Vol. 2 Chapter 81 – The Sea, Popular Types, and a Luxury Resort (5)

“H-Hold on a sec…! Seriously, stop for a moment…!” (Reiya)

We’d dashed off onto the beach like something out of a teen drama, but I declared my surrender before we’d even gone 100 meters.

“Aww… Well, I guess taking it slow and enjoying the sea view is okay too…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru slowed her pace, sounding a little disappointed.

I stopped, panting and gasping for breath to steady myself.

Even with the summer sun, my own lack of stamina was pathetic.

Hikaru, on the other hand, was only slightly sweaty, her breathing perfectly even.

She’d been bouncing around playing beach volleyball just moments before; what incredible stamina…

“Are you okay…?” (Hikaru)

“I-I’m fine… I’ve been drinking plenty of water…” (Reiya)

I replied to Hikaru, who was peering at me with concern, and took a deep breath, sending oxygen deep into my lungs.

“Alright… Shall we go?” (Reiya)

“Yep!” (Hikaru)

And so, this time we walked side-by-side, slowly making our way along the beach.

To our right, the white sand sparkled under the blazing sun, alongside the blue sea.

To our left, stylish beach-hut-style cafes and other dining and rest facilities.

This scene, like summer itself personified, felt like it existed solely for the two of us when I was with Hikaru.

“Hmm-hmm-hmm~♪” (Hikaru)

Beside me, Hikaru hummed a classic summer song, swinging our joined hands.

“You’re in an even better mood than usual today, aren’t you?” (Reiya)

“Well, duh, it’s the ocean! The ocean!” (Hikaru)

“You liked the ocean that much?” (Reiya)

“Yep! Because it’s summer… and the ocean!” (Hikaru)

She turned to me, striking a pose as she said it.

It wasn’t an answer at all, but it was clear she was having a lot of fun.

“Don’t you like the ocean, Reiya-kun?” (Hikaru)

“Hmm… I don’t think I’ve ever really thought about it in terms of liking or disliking it. My hometown was near the sea, so it was just… naturally there, you know?” (Reiya)

“Heeh… Is that so? Your hometown, Reiya-kun… I’d like to visit it someday~” (Hikaru)

“It’s not really the kind of place with anything worth making a special trip for, though.” (Reiya)

“Really? But anywhere would definitely be fun with you, Reiya-kun!” (Hikaru)

She said it with a smile brighter than the sun.

The way she says things like this so directly, without any shyness or hesitation, is truly unfair…

“By the way… isn’t that hot?” (Reiya)

Changing the subject, I pointed to Hikaru’s body.

Ever since we arrived at this beach, she’d kept her cover-up on.

I’m no expert, but I guess you’d call it a hoodie-style rash guard.

Even if it was to reduce skin exposure, the fact that she wore it even while playing volleyball honestly looked quite hot.

“Hmm… If you ask if it’s hot, well, it’s hot, but it’s summer, you know! Plus, this has a UV-cut effect, so it helps prevent sunburn! And what’s more, it’s amphibious, so it’s fine to wear right into the ocean!” (Hikaru)

“Heeh… They have stuff like that…” (Reiya)

I was impressed by how much more conscious she was than me, who had just worn a shirt over my swimsuit.

“Doesn’t it feel gross when you sweat?” (Reiya)

“Nah, this absorbs sweat well… and anyway, I don’t really sweat much to begin with.” (Hikaru)

“I see… But be careful about heatstroke and stuff. I know I might be preaching to the choir, though.” (Reiya)

Our conversation lulled for a bit there, and for a while, only the sound of our two pairs of feet walking on the sand echoed.

“…Do you want me to take it off that badly?” (Hikaru)

“Huh?” (Reiya)

A dumbfounded sound escaped me at her sudden question.

“It’s just… I was wondering if you were trying to get me to take off my cover-up because you’re eager to see my swimsuit…” (Hikaru)

“…………No way. I was just wondering if you were okay… I wasn’t trying to get you to take it off or anything…” (Reiya)

“Really? So, you’d be fine if I stayed like this all day today?” (Hikaru)

“Mm… Well, if you say you’re comfortable like that, Hikaru…” (Reiya)

“I’m not asking about me, I’m asking what you think, Reiya-kun~?” (Hikaru)

She stared at me intently with her big, round eyes that seemed to see right through everything.

“I-I…” (Reiya)

“Hmm~…? You~…?” (Hikaru)

She leaned her face even closer, peering into the very depths of my soul.

In this situation, what resistance could I possibly offer?

“I… I want to see… your swimsuit…” (Reiya)

Like a famous scene from a certain basketball manga, I was made to confess my own desires.

“Even though you saw it so much the other day?” (Hikaru)

“That and this are separate things, so to speak…” (Reiya)

“Whaaat shaaall Iii dooo~…” (Hikaru)

Drawing out each syllable, the fingertips of her left hand reached for the zipper slider.

That gesture was strangely provocative, and I couldn’t help but gulp.

I want to see it. I want to see it. I want to see it.

My ‘want-to-see’ gauge was rising exponentially.

As expected, seeing it in a room (which I’d only mistaken for the sea) and seeing it at the actual sea are different.

A swimsuit is a swimsuit precisely because you see it at the sea.

Now is the time I want to unlock the achievement: ‘Saw Girlfriend in Her Swimsuit at the Sea.’

“My, oh my~… If you look at me with those eyes, I guess I have no choice~…” (Hikaru)

After a somewhat theatrical process, Hikaru put her hand on the slider.

Keeping her eyes fixed on mine, she slowly, gradually pulled it down.

It was a tease, like a delay attack from a boss in a Souls-like game.

But whether Hikaru would stay in a good mood in her swimsuit after this undoubtedly depended on my reaction.

Slowly, slowly… I watched her movements as she unzipped it.

Alright, bring it on! I’ll nail the reaction with perfect timing!

…Or so I psyched myself up, but—

“Hmm~… For now, I guess this much will do.” (Hikaru)

She stopped her hand after lowering the zipper about 10cm from her neckline.

Only a tiny bit of skin around her neck was visible; her swimsuit was nowhere in sight, not even a shadow of it.

“…Eh? Wh-What do you mean…?” (Reiya)

Completely bewildered from having my parry so thoroughly whiffed, I asked her true intentions.

“It means that if Reiya-kun gets me more in the mood, it’ll come down further and further from here.” (Hikaru)

Saying that, Hikaru flashed a mischievous smile, as if she’d thought of something amusing.

Is this a boss’s health gauge or what…?