The day after we safely cleared our supplementary lessons, the five of us—me, Umi, Amami-san, Nitta-san, and Nozomu—gathered to discuss our plans. For me, it was a completely familiar group.
Normally, we'd meet at a family restaurant near the school, but this time, we met somewhere different.
Nozomu, standing beside me, looked completely overwhelmed and gave my side a light poke.
"H-Hey, Maki."
"What's up, Nozomu?"
"Where are we?"
"Where? Like I told you earlier, this is Nitori-san's house."
"Not a hotel or somethin'?"
"Yeah. It's got that basketball court we used for practice, so this has to be the place… right, Umi?"
"Of course. Though I admit, I was just as surprised the first time I came here."
"Me too, me too! It's exactly what you'd imagine a rich person's mansion to look like, right?"
As the conversation suggested, the five of us had been invited to Nitori-san's house—the same place with the basketball court we'd used for practice during the class match. We were here to plan for our trip to their villa, scheduled to start at the beginning of the week. Naturally, the villa's other owner, Houjou-san, was here as well.
This was my second time at Nitori-san's home, but my first visit was limited to the basketball court at the edge of the property. Standing before the main mansion again, I was simply awestruck by its sheer size.
Nitori-san's and Houjou-san's families were well-known as wealthy landowners in the area. The building was grand enough to be called a mansion, and while parts of it had been renovated, many historical elements like the traditional roof and detached buildings remained, giving it an air of classic elegance. A true young lady from a distinguished family, I suppose.
"Hello, everyone. We've been expecting you," Nitori-san greeted us warmly. "Manaka is already here, so let's have some snacks and talk at our leisure."
"Hey there~" Houjou-san added with a wave.
They led us to a living room in the back. I'd thought Amami-san's living room was spacious, but this one was easily two or three times larger.
"Hehe, thanks, Sanae-chan, Manaka-chan," Amami-san said. "But are you sure it's okay? For us to use your villa when you two can't even join because of your basketball tournament."
"Don't worry about it," Nitori-san replied. "It's a villa, after all. It'd be a waste not to use it at least once a year. Besides, if Yuu-chan and Umi-chan are happy, that's all that matters to us."
"Yeah, that's right," Houjou-san chimed in. "Although, we will have to ask you to clean the place as a trade-off…"
"That's a small price to pay," Umi said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Sanae, Manaka, thank you so much for everything. I'm really grateful."
"Umi-chan… Yeah, you're welcome," Nitori-san said softly. "But feel free to ask for anything. Manaka and I are always here to listen."
"You two, let's hang out again soon, just the four of us," Amami-san suggested.
"Yeah! It's a promise!" Houjou-san agreed enthusiastically.
The four friends from elementary school, their bond rekindled by the class tournament, seemed to be doing well. Seeing Umi smile with a hint of moisture in her eyes brought a sense of relief.
"Now, setting aside our small talk, shall we get down to business?" I asked, turning to our hosts. "Maehara-san, just to confirm, the villa is available for two days, from Monday to Tuesday evening, is that correct?"
"Ah, yes. For now… Um, sorry to ask again, but we don't need to arrange for a chaperone, right?"
That's right," Nitori-san confirmed. "We'll have one person from my family and one from Manaka's family accompany you, so please don't worry. We'll also arrange for a car to take us to the villa as well."
As she spoke, a female servant preparing tea and sweets in the dining room gave us a slight bow. It was clear Nitori-san's side had everything under control.
"…Hey Yuu-chin, this is all so well-catered, but is it really okay?" Nitta-san whispered. "We're not gonna be thrown onto a crab or tuna fishing boat later, are we?"
"Ahaha, oh, Nina-chi," Amami-san laughed. "Umi and I were surprised at first too, and we hesitated, but for Sanae-chan and the others, this is just normal."
"That's right," Umi added. "It's their style to go all out when entertaining important guests. Right, Sanae, Manaka?"
"Yes."
"That's right~"
The two hosts exuded an "let us entertain you" vibe, leaving Umi and Amami-san to just smile wryly. They had probably tried to refuse, but their friends' persistence must have won out. If that was the case for people who had known them for years, perhaps we should just graciously accept their hospitality. In exchange, they wanted us to clean the villa, but a part of me wondered if that was really all.
After that, Nitori-san gave a brief explanation for the three of us visiting the villa for the first time—me, Nitta-san, and Nozomu.
The property, jointly owned by the Nitori and Houjou families, was located in a coastal town about a two-hour drive away. The villa was surrounded by lush greenery, and its private beach was situated in a secluded cove, which meant we could let loose without worrying about neighbors. We could even play with fireworks, which was usually prohibited on public beaches.
The building itself had three floors, each with its own bathroom and toilet, and several spacious guest rooms. It also boasted indoor recreational facilities like a karaoke room and a billiard table. Just hearing the description was enough to make me feel full. It seemed almost impossible to experience everything in just one day.
"Fufu, I'm getting excited too," Nitori-san said wistfully. "Playing on the beach all day, then a barbecue at night and fireworks… Ah, I know club activities are important, but I wish I could just have fun with Umi-chan and the others for a change…"
"I know, right~" Houjou-san sighed. "I want to take a break sometimes, but if I told the captain that, I'd get more than just an earful."
As second-years and key players, they likely had responsibilities as role models for the other club members, so skipping practice wasn't an option. It was a classic dilemma for high school students who were dedicated to their clubs.
"As for room assignments… well, there are plenty of rooms, so you're free to decide," Nitori-san continued. "Is it just the five of you? We'd like to finalize the numbers now, as we need to prepare meals and drinks."
"Ah, yes. For now, it's just the five of us—" I started to say.
"Maki, sorry," Umi interrupted, raising her hand slightly, which was unusual for her. "Can you wait a moment?"
"Yes, Umi-chan?"
"Sanae, Manaka, I'm sorry for the last-minute change, but is it possible to add more people?"
"Oh, yeah. We don't mind, but…"
While the hosts seemed fine with it, they glanced at the rest of us, clearly concerned about our thoughts on the matter. The idea of adding more people was news to me, and it seemed it was the same for Amami-san and the others.
"Sorry, Maki," Umi said, turning to me. "I probably should have consulted you first, but it's not even decided if they'll come yet… or rather, I'm about to invite them."
"I-I see. I don't mind, but… who are you thinking of inviting?"
"…Nakamura-san."
"Nakamura-san… you mean that Nakamura-san, right?"
"Yeah. That one."
Nakamura Mio-san. Umi's classmate and the new student council president. It was surprising that Umi wanted to invite her now. While they talked in class, I hadn't heard of them hanging out after school or on weekends, except for special occasions like the class match practice.
Of course, I had no objection. We were already familiar with Nakamura-san, and it would be a good chance to interact with her more. She had a quirky personality, but she was a good person at heart.
"Nakamura-san, huh," Amami-san said, breaking the silence. "A bit sudden, but if it's her, I'm totally fine with it. In fact, I'd welcome her. Nakamura-san's a little weird, but she's super fun to talk to and never boring."
"I'm fine with it too," Nitta-san agreed. "Chilling with just the five of us is nice, but for a two-day trip, it's more fun with a bigger group."
"The new student council president, right?" Nozomu added. "I've never talked to her, but she seemed interesting from her speech at the closing ceremony. I don't mind."
With the others on board, there was nothing more for me to say. Of course, I would need to get more details from Umi later.
"Understood," Nitori-san said, finalizing the plan. "Then, let's prepare for one or two extra people, just in case. If that Nakamura-san doesn't participate, we can just take the extra supplies home."
