**THIS IS NSFW/R18 CONTENT AND MIGHT NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOU**
The smell of the sea, strong sunlight, and then a girl looking out at the ocean while holding down her hat swayed by the wind.
The centerpiece of this summer landscape that’s like a drawing of a ferry landing scene was someone I, Shino Iori, am working for as an apprentice stand-in candidate fiancé; Tendou Tsukasa.
“—It’s a bit hot, but it’s great the weather is nice, isn’t it?”
Wearing a camisole and hotpants and freely exposing those long arms and legs, putting on a thin cardigan on top, along with a straw hat and a large jute bag, Tendou turned to look at me with a smile clearer than today’s sky.
“…Right.”
The reason why the reply seems boring, even if I say so myself, was not because I got hit by the Miss Fiancée’s face that’s more dazzling than the sparkling water surface, but simply because of seasickness.
“—Still feeling sick? We could’ve used the train or bus if you’re bad with boats, though.”
“I haven’t gotten on one much, so I didn’t think I’d get this sick…”
Even the less than 20-minute route cutting through Hakata Bay in a north-south direction from Momochihama to Uminonakamichi was enough to knock me off my feet.
I’m thankful for Tendou’s concern as she strokes my back, but as the kind of man who is weak to being treated kindly when I’m weakened, I also kinda want her to stop.
Especially at this point in time after I’ve gone on dates and dates with her, gotten kissed at the summer festival, and admired her in a swimsuit that’s almost as good as half-naked, that is; setting aside when we’ve just got engaged.
Wait, doesn’t this make me have to take responsibility already?
“—All right, let’s get going.”
“No need to rush, we can go after you get better, you know?”
“I don’t want you to treat me kindly.”
When it came to my true feelings involuntarily leaking out big time, like it was natural, I got met with a wondering look.
As always, no matter what expression, her face looks good; I can also understand why she’s making an appeal out of that.
“Nah, the wobbly feeling is clearing up, and I think I’ll feel refreshed after taking a shower or something.”
“Is that so? Don’t force yourself, and be sure to tell me if it gets rough, okay?”
It’s Tendou who’s the one suffering the trouble of me throwing up or collapsing, and it’s natural to be considerate as a traveling companion, but still, the attitude of not making a single displeased face really is increasing favorability.
“I’ll be careful.”
When I stood up and held out my left hand, Tendou happily pulled me with her right hand and settled down next to me with twirling, dance-like steps.
“—Isn’t it hot being that close?”
She, who has a certain aspect where she thinks it is natural for a man and woman to hold hands or link arms when walking together, has recently taken up my left as her regular spot.
“You know, Shino-kun, when you get a cute, lightly-dressed girl clinging to you, you should make a more happy face, you know?”
“I see.”
That sure is a manner I don’t know.
In fact, like the soft feeling touching my arm, or her fair neck I’m curiously stealing glances at because of her hair being tied up, and then like, the somehow good smell is somehow making the heat seem like a trivial matter, though.
Well, the best of all is the destructive force of her extremely above standard face unleashed at point-blank range, though.
Maybe because it’s for going to the pool, but Tendou is wearing make-up with a slightly different flavor than usual, and she has a childlike, innocent smile on that mature, dainty, beautiful face of hers.
When I see that, I can tell how much she is looking forward to this day.
Even if I don’t intend to pay for the consequences, I couldn’t turn completely into a heartless, breaking-off-engagement machine that could do anything to cloud that.
“I can hardly wait, Tsukasa-san.”
If that’s the case, I probably should not make any gloomy faces, and heartily enjoy this day as well.
“Yeah.” Tendou’s voice seemed happy and excited, perhaps my feelings have been conveyed.
§
Slowly, the temperature is rising the more as the sun rises higher, and the silhouettes scattered about around the poolside are gradually decreasing in that area.
“It’s so hot…”
The vigor I’ve regained thanks to refreshing myself by washing my face is being robbed bit by bit in the time I’m waiting for Tendou to get changed.
“Sorry for making you wait, Shino-kun.”
Around the time I started to think of going back in to wash my face again, Tendou Tsukasa called my name, breaking through the buzz of the poolside.
“⸻”
Then she came into my view, and I got speechless.
The white bikini with sexy gaps between the weaves, called crocet or something, was, as requested, considerate enough towards a virgin in terms of coverage area and accident rate, but its destructive power when seeing it now under the sun was beyond imagination.
Even the images taken when trying it out couldn’t even bring out a third of the charm. Even the red key band of the rental locker is giving an accent, making Tendou Tsukasa just dazzlingly beautiful.
“…! …!?”
Even when I’m unconsciously looking around, and the people who seem to be waiting for their companions and those who have joined up and are heading to the pool occasionally look at Tendou, they don’t seem to pay much attention to us.
Eh, why? Isn’t a girl of this caliber unusual?
