Chapter 4: “To the Sea with Three Beauties”

The long-awaited early morning of summer vacation had finally arrived.

“Nii-nii, hurry up…!”

Even though it was a time when she’d normally still be asleep, Kokoa’s excitement was at its peak since it was her first time going to the sea. She was impatiently slapping my hand, urging me to move faster.

“No need to rush, the sea’s not going anywhere.”

Though, the time we get to play might shrink a bit. Besides, since Misaki and the others were coming to pick us up, hurrying wouldn’t change much.

“Hurry, I wanna see the otters…!”

“…Huh?”

Otters? Why?

“Why otters…?”

“The sea’s got otters…!”

I see… so that’s how it is. My head started to ache.

“There’s dolphins and penguins too…!”

I’ve never taken her to an aquarium, but Kokoa knows about otters and such from picture books and TV. As Kokoa said, the sea is indeed a place where dolphins and penguins live. Because of that, she must’ve misunderstood and thought she could meet them by going to the sea.

“Kokoa… I’m sorry, but you won’t get to meet otters, dolphins, or penguins.”

Otters and penguins aside, there’s a slim chance you might spot dolphins if you go far out to sea. But we don’t have a boat to go that far, and swimming out there is out of the question. I had no choice but to make her give up on the idea.

“…………”

When she learned she couldn’t meet them, Kokoa opened her tiny mouth wide, visibly shocked. Seeing her so devastated like this was rare.

“No otters…?”

“Nope…”

“No dolphins either…?”

“Yeah…”

“Penguins…”

“Sorry, you can’t meet them…”

“…………”

“Ugh…”

Kokoa’s eyes welled up with tears, and she looked at me with a face on the verge of crying. I’d known for days that she was looking forward to the sea. If her biggest goal was to meet otters and the others—then it’s no wonder she was about to cry.

“I’ll take you to an aquarium next time, so can you hold on with that…?”

To avoid her crying here, I offered an alternative. I’d been planning to take her someday anyway, so it was a good opportunity.

But—Kokoa’s sad eyes remained fixed on me.

—Ding-dong♪

Kokoa’s mood didn’t improve. At that moment, for better or worse, it seemed Misaki and the others had arrived.

“Kokoa, Misaki’s here.”

“…………”

Kokoa silently spread her arms toward me. She still looked like she might cry, but for now, it seemed she wanted me to pick her up. I lifted Kokoa securely and headed to the front door.

“—Morning!”

When I opened the door, Misaki stood there with a bright smile. But the moment she saw Kokoa in my arms, her expression turned suspicious.

“Why does Kokoa-chan look like she’s about to cry…?”

“Well—”

While gently patting Kokoa’s head to soothe her, I explained what happened to Misaki. Understanding Kokoa’s feelings, Misaki gave a gentle smile and started stroking Kokoa’s cheek.

“You’re sad because you can’t meet the otters, huh…”

“Mm…”

Kokoa gave a small nod.

“Let’s go to the aquarium next time, okay? Then you can meet otters, dolphins, and penguins.”

Misaki comforted Kokoa in the same way I did. As expected, this was the best we could do to make her settle for now.

“—What’s going on?”

Just then, Suzumine-san got out of the car. She must’ve thought something was off since we hadn’t come to the car yet.

“Morning, Suzumine-san. Just, you know?”

“Morning… well, I can kinda guess.”

Not wanting to explain twice, I brushed it off, and Suzumine-san seemed to pick up on Kokoa’s mood and understand.

“…………”

“Why’re you staring at me like that?”

Misaki was glaring at me intently, so I couldn’t help but ask. I had no clue why she was giving me such a suspicious look…?

“You didn’t return my greeting, but you went out of your way to greet Hiyouka-chan, huh?”

So, she was miffed about being treated differently?

“No need to get mad over something so small…”

Suzumine-san gave a wry smile, looking exasperated. As expected, her expressions were softer outside of school.

“But…”

“Shirai-kun, forget about her. Load the bags and get in. The car seat’s set up in the back, passenger side.”

As always, her treatment of her childhood friend was pretty rough. Guess that’s just how it is when you’ve known someone since you were kids.

“I’ll put Kokoa in first, then grab the bags.”

It’d be hard to carry the bags while holding her, so I decided to get Kokoa settled first. So, I opened the car door to greet Misaki’s older sister—.

“Good morning, Shirai-san.”

“Huh…?”

Someone completely unexpected was sitting in the driver’s seat.

“Sensei!?”

She must’ve recognized the voice. Kokoa, who’d been sulking until just moments ago, suddenly perked up and whipped around eagerly.

There, with a gentle, beaming smile, was Sasagawa-sensei. No wonder she seemed so similar to Misaki…

“So, Misaki’s older sister is Sasagawa-sensei…”

I hadn’t even considered it since their last names were different. I knew Sasagawa-sensei was married, so I should’ve at least imagined she might’ve taken her husband’s last name…

“I surprised you, didn’t I? I thought I’d pretend not to know until Misaki introduced me.”

With her usual charming smile, Sasagawa-sensei explained the situation. She probably thought it was proper to wait for her sister to make the introduction. Like Misaki, she seems like a serious person.

…Wait a second. If she’s Misaki’s older sister, that means—she’s that sister who took a long time to recover after losing her husband, right…? And the one who’s perfect outside but a total slob at home…

I can’t even imagine a slovenly Sasagawa-sensei…? Since I’ve always admired her, this revelation left me with mixed feelings.

“Sensei’s going to the sea too…!?”

While I was reeling, Kokoa, now in high spirits, started chatting with Sasagawa-sensei. She’s super attached to her, so she must be thrilled to see her. Maybe the reason she warmed up to Misaki so quickly was because she reminded her of Sasagawa-sensei.

“That’s right, Kokoa-chan. Let’s have fun today, okay?”

“Mm…! Okay…!”

Sasagawa-sensei’s appearance was a shock, but… thankfully, Kokoa’s mood had lifted. Meeting Sasagawa-sensei was probably more exciting than otters or dolphins she’d never seen.

“Shirai-san, we can talk more in the car.”

“Right, I’ll get Kokoa settled and grab the bags.”

Prompted by Sasagawa-sensei, I secured Kokoa in the car seat. The car seat was on the smaller side, but it still took up quite a bit of space. This meant the two people sitting in the back would likely feel cramped, even if they squeezed together.

“—You know my sister?”

She must’ve overheard our conversation. As I was about to head back for the bags, Misaki called out to me.

“Kokoa’s always been taken care of by her at preschool. She’s her homeroom teacher.”

“No way, really!?”

“Why are you the one who doesn’t know…?”

While Misaki was shocked, Suzumine-san shot her an exasperated look. I was thinking the same thing.

“Why would I know that…?”

“Shirai-kun said he drops Kokoa off at a preschool near his place, right? And the preschool around here would be?”

“…My Onee-chan’s workplace…”

As Suzumine-san spelled it out, Misaki awkwardly averted her gaze.

“…………”

“Hey, you two don’t have to stare at me like that…!”

As Suzumine-san and I silently stared at Misaki, she started panicking, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. I was just looking at her normally, though.

“Misaki, you’re such an airhead sometimes…”

“Well, that’s part of her charm, isn’t it?”

“…………”

When I defended her, Suzumine-san looked at me with surprise. And Misaki, blushing, lowered her head.

What’s with those reactions…?

“Got something to say…?”

“No, it’s nothing. Just—space-wise, I was thinking Misaki and I would sit in the back, but I’ll take the front instead.”

“Huh…?”

Wait, that means—.

“Come on, the sea’s waiting. Hurry up and grab the bags. Misaki, let’s get in.”

Before I could ask, Suzumine-san pushed Misaki toward the car. As she’d said, she had Misaki sit in the back and took the front passenger seat herself.

Hold on, this is a bit much… Acting like a fake couple without getting caught is already hard enough, and now I’ve got a bad feeling about how this is going…

◆

“—Misaki, you okay? Not too cramped…?”

“I-I’m fine…”

Right now, Misaki and I are squeezed together in the back seat. Since we’re both in short sleeves, our skin is touching, and it’s kind of embarrassing. We’ve been close like this at home before, but for some reason, this feels way more awkward—.

“You two look awfully cozy~”

It’s because of Suzumine-san, smirking at us from the front seat like she’s having the time of her life. She’s enjoying watching us squirm.

“Nii-nii and Nee-nee are super close…!”

…Well, Kokoa’s nodding happily too. In her case, she’s genuinely thrilled, so that’s fine, but…

“Hiyouka-chan, you’re having too much fun…”

“Am I?”

At Misaki’s comment, Suzumine-san tilts her head with a sly grin. Her words and expression don’t match at all.

“As for me, I’m delighted to see Shirai-san getting along so well with Misaki.”

While I was giving Suzumine-san a skeptical look, Sasagawa-sensei spoke up with a smile through the rearview mirror. As an older sister, she’s probably concerned about her little sister.

“Misaki’s a great girl, so she gets along with everyone.”

“Ehehe…”

I said it for her sister’s sake, but Misaki’s cheeks softened into a goofy smile. Despite being showered with praise at school, she’s surprisingly weak to compliments. Though, in my case, it wasn’t flattery—I was just stating facts. After all, she’s so popular at school that it’s almost a problem, and she can get along with anyone.

“Getting to see Shirai-san gush like that is quite a treat.”

“It’s already summer, so can we not make it any hotter in here?”

From the driver’s and passenger’s seats, I got two completely different vibes. Sasagawa-sensei was all smiles, but Suzumine-san was giving me a deadpan stare.

Something’s off. She was teasing us just a second ago, so there’s no need to suddenly get grumpy…

“I wasn’t trying to gush or anything…”

For now, I denied it since I really didn’t mean to sound like that.

“If that wasn’t gushing, then what was it?”

