After we returned, the first to get scolded was me, of course, the teachers shouting at me and asking things like where have you been until now?! Do you have any idea how worried we were?! We heard you guys went with another group? Want to get expelled?!
“I’m pretty sure the teacher has my phone number, tho…”
I answered back plainly and then they quieted down and quickly changed the subject on the three girls.
“Alice, just what happened to your foot? Did this punk do something to you?”
“Wow~ that’s rude.”
I smirked amused and the teacher only glanced at me once. Alice then shook her head in a hurry and quickly defended me,
“No, no! Nothing like that, teacher! The girls and I searched for a place where we could sit down and while doing so, another group of strangers tried to take us away, we refused and wanted to return when I slipped on a root and twisted my ankle. The group of strangers wanted to assist me but Leon appeared and such helped me get back to our break-point. If not for him, it would’ve been dangerous.”
Wow, coming up with such an elaborate lie all of a sudden. Aren’t you quite the schemer?
I chuckled lightly and thought again over her words. Saying that she slipped gave the possibility to evade any form of conflicts, like this evading putting either I or herself into trouble with the teacher.
“Hmm… Is it true?”
The teacher then glanced at Mira, knowing that she was a rather shy and quiet person that didn’t know how to lie. However, this time the teacher was surprised to see her get closer to me and said with a smile,
“It is true. I also happened to get left behind by everyone, and Leon was there to bring me back on his back. Leon it’s a good person.”
“Oh, really~?”
“It was your fault for not minding your friends, stop getting mad now.”
Hearing this Alice tightened her hold on my neck and I instantly rebuked back irritated, unable to just leave her there. She then pouted and rested her head on me. Seeing this show of affection, the teacher felt his eyebrow twitching and with an annoyed smile he then said,
“Well, seeing how you brats are so into it, then should I let you just return to the motel? Alice, I would leave the scolding for trying to distance from the group to another time. Right now It would be quite… problematic to bring an injured student to the top.”
“I- I understand…“
“Oh, no need to worry, teacher. I can bring her no problem.”
“Eh?”
“Hm?”
At the teacher’s annoyed remark, Alice couldn’t help but agree disheartened, but I then took a step forward with a fake friendly smile, making both the teachers and the girls look at me somewhat surprised. Observing my grin, the teacher then clicked his tongue and threatened me while pointing at my chest,
“Very well, but if you’re causing us trouble by being left behind for too long, then be sure that you won’t kiss another trip ever again in this school.”
“No problem.”
Rather, I don’t give a f***, haha~.
I chuckled then the teacher left while scoffing. Alice’s face was pale and quickly whispered to me softly,
“H-hey, Leon. Are you sure it’s a good idea to provoke the teachers like this? Won’t it cause too much of a problem?”
“I don’t care. They can’t do anything to me anyway.”
“Can’t they keep you from passing?”
“And have me on their heads for another year? They don’t know what else to do so I would just leave already.”
I smirked then simply walked forward towards the tip as the break was already over. I then told Mira to inform the teacher next time as I won’t be able to help a second time. I looked once again at the teachers then turned away, old memories making me laugh under my beard,
And to think I used to make jokes with these assholes. Be them young or old, when in trouble, they will change their faces in a blink.
I was no longer feeling disappointed or betrayed because I got used to it, but the thought alone still amused me, making me wonder how much and quickly can humans change.
“Ak!”
As I thought to myself, I felt something moist and soft touch my neck, making for my whole body to jolt as I froze in place. Alice then laughed amused as she kissed my neck, happy to see that I was no longer grumpy,
“W-what the heck are you doing?!”
“Seeing you so deep in thoughts, I couldn’t help but just want to tease you for a bit. Feeling better now?”
“Feeling gutsy after sitting on someone’s back, eh? Let’s just get to our destination. See how I’ll make you pay for this.”
“Oh~? I’m already curious.”
“Grr…”
I really wanted to grope her for a bit to pay back, but I was afraid that the moment I did so, the teachers from behind us would hear her shout, scolding us again, and most probably bring her into it as well.
Looking back, I saw how the teacher from the front together with a few students were constantly staring at us, throwing glances our way. Or rather, at Alice’s round butt that was especially sticking out as she was sitting on my back. At the moment she was wearing a pair of black mulled sports leggings, made out of a warm and soft material but which would also enchant a woman’s curves. Having this the first thing greeting you from above, of course even the teacher couldn’t simply suppress his gazes.
For real…
I felt annoyed and I asked Alice to momentarily get down.
“E-eh? Are you going to pay me back now?”
“Don’t kid yourself. Now stand up for a bit.”
She blushed for a moment then I took off my jacket and placed it around her waist. She looked at me confused then I explained what I saw by only a few words,
“With such a bomb-shell of a body, you’re bound to catch gazes. Better be careful.”
“Huh?”
“Your ass…”
“…….E-eh?!”
At first she didn’t understand, until I pointed it out for her directly with a plain face. Hearing this, she instantly turned red and quickly tried to hide her behind from the others’ gazes. The students especially clicked their tongues annoyed and I seriously felt like bashing some faces.
After she tied the jacket around her waist, she got back up on my back then I sped up on my own towards the top, Mira and Marina going with Simon’s group as to not be left behind again.
“Thank you…”
“For what?”
Suddenly Alice whispered to my ear and I asked with a neutral tone, trying to keep the balance between my steps and my breath. She then hugged me better as she burrowed her face on my shoulder, hearing a slight tone of sadness,
“I told you that I’ll become strong enough so you won’t have to worry about me anymore… but here I am… getting saved by you again and again under different circumstances.”
