Chapter 4: “Summer, Pool, Pickups, and Swimsuits”

Fresh from a lively two-day bug-catching trip in the countryside, I sank into a hot bath and collapsed into bed, exhausted.

Those two days had been a blast.

Diving into Airi’s generous chest, stealing glances at her while she slept beside me, and catching a fleeting glimpse of her bra on the ride back—those moments swirled in my mind as I drifted off.

Then morning came.

“Nngh? It’s… ridiculously hot…”

Blinking awake, I sensed something off in my room.

The air conditioner hummed, but the air stayed stifling. I was sure I’d left it running last night, too tired to set the timer. Yet, somehow, it was off. My phone, which I hadn’t plugged in before crashing, was now neatly connected to its charger.

This weird vibe… if this were an 8● exit, I’d turn back without a second thought.

As I rubbed my groggy eyes, a soft hand wiped my sweaty forehead with a white handkerchief. Wait—what!?

“Oh, morning, Ryouta-kun.”

It was Kuroki Rui.

She stood there in cute, crisp casual clothes, inexplicably wearing a heart-patterned apron.

“Wha—!? Rui!? Why are you here!?”

I shot upright, scrambling back against the wall in shock.

“Why? Well, the track team’s off today, so…”

“No, that’s not what I mean! Why are you in my room first thing in the morning during summer break!?”

Rui spoke so casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world, and I couldn’t help but snap back. Sure, she’d snuck into my room before I woke up in the past, but during summer break?

“Wait, don’t tell me… you’re here for that punishment thing?”

“Jeez, calling it a punishment sounds so harsh.”

“You’re the one who called it that!”

“Now, now, calm down, Ryouta-kun,” she said, her gentle tone almost disarming.

Why was I the one being soothed by a classmate who’d basically broken into my house?

“The punishment’s for another time, okay? ♡”

“What’re you planning? A whip? Or pinning me down?”

“I wouldn’t do anything that mean! Besides, Ryouta-kun, you’d probably enjoy it if I disciplined you.”

Tch… seems like she’s got me all figured out.

But she just casually dropped a super intense word there at the end!

“Well, it’s no surprise you’re confused about the situation. I mean, you’re the only one who didn’t read the messages.”

“R-read? What?”

“Airi made a new LINE group yesterday. You didn’t know?”

“A group…?”

Clueless, I grabbed my phone, now conveniently charging, as Rui prompted. Sure enough, a flood of LINE notifications greeted me.

“W-what’s all this?”

“Airi set it up since we might hang out together this summer. The three of us already had a group, but you and Tanaka-san weren’t in it.”

“Okay, me I get, but Tanaka… well, whatever.”

Good for you, Tanaka, making friends.

I scrolled through the chat in this so-called LINE group, named “The Five Good Friends”—classic Airi energy.

Tanaka: I’m so touched to be included in a LINE group, even as a loner like me!! Please let’s get along!!

Oof, Tanaka’s message screamed loner vibes. True to form, she hadn’t said a word since.

Yuria: So, Rui, you’re free tomorrow since there’s no club, right? Wanna go somewhere together?

Rui: Sure. Anywhere’s fine, but… how about the pool?

Airi: The pool! I’m in! I totally wanna go! What about you, Tanaka-chan?

Tanaka: Yes, I’m okay with that.

Airi: Awesome! Oh, and Ryouta’s probably sleeping or something, but it’s summer break, so he doesn’t get a say. He’s coming too!

“Hold up!! The p-p-pool!? Swimsuits?!”

“Ryouta-kun, your lower half’s showing.”

“Hah! N-no, it’s not like that! It’s just morning. It’s a natural thing!”

“Hehe. Were you imagining… my swimsuit?”

Honestly, my mind had gone straight to Airi’s curves in a school swimsuit, but I wasn’t about to admit that.

“Anyway, we’re all going to the pool today! Meeting spot’s your house at 9 a.m.”

“I see… but could you guys not just make my house the meeting spot without asking?”

“Hey, Ryouta-kun. Wanna sneak a peek at my swimsuit first?”

Rui hooked a finger around her shirt’s neckline, teasingly revealing a glimpse of her chest.

Whoa… that’s hot.

“W-well, yeah, I’d wanna see it!”

“Hehe… you’re as honest as ever, and that’s cute, but you’ll have to wait till we get to the pool, okay?”

This girl… toying with my innocent heart like that…!

And so, I was roped into going to the pool with three beautiful girls—plus Tanaka.

“Okay, I get the pool plan, but… why the embarrassing heart apron?”

“Huh? Oh, ‘cause I made breakfast for the Izumiya household today! ♡”

“…What?”

I couldn’t even process that.

“Come on, Ryouta-kun, hurry up!”

Whatever. For now, I’d fill my stomach with breakfast to kick off the day. Why Rui was chummy enough with my family to cook breakfast was beyond me, but her sneaking into my room while I slept was already a mystery, so I let it slide. My sister usually hogs all my food, but if Rui made it, I’d probably get some, so I was grateful.

“Alright, Ryouta-kun, I put your change of clothes on the desk, so wash your face and get dressed, okay?”

Rui urged me along like some kind of doting maid. Being pampered by a beautiful girl felt like a treat, but with Rui, I couldn’t shake the feeling she had some hidden agenda.

“Oh, and I moved those naughty books and goodies you love from the gap in your bookshelf to the closet so no one would find them.”

“W-what!? Don’t mess with my treasures!”

“Also, I confiscated some of your secret gyaru and ultra-busty stuff since they’re bad for your education. I’ll transfer the money for them to your bank account later, okay?”

“You—! Get out, you devil!”

She wasn’t just a trespassing classmate—she was the confiscation committee president! If I didn’t ban Rui, she might start controlling that part of my life too.

☆☆

By the time I trudged downstairs for breakfast, it was already past 8 a.m., and the house was eerily empty except for me and Rui. Dad was at work, Mom was off at her weekly sepak takraw, and my sister, for whatever reason, was nowhere to be found. Summer break mornings were always like this—a single note left on the dining table, scribbled with the family’s plans for the day.

I glanced at it and froze.

“Use a condom, got it? —Big Sis”

“Ugh, as if I’d do that, you idiot sister.”

“Ryouta-kun, going raw is a no-no, okay?” Rui teased from behind.

“That’s not what I meant! I’m saying I wouldn’t do it at all!”

“Just kidding, just kidding.” She giggled, heading toward the kitchen. “I’ll get breakfast ready.”

Everything she says sounds like it’s not a joke.

“I’ve been wondering,” I said, trailing after her, “but you’re weirdly okay with dirty jokes, Rui. You even throw them out yourself.”

“Hmm? I don’t think so.”

You totally do. No question about it.

“If I had to say, I’m usually the perfect honor student, but around you, Ryouta-kun, I let my guard down. I know I can say risque stuff and you won’t mind.”

“W-what’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I can show you my less-than-perfect side when I’m with you.”

Rui winked, setting the warmed breakfast on the table. So… what does that mean exactly?

“I’m a girl too, you know. Sometimes I want to talk about that stuff.”

Come to think of it, Yuria once mentioned that girls have strong desires too. Maybe it’s more common than I thought? Staring at my plate—sausage and cherry tomatoes side by side—I cursed my brain for turning it into a dirty joke. Stop it, Ryouta.

“Airi and the others are coming at 9, so eat up quick, Ryouta-kun.”

“Y-yeah…”

I dug into the breakfast Rui prepared: white rice, miso soup, sausage, scrambled eggs, and a simple veggie mix of cherry tomatoes and lettuce. I’d pictured her whipping up something flashy with fancy ingredients, but it was surprisingly modest. Probably because our fridge is pathetically empty. Simple is best, I suppose.

“Ryouta-kun, if there’s anything you don’t like, I’ll eat it for you, okay?”

Eat it for me, huh… For a split second, I nearly blurted out “sausage.” I wanted to punch myself.

“By the way, was the bug-catching trip yesterday fun?”

Her sudden mention of the trip caught me off guard, and I fumbled the sausage in my chopsticks. “R-Rui… you’re not mad or anything?”

“Mad? Why would I be?”

