!

Really? I had you pegged for the type that would totally be into skinny dipping. Was I wrong?

What gave you that idea?! Pools require swimsuits! It's justice, and anything else is deserving of the death penalty!

Hmm. In that case...

The bikini I was wearing at the pool yesterday...

What are you whispering about?!

Would that really count as a swimsuit?

...?!

I-If it wasn't a swimsuit, then what was it?

It's funny how many different types of lingerie there are these days. Some of them can easily pass as swimsuits at first glance. ♥

...?!

Are you saying that's what it was?! Don't tell me you...!

Goodness. Why are you shaking so much?

So what if it wasn't a swimsuit? How would that change the experience we shared, Koharu?

H-Huh?

What's the difference between a swimsuit and underwear to begin with? Waterproofing? Body protection? Design? The exposed areas?

They're no different from the outside looking in, right? And that's why you believed me when I said it was a swimsuit, didn't you?

...?

What if I turned it around and said it really was just my bra and panties? How could that be proven either?

What's the point in being told a truth that you can't trust or prove for yourself?

S-Stop talking in circles! Which is it?!

Heeheehee! It was a swimsuit. Sorry, it's just so fun teasing you. I can't help myself. ♥

Y-You just wanted to tease me the whole time?!

Now I understand. Hanako was alluding to the fifth koan.

...?!

The fifth...what? What are you talking about?

...

It's something I've heard about in passing, Kivotos' seven koans that date back to ancient times. I believe she was referring to the fifth one.

"Can we prove anyone has ever reached paradise?" That's how I remember it, but I can't say I know the rest.

It's a rhetorical question meant to ponder the existence of paradise if no one alive has ever seen it.

I'm surprised you knew that.

That would mean...

Azusa! Have you met Seia before?

...

Seia?

You mean Seia from the Tea Party, don't you?

...

No. As I said, it's just something I've heard in passing.

...

That's right, you were a transfer student. So if you didn't hear it at Trinity...

"Vanitas vanitatum..." Could it be...the satellite school?

Forget I said anything. It's already getting pretty late, so we should get some sleep.

Good night, everyone!

There's something I wanted to talk to you about, Sensei.

It's about Hanako.

I was looking at model answers from last year while prepping for the mock exam, and I came across something...

Every answer came from only one student's exams.

Exactly. It was Hanako.

I'm not proud of it, but I took a peek at her first-year scores as well.

They were perfect. She aced even advanced classes that third-year students struggle with. She's a genius...

But for some reason, Hanako's grades have completely plummeted as a second-year.

Yes. I think Hanako is intentionally scoring poorly on her exams.

Why would she do such a thing?

...

...

Is she on another one of her night patrols?

...

*yawn*

Good morning.

*shuffle*

...

*sigh*

(I thought something felt strange...)

(I haven't seen Sensei all morning.)

Wow! The pool is full!

It's been a long time since I've seen this old thing filled like this. Were you planning on going swimming? Maybe organizing a pool party?

Heeheehee.

I was just wondering how you were doing.