Vol. 2 Chapter 77 – The Sea, Popular Types, and a Luxury Resort (1)

Somebody, please help me.

It was Friday, three days after the irregular amusement park date ended.

I was surrounded by a lethal dose of Popular Types at a summer resort.

“Anyone got an air pump?”

“Wasn’t there one lying around somewhere? Look, over there on the table.”

“Dude, you actually brought a floatie and stuff? Don’t tell me you can’t swim?”

“No way, man. It’s obviously for when I hit it off with a girl.”

The spacious living room echoed with the lively, cheerful chatter of the Popular Types.

Meanwhile, I was doing my best to fade into the background in a corner of the room, just trying to endure.

How did it come to this?

It all started about thirty minutes ago.

Accepting Sakuramiya-san’s invitation, Hikaru and I had taken a train and then a bus to reach the summer sea.

What awaited us, who had been brimming with anticipation since morning wondering, ‘What kind of place will it be?’, was a cottage-style hotel that easily looked like it cost at least six figures in yen per night.

However, our excitement at the unimaginably luxurious invitation was short-lived…

Next, we were informed of the reality: ‘Accommodation is separate for boys and girls.’

For us, who had always slept in the same room as a matter of course and naturally assumed we’d spend our time here the same way, it was a huge shock.

I don’t think I’ll be forgetting the look of despair on Hikaru’s face when she heard that anytime soon.

But thinking about it rationally, we’re still high school students.

From a guardian’s perspective, separate arrangements for boys and girls are probably to be expected.

Anyway, the eight boys and ten girls (including Sakuramiya-san) who were invited were thus split into separate, adjacent cottages.

And that’s when hell began for me.

Naturally, the kind of boys Sakuramiya-san would invite were all Popular Types, top-tier in the school hierarchy.

Of course, they were all people I’d never interacted with even once in my year and a few months of school life.

On the other hand, everyone except me seemed to know each other, and a community had already formed.

Being thrown alone into a situation like that as a Gloomy Type is nothing short of a Punishment Game.

“No girl in high school is gonna fall for a floatie, man.”

“No, no, they might! If you say that, I’m not lending you mine when the time comes!”

“Nah, I don’t need it.”

Aaargh… I want to go home so badly already…

Why did I accept Sakuramiya-san’s invitation back then…?

I got some wrong ideas after getting together with Hikaru, but I’d forgotten that I’m a Gloomy Type to my core…

I definitely would have had more fun chipping away at the games I bought during the summer sale…

“So, like… real talk, whose swimsuit are you guys most looking forward to?”

As I was trying my best to become invisible in the corner of the room, some guy whose class I didn’t even know suddenly blurted that out.

“The one who brings it up is supposed to say first.”

“Me? Let’s see… For me, it’s gotta be Takasaki-san, I guess.”

“Dude, you’re only looking at her chest, aren’t you?”

“Ah, busted?”

Loud bursts of laughter echoed through the room.

The vibe was becoming increasingly unbearable for me, and I felt myself shrinking both mentally and physically.

“Nah, but seriously. When it comes to swimsuits, you kinda expect that, right?”

“Well, yeah, but still.”

“Anyway, what about you? I answered, so you better fess up too.”

“Me, well… I guess Kyo, normally. Doesn’t it seem like she’d wear something super wild?”

“Your criteria aren’t much different from mine, then!”

Laughter erupted again.

After that, they continued to get hyped up talking about whose swimsuit was what for a while.

I couldn’t join the conversation, of course, and was just waiting for time to pass when—

“Hey, how come no one’s bringing up Asahi-san’s name?”

Some guy who looked like he was in the soccer club suddenly piped up.

“Dude, you… that’s just so obvious, no one bothered to say it.”

After a brief silence, this time, some guy who looked like he was in the baseball club said.

“Yeah, yeah. It’s as obvious as whether everyone’s gonna eat the mountain of fries when you go to a family restaurant.”

