**THIS IS NSFW/R18 CONTENT AND MIGHT NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOU**
When she first saw her college classmate who would later on be introduced as her fiancé, Tendou Tsukasa suddenly remembered about a dog kept by an elderly couple in her neighborhood when she was a child.
The white-furred, mixed-breed dog given a simple name of ‘Shiro’ was a large, docile old dog fond of children.
He was often brought outside, which is unusual these days, and was always sitting like an ornament in its usual spot in a parking space that was no longer used by the elderly couple who had given up their driver’s license.
He was friendly—he would raise his head simply whenever children on their way to and from school passed by in front of the house, and when called out, he would wag his tail or make a small bark.
Perhaps because of his advanced age, his movements were slow, and it was rare for him to come to within touching distance through the fence, but nevertheless, Shiro was very popular with the children, and its owner, the old couple, was also letting him do whatever he pleased even though it would’ve been very noisy every morning and evening.
Tsukasa was one of the children fascinated by him, and although she had gotten uncomfortable with dogs after being barked at by a Doberman at her relative’s house, only the docile Shiro was special.
Tsukasa, who despite being very young understood that she liked Shiro because it was Shiro, didn’t pester her family member to get a dog, and was simply satisfied with just gazing at the docile old dog twice a day on her way to and from school.
However, children are a whimsical being, so there was a time when Tsukasa would just pass by Shiro’s house without stopping for a week or so because she got absorbed in something that she can’t remember now.
And during that period, he died, having been over eighty years old if he had been a human.
It was after a week of gazing in wonder at the empty parking space that the wife told her that his last moment was as if he had fallen asleep.
Of course, there was no way that the death of the aging Shiro had anything to do with the whim of Tsukasa, who was just one of many children passing by the house.
However, the very young girl was left with some sense of guilt and a small regret.
—That perhaps Shiro was gone because she’d taken her eyes off him.
Not as serious as a trauma, but still, a small wound was certainly etched in her immature heart.
Then there was the arrival of her fiancé, whose impression somewhat overlapped with that old dog.
Born in fall and hasn’t even turned 20, and yet has a dried-up vibe which she couldn’t wrap her head around, and although she later learned that he is unexpectedly talkative and can be quite odious, that still did not change her first impression of him.
If Shiro was the only exception among dogs that Tendou Tsukasa was not good with, the exception among men, including the fiancé figure whose face also couldn’t be seen, is Shino Iori.
Tsukasa, who has passed the period of being called a little girl and has long since become an adult in appearance, inside and out, and in sexual experience, nevertheless thought of this, half compelled due to her past experiences:
That she must keep an eye on this person, no, this time for sure, she has to keep him close by.
§
“Tsukasa-san, over here.” A strong sunlight and a listless voice greeted Tendou Tsukasa as she got off the bus in front of a domed stadium.
Towards the young man waving his hand, Tsukasa walked with steps filled with the utmost suspense as she unfolded her parasol—while wondering how much this kind of fine technique would get through.
“Good morning, did I make you wait?”
Even though it’s still in the morning, shadows were cast on the sidewalk tiles, and the temperature difference from the air-conditioned interior of the bus was immediately causing sweat to break out on her back.
“Mornin’, and nah, I just got here early.”
“You could’ve waited inside instead of out here, it’s hot, right?”
“Ah, I guess you’re right. Well, I’m all right here, and there’s also a shade.”
“Are you sure? Say it if you start feeling sick, okay? Heatstroke is a scary thing after all.”
“Okay.”
While having such conversations, they’re walking up the pedestrian bridge connecting directly to the shopping mall they’re aiming for on the other side of the street.
Amidst the hotness that even the heat of the inhaled into her lungs feels languid, Shino Iori, however, is completely natural that he’s even looking absent-minded like usual.
He, Tsukasa’s fiancée, is slightly taller than average, has a solid frame but thin flesh, resulting in his lean figure making her build all the more stand out.
His facial feature is plain, and although not to the point of being especially handsome, it gives off a mild impression.
‘Sleepy-looking fine young man’ said by her eldest sister should be an adequate assessment—but then, that impression isn’t accurate as far as the content is concerned, however.
When the automatic door opened, the cold air that’s like in a different world was blowing through tickling their bodies substituting for the hot air from the outside.
The shopping mall that was opened three years ago in fall still greeted them with a dazzling brilliance.
“So, from where do we go?” And then Iori suddenly went into errand mode even though this is a holiday date.
Raising her eyebrows, Tsukasa thought: You’re supposed to start by talking about clothes lightly and compliment the other person’s sense of fashion, or at least show interest and concern.
“Before that Shino-kun, your impression?”
She’s unwilling to ask in such a direct manner, but this fiancé would probably never make a spontaneous remark his whole life unless she is repeatedly imprinting it like this.
As evidence, Iori opened his mouth after making a curious look.
