Bölüm 13

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I helped Mr.Matsuda out a few times more after that.Since it wasn’t a full-time job, and I wasn’t getting paid by the hour, he always paid me out of his pocket at the end of each day.

I guessed he was probably paying me that much due to our mutual acquaintance.I started at onePMand was usually there until nighttime.

I was able to buy a used PC soon enough thanks to this job.

“Is there something you want to buy?”Mr.Matsuda asked me a few days into the job.

“I want a computer.”

“If you don’t mind a used one, you could take the one in the office we’re not using.”

Honestly, I nearly gave in.But I turned down the offer.Not knowing much about specs was one thing, but I started this job to buy myself a computer in the first place.

“That’s quite admirable, young man,” he said.

The one I bought felt like a very advanced toy that was hard to handle.

I transferred the clips we shot to the editing software I’d also bought and started playing around with it.

We had asked our classmates who had their own band or played the piano to produce four tracks for the film.I could just put the music in after editing the rest, so that part could wait until after summer break.

At first, we were going to use copyright-free music, but Fushimi didn’twant that.She said it felt cheap, and since we had classmates who could take care of it, we should ask them.

I figured the latter was the main reason.It was something only Fushimi could plan, since she knew the interests and skills of our whole class.

Everyone helped in all sorts of ways—acting as minor characters, helping out with finer details in filming, music, etc.Everyone had done something already by this point, but the film was still far from being complete.

“Oh, you’re still at it!”Mana opened the door to my room just as I was staring at the monitor on my desk.

“What do you want?”

“We gotta get up early tomorrow, Bubby.You better not oversleep like the other day.I’m gonna slap you to death if you do.”

I glanced at the clock on the screen.It was already past midnight.

“That late already?”It was only then that I remembered we had to get up early the next day to go to the beach.“We should’ve gone to the nearest beach.”

That had been my idea in the first place, but the filming crew, mainly Fushimi and Torigoe, had strongly refused.

“We should take the opportunity to go somewhere farther!”Fushimi had said, and Torigoe agreed, much to my surprise.

I didn’t know what the point of doing that was, but then Deguchi and Mana also agreed, so I ended up in the minority.

“What about you, Mana?What’re you doing up so late?”

“I was preparing food, duh!”

We’re bringing our own food?

“Can’t we just buy something at a convenience store over there?Or, like, eat at a beachside restaurant?”

“We’re leaving early!You’re gonna get hungry before we even arrive!”

Me?

“Don’t worry—I made something we can eat on the train.”

That’s not what I’m worried about, though.

“And I ended up making a whole lot, since I thought I should bring enough for everyone.”

There were seven people in total: us two siblings, my two childhood friends, Torigoe, Shinohara, and Deguchi.

We didn’t need any extras besides Shinohara and Deguchi.

Yeah, I could see why she was up so late if she was making food for that many people.

There weren’t many shots to be filmed at the beach, so we could finish by noon if we started early enough.

“You’re gonna be doing that till morning if I leave you like this, so here, let me tuck you in.”

“No thanks.I’m going to sleep now.Go.”

I’m not letting my little sister do that.I’m the older one!

She refused to leave until I was in bed, so I saved whatever progress I had made, shut down the computer, and got in bed.

Still drowsy, I grumbled, “Mana… How did your slap leave a mark on my cheek like they do in manga…?”

“I told you to wake up on time.”

I was beyond embarrassed—I felt like a pervert who had just gotten retribution for his debauchery.

Mana had woken me up with a slap, just as promised.

I would have been grateful for my attentive sister for making sure I followed through with my obligations…if only there wasn’t that mark on my face.

“People weren’t made to wake up at five in the morning…”

My brain was still 70 percent asleep.I had to hurriedly change and brush my teeth, and it wasn’t until then that I noticed the mark on my face.

Will it stay like this all day?This is public humiliation.

I kept grumbling under my breath until Mana felt bad and said, “I’ll cover it up with foundation.”And soon the mark was gone.

She really was a pro at her job.The plain-as-day mark was now practically invisible to anyone who didn’t already know about it.

Meanwhile, Fushimi and Himeji arrived.We finished gathering our stuff and left for the train station.

The beach was far, and we needed to transfer trains a few times on the way.

