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Double Trip
—Tsubasa—
Today is the day I had waited so long for…The day we head off on the trip. Everyone reached the place we met up without problems, bringing a lot of luggage because we’d stay over for three days and two nights. Reina-chan especially had a massive backpack and bag. I thought it might be hard to bring all that with her, but Nanato-kun just helped carry her some of the stuff without even questioning it.
I love this kindness of Nanato-kun. Even if it isn’t directed at me, it makes me happy. We got on the train, and reached Atami in Shizuoka around two hours later.
“Tsubasa-chan, did you bring your swimsuit with you?”
“I did, Yuzuyu-chan.”
Yuzuyu-chan was oddly desperate when it came to me bringing my swimsuit. Even before today.
“If you’re worried about anything, feel free to reach out to Nanato or me. Safety comes first, after all.”
“Okay. Thanks for the heads-up, Hirose-kun.”
It would be bad if any trouble happened during our trip. I should probably keep that in mind.
“Your older sister told me to look after you during our last shift, see.”
“Oh, really? I feel bad that she couldn’t make it.”
“Don’t worry, I will make her tag along eventually.”
…Hm? That makes me wonder, why was he so desperate to have Sis come along?
“You can’t force her, you know?”
“…Guess the road ahead of me is pretty long.”
I thought Hirose-kun was joking, but I feel like he might be able to look after her so that she can lead a stable life even outside of work.
“She’s not giving you any work, right?”
“Not at all. In fact, she fills me with hope and strength to keep on living.”
“You’re such a jokester, Hirose-kun.”
“I’m as serious as I can be.”
He said that with a straight face, so it makes it hard exactly what was a joke, and what is him being serious…
“I can’t wait, Nanato-kun,” I moved closer to Nanato-kun as I called out to him.
“Wah!”
Nanato-kun seemed a bit bewildered at my approach. He almost had an anxious look, like he was worried. He’s been like that ever since yesterday when we met up for one final check. Ever since that day we ate with my parents, he has kept an odd distance between us.
“Are you not feeling well?”
“I’m okay. Totally fine,” Nanato-kun gave a weird response, so I can’t help but be curious.
I guess I have to make him spill the beans quickly. And I should ask Reina-chan for her advice.
“Staying over with Nanato…Staying over with Nanato…”
Said Reina-chan was mumbling to herself while grinning. I can tell she is very much looking forward to this, and it healed my heart to see her this excited.
“Um, Reina-chan?”
“Wueh?! Yeah, yeah?”
“I wanted to talk about something.”
“Sure, what’s up?” She put her hand on my shoulder, pulling me away from the others.
“Sorry that it has to be this abrupt, but the plan we made is that I can have time with Naoto-kun on the second day…Could we move that to today?”
“What’s your reason?”
“Things are a bit awkward between me and Nanato-kun…and I want to clear that up quickly so we can enjoy the rest of the trip.”
“Sounds good. I’ll change my plans to the second day, then.”
Reina-chan and I already made plans beforehand so that we wouldn’t try to fight over Nanato-kun during our trip, but I had to change plans right away.
“Thanks a lot, Reina-chan.”
“But, it’s gonna be some trouble for me to rearrange things, so you owe me one, okay?”
“Of course. I’ll repay this one day.”
If this happened before Reina-chan and I started working together, we might have gotten into another fight, but now we can hand each other something. I thought that traveling by train would take a long time, but with Reina-chan and Yuzuyu-chan, we quickly reached our destination. Everyone complained about how long it took, but I was perfectly fine. I had no problem waiting, after all. I managed to wait five years to meet Nanato-kun, so two hours is no problem.
“We’re here!” Reina-chan opened her arms, letting herself be showered in the bright sunlight.
The weather is great today. Nanato-kun said the forecast said so, but I guess that’s true after all. From the train station, we headed right for the inn. When the beautiful beach came into view, everyone took out their smartphones to take pictures.
“It’s the ocean! Ahhh, the breeze feels great!”
Nanato-kun sighed in pleasure as he was hit by a gust of wind. As you would expect of him, I guess. We checked in at the inn and then entered the rooms we reserved. This being a room made for adults, it was rather large in size, too. From our room, we could even see the beach, and it was equipped with an open-air bath. It was even visible from the room, so I don’t know if I could bring myself to use it with the others around.
“I’m so tired!”
We placed our heavy luggage, and Yuzuyu-chan fell down on one of the tatami mats, rolling around. She’s so adorable like a little child.
“Let’s take a quick break and then check out the hot spring. After that, we can eat dinner,” Nanato-kun said, as he stepped out of the balcony to watch the ocean.
It was already 6pm, and we planned to enjoy the beach as a whole tomorrow, so we should take our time to explore the inn tonight. The open-air bath here might be rather small, but they even have a sauna here. How many years has it been since I enjoyed a hot spring like this…
“You’re starting with the climax! Unbelievable!” said Yuzuyu-chan as she clung to her bag in desperation.
“Are you looking forward to the hot spring that much?”
“Of course. Because Tsubasa-chan’s mgugh!”
Mid-sentence, Reina-chan suddenly covered Yuzuyu-chan’s mouth, grabbing her leg.
“You should take a bath by yourself, Yuzuyu.”
“Don’t make me do that! If you do, Yuzu’ll send your loved ones, family, and friends all down to hell.”
“Aren’t you resenting me a bit too much?! And then you’d end up in hell yourself!”
Reina-chan’s been calling her by her first name, lately. Seeing how they get along makes me happy, too.
“A massage in your room…5,000 yen for thirty minutes.”
There was a paper on the room table with this information written on it. They also offered other faculties and a map of the area there, too.
“If you wish for a massage, just leave it to Yuzu. She’ll give you 5,000 for 30 minutes.”
“You’re going to pay me for it?!”
“And if you use a coupon, you’ll get an extra 3,000.”
I can’t just steal money from Yuzuyu-chan, so although I was curious about the message, I had to decline. The proprietress prepared yukata in the right sizes for all of us, so we grabbed everything we needed and headed to the hot spring. Other than the rest of us, Reina-chan carried a lot of other stuff. I guess she can’t use the stuff the inn provides. It shows her strong conviction toward beauty. She looks cute no matter the time, and she’s extremely cool as the confident woman she is.
“Reina-chan, can you teach me a bit about makeup?”
“Of course. But it’d be best if you came over to my place,” Reina-chan agreed with a smile.
It seems like she’s willing to support my desire to look even more cute. Rather than rivals, we’re more like comrades in arms.
“But in return, I wanna hear all sorts of stories of Nanato when he was younger.”
“Of course, let’s share all sorts of stuff about Nanato-kun.”
Her words made me so happy, I grabbed her hand in the heat of the moment. And she accepted it without budging.
“…You’re not gonna start smooching any second, are you?” Yuzuyu-chan looked over at us with a worried expression.
“No way we will,” Reina-chan grumbled as she shook her shoulders.
“But you’re holding hands!”
“That’s what you do with people you get along with. Sis and I hold hands all the time.”
“Even with Yuzu?”
“Of course.”
I used my open hand to take Yuzuyu-chan’s right hand, and she happily grasped it. Holding hands with the two of them, we walked through the inn. But to make sure we wouldn’t trouble the other visitors, I pulled both Reina-chan and Yuzuyu-chan close to me.
“This…is a bit embarrassing.”
“Reinan, put up with it for the next three days.”
“That’s way too long!”
Reina-chan and Yuzuyu-chan were bantering amongst each other.
“I’m so damn jealous.”
Hirose-kun and Nanato-kun, who were walking ahead of us, turned around and watched us while smiling.
“Why don’t you two hold hands, too?” Yuzuyu-chan suggested.
“That’s some nasty punishment there.”
When we were young, Nanato-kun and I would often walk around holding hands. I want to go back to how we were back then. I want to be with him as much as possible.