Before Sasagawa-sensei could say more, Suzumine-san jumped in with a question. Her smirk was back, clearly ready to tease again. Seems her earlier reaction wasn’t her being upset—she was just putting on the deadpan act.

“It’s not gushing, it’s just the truth. Suzumine-san, you know how popular Misaki is at school, right?”

“Even if it’s true, saying it so casually in front of others? That’s called gushing.”

“…Is it?”

Since I barely have friends and don’t have these kinds of conversations, I turned to Misaki for confirmation.

“W-Well, um, maybe…?”

Misaki’s cheeks flushed as she awkwardly looked away. Come on, that reaction basically confirms it, doesn’t it?

“I really didn’t mean to gush…”

“People who gush usually don’t realize they’re doing it.”

Is that how it works…? But, you know, we’re not actually dating… I can’t say that out loud, though.

“Raito-kun’s the type to praise people directly, so it might be a bit different from how most people gush…?”

At least Misaki tried to back me up. Whether that counted as a follow-up was questionable, to say the least.

“Being close enough to gush about each other is a wonderful thing, you know.”

She probably thought I looked annoyed. Sasagawa-sensei, who had been listening quietly, offered a gentle follow-up in her soft voice. But, as expected, it seems I’m still being treated as if I was gushing.

“Besides, I’m thrilled to see Misaki this happy. Because of me, she’s been a bit hesitant about love… so I’m relieved she’s able to date someone like you, Shirai-san.”

Through the rearview mirror, I could see Sasagawa-sensei’s kind expression. It was clear she was genuinely overjoyed at her sister’s happiness, from the bottom of her heart.

Even though I was witnessing something heartwarming—my chest ached terribly.

“…”

Misaki must be feeling guilty too. Like me, she’s pressing a hand to her chest, awkwardly averting her gaze.

Suzumine-san, watching us both—

You reap what you sow.

—shot us a deadpan stare that seemed to say exactly that.

“Nii-nii, Nee-nee, tummy hurt…?”

Kokoa looked at us with concern. She probably thought we were clutching our stomachs, mistaking it for our chests.

“Oh, are you okay? Should we stop somewhere?”

Reacting to Kokoa’s voice, Sasagawa-sensei started worrying too. As always, she was kind and quick to respond.

In contrast, Suzumine-san—

“Hmph…”

She let out a smug chuckle, a wicked grin on her face. She must be enjoying our discomfort. This girl definitely has a natural sadistic streak.

“No, we’re fine.”

Not wanting to worry them, I forced a smile and replied in a bright tone.

“Yeah, I’m okay too.”

Misaki mirrored me, flashing a smile at her sister. Physically, we were perfectly fine. The only thing slightly wounded was our hearts.

Honestly, if I’d known Misaki’s sister was Sasagawa-sensei, I might not have agreed to play the boyfriend role.

“If you’re sure…”

Despite her words, Sasagawa-sensei still seemed concerned. Her expression in the rearview mirror looked anxious.

“Nii-nii, Nee-nee, really okay…?”

Kokoa was the same, still fretting over us. She’s a bit spoiled and naive, but she’s a kind kid who genuinely cares about others.

“We’re fine, so don’t worry.”

To reassure Kokoa, I patted her head. Since Misaki was sitting between us, it was a bit awkward for her, but I hoped she’d bear with it for a moment.

That’s when it happened. A sudden brake threw me off balance.

“Ah…!”

Mine and Misaki’s voices overlapped involuntarily. The recoil from regaining my posture caused me to topple onto Misaki. And—my arm ended up pressing against her chest, squishing it.

It was the worst possible position.

“~~~!”

Misaki’s face turned beet red as she let out a wordless squeak. Her eyes were practically spinning. She must be beyond embarrassed.

“S-sorry…!”

Realizing the situation, I hurriedly pulled away. I swear on Kokoa, it wasn’t intentional.

“I’m sorry, the car in front slammed on their brakes, so I did too…”

“It’s not your fault, Misora-san. There’s no pedestrian signal, so the light at the intersection turned yellow suddenly, and the car in front panicked and braked.”

Sasagawa-sensei and Suzumine-san explained what happened. Apparently, it was just bad timing and bad luck.

“…”

Misaki, still clutching her chest, kept her face down, cheeks burning red. Even though we’re “dating,” it’s just pretend, so we’ve never done anything remotely intimate. For a pure girl like her, this must’ve been a huge shock.

“…I thought you two were pretty far along, since you’ve been visiting her house every day… but judging by this, you’re still at square one, huh?”

“—!”

Sasagawa-sensei muttered something under her breath, and this time, it was Suzumine-san whose face turned bright red in response. She looked down, just like Misaki.

What did she even mutter…? The atmosphere in the car was an absolute mess. It was painfully awkward, with a weird tension hanging in the air.

“…?”

Kokoa, completely clueless, was the only one looking back and forth between me and Misaki with a puzzled expression.

◆

We arrived at the beach. And I ended up alone.

Naturally—the group was one guy to four girls. Even Kokoa, young as she is, is a girl, so Sasagawa-sensei was helping her change. Thanks to that, I finished changing first and was left staring blankly at the ocean.

“—Hey, check that out.”

“Haha, no way. He’s at the beach alone?”

Yeah, some flashy guys were pointing and laughing at me, but I decided to ignore them. It’s not like I’m actually alone.

As I was thinking that—

“Sorry for making you wait.”

“It took a bit to get changed.”

Misaki and Suzumine-san came over to me. Thanks to them, the flashy guys who were mocking me froze, staring at us with stunned expressions.

Well, yeah, they probably never imagined two girls as cute as idols would come to a plain guy like me.

“So… what do you think?”

Misaki stepped in front of me, leaning forward slightly as she asked for my opinion on her swimsuit. She was wearing a white bikini with frilly accents. It suited her perfectly, blending innocence with cuteness.

With curves in all the right places and a slim waist, she had the ideal feminine figure that could stop any guy in his tracks. I usually try not to notice, but Misaki’s chest is… well, pretty big.

Of course, I couldn’t look directly at her and averted my gaze.

“It looks really good on you.”

“…You’re not even looking properly, are you?”

Apparently, my attitude rubbed her the wrong way, and Misaki puffed out her cheeks in a pout. But what am I supposed to do? I’m looking away because I don’t know where to put my eyes.

“I think it’s Misaki’s pose that’s the problem.”

Suzumine-san, who clearly understood why I wasn’t looking, threw in a dry jab, her tone a bit sharp. Unlike Misaki, her chest was much more modest, so she seemed to have some feelings about it.

“…”

Then, as if she figured out what I was thinking, she shot me a chillingly silent glare. Her eyes were so sharp they might as well have been laced with murderous intent, so I looked away again.

“Sorry for not having a body as appealing as Misaki’s.”

“I didn’t say that…”

Sure, her chest might not be as prominent, but in exchange, she has a sleek, slender figure that’s honestly pretty stunning. At the very least, it suits her cool vibe perfectly.

“…Since it’s a rare chance to see me in a swimsuit, maybe I should charge you for it?”

Maybe because I glanced back at her figure, Suzumine-san’s cheeks flushed slightly as she covered her chest and thighs, looking away. By the way, she was wearing a solid black bikini. I’d assumed she’d go for a one-piece to avoid showing skin, so this was surprisingly bold.

“If you’re charging, take it from those guys over there.”

The flashy guys who were laughing at me earlier were now staring, mouths agape. They must still be reeling from the shock. They look like they came to the beach to hit on girls, but since they haven’t approached, maybe they’re the type who don’t mess with girls who are with a guy?

“Oh, you tied your hair up, huh?”

Misaki usually wears her hair down, but now it was pulled back into a ponytail. Ponytails remind me of Sasagawa-sensei, and seeing Misaki like this, they really did look alike.

“Yeah, I thought it might get in the way when we swim, so I tied it up.”

“You always put it in a ponytail for gym class too, don’t you, Misaki?”

“…Now that you mention it, yeah.”

Come to think of it, that’s true.

“…”

Apparently, my response didn’t sit well, as both Misaki and Suzumine-san gave me deadpan stares. Their eyes practically screamed, Could you show a little more interest?

“Your hair’s short, Suzumine-san, so you don’t need to tie it up, right?”

Feeling awkward, I tried to change the subject. When you think of a cool beauty, you might picture long hair like Misaki’s, but Suzumine-san has an ear-tucked bob. She’s the first girl I’ve met with that hairstyle, and honestly, I can’t recall ever meeting someone as intimidatingly cool and sharp-tongued as her, so I’m pretty sure we’ve never crossed paths before.

“What, you wanted to see me tie my hair up?”

Suzumine-san smirked, playfully twirling her hair with her fingers. It almost felt like she was teasing me. She’s surprisingly attention-seeking, isn’t she?

“Well, you’d probably look good with anything.”

Too lazy to engage properly, I brushed it off casually.

Then—

“W-what’s with the flattery? That’s not like you.”

For some reason, her cheeks turned red. Maybe because her intimidating aura means people rarely compliment her looks, she’s weak to praise?

“…”

Meanwhile, Misaki was staring at me, clearly displeased. Looks like she’s suspicious again. Sure, praising another girl in front of her isn’t great, but it was obviously just a throwaway comment, and we’re not even actually dating, so I don’t think she has any right to complain…

Well… that’s probably why she’s just glaring without saying anything.

Just then—

“Nii-nii!”

A little angel who’d finished changing came running over.

“Sorry for making you wait…”

Sasagawa-sensei followed behind, jogging lightly—but her mature, alluring charm and curvaceous figure were, frankly, a bit too stimulating for a teenage boy.

“—Shirai-san…?”

“Ah, um… sorry for leaving Kokoa to you.”

Snapped back to reality by Sasagawa-sensei’s voice, I pulled Kokoa close and looked away.

But—

“Your face is red…”

“This guy’s into older women, huh?”

The two girls who’d been there from the start shot me cold, judgmental looks.

“Your face is red… Do you have a fever?”