“Shino-kun? Why are you looking around first before calling out to me?”
“Eh, well, say, is this legal?”
“…Heatstroke? Or are you still feeling sick? Is your head okay?”
I got told horrible things so casually.
That happened, but right now, the sight of Tendou in a swimsuit is so cute that I can forgive her no matter what she says to me.
Also, I wonder if my head boiling is why I heard the ‘heatstroke1’ part awfully slow.
“No, sorry, I’m okay,” I said to her who’s sending me fishy eyes, and then I repeatedly took a deep breath.
I must say that my head is hot probably not just because of the sunlight…
“All right, I’m cool now. I was a bit surprised is all.”
“At my charm?”
“Yeah.”
“I-I see…”
Only now I can’t say anything even towards that self-confident attitude that normally would make me want to say something.
By the way, why do the men around look so composed? I’d be staring hard if it were me, all right.
“Then stop looking around like that. Your impress—”
“It’s crazy cute, very cute, looks ultra good on you, thank you, Tsukasa-san.”
“Eh, okay…?”
I said my thanks while tightly gripping both of her hands and shaking it up and down.
I do think that my excitement is a little odd myself, but Tendou who is unusually blushing at words of praises is also unlike the usual, which is odd, so all of this is probably the summer’s fault
“Well, so long as you’re happy with it…”
“I’m crazy happy, super happy, ultra happy.”
“Hey, aren’t you a little bit too excited? You’re really okay, right?”
“How rude.”
She always seems to want me to praise her, yet this is what I’ve got now that I’m voluntarily doing it, huh.
She could’ve been more thankful, and yet is Miss Beautiful Lady thinking that by smiling a little bit the average person will always spit out as much praise as they can?
That’s exactly right.
“And stop making those different faces. Geez, if you’re not feeling sick, then let’s go.”
Suddenly pulled by Tendou in a swimsuit who’s essentially half-naked, I let myself, actually half-naked with only swimming trunks, be pulled towards the pool in a snuggle-up-close position.
“Say, Tsukasa-san; you have fair skin, huh…”
“Really after all this time? I’m exposing it to the sun for you, so be thankful, okay?”
“Yeah, thanks. And then, thanks.”
“…You’re making things awkward!”
“Oouuch!”
My naked back got smacked by the kinda flustered Tendou.
Although I feel like we’ve been considerably making merry, the surroundings still don’t seem to mind us so much either.
It seems the world is much more overflowing with idiotic couple than I expected.
§
While riding along the flowing pool while bouncing up and down—the result of me going under the water following the helpful suggestion of ‘how about cooling down your head a couple of times while at it, Tendou?’ is my head regaining its usual sharpness.
“~♪”
Bouncing while humming like that, I saw Tendou’s crochet-knit, short camisole worn over her top being softly expanded under the water, and then I slammed my head into the water in search for more clarity.
“…Shino-kun, the water is splashing so can you stop that?” Tendou, apparently not wanting to get too wet from the neck up, kindly told me while floating around with my arms and shoulders as support. Well, I suppose it must be rough if her hair gets wet.
“You pardon, m’lady.”
“Look who’s talking…!”
While letting out a sigh, Tendou made a loop from right to left, circling along my bouncing shoulders. Since some time ago, she seems to be playing, trying to see if she can circle around without putting down her feet somehow, but I’m shuddering when my shoulders are touched directly by her slender fingers, so I want her to stop.
I’m glad I wore an innerwear that emphasizes on complete fit.
“Shino-kun, you’re acting weirder than usual, but did you like me in a swimsuit that much?”
“Yup.”
As Tendou probably meant it as a joke, she muttered “eeh…” in a small voice and froze. Hmmm, I hate my overly-honest self.
“—You did say the night pool would kill you, but wasn’t the normal pool also going above your tolerance?”
“I’m starting to feel that way a little.”
Her words towards me sounded exasperated, but there’s absolutely no room for objection.
Somehow without me realizing it, I’ve gotten used to the good quality of her face, and furthermore, I must’ve gotten completely careless with the yukata before.
No matter how you look at it, Tendou Tsukasa originally shouldn’t be an existence a guy who has never dated a girl before can come to the pool together with.
I thought I knew she has a slim waist, beautiful and tight legs, and a tight butt, but she also got a substantial pair of boobs. And I can’t possibly come in contact half-naked.
I wonder why I didn’t notice that when we went shopping for swimsuits…
“These days AED should be well prepared anyway, so tell me if your heart’s about to stop beating, okay? I will give you artificial aspiration.”
And like that compared to me at my wit’s ends, that mouth of Tendou was so incessant, seeming to have sensed my unrest.
“Is it okay to give a wet person an electric shock?”
“Who knows… Ah.” I quickly pulled Tendou towards me as she was about to bump into someone drifting from behind.
“Sorry, sorry,” a young man about our age apologized lightly with one hand raised.