“All right, make sure you get back to the room in time for dinner.”
Hirose-kun and Nanato-kun entered the men’s bath, whereas we girls headed inside the women’s bath. I was about to take off my clothes, when I saw Yuzuyu-chan staring at me. She had already stripped naked, with a towel wrapped around her waist. How quickly did she undress?
“What’s wrong, Yuzuyu-chan?”
“Yuzu is just waiting for you.”
“Oh, okay…I’ll be done soon.”
It felt like Yuzuyu-chan was staring at me without even blinking. Like she was urging me to undress quickly.
“You know…Being stared at like this sure is embarrassing…”
“You say that, but what about the time when you’re going to have to undress in front of Nanato-kun?”
“Huh? I mean, well…”
I want Nanato-kun to know everything there is about me…so maybe I would like him to have a proper look in a bright room. But at that time, I would prefer to be so excited I forget all about embarrassment. I might just tell him to look instead.
“Your face is beet red. What exactly are you imagining?”
“Fueh?!”
I turned around to hide my face. It’s Yuzuyu-chan’s fault for making me imagine something like that.
“Are you sexually harassing people again? Keep it down a bit, okay?”
Reina-chan got angry at Yuzuyu-chan. I guess this isn’t the first time.
“I’m just trying to activate my brain. Brain juice, right?”
“Then let me help scoop out all of that.” Reina-chan rubbed Yuzuyu-chan’s head to the point she started crying.
“It’s coming out! Yuzu’s brain juice is coming out!”
Her screams filled the changing room. Thankfully, we were the only visitors right now. I wrapped a towel around my waist and entered the bath, taking a shower to wash my body. We’ve been traveling a lot today, especially during the hot weather, so I had to clean my body properly.
“Yuzu will wash your back!”
“Huh? Oh, thanks a lot, Yuzuyu-chan.”
“It’s okay. This is the soup Yuzu likes.”
She started rubbing my back with her towel, even doing the places I can’t reach by myself.
“This should do it…Now face Yuzu.”
“I can do the front myself, but thanks. It’d be too embarrassing otherwise.”
“R-Right.”
Yuzuyu-chan seemed depressed about it for some reason. Did I say something weird?
“I’ll wash your back now.”
“Thanks a lot, Tsubasa-chan.”
Yuzuyu-chan happily turned her back toward me. Meanwhile, Reina-chan was taking a shower and washing her own body. It was like a scene from a movie, and she looked beautiful. Once we were done washing our bodies, we headed out onto the open-air bath from where we could see the ocean. We took off our towels, now fully naked. It was a bit embarrassing, but we were all friends so I didn’t mind it all too much.
“Hee hee…” Yuzuyu-chan let out a blissful moan as she sank into the water. “Such bliss…In a lot of ways, too.” She said with a delighted expression. “Yuzu’s body is being warmed from the ground up…”
“Yeah, this is great. I’m glad I got to meet everyone.” I said, to which the other two moved closer toward me.
We then enjoyed the bath, sitting shoulder to shoulder.
“Before I met Nanato in middle school, I didn’t have any friends, either, so I’m glad I got to meet you two. I never thought I’d go on a trip with everyone like this.”
“Reina-chan…”
Hearing that from her made me feel incredibly happy.
“I never hung out with any friends in middle school, so I feel really happy right now.”
“True.”
We may look like polar opposites, but with a similar past, we even fell in love with the same person. And yet, we now have to fight for this very person…The gods sure can be cruel sometimes.
“You seem like an outgoing party girl Yuzuyu. Did you often go on trips like these?”
“It’s Yuzu’s first time, too. She never had money for trips like this. And even if she did, going on a trip with money earned from a part-time job isn’t something even high school students regularly get to experience.”
“…That’s true. Maybe we’re really lucky.” Reina-chan glanced at the ocean as she let out a sigh. “In middle school, I always dreamed of going on a trip with Nanato. But now, it’s become a reality. I also have good friends, so experiencing all this really seems like I’m far too lucky.”
I would be happy just being by Nanato-kun’s side, but I also have friends I can enjoy myself with on a trip, so asking for more might just be me being greedy.
“Plus, I’m sure not even that ex-girlfriend got to experience something like this. We’re much closer to Nanato than she is. Gosh, just remembering her face pisses me off.”
“Reina-chan, calm down.”
She must have remembered what happened between us and Susuki-san.
“Yuzu saw that rumored ex-girlfriend way back, but she’s definitely cute, there’s no doubt.”
“Huh? Yuzuyu, are you picking a fight with me?”
Feeling angry at Yuzuyu-chan’s statement, Reina-chan passionately hugged me.
“Tsubasa’s a lot cuter than some hag like that.”
“S-So are you, Reina-chan.”
Suzuki-san was beautiful, no doubt, but Reina-chan is a lot cuter. And I won’t lose either. Reina-chan’s supporting me in that, after all.
“Being liked by girls this cute…Amamicchi’s one hell of a lucky guy. It’s like he saved the world in his previous life. Can’t believe he’s got something like this to worry about.”
I don’t think Nanato-kun is particularly lucky or anything like that. I know his kindness, his personality, his gestures, and all of that is charming in its own good.
“Also, having Reinan and her huge milkers next to Yuzu, it’s really starting to sap my happiness.”
“They’re not that big, okay?”
“If you say that, then Yuzu would just end up on a wall. Show pride in them. Puff them out to show the world.”
Yuzuyu-chan wasn’t wrong. Reina-chan’s size was at least twice the size of mine. I bet Nanato-kun would be happier with bigger breasts, so I wonder if I could do something about this…
“How did they even get this big?”
“I didn’t do anything. But I think they grew alongside my feelings for Nanato-kun.” She said and touched her own chest with a bewildered look.
“Maybe it’s related to hormones?”
“Good guess, Yuzuyu-chan.”
“They say that they grow the more you fondle them, right?” Yuzuyu-chan said as she eerily moved her hands.
Seeing that, Reina-chan quickly got in front of me.
“Don’t get in Yuzu’s way, Reinan.”
“I can already tell what you’re planning. It’s not a bad justification, but don’t.”
“Then Yuzu’s gonna enjoy your mommy milkers instead.”
“H-Hey, I’ve got plenty already!”
The two of them were starting to fight. I’m used to a bit of banter like this thanks to Nanato-kun and Hirose-kun, so this doesn’t feel like anything new.
“Though I did hear that it’s pointless if it’s not the person you like rubbing your chest. Something about doing it yourself is meaningless,” Reina-chan managed to push Yuzuyu-chan away as she sighed in exhaustion.
“So you’ll both grow if you get Nanato-kun to fondle them?”
Yuzuyu-chan’s comment made me fantasize about such a scenery, about Nanato-kun fondling my chest as best as he can. Knowing how kind he is, he definitely would listen to my request if I said I was genuinely plagued by it.
“Stop fantasizing, you two!”
Reina-chan and I must have been thinking about the same thing because we were both beet-red.
“I wasn’t thinking about anything!”
“Your red face says otherwise, Reinan.”
“It’s the heat in here!” She said and moved to the indoor hot spring.
“M-Maybe Yuzu went a bit too far?” Yuzuyu-chan mumbled as she watched Reina-chan walk off.
“I don’t think she’s angry. Both Reina-chan and I love Nanato-kun a lot, so we just immediately start thinking about him. So that’s why she’s probably just embarrassed more than anything.”
“So she left so she can dwell in her fantasies some more?”
“Th-That’s not what I wanted to say with that.”
Glancing over at Reina-chan, her face was even more red than before, so maybe Yuzuyu-chan’s guess wasn’t too far off, after all.
“Yuzu’s gonna take it easy just thinking about all the fun we’re gonna have together,” she said and closed her eyes, sinking deeper into the water.