“… Getting strong… it’s done in time. Don’t rush… just stay focused.”
I spoke slowly and rhythmically and she smiled calmly but still feeling as if like a burden.
“For sure I am a lot of trouble for you, right?”
“You have… no idea…”
“Uuuh…”
“Thanks for that… I’m growing faster…”
She felt like crying hearing my approval, but then I smiled calmly as I glanced at her.
Growing… faster? How? What does he mean?
She looked surprised and confused at me, unable to understand the meaning of my words, but decided not to ask anymore and just relax, feeling her nerves calming down.
F****** shitty route…
I continued on walking but because of the abrupt and bumpy road, I was now sweating like crazy. I couldn’t help but feel extremely conscious of my smell as Alice was holding her head right on my shoulder near my neck, thinking whenever she’s able to smell the deadly scent.
“Oy, you still alive? Can you still breathe?”
Seeing as she said or did nothing for a while, I started to seriously worry whenever I really suffocated her.
“Eh?”
From behind, I heard a lively voice as if she was in a good mood. I found it weird but still asked unsurely,
“Are you alright? You didn’t say nor did anything for a while now. You still breathing?”
“Y-yeah… yeah! I’m fine! Why asking? You want to take a break?”
Feeling how my back was wet already while my neck was sweaty, she misunderstood that I might be asking because I wanted a break. However, I asked once again more directly while going forward, annoyed that I suddenly started blushing again,
“I need no break. I asked because I’m sweaty as heck and pretty sure my smell might kill you. So how is it? Still able to go? Or want to ask Simon to carry you-“
“Your smell is not bad!”
She suddenly shouted as she laid back on me and started breathing intensely, making me jump once again from shock,
“W-wait! Don’t suddenly smell me! Argh!”
Helpless, all I could do was to let her do as she pleased, her breath tickling my nape and making for my body to sweat more profoundly, my face burning from embarrassment.
“You damn devil…”
“Why? I just proved to you that I don’t mind your smell.”
She smiled cutely at me and after glancing once at her, I saw her face blushing hard as well, making me feel a funny feeling inside,
At least her face isn’t pale…
.
T-that surprised me.
Alice thought while a deep blush covered her face. Back when she was more and more silent, it wasn’t because she was down, tired, or for other such reason, but because she focused her senses on Leon’s scent without letting him find her out, gently feeling his warmth, his scent, trying her best not to just taste his nape for a bit, her heart rushing while she licked her lips.
I can’t believe how much of a pervert I am at such times…! Uuugh~! If not for Leon to suddenly wake me up from my dazed state, I might have just given in to my urges and kissed his neck once again…
She leaned on him and tightened her grasp on him, his broad and large back making her feel secure and at ease.
.
After seeing that Alice was doing fine, I sighed more at ease then continued on forward. After half an hour of walking on a slope with a close to 40 degrees angle, we finally arrived at our destination after walking for a total of 3 hours with a few pauses. Most of the people were dead-tired as they all sat down on benches or on stones around. At the peak, there was a resort that was selling both drinks and foods at ridiculous prices.
“Oah~! The view’s so amazing!”
“Is it? Seems depressing…”
In front of the resort, one could see the whole town from the base of the mountain and much more, at the moment the gray mist barely letting us see anything other than the tip of the mountains around and some tips of trees. What I saw was a cloud that couldn’t let us see but tips of rocks and trees, while what Alice saw was the view of someone from atop of the world, feeling like above the clouds.
After putting Alice down I wanted to go my way, only to have her stop me on track,
“Wait! Leon, where are you going?”
“Behind those boulders to change shirts. As you can tell, my back is drenched.”
“Oh, I see…”
“Why so downed? Or, you want to help me change?”
I wanted to tease her for a bit, only to see how she opened her eyes wide as if preparing to ask: can I? However, before she could actually ask that, I quickly distanced myself with a wry smile after seeing the other schoolmates coming closer.
“A-anyway, I’m going. Don’t forget, we better keep our relationship a secret. Although we screwed up from the get-go, you better still keep your distance.”
“Sigh~ fine…”
She sighed dejected then waited for Simon’s group to appear. Meanwhile, I went behind some stones to change my shirt as it was dripping wet, then sat down and opened up the carcasses with food I brought. Although I was keeping my distance, I was still watching her as she was under my responsibility for taking her here.
“…”
I observed her laugh and smile while her eyes were shining from the beautiful view, making me sigh amused, gladdened that she was actually enjoying her trip.
All in all, my bet with the teachers was worth it. Now on our way down it would be easier as all I would need to do is to use all the trees for support.
Nothing too eventful happened afterward, with the exception of me having to carry Alice all the way to the motel right back, the teachers being with their eyes on me all the time.
“Uugh… I’m sorry…”
After we arrived, I felt my back killing me and Alice couldn’t help feeling like crying for being a burden. Even so, I smirked as a sense of victory washed over me.
“Nah, all’s good. Did you see those teachers’ faces after we arrived? They couldn’t believe that I was able to actually bring you forth and back on my own. Heh, bunch of morons.”
At first baffled, Alice then chuckled amused and patted my shoulder. I turned her way and just as I did so, she suddenly kissed me on the lips, leaving me frozen for a moment,
“This is a thank you… See you soon.”
She waved happily at me and slowly walked towards her room, leaving me staring at her for a period of time until she reached her room. After recovering I quickly looked around in a panic, making sure no one saw what just happened.