"Thanks, Sanae," Umi said gratefully. "I'll make it up to you later."
"Really? Then I'll have to think of what to ask for in return. I owe you one, right, Umi-chan?"
"…Yeah."
Creating this cycle of creating and repaying favors kept them connected. I didn't know if it was a healthy way to maintain a friendship, but it seemed to be working for them. So, this was fine.
"Oh, no fair~" Houjou-san pouted. "I wanna owe Umi-chan too~ Hey, Sanae, let me take some of the burden~"
"Ehh, I don't mind, but this is between me and Umi-chan."
"Jeez, Manaka, don't make things complicated."
"Muu~ it's not fair that only the three of you are having fun~ Hey, hey, Umi, what about me? I wanna owe Umi a lot too~"
"…Yuu, before that, you need to pay back your huge debt, okay?" Umi teased. "From elementary school until now, we've really been through a lot… right?"
"Ugh… I-I'll do my besht…" Amami-san mumbled.
As the four of them fell into their playful banter, we, the high school friends, were left on the sidelines. But it was nice to watch them like this. As I waited for them to calm down, Nitta-san moved to the seat next to me and muttered.
"Hey, class rep."
"Huh?"
"…It's nice, isn't it? That kind of thing."
"Well, yeah. It's hard for me to say since I've never had a childhood friend. You have one, don't you, Nitta-san?"
"I don't."
"I see… huh?"
Her casual reply almost made me miss it, but that was a surprising answer.
"What, is it that surprising?" she asked. "Hey, Seki, it's the same for you, right?"
"Nah, I have one," Nozomu said. "But we go to different schools, so I haven't seen them recently. Nitta, did you move here from somewhere else?"
"Nope. Lived in this town my whole life… well, when you think about it, I guess I can't really say anything about the class rep or anyone else. This is a problem."
Nitta-san let out a small, wry laugh. Was it that strange not to have a childhood friend or a best friend? Just making friends felt difficult enough for me.
"Sorry, sorry. I was the only one left out of the girls' group, so I got a little sentimental," she said, shaking her head lightly and returning to her usual self. "Well, I don't want to talk to two guys, so I think I'll join them. Hey, Yuu-chin~ leaving me out is pretty mean~"
With that, she hugged Amami-san and easily joined their circle. Nitta-san's friendship with the four from Tachibana Girls' was still new, but with her natural communication skills, she blended in effortlessly. Which meant what she'd said earlier probably wasn't a joke.
"…Maki, should we talk about something too? I'm bored," Nozomu suggested.
"…Yeah."
Not to be outdone, we tried to make small talk, but our conversations rarely matched, and the ones that did were difficult to discuss in front of girls. Eventually, our conversation died out, and we silently enjoyed the tea and sweets prepared for us.
Thanks to Umi, I had somehow managed to get a "girlfriend," but it seemed a "best friend" was still a long way off.
The weekend passed, and the long-awaited day of our beach trip finally arrived. We gathered at Nitori-san's house early in the morning and were in the middle of loading our luggage into the cars.
"Maki, that's all our stuff, but did you forget anything?" Umi asked, ever the caring girlfriend. "Do you have your handkerchief and valuables?"
"Yeah, I'm good… Oh, I might not have taken my motion sickness medicine yet."
"I knew it. I thought so, so I brought some for you," she said, pulling it out. "Here you go."
"Mm, thanks, Umi. You're so prepared."
"Fufu, I'm probably just worrying too much, but it's Sanae's family's car today, so just in case. Oh, I filled my water bottle, so you can use that."
"Yeah."
Our casual flirting before we even left was a common sight by now, so Amami-san and the others didn't tease us.
"Hmm, the luggage seems to be mostly loaded," Amami-san observed. "Umi-chan, looks like Nakamura-san isn't here yet…?"
"Oh, yeah. She said she got a little lost… Oh, here she comes. Hey, Nakamura-san, over here!" Umi waved.
Nakamura-san spotted us and came over. She wasn't wearing her usual glasses, so I didn't recognize her at first, but her friendly smile was unmistakable.
"Well, well, sorry everyone. Thanks for inviting me on such short notice, and I'm late on top of that."
"Oh, it's Nakamura-san!" Amami-san greeted her cheerfully. "Let's forget about the student council for today and tomorrow and just have fun!"
"Of course. I'll take you up on that offer and savor it to the fullest. A two-day, one-night stay at a rich person's villa is a rare experience for a commoner like me. …Right, Souji?"
"Mio-senpai, I feel the same way, but shouldn't you wrap that in a bit more of an oblaat…?"
Behind Nakamura-san stood the student council vice president, Takizawa-kun. Umi had invited Nakamura-san, and since the student council was on a short break, she had readily agreed.
"…Hey, hey, hey, class rep! Class rep!" Nitta-san hissed, elbowing me.
"Ouch… N-Nitta-san, you don't have to hit me so hard, I get it," I winced. "It might be impossible, but please try to calm down."
"Impossible! Huh? Why is Takizawa-kun here too? Oh my god, oh my god, I came here without any makeup on because I thought it was just the usual gang!?"
Putting aside Nitta-san, who was frantically checking her reflection in a hand mirror, Takizawa-kun's presence wasn't particularly strange. Umi had invited him along with Nakamura-san. Of course, she should have informed everyone, but Nitta-san, likely thinking it didn't concern her, must not have checked the message properly.
"Senpais, thank you so much for inviting me today," Takizawa-kun said politely. "I've never been on an outing with a large group like this before, so I've been looking forward to it ever since Asanagi-senpai told me about it."
"Is that so? Then, as your senpai, I'll have to do my best to make sure you have fun," Amami-san replied with a dazzling smile. "Oh, I'm Amami Yuu. Nice to meet you, Takizawa-kun."
"Yes, Amami-senpai. It's a pleasure to meet you too."
Their exchange was so natural and refreshing. The first encounter between the girl whispered to be the most beautiful in school and the handsome new student who had been the subject of recent rumors was a sight so picturesque it could have been a fashion magazine cover. However, one boy was watching them with a particularly troubled expression.
"…"
"…Eh, Nozomu too? Ow, ow. I-it's okay. I'm on your side, Nozomu."
Nozomu, like Nitta-san, was poking my side with an expression that screamed for support. I could understand his unease. From an outsider's perspective, Amami-san and Takizawa-kun looked like a perfect couple. For Nozomu, who had been harboring a not-so-secret crush on her ever since she turned him down, it must have felt like a formidable rival had just appeared.
As if sensing the tension, Nakamura-san approached us with a grin.
"…Fufufu, what do you think? My Souji is cool, isn't he? Hey, baseball ace Seki-kun."
"Yeah. By the way, President, are you okay with this?" Nozomu asked. "He's your cute kouhai, but he might end up falling for Amami-san."
"Thanks for your concern. But there's no need. It's none of my business who that kid falls in love with, and I have no right to interfere. Well, he's a cute kouhai, so I wouldn't want him to get involved with a bad woman, but there's no problem with Amami-chan. …The only flaw is that she seems a bit ditzy and airheaded, but Souji would probably accept that. He's always been too kind for his own good."
"…You really think highly of your kouhai."
"Of course. He's my pride and joy. …Ever since he was as small as a bean."
Personally, I didn't think Nakamura-san's expression was one that could tease others, but unlike Nozomu, it felt like Nakamura-san was trying to see Takizawa-kun as just a kouhai. I didn't know what he was like in middle school, but if he had changed so much since then, it wouldn't be strange for her to be conscious of him as a member of the opposite sex. Whether they were childhood friends or senpai-kouhai, their past relationship might be holding them back.