Since she was thinking about me, I went ahead and took her hand.
“Thanks, Tsubasa-chan…Love you.”
“Me too.”
Since the bath was so refreshing and pleasant, we stayed so long that we almost missed dinner. Returning to the room, we enjoyed a luxurious feast to end the day.
“Maaan, I’m satisfied.”
With dinner done, Nanato-kun lay down with a satisfied groan. It had turned to night outside, the sea pitch-black.
“The hot spring was the best, the food was delicious…This is like a royal suite.”
“Right, right? And I’m the one who suggested it.”
“As expected of Reina-san and your infinite wisdom.”
Looking over at Nanato-kun, he wore a typical yukata. I don’t know why, but just looking at him made my heart race. He looked a lot more mature. Like my dad, almost.
“Praise me more.”
“You’re clever, have great sense, you’re athletic, you’re cute, you’re just perfect.”
“Really?”
“You might just become a celebrity in the future. Someone really important.”
“Okay, calm down. I wouldn’t have been able to do all this by myself. And I can be here the way I am thanks to you Nanato, so relax.”
A great atmosphere was going on between the two. Whenever she talked with Nanato-kun, she looked a lot more lively and cute than usual. I wonder what kind of face I make when I talk to him…Maybe I look worried, or even scared.
“We’re probably gonna be awake for a bit longer, so aren’t you guys feeling like some late-night snacks or juice?” Reina-chan looked at me as she said so.
She seems to be helping me reenact my plan.
“I get that. Coke might be great, too,” Nanato-kun commented as he raised his body.
“Th-Then I’ll go head over to the nearest convenience store.” I stood up and offered that.
I knew my acting was stiff at best, so I felt embarrassed.
“It’d be dangerous to let you walk around all by yourself. Nanato, can you go with her?”
“S-Sure.”
She was willing to sacrifice her conversation with Nanato-kun to help me instead. The original plan was for them to spend time together, but I made her switch with me. We asked what everyone wanted and then headed off. It almost went past me, but he did keep a faint distance open between us. It was just a step, and yet he felt so far now. I guess inviting him to dinner with my family was the wrong choice, after all. I just wanted to show them how happy I was…but he had a lot of responsibility forced onto him. I was happy that we could go back to being fiancées again, but maybe it wasn’t as favorable as a result for him. What gave me reassurance and peace, representing my love, might act as an extra weight on his shoulders.
So talking about marriage despite being in high school could be a result of that. I wanted him to know that I’ve felt this way all these years, but maybe it worked against me. When Susuki-san called me a stalker the other day, it really hurt. Since I came all the way from Fukuoka to see him, he probably can’t even be honest with me about how he feels. In the end, I was just thinking about myself, not caring about his feelings. The one who should have kept some space between us was me. But instead, I was constantly chasing after his back. Nobody wants to carry a heavy burden like that. But that’s why I had to take the initiative and leave some space for him. So far, I was desperate to chase after him, but I now realize that there was no meaning in that if he never approached me, either. That’s why I’m going to wait. I have to be prepared to accept Nanato-kun once he is ready. No matter how long it takes.
“Listen, Nanato-kun.”
We walked alongside the beach when I grabbed his arm and called out to him.
“What’s up?”
“No matter what life you decide to live, what kind of dream you decide to chase, who you’ll pick to be by your side…I’ll support you with all I’ve got. I’ll always be your ally.”
I might not be able to keep going without him, but he’ll do just fine even if I’m not around.
“If you want to get into a good university, I’ll study with you and help you. Even if your dream works out or not, I’ll support you, and if you fall in love with someone, I’ll be there to give you advice.”
People want freedom. Being restrained leaves them restless…and I want Nanato-kun to be free.
“I will never hate you, and I won’t leave you behind. If you want me to stay around, then I’ll be there. But if I’m in the way, I’ll stay away and give you space.”
I’ll keep watching his back, dreaming of the day he might turn around to look at me.
“That’s why, you don’t have to be afraid of anything.”
I want him to know that I’ll have his back. That I’m there to push him along.
“I’ll accept everything about you, Nanato-kun.”
I want to invite him, not forcefully drag him over. Because then, I can accept him with open arms and embrace him.
“That is how I feel.”
Just how birds find their way home, even if Nanato-kun prioritizes his own dream, even if he chooses someone else and leaves me, he might always come back. And to allow that, I have to create a place that allows his return. I have to become an existence that makes him want to come back. That is my choice, as I can’t bring myself to give up on him.
—Nanato—
On the way to the convenience store, Tsubasa told me how she felt. That she’d always be by my side, supporting me no matter what the future held. I guess I really have been blessed by an angel. Of course, she might just be exaggerating, but knowing Tsubasa, it sounded like her genuine feelings. It’s not that she was supervising me. She was just watching over me. Waiting for me to take the first step. Whereas I felt anxious before, my emotions now changed into something much stronger. On the way back from the convenience store, I approached Tsubasa.
“Why do you care for me this much?”
“Huh? Because you’re important to me.”
“But even so, this isn’t normal, no?”
“Then I guess I’m not normal.”
Yeah, she definitely is a special existence.
“But what if I did something bad? Like cheating on an exam.”
“If you thought of doing it, then I would scold you. And if you already did it, then I would reflect on it together with you,” she answered with an answer that was worth a million points.
“What if I turned into a playboy? Just going around clubbing instead of going to university.”
“Then I’ll wait until you’ve calmed down. I don’t think you’d actually change into someone like that.”
“What if I decided to study abroad in France to become a patissier?”
“Then I’ll support you more than anybody else! I’ll try my best to earn money so that we can at least see each other twice a year.”
Such a comforting answer…It made me feel emotional.
“What if…Um…what if I started dating Shibayu?”
“…Then I would support you with everything I have. I want the people I care about to be happy. And if I’m in the way, then I’ll give you space.”
Reina and Susuki’s faces popped up in my mind for a moment, but I went with Shibayu instead. Even if I start dating someone else, she’ll wait for me. It’s not normal, after all. It makes me feel special.
“How reassuring.”
“I’m happy you feel that way.”
If you had someone like her by your side, you would definitely rely on them. As long as you’re alive in this world, you’ll always struggle with stress and worries. I’m part of this world, relying on others.
“What if I said I was lonely?”
“Then come here,” Tsubasa beckoned me over, so I took another step toward her.
She opened both her arms to tightly embrace me, which warmed up my body.
“Now you’re not lonely anymore, right?”
Having someone support me like this, there’s no way I’d be lonely.
“What if I’m angry for no reason?”
“Then I’ll help you calm down.” She gently rubbed my head, trying to calm me down with warm words.
No way I could stay angry while experiencing something like this.
“What if I lose the strength to keep going?”
“Then I’ll cheer you up with everything I have.” She jumped up and down like a cheerleader while embracing me.
I can already feel myself being able to work hard…I’ll keep quiet about her chest hitting me like crazy, though.
“What if I wouldn’t be able to make it back home to the inn?”
“Then I’ll take you back home.” She took my hand and guided me along.
She looked back several times, checking if I was still there, and smiled each time. This is bad…she really is starting to look like an angel now…
“I’d love to stay up longer, but I really think we should hit the hay soon.”
Tired from the walking, we all just laid in our futons in the room. It was barely 10 pm, but we were all evidently exhausted.
“Same here. I was so excited for the trip I didn’t get much sleep last night.” Reina rolled around on the ground, which dislocated her yukata a bit.
Hey, hey, hey, isn’t this a bit too sexy? Maybe a gal and yukata are just the best possible match-up? Like you caught a hair crab and spiny lobster at the same time. Like a panda participating in a dolphin show. Like I can see both the past and future at the same time. It’s that kind of luxury.
“Heeey, Nanato?”
Reina suddenly appeared in front of me, waving her hand right in my face. I could see her cleavage and collarbone without much effort. A yukata gal is definitely dangerous.
