Vol. 2 Chapter 64 – Let’s Go Buy Swimsuits (3)

“Isn’t this a little… bold, or rather, too mature…?” (Reiya)

I replied with words sugarcoated about three times over from ‘too sexy.’

“You think so…? I think high school girls these days wear stuff like this all the time…” (Hikaru)

Hikaru said, as if gauging my reaction. I don’t know the latest trends in high school girl swimsuits, but even I could tell it was a very daring swimsuit. Among the ten previous swimsuits, there were, of course, bikini types. However, those had frills or skirts attached, making the exposure more modest. In contrast, the one Hikaru was holding now should probably be called THE Bikini. It was an extremely simple design that would expose a lot of bare skin when worn. Of course, there wasn’t a single millimeter on her body that needed to be hidden. Meaning, precisely because of its simplicity, it should draw out her charm to the maximum more than any other swimsuit. It should, but…

“If you add too many, won’t it be hard to choose later?” (Reiya)

“It’ll be fine. What’s one more at this point?” (Hikaru)

“W-Well, that’s true, but… still, it’s a bit too bold, or rather… a swimsuit that’s a bit more modest and student-like would be—” (Reiya)

“It sounds like you don’t want me to wear it.” (Hikaru)

She hit the nail right on the head, and my body tensed up.

“It’s not that I don’t want you to wear it, but…” (Reiya)

“But?” (Hikaru)

“How should I put it… um… it’s difficult…” (Reiya)

“If there’s no particular reason, maybe I’ll go with this one~… You like this kind of thing too, don’t you, Reiya-kun?” (Hikaru)

Hikaru said, narrowing her eyes in a teasing tone.

“Well… I mean, I’d like to see it, but…” (Reiya)

“But…?” (Hikaru)

“…I don’t want other people to see it.” (Reiya)

I honestly confessed my complicated feelings. If it was a question of whether I wanted to see it or not, then frankly, I desperately wanted to see it. Hikaru wearing such a bold and stimulating swimsuit would undoubtedly be a legacy-defining event in my life. That’s precisely why the feeling of wanting to keep it as my own private record, unexposed to anyone else’s eyes, slightly outweighed everything else.

“Is that jealousy?” (Hikaru)

“Jealousy, or rather… possessiveness, I guess…” (Reiya)

“Mhmhm~… I see~. Wanting to have me all to yourself, that’s so luxurious~” (Hikaru)

“…This time, I’ll willingly accept that.” (Reiya)

She said, peeking her face through the gap in the curtain, looking somewhat pleased.

“If anything, you should be thinking, ‘This is my girlfriend!’ and showing me off.” (Hikaru)

“No way… Impossible, and I don’t want that anyway…” (Reiya)

“I know that.” (Hikaru)

Hikaru grinned, the corners of her mouth turning up. I felt like I was completely being played like a fiddle in the palm of her hand.

“Well, actually, I was half-joking about it myself. Even I would be too embarrassed to wear this in front of everyone…” (Hikaru)

“What’s that supposed to mean…” (Reiya)

“Because, look at this… my butt might hang out.” (Hikaru)

“…………True.” (Reiya)

I said, staring intently at the small bottoms Hikaru held up.

“That pause just now… were you perhaps imagining me wearing it?” (Hikaru)

“No comment.” (Reiya)

And so, the phantom eleventh swimsuit went untried, and three swimsuits were chosen from the initial ten. …Honestly, I regretted it just a little, thinking I might have missed out. I thought maybe I should have had her at least try it on since we were there, but it would probably be bad manners to try on something we had no intention of buying, so this was likely for the best. However, on the way to the checkout, Hikaru clapped her hands as if she’d thought of something, which bothered me a little.

After that, we went to the men’s swimsuit section, and this time Hikaru picked out a swimsuit for me. I had thought all men’s swimsuits were pretty much the same, but according to Hikaru, they apparently have their own trends. She spent as much time, or perhaps even more, selecting one for me as she did choosing her own, and I bought it. Finally, we had a slightly early dinner on the restaurant floor upstairs, and the day’s shopping concluded without a hitch.

“I’m home~! Ahh, home really is the most relaxing place~!” (Hikaru)

As if returning to her own home, Hikaru, holding shopping bags, collapsed onto the bed.

“Alrighty, I’d like to say let’s play some games… but I’m actually pretty sweaty.” (Hikaru)

“It was hot today, after all.” (Reiya)

“Yeah. So, would it be okay if I took a shower before we relax?” (Hikaru)

“Of course. I can go later, so you go first.” (Reiya)

“Thanks! Okay, wait for me a bit then.” (Hikaru)

Once I agreed, Hikaru took a change of clothes from her bag and headed towards the bathroom. Alright, while I’m waiting, maybe I’ll do a practice run with a sea-related game. Just as I thought that and reached for the controller—

“…Huh?” (Reiya)

I noticed that the shopping bag Hikaru was supposed to have placed on the bed earlier was gone. I searched to see if it had fallen into the gap between the bed and the wall, but it was nowhere to be found. Did Hikaru take it to the changing area? But why, if she’s just taking a shower…? As I pondered the whereabouts of the vanished shopping bag—

“Ta-da~! Surpri~se!” (Hikaru)

The partition slid open abruptly, and Hikaru burst out, equipped in the phantom eleventh swimsuit.

“What do you know! I actually bought it~! Well? Aren’t you surprised? You’re surprised, right?” (Hikaru)

Hikaru was saying something excitedly, but my brain, having exceeded its capacity, had ceased to function. No, it would be more accurate to say that all its processing power was dedicated solely to visual information. A pure white fabric that seemed to merge seamlessly with her white skin. Aside from a small ribbon adorning the chest, it was a simple construction, as if designed to highlight her perfect proportions to the extreme. It was an even more perfect Asahi Hikaru (UR Swimsuit Ver.) than I had imagined in front of the fitting room earlier. I wondered if the heat had gotten to my head and I was having a daydream, but the air conditioning, which was gradually starting to take effect, cooled my sweat-dampened skin, telling me this was reality.

“I was a little worried since I didn’t try it on, but I’m glad the size is perfect~” (Hikaru)

Hikaru pinched the straps on her shoulders, adjusting a small misalignment in the swimsuit. She probably didn’t realize that each time she did so, the rich symbol of femininity hidden by a palm-sized piece of fabric swayed gently.

“…Why?” (Reiya)

Activating the 1% of my brain’s language center that was still working, I squeezed out the word.

“Why, you ask…? Didn’t you say you didn’t want other people to see it, Reiya-kun?” (Hikaru)

I nodded in response, like a poorly made doll.

“Then I realized, I can just wear it when we’re alone in the room! Aren’t I a genius!?” (Hikaru)

Beaming, Hikaru exclaimed as if she had made a momentous discovery. A-A genius…? My brain stopped thinking, completely dominated by visual stimuli.

“…And so, here! You change too, Reiya-kun?” (Hikaru)

As if to press her advantage, Hikaru offered me something that had been placed at her feet. A shopping bag with the logo of a famous men’s casual brand. Inside it was the swimsuit she had picked out for me today.

“From now on, this place will be our own private beach!” (Hikaru)

Thinking back on it later, there’s no other way to describe us at that moment than completely and utterly swept up. In the heat of the first summer spent as lovers.