Chapter Text
In the Scoutmaster's Office
I sat in the scoutmaster's office, the soft scent of wood and old paper filling the room. My fingers fidgeted with the hem of my scout's uniform, the gold badges on my sleeve catching the light as I shifted in my seat. The office was usually for the troublemakers—Yoichi and Taiga had spent more time in here than I had. So why was I here? I had been in the middle of a routine morning. I hadn't even gotten a bite of my breakfast before the loudspeaker crackled to life, calling for Keitaro Nagame to report to the scoutmaster's office. I hadn't done anything serious, had I? Maybe I had forgotten to wear my hat at the dinner hall or taken a longer rest break than allowed. I was bad at remembering all the little rules.
I exhaled, trying to calm my nerves as I thought of all the possible things I could've done wrong. Did I forget to put my gear away after archery practice? Had I accidentally used my camera in the archive room, even though I wasn't supposed to even be there? But Hiro and I had explored, and… a little voice in my mind told me I should've asked first, but I hadn't thought it was a big deal. Now I wondered if flash photography was a major violation. Like in museums.
I shook my head, trying to silence the nagging doubt, when the door creaked open. Scoutmaster Yoshinori stepped in—his long sleeves and neat silver buttons contrasted with my wrinkled uniform. He gave me a warm, familiar smile before settling into the chair across from me. I instantly reached for my chest.
"I'm sorry—" I blurted out. "Did I do something bad? Did I use the camera in the archive room and break a rule?"
Yoshinori blinked, clearly confused by my assumption. His blue eyes softened. "No, no, Keitaro. No one's in trouble." The tension in my chest didn't disappear right away, but I let out a shaky breath. I blinked a few times, still trying to process that I wasn't in trouble. No one had ever told me I was in trouble with such a calm, reassuring tone before. Usually, it was a scolding or a long lecture. But Yoshinori just sat there, smiling, and it made me even more confused. Yoshinori hesitated for a moment, and I couldn't miss how his gaze flickered toward the door behind me. "Actually… no one's supposed to be in the archive room," he said slowly. "Wasn't it locked?"
I decided to try my luck, distracting the scoutmaster. "Then… what is it?" I asked, my voice laced with curiosity.
Yoshinori chuckled and leaned forward, his fingers tapping lightly against the wooden table. "Well, during the sports festival, we had a little raffle to give out some prizes. And I'm afraid I can't keep this news from you for much longer." He paused for a second, letting the suspense build, then grinned. "You won, Keitaro."
I felt my face warm up instantly. "Me?" I gasped, not sure if I had heard him correctly. "I won something?"
He nodded enthusiastically. "A two-night stay at a luxury hotel just outside the camp grounds. Think of it as a little reward for all your hard work this summer."
My heart leapt as I nearly jumped out of my chair. "That's amazing! I love the idea of staying in a hotel! Do I get to bring my friends with me?" My voice became more animated with every sentence, and I couldn't help but smile.
Yoshinori's smile widened. "Well, you can bring another camper with you if you'd like. Only one, though."
My excitement bubbled over as I imagined who I could take—there were so many possibilities! I bit my lip, suddenly overwhelmed. "Oh, I don't know who to choose!" I laughed, my voice a little higher than usual as I tried to contain the excitement swelling inside me. Who would I choose between our group of friends? It was going to be a tough decision.
Yoshinori leaned back in his chair, his expression still warm. "You have until tomorrow morning to decide on who you'd like to take." He handed me a small envelope with details about the trip. "I suggest you think carefully. A two-night stay in a luxury hotel isn't something that happens every day."
I nodded, tucking the envelope into my pocket with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Scoutmaster! This is going to be so much fun." I stood up, gripping the doorway as if I could already feel the wind brushing against my skin in the outside world. I closed the door behind me, noticing Yoshinori was still smiling at me. But just as I stepped forward to leave, something unexpected happened. A firm grip wrapped around my wrist, pulling me back slightly. My heart skipped a beat. I was halfway out the door, my muscles tensing as I turned to see who had grabbed me.