After our greetings and loading the last of the luggage, it was time to get into the cars. With the addition of Nakamura-san and Takizawa-kun, we were a group of seven, so we split into two cars, each driven by a chauffeur from the Nitori and Houjou families. Naturally, we'd have to split into groups of three and four.
"Hey, hey, which car are you guys getting in?" Amami-san asked. "Since we're here, I wanna ride with Umi. Hey, Umi, that's okay, right?"
"Sure. Then, it'll be the three of us—me, Maki, and Yuu—and the rest would go into the other car," Umi replied. "I'm worried about Maki getting carsick if I'm not by his side."
"Oh, Asanagi-chan, you're so overprotective," Nakamura-san teased. "Since we're here, I'd like to have a girls' talk with the four girls. The boys would probably feel more comfortable that way too. Souji, what do you think?"
"I'm fine with either…" Takizawa-kun said. "If I had to say, I would like to have a proper conversation with Seki-senpai and Maehara-senpai. I really respect both of them."
"Oh… w-well, if that's the case, I'm fine with that too. H-hey, Maki?" Nozomu stammered.
"Nozomu, you're pretty simple-minded, aren't you… Well, I'm not exactly against it either."
Splitting into a girls' group and a boys' group seemed appropriate, but things were different when you had a close couple like me and Umi, or best friends. For my own comfort, being with Umi and Amami-san would be less stressful, especially with my motion sickness. But if we decided that easily, I was worried about the atmosphere in the other car. The senpai-kouhai duo of Nakamura-san and Takizawa-kun was fine, but add in Nitta-san, who was practically sparkling at Takizawa-kun's presence, and Nozomu, who was slightly hostile towards him and had an awkward history with the quirky Nakamura-san… Takizawa-kun was surprisingly respectful, so he might be able to handle it, but as a senpai, I didn't want to put him under so much pressure.
If it were just the five of us, this wouldn't be an issue. As I was mulling it over, Nitta-san poked me in the back.
"Uh, class rep, can I have a word?"
"? Nitta-san, what's wrong?"
"I have a preference too… about which car to get in."
"Oh, okay. …You want to ride with Takizawa-kun, right?"
"No, the opposite… actually."
"Huh?"
The opposite? She wanted to be in a different car from him? Considering her excitement just moments ago, the Nitta-san I knew would have done anything to ride with him.
"Can I ask why? …I mean, are you sure you don't want to be with him?"
"Of course I want to ride with him! He's definitely the best boy I've ever seen, and if I could get closer to him, I'd be so happy I might not even care about the beach trip anymore."
"Um, if you think so, wouldn't it be better to be with him… Ouch, jeez, Nitta-san, why are you pinching my side?"
Both Umi and Nitta-san seemed to have a thing for my side. Was it that vulnerable? Anyway, right now, Nitta-san was pouting at me.
"Class rep, you don't understand a maiden's heart. Yet, you're the one with a girlfriend?"
"Well, thankfully, our relationship is going smoothly…"
When it came to romance, Umi was honest with her feelings, so as long as I took her words at face value, she was always in a good mood. I might not understand the general "maiden's heart," but I was learning to understand Umi's, and that was enough for me.
"Continuing with the maiden's heart," Nitta-san explained, "I just wanted to say that I get nervous too. I'm happy to be next to someone I admire, but then I start thinking, 'what should I talk about?' or 'what if I say something rude and they hate me,' and in the end, I can't say anything. You've had that experience too, right, class rep? …Well, maybe not you, but try to imagine it."
"Ehh… well, I guess I can understand."
In other words, Takizawa-kun was that important to her, and she wanted to be more cautious about getting closer. She was probably planning to close the distance during the trip itself, rather than being aggressive in the car. It was a surprisingly cautious side of her, considering her usually forward personality.
"Anyway, that's my preference," she concluded. "The four of us: you, Asanagi, Yuu-chin, and me, and then the student council duo and the baseball guy. That should be fine, right?"
"At least call Nozomu 'Seki.'"
So, to summarize the preferences:
Me: As long as I'm with Umi, I'm fine.
Umi: With me (non-negotiable).
Amami-san: With Umi (preferably).
Nitta-san: In a different car from Takizawa-kun.
The other three: No preference so far.
The main event was the trip, but since it took a while to get there, the car seating arrangement was important for setting the mood. If we followed Nitta-san's suggestion, wouldn't the other three feel left out? Thinking about it, we were a pretty selfish bunch. Nozomu was probably the most mature one here.
"Maehara-shi, we're all ready, so let's get going," Nakamura-san said, turning to me. "As for the groups, I'll follow you, the leader. Souji, you're fine with that, right?"
"Yes. Um, Maehara-senpai, please don't worry about me and decide as you see fit."
"So I am the leader, huh… Well, I kind of knew that."
We couldn't stay here forever, so I had to make a decision. I couldn't grant everyone's wishes, but if I thought it through, everyone would probably understand.
"Alright, the group of four will be me, Umi, and then Nakamura-san and Takizawa-kun. And Amami-san, Nitta-san, and Nozomu will be in the other car. …Is that okay for now?"
No one objected, so I assumed that everyone agreed. I might be overthinking it, but managing a large group outing was surprisingly hard.
"Aww, too bad. I'm separated from Umi," Amami-san pouted.
"It can't be helped with the number of people," Umi said comfortingly. "Yuu, I'll ride with you on the way back, so please bear with it for now."
"…Promise?"
"Yeah, promise. Since we're here, should we do a pinky swear?"
"Ehehe, then, since we're here."
Amami-san had to put up with it for now, but I'd have to make sure to make it up to her tomorrow.
"Seki, you're in the passenger seat," Nitta-san instructed Nozomu. "Oh, and if you say you want to sit next to Yuu-chin, I'll throw you out the window, so be prepared."
"I know. …Actually, to be honest, I'm less nervous that way."
"? Seki-kun, did you say something?" Amami-san asked.
"Ah, n-no, nothing…"
Those three would probably be fine on their own. Nozomu tended to get quiet around Amami-san, but Nitta-san could cover for him. The real problem was my car.
"Maehara-shi, we're in different classes, but let's get along today and tomorrow," Nakamura-san said.
"Senpai, once again, I look forward to working with you," Takizawa-kun added.
"Ah, yes. That's right… Um, I-I'll do my best…?"
"…Maki, they're both nice, so let's calm down and take a deep breath for now, okay?" Umi whispered, sensing my anxiety.
Even though I'd made the decision myself, the thought of spending hours in a small car with two people I barely knew made my loner-era shyness flare up. With Umi by my side, I could manage, but I knew I had to overcome this eventually. Umi always put me first, but she wouldn't always be there.
After bidding farewell to Nitori-san and Houjou-san, we set off for the villa. I knew from the outside that the cars were luxury models, but once inside, I realized just how different they were.
"—Oh, Maki, there's a refrigerator next to this seat. …Um, excuse me, can we drink the water and juice in here?"
"—Whoa, there's a TV in the back seat too, and it has all the major streaming services… Hey Souji, you should enjoy it too. If us commoners hold back, we'll regret it."
"No, I'm fine, so please do as you wish, Mio-senpai… Excuse me, Maehara-senpai, I'm sorry for the trouble our president is causing."
"No, I'm pretty much the same, so…"
The other car seemed to be just as excited, as our group chat was flooded with pictures of the car's features, captioned with "Look what I found!" In their car, Amami-san or Nitta-san was always in the picture, which was very typical of them. My earlier worries about keeping the conversation going seemed to have been needless.
