Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817330655556357602/episodes/16817330657714288655
After enjoying the “water slide,” the main attraction of Tropical Waterland, we returned to the wave pool area.
Suddenly, I spotted Nagisa senpai sitting in the shade taking a rest, and Futaba
senpai ran up to her.
“Nagisa chan, I’m back~.”
“W-welcome back. How was the water slide?”
“It was a lot of fun～! Ah, but……”
When Futaba senpai looked back, Hanabi was looking pale with her head hanging down, and Juri senpai was looking blank with her face bright red.
Seeing the two of them, Nagisa senpai must have guessed something, and let out a small sigh.
“It seems like a lot has happened…….”
“Yeah, seems like the two of them were pretty scared～”
As Futaba senpai said, it seems that Hanabi’s soul was taken away because the waterslide was too scary.
On the other hand, it was my fault that Juri senpai ended up like this, but Futaba senpai seemed to think it was because she was afraid of waterslides.
Well, unless Juri senpai tells her otherwise, let’s just assume that’s the case……
Then, Futaba senpai suddenly clapped her hands as if to change the atmosphere.
“It’s almost time, should we have lunch~?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s just before noon, and it looks like it’ll be crowded after a while.”
At this suggestion, even the two who haven’t sober yet nodded their heads in agreement, and we decided to head for the cafeteria space lined with food stalls.
The cafeteria space was designed to look like a beach house, with round tables with parasols lined up around the food stalls.
We arrived at the cafeteria before the stalls got too crowded…….but it was already packed with people, as if everyone was thinking the same thing.
“T-that’s a lot of people…….”
Juri senpai, who had just regained consciousness, muttered.
Certainly, there were long lines at every stall, and the surrounding table seats were also filled with many people.
Looking around for an empty table, I found an empty seat a short distance away from the stalls.
“Senpai, there’s an empty seat over there.”
And we managed to get a table.
The five of us gathered around the round table under the parasol and looked at the food stalls lined up a short distance away.
“There are so many different stalls.”
“They all look so delicious, I can’t decide which one to try～”
Hanabi and Futaba senpai are looking at the food stalls with a sense of anguish.
In contrast, Juri senpai seemed to have already made up her mind and was looking at a single point.
“I think I’ll have the yakisoba.”
“That’s right, yakisoba is a staple of summer food stalls～”
Yakisoba, certainly…..but I’m not sure about other menus.
“Hm, I’m going to go with takoyaki.”
“Ah, I’d like takoyaki too.”
“Then I think I’ll have okonomiyaki.”
“Everyone has already decided～?”
Then Futaba senpai took a note of everyone’s choices on her phone and got up from her seat.
“Two yakisoba and two takoyaki, and one serving okomiyaki～”
“Ah, I’ll go with you.”
The rest of them are going to be in charge of keeping the seats.
It would be easier for Futaba senpai to have one male hand.
“Thanks~, I’m counting on you then.”
“Yes. I’ll go get takoyaki and okonomiyaki.”
“Yeah, I’ll get the yakisoba～”
After confirming what we were going to order, we headed toward the stall.
The takoyaki and okonomiyaki stalls were right next to each other.
We finally managed to buy both and returned to our table, just as Hanabi and Nagisa senpai came back with drinks in their hands.
“Asahi san, are you okay with orange juice?”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
Come to think of it, I forgot to buy a drink.
They must have bought it while me and Futaba senpai were lined up at the stall.
Suddenly, Hanabi offers Juri senpai’s drink.
“Here’s a melon soda. And this is Futaba’s iced coffee.”
As expected, Hanabi seems to know what Futaba senpai likes. Nagisa senpai also seems to have remembered that I was drinking orange juice at the family restaurant the other day.
I also took out the takoyaki and okonomiyaki I bought from the food stall from the plastic bag on the table.
“They look delicious. Hey, Hanabi, want to share with my yakisoba?”
“Eh, I guess I don’t have a choice.”
In the middle of their exchange, Nagisa senpai suddenly looked at me.
“By the way, aren’t you with Futaba?”