“We should probably sleep early in preparation for tomorrow,” I said, turning off the lights in the room to stop myself from getting any more lucky gazes at her.
And not just her, even the other girls in yukata were poison to my eyes. It had a lewd atmosphere to it.
“That’s true.”
Itsuki and I inhabited the right side of the room, with the girls to the left where they could look at the beach. Not forgetting to separate the room with a sliding door. Of course, my sight was obstructed, but when I think of the girls sleeping right across the door…
“And now that we’re on a trip, we gotta do some love talk at night, right?”
I couldn’t see anything, but I did hear Shibayu’s voice. That’s fine and all, but I want them to remember that Itsuki and I are listening.
“I’m not about that. Do as you please.”
“Then Yuzu’s gonna start and we go in order of the clock, so…”
“What are you talking about?!”
“But you said we could do as we please, right?”
The girls were going crazy about something. I couldn’t clearly hear everything, but it must be something embarrassing after all.
“Why don’t we do some love talk ourselves?”
“Sounds good. Kick it off,” Itsuki agreed, so we started talking about what came to mind.
“To be honest, I didn’t think about it much when I was a kid, but lately, I’ve started to realize the appeal and eroticism of a woman’s armpits.”
“Like hell I care. This is about love talk, not your dang fetishes,” he scolded me.
I guess I’m alone in this.
“I know you’re into older women, but what’s your max range?”
“…Well, even I’ve got a limit. Because if she’s that much older than me, it’ll feel more like she’s taking care of me rather than we’re equals. So with that in mind, if I show restraint a bit…then I guess 40 would be my limit.”
“There’s no restraint whatsoever though?! You’re still in high school, remember?!”
“But Kiyomi-san’s 40, so that’s my standard.”
“Don’t use my mother as a standard!”
Itsuki and I started having a brawl on top of our futons. I cannot let him roam free.
“Hey, can you stop being so loud over there?” Reina opened the door a bit, showing her face as she warned us.
“S-Sorry.”
In the end, I lost both against her and Itsuki. I’m on a losing streak lately, I feel like…And after that, the room went silent. With how tired everyone was, they probably fell asleep.
“Hngh…”
That said, I couldn’t sleep at all and woke up from my brief nap. Not sleeping in your own bed really takes some getting used to. I got up from my futon and left the room to head to the bathroom. On the way there, I removed the string from my yukata so that I could finish my business as quickly as possible. I opened the door without much thought to enter, only to then realize that the lights were already on.
“Wha…”
I was then greeted by Reina, sitting on the toilet. Neither of us expected to run into each other, so we were both frozen stiff. Since she had lifted up the hem of her yukata, she had nothing to hide her lower half. And thanks to that, I was able to see something I definitely should not. I hurried to close the door, taking a deep breath. A few minutes later, I heard the flushing of the toilet, with Reina stepping out of the toilet, her face in total terror.
“This is the worst…”
“Sorry, Reina. I didn’t think anybody would be using the toilet this late.”
“It’s my fault. I realized I forgot to lock the door, but couldn’t be bothered to fix my yukata again and I figured nobody would use the toilet at this time.”
I guess it’s hard to go to the toilet as a woman wearing a yukata. And that’s why she carelessly left the door open.
“This is just awful…I bet you hate me now, Nanato.”
“Of course not.”
“But…I showed such a dirty side to you.”
“I was still half-asleep and closed the door before I even understood what was happening, so it’s fine,” I tried to cheer her up since she seemed close to breaking out in tears.
I guess this is the kind of trouble that happens when you sleep in the same place.
“Anyway, time to finish my business…”
“No, don’t. I’m worried about the smell,” Reina grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks.
“So…how long do I have to wait?”
“At least ten minutes.”
“That’s pretty long, all right.”
Since Reina wouldn’t let me go, we sat down on a nearby sofa that could fit at least three people. However, she seemed to be sleepy, as she was close to dozing off while holding onto my arm.
“You have to wait at least ten minutes, okay?” She mumbled with her eyes closed, resting her head against my shoulder. “But…I’m glad it wasn’t Hirose.”
“Doesn’t change that it was just as embarrassing, right?”
“But you’re gonna see all of me eventually, so I can get back on my feet.”
“Wh-What are you on about…”
I know she’s half-asleep, but that’s some bold statement to drop in the middle of the night. And after that, neither of us said another word as she just slowly fell asleep. Checking that the ten minutes had passed, I slipped away from her grasp and entered the bathroom. In doing so, I was reminded of what previously had transpired.
Leaving the bathroom again, Reina was still sound asleep, looking awfully defenseless. I used the blanket I had worn over my shoulders to cover her. Her soft lips, a well-endowed chest that probably wouldn’t fit into my hands, and her voluptuous behind…The devil on my shoulder told me that no matter what I did now, she wouldn’t find out. Meanwhile, another devil on my other shoulder gave me a thumbs-up, arguing that Reina would probably forgive me. Satan inside of me pushed my back, saying it was now or never. Hey now, all this bad influence…Where did the angel go?
“Amamicchi, what are you up to?”
I suddenly heard Shibayu’s voice, almost making my heart leap out of my chest.
“Well, um, Reina was sleeping here, so I decided to put a blanket over her.”
“Really…You’re a kind one, Amamicchi.”
Placing the blanket on her, I sat down on the same sofa, except with a lot more distance than before. For some reason, I was sweating profusely.
“Yuzu happened to wake up because of some noise, so she’s gonna use the bathroom now.”
“Ah, I’d prefer it if you waited at least ten minutes. I just used it, after all.”
“Are you a girl?!” Shibayu hissed at me, so I returned to our room.
It was a bit cold without a blanket, but since my body felt oddly hot, this was just perfect.
*
I woke up to rustling noises around me. Seems like everyone was preparing to head out while I was still out cold.
“Morning, Nanato-kun!”
“Wah?! Ah, Tsubasa…”
The first sight that greeted me was Tsubasa looking down at me. Having such a cute pair of eyes looking at me the moment I woke up, I felt like I was blessed.
“Your sleeping face was so adorable, I kept on looking.”
“That’s so embarrassing…I bet it must have looked lame as hell.”
“Not to me. And I haven’t gotten around to seeing it for so long, so it made me happy.”
Well, yeah. When we were still kids, we’d often sleep together. Back then, we didn’t worry about anything.
“I didn’t get much sleep, so I’m not really freshened up yet. Let me sleep another five minutes.”
“No can do. We don’t have more time. We let you sleep until the utmost limit, too.”
“Just one more minute! Please!”
Since it was Tsubasa, I found myself acting spoiled.
“Nanato-kun, come over here.” She moved next to the futon, opening both her arms.
If I didn’t get up, I wouldn’t be able to jump into her arms.
“Waaaaaah!”
My body forced itself up and moved toward Tsubasa, who embraced me.
“Good job on getting up. There, there.”
She’s praising me for getting up…I suddenly feel so confident in myself.
“Then let’s prepare so we can all go to the beach, okay?” Tsubasa seemed like she had something to prepare, so she let me go and went back to her own work.
Leaving the room, Itsuki was sipping on tea with a tea can, reading an English newspaper.
“Don’t even know what to comment on that anymore. You can read English?”
“Not at all. I’m just indulging in this morning feeling.”
“I admire you for being honest like that.”
Meanwhile, Shibayu was listening to Western music while standing on the balcony with sunglasses. Am I the weird one or something?
“Ah, Nanato. Thanks for the blanket last night.”
Reina seemed to have woken up before the rest of us, because she already finished her makeup, walking over.
“…Don’t tell a soul about what happened last night.”
“I’ll take it to my grave.”
It was a bitter-sweet memory in a lot of ways. I wonder if we’ll be able to laugh about it once we’re adults.