Amidst it all, Sasagawa-sensei stepped closer and placed a hand on my forehead. She put her other hand on her own forehead, checking my temperature. Looks like Misaki isn’t the only one who’s a bit oblivious.

“Onee-chan, what are you doing!?”

Misaki, who’d been watching, frantically wedged herself between us. As a result, Sasagawa-sensei was pushed back and fell onto the sand with a thud.

“Eek!? W-what’s wrong, why are you so desperate…?”

Sasagawa-sensei seemed confused, not understanding why she’d been shoved. From Misaki’s perspective, her sister’s striking figure getting too close to me probably felt like a recipe for trouble.

“Um, since Shirai-kun is Misaki’s boyfriend, maybe it’s best to avoid doing things like that…”

Suzumine-san, avoiding direct words, explained to Sasagawa-sensei in a roundabout way. Honestly, that move earlier was dangerous, so it’s no surprise they stepped in. When a stunning, mature woman like Sasagawa-sensei approaches you in a swimsuit, anyone’s heart would skip a beat.

“Misaki, you’re pretty possessive, huh?”

Misunderstanding something, Sasagawa-sensei gave a troubled smile as she brushed the sand off her backside.

“Sensei, you okay?”

Kokoa slipped out of my arms and toddled over to Sasagawa-sensei. Seeing my kind little sister worry about someone else warmed my heart.

—Well, it’s probably just because it’s Sasagawa-sensei that she’s so quick to care.

“I’m fine, thank you for worrying.”

“Ehehe!”

When Sasagawa-sensei patted her head, Kokoa’s cheeks melted into a goofy grin. She really adores Sasagawa-sensei.

That aside…

“Hmph…”

Misaki puffed out her cheeks, shooting me a sulky glare, but was that really my fault…? I was completely passive in that situation…

“Pervert.”

To top it off, Suzumine-san whispered in my ear. Why are both of my female classmates being so harsh…?

“Anyway, shall we go rent a parasol or something?”

Amidst the girls’ stern looks, Sasagawa-sensei offered a gentle smile. She’d brought floaties for Kokoa, but mentioned we’d rent things like parasols here. Since everyone was ready, we were probably heading to do that now.

“Kokoa, come here.”

“Mm!”

When I called, Kokoa toddled over and spread her arms. I scooped her up and followed Sasagawa-sensei.

After borrowing a parasol and setting up a base—

“Gotta put on sunscreen, huh?”

Sasagawa-sensei pulled out a bottle of sunscreen. The beach has intense UV rays, so to avoid crying later, you’ve got to apply sunscreen properly. I’d assumed the girls would put it on in the changing room…

“Misora-san and I will do each other, so Misaki and Shirai-kun, you two pair up, okay?”

The one who dropped this outrageous bombshell was Suzumine-san. As usual, she casually tosses in a grenade like it’s nothing.

“W-W-What are you talking about, Hiyouka-chan!?”

“I think it’d be better if the girls did it among themselves, don’t you…?”

With Misaki’s face turning bright red, I chime in with my objection. With Misaki’s face turning bright red, I chime in with my objection. This is definitely crossing the line we’ve set for ourselves, isn’t it?

“By ‘pair up,’ I just mean putting it on each other’s backs where you can’t reach. If you’re dating, it shouldn’t be a big deal, right?”

Suzumine-san says this with a mischievous grin, clearly enjoying herself. She knows what she’s doing.

“Kokoa’s turn?”

“I’ll take care of Kokoa-chan, don’t worry.”

When innocent Kokoa tilts her head in confusion, Sasagawa-sensei pulls her into a warm hug with a smile. She doesn’t try to stop things or say anything to us, so it seems she’s on board with Suzumine-san’s idea.

“Come on, come on, we’re wasting time!”

With that, Suzumine-san hands her sunscreen to Misaki.

What do I do now…? I sneak a glance at Misaki’s face, and she must’ve been looking at me too, because our eyes meet perfectly.

“~~~~ !”

Whatever Misaki’s imagining, she lets out a wordless squeal and starts squirming in embarrassment.

Meanwhile, Suzumine-san begins applying sunscreen to her own arms, and Sasagawa-sensei is putting it on Kokoa’s arms. Judging by the fact that Suzumine-san brought extra sunscreen, she must’ve planned this from the start.

As for Kokoa, since she’s young and might miss spots, Sasagawa-sensei is taking care of her to make sure it’s done right.

Now, I’m in a real pinch…

“I’ll have Kokoa put some on me later, so Misaki, you can have Sasagawa-sensei help you.”

A kind teacher like her would probably help if her little sister was in trouble. The problem is Kokoa. She’s never done this before, so there’s a good chance she won’t apply it properly.

As I’m thinking this—

“…No, I’ll do it. So, Raito-kun, you put it on me too… okay?”

With her face flushed bright red, Misaki grabs my hand.

…Seriously?

“You don’t have to force yourself, you know…?”

Even though we’re pretending to date, we don’t have to do this to keep up the act. It wouldn’t disprove anything. Besides, with people around, it’d be more natural for the girls to do it among themselves.

“It’s fine… if it’s you, Raito-kun…”

Misaki’s face is so red it’s obvious she’s embarrassed, and her feverish eyes lock onto mine. She doesn’t seem to be doing this out of stubbornness… or is she?

“She’s saying it that clearly, and you’re still not gonna do it?”

As I hesitate, Suzumine-san, mid-sunscreen application, shoots me a provocative glance. She’s really enjoying this…

“Fine, turn around.”

I take the sunscreen from Misaki and squeeze some of the white liquid into my hand. Misaki does as I say, turning her back to me and lifting the tail of her ponytail with one hand.

“P-Please… go ahead…”

“Yeah…”

To avoid startling her, I warm the lotion in my hands a bit before starting to apply it to Misaki’s flawless, porcelain skin.

“Haa… nnh…”

Having someone touch her back must be ticklish. Every time my hands make contact, Misaki’s back twitches, and hot, breathy sounds escape her lips.

“This… isn’t… ha… nnh…”

Unable to hold back her voice, Misaki covers her mouth with her free hand. Even so, soft moans still slip through.

“That’s kinda hot…”

Suzumine-san, watching from beside me, mutters under her breath, but honestly, I’m thinking the same thing. What the heck are we doing in broad daylight?

Thankfully, Kokoa is distracted by Sasagawa-sensei, so she hasn’t noticed Misaki’s state.

“I-Is it… done yet…?”

It must be tough for her to endure. Misaki asks in a trembling voice.

“Almost there.”

Just the sides near her waist are left. I’ll need to be extra careful here. Thinking that, I gently place my hands there, but—

“Eek!?”

The area near her waist must be sensitive, because Misaki lets out a high-pitched squeal.

“Wah…! Nee-nee, what’s wrong…?”

Startled by Misaki’s voice, Kokoa turns to look at us, her face full of concern.

“N-No, it’s nothing!”

Misaki, her face still bright red, forces a smile and shakes her head. Covering her mouth with her hand only makes her look more suspicious.

Naturally, Kokoa tilts her head in confusion. Then her gaze shifts to me, standing behind Misaki.

“Nii-nii, no being mean…!”

Thinking I’m teasing Misaki and making her act weird, Kokoa puffs out her cheeks and scolds me. She’s not entirely wrong, so I’m a bit at a loss. Of course, I didn’t do it on purpose.

“I’m not being mean. I was just putting on sunscreen, and it tickled her, that’s all.”

“Huh…?”

Kokoa, not understanding why sunscreen would tickle, tilts her head again in puzzlement. Can’t blame her—kids her age wouldn’t get it.

“Kokoa-chan, I’m going to put some on your face, so close your eyes, okay?”

As I’m struggling to figure out how to handle Kokoa, Sasagawa-sensei throws me a lifeline.

“Mmkay…!”

Kokoa, who adores her, forgets her earlier questions and obediently closes her eyes. She stays still as Sasagawa-sensei applies sunscreen to her face.

“It’s… done now, right…?”

With Kokoa’s attention diverted, Misaki glances back at me, her eyes looking up pleadingly. Her shoulders are still trembling slightly, and her breathing hasn’t settled, so it must’ve been really ticklish.

“You haven’t done the back of her neck yet, have you?”

But then Suzumine-san butts in again. Her face is a bit red too, probably from watching Misaki and getting secondhand embarrassment. She was staring the whole time I was applying it—this girl’s probably a secret perv.

“N-No, not my neck…! It’s done! We’re done! I can do that part myself…!”

Misaki, clearly desperate to avoid having her neck touched, shakes her head frantically. From her reaction, her neck must be especially sensitive.

“Alright, then it’s Shirai-kun’s turn next.”

With Misaki done, it’s only natural that I’m up next. Suzumine-san, the instigator, turns her attention to me.

But—

“Hold on, it’s Hiyouka-chan’s turn now…!”

Misaki puts a stop to that.

“Why me…? I said I’d have Misora-san do mine, didn’t I?”

“It’s not fair that I’m the only one who has to feel embarrassed…! Hiyouka-chan, you should have Raito-kun do yours too…!”

Apparently, Misaki’s holding a grudge for being put through that embarrassment. She’s determined to drag the mastermind into it and make her feel the same way.

“You’re dating Shirai-kun, so it’s fine for you, right…? I’m not, so…”

It’s rare for Misaki to push back this hard, and Suzumine-san seems a bit thrown off. She’s denying it weakly, clearly on the back foot.

“That doesn’t matter…!”

But Misaki isn’t backing down. Since we’re not actually dating, she’s probably thinking she’s in the same boat as Suzumine-san.

“Getting it done by a boy could be a good experience, don’t you think?”

And for some reason, Sasagawa-sensei joins in, throwing a curveball at Suzumine-san. Her cheerful smile suggests she’s secretly enjoying this too.

…Come to think of it, she didn’t stop things during Misaki’s turn either.

“B-But, having a guy do it…!”

