Vol. 2 Chapter 79 – The Sea, Popular Types, and a Luxury Resort (3)

“No, that’s a bit… I wonder about that…” (Reiya)

I gently voiced my refusal to Takasaki-san, who was fully intending to tag along.

Beside me, Hikaru was also giving tiny, almost imperceptible nods of agreement.

“What do you mean…? I don’t mind at all. Since we came all this way, I want to try various things.” (Chisato)

Yeah, well, we mind.

I mentally retorted to her, wondering if she was being naturally clueless or doing it on purpose.

However, when she put it like that, it was hard to refuse strongly.

Ostensibly, we were all here to hang out together, so clearly stating ‘I want to spend time alone with my girlfriend’ would undoubtedly cause friction.

Still, I’d thought that normally, people would pick up on the situation and show some consideration, or have it shown to them…

“Snorkeling and the obstacle course sound like fu~n!” (Chisato)

At her complete lack of ability to read the room, even the group of girls, all of whom were Hikaru’s friends, seemed slightly taken aback.

Meanwhile, the guys were shooting me glances mixed with a bit of resentment, thinking, ‘Now Takasaki-san? Why does this guy get all the luck…’

Honestly, though, I’m the one who’d like to know the answer to that.

Speaking of Takasaki-san, she’s one of the leading Popular Type girls who’s always with Sakuramiya-san.

Apparently, she has a rather niche popularity among the guys due to her unique, soft and fluffy atmosphere and her ample figure.

On the other hand, word on the street, raw as it was, had even reached me that she’s quite a looks-supremacist and has chosen almost all her past boyfriends based on their faces.

For someone like that to be so persistently coming onto a guy she only spent a few times with on the library committee about a year ago, I could only assume some kind of conspiracy was at play.

“Come on? It’s okay, riight~? Kage-P~” (Chisato)

“Um… Well, I still think, uh…” (Reiya)

Takasaki-san seemed like the type who would keep pressing if I gave a half-hearted response.

Just as I was thinking I should clearly state my intentions here, even if it earned me some disapproval—

“Well then, how about we make time for everyone to go do that stuff together later?” (Komiya)

Komiya-kun interjected, as if to mediate.

“All together?” (Chisato)

“Yeah, yeah. And then, since it’s a special occasion, how about we pair up, one guy and one girl?” (Komiya)

“Eeeh? What’s that… Isn’t that, like, way too obvious a move just ’cause we’re at the beach?” (A Girl)

“But Saaya, you were the one saying you’d definitely get a boyfriend this summer, so isn’t this perfect?” (Another Girl)

“H-Hey, don’t say that…!” (Saaya)

“I don’t really mind. Though I get to choose my partner.” (Another Girl)

“I’m in too! Since we’re here, that sounds like fun!” (Another Girl)

Although a few dissenting voices came from the girls regarding the proposal, they were quickly overwhelmed by voices of agreement.

Meanwhile, the guys were already getting restless, thinking, ‘Komiya, you legend!’

“Yeah, yeah, it’s just like a little side entertainment, so you don’t have to think too seriously about it. If anything, there are more girls than guys, so if someone doesn’t want to, they can just not make a pair then.” (Komiya)

“More like, Komi just wants to be alone with Haruna, right?” (A Guy)

“Ah, busted? Yeah, I just want to get lovey-dovey with her.” (Komiya)

“Oh my god… Aren’t you an idiot…” (Haruna)

As Komiya-kun joked and Fujimoto-san blushed, laughter rose from everyone.

Pairing up guys and girls at the summer beach.

Normally, it’s a plan that would reek of ulterior motives and make the girls highly wary.

However, by proposing it from his position as someone who already had a girlfriend, he skillfully concealed that.

By doing so, he fulfilled his promise to support the other guys, earning their trust, while cleverly creating a situation where he could be alone with his girlfriend.

I was in awe of his ability, which transcended mere communication skills, to control the atmosphere of the place.

“Alright then, it’s decided! We’ll do that when Kyo gets back!” (Komiya)

Matching Komiya-kun’s declaration, voices of agreement rose from everyone.

At that, even Takasaki-san, perhaps unable to make an enemy of everyone else, backed down for the time being, though she looked somewhat dissatisfied.

As I was sending him a mental thank you for truly saving me, he must have noticed, because he responded with a thumbs-up from a position where others couldn’t see.

At the edge of my vision, an affection gauge shot up with a zing.

If this were a galge, I’d have been conquered already.

And so, it was decided that everyone would do as they pleased until Sakuramiya-san returned.

The girls started playing beach volleyball on a nearby court.

The guys, while pretending to swim in the sea, held a strategy meeting about who would ask whom to be their partner.

Komiya-kun and I didn’t join either group and instead watched over the luggage.

“Here ya go.” (Komiya)

“Ah, thanks…” (Reiya)

Sitting on the leisure sheet, I accepted the drink he took out from the cooler box.

“That was rough earlier, huh?” (Komiya)

“Haha… Rough, or what should I call it… Honestly, I’m still kind of confused and don’t get what’s going on.” (Reiya)

“Chisato, huh… She’s a bit of a space cadet, so it’s hard to tell what she’s thinking. She wasn’t like that in our first year, was she?” (Komiya)

Komiya-kun said, opening the cap of his own sports drink and taking a sip.

“Yeah, we really only worked together a few times on the library committee, but… honestly, I think she seemed completely uninterested in me back then.” (Reiya)

Even looking back at my memories from that time now, there really aren’t any such fond recollections.

Our conversations were minimal and purely functional; if anything, there were even times she pushed her duties onto me and left early.