“Your example sucks, man.”

“But seriously, aren’t you excited? Asahi-san’s swimsuit.”

“Honestly… I’m suuuuuuper excited! I was so excited I barely slept last night!”

When one of them said that with dramatic buildup, another wave of laughter swept through the room.

Amidst all that, I was the only one feeling somewhat dejected.

I knew perfectly well that Hikaru was popular with guys in that sense; it was nothing new.

Even if I’m her boyfriend, I can’t control how other people look at her.

“Honestly, that’s pretty much why I came.”

“Me too, me too!”

“Aren’t we pretty lucky today? She doesn’t even show her swimsuit for her modeling work.”

“I know, right? And what’s more, Asahi-san’s actually got a huge rack—”

Still, what I didn’t like, I didn’t like… or so I was thinking when—

“Alright, alright, stop, stop! That’s enough outta you guys!”

Someone shouted loudly, cutting off everyone’s conversation.

“I get how you feel, but don’t be eyeing someone else’s girlfriend with such lewd eyes! Right, Kageyama!” (Komiya)

He continued, then clapped a hand on each of my shoulders from behind.

“Ah, um…” (Reiya)

Turning around and looking up, I saw, as expected, an unfamiliar face.

“I’m Komiya. From Class D, ring a bell? Or maybe the track club?” (Komiya)

“Komiya… Track club…” (Reiya)

That name and club activity sounded familiar from somewhere.

That was… right… I think it was when I had just met Hikaru…

‘Yesterday, I saw Komiya from our class walking arm-in-arm with Fujimoto-san from Class A…’

What I dredged up from the depths of my memory were Hayato’s envious words.

“Ah! Fujimoto-san’s…?” (Reiya)

“Yeah, yeah, Fujimoto Haruna’s boyfriend… Wait, how do you know me from that?!” (Komiya)

Komiya-kun, formerly Classmate E, laughed at the words I managed to squeeze out.

“Well… I heard it through the grapevine a while back…” (Reiya)

“That we’re Shuei Academy’s most lovey-dovey couple?” (Komiya)

“Well… something like that…” (Reiya)

“Haha! Seriously, is that what they’re saying? Well, when it comes to recent buzz, I guess we still lose out to you guys’ couple, though.” (Komiya)

“Ha, haha…” (Reiya)

I somehow managed to deflect the high dose of Popular Type vibes being sprayed at me from close range with a strained laugh.

“Anyway, you guys! How come not a single one of you mentioned Haruna’s name?!” (Komiya)

“Well, that’s ’cause Fujimoto-san is your girlfriend, and…”

“Then Asahi-san too, right? Since she’s dating Kageyama.” (Komiya)

At Komiya-kun’s words, the other boys’ skeptical gazes focused on me.

It seemed the fact that I was dating Hikaru was still a hard pill for the world to swallow.

“I-I don’t really mind that much, so…” (Reiya)

“It’s fine, it’s fine. You gotta set these things straight from the start… So! Don’t be looking at other people’s girlfriends with pervy eyes! If you’re that jealous, then work hard and get yourselves girlfriends today!” (Komiya)

“It ain’t that easy, or we wouldn’t be struggling!”

“Yeah, yeah!”

“Don’t give up before you start. If you’re serious, I’ll help you guys make a good impression.” (Komiya)

A complete turnaround from his initial remarks that could have drawn antagonism, Komiya-kun was now easing the atmosphere by offering some light support to everyone.

From his skillful communication abilities, which were far beyond me, I could clearly tell that he was a central figure among the guys gathered today.

“Right, Kageyama?” (Komiya)

Towards this savior who had appeared in such an alien environment, I—

“Ah, uh… yeah… If there’s anything I can do…” (Reiya)

M-Man, he’s such a good guy…

And just like that, my internal affection meter for him skyrocketed, like a simple-minded romantic comedy heroine.