“—Summery, high-class young lady-ish?”
Even though it’s a commentary so simplistic that it’s hard to tell whether it is praise or not, something even an elementary schooler might be able to say, it’s better than not showing interest.
Well probably he’s wanting to say it’s elegant (or maybe prim and proper) with a seasonal touch.
Today Tsukasa’s wearing a light blue collared shirt one-piece with simple double-strap sandals on her feet; a mature and cute style of fashion that should be of Iori’s taste.
Setting aside his expressive power, his impression, well, should be an appropriate one.
“It’s like that, but thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Thinking, ‘but is there anything that can be done about this expression that’s like saying “it can’t be helped”?’ Tsukasa sighed in her mind. Good grief, what an odious person.
“So, from where do we go?”
She wants to protest for being asked once again with the same words as well, but there will be no end worrying about fine details with him.
“Let’s go shopping for you first, Shino-kun. I remember you want to check up on shoes, is that right?”
Despite saying it like a question, she actually firmly remembered it.
After all, if it weren’t for the ‘I need a new sneakers’ reason that she’d managed to conjure out of his reluctance, this date, and the plan beyond it, might not have been possible.
“I don’t mind leaving it for later. It’s gonna be quick anyway.”
“Then why not go for it first? If we’re done with your shopping, I don’t have to worry about the time, don’t I?”
“Eeeh…?” Iori looked truly baffled at Tsukasa’s pretense so that she could understand her fiancé’s taste even if a little. “Well, I don’t really mind, then err… to the third floor, I guess.”
“Sure.”
And as soon as they arrived at the shoe store, he went straight for the sneakers shelfs, looked from one end to the other, and picked one up.
Aside from the brand logo on the side and the use of cork on the heel part, this is a simple beige sneaker with no worth mentioning features.
He glanced at the price tag, called the employee, took two or three steps to try the shoes, and easily made the decision, “I’ll buy these.”
The time it took to inspect it was so short it’s shocking. It may or may not have taken ten minutes.
“Shino-kun, I didn’t mean to rush you, you know?”
“Eh, well, I just picked one normally, though,”
When she asked whether she had made him uncomfortable, he replied in his usual tone.
In addition to being bad at lying and faking with it all showing on his face, Tsukasa also understands that he’s far too much of a stranger to flattery and currying favor.
“Is that so? In that case, okay then…”
In other words, for him shopping follows the general rule of ‘choose what you need within your budget,’ and probably isn’t an amusement.
The sneakers just bought as well, he’s definitely picked it up without even thinking about which outfit he would wear them with.
Tsukasa was convinced: So that’s why he’s always dressed subtly mismatched, I see.
Today he’s wearing a shirt that fits his shoulders but it is too long, making it look oversized; the pants he’s wearing as well, it’s a slim design, but the unraised hems are too over the ankles.
Iori’s attire, born out of indifference and apathy, is a bit sloppy, to put it bluntly.
However, if she were to point that out at this stage, it’s quite capable to draw the attention of other girls, so it’s probably good to have him improve after burying and cutting down any obstacles—
“Now then, it’s time for my turn.”
And just like that without even voicing out her inner thoughts, Tsukasa took Iori’s arm.
The objective is the specially set up swimsuit sales floor—it’s a battleground inevitable to achieve her ambitions during this summer.
§
“—So Shino-kun, do you wanna go to the beach? The pool? Or maybe the night pool?”
Asked by Tsukasa on the escalator going down, Iori, standing one step below, looked back with only his face.
“Say, does that really have to do with choosing a swimsuit?”
“Yeah, I mean each one has slight differences in things to do, right?”
“Well, I guess. Then let’s rule out the night pool.”
“Oh, you’ve been there?”
“Nah, I haven’t, but I can’t live in that kind of partygoers space.”
“That’s just no way…”
“Nuh-uh, if someone like me steps into that kinda space for people with fulfilling lives, things are gonna get so ugly, you know?”
She held back from wanting to say: What kind of outlook is it to not be having a fulfilling life when you have a fiancée that most people would be envious of?
“Specifically, what’ll happen?”
“—Death?” Despite tilting his head, Iori’s expression and tone of voice were very serious.
After getting down the escalator, Tsukasa took his arm again as he asked where the direction was by giving her a glance.
For a moment, he stiffened and tried to distance himself, but she tightly gripped his hand and leaned in, bumping into him.
“Oh come on, you’re overreacting.” She continued the conversation, while dragging him who got relaxed as if in resignation.
“Nah… And then well, on the off chance I’m having fun, it’ll go until late, so going home seems like it’s gonna be bothersome.”
“At that time we can just go stay the night, can we? Within the city most of them are hotel pools, you know?”
Hearing what Tsukasa said in an especially affable way as if to say that it’s a good proposal, Iori shook his head with a blatant look of disagreement on his face.