“That’s close, but well, guess can’t be helped with this many people.” I also responded by raising my right hand.
“There sure are a lot of people now.” And when I returned my gaze towards Tendou, for some reason she’s blankly touching my chest. It’s kinda ticklish. “Tsukasa-san?”
“—Ah, sorry. I was just thinking you’re pretty muscular, Shino-kun.”
Although for an instant I got tempted, wondering what would happen if I totally without shame touch Tendou’s chest and say ‘it’s pretty big,’ it will only make my situation worse without doubt.
That was a horrifying summer’s trap. And then inequality between men and women.
“Hey, Shino-kun. I got a bit tired, so can you piggyback me?”
“Eeh…”
“Why’re you making a displeased face!”
“Even if you told me that…”
Well, sure, there are many guys carrying a girl on their back and splish splashing their way through the water while making them squeal, I guess? But is she telling me to do that?
What would you do if the ground contact area to the happiness of my back becomes severe and I get atrial fibrillation?
“Let’s get out of the water for a bit instead if you’re tired, we’ve also been in the water for pretty long.” Then right after, opportunely, the person in charge called out for us to come up out of the pool for the break period.
“Ah… You’re right.”
I pulled Tendou’s hand and headed for the poolside. Her movements were a little sluggish, maybe it’s unexpectedly not a lie that she was tired.
§
Even though my body was chilled down, I was still moving about under the sunlight; I figured it would be good to have some water, so I bought some drink along my toilet trip, and what I caught in my eyes when I got back was the sight of Tendou being talked to by someone just like last time.
The difference from last time is that it’s a group with a mix of men and women, and for some reason Tendou also seems like having a hard time cutting the talk short.
“Tsukasa-san.”
“—Ah, Shino-kun.”
My impression of the group that turned their heads together with Tendou to look over here was ‘looks like normie bunch.’
It seems to be a group of three men and two women, and probably college students.
Based on their vibe, their school year is probably a little higher than ours.
“Tsukasa-chan, is this the Boyfriend-kun you talked about?”
“Ah, yes, err.”
Then a leader-like, fine, muscular but thin man did not even greet me, but asked Tendou over-familiarly, so I’ve got a rough idea of his character.
Well now, what should I do to get this over with here? It’s also true that making a scene is no good, though.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Shino, Tsukasa-san’s fiancé… And these people are?”
I guess I would have them return home with at least the common sense that greeting people first is important.
I purposely and boldly revealed my position, so I’m gonna ask them the same.
“These are acquaintances of my second second older sister, this is—”
Tendou was sincerely introducing them to me, so I’d at least bow my head, but I went to forget their names as soon as I heard it.
It’s probably unlikely that I’ll ever need to identify them in the future anyway, and I don’t want to retain any personal information about these rude bunches in my memory today especially.
From the way Tendou’s talking, it doesn’t seem like they’re her older sister’s close friends anyway, and it sounds good to just ignore them in the first place, though… Ah, I wonder if the fact they’re not close makes cutting the talk short hard instead.
“Man, I was just wondering what’s going on since Tsukasa-chan was alone. So, won’t you also come with us, Boyfriend-kun?”
“So we’re gonna be preparing for a barbecue after this, but one person suddenly called it off so like, it seems we’re gonna have too much meat and stuff.”
I did say I’m her fiancé and not her boyfriend, though!?
Moreover, what do you mean with that ‘also,’ are you treating me like an add-on to Tendou? I don’t really mind if I seem that way to others, but isn’t it rude to say it?
Also, one absence means it must’ve been a girl, balance wise, and so they invited Tendou wanting to fill up that hole.
But if they’re missing one person and gain two, this time it probably wouldn’t be enough. What a lame excuse.
It doesn’t seem like he got any wild scheme to do anything to Tendou either; this might be how partygoers are like, but I wonder if they would ask out a girl on a normal date.
“I appreciate the thought, but I’m afraid I will have to decline. I have also been told by Tsukasa-san’s parents to properly escort her ‘as her fiancé,’ and it’s our precious date, so…”
Since they’re her older sister’s acquaintances, they probably know a little about how the Tendou family is also rich, and to be blunt here, there should also be no reason to hang on in a group of men and women.
And the fact that Tendou also doesn’t say anything should mean it’s okay to decline anyway.
“Aah, that so? Man, you’re so straight-laced, huh, Boyfriend-kun.”
The fine, muscular but thin man has his mouth twitching up un-amusedly, but I don’t give a damn.
“Yes, I have been entrusted with their precious daughter, so… Well then, everyone, please enjoy yourselves—Tsukasa-san, let’s go.”
“Ah, okay—then if you’ll excuse me.”
“Just come to us if you change your mind, okay? Tsukasa-chan.”
It won’t change, so just keep your woohoo yahoo to you and your friends at most.