“‘Cause your LINE messages before had this… upset vibe.”

“Why?”

“Well, I mean—”

“Did you do something with Airi that’d make me mad, Ryouta-kun?”

“N-no! Absolutely not!”

“Then it’s fine, right? Or… do you want me to get mad?”

Rui’s smile didn’t waver, but it felt chilling. Sweat prickled my skin. “Hehe… you’re cute when you’re scared, Ryouta-kun.”

“You sadist.”

“And you’re a masochist, right? I mean, I found a ton of books like that.”

“D-don’t go looking at my stuff!”

“Hehe, but doesn’t that mean we’re pretty compatible?”

She’s toying with my virgin heart, her clever words spinning me in circles. As a loner, I can’t even complain—being teased by a beautiful girl feels like a reward. Only a light novel protagonist would shrug and think, “Oh well.” But… what does Rui actually think of me?

“Hey, Rui, what do you—”

“Yo, I’m here!! Oh! Rui-chan’s shoes are already here!!”

A childlike voice and the unmistakable presence of Airi’s massive chest burst through the entrance, her floatie and pool bag in tow.

“Morning, Ryouta! Oh, you’re eating breakfast? Nice!”

“Morning, Airi. Where’re the other two?”

“They’re all here! Look!”

Yuria and Tanaka trailed in behind her, moving at a slower pace. “Morning, Ryouta, Rui,” Yuria said.

“Morning, Yuria. And Tanaka-san too.”

“Um, thank you so much for inviting me today!” Tanaka stammered, stiff as ever.

Can’t blame her. This is probably her first time hanging out with friends like this.

“Ryouta, hurry up and eat! We’re going to the pool!”

“Alright, alright, don’t rush me!”

As I ate, the trio of beautiful girls—plus Tanaka—gathered in my living room. It was only 8:20 a.m. Rui had said the meeting time was 9, but these girls were way too impatient.

“Yoink! Ryouta’s sausage is mine!”

“Hey!”

While I spaced out, Airi swiped a sausage from my plate. “Mmm, delicious~” she said, devouring it in one bite.

M-my sausage… gone. Watching her chomp down sparked all sorts of inappropriate fantasies.

“Hey, Airi, that’s bad manners.”

“Want one, Yuria? There’s another one here!”

“Nah, I’m good. You’re gonna eat all of Ryouta’s breakfast at this rate, aren’t you?”

Yuria gave an exasperated look as she glanced at my breakfast.

“Wait, Rui made this? And what’s with that apron?”

“Isn’t it cute? Ryouta-kun’s mom’s at sepak takraw, so I made breakfast for the Izumiya household.”

“Seriously? Rui, how close are you with Ryouta’s family?” Yuria asked.

“Huh? It’s normal since we’re friends, right?”

Normal friends don’t cook breakfast at your house.

“Forget that, Ryouta! Hurry up and eat so we can go to the pool!”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

Urged by Airi, I shoveled down my breakfast, ready to prep for the pool—or so I thought.

“Hold on, Ryouta-kun.”

“Hm?”

“I packed your swimsuit and towel in this bag. Here you go.”

Rui handed me a bag she’d pulled from nowhere. Apparently, she’d prepared everything in advance. Too considerate—it’s almost scary. As a loner, I don’t even own a swimsuit beyond the one for gym class.

Peeking inside, I found a stylish, patterned pair of board shorts. “I figured you didn’t own a swimsuit, so I bought one for you. I’ll offset the cost with the money from that stuff earlier, okay?”

T-this girl… she’s way too capable. Ahh, at this rate, I’m gonna end up with Rui dependency syndrome.

“Hehe…” Rui flashed a smug smile, like she’d planned it all along.

☆☆

With preparations complete, we set off for the pool.

As we left the house, Rui was locking up for some reason, but I shrugged it off as not worth the hassle and started walking. “So, where exactly are we going?”

“The big leisure pool in the next town!”

“Huh? Isn’t that place expensive? Wouldn’t the public pool be fine?”

“Ryouta, are you serious? No waterslides? That’s so boring!”

“Yeah, yeah! Airi wants to go down the waterslide with Ryouta!”

“Me, with Airi… on a waterslide?”

The thought of Airi’s generous chest pressed against my back—legally, no less—felt like a stroke of luck (or maybe a calculated crime). I indulged in the blissful thought of Airi’s huge boobs against my back, just like I’d experienced the day before yesterday.

“Alright, the leisure pool with waterslides it is!”

The moment the words left my mouth, Yuria and Rui pinched my arms hard.

“Ryouta, your ulterior motives are showing,” Yuria said, narrowing her eyes.

“Ryouta-kun, you’ll ride with me, right? The flat-chested me,” Rui teased, her tone playful but sharp.

Tch… these girls have me completely figured out.

A pool is normie territory. For a loner like me, it’s just an excuse to gawk at Rui’s navel, Airi’s massive chest, or Yuria’s thick thighs. In the end, we settled on the leisure pool in the next town and headed toward the station.

That aside…

As the trio of beautiful girls walked ahead, chatting about how to get to the pool, I glanced back. “Hey, Tanaka, you’ve been totally invisible this whole time. You good?”

“I-invisible!? I’m right here! Behind everyone!” Tanaka squeaked, indignant.

“Why’ve you been so quiet? That’s not like you.”

“W-well… a female loner like me gets awkward around people I haven’t seen or talked to in over a week.”

That’s peak loner behavior… even I’m not that bad. Still, I figured Tanaka could use a little support, given her predictable awkwardness.

“You’re looking kinda dressed up today, huh? A white dress? You never wore stuff like that back in junior high.”

“S-shut up! Even a loner like me has moved past the era of wearing jerseys as casual clothes!”

Back in junior high, Tanaka always showed up at my house in a jersey. I was usually in one too, so it never bothered me.

“I mean… even I realized jerseys are lame and made an effort. Sure, I don’t have the fashion sense or the standout figure like those three up there…” Tanaka glanced at the trio, her hand resting on her flat chest, a flicker of self-consciousness in her eyes.

From a girl’s perspective, being around those three would probably make anyone feel that way.

“Don’t worry about it, Tanaka. You’re always saying there’s ‘definitely a demand for lolis and glasses-wearing girls in the Hasuhasu Cult,’ right?”

“I-I never said that! I don’t even think that! And what the heck is the Hasuhasu Cult!?” Tanaka exploded, just as I’d expected from my half-joking tease.

“There we go. That’s the Tanaka I know.”

“…S-shut up! Anyway, I’m fine just… just getting praised by you, Ryouta-kun.”

“Me? Oh, well, sure.”

“Huh…?”

“I mean, as a seasoned loner, I’ve got an eye for beautiful girls. If I praise you, any guy would fall for you in a heartbeat.”

“…Ugh.” Tanaka let out a massive sigh.

“What’s with that sigh!?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure thing, virgin Ryouta-kun.”

“Y-you’re one to talk, acting like you’ve got any romantic experience!”

“Who knows? I’ve at least had more love experience than you, Ryouta-kun.”

“W-what!? You’re not just a BL fangirl!? Spill the details!”

“No way~”

☆☆

The five of us trekked to the nearest station to catch the train to the leisure pool. After a short wait, we boarded and found three empty seats on one side and two on the opposite side.

Guess we’d have to split—three and two. Perfect. I’d slyly claim the middle of the three-seater, flanked by beauties on both sides…

“Hold up, Ryouta. We’re sitting over here.”

“Huh, Yuria?”

“Airi, Rui, and Tanaka can take the three-seater.”

“Hey, why all of a sudden—”

Yuria grabbed my hand, pulling me to the two-seater without giving me a chance to protest. Across from us, Tanaka ended up sandwiched in the middle of the three-seater, with Airi and Rui on either side. In the cramped space, Airi’s generous chest pressed right against Tanaka’s small frame.

Damn you, Tanaka… Airi’s boobs! She’s in a total beauty sandwich! I’m so jealous! Switch with me!

“Tch, Yuria. Why’d you do that?”

“No reason. You’ve been staring at Airi’s boobs too much since this morning. Give it a rest already.”

Yuria sighed softly, adjusting her tight hot pants with her fingertips.