“Don’t be so stubborn…!”

With even Sasagawa-sensei against her, Suzumine-san’s at a disadvantage and tries to escape, but Misaki grabs her arm. She struggles to break free, but Misaki seems stronger, and in no time, both of Suzumine-san’s hands are pinned.

She could probably escape with a headbutt or some fancy footwork, but it seems even Suzumine-san can’t go that far against her childhood friend.

“Here you go, Raito-kun…! Do it…!”

Misaki says this while presenting Suzumine-san’s back to me.

Wait, isn’t this just setting me up to be hated later…?

“You know what’ll happen, right, Shirai-kun…?”

As expected, Suzumine-san shoots me a warning glare. Turning her head, she fixes me with a sharp, intimidating stare. She really doesn’t want this.

But—

“…”

Two silent pressures bear down on me. One, of course, is Misaki, right in front of me. Her cheeks are slightly puffed out, and she’s staring at me with a sulky expression.

The other—Sasagawa-sensei, watching us with an amused grin. Her smile is so intense it makes me break out in a cold sweat.

I could maybe handle just Misaki, but crossing Sasagawa-sensei is not an option—

“Sorry.”

I apologize as I place my hands on Suzumine-san’s back.

“Hyah!?”

Caught off guard, Suzumine-san lets out an adorably high-pitched squeak, one I’ve never heard from her before.

“You’d better watch yourself at the beach…!”

Her face now bright red and her eyes teary, Suzumine-san glares at me fiercely after letting out that cute sound. Apparently, her back is even more sensitive than Misaki’s.

It’s terrifying, but Sasagawa-sensei’s pressure doesn’t let up, so I keep moving my hands. As a result, weird noises escape Suzumine-san’s lips every so often, and it’s driving me crazy.

“—Haa… haa…”

When I finish applying the sunscreen to her back, Suzumine-san is breathing heavily, her shoulders heaving. The sweat on her skin probably isn’t just from the heat. Her body flinched and jumped every time my hands touched her, and those soft moans kept slipping out.

Alright—time to make my escape.

“I’m just gonna hit the restroom—”

“Oh? And where do you think you’re going?”

I try to slip away before Suzumine-san recovers, but the moment I stand, she grabs me. She snapped out of it way too fast.

“No, I just said the restroom…”

“Heh… you’re ready for the consequences, I hope?”

The cool beauty flashes a dazzling smile, radiating pressure. Why can’t I stop sweating…?

“I did it properly, didn’t I…?”

“I was clearly against it, wasn’t I? And you were enjoying my reactions, weren’t you?”

Absolutely not. Her reactions were even more intense than Misaki’s, so I couldn’t even look directly at her—I kept my eyes averted.

“That’s a misunderstanding… I was doing it seriously. Right, Misaki?”

“Huh? Why’re you dragging me into this…!?”

I toss the conversation to Misaki, who’d been relaxing now that the heat was off her, and she immediately panics. Since Misaki’s the one who got Suzumine-san mad, she should take some responsibility.

“I’ll deal with Misaki later.”

“What!?”

Apparently, Misaki hadn’t escaped—she’d just been put on hold. I’m curious what’s in store for her, but Misaki’s shaking her head frantically. Her anger toward Suzumine-san has fizzled out, and she’s back to her usual clumsy self.

Honestly, they can sort that out themselves…

“So, what’s gonna happen to me…?”

I lower my stance and cautiously ask Suzumine-san, who’s still gripping my arm tightly.

Then—

“I’ll take care of the front.”

It seems Suzumine-san plans to get her revenge on me.

“No, I can do the front myself, so I’m good…”

“Yeah, shouldn’t I, his girlfriend, do it…?”

Misaki and I both shoot Suzumine-san dissatisfied looks.

But—

“Did you say something?”

She shuts us down with an unyielding smile. Thanks to that, Misaki goes quiet and slips behind me.

Isn’t she being a bit too obedient…?

“Oh my, oh my.”

Sasagawa-sensei, as always, is playing with Kokoa while watching us with an amused expression. I’d pegged her as mid-twenties based on her looks, but according to Misaki from a while back, Sasagawa-sensei, the older sister type, is actually twenty-eight. That probably means we all look like kids to her. To her, this must just look like playful teasing.

“Are you seriously doing this…?”

“Yes, so sit still.”

Suzumine-san snatches the sunscreen from my hands and squeezes some of the white liquid into her palm. And then, with a faint blush coloring her cheeks, she placed her hands on my neck.

…Ugh, it really does tickle…

“Alright then, I’ll start on your back.”

Misaki, too, took some sunscreen in her hands and began applying it to my back. Caught between sensations from the front and back, I somehow manage to endure the ticklishness.

As expected, I didn’t let out any sounds like Misaki and the others did. I could feel countless gazes from around us, with guys clearly fixating on what we were doing. Sandwiched between two beautiful girls, I felt the sting of jealous stares piercing my entire body.

“…”

“Hey, what’re you thinking about…?”

Finishing up my neck, shoulders, and arms, Suzumine-san placed her hand on my collarbone and froze. Her gaze was locked on my chest.

“This part needs sunscreen too, doesn’t it… Since it’s exposed…”

“W-Wait a sec!?”

I thought she’d skip that area for sure, but Suzumine-san touched it without mercy.

“Huh? What’s wrong…?”

Misaki, who was applying sunscreen to my back, either couldn’t see or wasn’t paying attention, but she checked on me after hearing my voice.

 

“N-Nothing, it’s nothing…”

In a panic, I brushed it off.

No way I could say it—that a girl who wasn’t my girlfriend was touching a sensitive spot.

Suzumine-san, even if you know Misaki isn’t my real girlfriend, this is too much…

“…Hiyouka-chan, you’re surprisingly bold…”

While I was thrown off by Suzumine-san’s assertiveness, I noticed Sasagawa-sensei watching us intently, her cheeks slightly flushed. She probably didn’t expect Suzumine-san to go this far either.

I mean, she’s technically making a move on her little sister’s boyfriend, so a warning would be nice…

“You’re barely reacting…”

Meanwhile, Suzumine-san, sounding dissatisfied, kept sliding her hands over me. She’d moved on to my stomach now, but she seemed annoyed that I hadn’t let out any sounds like they did.

“Still, you’re definitely a guy, huh… Your body’s so solid, completely different from ours…”

“Yeah, exactly. Shirai-kun, you don’t even play sports, but your body’s toned, and you’ve got proper abs…”

For some reason, the two beautiful girls started curiously inspecting my body, their hands gliding over it.

Hasn’t the purpose shifted…?

“I just train so Kokoa doesn’t think I’m some slob…”

“Your sister complex is unreal, as always…”

“Siscon.”

Misaki gave a resigned smile, but Suzumine-san spat the word out like a jab. Since she was right in front of me, I got a close-up of her deadpan stare.

Now that I think about it, her face is really close…?

“What’s wrong with doting on my little sister…?”

“I didn’t say it was wrong, you know.”

Well, true, she only called me a siscon, not that it was bad…?

Wait, hold on—

“How long are you guys gonna keep touching me…?”

I mean, they’ve gotta be done applying the sunscreen by now, right…?

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Yeah, yeah, chances like this don’t come often!”

For two girls who’ve never had much contact with guys, a guy’s body with some muscle must feel like a rare find. It’s even more ticklish than when they were putting on the sunscreen.

“Misaki, don’t you have plenty of chances already?”

“Wha!? N-N-N-No, not really…!”

When Suzumine-san called her out, Misaki visibly panicked. I couldn’t see her face since she was behind me, but from her voice, she was probably blushing hard.

Like Suzumine-san said, it wouldn’t be weird for a couple to be all touchy-feely, but… whenever Misaki clings to me, we’re always fully clothed.

“—You three, it’s about time Kokoa-chan gets tired of waiting, don’t you think?”

In the end, Misaki and Suzumine-san didn’t stop touching me until Sasagawa-sensei intervened.

“—Kokoa, which one do you want?”

“Ngh, dolphin-shan…!”

When I asked which float to inflate, Kokoa pointed at the dolphin one. Sasagawa-sensei had brought a variety of floats, so I let Kokoa choose like this.

The dolphin float wasn’t a ring type but one you ride on top of, so I’d have to keep an even closer eye on her.

“It’s inflating…!”

As I pumped air into it with a hand pump, the dolphin float swelled up quickly. Kokoa, watching it grow, clapped her hands excitedly.

“Here you go, Kokoa.”

Once it was fully inflated, I handed it to her to try.

“It’s so big…!”

Kokoa tapped the dolphin, which was bigger than her, with a pon-pon. It’s light, but for Kokoa, it’s too big to carry properly. Dragging it across the sand is probably the best she can manage.

“…”

“Hm?”

As I watched Kokoa happily tapping away, Suzumine-san, her hands behind her back, stepped in front of me.

“Something up?”

“This one, please.”

She handed me a white ring-shaped float with polka dots.

Huh…?

“Wait, didn’t Kokoa pick the dolphin?”

I glanced over, and she was still gleefully playing with the dolphin float. She looked so happy, she could probably keep herself entertained on the beach without even going into the water.

Another float shouldn’t be necessary…?

“It’s not for Kokoa-chan.”

“Huh? Then whose—”

I started to ask, then it hit me. If it’s not for Kokoa and someone else needs it, there’s only one person it could be—Suzumine-san, who brought it over to be inflated.

“Hiyouka-chan can’t swim, right?”

As if confirming my thoughts, Misaki chimed in.

Come to think of it, unlike Misaki, who excels at everything, I’d heard rumors that Suzumine-san wasn’t athletic. I think she was pretty slow on her feet, too.

“You love the ocean but can’t swim, huh…”

“What, is that a problem?”

Suzumine-san pouted and turned away with a huff. Seeing her like this, she feels like a typical teenage girl. Maybe even a little childish.

“Nah, it’s not a problem. Everyone’s got their strengths and weaknesses.”

