— Ophis, Silence, — the pink-haired guitarist approached them with undisguised relief, greeting her friends. — I'm glad you came.
— If someone had told us about this trip earlier, — the guy began to complain, while Ophis grabbed the girl who had approached in her arms, — then we wouldn't have had to rush.
— Sorry, — Hitori muttered embarrassedly, while Ophis, without breaking the embrace, rested her chin on the girl's shoulder and gently rubbed her cheek against hers. — I didn't think about it.
When such tenderness from Ouroboros appeared for the first time, Hitori fell into a stupor and completely blushed, but over time she got used to it. She even liked such a display of affection from her friend, although a part of her was still embarrassed.
— Sorry for butting in, — while the teenagers were feeling awkward about what was happening, the only adult in their group took the floor. — But, as a teacher, I must ask, what is your connection to Goto-san and what are you doing here?
— Hmm, teacher? — Silence looked at the speaker with interest. A young woman with long black hair and an attractive figure looked at the couple suspiciously. — The same Hiratsuka-sensei who made our little girl go on this trip.
— You still haven't answered my question.
— She's a member of our pack, — Ophis answered carelessly. — Our family.
— Oh, Hachiman and Yukinoshita are here too, — the dragon noticed among the crowd of teenagers he knew. — And the girl standing next to you must be the same Yui Yuigahama you bought a present for?
— Don't avoid answering! — Hiratsuka flared up. — We came here to do school activities. This is a summer camp for schoolchildren, and outsiders are not allowed.
— What's going on here? — An elderly man approached the group after hearing the shouts. — Is there a problem, Hiratsuka-sensei?
— Good afternoon, Director, yes, I...
— Mr. Director, — Silence interrupted the woman, smiling at the newcomer. — How fortunate that you came. I was the one who called you this morning about a small favor.
— Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Ouroboros, — the director immediately broke into a friendly smile. — Yes, yes, I will be glad to welcome you. Hiratsuka-sensei, this young couple will also be joining you as counselors for these three days.
— Thank you for clearing up this little misunderstanding, — the young man thanked him, looking at the woman with superiority.
— How did you manage to agree to become counselors? — asked Hitori as they all followed the director into the camp grounds. — I only told you today, didn't I?
— Money magic, Hitori, — chuckled Sai. — Money magic.
— So you're saying outright that you bribed someone to get these spots? — asked Yukinoshita, who was walking slightly ahead with her group, in surprise. — That's a crime.
— Haha! I just made a voluntary donation to this camp and expressed my request. I don't care what he does with the money. The main thing is that I achieved my goal.
— Ha! — seeing the reaction of the head of his club, Hikigaya couldn't help but add fuel to the fire. — The harsh truth of the real world, where rich people can live however they want.
— Strength, power, money - in that order, Hachiman, — the dragon heard the teenager's words and decided to enlighten him about the real state of things. — Money is at the bottom of the list. It can be easily obtained if you have power or strength. With power, you can get what money alone can't, or impose your opinion on the majority. However, all of this pales in comparison to personal power. As long as you are strong enough, you can do whatever you want, ignoring the opinions of others. Or simply get your hands on wealth. If you followed my advice, then you can guess what I'm talking about, right?
— Brother, what is this strange guy talking about? — Komachi approached her brother and whispered in his ear. — And how did you manage to meet someone like that?
— Don't pay attention to it. It's too early for you to think about such things.
— I don't agree with that, — Yukino objected. — No matter how strong one person is, he cannot resist society and its laws.
— There's no point in trying to convince you. You'll understand everything yourself when you encounter something like this. Although for ordinary people, everything may be a little different than what I'm used to.
— You speak as if you're not a human being, — in response to Hachiman's words, the young man only remained silent with a meaningful smile.
Soon after they were shown the sleeping places where they left their luggage, and the future counselors were instructed on their duties, a bus with elementary school students arrived. A noisy group of children gathered in front of the platform, from which the teachers broadcast the rules and regulations for the next three days. The speech ended with the words of Hayato, chosen as the representative of the counselors.
The first test for the children was orientation around the area. Having split into groups, they began to look for the indicated checkpoints using a map and compass. The teenagers walked behind them, not interfering without special reasons, letting the children enjoy the game.
— Thank you for looking after my big sister, — the little pink-haired girl bowed formally to the two dragons, making Hitori blush and the pair laugh. — Now that you two are here, I don't have to worry about her and I can focus on my camp.
— Futari! — Her sister exclaimed. — Please stop making fun of me. Leave Ophis and Silence alone.
— You can go have fun, — Ouroboros patted the funny little girl on the head, — We'll look after Hitori.