I noticed Fushimi’s and Himeji’s luggage was bizarrely large as we headed to the station.

“How much are you bringing with you?”

Fushimi opened her raffia bag and showed me its contents.

“A beach blanket, obviously; a beach ball, of course; goggles, a lifesaver…”

You going on vacation, Fushimi?

Her clothes were surprisingly normal this time.A T-shirt, shorts, and sandals.Very ordinary.Had she finally grown up…?

Mana noticed my expression and whispered to me, “I chose that outfit beforehand.I didn’t want to be shocked to death first thing in the morning.”

A very wise decision.

“Hina…you brought all that?”Himeji said with a sigh, expressing my exasperation as well.“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

“What?”Fushimi tilted her head.

“A pump to blow them up.”

“Ah!I forgot!”

You could still do it yourself…though it’ll be pretty tough.

Fushimi was tearing her hair out when Himeji stretched out her hand.

“Don’t worry—I brought one.”

You going on vacation, too?!

Mana brought only the food, makeup tools, and a few outfits we might need.I was just carrying the filming equipment.

“…Hina, you’re not wearing it under your outfit this time, are you?”

“Huh?Of course I am!”

Fushimi flipped over her T-shirt, exposing what I supposed was her swimsuit.

“Gosh.How come the renowned Hina, prettiest girl in the three kingdoms, acts with such inelegance…?”

Which three kingdoms?

“It’s cute.She’s like a grade-schooler.”Himeji gave her a backhanded compliment.

“Wh-who cares?Dressing rooms are full of strangers; I don’t like them.”

“Sure, with a body like yours, I would also feel embarrassed if I were to be stared at.”

“Ai, shut up or I’m going to flip your skirt in front of Ryou.”

“God, she’s an actual grade-schooler now.”

Stop arguing so early in the morning.

“Relax, Himeji.Don’t provoke her,” I said to the instigator.

We arrived and got on the train, on our way to the station where we’d meet the other three.

“I thought for sure I would die from waking up so early,” said the man with a straw hat and sunglasses.

In his hand, he held the rice ball Mana had made.He soon unwrapped it and started eating.

“Same.”

Fushimi, Himeji, Mana, and I met up with Torigoe, Shinohara, and Deguchi on the way, and we were now sitting in the booth seats of the empty train.

“Deguchi, what’s with that outfit?”

He was wearing plain shorts and beach sandals.There was nothing odd about his choice of clothing for his lower half.

“What do you mean?You gotta wear this to the beach.”

The more you know.

He looked unbelievably smug with the sunglasses.Like he was trying too hard.

Fashion Police Officer Mana ignored it, though.Maybe she just wasn’t interested.

I couldn’t have him appear as a background character like this, though.I made a mental note to tell Mana to change up his outfit later on.We did bring one change of clothes just in case.

“Your cooking is as good as always, Mana-banana.”

That I could agree with.She had brought a few different types of rice balls, along with some side dishes.

Everyone had grabbed their share—the food containers were already empty.

“Good job as always, ManaMana,” Torigoe said.

Torigoe and Shinohara were sitting with us.Himeji, Fushimi, and Mana were sitting in the other booth.

““ManaMana?””Deguchi and I asked in unison.

“She told me to call her that.”

Mana called her Shizu, so I guessed that helped her accept using the nickname.Mana probably didn’t care about calling anyone anything she wanted.

“Oof… I’m getting nervous now,” Shinohara said with a sigh, her face pale.“I can’t believe I’ll be acting alongside Lady Hime.”

“You’re the only one who thinks it’s such a big deal—relax.”

“No, you’re the weird one for thinking it’s not a big deal.”She narrowed her eyes and glared at me.

Hey, don’t take out your stress on me now.

“You’ll just be having a small conversation; there’s no need to get so worked up over it.”

She was going to talk to her idol, Aika, and have it filmed.When we’d asked her to be in the scene, she said she was so happy, she might die.

“Curse you… As if being childhood friends with Fushimi wasn’t enough, you also get Lady Hime…,” she said in a frustrated tone usually reserved for anime characters biting a handkerchief.“I don’t care what happens to me; I just want Lady Hime to be happy…”

The difference between how we both treated Himeji was tremendous.I didn’t know what to do.She argued against anything I said.What a tiresome fan.

