Chapter Six: “That Unforgettable Summer”
The sensational web commercial quickly gained views and became a hot topic.
It has already easily surpassed 1 million views, with 2 million on the way.
Although it is aimed at high school students, its aggressiveness makes it a huge hit.
My SNS was flooded with “Endaaaaaa!” on the day the CM was released.
What onee-chan snuck in was based on Beauty and the Beast.
After onee-chan kisses me, glitter effects cover me, and just before I turn from the bunny man back into a human, the commercial ends. Makes you want to see the rest of the story! Sequel in production!
My identity isn’t revealed at the end, but that’s irrelevant now. The setting is that before I became the bunny man, I was in love with a princes. Overly elaborate setting.
Onee-chan’s smile captivated the audience, enchanted the masses. She’s flooded with offers to perform, but says, “No way. Obviously not.”
Sneaker reservations are going great. We’ve already got the actual shoes, and with their excellent specs, the comfort is amazing since they’re the latest model. Check out the site here. Click on the URL below→
We also have a sponsorship deal, so new pairs will be sent to us every six months until we graduate in three years.
“Showing me off while I’m still single…damn riajuu. I told you, didn’t I, Yukito Kokonoe? Not to cause any more fuss. I told you, didn’t I? You must have heard me. Right?”
“No comment”
For some reason, I was being questioned by Sayuri-sensei, whose veins were popping.
“You’re calling it a limited-time shop!? Can’t you be a bit more discreet!? The school knows about it, and the staff room is flooded with inquiries!”
“Don’t worry, Sensei. We have your parkas and T-shirts ready. You can even wear them as pajamas if you want. You can have any other merchandise you like.”
“Tsk! Make it a free size. I might resell them if needed.”
“Don’t do that.”
Someone said that summer vacation is short, but I disagree. Getting over a month of vacation is definitely a student privilege. At least once you’re a working adult, it’s hard to take such long breaks unless there’s a state of emergency or something.
I pretended to laugh as Sayuri sensei explained the precautions for the summer break, letting it go in one ear and out the other.
Right now, I’m in serious study mode. I am constantly concentrating on the task in front of me.
“Especially you, Yukito Kokonoe. Whatever you do, don’t cause any trouble during the summer break! I’m already sick of it. I don’t want to be called to school during the holidays either. Really, please.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll ask the principal to make it easier for you to take paid leave.”
“Please really do that for the other teachers, too. Use it or lose it, paid leave is just wasted. I want to see my favorite artists on weekdays without killing my grandmother.
“Was last month’s memorial service a fake? phony murder? “
“I have eight grandmothers. Just go with it.”
Paid leave is a worker’s right, and you don’t have to explain why you’re taking it.
Black school rules and paid leave are the same. These bad practices in Japan urgently need to be reformed.
“Anyway, my peace of mind depends on you! Got it?”
“I don’t cause problems on purpose, I just get caught up in them.”
Most of the time problems come to me, and I can’t do anything until I meet them.
“Well, I know that. Anyway, let me have some rest. I’m tired too, you know. Do you know that the other teachers have been strangely kind to me lately? They’re being considerate. I’m still in my late twenties, you know. Barely in my twenties!”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“It’s your fault, you know? You know? Well, all right. So everybody be careful and don’t get into any accidents or anything. And no girls suddenly acting wild after the summer break when they were meek before. Do what you want, but use protection. Dismissed!”
With these harsh words, Sayuri sensei leaves the classroom. Her lack of trust in me was priceless. Then it was almost over.
The girl, Mineta, who became my neighbor after the seat change, speaks to me.
“Kokonoe-chan, what have you been doing all this time? You seem really busy.”
“Nah, I just finished my summer homework.”
I show Mineta the printouts with all the answer fields filled in. I was worried about how much homework we’d get as high school students, but it was a surprisingly small amount.
Just printouts and problem books, plus a composition. All orthodox.
“Summer vacation hasn’t started yet! It’s tomorrow!”
“By the way, the composition is also ready. I always have 10 book reports ready.”
“It’s really…all done…”
Not much variation in the homework during the long break.
Things like book reports are assigned every year, but if you do them in advance, you don’t have to do them over break. Also, you can write book reports without reading the book, just by writing things that sound plausible, like you empathized with the author’s feelings.
Some people get on their high horse and say that today’s youth don’t read books anymore, but with the rise of web novels and such, today’s youth, if anything, touch more text than their ossan and obasan elders. Go tell them, today’s youth.
“You got big plans for this summer?”
The refreshing Ikemen approaches with a wry smile. He seems unexpectedly childish, excited about summer vacation.
“Huh? I’m a dark loner nerd. Wouldn’t be busy!”
“Why the mild irritation?”
See, I tried the “but I’m still a dark loner nerd” thing. Doesn’t seem to work anymore.
“I mean, summer break used to mean I was in the hospital most of the time. Well, I’ll just spend it lonely as usual. Better than being injured.”
“Your past is scary, man. And hey, are you forgetting about my existence? I’ve been looking forward to this summer break. Let’s hang out together! We all talked about it. We’ll go to the beach!”
His white teeth gleamed. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but the refreshing Ikemen likes me way too much, doesn’t he? But I don’t hear him being a playboy or anything like that.
“The beach? I just went with Shiori.”
“Not fishing, it’s swimming! the ocean! Let’s go, Yuki!”
Swimming in the ocean, huh. That’s definitely an unusual event for me.
“You’re coming too, right, Yukito? I think we’ll have wonderful memories.”
Hinagi will go too, it seems. The beach, huh… Maybe it could be a fun summer too.
“You want to go?.”
“Yeah!”
I just got scolded by my homeroom teacher for being a Riajuu, but sorry Sayuri sensei.
I’m going to be a Riajuu!
“A part-time job? You?”
“Yes. After seeing Yukito and everyone else, I want to try to do something over the summer, too.”
“Did Gacha suck you into the abyss and suddenly you need money? I told you to stop wasting money up so much–“
“No, not like that! I want to gain experience like Yukito does.”
Hinagi hums happily while drawing an elaborate maze in her free notebook during the break. It looks like she’s thinking about a summer job.
“How about a cafe or a grocery store? “
“Wouldn’t that cause problems?”
“Huh, would it?”
Oh, dear. Hinagi’s ideas are even more naive than Tokyo Hiyoko’s.
“Look, jobs in the service industry have become more complex lately. Just payment alone has cash, credit, transit IC, digital money – so many options, nothing but pain. Even if you worked part-time during the summer, you’d end up spending it just learning the tasks. Quitting after finally getting used to the work would make companies reluctant to hire for short-term works, no matter the labor shortage.”
“….You’re right, now that you mention it, it could be like that. I don’t usually think about it, but the employees seem to be having a hard time. So Yukito, what other part-time jobs would you recommend for me?”
Hinagi makes a puzzled face with a furrowed brow. But I really want to support her work ethic.
What kind of part-time jobs could Hinagi do… Hmm, any ideas…?
“Medical trials… multi-level marketing… shady supplements… rent-a-kid… reselling… stealth marketing…”
“Wait, wait, wait! What are those sketchy words?”
“You’re clearly not qualified for this.”
“You’re absolutely right!”
Puffing her cheeks, Hinagi pouts at me. To calm her down, I hold up three fingers.
“Don’t panic. Have more peace of mind. It’s the right hand of Yukito Kokonoe. The thumb is [Courage(Yuki)], the index finger is [Hope(Kibou)], and the middle finger is [Toilet], which means…”
“Honestly, you…! Listen when someone’s talking!”
It spells Yukito correctly with the initial syllables. Easy to remember, right?
With a deep sigh, Hinagi furiously scowls between her eyebrows.
“For example, if you get a stomach ache during class or on the way to work and you need to go to the bathroom, have the courage to do it right away. That’s where hope is. Holding it in poisons your body. The despair of not reaching a bathroom leaves no room for peace of mind.”
“What are you talking about?”
Went off track again. What was it, right, money talk.
“This rule is sealed, but… Yukito Kokonoe’s left hand rules. Thumb is [Kidnap(yūkai)], index finger is [Threaten(kyōhaku)], middle finger is [Escape(tōbō)]. Optimal for quick…”
“You baka!”
Hinagi scolds me. While I’m being chewed out, I have a brilliant idea.
“Come to think of it, Hinagi, you still like to read, right?”
“Huh? Yes, that’s right. That’s why I kind of dreamed of working in a bookstore or something. The aprons are cute, heh heh.”
All smiles now, Hinagi beams. Oh, I see, she likes to read.