“Tsubasa, Yuzuyu, the beach’s a lot closer from here than I thought. Should we just go there wearing our swimsuits?”
“Yeah. Bringing change sounds like a pain, so Yuzu’s gonna wear the swimsuit from here.”
“Same here. I’ve got my hoodie, anyway.”
The girl group seems to be going all out from the start. Means I have to control my excitement from the moment we leave.
“We’re gonna change now, so don’t you dare peek inside,” Reina said and closed the door.
Naturally, peeking inside would give me a glimpse of heaven, but it would also drag me down to hell at the same time.
“I will stop Itsuki from trying to peek even if my life depended on it.”
“I have no intention of peeking, but go off.”
“And you call yourself a man?”
“Why are you disappointed in me now? You can look at this stuff online as much as you want.”
…Not wrong, honestly. I should probably hold back here and then look up JKs in swimsuits once I get home.
“But aren’t you worried your body is gonna react to seeing the girls in their swimsuits?”
“With pool lessons in middle school and other stuff, I’m past it. But that proprietress that brought us the food last night definitely had me reacting in some type of way.”
Yeah, I had no issues back in middle school, so maybe there’s no need for me to worry all too much. I even trained myself by putting up pictures of gravure idols in my room, so I’ll be okay.
“Also, that proprietress…was just an old lady, right?”
“If you say that, then the girls aren’t actually girls anymore.”
“…Shit, am I the weird one?”
Since Itsuki sounded like he was speaking with reason, I began to doubt myself.
“Also, let’s change into our swimsuits, too, yeah?”
“Sounds good.”
We used this chance to change ourselves.
“Check this out.” I showed off the result of my daily muscle training.
“You just lost weight, nothing more.”
“S-Sure, but if I focus on it, it feels like I built up some muscle.”
It always depends on each person about how efficient training can be, but I guess I’m in the camp that wasn’t all that lucky. Itsuki changed before me, looking pretty ripped. I’m so jealous…
“Sorry for the wait! We’re done over here.”
Tsubasa opened the door right as I was about to put on my swimming trunks.
“…Ah?!” Tsubasa screamed in shock as she closed the door again.
Now this is something I didn’t expect.
“If you’re gonna change, then at least let us know!” Reina screamed in anger.
What a surprising subversion…
“Itsuki…Did they see?”
“I think they barely did not. You were wearing your trunks when the door opened.”
I don’t think they could see everything, but if they did, I would feel both embarrassed and also apologetic. I guess living together with other people invites these kinds of issues.
“It’s okay now.”
I put on a t-shirt and called out to the girls, to which Reina slowly opened the door. Tsubasa was sitting in the corner of the room, covering her eyes and red face with her hands.
“Sorry for the trouble, Tsubasa.”
“I-It’s okay…In that single moment, I didn’t even know what was happening at all, so I think it’ll be fine.”
Reina wore a shirt above her swimsuit, stretching down to below her waist, which made it look like she wasn’t even wearing any underwear. Could there be any outfit more lewd than this in the world? Tsubasa was wearing a hoodie, but since she didn’t pull up the zipper, I could see her cleavage. Shibayu wore a one-piece above her swimsuit, not showing as much skin as the other two.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” She rushed everyone else, heading to the door.
We grabbed our belongings and followed her, leaving the room.
“Crap, I forgot my phone.” I took off my sandals and returned to the room.
“Ah, Nanato-kun! Can you grab my wallet? It’s right in the bag over there.”
“Got it.”
I stuffed my smartphone in my pocket and then looked for Tsubasa’s wallet. I stuffed my hand into the bag she mentioned when I was greeted by a piece of cloth…Wait, are those panties?! Is she using panties as her wallet?!
“Sorry, not the bag, but inside the zipper. My bad, Nanato-kun.”
Opening the zipper, I was indeed greeted by her wallet. Tsubasa-san, this kind of mistake could cost a man his life…And since she just took them off, they were still warm.
We headed to the beach area, gazing at the large ocean in front of us. We stepped onto the sandy beach with our bare feet, indulging in this sensation I hadn’t experienced in a long time. We placed a sheet on the ground and started taking off our upper clothes. Reina revealed her swimsuit. It was a string-type, so I caught a glimpse in a second. Leaving aside her well-endowed chest, even her thick thighs shone brightly. Her body incorporated the dream of every single man.
“Hup.”
She started doing some light stretches. This revealed her armpits, which I had found new interest in lately, making it feel like my mind was close to exploding.
“Nanato, I’m happy you’re looking, but the way you’re staring is really embarrassing.”
“My bad,” I felt myself going crazy as I apologized in my best attempt possible.
“So, what do you think?”
“It’s the best.”
“Heh, I knew that. I’m confident in my looks.”
Reina didn’t try to hide anything as she stood in front of me. I guess there’s no reason to be embarrassed since everyone else is in similar fashion. Itsuki said this is no different from regular swimming classes in middle school, but a school swimsuit and bikini are too different. I was so bashful and embarrassed, I had to roll around in the sand.
“Nanato-kun, does it look good on me?”
Tsubasa wore a navy-blue swimsuit, standing above me. Compared to Reina, her bikini showed a lot less skin. Even so, it was bold in its own right, so I wasn’t quite sure where to look. Looking up a swimsuit from below is one hell of a sight. Looking at a chest from below changes the impact so drastically…Even more so with her bottom part. Normally, if I were to be looking at a pair of panties, it would be in a triangular shape, but now it shines brightly like a crescent moon. If I were to get crushed by this, I think I would die a happy man. In the movie I watched the other day, they were given the chance to watch the fireworks from below, or from the side. At the very least, I’m sure that looking at a swimsuit from below is a lot better.
“Come on, get up, Nanato-kun.”
“Sorry. The sandy beach is just so warm and comfortable.”
Tsubasa crouched down and looked right into my face. Appearing right in front of my face wearing a swimsuit, that in itself was a dangerous scenery all the same. Because of the summer heat, I could see pearls of sweat on her skin. A faint layer of sand on her skin from the wind. And finally, the sight of her lower bikini part in the full reveal was all too stimulating. I could only stuff my head into the sandy beach. It was the only way to cool down my excited body.
“Huh? Where did Amamicchi go?” said Shibayu, using me as a chair.
Since I still had my head down low, I couldn’t confirm what she looked like, but because it was nothing more than a swimsuit, her butt was pressed onto me with a rather raw sensation. Please, I don’t need any more stimulus than this.
“Itsuki! Save me!”
Itsuki shook his head as he approached me, so I begged for help. As a man, he should understand my situation.
“Then look at my leg hair and get a grip already.”
“Thanks a bunch. That really helped.”
I managed to retain my composure after looking at his leg hair…What a horrible way of recovering. Meanwhile, Shibayu and Tsubasa blew up a swimming ring, whereas Itsuki headed off to buy some drinks. Reina watched me get up from the beach, walking my way. That figure of hers still resembled that of a model, as even the other visitors turned around to look at her.
“Hey Nanato, could you put sunscreen on me?” She carried a bottle of sunblock, asking me to help her put it on.
“Wouldn’t it be better for a gal to get a bit more of a tan?”
“Sure, but if I do that with my bikini on, it’ll leave my boobs white, remember?”
Imagining it was way too lewd for me to handle, so I quickly placed a mosaic sensor on top of it.
“And my skin isn’t exactly strong enough to handle the sun.”
“So you’re gonna take it slow at a tanning salon instead?”
“Honestly, it might turn my skin red more than anything.”
“There’s creams specifically made to make your skin look like it has a tan. A lot of gals choose that instead of going to a tanning salon.”
“How fixated are you on this whole tan thing anyway?! Also, why do you know so much about gals anyway?” Reina seemed angry as she stomped on the sand. “So, are you not going to put sunscreen on me?”
“No, I really can’t.”
