Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818792437483710171
Summer vacation had begun, and ten days had flown by in the blink of an eye.
July 28th. That’s right—today was finally the day I was supposed to go on an overnight trip with Renka and the others.
…During Golden Week, I’d gotten sick and ended up being a burden to everyone. But this time, I was in perfect health. That fact alone brought me some relief for now.
The meeting spot was in front of the ticket gates at the nearest station.
I stood there, heavy luggage on my back, staring intently at the clock on my phone.
(…Damn. I’m way too early, no matter how you look at it…)
Haa, I sighed.
The time was exactly 8:30. But according to the plan, we were supposed to catch the train at exactly 9:00.
Naturally, I was the first one there. …Well, how should I kill the next thirty minutes?
Plus, today’s high was supposed to hit thirty-eight degrees. While perfect pool weather was welcome, it was way too hot to just stand around inside the station.
If only someone else would show up… I thought that, and almost simultaneously—
“—Ah, Akito! Good morning!”
My eyes met those of a beautiful girl with flaxen hair, who flashed me a bright smile.
Her white dress swayed as she skipped over to me.
“You’re early, Akito. Hehe, good for you?”
“Well, that wasn’t exactly my intention… but whatever. Good morning, Renka.”
“Yeah. Good morning, Akito!”
Ehehe. With an unburdened smile, Renka stared intently at my face.
I, on the other hand, looked away from her face. …I’d expected it, but sure enough, she was in deredere mode again today.
It goes without saying at this point, but Renka’s features are unbelievably cute. If a guy like me, just a regular dude, were to look directly into her beaming smile, I’d be done for in an instant.
“Huh? What’s wrong, Akito?”
Renka tilts her head, looking puzzled. How adorable.
I glance at her dress for just a moment before quickly looking away. …No, I can’t. It suits her too well. Combined with her beautiful flaxen hair, she looked like a real angel standing right before me.
“Nothing… I was just thinking it’s hot.”
Of course, I couldn’t honestly say what I really felt. I covered up my emotions with a casual excuse.
…But then.
Renka took a step back, gently distancing herself from me.
“Hey, Akito?”
“…H-hey. What is it?”
“—Do I look good in this?”
Spinning round and round.
Renka spun once on the spot.
“Do I look good in this?”—Could she possibly be asking for my opinion…?
Up until now, whenever Renka sensed me looking at her like that, she’d always called me a ‘pervert’!
Could it be… that? Is she setting some kind of honey trap for me? Has she finally grown so sick of me that she’s plotting to get me locked up?
What do I do? What should I say? My mind races.
And—it seems several seconds passed like that,
“Ah… Akito, I’m sorry. Maybe it didn’t suit me after all…?”
Her eyes were moist, and she looked up at me. Renka seemed to be forcing a smile, her expression complex.
—What the hell am I thinking?
Renka told me, didn’t she?
That all her insults towards me until now were just bravado. That she actually feels positively towards me—she apologized for that, didn’t she?
Whether those words came from her as a childhood friend or as a member of the opposite sex. I still don’t know.
But. At least now—
“…Sorry. You looked just too perfect, so I couldn’t find the words.”
To me, Renka is a precious childhood friend.
There’s no reason I should hurt someone like her.
So I decided to speak honestly, saying what I felt.
“You look cute, Renka. If this were a flower field, I’d have thought I’d mistakenly ended up in heaven.”
“…Heh, ahaha. What’s that? A weird compliment.”
She chuckled.
Renka laughed innocently.
“Hey, Akito.”
Renka beckoned me over with a little wave. It was a sign to bring my ear closer.
Wondering what she intended, I nervously brought my ear to her lips.
Those thin lips seemed just a little more moist than usual—
“—Akito, you’re cool too, you know?”
“…………!?”
That soprano voice whispered right by my ear.
I nearly ascended to heaven. Literally.
◇◇◇
About two hours later, after transferring express trains.
A massive hotel stood majestically before us as we stepped off the shuttle bus.
“Whoa. This hotel really is huge. It’s been a while since I’ve been here, but it’s nothing short of spectacular.”
Hideki muttered his thoughts, prompting Yuri to lift his glasses up proudly.
“Of course it is. After all, it’s the hotel my dad runs. It’s obviously huge.”
“Hey Yuri, couldn’t you have come up with a slightly nicer compliment…? Even I managed to say ‘truly impressive’!”
Hideki shrugged, sighing.
…They were right. It really was a huge hotel. Just the exterior looked about three times the size of our school.
This so-called spa hotel featured an indoor heated pool and an outdoor pool open only in summer. It even had water slides, and the rooms and restaurants offered ocean views. It was truly the perfect place to enjoy summer.
“Hey, everyone! Let’s take a commemorative photo first, okay?”
Sena, her eyes sparkling brightly, excitedly held up her smartphone.
Then she looked around nervously. Was she thinking of having someone take it instead of a selfie?
Just then, another shuttle bus pulled up in front of the hotel.
No wonder—it was peak season for this popular hotel. They must be running buses much more frequently. As I pondered this…
“…Huh? Hmm?”
Was I seeing things? I rubbed my eyes several times.
The glass-paneled wall of the hotel entrance.
Through its reflection, I thought I saw a familiar head of golden hair…
“Huh? No way!? It’s Ayata-cchi!!”
Only one person in my class—no, in the entire world—calls me by that nickname.
Seems I wasn’t seeing things after all.
Still reeling from the shock, I turned toward the voice. And then—
“Yoo-hoo, Ayata-chi! Who’d have thought we’d bump into each other here… Ehehe, is this fate?”
A beautiful girl with golden hair in a side ponytail, wearing a smile as bright as the sun, waved cheerfully at us.
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Suzukita seems so unnecessary in this story. I mean it seems from the synopsis of this story that it’s set up to be a redemption story for the tsundere CHF. It would be nice if we could get one of these stories without a love triangle.