“You said you want to gain experience, but you don’t really need to work part-time for money, right? Does that sound right?”
“Y-yeah. What’s up? Did you think of something again?”
“Leave it to me, Hinagi. With this, you can do it at your own pace, satisfy your curiosity, and the rest is just motivation.”
“Is there really such a comfortable part-time job?”
“It’s not a part-time job, but how about trying to write web novels?”
“…………Huh? I like reading them, but…I’ve never written a novel before…?”
“Everyone starts like that, right? All right, let’s do it! Monetize PV!”
“Wait, wait, that’s so sudden…”
“First, let’s study the trends, Hinagi. Look at the rankings and learn from the popular works. Sanjoji sensei also said it’s the summer of art.”
“What’s with the sudden request and Dogeza!? And why?”
“That’s why. You see, Tokyo Hiyoko will do it.”
“Please don’t bribe me so blatantly! ……It’s too sweet. It made me thirsty.”
“Then have this, melon soda.”
“Kokonoe-san, shall we reconsider your flavor?”
“Hey, hey, Yukito. Am I really going to write novels?”
“Trying things out for yourself is important. You can’t gain experience points without doing something.”
“….You’re right. Okay, it sounds fun! Maybe I’ll give it a try.”
Hinagi seems excited as well.
And so the writer, Suzurikawa Hinagi, took her first step.
“Kokonoe-sensei! Can I please see your homework?”
“I can’t just give it away for free, you know.”
After school on the last day before the summer break, the seasonal custom unfolds even before the summer break.
“You’re not charging your classmates, are you?”
She jolts me awake with an intimidating look. As you would expect from a girl who is well-versed in these negotiations.
Kukuku. But you’re naive, Mineta. I’ve learned how to deal with girls.
“Then how about showing me your panties?”
“–Huh!?”
“Whoa, wait Yukito, what are you saying?”
“Th-that’s not good!”
Hinagi and Shiori desperately try to stop me as the class buzzes.
“Tch! Can’t help it. I’m wearing my favorites today, so it should be okay if you see… it’s summer break after all. I can bear it for that! All right, if you really want to see Kokonoe, go ahead and look!”
“You shouldn’t take him seriously either, Mineta-san!”
“Yuki, what’s wrong? “
“What’s wrong with you two!? Calm down a bit. Look, if you don’t want to get played by this gyaru, you have to show preemptive pan–“
“That’s definitely a preemptive punch, I’m pretty sure!”
Huh? Did I make a mistake? onee-chan said, “Since you have no luck with girls, if a girl approaches you, pre-emptive punch is the way to go,” but did I mishear?
I see, not punches. So not pants, but…
Yeah, I don’t want to see it, okay? I’m telling you the truth!
When I got home, Mom was waiting solemnly in the living room.
There was an oppressive atmosphere. Mom looked very serious.
Maybe something had happened. I tried to search my memory for some mischief, but nothing came to mind. Too many possibilities to narrow down. What was I even…
“I have something very important to talk about. Will you listen?”
“Okay, but what is it?”
Slowly she takes out something. A pamphlet.
“The GoTo Travel campaign has started, so why don’t we take a family trip, the three of us?”
“With this atmosphere?”
“….Well, wouldn’t it be the first time we took a trip together as a family.”
“Come to think of it, that’s right.”
“How about a hot spring? Two nights and three days?”
“Sounds good.”
“Really? You’re really going with us!? You’re not going to say another word, are you?”
“No need to be so insistent…”
“It’s just, I’m so happy that…”
Mom’s eyes glisten. It’s true, we never went on a family trip just the three of us. Because I always refused.
I thought Mom didn’t like me and onee-chan didn’t like me, out of consideration that they wouldn’t enjoy the trip with me there, that was my decision.
I didn’t want to put them in a bad mood. While they were away on a trip, I would house sit as usual, never questioning it.
Even if that was the case in the past, it’s not necessarily the case now.
Mother and sister are both openly kind to me now. I don’t know their real feelings.
But if they invite me and want me to go, I want to believe that my existence is at least tolerated enough to just honestly go along.
I’ve never been on a family trip to the hot springs. Once it’s decided, it’s something to look forward to.
We may not get another chance for a family trip.
“It’ll be fun, Mom. –Wow!”
I was hugged again. Do the people in this house have a hug addiction?
He actually agreed to go with me! I’m glad I invited him. I was expecting another refusal. I don’t know what changed his mind. But now I was just filled with joy. I’m as excited as a young girl, my heart is fluttering in anticipation.
Before, we couldn’t even take a real family trip. Because he always refused.
No matter how many times I asked, he never answered.
“The reason is probably because it’s very sensitive, and it’s my fault that I made my son feel that way. Because I couldn’t love him properly, he ended up carrying that burden of guilt.”.
His bad luck with women and always getting hurt, it’s all my fault.
Sixteen years since he was born. It’s been too long.
The complicated and strained relationship still hasn’t fully healed. It’s so twisted and tangled that I don’t know how long it will take to unravel.
Finally, there is a faint hope that we might become normal from now on.
But even that is a difficult path. To return to a normal relationship, I have to make up for sixteen years of lost time.
I’m still in the process of rebuilding things from mother’s perspective. I don’t have nearly enough time to make up for the time I spent as a family, as a mother, to get it all back.
I can’t afford another sixteen years. By then my son will be gone. So I can’t just do things normally.
The only way is to pour out an overwhelming and intense love every day, to love with all the love of sixteen years.
It doesn’t matter if it’s family love, affection, or even love between the sexes. Whatever form it takes, it’s okay.
Any kind of “love” will do. The differences don’t matter, the distinctions don’t matter.
I just decided to love with all of me,
no matter how much I suffer, no matter how abnormal it may be
because I don’t want to have any more regrets.”
“Speaking of summer vacations, there’s radio calisthenics. Radio calisthenics are usually done early in the morning, but that’s mainly due to the broadcasting schedule.
In my case, since I bought the radio calisthenics audio on CD, I can do it anytime. Well, CDs are kind of retro these days. (After calisthenics, I have my sister stamp my card.)
I think it’s a little weird for a high school kid to do radio calisthenics, but it’s a summer tradition. I’m a guy who loves clichés, Kokonoe Yukito”.
In the morning, after I woke up, I did Radio Calisthenics No. 3 to warm up, but now my body is tense with nervousness. Maybe my heart would be pounding if this were a date, but it’s not.
Rather, it’s a meeting with someone who might see me as an enemy within the school. A figure I’m very familiar with arrives right on time.
“Well, the weather is beautiful today.”
“Why is your greeting so formal?”
“Aren’t we rivals?”
“No, we’re not! You’re the same as always.”
“So, what do you need, Sanjoji-sensei?”
“Outside of school. You don’t have to be so aware of it. I don’t think teachers can comfortably separate their roles inside and outside of school, at least I didn’t invite you here to give you a lecture.”
Sanjoji-sensei was wearing a blouse, a tight skirt, and heels, and it was a little more casual than usual since she wasn’t wearing a jacket. To an outsider, she looked like a capable OL.
In the morning, I had been called to the station by Sanjoji-sensei, and I was nervous about what she might have to say, but her expression was gentle. Her eyes behind the glasses didn’t look as severe as they usually did. The real Sanjoji-sensei is quite attractive.
I was surprised when I received a message from Sanjoji-sensei, but I’m secretly happy.
“Since it’s hard to talk about it here, please come to my house.”
“Uh, okay?”
Me go to her house? During the summer break? A summer experience!?
“Isn’t it big?”
“The Sanjoji family has been a family of teachers for generations. My father, mother, aunt and uncle, all of them. I’m not proud of it, but it’s amazing, isn’t it? It’s a lot of pressure, but anyway, don’t worry about it.”
It’s traditional family house in the city, and it’s pretty big. Unexpectedly, Sanjoji-sensei’s roots are revealed.
[As I walked through the door, a big golden retriever came trotting over. It rubbed against me without barking. I patted it, still with the momentum.]
“Oh, Inukichi gets attached, that’s rare.”
“How’s that for a name?”
As I petted Inukichi, he gave a pleasant whine.
There was a time when we discussed having a pet in the Kokonoe family, but at that time, Mom was busy, and my sister, who couldn’t take care of herself, wasn’t the type of person to take care of a pet. I wanted to have one. ……
“Actually, it’s a female.”
“Poor Inukichi….”
Inukichi’s sad eyes seemed to be begging me for something.
“Come, let’s go to my room. I’ll get us some drinks, just wait here for a minute.”
“O-Okay, sorry to bother you?”
There was no one else around and no answer.