While thinking ‘if possible, I hope they‘d dive deep into midsummer-second-rate-horror-film-like development where they’d get lost on the way back from the pool only to have a homicidal maniac appear,’ I pulled Tendou’s arm and left that place.
“—Shino-kun, how far are we gonna go?”
And as I kept continuously going forward to some place with fewer and fewer people, I found ourselves at a very far edge without realizing it.
“Ah, sorry, I just, without thinking.”
When I quickly released her hand and turned around, Tendou looked like she wanted to say something.
Thinking ‘maybe I got a bit too overbearing,’ those gazes were making my slightly pissed off self to cool down.
And regret, self-hatred, and those kinda stuff came crashing in.
“Hey, Shino-kun.”
“Well, I guess I just got irritated he didn’t introduce himself to me and were just talking to you, and in the first place I introduced myself as your fiancé and yet boyfriend, like, the attitude that’s like belittling by calling me a boyfriend is just not pleasant, like, I feel bad for your older sister, but I guess they’re just kinda rude peopl—”
“I haven’t said anything, though?” The voice of Tendou suppressing a laugh sounded happy, grrr. “Moreover, what’s with that talkativeness? It’s like you’re making excuses, isn’t it?”
“That’s not true, though!?”
“It’s a great mistake if you thought you could fool me with that vigor, you know?”
Ah, somehow I feel like I’ve said that before…
Arbitrarily feeling as if I was being cross-examined by those light brown eyes staring fixedly at me, I unintentionally added some more in fast-talking.
“—it’s like being dumped on with cold water, it wasn’t funny. I got irritated at that guy being overly-familiar by like, calling you with ‘chan.’ I don’t really understand why myself… Will this do?”
“C’mon, don’t sulk. It’s not like I was trying to get you to say everything either.”
And then in a low voice, “but,” Tendou continued, and jumped into my chest. “I also wanted it to be just the two of us today, so thank you for taking me out of there.”
“Ah, yeah.”
The sensation of crochet-knit top that feels unexpectedly snug, and ‘something’ soft underneath it being pressed against my naked chest.
Her slender arms wrapped around my back, her soft cheeks touching around my shoulders, her unwet, light brown hair in front of me.
Sweat’s slowly oozing out from the place in contact with Tendou.
After a short while raising and lowering my arms like an idiot, troubled where to place it, a kid saying “Mommy!” seems to have been watching from somewhere and was told “no, don’t do that,” and along with that voice, my readiness was set.
“Ah…” Tendou’s escaped breath tickled my neck. The body of her I hugged back from above her shoulders was slender, however very soft, and above all, warm.
And just like the hunch I confessed some time ago, my desire for more and more would grow bigger if I ever touch her once.
My right hand followed the line of her beautiful back down to her waist, and my left hand went up as it traced the nape of her neck to touch her snug, braided hair.
Even while letting out a ticklish breath from time to time, Tendou still didn’t refuse my movements.
“Shino-kun…” An ardent voice breathed out from her pale pink lips called out to me.
I don’t think there’s any hint of rejection there.
As the thought that I’ve been allowed to touch came to mind, I couldn’t stop anymore.
The feeling of hugging someone with my whole body for the first time since I was child brought out great comfort, and a strong desire exceeding that.
As I was led along by that, I hugged Tendou’s slender, soft body more strongly.
“Nn…”
Snuggling up her whole body close and writhing around frustratedly, Tendou entangled her leg with mine.
—I want to touch more, I want to be touched more.
Only after it was satisfied did I know that I had such a hunger inside me.
A void that surely cannot be filled by a person alone.
Tendou is surely feeling the same, and above all, she already knows this, and must have been enduring it all this time till now.
For the first time, I understood a part of Tendou Tsukasa’s past in the truest sense, and I was so clearly jealous that I can no longer even deny it.
Of those men before me, who have touched this beautiful woman.
I do understand that I don’t have any qualifications to think about such an impudent thing, as I have been pushing her away to keep my distance from her all this time.
But even so, I was envious, I was jealous, I was hateful of those guys whose names and faces I don’t even know.
“Nn, hey, it hurts…”
“Ah, sorry—”
Maybe I put too much strength as Tendou spoke up while groaning, so I hurriedly released my arms and pulled away, somehow managing to kick away the reluctant feeling to do so.
Taking a deep breath, she made a troubled smile.
“…I thought I was gonna get crushed in a hug.”
“Sorry, I got too caught up…”
There’s no excuse, but even so, it’s also embarrassing to reveal my childish inner feelings.
“You know, I’m not that robust. All the more so since you’re unexpectedly strong.”
“I’m reflecting, sorry.”
“Nn, then be more gentle next, okay?”
Smiling with both hands spread out, Tendou was more dazzling than the sky today, and I couldn’t understand right away what that meant, or what was being asked of me.
She muttered a small “geez,” stretched up, and gave me a kiss—just a light touch on the lips.