Meanwhile, at the next booth over, Fushimi was merrily looking out the window, Himeji was chiding her, and Mana pointed something out, to which the other two would respond.The cycle repeated again and again.

At least they didn’t argue as aggressively when Mana was with them.

“It’s the sea!The beach!The sun, the water, and the sand!Bubby, look!”

“I can see; I have eyes.”

Mana ran down the stairs onto the sandy beach.

“It’s the ocean!!!”Fushimi followed behind her.

After arriving at the station, we had to walk for a bit, and finally, we reached the beach.

I had left it all up to Fushimi and Torigoe, and thanks to that, we ended up in a really remote place.

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There was a roadside restroom with two old vending machines beside it.

But there was no convenience store, and the seaside restaurant was closed and covered with a blue tarp.

No dressing rooms, either…but I guess we could just change out of each other’s sight?

It was still early morning, and there were barely any people around.

An empty beach was better for filming than a crowded one, for sure, but why had they chosen this place?

I noticed Fushimi was already setting up camp.She laid down the beach blanket and placed her sandals and bag on the corners so it wouldn’t fly away.

“Ai, bring me the pump, quick!”

“I’m coming!”

They couldn’t wait to start playing around, huh.

“Isn’t this heaven?Beautiful girls at the beach under the bright sun…” Deguchi was fanning himself.Where were you hiding that fan?“Takayan, soon you’ll realize.”

“Realize what?”

“Why I am using these sunglasses.”

“Right, before anything, we need you to change out of your clothes.You’re putting on my most normal, boring clothes.”

“What?You serious?This was my outfit for the camera!”

So that’s why it looks like that.

“We can’t have you in frame dressed like that.It’s distracting.”

Deguchi chuckled bizarrely.“You hear that, Minami?‘In frame,’ he says.”

“Wow, you’re using cinematography terminology now.”

“I am currently a cinematographer, technically.”

I had done my research.

Torigoe took off her sandals and stood on the sand.

“Oh, this feels nice…”

I tried doing the same, and it was, in fact, nice.The grains under my soles had a nice texture to them.

Meanwhile, Fushimi and Himeji were already blowing up the beach ball and inner tube.

“Miss Leading Actress!We gotta film!We’ll play later!”I shouted.

This apparently flipped a switch within Fushimi.

“Right… I am the leading actress…”

Her expression seemed kinda sad, but Himeji, on the other hand, had on a smug look.

“Go film your scenes already.I’ll be preparing things in the meantime.”

“Oh yeah, thanks, Ai!”

But our hairdresser and stylist, needed for our leading role’s makeup, was already by the shore, merrily exclaiming, “Eep!I got wet!Hee-hee-hee!”

It’s over.No one’s prioritizing the filming…

“We gotta do what we came here to do first.If we let ourselves play now, we’ll just be in trouble later.”

I clapped my hands to get everyone’s attention, particularly Mana’s.We really needed her to do Fushimi’s makeup or we couldn’t start filming.

“Coming!”Mana answered without much emotion before coming back to the beach blanket.

“Now you’re really acting like a director,” Torigoe said quietly from beside me as she stared at the ocean.

“I mean, things won’t go anywhere if I don’t chew them out like this.”

“I wasn’t being sarcastic like Deguchi and Mii.Really, good job.”

“…Oh, thanks.”

“I thought you’d be more laid-back.”

Fushimi and Mana looked for somewhere to get ready, then hopped onto the seaside restaurant’s veranda, disappearing behind the blue sheet.

“I guess that works as a dressing room.”

“Huh?”Torigoe wasn’t looking, so I pointed at the restaurant, then got back on topic.

“I also thought I’d be more laid-back, but I guess I got influenced by the people who were actually putting in the effort from the beginning.”

“You mean Hiina?”

“You too, Torigoe.”

She had worked hard to finish the script, and I was involved with it throughout the whole process, so I saw her efforts firsthand.

“So I influenced you.”

“You could say that.”

She walked through the sand, sandals in hand, and held her hair down from fluttering as she turned her head around.

“Hey, continue filming even after we’re done with the shots here.”

“What would I film?”

