Vol. 2 Chapter 85 – The Sea, Popular Types, and a Luxury Resort (9)

“Aah! As expected, Kage-P! You came at just the right time!” (Takasaki)

“J-just the right time…?” (Reiya)

I quickly pulled back my hand to avoid her as she approached and tried to grab it.

“Um, um… Miyamiya and I were gonna do that thing together… but then, like, they said we couldn’t… so we were waiting for someone to come… Then, Kage-P came at just the right time, so you saved us…” (Takasaki)

“…I’m here too, you know.” (Hikaru)

Hikaru stepped forward assertively, her voice a little lower than usual, partially blocking the space between me and Takasaki-san.

“Oh, Hika was here too?” (Takasaki)

“Of course I am. Because, Reiya is my partner… my boyfriend!” (Hikaru)

Saying that, this time she hugged my arm to her chest.

I felt like invisible sparks were flying between the two of them…

“Uh, um… I didn’t quite get that, but why would our arrival be helpful…?” (Reiya)

“Um, well, um… about that…” (Takasaki)

“Hey, Chisato! I told you not to bother them!” (Sakuramiya)

As I waited for Takasaki-san to somehow spit out the words, another voice came from the side.

Turning around, I saw Sakuramiya-san walking towards us this time.

“Ehh…? I’m not bothering them at all…! Why would you say that?” (Takasaki)

“You are, aren’t you? I’m sorry, both of you.” (Sakuramiya)

Sakuramiya-san apologized to us while admonishing the dissatisfied-looking Takasaki-san.

She looked a little tired, perhaps from the heat or from being worn out by her chaperone duties.

“No, it’s not really a bother… I just don’t understand the situation…” (Reiya)

I indirectly asked Sakuramiya-san, not Takasaki-san, for an explanation of the circumstances.

“Well, we wanted to go tubing, but they told us all the remaining ones are for four people or more.” (Sakuramiya)

“Ah… so that’s what it is.” (Reiya)

With that concise explanation, I finally grasped the situation.

“So, with Kage-P and Hika here, that makes exactly four people!” (Takasaki)

“That’s the situation, but… what do you think? If it’s a bother, we won’t force you.” (Sakuramiya)

‘What should we do…?’ I exchanged glances with Hikaru.

If it were just Takasaki-san, I might have been able to refuse with some excuse, but it was hard to turn down Sakuramiya-san, who had arranged this whole trip for us.

Hikaru, too, probably thought it would be disloyal to refuse this out of personal feelings—

“Well, if Kyo insists, then I guess it’s okay…” (Hikaru)

…she agreed to the four-person ride, albeit somewhat reluctantly.

“Really!? Ah… thank goodness… Now Chisato will stop being so noisy…” (Sakuramiya)

“Ehh… Miyamiya, you thought I was being noisy…?” (Takasaki)

“Well, it’s true, isn’t it?” (Sakuramiya)

And so, due to the circumstances, we ended up playing together as a group of four.

Incidentally, this “tubing” was apparently an activity where a large tube that multiple people can ride is pulled by a jet ski.

There were various types of tubes, the most famous being the banana boat, which is a series of connected rod-shaped tubes. Besides that, there was a wide variety, from sofa-like ones for multiple people to giant donut-shaped ones like huge inflatable rings.

Among the many marine activities, it was apparently particularly casual and popular.

“Hmm… which one would be good?” (Hikaru)

“Ah, how about this one? You hold onto the handles on the side, apparently.” (Takasaki)

“Looks fun! But Chisato, won’t you fall off this one? Are you sure?” (Sakuramiya)

“Ehh… If you say that, I don’t wanna fall… Let’s pick a safer one.” (Takasaki)

Hikaru and Takasaki-san stood side by side, looking at a guide showing various tubes.

Even though it was initially reluctant, once it was decided that we would play as a group of four, Hikaru’s ability to become fully positive about it was, I think, one of her good qualities.

As I was watching the two of them like that—

“Sorry for making you tag along.” (Sakuramiya)

“No, no, it’s not something you need to apologize for…” (Reiya)

“But, wouldn’t you have preferred to be alone with Hikaru?” (Sakuramiya)

“…Well, I won’t deny that.” (Reiya)

At my reply, Sakuramiya-san laughed, saying, “There you go again.”

“But, sorry is sorry, so… in exchange, look forward to tonight.” (Sakuramiya)

“Eh? T-tonight—” (Reiya)

“You two! Let me see too!” (Takasaki)

Sakuramiya-san whispered something suggestive in my ear and then ran off to join the other two.

‘What she just said… is it really about that…?’

‘They said they can arrange some private time at night for couples or those who hit it off during the day.’