And then finally my brain worked, and I tried to hug, but as if to say ‘time’s up,’ she quickly dodged my hug and turned around.
“Well then, let’s go back to the pool now. I’m starting to feel hot.”
“Eh, ah, okay—”
She smiled full of liveliness, and the sun’s approaching the highest point of the heaven.
The dazzling summer days were about to get into full swing.
§
“Hey, Iori-kun, do you like yakisoba?”
During lunch in a big tent after a swim, Tendou called me by my first name for the first time ever since we got engaged and I couldn’t immediately point that out; the reason was that I just stuffed my mouth with a mouthful of yakisoba.
“—Howaeh?why?”
And as the result of prioritizing continuing with the conversation, I completely lost the timing to ask for a correction, and in the first place I’m also realizing that I don’t dislike her calling me by my first name anymore.
“I mean, I remember you’re also buying it in the summer festival, right?”
“It’s not like there’s any deeper meaning to it both in that time or today, though…”
I don’t hear much about people not liking yakisoba in the first place either, or rather, I feel like it’s the kind of food you’d end up eating at a time like this.
As I was seriously pondering about it, Tendou, who for some reason had chosen to sit next to me instead of in front of me in the 4-person table, made a mischievous smile.
“Iori-kun”
“—What?”
“Say, can I have a bite of that?”
While thinking ‘I suppose the main issue was to confirm whether or not this calling by first name can go on’ or ‘do you have to stick that close to me?’ I straight up offered the yakisoba container.
“You’re not gonna feed me?”
“Nah, it’s just hard with noodles.”
While also being self-aware that my line of defense was slowly being forced back, I still can’t exactly decide whether or not I should fully surrender.
After I pointed out a legitimate point, “I see,” said Tendou, picking up a bite modestly without even persisting that much.
“By the way, is just that enough? Aren’t you usually eating a bit more?”
The yakisoba isn’t that much in quantity, but what Tendou ordered was a set of two, even more small-ish fried onigiris.
Since she had me share a bite of this as well, that it looks so insufficient for lunch.
And the kinda sad part is, unlike the yakisoba with its vegetables, it’s just carbohydrates.
“It’s better than not being able to move from overeating, right?”
“Well, that might be true, but still.”
Personally, I’m hungrier than I thought, to the point I’m worried whether just some yakisoba will be enough, though. Having a great fuel consumption sure is nice.
“And you, Iori-kun, your stomach’s gonna stand out if you eat too much, you know?”
“Right, that’s why don’t eat, eaepp.” My side got pinched, making me let out a ticklish, funny voice.
I was about to protest with ‘what are you doing?’ but I held my tongue when I saw the expression of Tendou hiding her navel with reproachful eyes.
“I think it’s a bad habit of yours, you know? Saying everything you think like that.”
“I’ll keep that in mind…”
When I was glancing at Tendou’s slimmed down stomach while thinking ‘even I wouldn’t have been aware of it you didn’t mention it, though,’ she let her body lean against me, bending forward out of her chair.
“Say aaah.” And together with a happy voice, she made a smile on that extremely above standard face of hers, and brought the yakisoba to my mouth with the chopsticks.
Acting calm as I possibly could, I slurped it up.
“Tasty?”
“……” I nodded silently while om-nom-noming it.
The yakisoba, as usual, had a cheap taste; the kind where you’d feast at a place like this with its slight oiliness and sauces with excess salt content.
Though, it’s not something this Miss Fiancée should be boasting about with a triumphant look.
“Tsukasa-san, your lips are oily, you know?”
“⸻Iori-kun, say aaah, c’mon, aaaaaah.”
“Eh wai, it’s too soon, too soon—!”
Into the mouth of me, who had said it with a slight desire to tease and a defiant heart, yakisoba was being shoved one after another without even a moment to swallow. It was kinda fun to be idiotic couple.
§
To the flowing pool again after lunch.
Currently, the beautiful Miss Fiancée has shoved her butt into a rental swimming ring, and turned into a pool-floating young lady throwing out her long and captivating legs, showing it off.
My role is a pilot maneuvering the swimming ring on the side to keep it from bumping into someone.
After noon was supposed to be the waterslide according to the plan, but this was the result of dejectedly leaving from the cruel, 50-minute waiting time for two people.
“I wonder if I was a bit negligent in my research.”
“In the end, it’s a weekday but still summer vacation after all…”
“Well, give it a bit of time and the number of people is gonna decrease anyway; I guess we can try going back there again later.”
At this period of time the heat is at its peak, but probably that goes for the crowd as well.
It’s still hardly the time for people like us who have been here since the morning to go home, and there must be people coming here after noon as well.
If we wait a little longer, the people coming from afar or those who have been here first thing in the morning are probably gonna leave anyway, and we should be able to get at least one slide before returning home.