So, for me, her attitude today was truly incomprehensible, but…

“Hmm, then it’s probably that.” (Komiya)

“That?” (Reiya)

Komiya-kun seemed to have an idea, and continued.

“The fact that Kageyama started dating Asahi-san, that’s probably a pretty big factor.” (Komiya)

“Me dating Hikaru is…?” (Reiya)

I tilted my head, not understanding the connection between those two points.

“How should I put it? For example… you know how branded goods and stuff go up in value because some famous person uses them, right? It’s the same thing. By being the guy that Asahi Hikaru chose, Kageyama’s market value has skyrocketed.” (Komiya)

“I-I see…” (Reiya)

“Of course, not everyone’s like that, I’m sure. But Chisato and the like, don’t they seem like the type to think something is good precisely because other people say it’s good?” (Komiya)

I responded with a wry smile to his words, which I could understand but found slightly hard to affirm.

Feeling value in something precisely because others recognize its value.

I have a memory of some precocious kindergartener saying something similar a long time ago…

“Anyway, she probably started messing with you like that for those reasons. It’s probably a pain for Kageyama, but… if you just show her that there’s no room for anyone to come between you and Asahi-san, she’ll probably give up soon, don’t you think?” (Komiya)

Saying that, he turned his gaze towards where the girls were playing beach volleyball.

“Hikaru, if you please!” (Haruna)

“Okay! Leave it to me!” (Hikaru)

Towards the toss Fujimoto-san set high, Hikaru leaped powerfully, completely unfazed by the poor footing.

“Hop! Step! Attaaack!!” (Hikaru)

She slammed the ball with her right hand, and an arrow-like spike pierced the sandy beach.

“Yeah! Haruna, nice toss!” (Hikaru)

“Nice attack to you too.” (Haruna)

Hikaru, having landed, rushed over to Fujimoto-san, and they exchanged a high-five.

That’s right. Komiya-kun is right.

If I only think about Hikaru, nothing will waver.

No matter what anyone does to me, I have the confidence that I can remain steadfast.

In fact, even seeing my female classmates in swimsuits didn’t come as a huge shock.

Perhaps I only have eyes for Hikaru, more so than I even realize.

As I was thinking that and watching Hikaru darting around on the court—

“Man… Still, this is nice, isn’t it…” (Komiya)

Beside me, Komiya-kun said in a deeply heartfelt voice.

“Hey! Kageyama! This is the best, right?!” (Komiya)

“Eh? W-What is…?” (Reiya)

As he turned towards me, I was bewildered by his sudden, strong demand for agreement.

“What do you mean, ‘what is’…? It’s this whole situation, obviously! Don’t you feel like we’re right in the pole position of youth right now?” (Komiya)

He said it with a refreshing smile, like a clear blue sky.

“I wonder… Komiya-kun might feel that way, but honestly, I feel like I’m just barely managing to keep up.” (Reiya)

“Hey, hey, hey… You’ve got the Asahi Hikaru as your girlfriend, don’t say such pathetic things…” (Komiya)

He said it with a laugh, sounding a little exasperated.

“I’m not saying you should brag, but stick your chest out a little more. Honestly, when I first heard about it, even I was a little jealous.” (Komiya)

“R-Really…?” (Reiya)

“Of course, man. It’s Asahi Hikaru, you know? She was super popular back then, but she’s blown up even more since and is now a legit national idol. Any guy would be jealous, to some extent. But, thinking about it that way, the fact that Kageyama doesn’t brag at all is kinda amazing in its own way. Normally, just being classmates would be enough to brag like crazy.” (Komiya)

I deflected his words, unsure how to respond, with another wry smile.

I couldn’t bring myself to say something as lame as it being because I still felt an inferiority complex towards Hikaru.

“…But, in my case, even if I say jealousy, it was really just a tiny bit! Seriously, like this much! Jealousy about the width of a single baby hair! So, definitely don’t tell Haruna what I just said, okay?” (Komiya)

Realizing he might have said something he shouldn’t have in the heat of the moment, he warned me off rather strongly.

“O-Of course… I won’t say a word, I won’t.” (Reiya)

“I’m counting on you, man. I… I really like Haruna, you know?” (Komiya)

He said it again, as if soaking in the sight of his girlfriend running around on the sand.

“Yeah, even from my perspective, I think you two make a really great couple.” (Reiya)

“Right? See, just as expected from the guy Asahi-san chose, you’ve got a good eye.” (Komiya)

He must have been really happy to be told they were a good match, because he grinned and lightly slapped my back.

It was an unfamiliar Popular Type vibe, but strangely, I didn’t feel like it was tiring.

As the two of us continued to watch our respective girlfriends play beach volleyball—

“So… as a fellow guy with a girlfriend, there’s actually a favor I wanted to ask you…” (Komiya)

Suddenly, his demeanor changed completely, and he broached the subject with a serious expression.

“A favor?” (Reiya)

“Well… how should I put it…? We’re at this beautiful summer sea… and we’ve got this perfectly atmospheric lodging all set up, right…?” (Komiya)

“Ah, yeah. It really is a nice place.” (Reiya)

“So… I’m thinking of making my move tonight… with Haruna…” (Komiya)

“Making your… move? What…?” (Reiya)

Seeing me tilt my head, unable to understand his meaning, he must have thought his words weren’t getting through.

Komiya-kun took out his wallet from his bag, and then took something out from inside it.

“…This.” (Komiya)

What he held pinched between his fingertips was a thin packet, about five centimeters square.

The circular shape of the contents was visible through the packet, which had ‘0.01’ written on its surface. It was a so-called condom, a contraceptive device for men.