Normally, home visits meant that the teacher came to the student’s house. So why was I, the student, at teacher Sanjoji’s house? And not even my homeroom teacher.
You could call it enemy territory. No telling when I might step on a landmine.
Sanjoji sensei’s room was about ten tatami mats in size. Spacious and tidy, reflecting her personality. I didn’t dare touch anything and could only sit on the cushion she had laid out and look around.
Ignoring my tension, she brought cake and drinks.
“Do you like sweets?”
“Yes. My only hobby is going around tasting desserts.”
“Heh, you’re just like a girl.”
Her smile seemed fresh, coming from Sanjoji who always scolded me. She took out an album and placed it in front of me, looking directly at me.
“Kokonoe, do you remember me at all?”
“Huh? We’ve been meeting a lot lately since you keep calling me, so I feel like we see each other a lot?”
“No, not that. We met when you were in elementary school.”
“Elementary school? Oh right, that time I promised to marry you!”
“Don’t lie! Please don’t make things up! It’s not like that at all. What are you saying? Don’t make fun of me! And there’s a big age difference between us…”
She gradually loses her enthusiasm. She’s acting different from usual.
But I had absolutely no memory of elementary school. Because of so many bad things I had encountered, I was very good at forgetting. Even if I did remember, it would only be painful.
“Sorry. I don’t remember at all.”
“I see… No, surely it was because I made you want to forget such memories. It was my fault for being so immature and causing that. Look at this, Kokonoe.”
The teacher opened the album. There were many pictures of elementary school children in uniform.
Among them was a boy with an extremely expressionless face.
He was the only one in the picture, and there was no one else around him.
Was that me? And the teacher’s name was Sanjoji Ryoka.
“I was your teacher when you were in elementary school. I’m really sorry about that time.”
With wet eyes, Sanjoji stood up and bowed her head deeply.
Elementary school. And the homeroom teacher. Hearing that jogged my memory a bit.
–I was in the early grades of elementary school were the first time I got involved in “false accusations”.
A personal item of a student teacher went missing. And for some reason it turned up in my desk. To me, it was completely out of the blue, and I was innocent.
The student teacher didn’t get angry at all. With a gentle smile, she gently admonished me as if she were teaching me. “If you do something wrong, you should apologize sincerely, okay?”
But no matter what she said, I couldn’t admit to something I hadn’t done. I kept denying it.
While the student teacher didn’t get angry, my homeroom teacher was furious at me for refusing to admit my wrongdoing, no matter what.
“What you did was stealing. Do you understand that is a crime?”
Naturally, I was isolated in class. My classmates also distanced themselves from me, and I was left alone.
It didn’t seem like this was going to be resolved. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and resolve it myself.
On the day the personal item went missing, I mapped out every action I took during the suspected time frame, making a list of who I was with, where I was, and what I was doing at each moment.
Through this process, I narrowed down the suspects and found the culprit.
It wasn’t someone I was particularly close to, but a boy in the same class. He liked the teacher and stole her article on impulse. I guess he made some noise and in his panic, he hid it in my nearby desk on the spot. Nothing but trouble for me. After gathering all the evidence, I shoved it and the culprit in front of the teachers. The homeroom teacher and the student teacher said something, but I didn’t care.
A stupid incident, a stupid result. With a heart as hard as acacia wood, I had already stopped caring about such things.
Since I had no intention of getting along with the classmates who had treated me like a criminal, I didn’t speak a word to the teacher or my classmates until the next grade when we changed classes.
For almost half a year. There was an awkward atmosphere in the classroom all the time.
It almost escalated into bullying, but I resisted and crushed it thoroughly. Violence solves everything.
Maybe it was the guilt of being in the wrong and the fact that I was good at studying and sports that made it hard for them to touch me. In any case, I was the type of person who would retaliate if I was messed with.
Quite nostalgic. Truly what you might call the dark ages of elementary school.
“So that class teacher back then was you, Sanjoji sensei. I’d completely forgotten.”
“I’m terribly sorry for what happened… I should have given you so many happy memories, but instead I erased them from you. No amount of apologies could make up for that. But please let me apologize anyway.”
Sanjoji bowed her head deeply and refused to raise it again.
“Don’t worry about it. Thanks to you, I learned how to deal with unreasonable things.”
“Kokonoe, you still…”
Unsure what to do with the sad-looking Sanjoji sensei, I pondered. To be honest, it didn’t bother me at all.
In fact, I couldn’t be bothered with such a trivial matter.
But to admit that to Sanjoji sensei seemed tactless. She might suffer even more.
What should I do? What did the teacher want from me?
Why did she apologize to me now after all this time?
Should I forgive her? give her absolution? But I’m not angry.
How can I forgive if I don’t feel wronged? Oh, I know, that’s how I tormented my sister.
How can I bring Sanjoji sensei back to normal?
Think. I won’t give up thinking. I won’t give up. There must be an answer.
So tell her. Don’t run away, just be honest. Just tell her what I’m thinking.
“Teacher, let’s sit and eat cake together.”
“But…”
“Because I want to.”
“Okay.”
I don’t have any memories of that time. There were no memories to begin with. All I remember is that something like that happened. I’ve even forgotten who my teacher and classmates were.
I cannot remember a single name. But still, it bothered me to see Sanjoji sitting in front of me looking so miserable.
Oh, in that case–
“So please tell me, teacher. What was our class like back then? What kind of classmates did we have? We have this album. Please share your memories. Since we’ve met again like this.”
It’s very simple. If someone knows, if someone remembers, just ask them. I wouldn’t have realized it if I was still alone. To rely on someone, to have someone there. The answer is very simple and clear. I just have to rely on her.
“Is that really okay?”
“I don’t remember any of this, so if you don’t teach me, I won’t understand.”
“O-Okay! I have more albums, wait a moment! Let me grab them!”
Crawling on all fours, Sanjoji went to the bookshelf behind her.
But I noticed, this is bad! This pose is inappropriate, Ryouka-chan!
Sanjoji sensei wore a skirt. And a short, tight miniskirt at that.
Even though she was wearing stockings, if she crawled away like that, the inevitable would be on display.
“…Teacher, panties.”
They were purple. What a delightful sight!
I’ll definitely remember this.
“By the way, why did you become a high school teacher?”
As I looked at the album and listened to her tell me various things, I asked the teacher.
“I got scared.”
“Scared?”
“For over a year, I agonized over what to do, but I could do nothing. Time just went by. What if the negative influence I’d had on the students was affecting their personality development or leading them down the wrong path? When I thought about that, I was terrified to stand in front of a class again. It was also a shock when I was directly told to transfer to another class.
Sanjoji sensei’s expression was dark. You could tell that she had suffered a lot.
“I lost my confidence, my passion faded. I quit teaching once because I thought I couldn’t do it anymore, but high school students aren’t influenced that much by their teachers. With that thought, I retook the entrance exam and found myself meeting you again.”
“So I was the cause… I’m sorry, sensei.”
The weighty past made me unconsciously bow my head. I’d completely forgotten about it.
“No! It was because I was immature. I hadn’t fully grown up. I quit and spent about a year afterwards reflecting on myself every day. The students surely resented me as the worst teacher ever. Either they erased me from their memories like you did, or they never want those memories to resurface. Either way, I can’t face them.”
She forced a smile, but her expression was sad and pitiful.
“Please. While I was able to get back on my feet somehow, I believe this reunion is fate. You may have partially noticed, but she has a broken spirit and has given up on her dreams. Because of my involvement, I have ruined her career. Please save her. I heard a lot about you from Suzurikawa. I’m sure you can do it.”
“Leave it to me.”
“Thank you. You are a kind person.”
Sanjoji-sensei smiles as if relieved. It’s a done deal, but I don’t mind. It’s an easy job.
As cruel as it was, there was one thing I had to tell her.
“By the way, I think requests should come with rewards, don’t you?”
“Eh…?”
Suddenly, the air turned ominous and Sanjoji broke into a cold sweat.
I rummaged in my bag and took out my sketchbook. Voila!
“…Don’t tell me, Kokonoe? Is this about that thing? It’s definitely that thing, right?”
“I’ve been looking forward to this. Shall we start?”
“Impossible! Please reconsider! This is so shameless… You’ll be disappointed anyway!”
I shook my head as if to say, come on.
“Shameless? What’s wrong with that? Earlier, you said that apologizing doesn’t mean you’re forgiven, right? I haven’t forgiven you yet. Ah, after being humiliated like that in front of the class… It was so hard. So sad.”