“For real? That’s a shock…”
“As a man, I shouldn’t be the one to do that. Go ask Tsubasa or Shibayu.”
Everything was already too much for me, so if I were to put sunscreen on her now, I might just reach overcapacity.
“What’s so bad about it?”
“I’m already on the edge here with everyone’s swimsuits, so touching you would be too much. I’d reach my limit instantly.”
“I see…So it’d be too stimulating for you.”
“Exactly.”
Seems like I finally managed to convince Reina. I’m glad I didn’t try to act tough.
“Then I’ll put sunscreen on you. That should be okay, right?”
“I guess…” Reina put some sunscreen on her hand, touching my back.
“Cold!”
She gently rubbed my back with her cold hand. Even this is plenty stimulating. A place even I barely touch is now being played with by a girl.
“Here!”
“Wha…You’re tickling me!”
Reina placed both her hands on my hips, so I stepped forward once to escape.
“You’re pretty ticklish, huh?”
“Yeah. Especially my soles.”
“Hmmm…But, you should at least hide your weak spots.” Reina flashed a teasing smile.
I guess I said something unnecessary there. After that, Reina and Tsubasa put sunscreen on each other, preparing to enter the sea.
“Amamicchi, let’s have a fight! When you’re at the beach, you have to use what’s available!”
“Sounds good to me. But I won’t hold back.”
Since Shibayu challenged me to a battle in the water, I have to accept it.
“Aaaand, here we go! Oraaa!”
“Buwah?! I thought we were gonna splash water on each other, not sand?!”
A bit of sand entered my mouth, making me cough violently. What kind of messed up timeline is this?
“Eat shit!” Shibayu made fun of me as she jumped into the water.
I followed suit. After us came Rein and Tsubasa, with Itsuki being the last one.
“Being hit by the waves feels so good!” Shibayu said as she hopped on a floatie.
“It’s been years since I got to enjoy the sea like this!” Reina swam around for a bit as she voiced her joy.
Amidst all that, Tsubasa only went as far as the water reaching up to her knees. Feeling that something might be off, I approached her.
“You okay?”
“Um…well, yeah…”
“Don’t tell me…You still can’t swim?”
I remembered the fact that Tsubasa never learned how to swim properly, so I asked her directly. As expected, she started blushing.
“Y-Yeah…I’m sorry, I didn’t want to ruin the fun…”
“You’re not at fault at all.”
She seemed to feel guilty, apologizing right away.
“Just use me as a kickboard and grab both my shoulders.”
“Are you sure? But that’d make us look childish, right?”
“It’s fine. Everybody needs help from time to time, even as adults.”
She grabbed my shoulders, so I started swimming to where everyone else was.
“S-Sorry, the wave just…”
She must have gotten scared of the waves, because she frantically clung to my back.
“Well, it might be a bit safer over here.”
I could feel her chest being pressed against me almost directly. But it’s fine, I don’t have to worry about hiding anything while we’re swimming.
“Thanks, Nanato-kun. I feel a lot safer with you around.”
“No worries. Just let me know when you want to get back to the beach.”
I carried her on my back as we swam through the water. Even that, and yet I was enjoying myself.
“What are you two doing?” Shibayu spotted us and gave us a look of disgust.
“Tsubasa can’t swim.”
“O-Oh, then she can use Yuzu’s floatie.” She swam through the water, offering me the floatie.
“Nanato-kun, I’ll hold onto the floatie, so you can swim around.”
“Got it. Let me know if you want to get back, I’ll push you.”
“Okay. I’ll just watch from here,” She said and started floating, so I’m going to look for some fish.
Itsuki and Shibayu were having fun exploring, as Reina made her way toward me with a somewhat pained expression.
“Sorry, Nanato, I think I swam too much, I might get a cramp,” she said and clung to me.
Her large chest enwrapped my left arm. However, I am invincible here in the water. Bring any stimulus you want.
“You okay? I can get you back to the beach if you want.”
“I just need a quick break.”
“Gotcha.” I took Reina with me, bringing her to the floatie that Tsubasa was using. “I’ll look for some fish, so you can take a rest here.”
“Thanks a lot.”
Both Tsubasa and Reina surrounded the floatie, talking about this and that with smiles all over. It’s reassuring to know that Reina is around to watch over Tsubasa. Now I can focus on swimming. However, even after I took a few rounds, I couldn’t find any fish. Only one jellyfish. Maybe fish aren’t visiting such a tourist place like this. I continued to look for more fish, going up to get some fresh air when my head was suddenly wrapped in a soft feeling, half of my view turning to skin.
“Ah, Nanato-kun.”
Following that, I heard Tsubasa’s voice. It seems like I poked up my head right inside the floatie between Tsubasa and Reina. Since they were both talking, I needed between their breasts.
“Nanato, what the hell are you doing?!”
Reina rushed to move away, but that made her chest only shake more, hitting my head.
“Stop shaking like that, Reina-chan!”
Since Tsubasa can’t swim, she was scared at the floatie moving too much, panicking in a similar but different light. Meanwhile, my head was being pushed back and forth like a pinball. This is going beyond a lucky pervert moment, I’m just in heaven.
“Ergmsworyy.”
Sandwiched, I couldn’t even form a coherent sentence when I wanted to apologize, so I sunk back into the water. This…will be a summer I’ll never forget, I’m sure.
—Reina—
We swam around to the point of being tired of it, playing a bit of beach ball back on the coast. We were all exhausted and ate a late lunch at the nearby restaurant, just lounging around. Nanato seemed to really enjoy my swimsuit because he kept on looking at me with a red face. I can tell he sees me more as a woman than just a friend, and I hope that this makes him like me even more. One more push and he might actually seek me out. But, I can’t take the initiative or it would trouble him, and I can’t force myself on him, either. In fact, leaving him hanging might make him more aggressive.
“A-Actually, there is this place selling souvenirs along the coast which I found online, so I’m gonna check it out,” I stood up, to which Tsubasa nodded and spoke confidently.
“If you go by yourself, some scary men might start to hit on you. Why don’t you go with her, Nanato-kun?”
Just as we discussed before the trip, we’re supporting each other so that we get more chances to be with Nanato. It was originally supposed to be yesterday and Tsubasa today, but since she asked for it, we switched. I was aware of it yesterday, but she really sucks at acting. I’m happy she’s trying, but it only makes it look more stiff.
“O-Okay. I’ll go with you, Reina.”
“Thanks.”
I thought that Nanato would get suspicious because of that acting, but he showed no complaints about tagging along with me.
“Should I join you guys, too?”
Why is Hirose speaking up now? Sit your butt down!
“You have to stay here and protect us, Hirose-kun!” Tsubasa forcefully restrained Hirose, so I managed to be alone with Nanato.
I’ll have to thank her later for this act. Following that, Nanato and I walked down the sandy beach. I was frantically trying to come up with something to talk about, but my head wouldn’t work properly.
“Is the trip fun for you?”
“Yeah. Today and yesterday were just the best.”
“That’s a relief. I was still a bit bothered that we couldn’t go anywhere last year because of entrance exams. So we should use this chance while we can.”
“Yeah, yeah. Now I feel like I had hoped back then.”
Rather than going out with Nanato, I always prioritized spending time with him. Have lots of fun, then gradually get closer until we start dating. But with Tsubasa’s appearance, I felt rushed to make more progress…and now there’s also the ex-girlfriend. I never expected things to be going smoothly, but I doubted it would be this bad…
“Last summer, you were trying to cheer up by sending me selfies of you in a swimsuit and all that, right?”
“Wow, this takes me back. During summer break, studying for exams was all I had time for, so I at least wore my swimsuit at home and showed you.”
“That’s why I really wanted to take you to the pool or the beach this year.”
Oh…so he came up with this for my sake. That alone makes me really happy.