Stopping teasing the embarrassed guitarist, they continued to move behind the others, chatting calmly among themselves. Having finished the event without any incidents, the next step was to prepare dinner. While the boys lit and maintained the fire, the girls cut up the ingredients and cooked the curry. Silence joined in with interest, enjoying the situation.
After cooking dinner, the teenagers gathered together to eat and discuss the past day. The conversation suddenly turned to the girl who was isolated from the other children. Opinions at the table were divided.
— What do you think about this? — Hiratsuka addressed the couple.
— I don't really understand what exactly you want to hear? — Silence simply watched everyone from the side. — After all, adults should take care of their descendants, not teenagers. In any case, I have never encountered such a thing, but I think that girl's opinion about common interests is correct. You won't meet them after school anyway.
— And you, Ophis?
— I used to be alone, — the girl pressed herself against her lover's shoulder. — Before meeting Silence.
After an awkward moment, everyone returned to the topic of the lonely girl Rumi. In the end, the conversation did not lead to any result, only creating a quarrel between the girls. And so the first day of the summer camp ended.
***
Hachiman woke up in the middle of the night because of his roommate's snoring. He was not very comfortable being in the company of his noisy classmates, especially Hayato Hayama and his retinue. After looking around the room in the semi-darkness, he could not find their unexpected guest. Deciding to get some fresh air, Hikigaya went for a walk in the forest.
Walking through the trees, the teenager heard a rustling sound to the side. Turning towards the sound, Hachiman took a sharp step back, tripped and fell to the ground. Brightly glowing amber eyes with a vertical pupil, around which a blue magic circle with runes written around the edge, were looking at him from the darkness.
— Ah, it's you, Hachiman, — the obsession disappeared as soon as he heard a familiar voice. Taking a few steps forward, Silence came out into the moonlight. — Can't sleep?
— Y-yes, — the otherworldly scene was still fresh in his head. — And why are you here?
— Ha! I just got back, — a sly smile appeared on the dragon's face. — Even though we decided to spend these days here, I shouldn't miss my magic classes.
— Magic? Are you serious?
— Yeah, absolutely. I showed you before. In the store, remember?
— So you're a mage? — Hikigaya tried to ask this in a calm voice, but failed. His usual realism and teenage dreaminess collided.
— Not exactly, — Sai activated his eyes again, seeing the indecision and anticipation on his face. — I can tell you who I am, but are you ready for this? After my words, your life can turn upside down. Do you still want to know?
— Yes, I do!
The young man smiled, but instead of his usual teeth, his mouth was adorned with sharp fangs. Two black horns, slightly curved backwards, grew on his head, and his hands were covered in dark scales. Having demonstrated the formed claws, Sai released wide wings from behind his back.
— This world is not as simple as it seems at first glance, — the dragon began to slowly walk around the frozen teenager in a circle, like a predator around its prey. — There are many other supernatural creatures living among ordinary people. All fairy tales and legends are not fiction, but the most real reality. Demons, angels, youkai, gods, and other monsters are still alive and inhabit their lands.
— W-who are you?
— Me? — he asked with a grin, stopping in front of the man. — I belong to the strongest of races. Proud, strong, arrogant, selfish, evil, bloodthirsty, greedy, powerful - all this is about us, Dr-r-racons.
Hachiman fell silent, digesting what he heard and the appearance of his interlocutor. Silence remained in place, allowing the teenager to comprehend what was happening and see his reaction.
— Why me? Why are you telling me all this? And there in the store too.
— Ha-ha-ha! At first it was just for fun, but later I just became interested in you, — the boy cheerfully told the surprised schoolboy about his motives. — I have very unusual eyes that help me see the true essence of creatures. Sometimes it's a true appearance instead of a disguise, sometimes a soul, and more recently I learned to discern the real personality of an object hidden behind an everyday mask. And, let's say, I liked what I saw in you.
— So I'm like a new toy to you? Is it the same with Goto-san?
— Not a toy, rather you are interesting to me as a friend, — the dragon easily understood why Hachiman came to such a conclusion, and was not surprised. — And you shouldn't compare yourself to Hitori. She is more special. As Ophis said: she is a member of our pack.
— Is she the same as you and Ophis?
— No, Hitori is a human, but not quite an ordinary one, but let's not talk about that now, — the young man turned his head to the side. — Your "ice queen" is approaching our direction. I have no desire to explain anything to her, so I went.
— You won't warn me not to tell anyone about what happened?
— I know that you are not such a stupid person. And besides... — the guy's appearance became normal again. — No one will believe you anyway. Ha-ha-ha!
— Yes, indeed... — the teenager let out a long sigh. — They really won't believe. However, the dragon... Ha-a-a! I still can't believe it.
