Sometimes a messenger would bring tidings made of both good news, and bad news. Hiratsuka-sensei did not do that for us.

The bad news was that thanks to a new craze sweeping the Japanese educational system, our school now had a "sibling school" in the city of Sapporo, Sapporo Kita High School. That school was planning to have events alongside the famous and already commercialized "Sapporo Snow Festival" at the start of February. Known for amazing for ice sculptures and tourist diversions, the locals actually mostly avoided that festival.

The worse news was the student council at that school there couldn't come up with any fun or interesting ideas for their new festival, so our Student Council and the Service Club both were asked to assist. Apparently a kind of reputation coupled with expectations about our school somehow were leaking out of Chiba. A reputation spread far and wide plus expectations minus any means of escaping requests equaled the crushing burden of society.

The worst news was there was little budget for travel so we'd be taking a 16 hour bus trip there instead of the more fast and convenient train or plane routes. No single bus was available with sufficient seating, so seats on two separate ones were booked. The buses would leave Friday evening after school and return Tuesday morning after a trip that would extend through the night. We would stay at a small family lodge that was western-style. Of course, all homework for that weekend would still have to be done and turned in Monday morning at 9am to Hiratsuka-sensei, and Tuesday's would be due at the normal times. For the coup de grâce we had a test Tuesday in science. My reaction to all this was as the Americans would say, "Just shoot me. Make it a double-tap to be sure."

We were all gathered in the Service Club room with the Student Council, and were drinking tea when Sensei came in with two envelopes.

"Everyone, here are the room assignments for the lodge. Each room has a pair of twin beds. Hikigaya and Imai will be in room 201, Isshiki and Morita in 203, Yuigahama and Yukinoshita in 202, and Ayahana will be with me in 205."

"Yay! I'm with Yukinon!"

"Please don't hug me like this in front of others."

So hugging like that in private was okay? Yuigahama had glommed onto Yukinoshita who was blushing with one eye closed. Hugging beauties were very cute. The theme song from Citrus welled up in the background. Well that last part was only in my head and I had to pull my thoughts out of the gutter.

It's not like they resembled those step-sisters in any way, right? I mean in that anime one step sister was cold, unsociable, rigidly "by the book", and model student with black hair and intense eyes. The other warm compassionate one was fair-haired, sociable, noisy, flouted the dress code, and ...wait a minute! They totally were like those step sisters weren't they...and if they kissed who would be the first one to deepen … yikes my thoughts had slid from the gutter right down into the sewer.

"Hikipervy-kun, please wipe that disgusting grin from your face and stop imagining unnecessary things."

"My bad."

"*Ahem* Here are the Yoshida Travel bus tickets everyone, they have seating assignments too. These buses have ten rows with two seats on each side," explained Sensei.

Boos and hisses, that model of bus was what Komachi and I called the sardine can on wheels. Let me guess, we'll be in the very back for maximum enjoyment of vibration, sway and bouncing. Sensei was walking around handing out tickets as she spoke.

"These first four tickets are for the 6:30pm bus #5183."

"Isshiki Iroha seat 9C."

Yup, yup, our President was at the shaky rear of the bus, in the aisle seat. One sly kohai shaken not stirred, bartender.

"Morita Moeri, seat 9D."

So Secretary-Chan would be next to my kohai by the window on the right side, in the rear. Hang on to those glasses in that bumpy back of the bus, shy and demure meganneko.

"Hikigaya Hachiman, seat 10B."

Aisle seat for me, at least there was more room for taller than average guy than the window chair had, but in the very back of the bus on the left. As expected. Would I be sitting with someone here?

"Yukinoshita Yukino, seat 10A."

A teacup rattled on a saucer for a second, and I made a covert glance toward our school's Ice Cold Beauty to see if she was upset or embarrassed or disgusted...yes her face was red, but she was smiling and her eyes were bright and shining...and looking directly at me. Was she thinking of new ways to torment and verbally abuse me?

"These next tickets are for the 7:00pm bus 5190."

"Awwww, I wanted to ride with Hikki and Yukinon," Yuigahama was already unhappy.

"Ayahana Hana, seat 5A."

Oh, lucky Treasurer-Chan gets a premium between-the-wheels seat that was next to the window, which is fine for a short girl! Well, premium for the sardine can on wheels model of bus, anyway.

"Yuigahama Yui, seat 5B."

Ah, hopefully Treasurer-Chan is at least a good listener if not conversationalist, because her seat-mate will be a bubbly airhead making non-stop chatter.

"Hiratsuka Shizuka, seat 5C."

She be ever longing for the next rest stop, to burn a smoke or two. I feel sorry for her seat-mate who will have to endure the cycle of nicotine withdrawal.

"Imai Hisao seat 5D."

Don't comment on Sensei's age or her relationship status, Vice President-kun, and you'll probably live. Also don't stare at her breasts or down her cleavage at that birthmark on Port-side Melon-chan if she has a low neckline that day, it's not polite.

Sensei then sat next to me on my right. While Isshiki was describing the festival our club advisor made a diabolical grin, and started tapping on her phone with its nicotine stained case. I already studied that tourist information, so we wouldn't duplicate any part of the venue. We even had Ebina and Zaimokuza agree to be on tap that weekend for remote advice and ideas..That is they agreed after laughing at the sort of losers who would go on a 16 hour bus ride to Sapporo.

My phone vibrated and I discretely looked at the message that had arrived.

From: Yukinoshita Haruno

Aren't you lucky, Hikigaya-kun, to have an overnight bus seat next to a cute girl! Since I doubt she'd hold that Pan-san plushie you gave her on the bus, I should warn you. Sometimes when Yukino-chan was little she'd sleep in my bed, and she was a very clingy sleeper! She still is like that with her plushies! Have fun on your trip, Hikigaya-kun!

Damn that elder demon superwoman for making my completely pure young mind go in bad directions! And Sensei was guilty too, they were co-conspirators! My face and ears were starting to burn; it was time to purify my brain again. I certainly wasn't in any way, shape or form a Pan-san plushie, Yukinoshita Haruno-san!