Vol. 2 Chapter 83 – The Sea, Popular Types, and a Luxury Resort (7)

“See? Feels good, right?” (Hikaru)

As I was soaking in the view of the vast ocean, Hikaru, who had paddled closer, asked me.

“Yeah, though I’m still a bit scared I’ll fall if I lose focus…” (Reiya)

“Alright then, next let’s try paddling a little further out!” (Hikaru)

“Okay, but… a bit slowly, please…” (Reiya)

Holding the oar, I slowly and carefully paddled the board.

“If you don’t paddle right, left, alternately, you’ll turn, huh.” (Hikaru)

“W-when I paddle, the water resistance makes my center of gravity wobble… Whoa! Careful!” (Reiya)

While Hikaru quickly got the hang of steering, I was struggling just to move forward.

I desperately followed, nearly losing my balance and falling many times.

And so, after enjoying about twenty minutes of cruising on the sea, I gradually got used to steering as well.

“Ah, it’s Saaya! HEEEY!” (Hikaru)

As we were moving along the coastline, Hikaru spotted a classmate on the sandy beach and waved, calling out to her.

“Hikaruuu! What’s thaaat! It looks super fuuun!” (Saaya)

“It’s called SUP! It’s really fuuun! You two wanna tryyy!?” (Hikaru)

Matsunaga-san (I think that was her name) was pointing this way and saying something to the boy she was paired with.

She was probably suggesting that she wanted to try it too.

“Where can we rent thooose!?” (Saaya)

“The building over theeere! It seems popular, so they might run out if you don’t go soooon!” (Hikaru)

“Got iiiit! Thank yooou!” (Saaya)

She called out her thanks towards us and then headed towards the building with the reception.

“Doing something like this together as a couple would definitely create a good atmosphere, wouldn’t it?” (Hikaru)

Hikaru looked at me and said with a smile.

Apparently, she thought she had just assisted that pair.

“I wonder. It’s pretty difficult, so if you can’t do it well, it might have the opposite effect.” (Reiya)

Now that I was getting used to it myself, I let slip a slightly condescending remark.

“That would be exciting in its own way, so it’s fine, right?” (Hikaru)

“True. By the way… Hikaru, how are things… right now…?” (Reiya)

“How are things?” (Hikaru)

“I mean, you know… is this a good atmosphere, or…?” (Reiya)

Hikaru, realizing the intent behind my words, blushed slightly from something other than the heat.

“That’s… you should know without me saying it…” (Hikaru)

“You don’t have to say it, but I’d be happy if you could show me with your actions…” (Reiya)

Saying that, I sent my gaze slightly above Hikaru’s chest—to the zipper slide…

—Zzzzip…

Conversely, the slide was pulled up about five centimeters.

“Eh!? W-why!?” (Reiya)

“That’s because your ulterior motives are showing too much…” (Hikaru)

She said this while narrowing her eyes and giving me a fixed, reproachful stare.

“Ugh…” (Reiya)

“Warrior Reiya’s attack roll is a fumble. He has given the enemy an opening to recover.” (Hikaru)

She said it in the style of a classic RPG GM, where did she even learn that?

I thought I was on the offensive, but it seems I was a bit too hasty.

I took a counterattack and was pushed back further than my original position.

As expected, she’s a formidable opponent who can’t be dealt with by ordinary means…

And so, we paddled our boards again, drifting together on the sea.

I got even more used to steering, and it became okay to paddle a bit faster.

“Reiya, look, look!” (Hikaru)

When I turned around at Hikaru’s call, she was riding a wave a short distance away.

“Whoa, amazing…! As expected of you…” (Reiya)

A genuine voice of admiration escaped me at the sight of Hikaru skillfully catching the wave with her oar.

“Right!? This feels sooo good! Woo-hoo!” (Hikaru)

As I watched her joyfully speeding across the water—

…A thought started to bubble up: ‘Hey, maybe I can do that too?’

As if on cue, a slightly larger wave was approaching from offshore.

Recalling Hikaru’s movements I had just seen, I prepared to catch the wave.

I’ve gotten quite used to handling the oar, I should be able to do it!

That slight bit of familiarity led to a gross overestimation of myself… and consequently, to great complacency.

I learned later that this is apparently called the Dunning-Kruger effect.

“Whoaaargh!!” (Reiya)

In any case, I failed to ride the wave, lost my balance, and fell from the board into the sea.

Following the impact of hitting the water’s surface, the coldness of the sea I had felt with my feet earlier enveloped my entire body.

The saltiness of the seawater invading my mouth, a sense of floating where up, down, left, and right disappeared.

Just as I thought, ‘Is this what it feels like to drown?’—

Thanks to the life jacket I was wearing, I quickly floated to the surface.

“Reiya! Are you okaaaay!?” (Hikaru)

“I-I’m fine…! Don’t worry…!” (Reiya)

Floating on the surface, I responded to Hikaru, who had approached worriedly.

‘So lame…’

This was the result of getting cocky despite my lack of athletic ability.

I inwardly cursed myself, bobbing pathetically in the water.

Since the leash cord was attached, the board hadn’t drifted away and was floating nearby.

I paddled a little to get closer and placed both hands on its underside.

It was only then that I realized the water was shallow enough for my feet to easily touch the bottom.

I thought I had come out quite far offshore, but apparently, it was a shallow beach.

When I stood up, the water level was only slightly above my navel.

“Ah… I’m soaked…” (Reiya)

From my hair to the shirt I was wearing under my life jacket.

It was natural since my whole body had been submerged, but I was drenched from head to toe.

The shirt, having absorbed seawater, felt disgusting clinging to my skin.

I flipped over the overturned board and placed the life jacket I had taken off on it.

As I took off the shirt, which had absorbed water to its limit, and was wringing it out like a rag with both hands—

“…Is something wrong?” (Hikaru)

Hikaru, who had come beside me at some point, was staring intently at me.

“N-not really…? Just, are you really okay…?” (Hikaru)

She replied curtly, yet her nose twitched, and she wore a strange expression.

“Y-yeah… You really don’t need to worry…” (Reiya)

I meant to imply, ‘Don’t mind me, just keep playing,’ but Hikaru silently circled around me.

‘What on earth is wrong with her…?’ I wondered, wringing out my shirt again—

—Zzzzzzzzzzzip…

This time, I heard that unusually long sound.

When I turned to look at her again, for some reason, the zipper on her jacket had been pulled down a good 20 centimeters all at once.