Chapter 2: Riptide
As I got used to school life and absentmindedly followed my usual route to school, I noticed a slight change in my class. The boys seemed unusually restless, and even the perpetually late Ishizaki was there earlier than usual, in high spirits and making a ruckus.
"Good morning, Hikigaya!"
"Uh, hey, what's going on?"
Slightly taken aback by Ishizaki's overly cheerful greeting, I greeted Komiya and Kondo, whom I had started talking to recently, as they were nearby. They too returned with equally cheerful greetings.
"What's up, you ask? Don't you know? It's swimming day today!"
Both Komiya and Kondo nodded vigorously in agreement with Ishizaki's words.
Ah, I see... So that explains all the weird glances towards the girls. Looking around, Ishizaki and the others didn't notice, but they were attracting an incredible amount of attention from the girls. Definitely not in a good way.
Intuitively feeling it was best not to stick around here, I quietly slipped away so as not to be noticed by Ishizaki and his group, though I felt sorry for leaving them abruptly.
Phew, that was close. If I had stayed, I might have been subjected to those stares too. Ishizaki and the others were engrossed in their conversation and hadn't noticed.
"Good morning, Hikigaya-kun."
"Good morning, Shiina."