‘Really… today, is it today…?’

The words Komiya-kun had said back then began to take on an even more realistic outline.

As I watched Hikaru’s back with a strangely unsettled feeling, the three of them made their choice, and we headed towards the sea.

We crossed the pier directly connected to the reception and went down to where the tubes were.

The one the three of them chose was a so-called cockpit type, where four people sit in a circle in a bowl-shaped, round tube.

However, just as we were about to get in, there was one major miscalculation.

When sitting in the tube, I had planned for it to be ‘Me – Hikaru – Takasaki-san,’ with Hikaru blocking her.

I didn’t know what the other side was thinking, but I figured that would be the safest arrangement.

However, this circular tube had no concept of an “end.”

Meaning, no matter where I sat, I couldn’t avoid having someone else next to me.

Hikaru, perhaps realizing this miscalculation too, had a subtly troubled expression.

Nevertheless, we couldn’t change to something else now after deciding it by consensus.

Resigning myself, I sat down next to Hikaru, who had gotten in first—

“Well then, I’ll sit next to Kage-P too!” (Takasaki)

As expected, Takasaki-san took the spot next to me, on the opposite side of Hikaru.

‘It’s okay, it’s okay. Stay calm, stay calm.’

No matter what kind of attack I received, all I had to do was keep looking only at Hikaru.

With that mindset, I physically turned to look at Hikaru—

“Try not to fall this time, okay?” (Hikaru)

…she gave me a slightly mischievous smile.

And so, Sakuramiya-san got in last, and we were ready to depart.

A leisure experience with three of the most popular girls in school.

I didn’t have the guts to be happy about this situation, interpreting it as a harem.

I just prayed that it would end without anything happening.

“Let’s go!” (Sakuramiya)

When the signal was given to the staff member on the jet ski pulling us, the tube we were on slowly started to move.

“Ah, it’s moving, it’s moving!” (Takasaki)

“Whoa! The wind feels great!” (Hikaru)

At first, it was supposed to be moving slowly to let us get used to it, but perhaps because our line of sight was lower than with the SUP, it felt quite fast.

I had been cocky, thinking it wouldn’t be a big deal compared to the roller coaster I rode the other day, but if it got faster, it might be more thrilling than I imagined.

“Hey, hey, Kage-P. Sitting side-by-side like this, doesn’t it feel like when we were in the library?” (Takasaki)

“Eh? Ah… y-you think so…?” (Reiya)

“Yeah. Back then, I was on the left, and Kage-P was on the right. Ah, nostalgic.” (Takasaki)

She said it as if it were a beautiful memory, but I recall the reason being something as simple as the left seat being more convenient for charging her phone.

However, since the fact was a fact, as I was wondering how to respond—

“W-well, I’m always next to him too…!!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru started competing from the other side.

“Well, that’s natural since you’re lovers.” (Takasaki)

Takasaki-san just smiled at that and calmly retorted.

I was surprised because I fully expected her to mount a counter-attack like, ‘Oh really? But I was first, you know.’

“R-right! We always spend weekends at Reiya’s place… sitting next to each other playing games, eating snacks together… and then, um, um…” (Hikaru)

“You’re already invited to his house… How nice… So lovey-dovey…” (Takasaki)

“R-right! We’re super lovey-dovey, always lost in our own little world!” (Hikaru)

Hikaru passionately explained how much they liked each other and how there was absolutely no room for anyone else to intrude.

Honestly, it was incredibly embarrassing, but if it made Hikaru feel secure, I would gladly accept it.

“Ehh… I’m so jealous… You guys must be all over each other a lot…” (Takasaki)

“W-well, of course! We do it a tooon!” (Hikaru)

“Like, for example, do you hug and kiss, like, squeeze…?” (Takasaki)

“O-of course! Reiya looooves that! When we’re alone, he does it so much it almost makes me a little flustered… or rather, I get it done to me!” (Hikaru)

“Ehh… I thought Kage-P was the cool type, but he’s actually super clingy…” (Takasaki)

“Ha, haha…” (Reiya)

‘I’ll gladly accept it.’

“Then, then… can I ask more? I super love hearing people’s lovey-dovey stories.” (Takasaki)

“What, what!? Ask us anything!” (Hikaru)

“Anything… Hmm, then… Eh, but is it okay to ask this…?” (Takasaki)

“It’s fine, it’s fine! Don’t hold back!” (Hikaru)

Perhaps she was feeling good because Takasaki-san had accepted them as a couple.

Hikaru leaned forward so much she was almost draped over my body, pressing Takasaki-san for her question.

However, immediately after, we would regret not stopping her here.

“Have you done ‘it’ yet?” (Takasaki)