"By the way, I was the one who invited you, but is everything okay with the student council work?" I asked.
"It's busy, you know? But it's summer vacation, so we have to have fun sometimes," Nakamura-san replied. "That said, I usually spend the summer alone, so I'm grateful you invited me."
"Huh, Nakamura-san, you're alone? I thought you had plans with Ryouko-san and the others…" Umi said.
"Unlike me, who's in the go-home club and has no particular hobbies, those girls are pretty busy. Ryouko has club activities, Miku has a live performance with her band, and Kaede has Summer Comiket. …So, the only one who has time for me right now is Asanagi-chan."
I guess it was inevitable when you were involved in so many things. In fact, it might be rarer for our group of five to be so close and even go on an overnight trip together at this time of year. Hearing this made me realize once again how far behind I was. It was fun to hang out with friends, but maybe I should have done that with all my might in elementary and middle school.
"Um, Takizawa-kun, was it okay for you to come with us?" I asked. "I've been a loner for most of my life, so I don't know… but, you know, meeting up with friends from middle school after a long time."
"It seems that way for my classmates. In high school, friends who were always together suddenly scatter to different places, so it seems they get lonely sometimes."
"It seems… you don't feel that way, Takizawa-kun?"
"I'm not particularly like that… In fact, I'm the type who doesn't go out much in my neighborhood."
"…I see."
I felt like I shouldn't pry any further. Even Umi and Amami-san had their own relationship issues, so Takizawa-kun must have a past he didn't want to talk about. Just because he was good-looking and popular didn't mean he didn't have his own problems.
"Oh, right. We're going to the beach today, but of course you bought a new swimsuit for Maehara-shi, right, Asanagi-chan? A sexy one," Nakamura-san said, changing the subject.
"What a way to say it. …Anyway, what about you, Nakamura-san? Of course, you didn't bring one because you're not going to swim, that's not… a dirty trick…" Umi retorted.
"I brought one. Look, a school swimsuit. And it's from middle school."
Nakamura-san pulled out a swimsuit with "Nakamura" written on the chest. It was a very her-like choice, but I didn't expect her to pull out something from her middle school days. Our high school didn't even have swimming classes, so there was no designated swimsuit. It was probably a rational choice—her body shape hadn't changed, and it was still usable—but even Umi seemed surprised.
"Hmm? What's the matter? What's wrong with a school swimsuit? It's both functional and durable. Hey, Maehara-shi, you think so too, right?"
"Even if you ask me… Well, it costs money to buy a new one, so I'll leave that to individual judgment. R-right, Takizawa-kun?"
Defeated by the silent pressure of Umi pinching my side, I passed the buck to Takizawa-kun, but I noticed his face turning redder than I expected. As I thought, he was very conscious of Nakamura-san as a member of the opposite sex. Of course, Nakamura-san must have her cute side that she didn't show in front of us, but for now, it seemed Takizawa-kun's feelings were stronger. To blush and avert his gaze just from the swimsuit of the person he liked… my usual good-natured habit was acting up again. I couldn't help but want to support a kouhai's one-sided love. Maybe that was why Umi had invited them.
"Come on, I showed you mine, so you should show me yours in return, Asanagi-chan," Nakamura-san demanded. "The one you prepared for the decisive battle against Maehara-shi."
"Don't make it sound like a weapon… O-okay, just to you, Nakamura-san, just a little bit."
At that moment, Takizawa-kun in the passenger seat and I in the back instinctively focused on the scenery flowing by on the highway. I had a feeling Umi had brought the dark blue bikini she bought last month, but I couldn't help but be curious about Nakamura-san's murmurs.
"Oh, oh~… Asanagi-chan, I know this is a weird thing to say, but this is quite lewd."
"Nakamura-san, has your character changed a bit? …I-it's fine, isn't it? I have a hoodie to wear over it and stuff."
"And when you're alone with Maehara-shi, you take it off… I see, I understand. I'll take care of Amami-chan and the others with Souji, so you can do as you please with Maehara-shi."
"Jeez, Mio-senpai, you're being so indelicate again… Um, senpais, please don't mind her just because she's the student council president. You can sew her mouth shut if she says anything rude."
"…You have it tough, vice president."
"Well, that's my job."
Even with a wry smile, Takizawa-kun still looked like he was having fun. Nakamura-san's personality was probably one that divided people, but what Takizawa-kun liked was probably that kind of Nakamura-san.
"Oh? Souji has gotten quite cheeky while I haven't seen him. Since this is a good opportunity, I'll re-educate you on the pecking order over these two days."
"I'd be happy to. I'll show you how much I've grown in the past year, senpai."
"Oh, is that so? Then let's start right now by taking off your pants and underwea—mmph."
"Nakamura-san? Let's stop, okay?"
"…Mmph."
Deciding that things were getting too chaotic, Umi's headlock, usually reserved for Nitta-san, landed squarely on Nakamura-san. I was glad that this trip seemed like it wouldn't be boring, but I had a feeling I'd be exhausted by the end of it.
Thanks to Umi, we managed to calm things down, and the car arrived safely at our destination. The villa was just as impressive as the Nitori family home, designed to accommodate a large number of visitors. There was a spacious garage, a pool and basketball court outside, and even a fitness room inside. Cleaning it would certainly be a rewarding experience.
After dropping our luggage in the living room, we headed straight for the beach. A short walk down a flight of stairs, and we were there.
"…Maki, what do you think?"
"…Amazing."
The moment we stepped onto the beach, holding hands, that was the only word that came to mind. The beach, formed over time by waves and weathering, was surrounded by greenery, hidden from the outside world. The calm, emerald-green, translucent sea reflected the midsummer sun, sparkling brightly. It wasn't as big as a public beach, but it was more than enough for a few people to play. There were even some rocky areas that looked perfect for taking a break… and hiding away together. Of course, since we were with friends, we'd keep it within reason.
"Mmm, the smell of the sea… It's been a while, but this place is still great," Amami-san exclaimed. "Hey, Umi! It's almost lunch, but let's go play already. I couldn't wait, so I wore my swimsuit under my clothes."
With that, she suddenly took off her T-shirt.
"! H-hey… Yuu, I know how you feel, but let's go back to the room to change… Hey, you boys over there, stop staring and get the equipment ready!"
"Ah, yes!… Nozomu, Takizawa-kun."
"Yeah… Jeez, Amami-san, that's really bad for my heart."
"Understood."
While the girls went back inside to change, us guys, already in our swimsuits, set up the parasols and cooler boxes. As we were setting up a base for the girls, Nozomu tapped me on the shoulder.
"You know, Maki… I knew it from the start, but Amami-san… um, how should I put it, she was amazing, wasn't she?"
"Well… Amami-san has a great figure, you know."
I hadn't gotten a good look, so I couldn't give a detailed explanation, but as the guys in gym class often said, her "that" was indeed impressive. A woman's charm wasn't just about her looks or figure, but at our age, our eyes tended to be drawn to the obvious things, so I could understand why Nozomu felt that way.
I'm talking calmly now, but even I, when I see Umi in a swimsuit, can't think about much else besides "that."
After about ten more minutes, while we were preparing for the barbecue with the servants, the girls returned.
"—Ehehe, sorry to keep you waiting, boys! We've prepared a lot of stuff too~"
Led by Amami-san, who was unabashedly showing off her dazzling swimsuit, the four girls, each in their own swimsuit, came over, fully equipped with a beach ball, a shark-shaped float, and water guns.
"Maki, sorry to keep you waiting. Thanks for getting things ready."
"Yeah. …Umi, you wore something over it today. A rash guard, I think it's called?"