“W-what? You’re telling me I can’t look at Airi’s boobs? That’s a violation of my boob-gazing rights!”

“No such right exists. Stop making up creepy terms.”

“B-but, if I don’t look at Airi’s huge boobs, my eyes will rot or something!”

“Like I said before, if you’re gonna stare, at least stick to my thighs.”

Airi tells me to only look at her chest, Yuria pushes her thighs… why are these girls so eager to throw themselves at me? Puzzled, I kept my voice low to continue the conversation.

“Alright, I’ll admit I’ve been staring at Airi’s boobs too much this morning, and I’ll reflect on it. But you guys know dragging me to the pool means I’ll end up staring at Airi’s chest and Yuria’s thighs, right?”

“Even so, everyone thinks it’s more fun with you around.”

“R-really?”

“But if you keep staring at Airi’s boobs, I’ll smack you without question. Got it?”

Yuria cracked her knuckles and poked my cheek with her index finger.

“Y-yes, ma’am. I’ll make sure to thoroughly admire Yuria’s thighs as well as Airi’s boobs.”

“…Yeah, yeah, that’s fine.”

Pouting but looking faintly pleased, Yuria nodded and pulled her finger away. She’s way too lenient when it comes to me staring at her…

“Yuria, you’re like my ultimate ally, so maybe you don’t mind me staring at your thighs, but don’t you normally hate being looked at with pervy eyes?”

“You, of all people, are asking that?”

“No, I just got curious.”

“Ugh… like I’ve said a million times, you’re special. I wouldn’t let any other guy even get close.”

“H-huh…”

Is Yuria super guarded or super chill? I can’t tell.

“Speaking of which, I’ve got something I wanna ask you.”

“Hm?”

“Yesterday… did you do it with Airi?”

Yuria glanced toward Airi, her voice barely above a whisper.

Not this again! First Rui, now her—why do they keep misunderstanding?

“No way I did anything! Think about it. Besides, you confiscated my condoms.”

“So you’d have done it if you had one?”

“…W-well, maybe I’d have thought about it. Probably.”

“Such a virgin. No way you’d pull it off.”

Yuria smirked, clearly teasing me.

Grr… being a loner virgin means I can’t even argue back.

“F-fine, I’m a spineless lifelong virgin. Happy now?”

“Jeez, don’t sulk and double down. If no one ever takes you, I guess I could take you in.”

“Y-you… always teasing me like that. But you said it, so it’s a promise. Even if you’re a married woman, I’ll hold you to it.”

“No, that’s straight-up bad. You’ve read too many naughty doujins.”

She teases my virginity but hits me with real-world common sense. NTR? No way, absolutely not.

“That’s not what I meant, though.”

“Huh? What do you mean, then?”

“…Never mind. We’re getting off at the next station.”

“Oh, right.”

The confidence from earlier vanished, and Yuria seemed a bit awkward, her gaze drifting away.

☆☆

The leisure pool loomed large, its sprawling facilities visible even from the outside. As soon as we arrived, we grabbed tickets and headed inside.

“Alright, Ryouta? Wait outside when you’re done changing,” Yuria instructed.

“Got it.”

I watched Airi and the others disappear into the girls’ changing room before darting into the boys’ to get ready. The thought of seeing the trio of beautiful girls in their swimsuits had me rushing. Hurry, hurry!

I quickly stripped, slipped into the stylish board shorts Rui had bought me, and stepped outside.

“…Oh, Ryouta-kun. You’re quick.”

Tanaka stood alone, looking slightly out of place. T-Tanaka… and that swimsuit…

“What’s with that disappointed face!? That’s super rude, you know!” she huffed.

“No, it’s just… you’re wearing a school swimsuit.”

Unbelievably, it was the classic navy one-piece. Given Tanaka’s petite frame hadn’t changed since junior high, it was probably the same worn-out suit from back then.

“I-I had no choice, okay! The pool trip was decided yesterday, and a loner like me obviously doesn’t own a cute swimsuit!”

Unusually, Tanaka wasn’t wearing her glasses—probably contacts—and her face was bright red with anger.

She’s got a point. I only have a swimsuit because Rui bought me one.

Still, Tanaka… it’s not just the school swimsuit, but she’s so petite.

“H-hey, Ryouta-kun! Don’t stare so much!”

“…”

“Ugh, jeez… Ryouta-kun.”

Her thighs are like half the size of Yuria’s, her waist is so tiny it might snap if you tapped it… and above all, Tanaka’s chest!

“You gotta eat more, Tanaka.”

“That’s none of your business!!”

“Sorry to keep you two waiting!”

“!!”

I turned at the voice, and my breath caught. The trio of beautiful girls emerged from the changing room, an overwhelming sight.

“Ryo, Ryouta-kun… this is, like, wow,” Tanaka stammered.

“Yeah… it’s intense in every sense,” I muttered.

I knew we’d be in swimsuits at the pool, but their looks were beyond stunning.

“Hehe, what do you think, Ryouta-kun?” Rui asked, stepping forward. She wore a black cross-line bikini with a sheer white cover-up, her long hair tied into a single ponytail draped over her right shoulder. Her slender figure—flawless arms and legs without an ounce of excess fat—was model-perfect, more striking than any runway star. Her bare navel, exposed and tantalizing, was hundreds of times more alluring in person than in any photo. It took every ounce of restraint not to reach out and trace it.

“Sorry for the wait, Ryouta… So, uh, what do you think of my swimsuit?” Yuria asked, black sunglasses perched on her head. Her red off-shoulder bikini accentuated her toned waist and thick, plush thighs that practically begged to be clung to like a koala. Her chest, while not as large as Airi’s, was still impressively full, the swimsuit highlighting her perfect proportions and beautifully shaped curves.

“Ryouta, Ryouta! What do you think of my swimsuit? Cute, right?” Airi chimed in, her bright pink bikini barely noticeable against the sheer expanse of skin exposed by her massive chest. Her boobs were so overwhelming, the swimsuit seemed almost irrelevant, like a brush overshadowed by a master calligrapher—or rather, massive boobs that didn’t need a swimsuit. It was as if the bikini existed only to fail at covering her. If kids saw this, they’d lose sleep for all sorts of reasons.

“Hey, Ryouta, we’re asking for your thoughts on our swimsuits?”

“Yeah, Ryouta-kun? Why’d you go quiet all of a sudden?”

As I stood there with my eyes wide open, buzzing with excitement in my head, Rui and Yuria closed in on me.

“Oh, uh… you’re all so cute, I couldn’t help but stare… the impact is unreal.”

“Impact, huh?” Yuria raised an eyebrow.

“Hehe, Ryouta-kun’s too much,” Rui giggled.

No matter how amazing their swimsuits are, I shouldn’t stare too much, right?

“Hey, Airi-tan! Wanna come over to my place sometime? Preferably in a cow-print bikini~” Tanaka sidled up to Airi, pleading like a creepy otaku.

This girl… how does she get so bold out of nowhere!? When Tanaka goes into unstoppable mode, no one can rein her in.

“Cow-print? Hmm, sure! Airi loves cows, after all!” Airi replied cheerfully.

“Yay!” Tanaka cheered.

No way, Tanaka, you actually pulled it off! I thought Airi’s chest didn’t need a swimsuit, but cow-print? That’s a game-changer. Cow-print × massive boobs is every otaku’s dream, hope, and future. A photo of Airi in a cow-print bikini… I need it.

“H-hey, Tanaka… how much for that photo?”

“Heh… how about 4?”

“Deal!”

“Hey, stop making shady deals! Airi, don’t do it, these guys are up to no good,” Yuria interjected.

“Huh? No good? Is that true, Tanaka-chan?” Airi asked, tilting her head.

“Uh, n-no, I mean—” Tanaka stammered.

“Tanaka, fess up.”

“W-what!?” Tanaka squeaked, cornered by Yuria and Airi.

Tanaka… you’d better talk your way out of this. Our cow-print dreams are on the line.

“Ryouta-kun, got a sec?”

“! W-what, Rui?” I turned, startled. While I’d been watching Tanaka’s predicament like it was someone else’s mess, Rui had slipped beside me.

