{The Reason Why Satou-san is So Excited}

The school trip is next week.

It’s already just around the corner, and maybe because of that, the mood in the class has been quite buoyant lately.

Of course, Satou-san is no exception. She had been absent and had not yet received the ‘School Trip Brochure,’ but she finally got it from the teacher and has been engrossed in reading it during lunch break.

I watched her with a bit of exasperation from the seat next to hers. She could have read it at home.

While Satou-san was absent, all the details of the school trip had already been decided.

Room assignments, groups for free time, and even the bus and train seats for transportation.

From what I heard, Satou-san seemed to have been placed in a group with her close friends. She was smiling as she looked at the brochure. Every time she turned a page, her expression brightened, and she looked genuinely happy.

She was so absorbed, almost like an elementary school student. It wasn’t as if being childish was something new for her.

“Looking forward to the school trip, right?”

Satou-san muttered while looking at the brochure.

Was that a self-comment? She seemed a bit overly excited. When I stayed silent, Satou-san, for some reason, looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Hey, Yamaguchi-kun.”

It seems that Satou-san was indeed speaking to me and had intended to seek confirmation.

I had thought she was too absorbed in the brochure to pay attention to me sitting next to her.

Could she have noticed that I had been observing her all this time? I wasn’t trying to stare at her in any strange way, but I responded in a fluster.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Exactly.”

Satou-san nodded once and continued, “I’ve never been to Hokkaido, so I’m really looking forward to it. I bet it’s a wonderful place.”

She looked dreamy, imagining the travel destination.

I could understand the excitement this time.

It would be my first time in Hokkaido as well. According to the teacher, it’s still a bit chilly at the end of May, but I wonder what it will be like.

“My friend told me that the clock tower is really cute.”

Satou-san said cheerfully, and this time I found myself puzzled.

“Cute…? The clock tower, you mean the one in Sapporo?”

I had only seen it on TV or in magazines, and it didn’t strike me as cute. Instead, it seemed quite grand and towering. I wondered what part of it was supposed to be cute.

Seeing my confusion, Satou-san smiled slightly and explained.

“Well, the clock tower is built in the middle of a business district. Did you know that?”

“Wow, I didn’t know. It’s not in a natural setting?”

My image of Hokkaido was farms, cows, and sheep. I had assumed the clock tower would be built in such a setting.

“Yes. It’s built between buildings, very quietly and modestly. My friend and I were talking about how it looks cute, like it’s trying hard.”

I hadn’t known that.

The clock tower seemed like a large building in photos, but maybe it’s not as big in reality. The fact that it’s in a business district was also surprising. I wonder what it looks like, being described as quiet and modest.

Is it really ‘cute’ as they say?

“I also learned a lot of other things from my friend.”

Holding the brochure proudly, Satou-san continued, “Like which ice cream shop is good, where to get good ramen, and where to buy souvenirs…”

“Wow, that’s impressive. Your friend must know a lot about Hokkaido.”

I wondered if Satou-san’s friend was a classmate.

I was genuinely impressed, and Satou-san shyly smiled as if it was her own accomplishment.

“It’s amazing. They kindly taught me so many things… Oh, I’ll tell you more details later, Yamaguchi-kun.”

“Thank you. I’d definitely like to know where to buy souvenirs.”

“Sure. Since that person is from Hokkaido, they know a lot. I’m sure they’ll recommend good places.”

Satou-san said with an excited look.

Then I found myself puzzled again and asked, “From Hokkaido? So your friend lives there?”

“Oh, yes. They’re from Hokkaido.”

I was a bit surprised to learn that Satou-san had a friend living far away. No wonder they knew so much and could give Sato-san detailed information.

“Then, have you arranged to meet up during free time?”

When I asked, her expression suddenly darkened, and she shook her head.

“No, that might be difficult. They have school too.”

“I see. That makes sense.”

“Also, we can’t bring mobile phones, so we won’t be able to contact each other.”

According to the school trip brochure, indeed, mobile phones were prohibited.

Of course, it’s a question of how strictly it’s enforced. I planned to manage to bring mine undetected.

It’s probably not possible for Satou-san—but I thought that even without a phone, there are public phones in the hotel, so there should be ways to keep in touch, but well.

Since she said so, that must be how it is.

“But I hope we can meet, though,” Satou-san said quietly, hugging the brochure.

“I’d be happy if we could meet by chance, but…”

Was this another self-comment?

I felt uneasy. Satou-san’s expression had a shadow, and I wasn’t sure how to respond.

I guessed that when going to a place where a friend lives, one would want to meet them. But it seemed unlikely, and I wasn’t sure if I should delve further into it.

So, I simply said, “I hope you can meet.”

That was all I could say.

It would be nice if she could meet her friend. Although I didn’t fully understand the situation, I hoped it would happen.

I hoped Satou-san’s friend would want to meet her.

That’s all I could say, and I didn’t know anything else.

But just saying that made Satou-san look up with a brightened face, and she nodded firmly at me.

“Yes… Thank you, Yamaguchi-kun.”

“No, I didn’t really do anything.”

“That’s not true. Hearing you say that makes me feel somehow reassured.”

Satou-san was flattering me. I only said something neutral, and there was nothing particularly reassuring about it.

I just wanted the school trip to be enjoyable for Satou-san—and I wondered why I cared so much. Even though it’s not my problem.

Maybe I’m excited too.

“Oh, I see…”

If I could be of any help, then I’m glad.

I responded vaguely, and Satou-san regained her bright smile.

“Yes, I’m really looking forward to the school trip!”

I didn’t mind her excitement, but the school trip is next week. Satou-san seemed so eager that she might fly off to Hokkaido right away. It even felt a bit risky.

After all, she hadn’t finished reading the school trip brochure yet.

Satou-san, who once again looked down at the brochure, suddenly raised her voice on a certain page.

“Yamaguchi-kun!”

“…What?”

“Look! You and I are sitting next to each other!”

Satou-san said, and I glanced at the brochure in her hands.

On the page with the bus seating chart, our names were listed next to each other.

Our class has more girls, so some of them had to sit in auxiliary seats. By chance, I was assigned to sit next to Satou-san in one of those auxiliary seats. It was quite a peculiar coincidence.

“It’s such a big coincidence that we’re sitting next to each other on the bus.”

Satou-san, thrilled, smiled at me.

I couldn’t bring myself to share her excitement, but I couldn’t act indifferent either, so I ended up laughing and responding.

“Yeah, it really is a coincidence.”

I couldn’t say I was happy that Satou-san was pleased.

I don’t dislike her, so when we became seatmates, I was happy. I had been embarrassed about it until now, feeling a bit self-conscious.

Maybe I’m excited too.