“You were thinking about me? Thanks.”
“Of course. You’re one of my best friends.”
“Need any pictures from this year?”
“I got to see you in the flesh, so…Ten or so should be enough.”
“So you still want some? You’re helpless.”
It makes me happy to know that Nanato is actively asking for me like that. But he can go even further than that.
“I wanna go to a summer festival too, and watch some fireworks.”
“Sure. Let’s all go together.”
Even if it’s not just the two of us, being with everyone else is just as fun.
“I can’t wait for Halloween. And I wanna go skiing during the winter.”
“Gotta enjoy all of that,” Nanato said.
“Yeah, let’s experience all of that.”
If I get to be with Nanato in the future, then I’m fine with this current relationship. Even if Nanato and Tsubasa started dating, I should be able to stay around. What scares me the most is that ex-girlfriend. If she and Nanato were to start dating again, she’ll definitely keep him away from us. And that is a result I need to avoid at all costs. Just thinking about it makes my chest tighten up in pain.
The souvenir shop was a lot further away than I thought. The map online said it was rather close, but walking there still took us around ten minutes. I bought some souvenirs for my mom, and then we quickly left the store again after about three minutes. It was like my feelings were preoccupying my thoughts, not letting me focus on anything else. I want to create a special memory with Nanato. I wanted him to get closer to me while we were together like this. This kind of panicked feeling is not letting me keep my calm.
It seemed like things worked out between Tsubasa and Nanato, because she was happy all night. But…I also want to use this time we have together as a plus…And yet, we’re already on the way back. Even if I try to force something, it might have the opposite effect. What…am I supposed to do? What do I have to do in order to make him like me? At this rate, things will just end in a meaningless sludge—
“Ah!”
I was so lost in my thoughts, so when we walked down the sandy beach, I tripped. But, Nanato grabbed my arm and supported me. His strong grip made me realize that he really is a boy.
“You okay?”
“…Ah, yeah. I’m fine.” I nodded in a daze.
Now I can’t make fun of Tsubasa anymore for being lazy.
“Let’s take a quick break, yeah?”
“Why? I said I’m fine.”
“I’ve been watching you this whole time, and I can tell at first glance that you’re not okay.”
Being told by Nanato, I first realized that my legs did feel a bit heavy.
“You’re tired because you’ve been having so much fun today. And the souvenir store was pretty far.”
“M-Maybe, yeah…”
I sat down on the sand to mentally calm myself down, realizing that I’d stopped panicking. Now, we might be able to talk just fine. I can do this.
“Y-You know, there’s something I have to apologize to you for,” I started talking as Nanato sat down next to me.
This way, I don’t have to look him in the eyes when I’m talking.
“Lately, I realized I’ve been a bit too clingy with you. I thought things would calm down now that we’re in high school, but it was more like the opposite.”
I started fighting with Tsubasa, rushing everything. I failed a lot of times, and I even worried Nanato about us, and about the future.
“Things are completely different now. I’ve made new friends with Tsubasa or Yuzuyu, and because there were a lot of things on my mind, I wanted to reassure myself and started acting selfish.”
Originally, I wanted to take it slow as we grew closer, but fearing that he might be taken from me, I just pushed myself onto him instead…
“That’s why I wanted to apologize.”
“I think everybody would be worried if your surroundings change this much. Nothing to apologize for.”
“Thanks for forgiving me.”
If Nanato wasn’t as kind, he would probably grow tired of me and tell me to piss off. No…that what-if is pointless. I already know how kind he is. But knowing about it, knowing that he won’t cast me aside, it makes it even easier for me to cross any barriers.
“In fact, I should be thankful you’re staying with me despite everything that happened. Knowing you wanted me to stay by your side instead of leaving me was more than reassuring.”
“Nanato…”
He says exactly what I want him to hear. I already love him, but these feelings only grow like this.
“We’re pretty low on lime. Let’s go back.”
I saw Nanato standing up, so I wanted to follow him, but my body wouldn’t let me.
“I guess the break didn’t help much, I feel even more exhausted.”
“Should I carry you then?”
He crouched down in front of me, showing his tall back.
“Are you sure?”
“It’s gonna be pretty embarrassing, but I can’t just let you struggle to keep up with me.”
I embraced his back. It was warm, and I could feel his muscles, which gave me some peace of mind. This…might be pretty bad. My body is starting to itch for something. Nanato took both my legs and then stood up. My view felt a bit higher up than usual. And I got to cling to Nanato as I had always dreamed of.
“I’m not heavy, right?”
“You’re a lot lighter than I thought.”
“That’s good.”
I thanked my past self for always looking after my weight. I wouldn’t want him to think of me as heavy. While carrying me, he walked down the sandy beach. My chest was pressed against him, my hot breaths hitting his neck.
“This is a first for me, but everything’s okay, right?” I asked.
“There’s plenty of things that aren’t okay.”
Nanato was blushing furiously. Because we were pretty much naked like this, my body was going crazy, but the same was the case for Nanato.
“Can you resolve that?”
“I will have to imagine myself jumping into the water and have my dear son get chomped off by a shark to make him calm down,” he said.
“You’re only turning more pale if you ask me!”
His thoughts really confuse me at times. But, it allowed me to calm down. The sun had already set. Watching the sea from Nanato’s back was a lot more beautiful than if I was enjoying it by myself. This couldn’t have turned into a better summer memory. Realizing this, the tension I had felt all this time changed into relief. I leaned more against Nanato’s neck to use it as a pillow. It’s not like getting any closer than this would be much of a problem.
“I’ll always be your friend, Nanato.”
If we started dating and broke up in the future, we won’t be able to be together anymore. That way, I would be a lot happier to just stay as friends. That’s why I said those words.
“I’m happy you say that, but I don’t think you should say stuff like always or forever.”
“…As long as you don’t leave, I will forever stay by your side.”
“But if I did something horrible to you, that would be the end of it, right?”
“Not at all. I’ll forgive you.”
I tried thinking about it, but I couldn’t see any scenario where I would actively push him away.
“What if I oversleep and stand you up on our promise?”
“No problem. I might be angry for a day, but I won’t hate you for just that.”
Considering everything he has done for me or given me, a mistake or twice won’t do a thing.
“What if I stop caring about grades and just fool around as much as I’d like?”
“That’s okay. I’ll stop studying too and hang out with you. Well, I should be able to avoid failing grades as long as I listen in class.”
If Nanato gets tired of studying, then I’ll let him do that and support him as best I can. It’s totally fine to run from things if they hurt you, so I’ll match my pace with him.
“Hm…what if I steal money from your wallet?”
Nanato is trying to forcefully find ways that could make me hate him.
“Sounds good to me. Buy yourself some good food with that.”
“At least get angry…”
“Only because it’s you. If it was anybody else, I’d report them to the police first thing.”
No way he would do such a thing anyway, but it’s still fine. I don’t think I’d regret giving him money.
“What if I start fooling around with random girls.”
“That’s fine by me…But if you want to fool around, wouldn’t I be good enough, rather than some random girl that might use you?”
I would be willing to forgive, but I really don’t like that thought. Well, I doubt Nanato of all people would do such a thing.
“There’s plenty of guys in our class who’d be fine with whoever as long as they get a girlfriend, right?”
“If you want someone for that, I’m more than open to taking the position.”
I want to kiss Nanato. Flirt around as much as I want.
“I think you’re a bit too forgiving there.”
“Well, if you can’t hold back anymore, then just come to me.”
“No, no, no. We’re friends, we shouldn’t do that.”
“I don’t mind being that type of friend.”
Hanging around, indulging in such a physical relationship…That’s close to ideal for me. I hear that a lot of adults have this kind of “friendship,” too. If we’re still friends, then there’s nothing about rejections, and even if Nanato got a girlfriend, we can still stay friends.
