It was a month before summer vacation, during my third year of junior high.
My best friend, Amami Yuu, and I were out shopping in a commercial complex downtown. With the season fast approaching, our goal was to get a head start on preparing for the heat by stocking up on summer clothes and other essentials.
"Ugh, Umiii, it's so hoooot~"
"I get it, but clinging to me is just going to make us both hotter, you know? C'mon, we'll be inside an air-conditioned building if we walk just a little further, so hang in there."
We had considered wandering around town, but the moment we stepped out of any building, the scorching heat was unbearable. Yuu and I had taken every precaution, arming ourselves with sunscreen and parasols, but there was nothing we could do about the temperature itself. Fueled by cold drinks and a portable fan I'd brought from home, we made a desperate dash for a nearby fashion building as if it were a sanctuary.
As we passed through the automatic doors, a wave of gloriously cool air washed over us, a reward for our trek through the sweltering streets.
"Ooh… Ah, so cool! I'm alive again! Hey, Umi, let's look at clothes in here, okay? Oh, that shop over there looks super cute!"
"You bounce back fast, don't you? You don't have to be in such a rush; the store isn't going anywhere."
Even as my hyper-energetic best friend practically dragged me along, I followed close behind her. Her sheer force of will could be exasperating at times, but being with her always brought a smile to my face, so I never really minded. She was like the sun in that way. Sometimes, the constant, blazing sun can be annoying, but after a long stretch of gloomy weather, you can't help but miss it.
Chatting away, we made our way through each floor. The entire building was decorated for summer, with countless mannequins showing off cool and breezy outfits in this year's trendy styles (or so I'd heard). As we browsed from shop to shop, we rode the escalator higher and higher, until our eyes landed on a special event space.
"Midsummer Swimsuit Fair… Right, it's that time of year again, huh? Don't our swimming classes start next week?"
"Yeah, I think so… Not that this fair has much to do with us this year."
"Ah… oh, right. Now that you mention it…"
When you think of summer, you think of pools and beaches, but we couldn't forget that we were third-year students preparing for exams. Our all-girls' school has an "escalator system" that allows most students to continue to the high school division, but we still have to their entrance exam. Plus, since a few students always opt for different high schools, our school has a long-standing tradition of advising its third-year junior high students to 'study hard over the summer.'
It wasn't completely out of the question that we might go to the pool for a day to unwind… but buying an expensive new swimsuit for just one outing seemed wasteful.
…And yet, my best friend was staring at the display with sparkling eyes, looking utterly captivated. When she gets that look, I have no choice but to give in.
"…Well, since we're here, why don't we take a look? Even if we don't use it this year, we never know what might happen next year or the year after."
"!" Her face lit up. "Yeah, you're right! Ehehe, thanks, Umi."
"You don't have to thank me for that… Yuu, stop clinging to me. It's hot."
"Ehhh~"
"Don't you 'Ehhh~' me."
Resigned, I let my cheerful, clingy best friend lead us toward the rows of swimsuits displayed prominently in the center of the floor.
At first, I maintained an air of disinterest, but as I started to actually look at them, a small desire to own one began to stir within me.
"Ah, this one…"
It's kinda cute, I thought, picking up a two-piece polka-dot swimsuit. It wasn't too revealing and had distinctive frills on both the top and bottom. I flinched when I saw the price tag, but a sign announced it was 50% off at the register… which made it affordable.
"Umi, you like that one?"
"Yeah. It's kind of my style… But I still have the one I got last year…"
"Huh? But lately, your size has been──"
"…"
My best friend whispered an undeniable truth, and I was left completely speechless. Compared to last year, my body had… changed a fair bit. Various parts had grown, so while I could probably still squeeze into my old swimsuit, it was bound to feel tight in certain places.
…Mainly, my butt and my chest.
"Yuu."
"What is it?"
"…I'm going to go try it on."
"Yeah, I think that's a good idea. Besides," she added with a grin, "it'll definitely look great on you, Umi."
After getting permission from a store clerk, I headed to the fitting room to check the size and feel. I did a slow twirl in front of the full-length mirror, examining the overall look, and couldn't help but mutter under my breath.
"…Damn it."
I had a feeling this would happen, but it suited me even better than I'd imagined. Damn, I look cute, I thought, a blush creeping up my neck.
I'd already tried it on──it wasn't too expensive──and even if I didn't get to wear it this year, it should still fit for while──The moment all those excuses flooded my mind, putting it back was no longer an option.
"How is it, Umi?" Yuu called from outside the curtain.
"I'm buying it."
"I totally agree. You look so cute, Umi!"
"Ah, thanks…"
I had a sneaking suspicion I'd been swayed by the summer atmosphere and my best friend's enthusiasm, but strangely, I didn't feel any regret. It didn't feel like a wasteful purchase at all.
I don't know when, but when the time comes, I'll definitely wear you, I vowed silently, carrying 'it'—my new summer partner—to the register.