#264

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Floating on the water’s surface is a board-shaped boat inflated with air, gently rocking and vibrating, its pleasant rhythm almost lulling me to close my eyes.

There’s no extra noise; it’s just a quiet expanse of space. Occasionally, there’s a sound as the water is displaced, but apart from that, there’s no other noise.

The final day of our school trip.

Originally, we were supposed to be heading to the airport with other students, catching the afternoon flight back to Tokyo and then making our way home to Kanagawa.

However, here I am, leaning on the water’s surface, even though it’s past noon.

Why did things end up like this?

It all started with a single sentence from Kirasaka.

“So, I’ve made a hotel reservation. Shall we move?”

“Wait, a reservation? But don’t we have a flight soon?”

For the return flight, I decided that I’d enjoy it to some extent, since the flight on the way here was over in an instant. I’d set my phone to airplane mode and just take pictures to show Kaede later. That was what my top priority was.

But when I retorted to Kirasaka’s words, a long black car with an elongated body appeared in my line of sight as we left the souvenir shop.

“Wow, a limousine here… It feels totally out of place.”

Beside me, Shizuku, said with a wry smile.

No kidding. It’s not just out of place; it’s incredibly so.

Not only us, but passersby around us were glancing over, as if we were some celebrities.

Drawing attention is a big no-no. My reputation as a tomato dealer within the school is enough, and getting more famous would cause trouble.

I’m already quite the known figure inside the school, enough to threaten even Yuuto’s status.

Although that’s a joke.

Still, she keeps acting in such an outlandish way, I thought as I glanced at Kirasaka. But without saying anything, she pulled me into the car and closed the door.

“Wait, Kirasaka-san!? Please let Minato-kun go!”

Shizuku tried to approach, but the door was closed before her.

“You can take your time; the transfer car will arrive later for you… We’re heading to the hotel a bit ahead.”

Kirasaka, a look of triumphant joy on her face like a young lady, smiled and waved slightly as she finished her conversation with them, and the car started moving.

How did it come to this?

The hotel we were taken to was one managed by Kirasaka’s family. She must have contacted them in advance because we received a warm welcome and were given a luxurious room.

Inside the room, there were my belongings, which should have been in the school bus. I hadn’t chosen the marine experience, but there was a swimsuit in the room.

“Is this for me to wear?”

Naturally, it wasn’t appropriate to share a room with a girl, so Kirasaka had gone to her own room. Given how she’d left it there for me, it seemed like I was being told to put it on…

Given my personality, when told to do something, I didn’t want to comply. But being left alone in an unfamiliar place was not a joke.

Kirasaka might do something terrible if her mood soured.

A frightening girl… that was Kirasaka Rei.

Standing in front of the mirror, I put on the swimsuit. The size was perfect.

If anything, I wanted to ask why she knew my swimsuit size.

Standing still, I suddenly heard a knocking on the door.

“Yes…”

“It’s me. Let’s go.”

I heard Kirasaka’s voice from outside the room and let out a small sigh. Opening the door, there she was. She wore a jacket on top, and below that, her slim and beautiful legs were revealed without any hesitation.

…I didn’t know where to look.

I wasn’t guilty, but I was conscious of my slightly accelerated heart rate and flushed cheeks.

A beautiful girl in a swimsuit standing right in front of me. There were few boys who wouldn’t feel anything.

Satisfied with my reaction, Kirasaka smiled and took my hand, leading me through the hotel. Finally, we reached an indoor pool.

This was like an oasis…

Leave everything to the flow. A world where you don’t need to think is the best.

I could hear the sounds of splashing water as I shifted my gaze to the side.

There, unlike me who was using a floater, Kirasaka was floating on the water’s surface.

“How’s our family-owned hotel?”

“I bet it’s expensive… Do you know the phrase ‘abuse of power’?”

“Of course, I’m paying for it myself, and I also got permission from my father.”

Oh, I see. Well then, it’s okay to use this time to recover my fatigued mind.

Wait, did she just say she’s paying for it herself? My pocket money has already dried up, is this really okay?

Let’s leave depressing thoughts for later and sort out the situation for now.

Kirasaka was different from me, but I glanced at her as she floated on the water’s surface.

Her long, slender legs, her well-defined waist, and those two mountains peeking out of the water.