“Everyone, huh…?”

Suzumine-san shot a pointed look at Misaki.

“W-What…?”

Misaki stepped back, eyeing Suzumine-san warily.

Honestly, I’m kinda on Suzumine-san’s side here.

“There are exceptions in this world, you know.”

Misaki’s top-tier at studies and sports, and her looks could rival an idol’s. She’s not just blessed with two gifts—she’s got three, maybe four. It’s no wonder Suzumine-san feels a bit frustrated with someone like that so close by.

“It’s just so unfair.”

“D-Don’t tell me that…”

Misaki’s eyes darted around, clearly flustered. Then, she slowly backed away from Suzumine-san and hid behind me.

Stop using me as a shield.

“But c’mon, Suzumine-san, you’re plenty envied by other girls too, right? You’re smart, and you’re gorgeous.”

“—!”

When I said what I was thinking, Suzumine-san gasped and blushed.

Looks like she’s weak to compliments after all. What an unexpected vulnerability…

While I was musing over that—

“Raito-kun, I’m starting to get annoyed…”

“Misaki, keep your boyfriend in check…”

For some reason, both of them were suddenly in a bad mood.

Yeah, did I mess up…?

“Shirai-san, you’re giving Misaki a run for her money.”

Even Sasagawa-sensei gave me a wry smile for some reason. Being compared to the natural airhead Misaki leaves me with mixed feelings.

“I don’t think I’m that bad, Raito-kun.”

Misaki seemed to feel the same, puffing out her cheeks and sulking.

I think she’s worse than me, but…

Whatever, let’s just inflate Suzumine-san’s float and go play with Kokoa in the sea.

“—Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

When I handed her the fully inflated float, Suzumine-san’s expression softened as she took it. She slipped her legs through the ring, equipping the float.

Honestly—the cool beauty with a float was an adorable gap that hit hard.

“…Raito-kun, are you not really into Hiyouka-chan…?”

Misaki’s giving me this super intense look, but…

◆

“I’ll stay in the shallow area with Kokoa-chan and play.”

Those shocking words hit me as we finished warming up and entered the sea.

No way…?

“Uh, wait—”

“She’s young, so it’s better not to go too deep. But Misaki and Hiyouka-chan probably want to play in deeper water, so Shirai-san, go with them.”

Sasagawa-sensei said it with a dazzling smile, completely well-meaning. If anything, she was being considerate.

But—I’d rather play with Kokoa than hang out with these two.

“Kokoa, you wanna play with Onii-chan, right?”

I’m not abandoning the others, but I don’t want to take my eyes off Kokoa, so I asked her. Above all, Kokoa’s feelings come first.

And Kokoa—

“Play with Sensei…!”

—chose Sasagawa-sensei over me.

“…”

I was at a loss for words and froze.

“Tough luck.”

Probably picking up on my feelings, Suzumine-san placed her left hand on my shoulder, her right hand covering her mouth as her body trembled slightly. She’s definitely holding back a laugh.

“H-Hey, c’mon, it’s not often Kokoa-chan gets to play with her Onee-chan like this, so she just wants to hang out with her…!”

On the other hand, Misaki forced a smile and tried to cheer me up.

Times like this really show their personalities. Misaki’s so kind.

“Well, I think starting in the shallow area is fine too…”

Suzumine-san said, glancing meaningfully at Kokoa.

“Sensei, I got on!”

“Wow, that’s amazing, Kokoa-chan!”

“Ngh, ehehe…!”

Kokoa didn’t even spare me a glance, clinging to Sasagawa-sensei while riding the dolphin float. For someone so young, she’s surprisingly skilled. She looked so happy that it felt like we’d just be in the way.

It’s probably better for her to have Sasagawa-sensei all to herself.

“If we leave, won’t Sasagawa-sensei get hit on…?”

Kokoa’s having fun, so that’s fine, but I’m worried about Sasagawa-sensei. For better or worse, she’s incredibly attractive. Her charm is on par with Misaki’s, and some might even prefer Sasagawa-sensei’s mature allure over Misaki’s youthful energy. I mean, her curvy figure makes her look downright sensual.

“I doubt many people would hit on someone with a kid.”

“Yeah, they’d assume her husband’s nearby.”

But Misaki and the others seemed to think she’d be safe as long as Kokoa was with her.

Well, now that they mention it, that makes sense. If it were me, I wouldn’t approach someone who might have a boyfriend, let alone a husband.

Plus, in these shallows, there are plenty of families around. If Kokoa started crying, someone would step in to help. For some reason, she’s sharp about stuff like that despite being so young.

Wonder who she takes after…

“So, Misaki, Suzumine-san, you guys wanna head to deeper water?”

Sasagawa-sensei said so, but I hadn’t heard it from them directly. So, I figured I’d ask.

“Yeah, I guess. I kinda want to float around and relax.”

Is the ocean even necessary for that…?

I wanted to ask, but I held back.

“I’m fine either way, but… if that’s the case, we should’ve inflated a two-person boat float.”

The ocean makes floating easier, so you don’t really need a float for short playtime, but for chilling out, a float’s more comfortable. That’s probably why Misaki said that, but—

“So casual about inviting him onto a two-person float… Impressive.”

“—!?”

Suzumine-san voiced exactly what I was thinking, and Misaki’s face turned bright red in an instant.

It’s not like she meant it that way. She probably wasn’t thinking anything and was just being her usual airheaded self.

“I-I didn’t mean it like that! I just thought it’d save the hassle of carrying and inflating another one…! A-And I didn’t say I’d ride with Raito-kun or anything…!”

“Sure, sure.”

As Misaki stammered out her excuses, Suzumine-san raised both palms skyward and turned away with a scoff.

“Don’t just brush it off!?”

Naturally, Misaki throws in a retort. As expected, Suzumine-san probably loves teasing Misaki.

“If you want the boat-shaped one, I’ll inflate that, okay?”

I can’t keep up with their constant bickering, so I decide to move things along. If I leave them be, the sparks might end up flying my way too. Especially since Suzumine-san is exactly the type to pull something like that.

“Ah, um…”

After that talk about being alone together, Misaki seems hesitant to nod. But since she’s not outright refusing, I guess she’s fine with the boat-shaped one.

“Let’s head back to our stuff for now.”

With that, I start walking back, but—

“Wait…! When you move, don’t stray too far from us…!”

In a panic, Suzumine-san grabs my arm. It’s so sudden that I’m caught off guard.

“You don’t have to cling so desperately…”

“If you wander off, those pickup artists will swoop in…!”

Apparently, Suzumine-san is super wary of guys trying to hit on them. That’s why she doesn’t want me to leave their side.

Well, with two eye-catching girls like them and no guy around, they’d probably become easy prey for any sleazy types lurking nearby…

“Got it, I’ll be careful.”

“Good, do that.”

“…”

Wait, she’s not letting go…?

I thought she’d release me once we sorted it out, but Suzumine-san casually keeps her grip on my arm and starts walking beside me.

No way she thinks I’ll bolt if she doesn’t hold on… right?

Naturally, with her doing this—

“H-Hiyouka-chan, you can’t just do stuff like that…!”

Misaki, playing the role of my girlfriend, gets upset.

“…My bad, I didn’t mean to.”

“What kind of ‘oops’ is that!?”

Suzumine-san quickly lets go, but Misaki piles on with another jab.

I’m right there with her on this one.

“I’ll be more careful next time.”

“…”

Misaki eyes Suzumine-san suspiciously as she brushes it off with a cool, detached attitude. She looks like she wants to say something.

And then—

“Hmph…!”

Unable to voice whatever’s on her mind, Misaki suddenly clings tightly to my arm. Two large, soft objects press firmly against me.

“…”

Probably because Misaki had been glaring at her with suspicion earlier. Suzumine-san silently returns the stare, looking a bit miffed.

Thanks to this, the people around us—

“Is this… a love triangle showdown!?”

—start buzzing with excitement, completely irresponsibly.

Seriously, how did it come to this…?

“Hey, both of you—”

I try to step in, because fighting during a fun outing is the last thing we need.

But it seems I didn’t need to bother.

“Ugh… You don’t have to desperately stake your claim like that. No one’s trying to steal him.”

Suzumine-san looks exasperated and averts her gaze first. Guess she’s not the type to start a fight in a place like this. Not that there’s even a reason to fight in the first place.

“…”

But Misaki’s still eyeing Suzumine-san warily. She’s still glued to my arm—could she be jealous?

…Even though she doesn’t actually like me?

“Raito-kun.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re my boyfriend, so act like it and take it seriously.”

Misaki shoots me a sulky look. The polite tone means she’s in lecture mode.

She’s probably thinking that a real boyfriend wouldn’t compliment other girls or something like that. I thought Misaki was pretty chill about this stuff before we started fake-dating, but maybe she’s the type who’s stricter than I expected?

“My bad. But you don’t have to make a big deal out of it. There’s no way anything would happen between me and Suzumine-san, right?”

The girl’s not even interested in guys. Even if I somehow fell for her, she’d never give me the time of day. Not that I’m planning to fall for her, of course.

“Is that so?”

But Misaki doesn’t seem convinced and gives me a skeptical look.

I get why she’d be suspicious since Suzumine-san’s gorgeous, but…

“Look, I’m not gonna cheat, so relax.”

“—!?”

I meant it as a reassurance—like, I’m not the kind of jerk who’d do something shady, and I’ll make sure not to catch feelings, so don’t worry.

But instead of calming down, Misaki’s face goes pale. She looks down, and for some reason, she starts nervously squeezing my hand.

Did I… make her misunderstand something?

“What did you say to make Misaki that upset…?”

Suzumine-san, who’d been watching from a slight distance, asks with a puzzled frown.

Even after nearly starting a fight, she’s still worried about her childhood friend.

“Uh… nothing specific…?”

