Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093093152263860/episodes/16818792436242774307
Splash.
The waves are high.
We came to play at the beach again today. We’ll hang out at the beach in the morning, and tonight there’s a festival with big fireworks or something.
But you know, after hearing Toka’s mom talk, I somehow lost that carefree mood for playing. Toka’s mood turned sour for some reason too.
The ocean… it’s nice. Looking at its vastness makes me realize how insignificant my own worries are.
Maybe being alone like this isn’t so bad sometimes…
“Ryo kun, feeling good?”
“How long are you gonna stay here!?”
No, I wasn’t alone! Toka’s dad was next to me, fanning me with a hand fan.
“I want to take care of you too, Ryo-kun.”
“I said I’m fine already! It’s actually awkward when someone older does that to me!”
Father Asahina slumped his shoulders dejectedly at my words. W-wait, is he actually a pretty annoying person!?
“Ryo-chan, Ryo-chan. Does my swimsuit look good? It’s a different one from yesterday!”
“Ugh! Don’t come any closer! Don’t come any closer! If Toka comes over, it’ll be trouble again!”
Kagurazaka, in her floral dress, sat right next to me.
What the hell is this combination?! Her dad on my left, the current child acting prodigy next to me?! I can’t handle such unique people all by myself!
“Ryo-chan, I’ve told you before, you can just call me Kaede.”
“Yeah, yeah, Kaede, Kaede.”
“Oh, you said it surprisingly easily.”
“Well, you are younger than me. Even if you are famous.”
At my words, Kagurazaka—or rather, Kaede—blinked in surprise. Then, she grinned happily.
“I kinda get it~ Yuzuha-chan didn’t say anything bad about you either.”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe onee chan fell for that side of you, Ryo-chan.”
“I don’t get why that came up in this conversation though…”
“Hehehe~ I think I’m starting to like Ryo-chan even more!”
“Huh?”
The moment Kaede said that, I felt an immense pressure building up behind us. A figure stood up behind us, casting a shadow that seemed to engulf us…!
“Kaede-san, I told you if you messed with my boyfriend, I’d sink you.”
“W-wait, I wasn’t messing with him!”
“Come here.”
“Waaaaaah!”
Turning around cautiously, I saw a girl with a demonic expression glaring at us. Toka’s here! By the way, Toka’s wearing the same swimsuit as yesterday.
Dragged by Toka, Kaede gets taken into the sea. That shark movie BGM started playing in my head.
“Nee chan, wait! Don’t grab the shoulder straps! You’ll see everything!”
“There’s nothing embarrassing to see, is there?”
“If you say that, then you’re the same, Nee chan!”
“Haaaaaaa!?”
“W-Well, I still have potential!”
“I’m being trained right now too, you know!”
Toka was getting more and more merciless with Kaede. I think they were having some kind of crazy conversation, but I’ll try not to think about that.
“Ugh… Toka-san and Kaede-san finally became friends, huh. I’m really glad… Back then, they couldn’t even talk like that…”
“Um, how much longer is Dad staying…?”
I couldn’t help but ask Asahina-san, who kept sending gentle breezes beside us.
――Several tens of minutes later.
The two who had been frolicking in the sea finally returned.
“Onee chan is so unforgiving…”
Kaede came back looking absolutely wrecked. Toka also had a slightly tired look on her face.
“Hmph”
Then, as if to show off, she hooked her arm through mine. Wait, when she hooks her arm through mine in a swimsuit, I feel her skin directly—
“Because I’m the one who loves Ryo-kun the most!”
“This is embarrassing to listen to!”
“Ahem!”
Toka puffed out her chest with a smug look. No, don’t puff out your chest like that right now! It’s pressing against me!
Kaede sat down flat on the sand, still a mess.
“Waaah… nee chan is a monster…”
Kaede sniffled, tears welling in her eyes.
Seeing her like that, Asahina-san offered a handkerchief.
“Here, take this if you’d like.”
“Thank you… You’re the only one on my side…”
“I’m on Ryo-kun’s side too, though.”
The power dynamics are way too complicated. This beach is just too chaotic.
“Huh? Come to think of it, where are Kaede’s mom and dad?”
“They’re both busy damage control right now.”
Kaede said casually while wiping her soaking wet hair with a towel.
“Apparently, there was a special on her former agency on TV yesterday.”
“A special?”
“About corporate culture issues and stuff? I didn’t see it, so I don’t know.”
Kaede tilted her head, flapping her feet.
“But my dad and mom, the manager, and others had their names exposed… They’re saying the Kagurazaka couple exploited their daughter or something. Online, they’re calling her a ‘pushy child actor’ or whatever.”
She delivered this heavy topic with the same casual tone as if she were talking about eating potato chips. But her expression was clouded, making it obvious she was trying too hard to sound cheerful.
Hearing this, Toka’s father turned pale and started searching the internet on his phone. Curious, I peeked at his phone too.
The phone screen displayed these words in large letters:
[The Dark Side of Child Prodigies] The Reason Behind Asahina Toka’s Retirement? About Kagurazaka Kaede
…What the hell.
“They’re saying crazy stuff again.”
Seeing that on the phone, anger clearly seeped into Toka’s face.
“Well, no choice. I didn’t think it’d happen this fast, but I guess I’ll roll up my sleeves for Kaede-san.”
Toka is incredibly motivated! I have no idea what she’s planning to do, but she seems really dependable.
“Ah, but you know I’m not literally going to take my clothes off, right?”
“I know that!”
I’m starting to feel really uneasy after all.
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