The choice of a black swimsuit seemed deliberate, fully aware of her assets. Yeah, this is quite the problematic situation.

Just by examining her style, my brain was already delving into a serious situation. Her black hair, slightly longer than when we first met as freshmen, dripped with water, and it turned out she hadn’t worn makeup that time she stayed over at my house.

Even though her face was wet from the water, her well-arranged features remained unchanged. No, the dripping water somehow added to her allure.

A demeanour so mature that it’s hard to believe we’re the same age.

In this situation, with no one around, truly alone, my gaze involuntarily shifted to the ceiling. Well… I was lying on the boat from the start, so my gaze was fixed on the ceiling from the beginning.

As I tried to think of something to say, the words she used during the confession scene with Miyashita came to mind.

“I love you.”

Short, simple, straightforward words. With no room for ambiguity due to its directness, these words must have come straight from Kirasaka’s heart.

…Why me, though?

I pondered this on the water’s surface. Kirasaka, who was right beside me, smiled with a hint of amusement as she seemed to be enjoying this situation.

Kirasaka should know. Right now, I couldn’t respond to her or Shizuku’s feelings. I don’t want a fake or ambiguous relationship, and while it might seem like I’m postponing the answer, there’s no point in uttering words I’d have to fake.

I believe she know that, and she might be giving me time.

But I can’t help but wonder why. I’m just ordinary in terms of talent, abilities, looks, and financially. I’m far from being someone who can compete with those who have exceptional qualities. I’m well aware that I am not worthy enough for them.

It’s both an honour and a burden.

“By putting emotions into words, the feelings I’ve been holding back flooded out all at once… That’s how it felt.”

Kirasaka muttered as she swayed on the surface of the water.

This must be a new experience for her as well. Each word was spoken with a fresh tone, as if savouring each one.

I quietly listened to her words.

“I should have ultimately gotten Shinra-kun… But now I don’t want to give you to anyone. That’s how I feel.”

She said with her cheeks blushing slightly as she looked towards me. This different side of Kirasaka, who usually seems mature, made her look like a girl appropriate for her age

This display of hers, uncharacteristic of her, made me feel embarrassed, too. Its probably empathy mixed with embarrassment.

Small hands reached out from underwater and met mine. At that moment, I heard the pitter-patter of footsteps drawing near.

I raised myself up on the floater to look and saw Shizuku in a light blue swimsuit running towards us. Yuuto and Miyashita followed behind her.

While Yuuto and Miyashita were also wearing swimsuits, the difference was that they had put on jackets over them. Because Shizuku ran by the poolside in just her swimsuit, so they were bouncing a lot.

She didn’t seem to mind the vigorous up-and-down movement of her chest and ran towards the place closest to us, she leaped into the water in her swimsuit.

With a beautiful dive, she minimized the water splash. She swam to the bottom as if diving and resurfaced midway between me and Kirasaka.

“Puhaa… Minato-kun, are you okay?”

“Are you okay? Running and diving like that.”

Yes, indeed, we were taught to warm up properly before entering a pool, weren’t we? Diving without is not good.

Shizuku squeezed herself between the two of us, wrapping herself around my arm without the slightest concern for how she looked. Her act of pulling me away from Kirasaka seemed to darken Kirasaka’s expression instead.

Her eyes, which were kind and gentle just moments ago, were now filled with hostility, and her freezing gaze pierced through us.

“Kanazaki-san… Let him go. He’s mine.”

“What are you misunderstanding? He’s my Minato-kun.”

No, he’s my Minato.

To be exact, I’m Minato-kun

Surprisingly, Kirasaka was the one who gave in first. She sighed and immediately changed her expression back to her usual one. Then, she looked at Yuuto and Miyashita standing by the pool.

“Well, since you couldn’t really enjoy the school trip, you should take it easy at this hotel. Please make the most of your time here.”

As she spoke, Kirasaka raised her hand, and a few servants emerged from inside. They brought towels, drinks, and even light refreshments, attending to our every need.

This was some kind of VIP treatment.

But as Kirasaka had mentioned, we couldn’t honestly say we had thoroughly enjoyed the school trip, and we didn’t feel an ounce of guilt for indulging in this extra day at the hotel, thanks to her generosity.

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