“My swimsuit… is it cute?”

“Y-yeah, it’s cute. Obviously…”

“Oh? Tell me more.”

What’s with that tone? She’s acting like a clingy girlfriend, which isn’t like her at all. “Uh, well, Rui, your figure’s amazing, the black swimsuit suits you perfectly, your arms and legs are super slender, and…”

“Hehe… liar, Ryouta-kun.”

“Huh? L-liar?”

“What you really like is this part.”

Rui placed her index and middle fingers on either side of her navel, gently spreading it to show it off. My brain short-circuited. Her navel… right there, so tantalizingly perfect.

“Hehe… it’s written all over your face, Ryouta-kun.”

“!?”

“Just as I thought… hehe, all according to plan.”

Rui’s eyes narrowed with a sly, triumphant smile.

“You’ve been staring at my navel a lot this past month, haven’t you?”

“N-no way… all those navel-baring selfies you sent were…”

“On. Purpose. Ryouta-kun.”

Her smirk gleamed with victory. Tch! My fetish has been under Rui’s control this whole time!? Those photos, that navel that grabbed my heart… all bait to manipulate me!?

“Hehe, how’s that? You’re thrilled, right, Ryouta-kun?”

“…Yeah… you’re right.”

“Huh?”

“I love your navel! I always zoom in on it on my phone and even made a folder for it! Your navel!”

“…!”

In the heat of summer, confusion, and excitement, my brain glitched, and I blurted out an outrageous confession. Rui’s sharp demeanor faltered, her cheeks flushing as she blinked rapidly.

“…You like my navel that much?”

“Obviously!”

“H-hmm…”

Oh, crap… did I weird her out? Her usual confidence seemed to waver.

“S-sorry, Ryouta-kun. I think I need to use the restroom before we swim.”

“Oh? Uh, sure…”

“Oh! Rui-chan’s going to the restroom? I’ll go too!” Airi chimed in, her chest bouncing as she followed.

Rui… seemed off. Knowing her, she’d probably bounce back by the time she returned.

“Ugh, Rui and Airi… I told them to go to the restroom before changing,” Yuria sighed, her expression deadpan as she watched them go.

“I’m kinda worried about those two… they’re bound to get hit on.”

“Really? I think Rui can handle it.”

Rui’s beauty would definitely attract pickup artists, and Airi’s a magnet for attention. Don’t they realize how much they stand out?

“Then I’ll go with them. If any pickup artists show up, leave it to me. I took karate for, like, two weeks.”

“Didn’t know that… but alright, Tanaka, I’m counting on you.”

“Then I’ll leave guarding Ichinose-san to you, Ryouta-kun.”

“Got it.”

And so, I became Yuria’s bodyguard.

“Ryouta, you’re gonna protect me?” she teased.

“Uh, well… yeah, I guess. Since I’m a guy, if I’m next to you, people will probably think I’m your boyfriend. It’ll keep the creeps away.”

“…Hmm. Guess I’ll let my boyfriend Ryouta protect me then.”

Yuria’s teasing grin left me flustered. D-damn you, Yuria…

“If we move around too much, we might get separated, so let’s just wait in that pool over there, right?”

“Y-yeah.”

Now alone with Yuria, we settled by a nearby pool, dangling our feet in the water. As Yuria sat, her plush thighs spread out beside me, tempting me to rest my face on them. What are these… cushion-like thighs? Outrageous!

“Ryouta, your eyes are getting pervy.”

“It’s fine! You’re the one who told me to look in the first place!”

“Still, you’re supposed to show some restraint.”

“Nope! Not when it comes to this! If it’s a free show, I’ll stare till the sun goes down!”

“Ugh… you never waver, do you, Ryouta? Well, since it’s me, I’ll let it slide, but don’t go overboard with Airi or Rui.”

I expected her to be exasperated, but Yuria smiled softly despite her sigh.

“Ryouta, you really love thighs that much?”

“Obviously. There’s no better thighs than these.”

“O-oh. Thanks.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly at my praise. Blushing over thigh compliments? Yuria’s got a girly side after all. Hopefully, this encourages her to show them off more.

“B-but, you know, back in junior high, guys used to tease me, calling me ‘lower-body fatso.’ My best friend always stood up for me, though.”

“…Best friend?”

“My gyaru pal from junior high. After she found out I was an otaku, we had a falling out, and I ended up alone.”

“Oh, yeah, you mentioned that before.”

“…When we were close, we were always messing around, the best duo ever.”

Yuria’s gaze drifted into the distance, her expression tinged with nostalgia. Like before, she looked a bit sad talking about the past. Regret, maybe? I couldn’t quite pin it down, but…

“I think both the gal Yuria and the otaku Yuria are totally dazzling, and when you’re with Rui or Airi, you’re so reliable and amazing. Plus, I’d never make fun of your thighs, and, uh!” I fumbled, trying to cheer her up.

Yuria poked my cheek with her index finger. “Calm down, Ryouta. What’s that? You jealous ‘cause I mentioned an old friend?”

“Hah? N-no, that’s not it! I-I just… I wanted to say I’d never let you feel sad or anything!”

“Ryouta…”

Ugh, that sounded so lame. Trying to show off that I’d never mock her… such a creepy otaku move.

“You’re usually such a perv, but every once in a while, you say something cool, don’t you, Ryouta?”

“Huh? I just said what I honestly thought.”

“That honesty makes it even cooler.”

Before I knew it, Yuria’s smile returned, unfairly cute for someone so cool and composed.

“I’m your biggest ally, but you’re mine too, you know. We’re, like, totally codependent. It’s kinda funny.”

“W-why’s that funny?”

“Because it makes me happy, obviously!”

With that, Yuria grabbed my hand and dove into the pool.

“H-hey! Wait a sec!”

Dragged underwater, I let out bubbles as we faced each other in the lukewarm water. The blurry vision somehow made the warmth of our joined hands feel… stronger, our connection more intense.

…Oh crap, I can’t breathe!

We surfaced together, gasping. “Haa, that felt great!” Yuria exclaimed.

“Pwah! What the heck, Yuria!?”

“It’s fine, right? Anyway, Ryouta, I’m in a super good mood right now, so as thanks for saying something sweet, I’ll grant any one wish of yours.”

“Huh? A-anything!?”

Whoa, is this kind of lucky break even allowed!? All I did was not want Yuria to look lonely… living honestly really does lead to endless lucky perv moments! This is the best!

“Ahem… well then, since you’re offering to do anything, could I, uh, stick my face in your thighs and have them squish me?”

“Nope, that’s a no-go.”

“What!? Why not!? Do it, please!”

I splashed the pool water with my feet, whining like a kid.

“I said no pervy stuff. We’re not even dating or anything yet.”

“No way… wait, ‘not yet’?”

“Ah…! N-no, that’s not what I meant!”

Just as Yuria started to panic, a bouncy tayun tayun sound approached from behind. That… that boob sound… Airi!?

“Ryouta!! Yuria!! Big trouble! Tanaka-chan’s getting hit on!”

““Huh!?””

☆☆

Hearing Airi’s frantic claim that “Tanaka’s getting hit on,” we bolted toward the scene of the supposed pickup.

“Hey, hey, what elementary school are you from?”

“We’re from East Elementary, by the way.”

“Uh, um, I…”

The ones hitting on Tanaka… were, unbelievably, a trio of elementary school boys.

…What?

“H-hey, Airi? Yeah, Tanaka’s getting hit on, but by elementary schoolers,” I said, dumbfounded.

“Yeah. We were waiting for Rui-chan to come out of the restroom, and then all of a sudden…” Airi trailed off.

“No, I mean, if it’s just kids, you didn’t need to call us.”

“I tried to step in, okay? But those kids told me, ‘Go away, boob-fatso!’ so I had no choice…”

These kids… hitting on Tanaka and calling Airi fat? They’ll regret this in a few years. A girl with such a stunning figure and cute face is a once-in-a-century treasure.

“Not appreciating Airi’s… greatness? How childish are these kids?” I muttered.

“W-what!? Jeez, Ryouta, you’re praising me too much!” Airi blushed.