“Ugghhh! I deeply regret how thoughtless I was! But that’s different from this…”
“Doesn’t it seem so? You don’t seem very sorry at all.”
I provoked her, thrilled to finally be on the offensive instead of the defensive.
“…Just because of that, I don’t have to show my shameful body…”
At this point, she made excuses while snapping her index fingers together.
“Think about it this way. If, as a teacher, you happened to see one of your students enter a love hotel with an older man, and she later denied that anything happened, would you believe her?
“Of course not. While they are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the fact that they entered such a place together would be sufficient evidence to establish misconduct. Even if nothing actually happened, I couldn’t overlook it.”
“Exactly. So for me to be called to your house like this means that even if you claim that nothing happened, would others around us believe it? No!”
“Wait, please! I didn’t mean to call you with the intention of expose it to others, and I haven’t–“
“That’s not for us to decide. Don’t worry about it. We’re in your home, so there’s no risk of exposure. However, it would be unnatural if nothing happened, so something happening seems more natural, no?”
“Please don’t make it sound so logical! I might accidentally be convinced! Really, for a student like you to do this with someone like me who’s past her prime…”
“Then forget it.”
I pretended to sulk.
“What’s with the sudden cold shoulder? Please don’t resort to salt tactics. Are you going to ask Keido instead? That’s it, isn’t it?”
I didn’t actually say anything. I just sulked.
“Fine, I’ll take it off! If it’s me instead of her, that’s fine, right? But please, give me time… At least to shave. No, more like time to get laser hair removal! I can’t handle it like this!”
“No you can’t. It’s an art.”
“At my age, there are no prospects! So even if my grooming is a bit messy, it can’t be helped! And what kind of art is it anyway? It’s just your personal interest!”
“Exactly right.”
“What pure, innocent eyes!”
“See, even inukichi says so. Right?”
[Woof woof!]
“When did you make inukichi your ally?”
inukichi had climbed onto my back and shuffled into the room. So heavy…
The back and forth between Sanjoji sensei and me continued for another half hour.
Passcodes, fingerprint authentication, facial recognition. Security is getting stronger every day.
Some people say that dropping your smartphone can end your life, but I’m so lazy I don’t even bother with a lock. I never had much data on it to begin with. Even if someone sees it, it shouldn’t be a problem… Or so I thought, until now.
“Right now, my biggest enemy is my sister…”
I sat alone in my room and scratched my head. What am I going to do?
I had returned from Sanjoji-sensei’s house, but I had messed up again.
After enjoying and storing something purple in my mental memory,
I felt really sorry and confessed to Sanjoji-sensei. It was supposed to end there, but for some reason she said, “I’m sorry. Oh, you’re a high school student, and… if you’re interested, you can take a picture. But it cannot be leaked, okay?” I don’t understand. Let me say it again. I don’t understand.
So instead of storing it in my mental memory, I stored this forbidden image in the memory of the smartphone, which is a memory in this case. I can’t show it to anyone. It’s too dangerous. If someone saw it, it would cause trouble for Sanjoji-sensei as well.
However, as a DT, I can’t just erase this picture…
But I think it’s Sanjoji-sensei’s fault, not mine, right?
“…Do I really have no choice but to bury it?”
I am looking for a place to hide it, but in my room, which is supposed to be mine, there is no safe zone because my mother and sister have more personal things in that room than I do. If I want to hide it, it has to be outside.
How about burying it in the ground like a time capsule and taking it out in a few decades?
Erotic books found outdoors might actually be created by such a process.
“Where did you go today?”
As usual, my sister, who lacks the concept of knocking, comes straight into my room after taking a bath.
She is the only one who would dare to look into my smartphone, but how do I hide what I have saved… Wait!
“Why aren’t you wearing pants?”
“This is preventive underwear.”
“That joke’s getting old! It’s not that funny!”
Give it a rest. My sister came with an extreme midsummer style, wearing a tank top and shorts, but she’s drinking milk nonchalantly. My eyes were everywhere. And those are definitely preventative underwear, right? I have to talk to Shiori about this later.
“It’s okay. You like it, don’t you?”
“Can’t you stop deciding things for yourself?”
“Do you have a favorite color? I’ll wear it for you.”
“I think your kindness is misdirected.”
“Really? You like it, right?”
“Yes.”
Why am I explaining such a thing? It was declaration underwear.
“You’re such a good kid. As a reward, I’ll show you the Summer Triangle.”
Her slender waist and tight curves are alluring.
“Just to be sure, which part is Vega, Deneb and Altair?”
The inverted triangle of summer. It was astrology underwear. If this was called stargazing, it would be perverted stargazing.
“So, where did you go this morning?”
“I went to Sanjoji-sensei’s house…”
“What? Were you invited to a teacher’s house during the summer vacation?”
“I wasn’t scolded, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
“That’s not the point. I’ll listen to everything, so just tell me.”
Lately my sister seems to want to know everything. Maybe she’s trying to make up for the lack of normal conversation we used to have. I’m happy about it, so it’s not a problem for me.
However, she has started to invade my room again.
I also want to go back to the good old days when we had a good, uninhibited relationship. Except for one part, there’s nothing to hide, so I decided to be honest.
“When we were in elementary school, I remember something like this happened. It’s a coincidence that she is now also my teacher”
“It happened a long time ago, and I had forgotten about it, so I’m sorry for bringing it up now.”
“I understand. It’s your virtue to be kind, but I’m starting to worry about it.”
“Well, I have enjoyed learning a lot from you.”
“Well, that’s okay. By the way, you’re going to the hot spring, right? That’s fine, but it’s summer. We should go swimming, too. I’m looking forward to it.”
“I’ve already reached my quota for this season.”
“Huh? Don’t you want to go with me?”
“Please let me join you.”
“Look forward to it.”
“Yes.”
It’s amazing to see my low hierarchy in this house.
“This is not possible. Seriously, it’s not possible, Kokonoe-chan.”
Mineta looks annoyed, but the reactions of those around her are uniformly the same. What’s going on?
“I thought you were changing unusually slowly, but what on earth is that, Yukito?”
“It’s a wetsuit.”
All eyes are on me as I come out of the changing room wearing a black full body wetsuit. Then I notice it.
Ah, I get it. You misunderstood, you thought it was just about the look, right?
“Don’t worry. I’ve already taken a proper lifesaving course. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“What do you mean, nothing?”
The azure sea. The sparkling white sand beach. The scorching sun beating down. An enthusiastic answer.
We came for a day at the beach. On the last day of school, Elizabeth invited me, and surprisingly, more than half of the class came. It’s an unprecedentedly large group. They’re too close for comfort in this class…
Since accidents must be avoided, I decided to take a lifesaving course in a hurry.
You can take the course from the age of fifteen, but you must have completed a water safety course and BLS certification. As you gain practical experience, you may be able to earn additional specialty certifications. However, unless you plan to become a professional in the field, it’s probably not necessary to go that far.
“You are already …?”
Hinagi held her head in her hands. She accidentally let out a sigh of admiration while wearing a fashionable bikini.
“Hinagin, you look so cute.”
“Oh, thank you…”
Hinagi-chan shyly plays with her hair. Should I make a follow-up? YES/NO
“Yuki, how do I look?”
Shiori, who monopolizes the men’s attention, bounces her assets, making them sway like much. You’re too big… Oh, you mean in height? Seriously, man.
Shiori is healthy and fresh, full of vibrant vitality. She’s undoubtedly the leading lady of the beach, a beach princess. Perhaps because the dancer’s outfit has reduced her resistance, her swimsuit is quite daring.
“Hmm, that’s suggestive.”
“Again!?”
Apart from Shiori, who is shocked and stammering, the women once again cheer for their swimsuit-clad companions. It’s an exciting sight of girls we don’t see at school. It’s the essence of summer.
“Oh, Natsume, it suits you. Let’s have fun today!”
“It’s embarrassing, but I’m not very good at swimming…”
“Shall I teach you then?”
Takahashi and Natsume chatted amicably. The surroundings have regained their liveliness.
“It’s been a while since I went to the ocean. I was busy with the club in junior high. How about you, Yukito?”
“Yesterday was the last time I went.”
“That was an unexpected answer…”
Sorry, fresh handsome guy. Unlike you, I’m enjoying the summer.
I’ve already finished my homework, so I’m invincible. In fact, I’m so eager to study that I can’t wait.
“Because Shakado and I went to the sea yesterday. All right, Shakado. Let’s dig it up right away.”
“Ah, I’ve been waiting for this day! Fufu… fwooooooh!”
We grab her by the scruff and head for the deserted sandy beach. Shakado gets excited.