"That's right. But I'm wearing that under this you know."
"Oh, yeah. That…"
I'd gotten a good look at it during our shopping trip and our last trip, but seeing Umi in a swimsuit was always exciting, no matter how many times I saw it. I hadn't felt anything when I saw Amami-san, but when I saw Umi with her cheeks slightly flushed, my heart started pounding and wouldn't stop.
"Hey, you two lovebirds~ It's still broad daylight~ You know that, right~"
"A quiet beach with no annoying people, hiding in the shade of a rock or a tree with your friends… Fufu, I see, so this is what they call 'ao…'"
"? Nakamura-san, 'ao'… what?"
[Note: In Japanese slang, "ao" (青) can be read as "bou" (坊), meaning "boy" The term implies youthfulness, immaturity, or being fresh and inexperienced. ]
"Yuu, don't take what this person says seriously. Let's just play together, for now? Come on, Maki, don't just stand there dazed."
"Yeah. Well, since we're here, I guess I'll join you."
Invited by Umi, I went into the sea. I wasn't a great swimmer, so I stayed in the shallows, but just floating on a float was pleasant enough. The water was just the right temperature to cool down my head, which was heated from imagining Umi's bare skin under her rash guard.
"Oryaa, oryaa! Yuu-chin, you're wide open!"
"Whoa… If Nina-chi's not holding back, then neither am I. …Dorya~!"
"Ngyah… Amami-chan, I'm on your side. Stop with the friendly fire~"
"Takizawa-kun, if you'd like, let's race to that rock over there. You're okay with swimming, right?"
"Yes. I'm your kouhai, but I'll give it my all."
The girls were splashing each other in the shallows, and the boys were racing to the offing. Everyone was frolicking like children, enjoying the beach without a care in the world.
"Maki, let's swim a little too. There might be a lot of pretty fish around that rocky area."
"Looks like it. They seem to have prepared equipment for us, so let's have fun too."
We returned to the parasol to get a snorkeling set and decided to explore the underwater world together. Naturally, we were alone… but it seemed the others were being considerate, even while teasing us.
"Just hold the mouthpiece firmly in your mouth and you'll be fine, so calm down and breathe slowly," Umi instructed. "I think you'll be okay, but if you swallow seawater or if anything else happens, tell me immediately, okay?"
"Yeah, got it."
Holding Umi's hand tightly, I embarked on my first snorkeling experience. I started by just putting my face in the water and breathing.
(…Okay?)
(Mm, okay.)
Communicating through eye contact and hand signals, I shifted my gaze to the gaps between the rocks and the small fish swimming by.
(…Wow, so this is what it's like underwater.)
I'd seen it on TV, but seeing it in person was a whole new experience. The brightly colored fish, the seaweed swaying at the bottom of the sea—a colorful world spread out before my eyes.
"…Phew."
"Phew. …Maki, how's your first time at the beach? Are you having fun?"
"…Well, I guess so."
"There you go again, being shy. It's just me here, so you can smile more innocently like a child, you know?"
"…I want to savor it quietly by myself right now."
"I see. Then I guess I don't have to take off this rash guard."
"…Why does it have to be like that?"
Now was the perfect chance to be lovey-dovey while everyone was distracted, but Umi always became a little devil at times like these. My mind, which had been moved by the underwater scenery, was now completely filled with thoughts of her in a bikini. In the end, I was just a healthy high school boy.
We cut our snorkeling short and headed towards the jagged rocks, away from the others. It was probably obvious, but everyone just glanced at us before continuing to play, so it should be fine. I'd probably get teased about this later, but if we were the type to hold back because of that, we wouldn't be called a lovey-dovey couple.
"Umi, be careful, the rocks around here are slippery."
"Yeah. That's why I'm sticking close to you."
We found a relatively flat rock in a blind spot and sat side by side.
"Um… should I look away?"
"Yeah… ah, no, wait."
"Mmph?"
Umi grabbed my face with both hands and pulled me towards her.
"W-what's wrong, Umi?"
"…Um,"
It felt like she was about to say something bold again. When she averted her eyes and blushed, that was the sign. She had been like that during our mixed bathing in the open-air bath the other day.
"If you want to see it, you can take it off for me… I mean."
"Th… that's about the rash guard you're wearing… right?"
"What else could it be? Oh, but if you, um, really want to take off more, or if you ask me to do something naughty like that, I…"
"N-no, that's a bit too bold, I think."
If we went that far, it would be more than just teasing. Since we were at the beach, I hadn't brought "that," though I always had one hidden in my wallet, just in case.
"But, I understand. I should… um, take it off for you, right?"
"If you really insist."
"…Somehow it's turned into me asking."
It was with our mutual consent, and if that's what Umi wanted, I would do as she said, but it was embarrassing to say it out loud. Before I knew it, my whole face was flushed, just like hers.
"Then, I'll ask you, but…"
"Y-yeah."
"Umi, please. Can I take it off for you?"
"…Aah."
"H-hey, answer me properly."
"I know, but… but,"
Without answering, Umi looked down shyly. Even as a lovey-dovey couple, we were both still pure at heart, so we were clumsy in these situations.
"I'll ask you one more time, Umi. …I'm just taking off the rash guard."
"…Mm."
With a nod, Umi leaned her body towards me, completely defenseless.
"Then, I'm opening the zipper, okay?"
"You don't have to say everything…"
Feeling my heart pounding loudly, I gradually revealed Umi's bare skin. The sound of the waves and our friends' cheerful voices faded away. All my nerves were focused on the girl I loved so much.
"…Gulp."
"Fufu, Maki, you just swallowed, didn't you? Your throat moved so obviously, it was surprising."
"Well, it's the bikini-clad figure of the girl I love so much."
The swimsuit was, as expected, the new dark blue bikini. It wasn't the first time I'd seen her like this, but this was the most beautiful I'd ever seen her. A swimsuit was an outfit best seen at the beach or pool. My gaze was fixed on her white, smooth stomach and the cleavage of her chest.
"Jeez, Maki, you're so eager. I'll show you properly later, so don't just open the zipper, take it all the way off."
"Y-yeah, sorry…"
Lightly flicked on the forehead by Umi, I carefully placed my hands on her shoulders and removed the rash guard. And then, a sight more amazing than I had imagined spread out before me.
"Maki, um, what do you think? Am I beautiful?"
"Yeah. I think you're very beautiful, and, um, very sexy and I'm happy… I guess."
"Fufu, you're too honest. But that's very good."
It had been a month since I last saw Umi's bold swimsuit figure, but to be able to only look at it was painful in its own way. If we were completely alone, I definitely wouldn't have been able to stop myself. I could tell that Umi's gaze was frequently directed towards "that," and it seemed her body was already fully prepared. I wanted to hide it, but we had promised not to when we were alone. As proof of that, Umi now had her arms behind her back.
"D-don't tell anyone else, okay? …Um, you know, I got a little bigger again."
"I-I see. If that's the case, I don't mind at all… no, I'm actually happy."
What Amami-san had shown off earlier was amazing, but looking closely now, Umi might have the upper hand. But I was the only one who needed to know that.
"Umi, can you turn around for a bit? I want to see your back too."
"…You're such a pervert, Maki."
Muttering that, Umi turned her back to me. I was drawn in by the beauty of her flawless skin. When I realized it, I was already hugging her from behind—
"Ah… Jeez, it's not even our first time, and you're already so excited?"
"S-sorry. I shouldn't be, but I couldn't help it…"
"You can't be helped… Well, just for a little bit, okay?"