“I’m not! For them to say that to someone with a figure like yours, Airi, they’ve got no taste!”

“Ehe, Ryouta’s such a flatterer. I’m getting embarrassed… wait! That’s not the point! We gotta save Tanaka-chan!”

“I mean, kids hitting on someone? Aren’t kids these days too precocious? Or am I out of the loop?”

“No, they’re definitely too precocious.”

Way too much brat energy. They’re probably hitting on Tanaka thinking she’s a tall elementary schooler. Sure, she’s petite, but the school swimsuit doesn’t make her look that young… or does it? In their world, popularity’s all about who’s fastest at running. They’ve got no clue that by high school, looks and figure outweigh speed or height.

“Guess I’ve got no choice. I’ll go save Tanaka. You two stay here.”

“Sorry for the wait, everyone… huh, where’s Tanaka-san?” Rui emerged from the restroom, glancing around.

“Oh, Rui. Tanaka’s getting hit on over there. By elementary schoolers, no less.”

“Hmm… elementary schoolers. Well, Ryouta-kun, you’re a guy, so handle it, okay?” Rui said, sounding oddly detached.

Come on, Rui, at least offer to help. I’m not great with kids, you know. Still, I stepped forward to rescue Tanaka.

“Uh, hey, can I talk to you for a sec?”

The kids turned to me, unimpressed.

“What’s up, mister? We’re in the middle of picking her up.”

“Don’t get in our way. Who’re you, anyway?”

These kids… way too full of themselves.

“Uh, well… that girl’s with me, so…”

“Huh?”

Tanaka scurried behind me, clinging to my back.

“Hey! W-what’s your deal with her, mister!?”

“Huh? She’s my frien—”

Wait, hold on. Wouldn’t it be more effective to lie? “A-actually, she’s my girlfriend, so could you guys maybe stop hitting on her?”

“R-Ryouta-kun!? Me, your g-girlfriend!?” Tanaka’s face turned beet red, her teeth practically chattering.

What’s that reaction? Is being my fake girlfriend that bad?

“Oh, so she’s got a boyfriend.”

“And you’re, what, a high schooler? Total lolico●, huh?”

What…!? These ignorant brats, running their mouths.

“Listen, kids… go home and google ‘gravure idol.’ You don’t know anything about the world.”

“Huh? No way we’re googling that! Let’s go, guys!”

The precocious trio scampered off along the poolside like they were fleeing. Not interested in Airi, mistaking Tanaka for an elementary schooler, calling me a lolico●… such rude kids. Is this what the world’s coming to?

“Thank you so much, Ryouta-kun,” Tanaka said, hugging me from behind, her gratitude palpable. The feel of her school swimsuit against my back sent an involuntary jolt through me. Tanaka’s… tiny chest… ugh! Getting excited over Tanaka? As her friend, that’s a no-go.

“Hey, Tanaka! G-get off!”

“Oh… s-sorry, Ryouta-kun! I just, ehehe,” she giggled, gently letting go.

Why’s she blushing?

“Why were you so flustered, anyway? They were just kids.”

“W-well… as you know, I’ve never been popular with guys in my life, so I kinda got carried away.”

A high school sophomore getting carried away because elementary schoolers hit on her… Tanaka, that’s just too…

“Tanaka-chan, are you okay!?” Airi rushed over, worry etched on her face. “I’m so sorry. Airi couldn’t help you.”

“It’s not your fault! It’s my fault for getting carried away by those kids fawning over me!”

“““Huh?”””

The trio of beautiful girls froze in shock. No, Tanaka, why’d you have to say that!? That’s what makes you so pathetic!

“Tanaka-chan… you’re serious?” Airi asked, wide-eyed.

“Tanaka, you…” Yuria trailed off, incredulous.

“Hehe, is Tanaka-san a shotaco● or something?” Rui teased.

“I-I’m not a shotaco●! Sure, I own a few shota harem doujins, but!” Tanaka protested.

She’s a full-on shotaco●! Officer, please come here right now…

“Uh, well, since Tanaka-chan’s safe, should we head to the waterslide?” Airi suggested.

“Y-yeah, sounds good.”

Thanks to Tanaka, the mood turned awkward, but we headed to the waterslide.

☆☆

“Look, Ryouta! This slide’s a two-person twin-tube rapid river ride!” Airi exclaimed, her chest bouncing with excitement.

“Whoa, cool.”

My eyes followed her enthusiasm to the waterslide. This pool was famous for its three slides: a high-speed drop, a winding long slide, and the popular river ride slide, where you navigated rapids in a special tube. The river ride already had a long line snaking around.

“Due to high demand, the line may obstruct passage. For groups of four or more, staff will confirm the number of people, issue a ticket, and ask the group representative to hold it and wait in line. Thank you for your understanding!” a staff member announced through a megaphone, repeating the message mechanically.

“Uh, how many in your group?”

“Five.”

I took a ticket marked ‘5’ from the staff.

“It’ll take some time, so we’d appreciate it if everyone except the representative could enjoy other attractions in the meantime.”

The staff bowed and moved to the next group. Guess I’d wait in line then.

“Alright, I’ll stay here. You four go try another slide. As long as you stick together, you probably won’t get hit on.”

“No way! That’s not okay!”

“Yeah, if we leave you alone, you’ll probably stare at other girls’ swimsuits, right?”

“Huh!? Really, Ryouta!? You perv!”

“Hehe… Ryouta-kun, trying to set your sights on girls other than us? That’s very bad manners, you know.”

I was just trying to be considerate, but the trio of beautiful girls ganged up on me. Why do they assume I’d stay alone just to ogle other girls’ swimsuits? So unfair. …Though, honestly, my eyes kept drifting to the two tanned, rowdy-looking gals in line ahead of us.

“Alright then, Yuria and I will stay in line, so you three…”

“Hehe, hey, Yuria?” Rui interrupted.

“W-what, Rui?”

“I’ve been getting the vibe… like you’ve been trying to get some alone time with Ryouta-kun since this morning. Am I imagining things?”

“Hah!? N-no way! It’s just, you know, keeping an eye on Ryouta, who’s got those pervy eyes 24/7, feels like my job or something.”

W-what kind of job is that!? That sounds so bad it’s not even funny!

“If that’s the case, it’s fine. I’ll take on that job too,” Rui said.

“R-Rui, you too?”

“Yup. So I’ll stay here with Ryouta-kun. Yuria, why don’t you take Airi and Tanaka-san to have some fun? It’s not fair to always leave Ryouta-kun to you.”

Rui’s motherly smile, laced with gentle scolding, made Yuria look like an impatient older sister. Since when did I become a problem child needing a babysitter? Sure, I’ve been giddy lately—diving into Airi’s chest in the countryside, getting exposed for my navel fetish by Rui, and telling Yuria I wanted to bury my face in her thighs—but still!

“No, but leaving Ryouta to you, Rui, feels kinda bad,” Yuria protested.

“You’re the one who’s been hogging him since the train ride, Yuria. It’s fine, I’ll keep an eye on Ryouta-kun.”

“B-but…”

As Yuria and Rui bickered over me like parents fighting for custody, a high-pitched voice cut through.

“Alright!” Airi declared, raising her hand sharply, her chest jiggling. “I’ll do it! I’ll be Ryouta’s babysitter!”

Her sudden volunteering left us all confused. Airi, so selfish and playful, waiting in line with me?

“Oh, Airi, you’ll stay with Ryouta for us?” Rui asked.

“Yup! You guys can go have fun, it’s fine! I’ll call you on my phone when it’s our turn!”

Yuria, Tanaka, and Rui exchanged worried glances but left, leaving Tanaka sandwiched between them. Honestly, I was more worried about whether Tanaka could even talk properly between those two.

“Ugh, those guys. They’ve got Ryouta all wrong,” Airi huffed, her chest swaying as she shook her head.

“N-no, it’s not exactly a misunderstanding… I mean, they’re kinda right.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Well… you know I’m a creepy otaku pervert, right, Airi? That’s why they’re worried I’ll stare at your boobs.”

“But between you and me, we made a deal that you can look at my boobs as much as you want, right? And in return, you call me Airi.”