It seems that our behavior has caught everyone attention, because several people, led by the fresh, handsome guy, are following us.
“Hey, Yukito. Did you really go to the beach with Shakado?”
“Just to be clear, I didn’t come here to swim. It’s to collect insects.”
Despite appearances, Shakado is quite active. She even catches prey for her pet reptiles herself. Since we were going to the sea, we decided to catch unusual insects in the area and buried about thirty plastic cups in the ground.
The cups contain bait, and at night, insects that are actively searching for food fall into the cup and can’t get out. We pull out the buried cups one by one. There were even some with black insects in them.
“We did it! Haha… kuhihi… kihhihihihihihihihihihi!”
While Shakado is excitedc, it seemed that the women’s reaction was not quite the same. Those who are not good with insects quickly fled the scene.
Osamushi and Gomimushi may look similar, but Shakado can tell them apart at a glance.
But aren’t insect names like Osamushimodoki or Gomimushidamashi a bit much?
Kokonoe Yukito Modoki, isn’t that too much? Maybe the impostors are sharp-eyed or something.
“It was worth setting the trap.”
“Thank you. I’ll never forget this favor…”
“It’s too heavy. Forget it.”
It’s too much of a favor to simply accompany her on an insect collecting trip.
“Mission accomplished. Let’s go back and swim.”
“Wait… I’ll put them in the cage…”
The cage is lined with dirt. After wetting it thoroughly with a spray, they put insect jelly in it and gently place the insects inside. Then they put the whole thing in a cooler bag and close the lid.
Leaving insects out in direct sunlight in the middle of summer is hard on them. The insect collector Shakado was also perfect in terms of aftercare. A true princess of reptiles.
We return to where our classmates are, Shakado and I carefully took our insect collection carefully.
The plastic cups used for the traps have been properly collected, so rest assured. I’m like a supporter of the Japanese national soccer team when it comes to cleaning up. This is me, Kokonoe Yukito.
“By the way, do I need to apply sunscreen?”
“I already did. Yuki, did you want me to put it on?”
“Yukito, it’s a little embarrassing for you to apply it…”
“You’re an idiot…”
Hinagi and Shiori blush and I’m touched by their unexpected reaction.
“Mom and my sister would rush me to apply it quickly… You two are so pure… Please stay that way. It’s a request from Kokonoe Yukito.”
“How should we respond?”
“…Sis… That’s not the place to apply it… Why are you taking off your swimsuit… and putting it in your mouth…”
“Yuki, what’s wrong, Yuki!?”
“…Mom… I can apply it there myself… so why are you taking off your swimsuit… and squeezing…”
“Wa-wa-wait! Yuki, it’s still too early for us!”
“Huh!? A daily memory that happens so often that it’s impossible to forget…!”
“What are you doing regularly anyway?”
“Yukito, you must be going through a lot…”
I don’t know when he bought it, but the face Tesla coil was eating yakisoba while shedding tears. Hey, what about my share?
“First question. What should you be most careful of when swimming at the beach?”
Lifesaver Kokonoe Yukito’s safety class is now in session.
“Yeah, that fresh, handsome guy over there was fast.”
“Warm-up exercises. Sudden leg cramps from jumping into the water can be bad,” the refreshingly handsome boy replied quickly.
“Too bad! Panic is especially scary – that’s probably the second most important thing. Okay, Shiori next.”
“Um, not going past the tetrapod?”
“Nope. We’re not going that far out on our beach trip anyway. Let’s just have fun closer to the beach,”
“Kokonoe, what’s the answer?”
“Good question. The direct answer is sharks. Radioactive red sharks are an explosion hazard. If you see one, evacuate immediately. There are also shark ghosts that attack humans. These sharks can appear anywhere there’s water, so they’re ghosts-“
“Yeah, yeah, we’re going to warm up.”
Hinagi cut me off after only one question. Kokonoe Yukito Safety Class: Closed.
“Hey you, do you want to play with us?”
Even on the crowded summer beach, Elizabeth was already getting hit on.
“Oh, it’s 3G!”
“Hey, you’re – no, you’re Kokonoe, aren’t you? “
“Oh no, we haven’t done anything yet! Please don’t let it blow up! We’ll be honest guy from now on!”
“It was really hard for us after that! So please let it go!”
They seemed strangely afraid of me. But I only had a good impression of these guys.
“Friends of yours, Yukito?”
The three college guys I’d met with Mio and Tristy at the night pool earlier.
“This is the 3G crew,”
“This isn’t the 3G era anymore,”
Was he implying that they were as behind the times as Galapagos phones? How harsh.
“So it’s just you three 3G guys today?” I
“We want to play with girls too, you know. But our engineering department doesn’t have many…”
“How come you always end up with different girls?”
“Damn, stupid Riajuus!”
Hmm. Since we had a large group, there was a chance that we wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on everyone.
In a small pool, that’s one thing, but for the vast ocean, I wanted to avoid any potential dangers.
“Would you like to join us? I was worried about so many people. I’d appreciate it if you 3G guys could help keep an eye out for any shady characters or accidents.”
“Really? We’d love to, thank you!”
“By shady characters, you mean us, right?”
“Actually, I follow you on SNS. Can I get your autograph later?”
An unexpected reinforcement. They really were good guys. Now I could relax and safely enjoy the beach.
“I think I’ll go for a swim too,” I said.
“Don’t let go of me, okay, Yukito! No matter what!”
Hinagi straddled a floatie, shaking all over.
Riding these orca floaties was more difficult than expected. Probably good balance training.
Hanging on for dear life, Hinagi’s expression showed no composure. I played the role of supporting her from below.
Hinagi wasn’t the strongest swimmer, but this was the shallow end just a few meters from shore, and with lifeguard Kokonoe Yukito here, she was guaranteed to be safe. Go ahead and try to your heart’s content.
“I want to go too,”
“I want to try too, but it’s more unstable than I thought – whoa!”
She toppled over and got a face full of water. Then plop, there’s a killer whale on top of you.
“Maybe surfing isn’t your thing,”
“When I get home, I’m going to practice on a balance ball,” she declared determinedly.
That enthusiasm and optimism – this childhood friend had a competitive streak.
When Hinagi tries the orca ride again, she opened her mouth as if remembering something.
“Oh yes, Hiori said she wanted to talk to Yukito about something,”
“Hiori did? Did something happen?”
If Hinagi’s little sister Hiori was in trouble, I’d like to help, even though I doubt I could do much. But what could it be? Hiori was so straightforward, not the type to make enemies.
“She wants advice about a friend,”
“I see… I need to hear more to understand.”
Not that there was much I could do about the concerns of a middle schooler, but it depended on the content.
Speaking of which, for some reason, the Kokonoe Yukito Counseling Office, which I don’t remember opening, keeps getting filled with romance counseling, which I’m terrible at…
“I’m sorry for always giving you trouble with my sister,”
“I don’t mind if I can help in any way,”
She had become able to say such direct words. Hinagi would be fine.
“Hey Yukito, let’s go to the summer festival together,”
“The fireworks festival, huh? Takes me back,”
“Yes… little by little, let’s take our time back,”
I remembered how Hinagi and I used to go to the summer festivals every year. We’d buy candied apples and cotton candy from the stalls, sip ramune, and watch the fireworks in the pitch-black night sky. Those memories were gone now, cut off. The expression on Hinagi’s face that I had last seen wasn’t a smile at all.
“I regret it. I let go of Yukitos hand. It’s not that I didn’t like it – quite the opposite… I was just too embarrassed and shook it off reflexively. The stupid, selfish end for a self-centered girl.”
“Then isn’t it okay for you to take a different path? There’s no need to start all over again,”
It was a lingering doubt I’d always had. Hinagi, Shiori, Mom and onee-chan. I understood regretting the past and wishing for a repeat.
But the past is the past. It can’t be undone or rewritten.
After all, we could never actually jump back in time. Only the present and the future could be changed.
There was no need to remain shackled to that unchangeable past. It should be okay to choose a better future, a path to happiness. Trying to redo everything, despite the monumental effort, was bad value for money.
Most of all, I didn’t care. No resentment or hatred. Then wasn’t it most efficient for them to simply discard me?
Could I still have enough value to make her want to start over?
“A path without Yukito would be meaningless. We may be strangers now, but you’re my precious childhood friend. It can’t be just anyone. It has to be the Yukito I spent time with,”
A nation and its central bank guarantee the credit of a currency. Thus, the international currency carries a solid credit.