"Y-yeah."
After confirming that Umi had relaxed, I lightly kissed the nape of her neck. Partly because of the seawater, my mouth instantly became salty, but with Umi's permission, I didn't care until she said "stop."
"Mm… It's not fair that it's only you, Maki… Me too!"
As I was engrossed in Umi's bare skin, she seemed to get in the mood too and started to gently bite my neck in return. Everyone might come to check on us soon, we might be looked at with disgust—I knew all that, but with the help of the atmosphere, we were completely in our own world.
"Umi, um…"
"What is it? I'll listen to you now, so be honest."
"Yeah… Um, I want to untie the string on top too…"
"…Fufu."
Without saying yes or no, Umi let out a small laugh. Her swimsuit was the type that you tie with strings, so if I untied the two knots, there would be nothing left to hide her skin.
"...Umi, I'm going to touch you for a bit."
"…Mm."
Since she didn't say anything else, I slowly reached for the knot at her neck. Just like on the promenade the other day, I gently touched her body, inviting her with my actions instead of words. I pinched the string that was tied in a firm bow knot and gave it a light pull. The knot came undone, but Umi only squirmed a little. Somehow controlling my trembling fingertips, I completely untied the first knot. With Umi's smooth bare skin, the softness of her body, and her faint sweet scent, I felt like I was going to lose my mind.
"Maki, are the others looking this way? Is it okay?"
"Probably. Even if they are, it's all because I asked for it, so sorry if that happens."
"If Sanae and the others find out about this, we might be banned from now on…"
We wouldn't cross the final line here, but we'd already done almost everything else on our last trip, so we had no psychological barriers. In these situations, something usually happens to interrupt us, but today, we were surrounded only by friends who understood us.
…Everyone, aren't you reading the mood a little too much?
Of course, I'd gratefully accept their consideration.
And so, after enjoying our time together in the shade of the rocks, the smell of something grilling wafted over to us. While we were in our own world, the other five had started a barbecue on the beach.
"—Hey, Maehara-shi and Asanagi-chan, welcome back. From the looks of it, you two enjoyed your private time to your hearts' content. …My, how enviable."
"…Umi and Maki-kun are so lewd."
"You two are so energetic~ Well, as long as you don't cause any trouble, feel free to do as you please, I guess?"
"…Maki, for your character, you do some bold things."
"Ahaha… Oh, if you'd like, senpais, please have some. The meat and vegetables are mostly cooked."
They probably figured it out from our appearance when we returned. They welcomed us with a mix of smirks and exasperation. I should have tidied up my appearance, but the blush on my cheeks wouldn't go away, so it was difficult to play dumb. I think we overdid it right from the start, but I didn't regret it. Thanks to that, I think I could hold back until tonight.
"Umi, I'm hungry, let's eat too."
"Y-yeah. Yuu, can I sit next to you?"
"Yeah, let's eat together, Umi."
While being teased by everyone, we joined the circle and enjoyed the delicious-looking food. Steak with marbling I'd never seen before, thick-cut beef tongue, seafood like oysters and scallops the size of my palm, and even barbecue staples like frankfurters and vegetables… Nitori-san and the others had covered most of the cost, but with enough to feed seven growing high school students and still have leftovers, I wondered how much it all cost.
…Well, let's not think about it anymore.
"Mmm~ Umi~ after this, let's play with us, okay? They said they'd let us ride the boat, so let's go out to sea, okay?"
"Yuu, I know the super-thick beef tongue is delicious, but let's chew before we talk, okay? …I agree with going out to sea on the boat, it sounds fun."
"The fact that you two can communicate like that is so Umi and Amami-san-like…"
When I asked again, it seemed that a servant with a boating license had offered to take us out on a cruiser. The wind was calm, and we could also enjoy fishing, so it might be a good way to work up an appetite before evening. Of course, we could also add the fish we caught to tonight's menu.
"Maki, I'm going with Yuu, but what about you? If you think you'll get seasick, you can stay at the villa and rest."
"No, since we're here, I think I'll go too. I'm a little tired from playing all day, but it's not often you get to ride on a cruiser."
"If you and Yuu-chin are comin', then I'll… Hey, hey, Takizawa-kun, what're you gonna do?"
"Um… Well, I'll head back to the villa and welcome the upperclassmen. …Mio-senpai looks sleepy, too."
"As expected of Souji, you get it… Yawn. I've been goin' nonstop since this mornin', so I'm at my limit. My stomach's full and I'm feelin' happy."
"Alright then, Nakamura-san and Takizawa-kun can rest at the villa, and the five of us will get on the boat… Nitta, you look like you're having a major internal conflict, but what're you gonna do?"
"…I'll go too."
And so, from here on, the usual five of us and the student council duo decided to split up and spend our time until evening.
It was a perfect chance for Nitta-san to spend time with Takizawa-kun, but perhaps sensing the atmosphere between Nakamura-san and Takizawa-kun, she seemed to agonize over it until the end before deciding to join us.
For Nitta-san, it must have been a golden opportunity to get closer to Takizawa-kun, who should be exactly her type… but maybe something had already happened while Umi and I were messing around.
After taking a short break at the villa until the boat was ready, we changed from our swimsuits back into our usual clothes. Then, we boarded a cruiser driven by one of the staff members and set out from the emerald-green shallows toward the open sea, where a deep blue horizon stretched out before us.
Since we were on a boat, our footing was naturally a bit unsteady even with the calm waves and wind. However, by gazing at the distant scenery, I didn't feel the seasickness I was worried about as much.
"Hey Maki, I borrowed a set of fishing rods from the staff, let's do it together. I've done a lot of fishing, so I'll teach you."
"Oh? Well then, I might take you up on that."
"Ah, you two are being sneaky~ We'll do it too, right, Umi?"
"Sure, but are you okay with touching the bait, Yuu? It's pretty gross if you look at it closely, y'know?"
"Huh? Isn't fishing bait stuff like little fish or shrimp? Like, 'use a shrimp to catch a sea bream'~ or something."
[Note: 海老で鯛を釣る (ebi de tai o tsuru) — literally "use a shrimp to catch a sea bream." This Japanese proverb means gaining something big or valuable with only a small investment.]
"It's a bit much for a beginner to suddenly go for a big catch… Seki, show Yuu the reality."
"Huh? Seki-kun, what do you mean?"
"Um… for small fish, it's this kind of…"
"......…."
When Nozomu showed her a transparent case filled with a writhing mass of squiggly things, the color instantly drained from Amami-san's face.
"…U-Umi."
"Yep."
"I-I'll just watch from behind."
"…Then, I'll do the same. Nina, help me take care of Yuu."
"You got it."
It seems even Amami-san couldn't handle the impact of seeing live bait for the first time. I'm not a big fan of these kinds of creatures myself, but with my beloved girlfriend Umi here, I wanted to show her that I could handle it, at least a little.
"Alright, let's do this, Maki!"
"Yeah. …Hup!"
Following Nozomu's lead next to me, I cast my rod towards the sea. It was my first time fishing, whether in the sea or a river, but I think I did pretty well for a beginner.
Whether I actually caught anything is another story though.
Just as Nozomu taught me, I occasionally moved the rod and waited patiently for a fish to take the bait.
"Sorry for the wait, Maki. How's it going?"
"Nothing much over here… How's Amami-san?"
"She was a little down, but she seems fine now. Look, Yuu, the squiggly things are back in the box, so come over here."
"O-Okay… I'm sorry, you two. It was my first time seeing something like that, so it startled me."