“I kinda disagree with this kind of thinking. You might get used by some random guy who has nothing but evil in mind.”
“But this offer is limited to you. I’m saying that I’d only be fine with it because it’s you.”
I don’t know what Nanato is thinking right now, but he’s obviously blushing. From that point onward, neither of us talked much more, as we just headed back in silence…Seriously, what was I even saying? I like him so much, it’s making me go crazy. Do I want to become his servant or something? An evil woman by his side, bewitching him…What am I thinking?! TAhis is all because of the summer…
*
Upon returning to the inn, I went to clean my body in the hot spring. We then ate at the restaurant on the first floor, heading back to the room, and relaxed. Hirose and Yuzuyu went out to the nearest convenience store, so it was just me, Tsubasa, and Nanato. Of course, Tsubasa and I created this chance, because our final plan was rather bold. I stood up, my body filled with tension.
“Are you not taking a bath until we’re going home, Nanato?”
“Yeah. I think I’m gonna enjoy it one last time so that I won’t regret it.”
“Why not use the open-air bath here in the room?”
“Huh? But you’ll be able to see from the room, right?”
Tsubasa also stood up, closing in on Nanato.
“We’re gonna stay in the room, so you can enjoy it as much as you want.”
“Even if you say that…”
She was pushing his back, but he still didn’t seem too convinced. Why is he focusing so much on risk management now?
“Oh yeah, can I drink the coke from the fridge?”
“Sure. But, were you the type to drink coke?”
“I mean, it won’t hurt to have some carbohydrate intake twice a year.”
It was a bit forceful of a method, but I saw no other option here. I took out the bottle of coke from the fridge and shook it up and down while making sure Nanato wouldn’t be able to see it. I have to make the explosion as big as possible.
“Huff…Huff…”
Finishing my deed, I was gasping for air and a bit sweaty.
“Sorry, Nanato. I can’t open this at all. Can you help me?”
“Sure,” he accepted the coke and opened it. “Wah?!”
As a result, all the foam and coke sprayed all over his chest and arms. Sorry, Nanato…I’ll repay you for this some other day.
“Reina…You didn’t shake it, right?”
“Um, well, err…”
Crap, he’s doubting me. Well, it definitely didn’t feel natural, so maybe I overdid it…
“I actually dropped this one earlier, so it might be my fault. Sorry, Nanato-kun.”
“I see. Guess that can’t be helped then.”
Tsubasa provided a clean follow-up. Now that’s pod racing!
“We’ll take care of cleaning the room and washing your clothes so it doesn’t leave any stains, so you hurry and take a bath, Nanato-kun.”
“That’s true. Thanks a bunch.”
We managed to successfully guide him to the open-air bath of our room. Things are working out great. All that’s left…is for us to muster up our courage.
“We did it! We made it happen!” Tsubasa approached me with a beaming smile.
It seems like she’s not worried in the slightest. We succeeded…Or rather, we really went and did it. The stage is set, but I hesitate. I was so excited about this before the trip, but now I waver.
“Tsubasa…Are we really doing this?”
“Yeah. We decided on it, so no pulling out now.”
We’re going to take a bath with Nanato. It sounded simple when we came up with it, but putting that into action was more scary than a horror movie. This…might be too much.
“I feel like I’m gonna die from the embarrassment. Are you fine with this?”
“We took baths a lot when we were young, so it’s not as bad.”
I guess her desire to be with Nanato won over her shame.
“And since you’re with me, it feels like we’re just taking a bath as friends.”
So she says, but if I were to chicken out now, she’d still take a bath with Nanato. I don’t have any other option but to tag along.
“But guys don’t take baths together, right?”
“We’re more than friends, less than lovers. That’s what I go with.”
Since Tsubasa started undressing, I had to follow suit.
“With the room bath, you can enter wearing a towel, and we already showed him our swimsuit appearances.”
“T-True. We’ve already made it this far.”
So she says, but I still hesitated to take off my underwear. A defenseless bottom half of my body makes it hard to muster up any courage.
“Reina-chan, are you ready?”
“I…I don’t think I can do this…”
“Then maybe take a sip of coke to calm down.”
She handed me the same coke we used to set up Nanato earlier.
“Thanks.”
“And…sorry about this.”
“Hueh?!”
Right as I wanted to take a sip, Tsubasa reached for me.
“Ahn!”
And then, she fondled my chest. The stimulus and shock made my hands slip and the coke splattered all over my body.
“Geez! What was that for?!”
Looking down at my chest, a lot of coke had gathered on my cleavage. If only someone out there could drink up the rest…
“Now you have to take a bath, too. Your whole body’s sticky, right?”
“I guess this is my punishment for deceiving Nanato.”
I took out my drenched underwear and became naked in front of Tsubasa. Because she gave me no other choice, I didn’t feel much resistance at undressing.
“All right, I’m ready. Let’s do this.”
“That’s the spirit, Reina-chan. Let’s make some special memories.”
Yeah. We have to be ones who become special to him.”
Holding hands with Tsubasa, we exited the room to the outdoor bath. My heart was racing for reasons unfamiliar to me, but it felt like I might get addicted to it.
—Nanato—
“Phew…”
Sinking into the open-air bath the inn room was equipped with, I let out a pleased sigh as I gazed at the ocean. This is some luxury to have, I swear. I kept my towel around my waist in fear they might try to peek, but both Reina and Tsubasa didn’t show up so far. For a moment, I thought of inviting them…but I decided to enjoy that scenery in my mind for now.
“Coming in!”
Then, I heard Reina’s voice and turned around, as she stepped out into the open while holding Tsubasa’s hand. Both of them were wearing bath towels, dead-set on using the hot spring.
“We came to join you. Reina-chan got drenched in the same coke as you did.”
“Oh, really? That makes sense.”
“Yup. Don’t mind us.”
Tsubasa sat down to my right, with Tsubasa taking my left. Since the bath wasn’t as big as the regular one, we were sitting pretty close together.
“Phew, this is some great water.”
“It’s pure luxury.”
The two were enjoying the bath, but…This is real, right? This isn’t normal, is it?
“Why did you two just hop in here like it’s nothing?!”
“Took you long enough.”
“I mean, you both were acting like there was nothing wrong with this, so I was thinking I’m the weird one for doubting this whole thing!”
Both of them seemed oddly determined. Compared to me who was panicking, they couldn’t be more relaxed.
“Nothing is weird about this. This is the room’s open-air bath, so we’re all allowed to use it.”
“What Tsubasa said. The public bath may keep things separated, but the room bath is free for everyone. We’re using this the right way, don’t you think?”
Worse of all, they were absolutely right. Maybe I’m the weird one after all…
“We’re best friends, right? This is something only friends like us can do.”
“That’s right. We all trust each other.”
No matter where I looked, I saw a large cleavage. Tsubasa’s thighs were purposefully pressed against my leg. Reina’s long and wet hair was glued to my right shoulder, with Tsubasa’s breath hitting my left shoulder. I just tried to not think about anything and looked at the moon reflected in the water.
“…Thanks, you two.”
“Where did that come from?”
“I don’t know. I just felt the urge to say that. For allowing me to experience something like this.”
I don’t really get what’s happening right now, but I just want to enjoy it.
“I get that. I feel the same way.”
“Same here. Not everybody gets to enjoy a feeling like this.”
Seems like the two felt a similar way. This isn’t normal. We’re not normal.
“But, we gotta keep this a secret from Hirose-kun and Yuzuyu-chan.”
“That’s true.”
“It’ll be our little secret.”
We’ve had several secrets between just two people so far, so this is a first. Of course, since we didn’t know when those other two would come back, we couldn’t stay like this for too long. And after that, I was just sort of above the clouds, until I realized we were already on our way back. Our special trip may have ended, but summer break was still far from over.
CClaw Translations 