True, we made that deal in my room before…

“Plus, Ryouta, you’re totally staring at my boobs right now while saying that.”

“T-that’s—!”

“Ehehe, is it ‘cause my swimsuit’s cute?”

Airi pointed out my gaze, locked on her chest, which completely overshadowed her swimsuit. With those massive boobs right next to me, what guy wouldn’t look!?

“You perv, Ryouta!”

“What! If you keep teasing me, maybe I’ll just stare at Yuria’s thighs from now on!”

“Huh!? No way, that’s not allowed! We made a promise at Grandma’s house, remember? You can look at mine, but not other girls’!”

Did we? Maybe we did. But I’ve already been staring at Yuria’s thighs and Rui’s navel like crazy, so I’ve broken that promise a ton.

“And! Yuria probably doesn’t want you looking at her with pervy eyes either!”

But Yuria literally told me to look only at her thighs… is this the harem dilemma?

“So got it? If you look at Yuria or Rui-chan like that, Airi’s gonna get mad!”

“But it’s fine to look at you, right?”

“Uh, well… yeah. Since it’s you, Ryouta, I’ll make a special exception.”

Airi’s lips trembled, her cheeks flushing as sweat beaded on her chest. So hot.

“Ugh, enough! Let’s drop this! Grandma said we shouldn’t talk about stuff like this at noon! Let’s talk about something else!” Airi pleaded, shaking her face and chest to hide her embarrassment.

The line was still long, and pushing pervy topics might overwhelm Airi’s innocent sense of shame. “Alright, then… do you come to the pool a lot in the summer, Airi? You seemed ready to go despite it being decided yesterday, so I figured you’re used to it.”

“Yeah, I go to the pool a lot. Our AC at home is super old, so it gets crazy hot. Plus, ever since I was a kid, Mom would take me to the pool on hot days.”

Mom… right, Airi’s mom was a gravure idol. Her grandma mentioned it in the countryside, but I never got her name. I need to know.

“Speaking of, your mom was a gravure idol back in the day, right?”

“Huh? How’d you know!?”

“Your grandma told me.”

“Oh, I see! Jeez, Grandma complains about Mom all the time but still brags about her!” Airi said. “My mom became a gravure idol in college. Now she’s just a regular lady working at a supermarket, but back in her prime, she was super popular! She’s slimmed down now, but back then, she was even curvier than me!”

Curvier than Airi!? So… a gravure idol with, like, K-cup boobs!? Alright, I’ll get her stage name and search like crazy when I get home.

“So, uh, what was your mom’s stage name as a gravure idol?”

“Her name? Uh, hold on…”

Airi’s brow furrowed, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. “You’re asking her name… Ryouta, do you want to see my mom’s gravure photos? What’re you planning to do with them?”

“Guh…”

Ugh, Airi’s sharp at the worst times. I can’t admit I was planning something weird with her mom’s photos.

“N-no, I just thought, like, seeing your mom’s gravure photos might give me a glimpse of what you’ll look like in the future.”

“My future?”

“Y-yeah, if your mom had that kind of amazing body, maybe you’ll turn out like that too.”

“…I see.”

The suspicion in Airi’s eyes faded, and I dodged the question.

“But, in that case…”

“Hm?”

“If you stick by my side until I grow up, wouldn’t that be better?”

Airi muttered, looking up with puppy eyes.

“…S-stick by you? Forever?”

“Y-yeah…”

“Well, if I could keep looking at you forever, I’d definitely want to.”

“Really!?”

I’d love to start a daily observation log for how much those massive boobs grow.

“Then it’s a new promise! From now on, even in college, we’ll stick together!”

“W-what… that’s a bit much.”

“It’s a promise! If you break it, no more boob-looking for you!”

“T-that’s a matter of life and death… alright, fine.”

“Yay! Airi’s gotta work hard to get into the same college as Ryouta!”

Another careless promise… forever, huh. It’s Airi, so she’s probably just caught up in the moment, not making a heavy commitment.

“Ehehe, I’m looking forward to it!”

“Y-yeah.”

She means the waterslide… right?

☆☆

As Airi and I chatted, our turn for the waterslide crept closer.

“…Oh, almost time. It’s a popular slide, so we waited quite a bit,” I said.

“Really? Talking with you made it feel like it flew by, Ryouta.”

Flew by, huh… After that weird “forever” promise, Airi mostly rambled about her beetle-raising plans, and I just nodded along.

“Guess we should call Rui and the others.”

“Roger that!”

Airi glanced down at her chest, slipped her hand into her ample cleavage, and pulled out a phone in a waterproof case… w-what!?!?

“H-hey! Why’s your phone coming out of there!?”

“Huh? ‘Cause carrying it in a bag is such a hassle.”

“That’s not the issue here!”

I’d never seen someone pull a Mine Fuj●ko move in real life… and you can’t do that with an ordinary chest.

[T/N: Mine Fuj●ko = Mine Fujiko from Lupin III.]

Only the chosen ones have such a boob pouch.

“Ahem… uh, can I borrow your phone for a sec?”

“Huh? Sure, but… oh, are you gonna contact everyone for me?”

“Yeah! Exactly! I’ll do it!”

“Jeez, just ‘cause we made that forever promise doesn’t mean you have to be that nice… but thanks, Ryouta!”

Airi handed me her phone with a shy smile, no resistance at all. She interpreted it conveniently, which worked out for me. Sorry, Airi. This wasn’t about kindness—it was my virgin desire to touch the phone nestled in your chest.

Feeling a slight pang of guilt, I took the phone… whoa! It was warm, slightly damp from the sweat in her cleavage. Despite the pressure and humidity, this phone was still going strong.

“Hey, why’s Ryouta holding Airi’s phone?” Yuria’s voice cut in as she and the others returned.

Oh crap!

“We came back thinking it was about time… Airi, why’d you give Ryouta your phone?” Yuria asked, eyes narrowing.

“Huh? ‘Cause Ryouta said he’d contact everyone for me,” Airi replied.

“What?” Yuria’s sharp glare turned to me.

“Uh, w-well, this is 100% out of goodwill, I swear.”

“Goodwill, huh?” Yuria’s tone dripped with skepticism.

The summer heat was nothing compared to the cold sweat breaking out on me. I felt like a culprit cornered in a Phoenix Wr●ght trial.

[T/N: Phoenix Wr●ght = Phoenix Wright… you probably already knew that though.]

“Hmm? That’s odd, Ryouta-kun. If it’s about contacting us, Airi’s way faster at typing, so that doesn’t seem very logical, does it?” Rui said, approaching with a smile so bright it was terrifying.

“And I’m pretty sure… when we were changing in the locker room, Airi said something about carrying her phone in her chest.”

Rui leaned close to my ear, whispering, “Perfect deduction, right?”

“Y-yeah.”

Her not saying it aloud felt like a small mercy.

“Ryouta-kun, give Airi her phone back. Now.”

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

I handed the phone back to Airi immediately.

“Hehe… Ryouta-kun’s so nice, isn’t he? My fingers were sweaty, so he offered to text everyone for me!”

“Huh?”

Contrary to the earlier vibe, Rui was defending me, and I couldn’t hide my surprise.

“Oh! So that’s why Ryouta was gonna type for me?” Airi asked.

“Really, Ryouta?” Yuria added, both turning to me.

No way… Rui’s actually saving me…

“Ryouta-kun’s so kind! I thought he was just excited to touch the phone Airi-tan uses every day!” Tanaka piped up.

“Nah, only you’d think that, Tanaka,” Yuria shot back.

“Hey! That’s harsh, Ichinose-san!”

Thanks to Tanaka’s teasing, the situation blew over. I was saved, but… what was Rui thinking? I glanced at her, and she met my eyes.

“Uh, thanks, Rui. You really helped me out.”

“You’re welcome. But Ryouta-kun? Maybe learn to control your urges a little.”

“I-I get it… I’m reflecting on it.”

“Hehe… well, if you really can’t hold back those naughty feelings… you don’t have to hold back with me, okay?”

“W-what does that…?”