“Us having fun.I don’t think we’ll be able to gather everyone at the beach again.”

I didn’t suggest that we could all meet up again another time.

Even if it’s what I would’ve liked, I felt as if, the second I put that into words, this moment would stop being special.And it sounded like Torigoe felt the same.

Had she made that suggestion herself, she knew I would probably say yes.

Despite her actual words being negative, I thought it was a very Torigoe thing to say.

“Put the camera on a tripod so we can film you, too.”

“Me too?”

“You are part of my second-year summer.You have to show up.”

I walked toward the beach blanket and stood beside her.

“You’re being quite enthusiastic, Silent Beauty.”

“…Are you making fun of me?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

I put both hands up in surrender, and she kicked the sand at me.

The beach was so empty, I had to wonder if the locals went to some public pool instead.

Maybe it was because of the time of day, but it was too deserted even then.

I mean, even the restaurant wasn’t open despite it being peak season.

I stared at Hirono Shibahara through the camera.

Fushimi’s head was finally in the game.Not once had her acting failed to meet my expectations.

“Good one,” I said as I stopped recording.

“He gave the okay, Fushimi!”Deguchi said through the megaphone.

Her expression changed, and she went back to being the usual Fushimi.

“Can I check it?”

“No, I already okayed it.”

“I want to see what you okayed!”

Her enthusiasm ever since we began production was something to greatly appreciate, but honestly, it felt like no one else could keep up with her.

“Being a perfectionist is fine and all, but aren’t you just doing it for your self-satisfaction?”

It was the third time I had approved the shot.

“Argh!No!”

No matter how much I, Himeji, or Torigoe said it was fine, this childhood friend kept on rejecting her own shots.

Deguchi, Torigoe, Fushimi, and I looked at the first one I’d okayed.We watched the ten-second shot three times.

“Deguchi, can you tell the difference?”

He glanced at Fushimi and had on the look of an expert.

“Well, when you’re on my level, you tend to notice all the little details.”

You’re just trying to please Fushimi, for Pete’s sake.

“See?!”Fushimi said smugly.

Can’t you tell he’s just saying that…?

“Takamori’s already okayed the shot three times,” Torigoe said.“Is there something you can clearly tell us you want changed?”

“Yes.The movement of my eyes and the angle of my mouth.”

“You wouldn’t be able to tell that much on the big screen.”

Fushimi couldn’t argue back.Torigoe truly never minced her words.

“What you want makes no objective difference from what Takamori already approved.”

“It does make a difference!”

“Subjectively, perhaps.”I could hear something breaking.“Takamori’s the one who understands the full picture.Hiina, ever since we began filming, you’ve been trying to control everything like it’s a one-man show.”

“I’m not!”

“There are other things that are more important, so you should try and focus on those instead.”

Fushimi shut her mouth tight, its corners progressively curving downward.

“Ai’s ready!”Mana exclaimed cheerily as Himeji came out from behind the blue tarp, all dressed up.

…Good timing.Let’s change the subject.

“Let’s talk about this shot later.Fushimi, take a break.We can still retake it later; the location’s not going anywhere.”

I noticed Fushimi’s eyes and eyebrows tense up.She nodded silently, then turned around and walked toward the beach blanket.

Torigoe let out a tiny sigh.Deguchi glanced back and forth between the two girls.

“W-was that my fault…?Did I mess up by siding with her…?”

“Yes, you technically were the trigger this time, but that problem has been simmering for forever, so don’t mind it.”

I tried to end the conversation there, but Torigoe was surprisingly worked up.

“As much as you might not believe it, Hiina’s an egocentric princess.Indulge her once, and she’ll never let up.”

Torigoe’s words were clearly aimed at me now.

“I’m not indulging her.”

“…Sorry.I’m just getting defensive.”

The question now was, where did Shinohara go?She said she was just going to go buy a drink.

“Mii’s calling for me.I’ll be back,” Torigoe said after looking at her phone, and she left.

Himeji didn’t have many solo scenes, so we were able to finish shooting within twenty minutes.

While checking the footage, Himeji took a sip of one of the drinks Shinohara had bought and carried back with Torigoe, then asked me, “The mood seemed tense; did something happen with Hina?”

“They argued a bit.”