Well, if we’d gone for it immediately after the admission to this place, the waiting time would probably have been much shorter, though.
“You’re right, it’s the rare opportunity to snuggle up close after all.”
“If it’s two people, looks like we’ll slide down using a swimming ring made for that, you know?”
“But we wouldn’t know what would happen after landing on the water, wouldn’t we?”
“I’ll go ahead and remind you, don’t pull my pants down in the middle of confusion, okay?”
“I won’t. Who do you think people are?”
“You should go look back a little on your past speech and conduct.”
“Geez.”
Tendou, who is, like, certainly gonna look good holding a cocktail glass decorated with a slice of fruit, is looking really joyous despite pouting, and being talkative just as much.
Maybe thanks to that, I’m also getting used to the sense of distance that has been crammed in, getting back to my normal groove. Maybe.
It’s also irritating to keep getting poked fun off, so let’s counterattack to the extent not dampening the mood, or so I’ve been thinking, but then Tendou’s swimming ring was about to bump into children playing around staying in the current, so I gave it a tug to correct its course.
A man looking to be the guardian made a slight bow, and I returned one back, and glanced at the direction the current is going.
“Thanks, Iori-kun.”
“Nn.”
Then Tendou, who seems to have decided to call me by my first name all the way, went to stroke my head.
The sensation of her fingers shoved in between my hair was awfully erotic.
However, could this situation possibly be hinting what is to come in my life as it’s being led along…?
“Well, feel free to get sun-dried while chilling your butt as much as you like, Tsukasa-san.”
My imagination got a little scary, so I changed the subject to shove it away.
“Words.”
“Nah I mean, you know, isn’t it hot elsewhere?”
Tendou, making a display of her white arms and legs with white bikini on a swimming ring, can almost float her butt from the water’s surface, and only the ends of her thrown-out hands and feet are being splish-splashed in the water.
Her body being exposed to the sun to the utmost seems like it’s hot, too. Since she’s also taken this posture, of course the eyes of the men on the poolside have become so obvious, and it’s slightly not funny.
But at the same time, I’m feeling a kinda strange sense of relief like, ‘if a beauty like this were flowing in the pool, of course you can’t help but watch, I guess.’ It’s like, I guess I’m not the only one.
“Are you curious?” Zrrrt zrrt, and then after such a fricative sound, splash, the water leapt.
Having slipped off from the swimming ring, Tendou jumped after being in the pool all the way to the top of her head, and went to put the swimming ring from my head with that momentum.
“Here!”
Of course it got caught by my shoulders, and all that’s left in the end is a pathetic frilled-neck lizard.
“What are you even doing… Rather, didn’t you not want your hair to get wet?”
“We’re gonna ride the slider in the afternoon anyway, and I went to relieve your worry by submerging in the water,” Tendou said and smiled while wiping her wetted face.
Her bright, loosely curled hair that’s in updo today is clinging to her skin, and water is dripping down her fair skin.
Just seeing that makes my heart hump loudly.
I tried to unsteadily approach her, who’s more dazzling than the water’s surface gleaming in the afternoon soon, and I pushed Tendou away with the swimming ring on my neck whose existence I’ve accidentally forgotten.
“Buwah.”
“Ah, sorr …Pfft.”
Although she seemed to have just barely prevented a direct hit with her arms, I couldn’t help but end up bursting into laughter at Tendou’s shriek that I’ve never heard before.
“Excuse me, Iori-kun…?”
“No, sorr, it’s not on purpose.”
When I right away removed the swimming ring from my neck to avoid any possible further tragedy, Tendou was sending me a resentful gaze while holding down her long nose, maybe it got hit.
“Nn.” And then quickly she held out her fair hand as if demanding something.
“Well, I said I’m sorry.”
“Nn!”
“……Yes.” Losing to the pressure, I obediently held out the swimming ring.
Aiming just at my head and not my face with the turned-sideways swimming ring, I think Tendou was being kind.
“—Well then, let’s go for one lap for now.”
“Are we seriously doing this…?”
And then the atonement sentenced by Miss Fiancée was to carry her on my back and make a lap through the flowing pool.
Somehow Tendou is so fixated about it, but if anything, I wonder if this isn’t just her happy about a man giving a girl in a swimsuit a piggyback …
“What? We’re in the water, so it can’t be that heavy, right? Well, I’m light to begin with, though.”
You shouldn’t have told me to carry you on my back if you mind about your weight; though, even I’ve got the enough judgment not to say it.
No matter what Tendou might think, she should be in the light category, though. Even so, she’s over 160 cm tall, so she should have a fair amount to suit it—
“Let’s see, for someone your tall, roughly it should be fifty—”
“I’ll hit you.”
“Ah, okay.”
I heard by far the scariest voice I’ve ever heard.
I guess I should say, as expected, or that’s natural, but guessing weight seems to be over the line.