Rui winked and joined the others’ conversation. Airi, Yuria, Rui… all saying it’s fine if it’s with them. How devoted are these girls? I was so happy I could cry. If Rui says I don’t have to hold back, I’ll just have to ask for more selfies.

“Ryouta-kun, Ryouta-kun! This waterslide lets two people ride together in a tube. Wanna slide with me?” Tanaka asked, bouncing with excitement.

“Huh? Me and Tanaka on the slide…?”

“What’s that supposed to mean!? Are you saying riding with someone scrawny like me wouldn’t be fun!?”

I didn’t say that… talk about an overactive persecution complex, Tanaka.

“Wow, Ryouta-kun thinks that, huh? How many times are you gonna make me mad today?” Rui said, her tone sharp.

“H-hey, Tanaka! Don’t pin this on me and make Rui mad!”

“Don’t blame me! Sure, Kuroki-san… well, aside from abs and height, she’s not that different from me! There’s no way the perfect beauty Kuroki-san would be shocked by something like that!”

This girl! She’s casually throwing shade!

“Hehe… I always found Tanaka-san annoying for coming close to my test scores, but I didn’t realize she was this annoying,” Rui said, cracking her knuckles.

“Haha… that knuckle-cracking sound… Ichinose-san, help me!” Tanaka pleaded.

“Why’re you dragging me into this!? You’re the one who pissed off Rui, Tanaka!” Yuria snapped.

“Jeez! Everyone, stop fighting and get along!” Airi interjected.

Tanaka, who was just in shy mode, turned this into total chaos by jumping into the conversation. This girl… she’s something else.

“Alright, Rui, calm down. I think you’re slender and beautiful, and I’d never make fun of you,” I said, trying to defuse the situation.

“Hmph… and what about Tanaka-san?”

“Well, Tanaka’s… a kid, right?”

“HUH!?”

Tanaka flipped out, smacking my back, but her hits were so weak they barely registered.

“Anyway, back to the point. Since this slide is for two, even with two pairs, one person’s left out, right? I’ll slide alone, so you four can pair up.”

Sure, my real desire was to ride behind Airi, hoping for a glimpse of a boob slip, or in front of Yuria, “accidentally” sandwiched by her thighs, but I couldn’t say that out loud.

“No way! That’s not fair to you, Ryouta!”

“Not fair? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m with Airi. I don’t mind riding with you, Ryouta, and Rui’s cool with it too, right?”

“Yup, I’m fine with it,” Rui said, her piercing gaze locking onto me.

W-what’s with that stare… I’m a guy, you know.

“So, why don’t we decide with rock-paper-scissors? Keep going until we split into 2-2-1.”

“Yeah, I’m good with that.”

“Airi’s in too!”

“H-hey, hold on.”

Seriously…? A chance to ride with one of these three—plus Tanaka? For a two-person rapid river slide, you ride back-to-front in a tube, guaranteeing some body contact. And that fate would be decided by rock-paper-scissors. Ideally, Airi or Yuria’s curvy combo would be the best. Even Rui’s bare legs—those gorgeous limbs usually hidden by black tights—would be a win. In short, anyone but Tanaka. A slide with another loner would be the worst.

“““““Let’s split with rock-paper-scissors!”””””

I threw paper, but Rui and Airi did too, so we redid it.

“““““Split!”””””

I went with scissors, but Rui and Tanaka matched me, so another redo.

“““““Split!”””””

Scissors again, but Rui and Yuria followed suit. Wait a sec. Why do I keep matching with Rui? Just a coincidence, right? I glanced at her, and her eyes were practically boring into my hand.

H-hey, Rui… don’t tell me… The others were too focused to notice, but Rui’s vibe was downright scary. She’s sabotaging my shot at a curvy slide with Airi or Yuria, isn’t she? Fine, I’ll throw a feint.

“““““Split!”””””

I faked scissors but switched to paper at the last second.

And then…

“Wait, did we… decide it?”

Airi and Rui chose scissors, Tanaka picked rock, and Yuria and I had paper.

“Oh! I’m with Rui-chan!” Airi cheered.

“Right… okay, Airi,” Rui said, shooting me a razor-sharp glance for a split second.

Whoa… terrifying. She definitely noticed my feint.

“Ugh… I’m the odd one out, huh? From now on, call me Lone Tanaka. By the way, I can’t play guitar,” Tanaka muttered.

“What’re you muttering about, Tanaka? Don’t get down over this,” I said.

“I-I’m with… Ryouta…” Yuria murmured, blinking at her paper-playing hand.

“Y-Yuria?”

“Ugh, this is the worst! Just so you know, Ryouta, stay away from me when we ride, got it?” Yuria snapped, pouting.

Oh, I get it. She’s acting prickly with everyone around. Even if she genuinely wanted distance, I wouldn’t comply.

Our slide pairs set, our turn arrived. We climbed into a figure-eight-shaped two-person tube, and I quickly claimed the front, securing my spot, while Yuria settled behind me.

“H-hey, Ryouta… you’re leaning back too much…” she grumbled.

“Am I? Feels about right to me~”

“I can see right through your scheme. Fine, if that’s how you’re gonna be.”

Yuria stretched her gorgeous bare legs from behind, slipping them under my arms. Her thick thighs brushed my sides… what’s this, so soft…

“If you’re gonna be like that… I’ll give you some special service today,” she whispered in my ear.

In an instant, my blood rushed down to one spot. What’s that supposed to mean!? Too hot… Yuria’s (suggestive) service had my body reacting before the slide even started.

“I’m glad you’re in front, Ryouta. If you were behind me, you’d definitely be staring at my body.”

“…Well, I won’t deny that.”

“See? Off-shoulder swimsuits can slip big time, so I was really worried. Too bad for you, Ryouta.”

Yuria squeezed my back with her plush thighs, the soft, heavy pressure as incredible as Airi’s chest from before. Damn… if humans had faces on their backs, I’d be sandwiched in her thighs right now (nonsense).

“Next group, go!” The staff removed the board, and we shot forward with the water’s flow.

The “girl and waterslide” event, a loner’s wildest dream, had begun. The start was a gentle descent, but a steep drop loomed ahead, promising a wild speed-up.

“Whoa! It’s getting fast, Ryouta!” Yuria exclaimed.

“Y-yeah… it is.”

“Hm? What’s wrong? Scared?”

“I-I’m not scared!”

Yuria teased me loudly, so I turned to deny it, annoyed. Damn it, she’s messing with me… Not only with words but by pressing her thick bare legs against me, making my lower half increasingly restless.

As I fought the blood rushing southward, we hit the rapid area. My hair stood on end, and the splashing water stung.

“…! H-hey, Y-Yuria! It’s crazy fast!! Y-Yuria! You okay!?”

“Woo! This is so thrilling!” Yuria whooped, unfazed.

“W-where’s the thrill!? It’s too fast! Y-Yuria!”

“Jeez, Ryouta, calling my name even now… you really can’t function without me, huh?”

She muttered calmly, while I was so overwhelmed by the speed I could barely speak without biting my tongue.

“Well, looking after you is my job, so it’s fine. But if I’m that important, maybe it’s time you—”

“Hey! How do you have the composure to mutter to yourself at this speed!?”

This wasn’t the time for calm retorts! The final pool at the slide’s end approached fast… BWOOSH!—The speed was insane! I’m getting swept away! BWOOSH!—Help, Yuria! BWOOF!—Rui! Airi! Tanaka!!

Screaming internally, we plunged into the pool, sending up a massive splash.

“…What a slide,” I gasped, letting out a weird noise.

The person in front gets hit full-on by the wind, so it’s naturally terrifying. I’d been so focused on Yuria’s thighs I forgot.

We drifted slowly toward the tube collection area. “Phew… you okay, Yuria… huh?”

Something was… pressing against my back. Up until a moment ago, Yuria’s legs were under my arms, but now… slender arms? Was Yuria clinging to me?

I tried to turn, but she stopped me with a single word: “No!”

“S-sorry, Ryouta, just… don’t look back right now.”

“Huh? O-okay, but… why are you holding onto me?”

“…”

“W-wait, is this some kind of suspension bridge effect!? Yuria, did you fall for me!?”