“Amateurs,” she said.She didn’t forget to act all haughty even when trying to be considerate.“We’re working as a team.It’s not a one-man show where someone can act selfishly.”

Her statement rang true, as she used to be part of an idol group.

“How was my acting?We’re already on the sixth day of filming, so…”

“There’s still a gap between you and Fushimi, but I think it’s good.”

“I see; I see.”She nodded in satisfaction.

I wondered if she was taking that audition for the musical because the project had made her become interested in acting.

“Next we’re doing the scene with Eri Akiyama and the background girl.”

Shinohara’s soft expression stiffened all of a sudden.

“Shinohara, seriously, you’ll be fine.Don’t think too much about it.You’re just a background character.I mean, it’s way less embarrassing than your edgy acting back in middle school, right?”

“Stop!”She scowled and walked briskly up to my face.“Don’t mention that in front of Lady Hime or I’ll bury you right here and now.”

Gulp…

Meanwhile, Fushimi was having fun destroying her own sandcastle with a stick.

I’d played that game sometimes in the past.Everyone takes turns sticking a twig inside, and the one who ends up destroying the castle loses.

Was it fun playing that by yourself, though?The point was to compete with multiple people.

Shinohara seemed to have relaxed after our small squabble, so we moved on to shooting the scene.

We did a short rehearsal before filming, to check the angles and how things looked through the finder, and afterward began shooting.

There was this awkwardness to her acting, but it was acceptable.

“You did well, Mii.”

“Yeah, you did.”I agreed with Torigoe, giving the okay.

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As expected from the way she acted in middle school, she had no problem embodying a character.

I did not say that out loud, though.I didn’t want to be buried alive.

“Minami, the director’s saying you’re doing excellent.”Deguchi exaggerated my statement through the megaphone.

Himeji nodded.

“Maybe it rings hollow considering my own abilities, but yes, you did great, Minami.”

“L-Lady Hime said I’m great…!Th-thank you so, so much…!”

Stop that already.See, now she looks disgusted.

Next, we had to film another solo scene with Fushimi, then the one with Himeji and her.

Hopefully she’s ready to move on after the break we gave her…

I turned toward the beach blanket, and there she was, merrily destroying her sandcastle alongside Mana, who had nothing to do now.

I sighed in relief.

When we resumed filming Fushimi’s scenes, I decided to be straight and clear with her.

The next shot was when Hirono Shibahara’s and Eri Akiyama’s suspicions that they are in love with the same person begin taking root.

Torigoe’s words must’ve resonated with Fushimi, as she stopped asking to check the scenes.

“So the first one to realize was Hirono?”Fushimi asked from beyond the camera.

It wasn’t written down which one noticed it first, since having it go either way wouldn’t have been a problem.

“What do you think?”I asked Torigoe.

She hummed for a bit before saying, “What do you think, Hiina?”

“I feel like it should be Eri instead; it fits her character more.”

“Himeji, can you act with that in mind?”

She stood up from the folding chair and brushed away her hair.

“Who do you think I am?Of course I can.”

It was amazing she had this much confidence, considering how bad her acting had been before.

Once we had the details in order, Deguchi took away Himeji’s chair.

Both Fushimi and Himeji looked serious.

Let’s do a rehearsal first.

Then I heard Shinohara from behind say, “You’re just making it up as you go, huh.”

“Hey, none of us has ever made a movie, so it’s only natural.”

“Oh, sorry.I didn’t mean to criticize you.I meant it in a good way.”

“How?”

“You just look like you’re having so much fun.My class isn’t getting together to make something big like you guys are.”

Is that how it looks?

Torigoe and Fushimi kept butting heads, Himeji kept trying to get the upper hand, and Fushimi kept retaliating by giving acting advice to her… My shots were also still shaky despite using a camera with image stabilization.

We were somehow making progress, but I couldn’t exactly say things were going swimmingly.

“I should’ve gone to your high school.”

“Nah, smarty-pants should go to schools for smarty-pants.”

“Well, sorry for being a genius.”

Okay, take it down a notch.

“Hey, seeing as there’s nothing around here, what’re we gonna eat?”Deguchi asked.

Mana hadn’t prepared lunch; we thought we’d be eating at the seaside restaurant.But it was closed.