I didn’t say anything weird, right? Yeah, I just said I wouldn’t cheat—shouldn’t that be reassuring?

“Misaki, what did he say to you?”

Thinking I’m dodging the question, Suzumine-san turns to Misaki.

But Misaki stays silent, shaking her head slightly while still looking down.

“This is bad, huh.”

That just makes Suzumine-san misunderstand even more. Not being able to say it out loud does make it seem pretty serious…

“Here’s the float, take it.”

When we get back to our stuff, Suzumine-san hands me the boat-shaped float.

“What about Misaki?”

“That girl’s stubborn sometimes, so when she gets like this, you just have to wait for her to sort herself out.”

So, just leave her be, huh? That might work for Suzumine-san, who’s not directly involved, but…

“If you want to know why, take her out on that float and ask. I’ll keep my distance for a bit.”

Sounds like she’s saying I should talk to Misaki alone. That might make it easier to have a real conversation, so… yeah, that works.

“You’re only giving us a little space because you’re worried about pickup artists, right?”

I piece it together based on our earlier conversation.

But Suzumine-san’s face flushes, and she looks away, almost embarrassed.

“That’s… part of it, but… I’d also be scared if I ended up drowning or something…”

“…”

I get that admitting something so childish is embarrassing for her. I get it, but… man, this girl’s sneaky.

She’s usually such a cool beauty, so this kind of gap is just unfair…

She doesn’t even look up, but maybe she can tell what I’m thinking. Misaki silently tightens her grip on my arm.

“I didn’t say anything, okay…?”

“Well, I didn’t say anything either…”

When I speak up, Misaki pouts and snaps back with a huff.

Sure, she didn’t say anything, but her actions are loud and clear…

Pointing that out seems like it’d be a hassle, so I let it slide.

Feeling a bit awkward with Misaki still clinging to my arm, I inflate the boat-shaped float.

Then, the three of us head into the water—

“I’ll be back in a bit.”

Once we reach a spot with fewer people around, Suzumine-san drifts away from us. She seems calm despite not being a great swimmer, probably thanks to the float.

“—So, why’re you so down?”

I glance at Suzumine-san to make sure she’s okay, then turn to Misaki.

“I’m not down or anything…”

But Misaki, still sulking, isn’t ready to open up easily. Like Suzumine-san said, she can be a bit stubborn.

Still… I don’t mind it.

“It started when I said I wouldn’t cheat, right? That’s when you got weird. Why would that make you upset?”

“I told you, I’m not upset…”

“Alright, alright.”

Realizing Misaki’s not budging, I keep the conversation going casually.

“But it’s bugging you, isn’t it? What didn’t you like?”

Since she’s pouting, I make my voice gentler and try again.

“…”

Misaki seems to hesitate, falling silent as she thinks it over.

We’ve got plenty of time, so I decide to wait.

After about five minutes, she finally speaks up slowly.

“Because… if you started dating Hiyouka-chan, that’d mean you’d break up with me, right…?”

She looks at me with pleading eyes. Seems like she misunderstood something and got upset over it.

Well, I guess my comment could be taken that way…

She probably doesn’t want to lose her fake boyfriend, since that’s her shield against other guys.

“Do I really seem that heartless?”

“…Huh?”

Before answering her question, I ask what’s on my mind, and Misaki looks confused.

Maybe she didn’t catch my meaning.

“Forget the whole dating Suzumine-san thing for a sec. Do you think I’d just cut you off one-sidedly like that?”

She keeps doubting me about Suzumine-san, so I’m not bothering to deny it anymore. More importantly, I want to clear up our relationship.

“It’s not about cutting me off… It’s just, if we don’t end our arrangement, whoever you date would probably hate it, right…?”

Having a fake girlfriend, even for a good reason, wouldn’t sit well with someone you’re trying to date. Even if they understood it was to help someone, it’d still leave a bad feeling.

That’s what Misaki’s worried about, apparently. She’s such a kind girl, as always…

“Relax, I don’t plan on dating anyone in the first place.”

“…You can’t know that for sure…”

Misaki curls up, burying her face in her knees.

I get that the future’s uncertain, so she’s not convinced, but…

She’s really hung up on this, huh?

“Right now, the most important thing to me is Kokoa. Until she’s grown up, I’m not planning on dating anyone.”

It’s not like I don’t have someone I’m curious about or could like. Even if my interest in romance is weaker than most people my age, I’m not completely indifferent.

But if I got serious with someone, I’d have to spend time on dates and stuff. If I prioritized raising Kokoa, plenty of girls would feel neglected, even if we liked each other.

And if Kokoa ended up getting jealous or targeted by someone’s bad feelings, that’d be unbearable. She’s young, so she’s sensitive to malice, and I want to keep her as far from that as possible.

That’s why I’ve completely drawn a line.

…Well, I’d already given up on the person I was interested in, knowing it’d never work out.

“And yet, you and Hiyouka-chan seem to have a pretty good vibe…”

Misaki fidgets with her toes, her voice carrying a slight accusing tone.

Man, she’s still on about Suzumine-san… Is it because we’re the same age and close?

“Misaki, you’re the type who, once you think there might be something in the dark, keeps feeling eyes on you, right?”

“Huh…? Yeah, I guess…?”

She looks at me like she’s wondering why I’d bring that up.

“Basically, you get fixated on ideas. You’re watching me and Suzumine-san, thinking we might be into each other, so every little thing looks suspicious to you.”

Once you’ve got a preconception, it’s easy to see things that way. Misaki’s been doubting me about Suzumine-san no matter how much I deny it, so she’s probably really stuck on this.

At this point, even if Suzumine-san and I are just chatting, it probably looks shady to her.

“Is that how it works…?”

“Yeah, at least when it comes to me and Suzumine-san.”

Honestly, I can’t even imagine getting that kind of vibe with her. If anything, Misaki’s got a better shot. Though with her, she feels more like a little sister than a girlfriend.

“So… between me and Hiyouka-chan… who’s more important to you…?”

I have no idea what’s going through her head, but Misaki tosses out another wild question.

How does she keep coming up with these outrageous things…?

“You, Misaki.”

I answer instantly, no hesitation. If I look like I’m thinking too hard, she’ll start doubting me again.

“Oh… really…?”

“You’re the one who asked, so don’t get all shy on me now…”

Misaki’s cheeks flush faintly, and she turns her face away, pressing it against her knees.

I’m the one who should be embarrassed for having to say something like that…

“—Are we done here?”

“—!?”

Just as the mood starts to feel a little awkward, a voice suddenly calls out from behind.

I turn to see Suzumine-san, who’s somehow slipped right behind us. She must’ve gotten closer while I was focused on Misaki.

“Don’t sneak up like that! You scared me…”

“Were you having a conversation that needed to be startled by me?”

When Misaki complained in a fluster, Suzumine-san shot her a skeptical, half-lidded glare.

We were far enough apart, and we’d been speaking in hushed tones, so she probably couldn’t make out what we were saying. She was likely just teasing us for the sake of it.

That sly, mischievous grin on her face certainly suggested as much.

And yet—

“N-n-no way, that’s not true…!”

Misaki frantically shook her head, denying it with all her might. If anything, that made her look even more suspicious.

“…Don’t forget there are people around, okay?”

Thanks to Misaki, who knows what kind of misunderstanding we’d caused. Even Suzumine-san’s cheeks flushed slightly as she cautioned me.

“As if I’d do anything…”

My head started to ache, so to change the mood, I waded deeper into the sea. Floating on my back, I gazed blankly at the blue sky, trying not to think about anything.

Misaki and the others seemed surprised by my sudden move but didn’t call out to me.

In the quiet that followed, I half-unconsciously tuned into my surroundings, catching the lively chatter of families, couples, and groups of friends from a distance. They sounded like they were having a blast, but I preferred the tranquil bubble of silence around me.

Still, relaxing wasn’t exactly in the cards.

““…””

Why were these two staring at me in complete silence…?

Misaki, at some point, had slipped into the water and was clinging to a floatie boat. Suzumine-san, lounging limply in her floatie, was fixing me with an intense stare.

Honestly, this was getting awkward…

“Is there something you need?”

I didn’t like being stared at, so I tried breaking the silence.

“No, not really.”

“Yeah, I was just looking.”

Okay, but being stared at for no reason is kind of a problem…

What’s so interesting about watching a guy float aimlessly in the sea?

“So, what do people even do for fun at the beach?”

If I left them alone, they’d probably keep staring forever, so I tried steering the conversation elsewhere.

“What…? Have you never played at the beach before?”

Misaki tilted her head, her expression genuinely curious. There was no malice in her question—just pure wonder.

“I did a long time ago, but I was so young I barely remember it. Haven’t been to the beach since.”

Back when Dad was still alive, we’d gone to the beach a few times. But it wasn’t an every-year thing, and it stopped when I was in early elementary school. He probably wasn’t a big fan of the beach.

After he passed, Mom got swamped with work, and I had to look after Kokoa, so beach trips became a thing of the past.

The last time I was at the beach was a fifth-grade school trip to a seaside camp, but we didn’t swim, so that’s a different story.

“Some people just don’t come to the beach.”

“Ow…!”

Suzumine-san drifted closer to Misaki and flicked her forehead. Misaki clutched her forehead, glaring at Suzumine-san with teary, resentful eyes.

Suzumine-san probably did it to signal Misaki to change the subject. She seemed oddly aware of my family situation and likely thought it was a topic to avoid.

“When it comes to beach activities, surfing’s the big one, but you need waves for that. Not that I could surf even if there were waves.”

“…Why the smug look?”

I hate to say it after Suzumine-san’s confident answer, but the smug grin was a bit much. She might’ve been trying to lighten the mood, but… was she always like this?

“Anyway, asking us is pointless. We haven’t exactly been able to come to the beach for fun.”

Ignoring my confusion, Suzumine-san muttered with a hint of irritation. For her, not being able to come to the beach despite wanting to might’ve left a chip on her shoulder.