In the same way, the time Hinagi and I spent alone together supported the credit of our childhood friendship. She believed that this weak, uncertain thing was special.
–I wanted to believe it too.
I had to win it back. My own “special”.
“I’ve grown up too, you know. I don’t want to be protected anymore,”
A happy, strong smile. Tears did not suit a childhood friend.
Hinagi had become strong. Stronger than me, probably. Her eyes shone with unwavering determination.
“You have become a fine woman,”
A truly flawless woman. Although she was dripping a little too much seawater.
“Thanks to someone, I suppose. –This is fun. I wish times like this could last forever,”
“Yeah,” I agreed.
I gallantly straddled the floatie, then spun around once before plunging into the sea.
“By the way, did you finish the painting for the contest?”
We abandoned the floatie and took a break on the beach, eating shaved ice.
With the waves crashing and the noise around us, we childhood friends spent some time together.
Meanwhile, the guy with the flashing face was getting hit left and right nearby, and Shakadou looked annoyed at being dragged around by Elizabeth’s group – everyone enjoying the beach summer in their own way.
“Maybe I am just not cut out for art. I was shocked by my own lack of sense,”
“You’re not going for a prize, are you? Just draw what you want,”
That’s the nature of art. Despite her troubled expression, looking back, Hinagi always had an original style. That was her charm. If she enjoyed the activities of the club, that was enough.
“Won’t Yukito participate anymore?”
“The art club has my nemesis…”
Even I hesitated to join the art club with that annoying student council president. onee-chan’s painting was done, and if Hinagi ever needed help, the reliable Sanjoji sensei would lend a hand.
Speaking of Sanjoji sensei, she was strangely concerned about her armpits. What could be so embarrassing about armpits?
“Oh, right, Hinagi. Let me see your armpits for a second,” I asked.
“Wh-why you!? How can you say something so indelicate so casually!?”
Hinagi-chan froze her head with shaved ice on her surprise. You don’t have to force yourself to eat it…
“What do you mean, it’s just an armpit?”
“How can you casually say without any delicacy?”
“In the Kokonoe household, the concept of delicacy doesn’t exist.”
“I don’t know anything about that kind of common sense!”
The home environment really is so important. It makes me realize that deeply.
But was Hinagi worried about it too? That’s when I realized that I had made a serious mistake – ridiculous.
Get a grip on yourself, it’s absurd. I’m a terrible scum.
Forgetting such a thing lacked delicacy, to say the least.
No wonder Sanjoji sensei and Hinagi would be embarrassed. Unable to bear the weight of my sin, I prostrated myself on the scorching sand.
“I’m sorry, Hinagi! I was careless. But please be at peace. No matter how much you’re worried about the armpit odor, I absolutely…”
“Youuu!”
Her face was bright red. Heat exhaustion, perhaps? I handed her a sports drink. Hinagi gulped it down in one go.
I heard that armpit odor is caused by sweat. Apparently, secretions from the apocrine sweat glands are the source of the odor, so it’s understandable that those with the disposition would be concerned. Having made an insensitive remark, all I could do was apologize sincerely.
“Oh, if you’re so concerned, I’ll contribute to the cost of the operation-“
“Shut up! Here, smell it! Go on!”
Hinagi shoved her pits in my face.
“Smells like the ocean,” I remarked.
///
Scene Transition
///
“Because it’s the beach, right! Enough with these unfounded rumors! What if someone types my name into a search engine and the search suggestions turn into ‘Hinagi Stinks’ or something like that? It’s all your fault!”
“Clean and odorless seas have fewer nutrients, and seas with the smell of the shore are rich in nutrients. Isn’t that a fascinating thought? Let’s continue to pay attention to ocean pollution.
“Mind my reputation pollution!”
Issues such as microplastics and other environmental problems affecting humanity are serious.
While I was being strongly shaken by Gakun Gakun Hinagi, I made a vow. I’m going to stop littering.
“What’s wrong, Yuki? You look so serious.”
I was looking forward to swimming at the beach. I was excited and my chest was swelling with anticipation. The chest muscles were bulging. Throb, throb.
But what on earth is this? I can’t help but feel disappointed.
“Strange. I didn’t experience any wardrobe malfunctions at all.”
“Is Yuki saying something weird again?”
“It’s a beach trip, right? Normally there should be some sexy, daring accidents.”
“Well… everyone is being very careful not to have any wardrobe malfunctions!”
“Maybe wardrobe malfunctions are not a common occurrence?”
If that’s the case, it’s disappointing. Ah, it’s disappointing. Give me back the excitement!
“Wow, Yuki looks so depressed like I’ve never seen before.
“I thought it was weird. My mom and sister have wardrobe malfunctions every hour or so, so I thought it was the norm.”
“Those aren’t wardrobe malfunctions, those are deliberate and extremely malicious acts!”
At home, my mother often says things like, “Oh, my shoulder strap,” during wardrobe malfunctions.
Although it’s not a common occurrence, the fact that wardrobe malfunctions happen so often suggests that it’s probably the work of ghosts, a supernatural phenomenon. It could be something like a poltergeist.
Considering the fact that my mental state is deteriorating with every wardrobe malfunction, the day when I’m cursed to death by a wardrobe malfunction is getting closer and closer. The dreaded wardrobe malfunction. Dying from a wardrobe malfunction is no laughing matter.
“Yuki, do you really want to see wardrobe malfunctions so badly?”
Looking down, I grab Shiori’s shoulders, which are turning bright red.
“Shiori!”
“Wa-wa-wait, I understand! If Yuki says so, I’ll…”
“Intentional wardrobe malfunctions aren’t exactly lucky.”
I won’t give in on this.
“This maiden’s dignity has been doubly damaged!”
There’s a pitter-patter. The debate about the wardrobe malfunction on the midsummer beach is heating up.
Oh, did Shiori have a wardrobe malfunction? I’ll protect the dignity of the maidens.
“By the way, how’s the girls’ basketball club?”
“Yeah! Even though I joined in the middle, all the seniors and students from other classes are really nice to me.”
Shiori, who is gently floating on a float, tells me about her recent situation with a happy expression on her face.
I wasn’t too worried, but they seem to be getting along well.
The captains of the Girls’ Basketballl Club were also pleased, and the counselor gave them a warm welcome. I owe them a big favor, so I plan to repay it eventually. Besides, Shiori is not the type to be isolated by nature.
Being manager is fine, but Shiori is more attractive when she is active instead of sitting still.
“Captain Sasaki even thanked Yuki. ‘Thank you.'”
“Actually, it was you who decided to join.”
“Uh-uh. If Yuki hadn’t pushed me, I think I would still be undecided. The manager of the boys’ basketball club is important, but I wasn’t sure if it was okay to continue like this. I need to be more aware of my surroundings, like Yuki. I’m no good the way I am now… Pya!”
That’s not true. Shiori would have had to realize it herself at some point. I just accelerated it. Shiori has a talent that it would be a waste to let her just sit around. The stage on which she can shine is not the boys’ Basketballl Club.
“You should never let your guard down!”
I shoot a big stream of water. We came to the beach to have fun. There’s no time to be down.
“Yuki, you have quite a range, like a rabbit or an octopus. But I’m not going to lose, okay? I’m still a dancer. Yeahhhhh!”
“Did you really like that embarrassing costume?”
“Yuki was the one who dressed me!”
“Actually, I also suggested that shiori wear a sexier costume.”
“An outrageous villain is here!?”
Shiori returns with a counterattack. She didn’t hold back. Maybe she holds a grudge against me.
There’s no room for sweet romance like chasing each other in the sea.
The only thing between us is a life-and-death struggle over wardrobe malfunctions.
“Calm down! Do you really want to create wardrobe malfunctions?”
“I believe Yuki will protect the dignity of the maidens!”
The turf war that suddenly began continued with both sides fiercely defending and attacking. I’m a superhuman with extraordinary stamina.
It’s a close fight. An equal battle. In this situation, I have no choice but to use my trump card!
“Alright, I guess I have no choice. I’ll activate the special weapon. Farewell, Shiori.”
“Huh? Wait Yuki, you idiot!!!”
I throw her with all my might, and a massive spray of water shoots up.
If we play around and move our bodies vigorously, our heads and bodies will feel refreshed.
“So you see, Yuki made me do a commercial and I got paid for it, right? So I was thinking of buying everyone shoes as gifts. What do you think?”
After using up all her energy, Shiori took a break and ate grilled squid at the beach house.
According to Shiori, the female members of the basketball club had already reserved the shoes. But being Shiori, she was grateful that they welcomed her to join the club so warmly. That’s why she suddenly got the idea to buy gifts of shoes for everyone.
