C6.1 – ……It looks good on you

 

“The waves!”

“……”

“Look, the beach!”

“……”

“The ocean!” 

……so noisy.

“Yahoooー!”

Kyoya ran to the edge of the ocean, screaming like a barbarian.

Alas, there were several others like him.

The second day of the school trip was set aside for free time at the beach and marine activities.

We had also signed up for said activities in advance.

Kyoya, dressed in his fancy beach shorts, immediately put on his goggles and laid down in the shallow water.

I, on the other hand, was wearing plain swim trunks and a hoodie-type rashguard.

By the way, I didn’t intend to go in the water much.

No, the problem wasn’t what we looked like.

Yes, the problem is…….

“Woah, Kyoya’s already in there! Sneaky!”

Such a taut voice flew out from behind me.

Should I turn around or not?

After a moment of hesitation, I willingly turned my body around.

I had no other choice.

“Kusuba-kun, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“You don’t look too shabby, Kusuba.”

“……”

Hinata and Susami were completely in bikinis.

They were wearing hoodies over, but of course their legs were showing up to their thighs, and their navels, shoulders, and chests were in full view.

I couldn’t help but be silent.

It was a mistake that I left my sunglasses behind because I thought it would be unnatural.

I had a hard time keeping my eyes off of them.

No, rather, my eyes were drawn to them.

“What do you think? Kusuba-kun.”

“Don’t…… ask me that.”

“You’re fawning over us. Ohohoho.”

“……Damn.”

I can neither confirm nor deny that.

“Hmm? Speaking of which, where’s Rika?”

“Ah, about Rika.”

“Ah, there she is! Hey! Hurry up and come here!”

Hinata waved her hand toward a nearby palm tree.

When I looked in that direction at where that was, and saw Rika peeking out from behind it.

…….

“Muuuuu! Now’s not the time to give up.”

Hinata said dismissively, turning behind Rika and giving her a push on the back.

“Fueeh!” Rika staggered out from behind the tree.

“Uuuu…… Satsuki.”

“……”

……Seriously?

“Look, you bought this swimsuit to show Kusuba, right? If it’s hidden, it’s meaningless.”

“Th-th-th-th-that’s not true!”

Rika’s face turned red, as if she was angry and then terribly embarrassed.

Then she hugged her own shoulders over her hoodie, face down as if shrinking, and said with an upturned look.

“Ren-san…… isn’t it weird……?”

It’s not weird!

“I don’t think so……”

“Eh?”

“Ah! Uh…… well.”

“……”

“……It looks good on you…… Really.”

“O-Oh.”

Rika and I looked away from each other and hesitated for a while.

Honestly, I can only thank Susami and Hinata for not teasing me.

But I also wanted them to stop grinning and smiling and looking at me if they could.

“……Thank you.”

“……Oh, oh.”

Before I knew it, Rika had opened her arms and stood up straight, albeit modestly.

Her fresh mint green bikini and her white, translucent skin were too dazzling.

Her hair was sticking to her forehead with sweat, her cheeks were flushed, and her anxious eyes lacked their usual dignity.

I’m glad I came to Guam…….

“Oh! They’re all so cute! As expected!”

“Oh, you’re here, Kyoya, the runaway!”

“What’s with that accusation!”

“Satsuki wanted to go into the ocean with you.”

“Ah. I just couldn’t resist.”

The three of them looked to be enjoying themselves.

Beside them, Rika and I were still a bit awkward, but we were finally able to look at each other in a normal way.

“……”

Kyoya and the others couldn’t hear us.

But only Rika could hear me as I said,

……you’re cute, seriously.”

“Really……?!”

“……yeah.”

“……Mmmm~!”

Rika let out a weird groan and covered her face with her hands.

Then she slapped my arm and grabbed the hem of my rashguard.

“Ren-san…… baka.”

“I know…… I am a baka.”

“Mmmm~~~!”

But I think Rika is baka too now.