Led by Nitta-san, Amami-san came back to us. Maybe she had calmed down after a little while, as her complexion had improved somewhat, but it seemed like a good idea to bait the hook where Amami-san couldn't see it for a while.
"Seki, you've been quiet for a while, still no bites? I thought an experienced fisherman like you would catch something pretty quickly."
"Well, there's a slight difference in skill compared to a beginner, but it's not that easy. It's like you, no new encounters no matter how many different approaches you try."
"Are you trying to pick a fight with me? …Well, it's true, so I can't really argue."
Seeing Nitta-san's bitter expression, it seems she hadn't managed to close the distance with Takizawa-kun after all. It looks like Nitta-san is cautiously gauging the distance, trying not to come on too strong and be disliked…
"Nina, why don't you just give up on Takizawa-kun for now? You probably already know this, but Takizawa-kun's head over heels for Nakamura-san, right?"
"You can say that again. I thought I put a lot of effort into my swimsuit, but Takizawa-kun was only glancing at the school swimsuit next to me. And at the barbecue earlier, he was all smiles taking care of his senpai the whole time. I tried talking to him in a way that wasn't too obvious, but… I think it might be a little difficult to do something about that on my own."
I thought Umi and I were the only "lovey-dovey couple" among the seven of us, but it seems another pair had snuck in without me realizing.
"Hey Asanagi, don't tell me you invited those two knowing this would happen, right?"
"…You figured it out, huh? Well, my main reason was to thank and appreciate them for taking over as student council president for me."
Even from my perspective, their relationship was frustrating to watch, so for Umi, who had to see them being all lovey-dovey in the same class (whether they were conscious of it or not), or for the other student council members who spent a lot of time with them, it must have been quite something.
…Still, this was a rare move for Umi.
"Of course, if you still don't want to give up on Takizawa-kun, Nina, that's your choice… Judging by your face, it looks like you're still totally up for it."
"Huh? Of course I am. I understand all too well that they have a relationship built on mutual trust, but they're not 'dating' yet, right? That means I still have a chance."
Even with the advantage of being senpai and kouhai since middle school, the complexities of human relationships mean that doesn't immediately translate to being 'lovers'.
From what I've gathered so far, it's almost certain that Takizawa-kun secretly has feelings for Nakamura-san, but the reverse isn't necessarily true… and that's one of the reasons for their current frustrating situation.
Nakamura-san's attitude is just so half-hearted.
"In other words, there's an opening. It might be difficult now, but no one knows what the future holds. So, I think it might be a good idea to stick to being the 'kind senpai' for now. Then, the moment I see even the slightest opening, I'll go on the offensive."
"That's so like you, Nina… But aren't you being unusually persistent this time?"
"Well, I won't be able to do anything about a guy of that level otherwise. Unlike you, Yuu-chin, or Asanagi, someone like me doesn't get approached just by standing around. If I want something, I have to think and act for myself."
So, it seems she's well aware that the odds are against her, but she's going to stick with it a little longer. He's undeniably handsome, treats even a first-time senpai like Nitta-san without prejudice, and has a calm and gentle personality… It's no wonder she can't give up on him so easily.
That's just how serious Nitta-san is about this love.
"But if you like Takizawa-kun that much, wouldn't it have been better not to come with us? He's alone with Nakamura-san at the villa, so by the time we get back, they could already be a couple—"
It depends on Nakamura-san's attitude, but since they're already close, if the timing is right in these few hours, there's a good chance they'll greet us in a post-cuddly state, just like Umi and I were a little while ago… or is my imagination running a bit too wild?
"Well, I know it's a long shot, and if that happens, I'll gracefully give up … though I'm not sure if I can, but I definitely won't do anything to spoil the mood—Huh? Hey Class Rep, isn't your rod, like, bent like crazy for some reason?"
"Eh? …Ah, you're right."
I must have gotten a hit while we were chatting. The moment I noticed, the rod was pulled forcefully towards the surface of the sea. It was so strong that I almost let go of the rod, so it seems a decent-sized fish had taken the bait.
"N-Nozomu! This might be a big one. What should I do, what do I do?"
"If you pull too hard, the rig might come off, so let's keep it in its current position and carefully reel it in… I'll go get the landing net."
"Beginner's luck, huh? Anyway, do your best, Maki!"
"Fish and girls just come to you on their own, huh, Class Rep? You're so unfair~ Come on, Yuu-chin, you too."
"Ah, okay. Go for it, Maki-kun!"
With everyone's cheers behind me, I pulled up the fish with all my might.
Faithfully following the advice of the experienced Nozomu, I spent time pulling the fish swimming on the seabed up, one meter at a time—
"Whoa, that's a pretty big one for simple bait. You did it, Maki."
"That's amazing, Maki! You did great."
"Y-Yeah. Thanks."
According to the staff member, the fish I caught was delicious enough to be eaten as sashimi, so my first fishing trip was a great success.
We're planning on making curry together for dinner tonight, so we'll probably just fillet it into three pieces for now… But this will surely make for a more luxurious breakfast tomorrow.
Seeing my friends exclaim "Ooh~" in admiration at the fish I caught, I felt a little proud. It might be beginner's luck and something like this might never happen again, but it's a fact that I caught it with my own strength.
"Maki, can I fish next to you? Seki, you still have extra gear, right?"
"Yeah. Looks like they prepared enough for everyone by the driver's seat, so go get it if you want. You too, Nitta."
"Huh? I haven't said a word about doing it yet… Well, I'm bored just standing around, and if even the beginner Class Rep can catch something, maybe I'll give it a try."
Seeing my catch must have piqued their interest, as Umi and Nitta-san, who had been content to just cheer from the back until now, went to get their own gear.
Not to be outdone, Nozomu, who was preparing his rig with the intention of catching a bigger fish than me, seemed to be starting a little fishing competition.
…Except for one person, Amami-san, who had an unusually gloomy expression.
"Maki-kun."
"! Amami-san… If you're still not feeling well, you can rest a little longer."
"Ah, don't worry, I'm totally fine now. I was a little surprised when I saw it for the first time, but when I look closely, it's surprisingly cute. See, if it's just one, I can pick it up like this."
Although her hand movements were timid, unlike before, her complexion was normal, so she seemed to be fine.
As always, I'm impressed by how quickly Amami-san adapts. At this rate, she should be able to enjoy fishing with Umi and Nitta-san right away.
"…Aren't you going to fish with Umi and the others, Amami-san?"
"Um… Yeah, I think I'll just cheer everyone on from the back today. That's fun enough for me."
Even though she said she was used to it, maybe she wasn't back to her usual self yet. Despite her cheerful demeanor, Amami-san's face was somewhat downcast.
I thought she would have been the first to jump into their circle (or rather, at Umi)… but her gaze was fixed on Nitta-san, who was loudly and boisterously preparing her rig with Umi.
"You know, Maki-kun. It's about Nina-chi."
"? What's wrong with Nitta-san?"
"You know, what we were talking about earlier… That she won't give up on Takizawa-kun."
"! Ah, that."
I personally didn't intend to take sides, so I just listened, but it seems to have stuck with Amami-san.
"I mean… I understand Nina-chi's feelings for Takizawa-kun, and I can tell she's serious, so as a friend, I want to support her, but… I just don't like her methods, y'know?"
"…Well, some people might feel that way."
Saying she's patiently waiting for an opportunity might sound nice, but in reality, it looks like she's waiting for a rift to form between Nakamura-san and Takizawa-kun, you could say she's 'waiting for failure'.
Even though they're good friends, given Amami-san's personality, it's probably hard for her to support Nitta-san wholeheartedly.