***
The next day at the camp was free for the younger students, but this did not apply to the counselors. Under Hiratsuki's instructions, the teenagers began to prepare for the evening activities. Clearing the clearing and preparing firewood for the fire took the boys about an hour of work. Although without Silence's help, it threatened to take much longer. Having finished everything, the group gathered to rest on the bank of a stream flowing next to the camp.
— Are you going? — Silence asked the out-of-breath teenager.
— Where? — Hachiman was still shocked by the night's revelations, but did not change his manner of speech with this mythical creature.
— To swim. Your sister and everyone else have already left, only you remained.
— Okay.
After walking a hundred meters, they found themselves near a shallow stream. The girls were already in the water, showing everyone their bodies in bathing suits. Seeing the latecomers, the energetic Komachi came up to meet them.
— Well, how do you like my swimsuit, brother? — she asked, and began to demonstrate various poses. — Isn't it cute?
— Y-yes. It's fine.
— Well-l-l. Not that interesting. — She pretended to pout, and a sly smile appeared on her face. Komachi took a couple of steps back and pushed her friend forward. — And what about little sister Yui?
Deciding to support the mockery of the poor teenager, Sai nudged him with his elbow and pointed at their teacher.
— Hachiman, you'd better take a look at Hiratsuka, — obeying the dragon's words, he looked at his sensei, dressed in a swimsuit and pareo, and froze at what he saw. — Dark-haired older girls are the best. I guarantee it!
Having laughed at the reaction of both the guy and the embarrassed woman, Silence went towards his group. Ophis was wearing a bikini and sitting in the shade next to Hitori, who was wrapped in a hoodie. The guitarist was not going to show off her swimsuit under any circumstances, embarrassed by those around her.
Thus, the teenagers had fun until the evening, until the final stage of the camp began. The group was escorted to the warehouse, where they were given boxes with a bunch of costumes, which they had to change into for the "test of courage". It was at this point that the topic of Rumi was raised again.
Most people still had no solution to the problem, which is why Hachiman expressed his own version.
— As a rule, in difficult situations, people show their true colors. When they are scared, they will do anything to save their own skin. They are unable to think about others. And they are even ready to sacrifice someone close to them in order to save themselves. You will never be friends with someone whose unpleasant side is so obvious. This is how we can separate them.
He said all this in an indifferent tone, but the reaction of the others was completely different. They all frowned and fell silent.
— If everyone becomes a loner, there will be no conflicts.
The members of his club looked at the teenager with narrowed eyes and disgust.
— Hikitani, this side of you is simply disgusting... — Even the eternally positive Hayama, who never spoke badly of anyone, looked at all this with disapproval.
— Ha-ha-ha! — However, the tense atmosphere was relieved by the ringing laughter of Silence, who was standing by the wall. — What pure selfishness. Ha-ha! Instead of solving the existing problem, you decided to follow your own desire, eradicating its very essence. Rephrasing the question, doing everything the way you want. Wonderful! Simply wonderful! I support this idea. I take all the risks on myself. You won't get any problems from the camp authorities.
At that moment, Hachiman remembered what Sai had said about his own race. And if all the myths about these reptiles are true, then the teenager should rethink his new friend's behavior a little.
***
The plan to split Rumi's group was successful. The dance by the fire left an unpleasant aftertaste for the teenagers. The next day, everyone was going to go home, and an argument arose between the dragons and Hiratsuka. The couple wanted to take Hitori with them, and the woman insisted on her position as a teacher and refused such responsibility. The culprit herself stopped the heated argument, apologizing to Silence, she decided to go with the teacher. However, since they would only be taken to the school itself, the dragons followed them, and planned to take their favorite from there.
When the group of teenagers reached their destination and unloaded, an expensive car familiar to the three members of the volunteer club drove up to them.
— Sis, Hikigaya-kun, — a young girl approached the teenagers after getting out of the car. — How did you relax there? Did you have a good time? — She glanced at everyone with her attentive gaze, stopping at a pair of dragons and shuddered after a few seconds. — And who are your new friends, Yukino?
— They are not my friends. They are Silence and the Ouroboros Office, — Yukinoshita answered coldly as her sister approached. — They are here because of Goto-san. Well, Hikigaya can hardly be called their friend.
— Yeah, — she squinted at Hachiman, trying to see something in him. — It's time for us to go anyway. Mom is waiting.
Not wanting to linger here, Haruna Yukinoshita took her sister and left the company. As the heiress of a family connected to the five clans of protectors, she was familiar with the name of such a powerful being as the embodiment of infinity. And she really wanted to be wrong in her conclusions, but the girl emanated too much power.
"We need to warn the clans," Haruna muttered, biting her nail. "And limit Yukino's contact with Hikigaya."