“No! Whether I like you or not is a different story! It’s not that right now!!”

“Huh?”

“My swimsuit! The force when we hit the pool made it slip off and float away behind us!”

What? What!? Her swimsuit came off…!?

…So, those two voluminous things I’m faintly feeling on my back are… Yuria’s!?

“Woooah!! Yuria’s bare boobs on my back!”

“Shut up, idiot!” Yuria clung tighter, headbutting my back.

“My arms can’t cover them completely, and they might slip out, so I think my swimsuit will float back soon. Let me… borrow your back for a bit.”

“Uh, y-yeah.”

Yuria’s bare boobs… on my back!? I’m ecstatic—a rom-com lucky perv moment in real life. Bare boobs… could those be Yuria’s you-know-what pressing against me!?

“H-hey, Ryouta… don’t rub against me too much.”

“Y-yeah…”

This ultra-perv moment was actually happening. I wished her swimsuit would never float back…

“Oh, there it is.”

The swimsuit drifted back before we reached the tube collection area, and Yuria quickly grabbed it and slipped it on. I didn’t see the slip from the front, but the excitement was more than enough.

In a slightly awkward atmosphere, we reached the tube collection area, got off, and waited for the others to slide down.

“M-man, that slide was fun, huh!” I said, trying to break the tension, but my mind was consumed with Yuria’s boobs. To think I’d notice anything beyond her thighs… the power of bare contact was terrifying.

“More importantly, Ryouta, when you felt my boobs on your back… you weren’t disappointed, were you?” Yuria asked, her voice low.

“D-disappointed? No way, I was thrilled! They’re not as big as Airi’s, but they’re definitely there!”

Yuria let out a small laugh. “Really? But with our relationship, a little naughty secret like this isn’t so bad, right? A slightly pervy secret.”

Sharing an erotic secret… what an incredible relationship.

After the ultra-pervy waterslide with Yuria, we tackled other slides and floated in the lazy river, enjoying a carefree time. But the sensation of Yuria’s bare boobs kept me buzzing with excitement.

Yuria’s raw boobs… too much. The chest of Ichinose Yuria, a top-tier gal and popular classmate—a sensation you’d never experience in a normal life. As a virgin, the vivid intensity of my first bare boob contact was overwhelming.

“Hey, Ryouta~! Let’s go to the diving board next!” Airi called.

“…”

“Huh? Ryouta~?”

“…Oh, w-what, Airi?”

“Jeez, you’re spacing out again. You’ve been acting weird since the slide, Ryouta. Did something happen?”

Airi’s spot-on comment made me jolt. Crap… she can tell something’s off. Yuria, sensing my predicament, looked awkward and averted her eyes.

“…Hehe. Ryouta-kun’s probably just tired,” Rui offered.

“Huh? Really, Ryouta?” Airi asked, prompted by Rui.

“N-no, it’s not… exactly that.”

Tired wasn’t the word… Yuria’s bare boobs were haunting my mind (and back).

“Then let’s keep hitting the slides! Cool with that?” Airi pressed.

“Y-yeah.”

Airi and the others dragged me around, conquering every attraction until evening closed in. Maybe because Yuria and Airi went all out, they fell asleep on the train ride back, and Tanaka, with her indoor tendencies, was so exhausted she passed out completely too.

“Hehe… everyone’s asleep, huh?” Rui said softly.

“Y-yeah.”

That left me and Rui alone.

“Hey, Ryouta-kun. Since it’s just us, there’s something I want to tell you.”

“Something to tell me?”

“Yup. About the punishment I mentioned before.”

The word “punishment” shattered the calm mood. I swallowed hard, turning to Rui. Anticipation and nervousness made the train’s sway feel frozen for a moment. The punishment was for hiding my stay with Airi yesterday. What could be waiting…?

“Hehe… hey, Ryouta-kun, are you the type who can sit still for, like, half a day?”

H-half a day of sitting!? Is Rui’s punishment some torturous ordeal!? The masochist Ryouta inside me was secretly thrilled.

“I’m fine… (even with half a day of seiza play) no problem.”

“Really? Then I’ll go with that for the punishment.”

W-what’s that? Damn you, Rui, saying it so intriguingly.

“Hmm. I’ll keep the punishment details a surprise until the day comes.”

Rui teased me again, and I didn’t hate it—I loved it…

“So, Ryouta-kun? Next Wednesday, come to school in your uniform at 7 a.m. It’s a promise, okay?”

“U-uniform!? And school!?”

“Yup. It has to be like that.”

Half a day at school in uniform… intense. Is Rui planning some ultra-pervy masochist play in an empty summer break classroom!? No way… I want it too much.

“Fine! I-I’ll go, alright.”

I acted reluctant but was secretly eager.

“Hehe… good.”

Rui’s pure, delighted smile hid something deeper.

And so… I’ll finally lose my virginity…

☆☆

—Four days later, the following Wednesday.

I donned my uniform as promised and headed to school, the stage for Rui’s so-called “punishment” masochist play. Naturally, I brought the condoms Yuria nearly confiscated, ready to dive into whatever Rui had planned.

Passing through the school gate, I froze. It was summer break, but the place was buzzing with students from various grades, all in uniform. What?

“Yo, Ryouta~! Morning!” Airi’s voice rang out from behind.

I turned to see not just Airi but Yuria and Tanaka too, all in uniform. No way… was this masochist play “punishment” a group thing!?

“You actually showed up, Ryouta. Rui’ll be happy,” Yuria said.

“O-of course I did!”

“Wow, that’s some enthusiasm. I thought you weren’t into these kinds of events, Ryouta-kun,” Tanaka remarked.

“What!? Are you kidding, Tanaka!? No way I wouldn’t be into this! A pervy masochist play with classmates is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!”

“““…Huh?”””

Tanaka, Airi, and Yuria stared at me like I’d just swallowed a bitter bug.

“Hey, Tanaka-chan? I kinda get the gist, but can you explain what ‘pervy masochist play’ is in detail?” Airi asked.

“Y-yes. Well… pervy masochist play is a kind of ● act where you get pleasure from physical harm, like being whipped, verbally insulted, tied up, or stepped on with heels by a beautiful woman. It likely stems from unpopular guys feeling warped pleasure from being looked down on by beauties they admire, evolving into ● play,” Tanaka explained, her intensity probably alienating every guy on the planet.

“H-hey! Today’s supposed to be the pervy masochist play day, right!?” I blurted.

“Seriously, what are you talking about, Ryouta…? Did seeing our swimsuits the other day break your libido switch?” Yuria asked, exasperated.

“It’s not broken! My libido’s getting daily updates! No, that’s not it! Weren’t you all here to watch me and Rui’s masochist play?”

“Ryouta… is your head okay? Wanna go to the doctor next to my house right now?” Airi offered.

“Why does it come to that!?”

Crap… Tanaka’s one thing, but Airi and Yuria were genuinely weirded out. Their reactions hit me—this was Rui’s trap. Her suggestive teasing on the train had led me to assume today was some pervy event. Knowing Rui’s (slightly mean) nature, I fell for such a basic trick. I’m so naive.

“Ugh… it’s fine, everyone. Knowing Ryouta, he probably misunderstood Rui inviting him here today as some pervy thing,” Yuria said.

Tch… as expected of my ultimate ally, Yuria’s got me figured out.

“Ohh, that’s what it was. Jeez, Ryouta, you’re the same as ever. I keep telling you not to look at Rui-chan or me with those weird eyes.”

“Seriously, Ryouta-kun’s just a dummy living on lust.”

“I don’t think you’re creepy since it’s you, Ryouta, but wanting to do that kind of stuff with Rui is no good. Be more careful from now on, okay?”

“Y-yeah… I’m reflecting.”

Getting roasted as the embodiment of lust stung, even if they were okay with it.

“So, if it’s not pervy masochist play, why are we all here today?”

“Wow, Rui really didn’t tell you. Just so you know, we’re all here to cheer for Rui at the Inter-High. Last year, too, volunteers gathered at school and took a bus,” Yuria explained.

“…What? I-Inter-High!?”

That’s right, Rui’s “punishment”… was actually cheering at the Inter-High.