"Hey, Maki-kun."
"What is it?"
"Love is actually really difficult, isn't it? Until now, 'love' for me was just you and Umi, so I thought it was something much simpler."
"…Well, it might be better not to use us as a reference."
It would be best if first loves, who care for each other more than anyone else, end up together like Umi and I did, but I think love is something that doesn't always go so simply.
Because they think too much about the other person, they misunderstand each other, and because of that, the feelings that should have been love can sometimes turn into something resembling hatred.
And that's why unexpected things can happen.
I want the person I love all to myself—I think love becomes incredibly complicated and difficult when you wish for something that anyone who has ever been in love has probably imagined at least once.
"…For now, why don't you talk to Umi and Nitta-san honestly instead of moping about it by yourself? It doesn't have to be now, but there should be plenty of chances to talk, like during the fireworks later, or before you go to sleep."
Amami-san, who believes in doing things fair and square without resorting to cheap tricks, and Nitta-san, who doesn't care about the means so long as she achieves her goal, even if it's a little unfair… Of course, their opinions will clash, but it's much more constructive than bottling up your frustrations. With Umi in between, it probably won't turn into a hostile atmosphere.
Of course, Nozomu and I are also here to back them up.
"I see… Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Maki-kun. I'll try talking to Nina-chi and Umi."
"Yeah, I think that's a good idea. You can decide whether to support Nitta-san or not then."
Just because you're friends, best friends, you don't have to force yourself to support them. You just have to do it when you feel like you want to support them.
After enjoying a leisurely afternoon of fishing on the sea after lunch, we returned to the villa where Nakamura-san and the others were waiting to prepare for dinner. We swam in the beautiful shallows of the sea and enjoyed our first time fishing offshore—even we were exhausted by the time we got off the boat.
There's still a bit of time before dinner is scheduled, so it's probably a good idea to take a nap for about an hour.
"—Oh, welcome back, everyone. From the looks of it, you had a lot of fun."
"Senpais, thank you for your hard work. I've already done the prep work for dinner, so you can all rest for a while."
"Thanks. Then, I think I will… yawn, I'm sleepy… Umi, I'm heading off first, okay?"
"Yeah. I'll be back soon, so go ahead and sleep. Yuu, we have to shower first, so just hold on a little longer… Ah, come on, don't lean on me, stand on your own two feet. And you too, Nina, you're being subtle about it."
"Mmm~ Umi~ carry me~"
"Asanagi, we can't move another step~"
"Good grief, you guys are hopeless…"
While watching the three girls disappear into the shower room, Nozomu and I collapsed onto the sofa in the spacious living room. The sofa supported my whole body with a perfect balance of not too hard and not too soft, and my eyelids gradually grew heavy.
"—Maki, you still awake?"
"Nozomu? …Yeah, but I'm pretty much out of it."
"Same here. I thought I'd be fine since I'm used to this from club activities, but playing with all my might is just as tiring."
Even Nozomu, who is sprawled out on the sofa next to me, is like this, so I think I did pretty well.
I played so hard today that I'm worried I'll be sore all over tomorrow; it was by far the most fun I've had this summer vacation. I'll probably never forget about this.
"…Thanks, Nozomu. For saying yes to my invitation, even though you're busy with club activities."
"Don't worry about it. This is probably the last time I'll be able to play this much, and I'll make up for the two days I missed in the upcoming practices… I can't say this too loudly, but, y'know, Amami-san's… was… perfect."
He said he had to force his way into getting an extra day off from his club activities, which were originally only one day, so it was probably worth it for Nozomu.
Some people might not understand, but for a high school boy, a cute girl's swimsuit (and a private one at that) is worth that much.
"Hey, Maki."
"Hmm?"
"Have you decided on how we're splitting the rooms tonight?"
"Not yet, but… I was thinking it would be best to split into two rooms, one for the girls and one for the boys."
To be honest, I'd like to have a room just for Umi and me, and considering the number of rooms, it's entirely possible, but I don't want to make everyone else feel uncomfortable, so I'll hold back for now.
"I see. Well then, let's talk again before we go to sleep, just the guys. Of course, with Takizawa-kun too."
"Sure, but is there anything the three of us can talk about? Not just Takizawa-kun, but our interests are all over the place, right?"
Nozomu is into club activities and sports, I'm into indoor stuff like games and movies, and Takizawa-kun is probably into literature like novels and mysteries, so there aren't many topics that two or more of us could delve into deeply.
It's not that there aren't any topics that are exclusive to guys, but I don't know if Takizawa-kun is the type to talk about such crude things.
Before we can open up and talk about various things, we need to get to know Takizawa-kun, and Takizawa-kun needs to get to know us.
"…Well, let's just sleep on it for now. Honestly, my brain is starting to shut down."
"…M-Me too."
Unable to resist the constant waves of sleepiness any longer, we exchanged a few words that we didn't even understand ourselves before slowly drifting off.
I was aware of someone gently stroking my head at some point, but my body, already asleep, couldn't even stir.
"—You've worked hard, sleep tight.
As someone's gentle whisper seeped into the back of my ears, I was allowed to sleep soundly until it was time for dinner to be ready.
In the end, I slept for about two hours and regained some of my energy. We ate the curry that everyone else had made, and then spent a relaxing time in the living room again.
The sun, which had still been bright during dinner, had now completely set, and the blue horizon that was visible from outside had been replaced by a uniform darkness.
It was a quiet and calm night, with only the faint sound of waves audible from a distance.
Normally, all that's left is to take a bath and go to sleep… but this time, it's far from over.
Amami-san, holding a bucket full of fireworks that had been temporarily stored in the storeroom, returned to the living room full of energy.
"Ehehe~ is everyone ready? I hereby declare the start of tonight's main event, the fireworks display!"
"Yuu, declarations are fine, but let's go down to the beach first. Let's go, Maki."
"Yeah. I wonder when the last time I did fireworks was. I'm actually a little excited."
To avoid tripping and falling on the stairs or the sandy beach, I held Umi's hand tightly and headed down to the beach for the first time in several hours.
The beach, which was a complete contrast to the daytime, was pitch black, but since the two staff members had prepared a bonfire in advance, there shouldn't be any problem with the lighting.
The flames roared in a tin can placed on the beach, and looking up at the night sky, the moon and beautiful stars were floating… The night sea, when you look at it like this, has a different kind of charm than during the day.
"Hey, hey everyone! What should we do for the first one? A big rocket? Or a dragon? Ugh~ there are so many to choose from, I can't decide~… Hey Umi, which one do you want to do?"
"If we do them one by one, it'll take until midnight, so why don't we all just do whatever we want? Maki, let's do some sparklers and chill."
"Yeah. The flashy ones are tempting, but I'm fine with just watching everyone else from a distance."
After some discussion, we decided to put some of our favorites into a bucket and play as we pleased.
Amami-san, Nitta-san, and Nozomu chose relatively large and flashy fireworks like dragons and rockets. Takizawa-kun and Nakamura-san chose mainly handheld fireworks, and while letting out colorful sparks, they were frolicking about happily, as if they had returned to their elementary school days.
It was the first time I had experienced it in my second year of high school, a summer vacation scene just as I had imagined.
"Maki, shall we do ours too?"
"Yeah. I'll light it."
"Thanks."
With a lighter I brought from the villa, I lit the tips of each of our sparklers, and we quietly watched the sparks crackle with a small sound.
We were a little away from the other five, our bodies pressed together as if to huddle close.
"…It's beautiful."
"Yeah… Oh, the fireworks too, but, I mean… I'm talking about you of course, Umi…"