“Is the pickup scene really that bad?”

“Walk around, and you’ll get hit on in no time.”

“Yeah… it’s kind of a hassle, isn’t it?”

Misaki gave a troubled smile, nodding in agreement with Suzumine-san, so it must really happen that fast.

Considering she hasn’t been to the beach since middle school, that’s pretty wild. Well, she’s bound to grow into a total beauty, so some guys might be trying to get in early with ulterior motives.

“That’s why I’m grateful to you, Shirai-kun. Thanks to you coming with us, I haven’t been hit on yet.”

Suzumine-san flashed a warm, relieved smile. Outside of school, her expressions toward me are more often smiles or playful smirks than cold glares.

She must trust me, at least a little. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come to the beach with me or be hanging out in a swimsuit like this.

That said, it doesn’t necessarily mean anything romantic—Misaki, could you please stop giving me that look…?

Puffing out her cheeks slightly, Misaki stared at me with a sulky, intense gaze, and I returned a strained smile.

I’d told her it was all in her head, but she clearly wasn’t convinced.

“Hiyouka-chan, Raito-kun is my boyfriend, you know…?”

“Misaki, aren’t you being a bit too possessive…?”

Probably fed up with all the suspicious glares, Suzumine-san sighed. She glanced at Misaki, exasperation clear on her face.

Right now, she was likely wrestling with a mix of confusion. She’d been certain Misaki and I weren’t actually dating. Yet Misaki was acting like a real girlfriend, getting prickly whenever another girl got close to me.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Suzumine-san’s confidence was starting to waver.

To be fair, Misaki’s attitude probably stems from her seriousness—she can’t stand dishonesty, even in a fake relationship, or maybe she’s just scared of losing her “protector.”

“Hiyouka-chan, you’re cute, so of course I’d be worried…!”

“If he was interested in me, he’d have shown it by now.”

“You don’t know that…!”

Misaki shot back, vehemently denying it. No, she was definitely getting worked up.

Her childhood friend’s overwhelming charm seemed to make her endlessly anxious.

Now, what to do about this…

If I were her real boyfriend, I’d probably say something reassuring or give her some solid proof to ease her mind—but as her fake boyfriend, I don’t think I need to go that far.

If she can’t trust me, that’s just how it is. I’ve done my part to support her, and since I’m not her real boyfriend, there’s nothing more I can do to convince her.

If Misaki’s going to keep doubting me, I’ll just have to accept it and deal with it as it comes.

While I was mulling this over casually—

“I do know. After all, I’m his childhood friend too.”

—Suzumine-san dropped an absolute bombshell.

“…Huh?”

“Childhood friend…?”

As I froze at her unexpected words, Misaki asked with a stiff expression.

I had no idea, so it was only natural Misaki was hearing this for the first time too.

“No way, that can’t be…”

After all, Suzumine-san is Misaki’s childhood friend. Since Misaki and I aren’t childhood friends, it’s hard to imagine.

But—it wasn’t impossible.

“See, to him, I’m just that insignificant. He doesn’t even remember middle school.”

Suzumine-san shrugged, looking slightly annoyed.

Watching her, I recalled the time she came to my house. When I’d asked if she was being too cold for a childhood friend, she’d shot back with something like, “You’re one to talk.”

Maybe it was because I’d forgotten about her.

But what did she mean by “middle school”…? I don’t have any memory of meeting someone like her back then…

“Childhood friend… you mean you went to the same preschool as Hiyouka-chan…?”

While I was reeling, Misaki seemed to have a hunch. She narrowed it down to preschool and asked Suzumine-san.

From the way she phrased it, it sounded like Misaki and Suzumine-san went to different preschools despite being neighbors.

That would make sense.

“Yes, exactly.”

Suzumine-san nodded casually. From her attitude, it didn’t seem like we shared any deep memories.

“We used to play together a lot in preschool, but he doesn’t remember a thing.”

Nope, I was wrong—her personality was just laid-back. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling she was holding a grudge.

In that sense, she wasn’t that laid-back.

I mean, I get that it’s my fault for forgetting, but… isn’t it rare to remember preschool friends’ names by high school?

…Though, now that I think about it, I do vaguely recall playing with a certain girl a lot. She was always clinging to me. If anything, she treated me like her lackey, dragging me around the preschool.

“That bossy little kid… that was you, Suzumine-san?”

“You’re supposed to forget stuff like that.”

“Pfft…!”

Embarrassed, she splashed saltwater in my face to hide her blush.

So salty…

“Did you want me to remember or forget? Make up your mind…”

Wiping my face, I shot a question at Suzumine-san.

“Just remember the good stuff, okay?”

And she hit me with an impossible demand.

Good stuff… was there anything like that? All I remember is being dragged around the preschool.

“But Hiyouka-chan, didn’t you go to the preschool near where my mom works…?”

Just as we were about to dive into old memories, Misaki cut in with another question.

Thanks to that, I pieced together how Suzumine-san knew about my mom’s schedule.

“That’s right.”

“And Raito-kun, you didn’t go to the same preschool as Kokoa…?”

After confirming with Suzumine-san, Misaki turned her gaze to me.

“Yeah, different one. From what my parents told me, Kokoa’s preschool was already full when it was my turn. So I got sent to one near Mom’s workplace.”

And that happened to be the same preschool as Suzumine-san. And this also hinted that Hiyouka’s mom and her mom might work at the same company.

“So you really were childhood friends…”

Realizing Suzumine-san and I were childhood friends, Misaki clutched her chest and looked down.

What was she thinking right now? More than the shock of learning about my childhood friend, I was worried about how Misaki was feeling.

“Even if we’re childhood friends, it’s not like you and me. My connection with her ended in preschool, so don’t get the wrong idea, okay?”

I jumped in before Misaki could jump to any weird conclusions.

Suzumine-san might’ve claimed to be my childhood friend, but she had no intention of stealing me from Misaki. If anything, she’d brought it up to reassure Misaki.

Whether that worked was another question, but if she followed the conversation, there shouldn’t be any misunderstandings… right?

“—Sorry, I’m heading back first…!”

For some reason, Misaki suddenly started swimming toward the shore.

“Huh!? Hey, Misaki…!”

I called out, but she showed no sign of stopping. Maybe she couldn’t hear me over the sound of her swimming.

She zipped away at a speed that rivaled an Olympic swimmer.

“Damn, she’s way too fast…!”

I knew she was athletic, but even if I swam at full speed, I’d never catch up.

“Haa… I had a feeling, but at some point, the lie became the truth, didn’t it…?”

Suzumine-san muttered something under her breath and drifted closer to me.

And then—

“Come on, go after her.”

She gave my back a gentle push.

“You say that, but…”

“This is the part where the boyfriend chases after her, right?”

Sure, that might happen in manga. But what am I, the fake boyfriend, supposed to say if I catch up…?

“You’re the one who caused this, Suzumine-san…”

“I was just trying to clear my name since she keeps suspecting me.”

Is that really all it was? It felt like a terrible move if that was her goal…

Well, pressing her wouldn’t get me answers, so I didn’t bother.

“Fine, I’ll go after her.”

“Huh!? Wait, why are you grabbing my hand…!?”

When I deliberately took her hand, Suzumine-san’s face flushed red, and she snapped at me.

Apparently, it’s fine when she grabs someone, but not when I do it.

“You can’t swim without a floatie, right? I can’t just leave you here—if something happened, it’d be a problem. Once we’re back on shore, you can go your own way.”

With that, I let go of her hand. I’d have to bring the floatie boat back anyway, and I hadn’t planned on holding hands while swimming.

—Truth be told, dragging her along while chasing Misaki might backfire. But leaving her alone when she can’t swim felt too risky, and if some pickup artist harassed her in the water, it’d be no laughing matter.

Some jerk might even steal her floatie out of spite after getting rejected.

I couldn’t leave her until we were safely back on the beach.

In other words, once we reached the shore and I could talk to Misaki, I’d just ask Suzumine-san to give us some space.

“Save that kind of thoughtfulness for Misaki…”

“I’m already doing plenty for Misaki, you know…?”

For someone who used to avoid getting involved with classmates, I’ve gone out of my way for Misaki. At home, when she got all clingy, I didn’t push her away—I indulged her.

Honestly, I’m at my limit here. But, well… I can’t just abandon the ship I’ve boarded.

Man, she’s such a handful, like a little sister. Total opposite of Kokoa.

“…Deep down, you’re pretty good at looking out for people, aren’t you…?”

◆

My chest hurts.

Something invisible is squeezing my heart tight.

I don’t even know why it hurts this much.

“I shouldn’t have come to the beach…”

As I stepped onto the sandy beach, a sigh slipped naturally from my lips.

If I hadn’t come to the sea, I wouldn’t have had to feel this awful. I bet it would’ve been way more fun to hang out at Raito-kun’s place, just the three of us—Kokoa-chan, Raito-kun, and me.

Hiyouka-chan… she really does like Raito-kun, doesn’t she? That’s why she’s so touchy with him in ways she’d never be with other guys, and she’s always flashing him those smiles.

Deep down, she might not even like me, his girlfriend.

“What should I do…?”

I didn’t want to stay there with the two of them like that.

No, that’s not it. I didn’t want to be around Hiyouka-chan.

If I stayed, I might end up saying something harsh.

So, I just… ran away.

I want to go to Onee-chan and let Kokoa-chan cheer me up, but… I’d probably just be in the way. Kokoa-chan is so attached to Onee-chan, and she seems to want to play with her.

If I show up all gloomy, I might drag them down with me.

But I can’t just leave on my own either… For now, I’ll rest where we left our stuff.

That’s what I was thinking as I walked.

“—See, I told you! I knew it’d turn out like this!”

A grating male voice pierced my ears.

When I looked up, I was almost at the tent where our stuff was, but two sleazy-looking guys were standing in my path, blocking the way.

