After parting ways with Olivia, Logan returned home. Once he was free from the constant distraction of her persistent face, he suddenly found himself sitting in his room with his face buried in his hands.
'How had I managed to inadvertently reveal my plans?'
Flopping onto his bed, Logan glanced at the calendar on his bedside table, next to which lay a notebook filled with a few discarded plans.
'Actually, it wasn't a big deal. Wanting to go to Japan sounded like nothing more than a personal desire for travel. Besides, I really couldn't think of another solution.'
Given his current 'special circumstances', he needed to act as quickly as possible to investigate. However, he had already concluded that, as a student, coordinating with both school and family was next to impossible. Abruptly telling his parents he wanted to go to Japan? No way they'd agree. Faking sick leave? That would be exposed quickly.
As for Olivia's talk about 'mutual help, fair exchange', the meaning was simple. If she helped him, he'd have to answer her relentless questions over the past few days, the questions he fully intended to deflect.
"Can she really pull it off?" Logan doubted it. Perhaps he had told her casually, not taking it seriously himself. After all, it was something that had troubled him for so long.
Recalling her completely unbothered agreement, Logan muttered, "Ha, as if anyone can overcome the two bastions of society: family and school."
Logan shook his head, giving himself sufficient confidence.
However, when the weekend was over, Logan found himself eating his words.
Or rather, poverty has limited his imagination.
As his peers donned their backpacks and returned to class, Logan strolled into the room just as the bell rang. He dropped his bag on his desk, only to notice a piece of paper already placed there.
"David, what's this?" Logan asked, tossing his bag aside as he glanced at David, who was furiously scribbling something at his desk.
"No idea." David replied without looking up, engrossed in his task.
Logan sneered at the overly studious act, which he found utterly fake. Out of curiosity, he peeked at what David was filling out… it's a form of some sort.
Turning his attention back to the paper on his own desk, Logan's jaw dropped as he read aloud, "Short-Term Trip to Japan: International Teacher-Student Exchange?"
David's ears perked up. He finally put down his pen and nodded excitedly, "Yep!"
Logan noticed that the one that David was filling out was the same as his. His groggy brain, still half-asleep from the morning rush, jolted awake.
A certain confident girl standing in the wind on the street flashed into his mind. He couldn't help but blurted out, "This is for Japan?"
David patted him on the shoulder and said, "Of course!"
Logan took a deep breath, 'Damn, it's so fast...'
After thinking about it, Logan decided to accept the reality first. He picked up the piece of paper, or rather the notice, and read it carefully.
"To promote international exchange and cooperation, and to learn from global educational experiences..."
Logan quickly skimmed over the lofty introduction, squinting to find the key details: dates, locations, participants, stamps...
"...Our school will select representative teachers and students to go to Japan's Tomiseki XX University, Tokyo XX High School, Osaka International XX and other institutions which have close cooperative relations with our school for a seven-day exchange program..."
Logan set the notice down solemnly. Even with a critical eye, the document seemed entirely legitimate.
Although he had never heard of Tomiseki XX University or Tokyo XX High School in his two years of studying at his school, that didn't matter now...
"Logan, let me tell you, we totally hit the jackpot this time. Each class gets three spots, and both you and I were selected!"
Logan looked at David's jubilant expression and said with a weak tone, "Wow, what a coincidence..."
"And it just happened to be the two of us, and we have a good relationship. I wonder if this is fate…"
"Definitely not. Shut up."
David ignored the jab and continued, "They call it an exchange program, but let's be real… it's basically a fun trip. Oh, and there's a small fee, but it's cheap, just the cost of round-trip tickets. Participation is voluntary. I know you're going, after all, you love Japan, don't you? Don't worry, I've already grabbed a form for you."
Thwack!
David slapped a blank form onto Logan's desk.
Logan stared at the form with a complicated expression, 'A teacher-student exchange trip… The school and family hurdles had truly been cleared effortlessly by her. Why hadn't I thought of this genius-level solution? No… I wouldn't have been able to pull it off even if I had thought of it.'
Grabbing a pen, Logan didn't see any reason to reject this golden opportunity. He began filling out the form at lightning speed, but a thought struck him midway. Looking up, he asked, "By the way, you said each class gets three spots. Besides you and me, who's the third..."
"It's me..."
A girl's voice interrupted before David could answer.
Logan turned to see Diane, who was standing nearby with a shy smile. She raised her hand slightly, holding up her own form.
Logan twirled his pen, almost dropping it, 'Wow, insider favoritism much? Why not just boldly pick everyone you know!'