It was up to Shiori how she wanted to spend her money. It wasn’t my place to interfere. But I hesitated on purpose. The information hadn’t been announced yet, but it should be okay to tell Shiori.
“Shiori, this is still a secret, but wait a little longer,”
“Huh… is something happening?”
But it should be important information.
“A second version will be announced soon. And what’s more, the Goddess model and the Saint model are coming next!”
“More variations have been added without my noticing!”
“If you’re going to give gifts, I think it’s nicer to have multiple designs to choose from.”
The Bunny Man and Brave Party Model shoes seemed to sell out quickly. In a meeting, I accidentally let it slip that there were still goddesses and saint at Shoyo High School, and in a flash, the decision was made to release a second version. At this rate, they might even release a minstrel model.
I got a glimpse of how the adults never miss a business opportunity, although this has nothing to do with basketball, does it?
“Goddess and saint…everyone is so cool but I’m just a dancer…uuuu…” Shiori said as she hung her head down and turned bright red.
I grabbed both of Shiori’s shoulders.
“Shiori!”
“Hey, this is the same pattern as before…”
“You have the most exposure! Have confidence!”
The only female member of the brave group is no joke.
“You have forcibly restored my maiden dignity!”
With four variations just for women, everyone should be able to find one that suits their taste.
When you give a gift, you want the recipient to be happy, right?
But how should I explain this to Toujo senpai and Goddess senpai…
“GWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
My powerful spike sliced through the sandy beach. A great cheer went up.
“Hehehe…ooh…God…”
Shakadou prayed. He was completely useless.
We were facing each other in a beach volleyball game called Class 1-B’s Summer Deathmatch.
To keep things fair, the pairs had to be male/female and not from the sports clubs. If I teamed up with Shiori or the refreshingly handsome guy, there would be no teams that could win. It was the right consideration.
And so I was with Shakadou, the refreshingly handsome guy was paired with Mineta, Takahashi from the soccer club had a nice vibe so he stayed paired with Natsume, Shiori was with Akanuma, Hinagi with Itou, and Elizabeth with Mikuraya in these exquisitely balanced pairs for an intense unfolding match.
Especially when Shiori moved dynamically, cheers would rise and more and more people would gather to watch. The money box that I had secretly put out was filling up with coins. It looked like thanks to Shiori’s efforts, there would be enough for everyone’s lunch costs. Thank you Shiori, I’ll never forget your heroic figure. Boing boing.
For the Miss Overlap of this beach, there was no question that it would be Shiori. Congratulations!
“To think that we would lose to the pair of Masamichi and Elizabeth… I didn’t research enough that they both used to be on the volleyball team. I discovered some unexpected facts.
“Practically one against two…I didn’t do anything…heehee…I’m so sorry…”
“That’s right. As punishment, Shakadou will have to go to the beauty salon for the summer vacation.”
“–!?”
“Sheep are also shorn before the summer. And it’s a sure bet that cutting your hair will make you a beauty.”
Whether it was a big shock or not, Shakadou froze and didn’t even flinch, even though it was summer. Aside from her, everyone else was in high spirits.
“I can’t believe we beat the Yukito group!”
“Fufun. What do you think? This is the dignity of the chairman!”
Mikuraya, who had recently joined the Basketball Club, and Elizabeth from the Light Music Club had both been on the volleyball team at different junior high schools. Learning about such backgrounds was proof that our interactions were deepening.
“Here’s the prize money.”
“Kokonoe, don’t you think this is a bit unromantic at all?”
I tried to hand over the collected donations as prize money, but Elizabeth wasn’t pleased.
“Socks stuffed with 10,000 yen bills are the best Christmas present, right? Just give me cash.”
“You’re too much like a bad kid! No, what did you do with the money?”
“Shiori earned it with her body.”
“Yuki just said something vulgar about me out of nowhere!?”
White looks from those around us. And yet I was just stating facts…
Hmm, I see. In other words, the amount is too small, right?
It can’t be helped. I feel bad that only Shiori deserves it. I’m not a kept man.
In that case, I’ll take care of this much.
I ceremoniously took out a watermelon and placed it on the sheet. The eyes of the audience gathered.
“Hmph.”
With a thud, I punched straight down, and the watermelon neatly split into six equal pieces.
[Ooooooooooo!]
Applause erupted, and people started throwing tips. …Looks like we’re going for a lavish dinner.
“Kokonoe, how did you do that?”
I whispered the trick of the watermelon splitting punch.
“The watermelons used for splitting are sliced beforehand so that they split nicely. Then, as long as you apply even pressure to the whole thing, you get what you see. I didn’t bring a wooden sword or anything like that.”
I had prepared the watermelon, but forgotten the essential crushing tool. It was probably better that way than to carry around something cumbersome like a wooden sword or bat.
Oh, right, I should say this just in case.
“The split watermelon was deliciously enjoyed by the staff.”
“That’s just like you, Kokonoe. Anything goes, huh. And there’s prize money too, so let’s have lunch soon.”
As I float here, gently rocked by the waves, my own thoughts seem incredibly petty.
No matter what I’ve tried lately, nothing has worked out. Forsaken by fortune, you might say.
I’ve been plotting with another guy, but our plans haven’t been successful at all. Instead of catching him, he’s become even more powefull. No matter how much I resent him, the reality won’t change.
Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten involved in the first place. Annoying. Both him and another guy forced this on me.
Is he trying to ruin my life again? This feeling that nothing goes right no matter what I do is the first time in a long time.
That unpleasant, uncomfortable feeling from elementary school. …I’m recalling unpleasant memories.
I came to the beach with my family to have fun, but it’s been ruined. I hit the water in frustration and anger.
No one knows it’s me. It’s going to be okay. I try to convince myself, but the unease won’t go away. Why do I have to take these risks in the first place?
Stuck in the same endless loop with no answers. I could just confess everything…
Impossible. He doesn’t forgive enemies. That’s why that another guy and I were crushed.
I didn’t realize that keeping secrets was so mentally draining.
I’m afraid someone will find out, and I can’t fully enjoy school life because I’m self-conscious around others.
That worthless guy who just gives orders doesn’t understand how scary he is. You’d understand if you went to the same school. I hear things every day that I’d rather not hear.
Absolutely impossible to lay hands on him directly. I have no allies. Even if I asked the upperclassmen for help, no one would cooperate.
In fact, there’s a good chance that any student who brings up this kind of talk would be reported.
Somehow, he isn’t lonely at all. Annoyingly, he is liked by many.
Teachers, upperclassmen, outsiders don’t matter. Everyone is worried about his movements and tries to protect him.
If I become hostile, I’ll be the one isolated. Especially if his sister, who loves him, finds out, who knows what will happen. She’d probably seriously try to eliminate me.
Totally surrounded. Besieged from all sides. And it was all my own doing.
“I shouldn’t have reunited with Kazu…”
Endless regret. After the change of schools, the reunion with him from our hometown made me feel better.
I was happy to see a familiar face and tried to get close to, which was the mistake that started it all.
I was supposed to have moved away after entering high school, but I because of his prominence. I’m suffering so much, yet there’s always a smile around him. There’s always someone by his side, laughing.
Why am I alone when he’s always having fun! I can’t contain my resentment.
Nervously watching, I continued the superficial relationship, but I ended up becoming isolated..
If I express my dissatisfaction with the current situation and show hostility, other would sense it keenly, leading to a vicious cycle of people distancing themselves from me.
“Huh…?”
I force my awareness back to reality. The sandy beach seems very far away. I think this is bad and try to swim back, but to my surprise the waves are strong and my body won’t move forward. Overwhelming fear arises. I hastily stabilize my position. But contrary to my intentions, my body won’t listen.
“This is a joke, right? Bad, this is bad! Somebody, anybody, hel–glug glug”
I try to scream for help, shame and propriety be damned, but seawater gets into my mouth. I cough and my left leg cramps.
(Why…! Why is it always me who ends up like this? Am I going to die? In a place like this…I still have so many things I want to do!)
If this is the punishment for looking down on others all the time, then there is no doubt that God exists.
The thought of this so belatedly brought tears to my eyes. I’ve done nothing but resent and hate people. I harbored hatred and thought it was all his fault. And then I committed a sin.
(No…at first even I was…It’s because of him. Because I met him…!)
At first I must have understood. That I was the bad one. But while we were badmouthing each other, somewhere along the way, my feelings changed completely and got twisted. I was drowning in malice.
I hadn’t even fallen in love yet. Or liked someone more.
