The walk back from the seawater wasn't long.
But for Yanami Anna, every step was exceptionally agonizing.
The feeling of being held in Imaizumi Keita's arms earlier, that warm touch through her swimsuit, remained in her memory like a brand.
What was even more fatal was the last thing he said: "I'm afraid you'll be washed away by the waves."
That guy was clearly using such a serious-sounding excuse to do something bastardly like taking advantage of her!
But she just happened to have no resistance against his slightly forceful tenderness.
At the thought of this, Yanami Anna's cheeks couldn't help but burn, making her steps a bit unsteady.
She kept her head down, her gaze glued to her toes as if she needed to prevent herself from stepping on something dangerous.
She didn't quite dare to look at Imaizumi Keita, or even think about what kind of look he was giving her right now.
Was it a smirk of success?
Or was it the usual helpless "you dummy" look?
Whichever it was, she didn't want to see it right now.
When the two returned to the resting area under the parasol, the atmosphere clearly became a bit subtle.
Tsukinoki Koto and Tamaki Shintaro, the nominal "childhood sweethearts," almost immediately noticed the unusual silence in the air.
They looked at Yanami Anna, who immediately hugged her knees and buried her face like an ostrich upon returning, then looked at the calm Imaizumi Keita beside her, and exchanged a knowing glance.
Tsukinoki Koto's eyes were filled with the gossip and realization of "Oho? Something's up."
While Tamaki Shintaro returned a confused expression of "I don't get it, but it seems impressive."
This subtle aura felt far too much like déjà vu.
Tsukinoki Koto cleared her throat, preparing to use her "mood-reading" ability, which was comparable to a landmine expert, to say something.
A vibrant voice broke this awkward silence.
"Ah—! My throat is so dry! Anna, let's go buy something to drink!"
Shioyaki Lemon wiped the fine sweat from her forehead and naturally walked over, grabbing Yanami Anna's wrist.
"Let's go, let's go! I know that shop over there sells a super delicious Ramune!"
"Eh? Ah... oh!"
Only then did Yanami Anna snap out of it, breaking free from her cycle of self-shame.
She nodded haphazardly and was pulled by Shioyaki Lemon, heading toward the beach shop as if escaping.
Watching the two figures quickly distance themselves, a look of slight regret appeared on Tsukinoki Koto's face.
Imaizumi Keita, on the other hand, picked up a towel from the beach mat and unhurriedly wiped the water droplets from his hair, smiling faintly as he watched the two departing figures.
This dummy, she was the one who took the initiative at the start, yet she was also the one who got so embarrassed she ran away first.
Every single time, she never learns...
After ten minutes or so, Yanami Anna and Shioyaki Lemon returned.
Yanami held a cup of iced cola with a straw in one hand and a skewer of grilled squid in the other.
While Shioyaki Lemon contentedly held a cold bottle of Ramune, with a jumbo hot dog in her other hand.
Food is indeed the specific medicine for healing a loser.
Imaizumi Keita looked at Yanami Anna, who was focusing intently on the grilled squid, unaware that sauce had even stained the corner of her mouth, and he suddenly understood.
Once her attention was occupied by delicious food, those embarrassing things that made her heart race seemed to be tossed to the back of her mind.
To some extent, Yanami really is easy to coax...
By the time Yanami and Shioyaki finished their food, the sun had already dyed the sea surface orange-red, and the sea breeze began to carry a chill.
"It's getting late, we should pack up and head back, right?"
Tamaki Shintaro checked his phone and suggested, "We still have to shower and change, and we need to start preparing dinner."
"That's true." Tsukinoki Koto nodded and was the first to stand up and start cleaning up the snack wrappers on the beach mat.
Everyone pitched in to tidy up the parasol, beach chairs, and various items, then they carried their belongings toward the beach's changing area.
After taking a quick shower in the changing room and putting on clean casual clothes, the group slowly returned to the Youth House to drop off their luggage.
In the camping area of the inn's backyard, a special outdoor cooking field had been set up.
At this moment, the six members of the Literature Club were gathered around a square barbecue grill they had just rented from the manager, looking at the various ingredients piled on the nearby table with excitement and anticipation.
"Alright! Since it's a barbecue, let me, Yanami, serve as the head chef today!"
Yanami Anna had clearly fully recovered from her previous embarrassment.
She stood with her hands on her hips and announced loudly with confidence and vitality, looking ready to show off her skills.
However, as soon as her words fell, she was met with Imaizumi Keita's merciless doubt.
"You?" Imaizumi Keita's gaze swept over her, a look of concern on his face. "Yanami, are you really up for it? Don't end up burning all the meat, or we'll only have bread to gnaw on tonight."
"Ha?! You guy, you're looking down on me too much!"
Yanami Anna immediately puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction and retorted aggressively, "I'm telling you, my cooking skills are amazing! I'm just usually too lazy to do it!"
"Alright, alright," Tsukinoki Koto smiled and played peacemaker, "for a barbecue, it's more fun if everyone joins in. It's fine if Anna wants to be head chef, but we can also grill the things we want to eat ourselves; one person definitely can't handle it all."
Tamaki Shintaro also chimed in: "Exactly, everyone should just grill whatever they want to eat, don't be shy."
While Yanami and Imaizumi were still bickering over the "head chef" qualification, Shioyaki Lemon on the other side picked up a washed carrot from the pile of ingredients, took a bite, and chewed it with great relish.
"Ugh... I'll say this first," she mumbled, "I really can't cook at all, so I won't cause any trouble for everyone."
She quickly ate the remaining half of the carrot, clapped her hands, and volunteered to go to the barbecue grill.
"However, leave the strenuous task of starting the fire to me!"
Lemon's eyes sparkled with excitement. She picked up a bag of charcoal nearby and enthusiastically began carefully laying out pieces of black charcoal on the bottom layer of the grill.
Her energetic demeanor and skilled movements immediately made one feel that the upcoming camping trip would go very smoothly.
Of course, that was probably not going to happen...
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Rexlent
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"