Chapter 52: Sea ①

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Translator: Soafp

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A week had passed since I saw the “nightmare” of the red-haired idol being struck by lightning during a live performance.

Today was the day we'd promised to go to the beach.

I woke up early in the morning, grabbed the bag I had prepared the day before, and headed downstairs.

“You're late!”

Nodoka, who had been sitting on the living room sofa, sprang to her feet.

It felt so natural that for a second, I thought I was at the Komori household.

“No, you guys are just too early. It's still 30 minutes before we agreed to meet.”

“Ugh… it's because I'm excited. I could barely sleep…”

“What are you, an elementary school kid?”

“Well, I can't help it! I've never seen the ocean before!”

“…What?”

I couldn't believe my ears.

“What are you, secretly someone who grew up overseas?”

“No! It's just that both my parents are always busy with work, so we've never gone on a family trip… And I didn't have any friends to go out with either.”

At first glance, Nodoka's family looked normal, but in reality, it was more twisted than it seemed.

On top of that, she had practically been forced to take care of her younger sister like a parent.

She must have had it pretty rough in her own way too.

“I've actually never seen the ocean in Japan either.”

Airi cut into our conversation as she handed us cold barley tea.

“In Japan? So you've seen the ocean abroad?”

“Yes, I think I was about eight. I went along on one of my father's business trips to Europe, and I saw the sea in Croatia then. That was the first—and last—time.”

“….”

That got heavy fast…

It really drove home how far from “normal” these two had lived their lives.

Then again, I'm not exactly normal either.

“So basically, it's your first time seeing the ocean in Japan for both of you.”

“Exactly. Our first time—with you, Ren.”

“Could you not skip the ‘in Japan' part?”

Though honestly, it had been a long time for me too.

Nodoka stepped closer to me, clasping her hands behind her back as she shifted awkwardly.

“Don't you have something to say?”

“Something to say?”

What's this about?

I hesitated for a moment, then realized what she meant when I looked at her outfit.

“You're trying something other than cropped clothes today! Nice, Nodoka!”

I exaggeratedly patted her head.

She was wearing a soft lavender short-sleeve blouse tucked neatly into a white tennis skirt.

It gave off a clean yet lively vibe.

“Wait, do you think I only ever wear cropped tops!? That's such a weird thing to praise!”

“Well, every outfit you've shown me so far was cropped.”

“That's not—well… okay, maybe to you it has been…”

“Right? I thought you were deliberately sticking to that ‘gyaru equals cropped tops' image.”

“Ugh…”

She had no comeback.

Guess I hit the mark.

“A-anyway! Does it suit me?”

“Yeah. It fits your vibe. Actually, it feels fresh compared to your usual style.”

“R-really? That's good. D-don't get the wrong idea though! It's not like I put extra effort into this for you! This is just something I normally wear!”

Same tsundere behavior as always.

Airi quietly approached from behind Nodoka.

“Nodoka, you didn't cut off this tag.”

“I'm not falling for that again, senpai.”

“No, this time it's real.”

“Eh!? I-it is!?”

Nodoka grabbed some scissors in a panic and ran off to a room.

The way she rushed off was so cute I couldn't help but laugh.

As she left, Airi stepped in front of me.

“Ren, praise my outfit too. And pat my head.”

“That's… very straightforward.”

“I don't like beating around the bush. At work, I've seen too many people who don't say what they mean and then get mad when you don't pick up on it.”

“….”

Why did she feel like a working adult, even though we're just high school students?

Probably the difference in work experience.

“So, what do you think? Don't tell me you're going to say it's not cute or doesn't suit me.”

“No, no, of course not.”

An ivory sheer cardigan slipped slightly off her shoulders.

Underneath, a light blue slip dress hung from thin straps, emphasizing her ch*st and forming a deep cleavage.

The skirt flared gently from a ribbon at her waist, highlighting her smooth thighs.

“It's overall elegant, but still shows off your strengths well. Though… it's pretty revealing. Are you okay with that?”

“My boss likes legs and cleavage, so I picked something he'd enjoy looking at. Of course, you can touch anytime too.”

“O-oh…”

Nodoka's tsundere attitude and Airi's directness…

It felt like alternating between a sauna and an ice bath.

As requested, I gently patted Airi's head.

Since she was taller than Nodoka, I had to raise my arm a bit more.

“I see now why Nodoka likes being patted by you.”

“W-who said I like it!?”

Nodoka had returned and immediately protested.

“Oh? So you don't like it? Should I tell Ren to stop, then?”

“I-I didn't say I hated it! Don't twist my words!”

“Then just say you like it.”

“Ugh…”

Her face turned bright red.

Meanwhile, I found myself thinking how different hair textures really are, feeling Airi's hair under my hand.