Diane approached the two of them and said, "This is a rare opportunity, going abroad and all… but with finals coming up, I'm not sure if you two would go..."
Diane glanced at Logan's half-completed form. "If neither of you go, I'd feel weird going alone. But it looks like you're both planning to go, so... guess I'll fill mine out, too."
…
After school, Logan met Olivia in a secluded spot on campus. This time, Logan had initiated the meeting.
"Was this your doing?" Logan held up the formal notice about the Japan exchange program in front of her.
Olivia glanced at it, smiled faintly, and admitted without hesitation, "Yep, it's me."
Logan frowned and said, "This only came up a few days ago. It's not just about getting travel permits, convincing the school leadership is the real hurdle. There's no way to get through all the red tape in such a short time. Do you think the school belongs to your family or something?"
Olivia kept her gaze steady, "And if it does?"
"Well..." Logan began doubting her position in this matter.
'Maybe she had some insider knowledge? Or was it sheer coincidence? The efficiency was unnervingly high. Moreover, it's not something money alone could solve.'
"How did you pull it off?" Logan was genuinely curious, wondering if it involved some high-level strategy or maneuvering.
Olivia's expression remained indifferent. With a small sigh, she brushed her hair aside and replied, "Didn't you just say it yourself?"
"Huh?"
"The school belongs to my family."
"Oh, I see… so the school is your fam… wait, what..."
Logan froze mid-sentence, caught between realization and disbelief.
"...Oh." He backed off mentally.
'All roads might lead to Rome, but turns out, there are people who were born in Rome and cannot be offended.'
…
When he returned home again, Logan called out, "Mom, Dad, the school has a notice that needs your signature!"
Regardless of how things had unfolded or how painfully the process had gone, a problem that had troubled Logan for a while was now resolved.
Olivia, who appeared to be wealthy, influential, and stunningly beautiful, a living example of a charmed life, had fulfilled her end of the bargain.
Now, it was Logan's turn. Feeling awkward, Logan stalled, vaguely promising to discuss it after the trip to Japan... though he fully intended to dodge the issue in the end.
With the school's 'imperial decree' in hand, convincing his parents was no challenge. Logan wasn't about to admit he volunteered. Instead, he claimed it was mandatory, with penalties for missing out and even potential college admissions bonuses. A quick three-part explanation did the trick.
…
Logan's family busied themselves briefly with preparations.
Though abrupt, the trip to Japan was set, and going abroad was no small matter. During the preparations, Amanda meticulously went through the checklist, helping her son pack his luggage, scurrying up and down the house like it was spring-cleaning for the New Year.
After dinner, Frank casually handed Logan a new bank card, "Don't be too thrifty abroad. If you run out, just call me."
Logan smiled as he tucked the card away. Though his current earnings far exceeded the card's balance, the gesture carried a warmth that no amount of money could replace.
Meanwhile, David bombarded him on the messenger with excited messages, eagerly outlining Plans A and B for their time in Japan.
Logan, recalling their autumn field trip antics, simply ignored the messages with a resigned sigh.
Logan didn't have much to prepare, as his mom took care of his luggage, and he already had money set aside. While this was his first trip abroad, it was one with an uncertain destination and purpose.
The night before departure, Logan opened the bottom drawer of his wardrobe.
Inside were several items, covered in a fine layer of dust.
Four kunai, three darts, and an old, slightly worn Konoha's forehead protector.
"Looking at it this way, it's really somewhat nostalgic."
Logan murmured. These were the items he had brought back during the first time he came back to modern world. His old ANBU uniform had been discarded, but the weapons and forehead protector had been stashed away until now.
He picked up a kunai. Its weight and cold metallic texture brought back memories of battles fought in blood and chaos.
Under the white light, his finger traced its edge, catching a sharp glint, 'It was still usable.'
The forehead protector is the one he has been wearing since he became a Ninja a long time ago, and it is not the one with the scratches...
A wave of nostalgia filled the air. It was as if he had unearthed a forgotten treasure. Maybe he'd need these, or perhaps it was a simple ritualistic urge.
Regardless, Logan packed the items, a kunai, shuriken, the forehead protector, and his short sword, Shimizu, into a sealing scroll and tucked it into his backpack.
The night passed uneventfully.
The next day, at the day of departure, Logan, his classmates, teachers, and a tour guide, around 30 people in total, passed through airport security under the watchful eyes of their parents.
The date was December 21st. No snow had yet fallen as a passenger plane roared into the sky from Fresno Yosemite International Airport.