Do I, really not have any judgment after all…?
I wonder why I ended up making an unnecessary adventure.
“Iori-kun, drop down a little.”
“Okay.”
To me who’s obediently obeying, “hya!” Tendou leaned over after psyching herself up.
—Ah, this is a bad one.
For an instant, my reason rang an alarm. Before I could put it into words, she’s pushing her body against me with a jerk, perhaps adjusting her position; naturally, her boobs were squished by my back.
The only thing blocking both sides are two pieces: the thick, thin bikini and camisole on top of it.
“Geez, I’ll fall off, so hold my legs properly.”
“Okay.”
I put my hands on the backs of her thighs, which were holding down my body between them like straddling a horse, and raised them up.
When I shook Tendou’s body the way I would reposition a luggage on my back, she wrapped her arms around my neck and positioned herself snugly. I guess as predicted, the ground contact area with happiness was amazing.
It was also like that when we hugged each other from the front, but the sensation of my back gradually getting wam sure is insane as well…
“Now then, let’s go.”
“Huwey.”
I got whispered close to my ear, making my back jerk up involuntarily.
Accidentally, something held firmly in place under the innerwear under my swimming trunks also jerked up.
“Iori-kun?”
“I-I’m fine, all good. I’m going now.”
I immediately took a step forward out of conviction that it sure is gonna be okay now if I’m moving my body. Since the direction is to go with the flow, I’m not feeling much resistance, and Tendou isn’t so heavy either, in fact.
There’s no problem other than my complexion and mental composure.
As I was desperately splish-splashing forward, Tendou, who had been raising her voice and frolicking going ‘kya kya,’ suddenly raised her body further and pressed her right palm against the center of my chest.
“…Iori-kun, your heart’s beating fast.”
“Well, I mean I’m not used to this kinda thing.”
In fact, this is beyond not being used to it.
From puberty onward, I almost never had contact with women outside of my family, and even the last time I gave my pestering little sister a piggyback just like what I’m doing now was in middle school.
And of course we were wearing proper clothes at that time.
“Would you believe me if I said, ‘me too’?”
‘No (I’m not really sure ‘cause the boobs)’ is my honest feelings, and since we’re talking about Tendou who got sexual experience with 90 or so people, it’s probably a statement tied to ‘your heart’s beating fast’ rather than ‘I’m not used to this,’ but honestly right now I’d be troubled being told something difficult.
“For so so long, I’ve also always wanted to do something like a normal date like this”
“That’s—yeah, can I take it you’re happy?”
“Yeah.”
While dividing my attention to the conversations, my legs continued to walk through the flowing pool, avoiding people at will. Actually if I’m not doing that, I wouldn’t know what to do anymore.
“That’s why⸻”
With Tendou’s slender hand still resting on my chest, my heart continued to beat fast for reasons other than just exercising.
I wonder if maybe she’s palpating me because she’s worried I might collapse.
“That’s why?”
“—Thank you, that’s what I’ve been wanting to say.”
I doubted whether that was truly what Tendou actually wanted to say.
Ever since the surprise date at the net cafe where she’d said ‘that was fun,’ one way or another we’ve been going out together a fair number of times after all.
However, as a virgin who has never had a girlfriend, there’s no way I can understand the underlying true meaning.
“If anything, maybe that’s something I should be the one saying. You know, like I’m going to a festival or a pool with a beauty like you, Tsukasa-san; I’m sure I’ll be able to brag about it after the vacation.”
Well, we both know there’s not gonna be many people on campus envious of that, though.
“—I see”
Tendou’s voice as she briefly responded was small and frail.
So as not to be drowned out by the hustle and bustle of the summer pool, I strained my ears to ensure I don’t miss a single word. After all, I just knew she’s trying to tell me something important in such a carelessness-inducing situation.
“Then in the end, you did think you’re glad we got engaged, didn’t you?”
It’s not the usual self-confident voice, but one that is laced with a slight anxiety.
“Yeah.”
On my back, Tendou bursted slightly into laughter at my frank and concise reply.
“—Says the one who snickered at me when I said that you might.”
“Hahah, I don’t remember.”
“Geez, stop that already, okay?” And then “you’re so awful,” Tendou continued, and went to lightly bite my neck.
A little bit of her usual self is back in her voice.
“Oww oww that hurts.”
As I was yelping, a kid of about middle school age went to pass by me with an incredible face.
While thinking, ‘I bet we’re totally turning into an annoying idiotic couple,’ just for today I would love them to cut us some slack.
I mean, that’s how summer mostly is anyway.
“—Hey, Iori-kun. Walk a little slower, ‘kay?”
“All right.”
I took my time making a lap on the pool that shouldn’t be particularly long.
Thinking, at the same time, that I want to be touching her for many more times to come.
§
Maybe because there had been ups and downs, not only physically but also mentally, by the time we left the pool to catch the boat to return home, we’re already dead tired.