“Yes, Futaba senpai was standing in line at another stall.”
Perhaps the yakisoba is more popular than other stalls, and there was a long queue. Maybe that’s why she’s late.
I waited for a while thinking so, but there was no sign of Futaba senpai coming back and I was getting a little worried.
I was a little worried. I wondered if it was the same for Fireworks, too.
“Futaba, she’s late…..”
“Maybe she got lost?”
No, that Futaba senpai is unlikely to be lost……
“……I’m going to go look for her.”
After saying that, I left my seat and headed towards the stall.
Then, I looked for people lined up at the yakisoba stall, but Futaba senpai was nowhere to be seen…….I searched around the stall.
The number of people in the line increased as time went by, and it became more and more difficult to look for her.
Once I came to a shady area where there were vending machines, avoiding the crowds.
“Hey, it’s fine. Come play with us.”
“I’m sorry, I’m here with my friends～”
“Eh, are your friends girls? Then you can bring them too.”
I thought I heard a familiar voice and peeked toward the vending machine to see a woman being tangled up with two tanned, dark-skinned men.
It was Futaba senpai who got entangled with the playboy and smiled bitterly as if she was in trouble.
“Hey, aren’t you really cute? Are you a model or something? You know, the gravure one?”
“No, seriously, isn’t she sexy as hell?”
The men are licking their eyes on Futaba senpai’s body with a vulgar smile on their faces.
Senpai hid her body with her arms while frowning as if she did not like their eyes on her.
Suddenly, one of the men tried to put his arm around Futaba senpai’s waist in confusion.
I quickly grabbed his arm and lifted him up in a twisting motion.
“What are you doing to my friend……?”
“Ah? Who the hell are you?”
When I glared at him from the front, the man shook off his arm and glared back at me.
The other man also came up to me menacingly.
“What do you want, boy? We’re in the middle of something right now.”
“In the middle of something you say…….she doesn’t like it.”
“What does that have to do with you?”
“It has something to do with me. That girl is my girlfriend.”
The two men suddenly clicked their tongues and turned their backs away.
“What, so you’re with a guy…..”
And then they gave up and went away.
When their tanned backs disappeared completely, I exhaled the air that had accumulated in my chest at once.
“Sigh……. I’m so nervous…….”
I was prepared for the possibility that they might hit me, but I’m so glad that nothing happened.
Unexpectedly, my body relaxes in relief.
Then, I suddenly felt a finger touch my back.
When I turn around, Futaba senpai leans over me while looking down.
“……Senpai, are you alright?”
“Yeah, but I was so scared…….”
“It’s fine now, I chased them away.”
When I said that, Futaba senpai smiled as if she was relieved.
Then it quickly turns into a mischievous smile.
“Asahi kun, you called me your ‘girlfriend’ just now, didn’t you～?”
“Eh, ah, I’m sorry. I thought that if I said that, they might give up, so I just……. I’m sorry, I didn’t want to lie…….”
When I apologized in a hurry, Futaba senpai shook her head while her face was slightly reddish, probably because of the summer heat.
“No, I don’t hate it…….”
I know that those words were meant to be considerate of me, but…..they had such destructive power that my heart beat accelerated unintentionally.
“Hmph, then I’m Asahi kun’s girlfriend just for today~.”
“Eh !?”
“I’m just kidding~.”
“H-huh…….”
“Well, the others are waiting for us, so let’s head back.”
“R-right.”
I really wish she would quit making such jokes…….
While thinking so, when I tried to return to the table where everyone was waiting.
“–Hey, Asahi kun.”
Suddenly, I was stopped by Futaba senpai.
The moment I turned around–smooch, I felt a soft touch on my cheek.
“Eh……?”
A small exhale and a lip sound left in my ears.
I was stunned, not knowing what had happened, and Futaba senpai was beaming as if she was embarrassed.
“This is my thanks for helping me. Thanks…….”
Then Futaba senpai walks away toward the table.
It wasn’t until some time later that I realized that the feeling just before was a kiss.
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