Transcendence Volume 2: Awakening

Chapter 31: Line in the Sand

[August 2, 2023, Wednesday]

Thanks to the Summer Vacation, this allowed both schools to essentially take a break from the gruelling training that even the most enthusiastic ones were told to stop. This also allowed many to do the most important aspect of a Summer Vacation.

However, one problem had come from this.

The thing is, students from both Aomori and Tsukiyama would visit a nearby beach resort that was owned by a pair of Alumni from both schools, incidentally, the school also had a ski lodge that was frequented by students that are also owned by alumni, and this meant that on their summer vacation these students would come and visit that resort. And when that usually happens the age-old rivalry between the Aomori and the Tsukiyama students would be ignited.

There was a tense stare-off between the management and participants of the Sports Festival between the two sides as they found themselves by the Parking lot of the resort.

"Well this is awkward," Karen said as she and the Representative Committee of both sides stood between the crowd of students, both of which are far too eager to throw hands at one another.

And I was even hoping I can have some private time with Natsuki too, She thought said as she looked back and found him as if the colour from his face had been drained. It was clear that he was afraid of a possible altercation but, there was something different in the way he stood as he shuffled uneasily.

Eventually one of the third years walked towards them, she was a short girl with dirty blond hair and wore a pair of glasses in front of her brown eyes. Karen recognized the girl as the one that was kidnapped alongside her from the Fujimoto incident.

"I have a deal," she said raising both of her hands in surrender as if they were aiming guns at them accompanied with a white towel as well. "We'll take one side of the beach and you guys take the other, we'll mind our own business and vice versa. Is that alright?"

Beside Karen, the other members of the representatives discussed. As if sceptical that the Tsukiyama students would keep their word.

"Are you guys seriously doubt they'll break their word?" Karen crossed her arms, but then she had an idea. "We're not exactly above that given how it was our predecessors who broke the Prank War treaty years ago."

That struck a chord within the other members, years ago apparently two parties from both sides engaged in a prank war and even came with a ceasefire. It was from their side that managed to break that ceasefire making the Tsukiyama students the winner.

Karen turned to face the Tsukiyama student and offered her hand. Much to the surprise of the other members who exchanged weary looks.

"I can agree to your terms, but I can't assure you that they will," Karen told the girl, and then smiled. "My name is Natsuyama Karen, what about you?"

"My name is Amamiya Hanako," She shook her hand and smiled back. "I'll tell the others as well, though I doubt they'll go with it as well."

"Alright then," Karen said as she watched the Tsukiyama students walk away, while shooting some pointed looks by the others. She shrugged as she watched the remaining Aomori Students that stuck around grab their things. Natsuki on the other hand looked sick as he lugged his and Karen's bags.

"You alright?" She asked him worriedly as she took her bags to lighten the load.

"Yeah just carsick," He lied, he was never the type that gets carsick. In any, she's the one who's prone to it.

She decided not to press it as the two made their way down the stairs and to the beach proper to find that both sides had made a literal border designating which side is whose with the stalls and shops more or less no man's land.