Maybe I long for beautiful things so much because I’m so terribly ugly.
“Damn…somebody help…I’m sorry…so let me start over…”
My voice will reach no one. Because I’m alone. Unlike him.
I should have just ignored him like that and lived right. I should have enjoyed my youth.
The beautiful surface of the sea looked like an agitated demon swallowing me. It opens its mouth and lies in wait for its prey. How deep does it go? I can’t see through to the pitch-black ocean floor.
Humans are so small and fragile. We can die so easily. The time we’ve accumulated disappears absurdly in an instant. I don’t have the will to resist anymore.
“Dad, Mom, I’m sorry…”
“To be faced with such a situation so suddenly… It’s okay now. First, grab hold of this boogie board. If you panic and flail around, you might sink with it, so relax your whole body.
Is it an illusion? Maybe a demon dressed all in black has come from the depths of the sea to greet me.
“I’m in trouble. I look pretty worn out. At times like this… I know! The other day, I tried to lower the favorability of Unchanging Immovable Wisdom King Big Sister by giving her orders and acting all high and mighty, even though I hadn’t learned my lesson. She eagerly carried out the orders, but could this be a new form of harassment? When I met her, she was suddenly wearing nothing but suspenders. I thought to myself, you can’t rely on the Internet. What am I going to do about this person?
The demon is talking about something I don’t quite understand. Is it a curse leading to death?
Goodwill Immovable Wisdom King Big Sister? …What is that person saying? A person… a person!? Not a demon!
“Help…help…”
“We’re getting closer to the beach, so there’s nothing to be afraid of anymore, ‘kay? There, it’s shallow, shallow~”
“High, high?”
My consciousness is slowly becoming clearer. Not a demon, but a normal person. He’s deliberately acting cheerful to calm me down.
Was I saved? This fact suddenly fills me with relief.
Tears make me cry and I can’t see the other person’s face. I let go of my confused emotions. My eyelids are heavy and I just want to sleep.
I am pulled onto the beach and lie down. The feeling of the land beneath me calms me down more than anything else.
Smooth hands touch my left leg and my body jerks reflexively. I’m reminded of pain I’d forgotten.
“It’s cramping. I’ll stretch it like this.”
He lifts my left leg and bends it like a stretch, then pulls to stretch it straight. After doing this several times, the cramping stops and I can move freely again.
“Whew. Looks like you’re okay now, huh?”
The demon immediately moves away from me. No, this person isn’t a demon, he’s the benefactor who saved me.
I have to thank him… At least let me see his face once…!
“–Akari!”
When I heard my mother’s familiar voice approaching, my consciousness fell into deep darkness.
“Shiorin, amazing! This is a weapon, a weapon!”
On the way back from the beach, we stopped at a spa to wash off. Even after showering, the slow soaking in the tub made me feel how much fatigue had built up.
Seeing Kamishiro’s chest, Mineta cried out in amazement. Looking down at her own chest in frustration, she couldn’t resist the magical power of its cheeky elasticity. Se shuddered as she hands sank into Kamishiro’s chest.
“Ooooooh! I could get addicted to this. Addicted!”
“Hyahn!…You touched…mmm…”
“Miki! Stop it, it’s bothering her!”
Sakurai pulled Mineta away from Kamishiro. Not satisfied, Mineta spitefully fondled Sakurai’s chest, but unfortunately, they were of the same species. The only one who could compete with Kamishiro was Natsume.
The increasing breast pressure and the envious looks of the classmates. Surrounded by the ABCD (cup size) circle, Kamishiro fidgeted. With an E cup, it was hard for Kamishiro to break the circle.
“Wow! Kokonoe was mumbling about whether it was a melon or a watermelon!
Hearing Mineta’s words, Kamishiro blushed as she sank herself in the bathtub with a gulp.
“Yuki is quite a sexual harasser, huh…”
“Because Yukito is usually harassed a lot by the family, his senses have become numb.”
Suzurikawa said with an ironic smile. No doubt, it was the influence of the family. Yukitos mother Ouka and big sister Yuuri had always been overly fond of Yukito. The only one who was unaware of this was Yukito himself.
“But Kokonoe is self-confident and dignified in his sexual harassment, so it’s pure.”
“Yukito says what he thinks right away. He’s just honest.”
“The other day, Yuki talked about the drop in affection and held his head…”
Kamishiro remembered when she had met Yukito, who had barely escaped for his life after talking about dropping affection levels and sexually harassing someone, only to be hit back.
She didn’t know the details of what happened, but he had been on the verge of death. Nothing unusual.
“Well, it’s nothing new for Kokonoe to be popular. And today, too, he saved that girl who was almost drowning.”
The way he saved the drowning girl and then walked away was undoubtedly heroic.
Sakurai, who had watched anxiously, also felt a sense of relief leave her body as they reached the shore, warming her heart. It would undoubtedly be a lifelong memory for this girl.
“I think that was Yukito’s so-called importance of preparation…”
Suzurikawa muttered. Everyone nodded and agreed in their own way. No matter what the situation was, Yukito Kokonoe was always prepared for anything. For him, this was nothing special, just natural.
You could say that Suzurikawa and Kamishiro had understood a facet of what Yukito had told them. The idea of mental preparation.
“And Shiorin, was it really okay for you to treat us all so extravagantly?”
“Haha, don’t worry about it. It was thanks to Yuki in the first place. And we all got to play together and have fun!”
The cost of the beach trip was entirely covered by Kokonoe Yukito, Kouki Mihou, and Kamishiro Shiori at Yukito’s suggestion. Yukito paid fifty percent, Kouki and Kamishiro shared the remaining fifty percent.
The three of them had earned quite a bit, including fees for appearing in TV commercials. Especially Yukito’s income was at an unimaginable level for a student. And he had other activities besides filming commercials.
Kamishiro had been stunned by the unexpected extra income, so Yukito’s proposal was a godsend to her.
Not that Kamishiro wanted to squander the money. It could be used for school expenses and higher education. That’s what she thought, but she should be able to spend it freely. Even if she had gotten it thanks to Yukito, this was the first time Kamishiro had earned money herself. The reward for unexpected work. She even bought presents for her parents. Although it was embarrassing for them to see the commercial.
“I also bought the Shiorin Edition shoes! You won’t wear the dancer costume anymore?”
“I won’t wear it! Because it was super embarrassing!”
Kamishiro rebuffed Sakurai, but she secretly felt thump thump inside at the possibility of wearing it again.
Yukito had hinted at a second version. If things continued like this, it might become reality. How cruel reality was.
Still, Kamishiro had no intention of refusing. Even if she had to wear that outfit again.
Being around Kokonoe Yukito was exiting and full of ups and downs.
Somehow, our class had a common awareness that we were relying too much on Kokonoe Yukito.
Like today’s events, he didn’t hesitate to make an effort for our sake.
We felt a lurking uneasiness. In proportion to what he had done for us, we all felt the need to repay him. Maybe that’s why Class 1-B had come together as one.
“Anya, come too.”
“Tinkle tinkle…hee…the difference in breast size is an unjust society…it must be destroyed…”
Sakurai brought the lurking Shakadou over. As she fondled her chest pat pat and indulged in sad self-deprecation, nothing remained of the Shakadou in high spirits after finding a rare insect. Unfortunately, Shakadou was a gloomy person.
“Won’t the girl Yukito saved become another rival now?”
Kamishiro laughed at Mineta’s mean question.
“That has nothing to do with it. Right, Suzurikawa?”
“It’s not that I want to oppose them. After all, I was able to make friends with Kamishiro. Yukito has had a lot of painful experiences and has always suffered. I too have done terrible things. But no matter what, he’s always saved me and given me happiness. Now it’s my turn. I have decided not to rush. First, I want to work hard so that I can spend every day in a way that makes Yukito happy, too.”
Kamishiro listened calmly to Suzurikawa’s words. She didn’t feel jealous.
Because Kamishiro felt the same way. More comrades than rivals. No need to hurry. No need to be impatient.
Yukito told Kamishiro that he wasn’t going anywhere.
Kokonoe was vaguely sure that Yukito wouldn’t go out with anyone in the near future.
If Yukito had decided that, he would have told Kamishiro and Suzurikawa first.
“I want to become someone warm who can bring happiness to others, like Yuki!”
Putting it into words made her goal clear. This was the path that Shiori Kamishiro should follow from now on.
Waiting on this path might be the future she hoped for one day.
By now, the boys were probably out of the bath. Kokonoe Yukito might cause more trouble. But there was no need to worry about that.
–For what awaited there was surely happiness.
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