“Hey… aren't you patting senpai longer than me?”

“Oh? Jealous?”

“N-no! It's just… I was a little curious, that's all…”

“Ren, she wants you to pat her just as much as me.”

“N-not entirely wrong…”

Nodoka stepped closer and tilted her head slightly, making it easier for me to reach.

I had just patted her earlier, and she already wanted more?

Well, it's not like it costs anything.

I moved my hand from Airi's head—

“Not yet, Ren. I'm not done enjoying this.”

“But…”

“You've got two hands, don't you?”

…Fair enough.

So I used both hands.

Right hand patting Airi, left hand patting Nodoka.

Watching them both relax under my touch gave me a strange feeling.

---

After nearly two hours on the train, we arrived at our destination.

Since we were staying for three nights and four days, we decided to drop off our luggage at the inn first.

It was a traditional place just a short walk from the beach.

“So… I booked just one room like you said, but…”

I had originally planned to get separate rooms.

But both Airi and Nodoka insisted it would be a waste of money.

Even when I offered to pay for everything myself, they refused, and we ended up sharing one room.

“Are you really okay with this?”

“There you go again. Do you really hate sleeping with us that much?”

“No, that's not it…”

“Ren, we've already experienced everything together.”

“That time was because of a hotel mix-up…”

“If you don't hate it, then stop complaining.”

“…Yes, ma'am.”

We changed into swimsuits at the inn and put on rash guards.

Then the three of us walked toward the beach together.

Before long, the ocean came into view.

““Whoa…””

All three of us let out a sound of awe.

White sand stretched out before us, and calm blue waves rolled gently onto the shore.

The scent of salt mixed with the sea breeze brushed softly against our faces.

“Wow, it's beautiful!”

“Coming all this way was worth it. As expected, you've got good taste, Ren.”

“No, it's just a famous spot to begin with.”

We stepped onto the beach.

The soft sand sank beneath our sandals.

It really had been a long time since I'd been by the sea.

“Nodoka, when you come to the beach, it's proper etiquette to shout ‘It's the sea!'”

“Huh? I-Is that really true? In a place this crowded??”

“Airi, don't fill Nodoka's head with weird nonsense.”

“It just sounded fun.”

“Senpai!?”

“Still, there are a lot of people here.”

“Seriously. In that manga you recommended, when it's like this, the rich character takes them to a private beach and there's no one else around.”

“If it's you, Ren-kun, maybe you could pull off a private beach?”

“Manga is manga, Airi…”

We found an open spot and set up the rented parasol, beach beds, and mats.

With how crowded it was, I was worried there wouldn't be any space left, but luckily we got there early enough to secure a spot.

Airi was the first to take off her rash guard.

“Alright, let's put on sunscreen. Here, Ren-kun, you do it.”

“…Do it yourself.”

“I can't reach my back.”

“Then ask Nodoka. She's the same sex.”

“Nodoka would rather have you do it, right?”

“Huh? Why are you dragging me into this all of a sudden!?”

“Would you rather I do it, or Ren-kun?”

“Th-that's…”

Fidgeting, Nodoka slowly unzipped her rash guard.

Then she handed me the sunscreen.

“I-I want Ren to do it…”

“That settles it. Ren-kun, put sunscreen on both of us. After that, we'll put it on you.”

Something felt off.

I was the one who planned most of this trip, yet somehow they were completely in control.

Before long, the two of them lay face down on the mats, still in the bikinis we bought at the mall the other day.

They glanced at me as if inviting me to stand between them.

I squeezed some sunscreen into my hand and, without warming it up, pressed it directly onto their waists.

““Kyaa!””

Both of their bodies jolted sharply.

“H-Hey! It's cold! At least warm it up a little!”

“Nodoka, he totally did that on purpose. He wanted to see our reaction.”

“H-Huh? W-Well, Ren is kind of a closet pervert after all…”

“Why does it jump to that conclusion?”

It was just meant to be a harmless little prank.

After that, I focused on applying the sunscreen properly, trying not to let my thoughts wander anywhere weird.

Their skin textures were slightly different, but both were surprisingly pale.

Nodoka, whose ears were still red, spoke up.

“There's a UV camera in my bag that lets you check if the sunscreen's applied properly. It makes it easier if you use it.”

“There's something like that?”

Impressed, I opened her bag.

At that moment, I happened to overhear a conversation from people passing by.

“Hey, did you hear? There's gonna be a surprise live show here by Jirai-chan Syndrome.”

“Jirai-chan Syndrome?”

“You know, that thing that's been trending on TikTok lately. The one with the lyrics about burying a landmine in front of your boyfriend's house.”

“Oh, that one.”

The shock almost made me drop Nodoka's UV camera.