Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093093152263860/episodes/16818792436236280045
Splash.
In the afternoon, we arrived at the beach near the hotel.
Wasn’t that guy a baseball player? Over there, there are people who look like they’re from commercials. On the sandy shore, people who seemed like celebrities were just casually enjoying their vacations.
“The sea is beautiful.”
But I was in no state to be spotting celebrities!
The sensation of Toka’s skin still lingered on my fingertips. Closing my eyes, I could picture Toka half-naked. I felt like I’d done something terrible right after arriving at the hotel. If Toka hadn’t run away then, I probably would have touched her chest…
“Aaaaaah!”
I couldn’t say, “Toka’s prettier than this ocean!”…! With this weird feeling of dissatisfaction, my frustration was at its peak!
“Asahina-san’s boyfriend is troubled.”
“F-Father!”
“I don’t deserve to be called ‘Father’ by you!”
The only other man on this trip: Kagurazaka’s father! At this point, I felt like acting like idiots and having fun together as guys, but of course, there was absolutely no such relationship between us. In fact, we were completely unrelated people, to the point where just being in the same space felt awkward.
“Just so you know, you’re not allowed to touch Kaede.”
“I know that already!”
After getting a gentle warning from Kagurazaka-san, I fled under a parasol to calm myself down. The girls were changing right now.
“Ryo-kun!”
After staring blankly at the sea for a while, Toka and Kagurazaka came over.
“Welcome back.”
“How’s the swimsuit?”
Toka twirled gracefully. It was a light blue one-piece swimsuit she bought online. The skirt fluttered cutely.
But…
“It looks good on you.”
“G-good…!”
Embarrassed, Toka turned her back to me.
Is that really a proper swimsuit compliment…? I mean, Toka’s wearing a white T-shirt over it! Her upper body guard is super solid now!
“Let’s go swimming, Onee chan!”
Meanwhile, Kagurazaka wore a cute floral bikini. Having two beautiful girls side by side really brightened up the place.
“Ahaha, I never thought I’d get to play with Onee chan!”
Kagurazaka hugged her float and bounced along, running toward the shoreline. Elementary school kids have so much energy. And they bounce back from damage super fast. Like, lightning-fast recovery.
“Alright, alright… I guess I have no choice…”
Toka followed Kagurazaka, walking to the water’s edge. Watching them from a distance like this, they really do look like real sisters.
“I’m truly grateful to Asahina-san.”
Kagurazaka’s father spoke to me quietly.
“The old Kaede was very shy.”
“W-Well, she doesn’t seem like that at all now!”
“Even so, she was bullied back in her early elementary school years.”
“Huh?”
“Kaede got the courage to enter show business from seeing Asahina-san on TV. She said, ‘There’s this girl who always tries her best. I want to be like Asahina-san too. I want to change myself, the one who gets bullied.’”
…All I could do was listen silently to that story. Thanks to child prodigy Asahina Toka, child prodigy Kagurazaka Kaede was born. But because of that, Toka would eventually be called a “failed project.” Thinking about it made me feel complicated.
“I’m sure Asahina-san’s parents resent us. Especially since I’m also in the position of being Kaede’s manager.”
Kagurazaka’s father’s wry smile seemed to dissolve into the sea breeze. So that’s what these people were thinking about. I never once considered how Toka’s parents might feel about Kagurazaka.
“Ryo kun, come with us.”
As I talked with Kagurazaka’s father, Toka’s voice called out from the shoreline.
“Ryo kun! I forgot something important!”
“Something important?”
“You know, I just realized… I’ve probably never actually swum before.”
“Huh? Really?”
“I’ve never had swimming lessons or anything…”
Her cheeks, visible over her shoulder, flushed red, and my heart skipped a beat. We’d been having such a serious conversation just moments ago, and suddenly, the scene from the room earlier flashed back to me.
“Then I’ll teach you how to swim. Let’s take it step by step.”
I gently took Toka’s hand and walked slowly toward the water’s edge.
At first, Toka was timid, but as she got used to the waves lapping at her feet, she showed a little smile.
“…Hey, hey, does that mean you might become my onii chan?”
Kagurazaka, floating on her ring, drifted with the waves and came right over to us!
“What the heck are you talking about?”
“she is my onee chan, right? So doesn’t that mean her boyfriend becomes my onii chan?”
“What kind of logic is that?!”
Somehow… I’m about to gain a little sister… I already have a high-maintenance little sister at home, so no thanks!
“Ah, Dad! Mom! Let’s go swim together!”
And just like that, our conversation was cut short as she dashed off to find our parents. They’re enjoying the ocean to the fullest. It’s hard to believe such a bright kid was bullied back in the day.
“Ryo-kun, wanna try going in the water…”
Toka shrugged her shoulders slightly and clung tightly to my arm. Each time a wave rolled in and out, water splashed at our feet, but it didn’t feel cold at all anymore.
“Sure, but aren’t you gonna take off your top?”
“Ryo-kun, you’re trying to get me to take it off!”
“N-no, that’s not it! I just thought your T-shirt might be getting in the way!”
“…I won’t show.”
“Won’t show me?”
“I won’t show my skin to anyone but Ryo-kun.”
Hearing those words, my heart thumped again.
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