While waiting at the park’s entrance for the shuttle bus heading to the ferry landing, Tendou relaxed and went to lean on my shoulder.
Her fair skin is a little red, maybe from continuous exposure to the sun.
“Tsukasa-san, you can go to sleep if you’re tired; I’ll wake you up when the bus comes.”
“….Yeah.”
Although I was also yawning, her reply was somewhat absent-minded.
The sun is setting in the west, dyeing the sky with its last rays of light, and the sounds of insects are echoing everywhere, as if to lament it.
Couples laughing happily, families with children tired from playing carried on their backs—amidst the summer dusk, with its long stretches of shadows of people on their way home, we were silent for a short while.
“—You see, Iori-kun,” Tendou broke the silence as she gradually put strength on our linked hands. “It seems a hotel near here runs a night pool.”
“Ah, I didn’t know.”
The resort hotel visible from the ferry landing, huh.
It got ocean view, so it’s not strange if they run a night pool, I suppose.
But it’s that time period of the year, so I guess it must be crowded without doubt.
“And you know, I looked it up in the changing room, and it seems there are still rooms available, and so—” As I’d been thoughtlessly thinking with my head, I got speechless at the following words and the look on her face. “Actually, you know, I brought another swimsuit. So, since we’re already here, I thought maybe we could stay the night—what do you think?”
Right now, Tendou has an alluring expression I’ve never seen before, no, probably she purposely did not show it to me till now.
The feelings I have for her that I’ve become aware of over the course of the day today, and the obvious sexual expectations to go along with that.
I certainly did think that, if I’m allowed to touch her, then all the way to the end would be before long.
However, the moment the path to that point was concretely laid out, I woke up as though icicles had been stabbed into my back.
We’ve kissed, we’ve also hugged each other, and probably reached double digits in dates; that’s why I’m sure for Tendou it’s natural to think that soon it’s gonna be sex next.
But that‘s precisely what represents what lies between us more than anything else.
In the time I was lost in her soft touch and dreaming of the future, Tendou was looking up hotel reservations. What was someday for me, was tonight for her.
This is probably no indication that she’s being especially hasty.
We are at an age where we would almost be considered an adult, and above all, we are in a relationship of being engaged to one another.
Go on a date, stay in a hotel together, and have sex.
There’s no obstacle or problem whatsoever there.
However, I got completely frightened by that reality thrusted at me.
It made me realize once again that that is what experience with 90 or so people is all about.
This is not a trap, nor a strategy to seal the engagement; Tendou simply wants to make this one day more special to her, and probably desires to have sex with me as the cherry on top.
“Hey, Iori-kun—”
Tendou’s fingers squeezed hard, as if to express her inner anxiety.
Even though I knew that much, I was scared.
Of whether or not I really would be able to properly perform such a ‘natural’ act for her.
Of whether or not I would disappoint Tendou if I can’t do it.
Considering her behavior up to now, it was surely nothing to think too seriously about. Even so, I couldn’t stop my fear of failure, and eventually chose to postpone the problem.
“—No, but, I haven’t prepared anything, and wouldn’t it also be a waste to eat it all up in one day? You know, we’ve still got a lot of vacation time left.”
I was never good at lying. Tendou probably also knows this after our relationship over the past few months.
That’s why I exerted my best, to not let it show on my voice or on my face.
“—Yeah, you’re right.”
“So, you know, let’s come back together another time.”
Cheerfully, and carefreely. Hoping that she would simply think that I’m just a thickheaded man missing the perfect opportunity.
“All right, another time, on the next opportunity then”
“Yeah, let’s look forward to the next one, shall we?”
“Yeah.”
Even so, Tendou’s smile really looked a little lonesome, and then we parted on our way home with little to no conversations, as if today up to that point had been a dream.
—The next day, I received a call from my father back at home, saying that the Tendou house had approached him about breaking off the engagement.
Immediately after hearing about it, I sent a message to her, which never got a read no matter how much time passed.
TL notes:
^1. Heatstroke in Japanese is “熱中症,” pronounced “net-chuu-shou.” And now, one of the way a Japanese person can say when thay want a kiss is “Nee, chuu shiyou?” which means “Hey, wanna kiss?” or “Hey, let’s kiss.” Oh well, hope you can get what is implied here.
Other Changes:
Chapter 1 (correction): “I also don’t have any weird peculiarities[…]” to “I also don’t have any weird habits[…]”
Chapter 7 (Adding forgotten sentence): “The simple salt and pepper seasoning, and the oozing juices and fat make it an irresistible delicacy for sweaty bodies on a summer evening.” to “The simple salt and pepper seasoning, and the oozing juices and fat make it an irresistible delicacy for sweaty bodies on a summer evening. Hmmm, it makes me want white rice.”
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I Can't Read Japanese TL 