“That’s why we’re ruling it out… Well when I think about it, is going to a beach that seems like it’s gonna turn into a short trip also gonna be tight, I wonder? Momochi is close, but it seems to have a lot of people, so I’d rather avoid it.”
“I guess so. Excluding Momochi, it’s gonna be on the far end, and if you want a beautiful and quiet place, don’t we have to go as far as Itoshima? If you’re really fussy about it, the best thing would be to stay overnight outside the prefecture, though.”
“Impossible.”
Tsukasa was expecting it, but she was momentarily speechless at the intensity of that single word.
Iori would sometimes lament that he’s not popular with girls, but that is him paying for his own mistakes.
From Tsukasa’s observation, there should be a fair number of girls who have interest in him, both in the past and in the present.
However, his own strange mischievousness, and the personality that would sometimes respond with no mercy at all are probably what’s making them hesitant to make an approach.
She’s also not an exception to that, but if he were to make an exception for her, it would help her with the lessened rivals, however.
“Hey Shino-kun, I’ve told you before, but stop with saying ‘impossible.’ I’ll cry, you know?”
What she said jokingly was, at the same time, undisguised true feelings.
If the situation calls for it, even it wouldn’t be weird for Tsukasa to lose heart one way or another.
If it wasn’t Iori, she would’ve given the cold shoulder, severing any feelings once and for all.
“Nn, all right. Then I guess it’s gonna be a seaside park pool, Uminonakamichi one.” Unclear whether he understands it or not, Iori continued the subject in an indifferent manner.
“—I guess so, it seems there’s also a lot of people there, but on a weekday maybe there will be few families coming.”
Enduring wanting to sigh, she pulled on his arm as he stopped on his tracks right after they got in front of the swimsuit sales floor.
“You’re just refusing your fate this late in the game, Shino-kun.”
“I didn’t want to meet a fate like this…”
That said, that resistance was also short-loved.
There are many pairs of girls on the sales floor, but couples aren’t uncommon either. It’s very clear that being flustered right there would be much more conspicuous.
“Now then, it’s time to pick the swimsuit you want me to wear in an outdoor pool with lots of people.”
“No, isn’t it better to go with what you like?”
“One-piece? Or would the separate one be better?”
“C’mon, listen to me.”
“Then do you wanna see my navel? Do you want people to not see?”
“Can I have you stop making it harder to answer?”
“I guess it’s gonna be a bikini then.”
“The exposure’s just increasing, and I don’t get why you said ‘I guess’.”
And his easy-to-understand thought is not a bad thing at a time like this.
“My, I mean it’s hard for you to answer because you wanna see my navel, right?”
Iori’s having his guard up, one way or another not smooth with his replies and also bad at socializing, but at the end of the day, that’s probably because he feels the charm in Tsukasa.
She got the conviction regarding it in that response alone.
“Hey, is the smaller sized one really better in a guy’s view?”
“—Leaving that aside, I think it’s better not to worry about showing through, slipping off, and stuff like that.”
“Is that so? Okay.” Tsukasa smiled and accepted Iori’s earnest and serious-sounding ‘request.’
“—How is it?”
And then Tsukasa probably won’t forget Iori’s expression the moment she got out of the fitting room her whole life.
The moment she broke into a smile at his repeated attempts to say something then just to close his mouth, “you look beautiful, though?” Tsukasa burst into laughter from being told that in a sulky voice and moreover with a serious expression.
“Pft, ahahaha.”
A mystery why he would have to look so annoyed, and yet his words and gaze are honest.
After Tsukasa finished laughing for some time, Iori took out his phone still looking sour. “Tsukasa-san, can I take a picture?”
“…Sure, but save taking a thorough look at it when you get home, okay?” She made a preemptive move, not wanting to be made to feel complicated like the time with the yukata.
Still with a complicated look, Iori nodded, once again greatly satisfying Tsukasa’s self-esteem.
“Also we can’t have you get mistaken for making peeping photos, so can you lend me your phone so I can take it myself?”
“Ah, guess you’re right.”
Then she returned back to the fitting room, and took several pictures in a sexy pose without being vulgar.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks…”
After receiving his phone, he scratched his head with a difficult face.
“What’s wrong?”
“…I thought of this after these were taken, but doesn’t that seem kinda accident-prone?”
The swimsuit Tsukasa has chosen is a triangular-shaped white bikini.
The cloth size itself isn’t particularly small, but the top’s strings are thinnish; the bottom as well, it’s considerably thin on the side. Iori’s concern isn’t un-understandable either.
Be that as it may, it would be a young man and woman going together to a pool.
They probably wouldn’t be competing in timed swims, and probably wouldn’t be playing wrestling at their age either. If at all, she’d ask him to accompany her for a night-wrestling to make up for it, however.