“What’s wrong, got dumped by your guy?”

“That’s harsh, man. To think a cutie like you is here, and he’s off flirting with the other girl! Don’t worry, we’ll cheer you up!”

I could tell from the way they were staring. These were the guys who’d been watching us the whole time.

They were waiting for me to be alone.

“No, thanks…”

Even I know better than to go along with guys like this. So, I tried to turn and walk away, but—

“C’mon, don’t be like that!”

“Hey, we’ll treat you to something tasty!”

They moved quickly to block my path again, refusing to let me go.

Worse, one of them grabbed my hand.

“Let go…!”

I instinctively tried to shake him off, raising my voice. But his grip was strong, and he wouldn’t let go.

They seemed to have expected me to protest, and they didn’t even flinch.

“Chill out. We’re not gonna do anything bad.”

“Yeah, let’s have some fun to lift your spirits!”

The two guys leered at me with sleazy grins, their eyes raking over my face and body.

“No, let go…!”

“Haha, we’ll let go when we get there.”

They grabbed my other hand, too, pulling me from both sides.

I tried to dig my heels in, but there was no way I could overpower two guys, and they dragged me along.

Then, one of them clamped a hand over my mouth.

I glanced around desperately for help. We were pretty far from the water, but I could see a few people clearly watching us.

But when our eyes met, they looked away.

Again.

No one’s going to help me.

Why do I always end up in situations like this? Did I do something wrong?

At the beach, at the festival… all I wanted was to have fun.

“—Hey.”

“Wha—urgh!”

Suddenly, one of the guys dragging me let out a dull thud and faceplanted into the sand. He clutched his back, writhing in pain.

I whipped around instinctively—

“What the hell are you doing to my girlfriend?”

—and there stood a familiar boy, glaring at them like they were trash.

“Raito-kun…!”

Seizing the chance as the guy’s grip loosened, I wrenched my hand free and ran to Raito-kun.

“You okay?”

Raito-kun caught me gently in his arms. He’s usually so aloof, but in moments like this, he feels so reliable.

I pressed my face into his chest and hugged him tightly.

“You…! What the hell was that for…!”

“That’s my line. What do you think you’re doing, committing a crime in broad daylight?”

I could hear the anger in Raito-kun’s voice.

He really is different. He’s the one who’ll save me like this.

“We haven’t done anything yet…!”

The guy still standing looked hotheaded and swung a punch at Raito-kun.

But—

“Forcing someone to come with you is plenty criminal.”

“Urk!”

Raito-kun hurled something from his left hand at the guy’s face, stopping him in his tracks.

“Ow! What’d you throw?! My mouth’s all gritty!”

“If it’s gritty, it’s obviously sand, genius.”

“Ugh—!”

While the guy clutched his face, Raito-kun drove a punch into his stomach. It must’ve hit just right, because the guy crumpled to the sand, clutching his gut and groaning.

“When did you even grab sand…?”

“I had it ready.”

Answering my question, Raito-kun stepped in front of me, shielding me.

Meanwhile, the first guy who’d hit the sand staggered to his feet.

“You think you can take us two-on-one…?!”

“Save the talk and come at me if you’re gonna.”

Raito-kun raised his right hand, palm up, and beckoned with his fingers provocatively. For someone as laid-back as him, this was unusually aggressive.

It didn’t feel like he was just losing his cool, though. He was thinking of me, gently nudging my stomach with his left hand as if to say, Stay back.

I stepped back a little to stay out of the way.

“You little punk, don’t underestimate us…!”

The guy reared back his right arm, ready to swing.

But—

“Don’t just charge in like an idiot…”

Raito-kun sighed in exasperation and kicked up a cloud of sand with his foot. It hit the guy square in the face as he lunged.

Just like before, while the guy clutched his face, Raito-kun landed a punch to his stomach.

“Agh…!”

“Sorry, but I can’t have you getting back up.”

He was making sure they couldn’t fight back. Raito-kun mercilessly brought his heel down on the legs of both guys sprawled on the sand.

“Aaaagh! This guy…!”

“Damn it, what are you, a demon…?!”

Clutching their legs, the guys’ glared at Raito-kun with teary eyes.

“Just to be safe, maybe one more for good measure.”

“Hii?!”

As Raito-kun raised his foot again, the guys’ faces twisted in terror. It must’ve really hurt.

Just as Raito-kun was about to bring his foot down—

“Over here…! Wait, huh…?”

—Hiyouka-chan showed up, leading three grown men.

“Um… I brought some lifeguards, but…?”

Seeing the two guys sprawled out, Hiyouka-chan looked at me and Raito-kun in confusion.

“Is he the one trying to drag a girl off?!”

And somehow, they mistook Raito-kun for the culprit.

“N-No, that’s not it…! This is my boyfriend, he saved me…! The ones who tried to drag me off are those guys on the ground…!”

I hurriedly clung to Raito-kun’s arm, pleading his innocence.

The lifeguards, who’d been tense, let out a collective sigh of relief. They must’ve been on edge, thinking they were dealing with someone who’d taken down two guys single-handedly.

“My apologies… So, those are the ones, huh? Plenty of people saw it, so let’s turn them over to the police.”

“Wait, no way?!”

“We’re the ones who got hurt! He probably broke our bones…!”

As the lifeguards approached, the guys frantically pointed at Raito-kun.

Who do they think they’re fooling? They brought this on themselves.

“No, you tried to drag her off, and I was just defending her.”

Sure, Raito-kun struck first, but it was to save me. With witnesses around, he shouldn’t get in trouble.

For a moment, I wondered if he went too far, but it was two against one. If he hadn’t shut them down completely, he could’ve been the one hurt.

So, this was the right call.

“You’re coming with us to answer some questions.”

The guys were restrained and led away by the lifeguards.

“Sorry, but we’ll need you two to come give statements as well.”

It seemed we’d have to go through some questioning, too. They’d called the police, so we decided to cooperate.

“—Raito-kun…”

“Hm?”

“Thank you…”

As we followed the lifeguards, I thanked Raito-kun.

“No, it’s my fault for letting you go off alone… Besides, protecting you is my job, Misaki. Don’t worry about it.”

Even though I was the one who left on my own, Raito-kun gave me a gentle smile.

He’s usually so standoffish, but when he’s kind like this, it’s unfair. My heart was pounding so loud I could barely stand it.

I finally understood why it hurt so much to see Hiyouka-chan and Raito-kun getting along.

…No, that’s not true. I knew all along but didn’t want to admit it, so I looked away.

I was scared of falling for someone. I even thought I’d never be able to love anyone.

But this feeling—

“You’re pretty good at fighting, huh…”

“What’re you talking about? I’ve barely ever fought in my life. No way I’m strong.”

“Huh, but…”

He took down two guys so easily just now…?

“Since I’m not used to fighting, when I saw you being dragged off, I was desperately thinking of how to take them down. They weren’t exactly pros either, so I got lucky.”

“How’d you know they weren’t used to fighting…?”

I don’t know anything about that stuff, so I was genuinely curious. Can you really tell just by looking?

“If they were used to fighting, they wouldn’t have left themselves so open. We just got lucky this time, so don’t go off alone again, okay?”

As he said that, Raito-kun laced his fingers with mine. The natural way he held my hand in a lover’s grip made my cheeks soften into a smile.

“I’m sorry… I won’t leave your side again…”

I said, clinging tightly to his right arm. I could feel his body tense just a little, which made me even happier.

He’s actually aware of me.

“Good. I don’t want any more trouble. And… I messed up, too.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

Not sure why he was apologizing, I tilted my head.

“For making my girlfriend feel bad.”

By saying “girlfriend” instead of “Misaki,” I realized he meant the thing with Hiyouka-chan. I must’ve made it obvious by running off like that, and he noticed.

“No, I just ran away without talking it out…”

“You do tend to bolt, don’t you, Misaki?”

“Ugh…”

I thought he’d say something sweet, but he hit me right where it hurts.

When I looked up, he was smiling at me like he couldn’t help it. Guess he didn’t mean it in a mean way.

“I didn’t want to fight with anyone or make them mad, so I started avoiding conflict… and before I knew it, running away became a habit…”

I was aware I’d been dodging anything unpleasant or upsetting, so I confessed honestly.

I braced for a lecture, but—Raito-kun just placed his free hand on my head with a soft pat.

“Raito-kun…?”

“I’m not great at picking up on things, and I’ve got to keep an eye on Kokoa. So, I’ll probably miss your signals a lot. To avoid that, just tell me straight. If something’s bothering you, say it. If there’s something you want, don’t hold back. How about we start there?”

As he spoke, he gently stroked my head.

Honestly, I’m kind of shocked. I know he’s saying this to help me stop running from things.

But I never imagined Raito-kun would be this considerate.

To him, our relationship doesn’t really benefit him, and it wouldn’t be weird if he saw me as a nuisance.

Plus, even though I ran off at the beach, the old Raito-kun probably wouldn’t have cared this much.

Maybe seeing me caught up in something dangerous changed how he feels.

“Is that… okay? I mean, I’m…”

“It’s fine. We’re boyfriend and girlfriend, so facing things together is the way to go.”

Even if it’s “fake,” that doesn’t change.

That’s what he’s saying, right?

—Oh, man…

I only just realized my feelings, and now he’s being this sweet? My heart’s gonna burst…

“So… if I end up getting all selfish, is that okay…?”

“If you get too selfish, I might not keep up—but I’ll tell you if that happens. That way, we can figure out where we both stand, right?”

This is so him—not making irresponsible promises like “I’ll accept everything.” It’s almost too honest, but that’s how I know he means it, and it puts me at ease.

“Then… I’ll take you up on that…”

“Good. That’s the way.”

And just like that, thanks to his big heart, we made up.

—No, maybe that’s not quite right. It feels like we’re closer now than before things got tense.

I don’t ever want to let go of his hand again.