“It’s gonna be fine, as long as I don’t swim seriously.” Even after a mention of this from Tsukasa after she guessed his inner troubles, Iori is faltering with his words.
“No, that’s true, but there’s also, like, a water slide and stuff,”
“Of course you and I are going to slide down together, right? You can just help me at that time, can’t you?”
“No no no no no c’mon, that’s already a huge step for an accident.”
Of course, Tsukasa also doesn’t want to expose herself in front of the public, but if it’s to get this stubborn fiancé to be more conscious for herself, a little bit of taking a risk is still tolerable.
“I think it’s cuter like this, though.”
Well even if a calculation like that were to be left out, accidents happen even if you are careful, and probably just don’t wear a bikini if you don’t want that.
“I would like to beg you to make it a little more moderate, please.”
However, Iori, who’s not the concerned person, seems to mind it that much.
When he becomes all formal-ish is usually when he’s at his wit’s ends.
That he is troubled, and that he is worried about Tsukasa is probably true.
It’s also not a bad feeling for Tsukasa, but at the same time, it’s certain that she was asked for a compromise.
“Say, Shino-kun, can I take that as you’re requesting it as a fiancé?”
“Ugh…”
Hence, she thinks that a little bit of bargaining should be okay.
If he says ‘I’m not,’ it would become Iori’s personal request, and if he says ‘that’s right,’ that would be an acknowledgement of her status as his fiancée.
No matter how it turns out, as the fiancée of him who likes to add ‘temporary’ or ‘for the time being’, it would probably become a trigger to stimulate his self-consciousness of Tsukasa even if a little.
And then after a good dozens of seconds had passed, Iori gave up with his shoulders dropped.
“That’s right.”
“I see, it can’t be helped then. I’ll go get another one since you insisted.”
“Thank you…”
Towards Iori who said his thanks with dead eyes, Tsukasa showed a wholehearted smile.
“I can’t wait to go to the pool.”
“……Right.”
Iori, who acknowledged it in a worn-out voice, in the end also took out his phone even with the next swimsuit.
In contrast to him who looked somewhat tired, Tsukasa enjoyed that day’s date from start to finish, and went home very satisfied.
§
And then that night Tsukasa’s room was filled with seductive voices and the sound of a sheet being stirred.
Tsukasa, who sees sexual desire as beyond control, doesn’t hesitate to use her fiancé to help her relieve it.
“Nn…”
Especially since the summer festival where he hugged her, her fantasies of being held in those arms or that chest has indeed been progressing well.
His bony, muscular arms were unexpectedly strong, and his thin but wide chest got the feel of lean, tight muscle. The warmth of another person’s body she hasn’t felt for a long time now makes her feel hot down to the core of her body.
“Iori-kun…”
She wants him to open wide those always sleepy-looking eyes and look at her.
She wants him to call her name with that slightly high-pitched, childlike voice. Over and over again, passionately, repeatedly—
That wish so far hasn’t been fulfilled. Nor is there any prospect of it.
Once Tsukasa realized what was once given to her as a matter of course, however, is not so from the one she truly wants, she felt a certain elation accompanied by an unfulfilled hunger.
It’s good luck; after all, the partner is her fiancé even though it was decided by her house.
Conversely, his small and firm refusal that has continued so far didn’t come across as misfortune.
After all, Iori’s occasional display of impartiality and resoluteness taught that the reason lies in Tsukasa’s decision. To take that as misfortune would be too much of a lack of reflection.
And that fact, on the other hand, fueled her fighting spirit even more.
This is a challenge.
A difficult, and for that reason, worth challenging battle—to be the one and only ‘exception’ to Shino Iori, who is stubborn but seems frail, obstinate but seems easily swayed, and harsh and yet kind.
And she already understood the reason why she felt that way.
Tendou Tsukasa is in love.
That was unmistakably a joyous thing.
TL notes:
Momochi is a beach; try searching “Momochi Seaside Park”
Uminonakamichi is also a seaside park; you can try searching “Uminonakamichi Seaside Park”
Other Changes:
Chapter 1: “Nah, I just can’t, not by a long shot; even so that’s not the kind of number where you will just say ‘all right, then.’” to “That’s not awful, but even so that’s not the kind of number where you would just say ‘all right, then.’”
Chapter 1: “I also don’t have any weird kinks; if you like, wanna go to the toilet or something now to check?” to ““I also don’t have any weird peculiarities; if you like, wanna go to the toilet or something now to check?””
Chapter 7 “The hair that’s much curlier than usual was pulled and tied in a casual bun in a low position on the back of her head, creating a just right casualness.” to “The hair that’s much curlier than usual was pulled and casually tied into one in a low position on the back of her head, creating a just right casualness.”
Support the author by buying the book here!
I Can't Read Japanese TL 
Thank you for chapter, i allways waited for here way of thinking.
LikeLike