Having chosen the location, Torigoe said regretfully: “I didn’t imagine they’d be closed…”

We hadn’t seen any restaurants on our way from the station, either.

“Mind if I go looking for something?”Deguchi asked.

“Okay, then have Mana and Shinohara go with you, since you guys don’t have any work to do yet.”

“Okay!”Mana said.“Yeah, Degu, the Boss, and I have nothing to do right now.”

“Mana, please stop calling me ‘the Boss’…”

“Wait, Minami, why’s she calling you that?”

“You see,” Mana replied.

“You don’t need to explain it,” Shinohara said.

The three of them chatted as they left the beach.

“Torigoe, why did you choose this place?I mean, it’s perfect for filming, but I was wondering.”

“…Because…I was worried…”

“About what?”

“About meeting someone I know…if we went to one close by.”

“Oh yeah, that probably would’ve happened had we gone to the nearest beach.”

“Just thinking about them laughing and saying,look at her, she’s all energetic in private, ha-ha-ha, nothing like her personality at school, makes me go red in the face… Or imagine someone from middle school sees me and goes,wow, she’s trying hard to change in high school, so lame.”

Torigoe…did you…change that much from middle school?You mean you…you’re actually cheerier now…?

In the first place, you’re acting just like how you normally do at school.You didn’t have to worry about that.

“A-anyway, I just didn’t want people rolling on the floor laughing at me, which is why I picked this place.”

How’d you know they’d be laughing their asses off ?You have a serious persecution complex.

But in any case, she seemed to regret her choice due to our current situation.

“Ryou, we’re ready!”Fushimi yelled louder than the waves, holding her hands up to her mouth.

“Okay, let’s begin.”

We had to do some retakes, but filming went relatively well.

I think we went through it faster this time around because Fushimi wasn’t asking to check all the shots.It didn’t seem like it was because she trusted my judgment now—rather, she was just resisting the urge to check.

We found a supermarket!Mana had sent that text ten minutes ago.They must’ve found it on the map app and walked all the way there.

It was a good idea sending Deguchi with them, considering they’d have to carry back food and drinks for seven people.

“Shizuka, about the next scene…”

“Yeah?”

With the screenplay in hand, Himeji asked Torigoe something as they sat on the beach blanket.

She was really into it when I remembered she had an audition.There was this greedy feel about the serious look of her side profile.

“I also…”

“What is it, Ryou?”

“Something you wanna ask, Takamori?”

“Nothing.”I shook my head.

I was just being influenced by everyone.

It felt like I lacked a sense of self.I don’t know how to explain it, but I felt disappointed with myself.

I put the equipment away, making sure sand didn’t get inside.

Right, where’s Fushimi?

I figured she would’ve showed up as soon as she heard Himeji asking about the script.

I decided to go for a walk and look for Fushimi while we waited for Mana and the others to return.

“Deguchi was right to wear those flip-flops…”

I’d brought sandals, too, but they weren’t made for walking on top of sand.

The only people I could see on this not-so-vast beach were Torigoe and Himeji, who were still talking with each other.

“Is it really the middle of summer here?”

I made a mental note to ask the other person who had chosen this place.

I walked all the way to the other side of the beach, where the rocky area began.Barnacles clung to the rocks, and seaweed swayed about with the waves.

“Heeey!Fushimiii?”

Where is she?I looked around as I stepped on a rock and went farther.I walked alongside the curved barricade and saw a corner full of tetrapods.

“Huh?Have I been here before?”

The scenery gave me a sense of déjà-vu.

We were exploring, then found the tetrapods, and…

I walked toward them while following my memories.

I climbed on the tetrapods and felt the wind.The strong smell of the ocean.I felt the salty breeze stick to my skin.

Among the crashing waves, I heard a familiar voice.

“STUPID RYOU!”

I looked in the direction of the voice, to the side opposite where I came from.

“SIDE WITH ME FOR ONCE!”

Fushimi was breathing heavily.

“What’re you doing here?”I called out to her from behind.

“Whoa?!”She flinched and froze in place.“R-Ryou… How long have you been here?”

“I just got here.”

I carefully climbed down to her side.

I wanted to ask about what she’d just yelled, but first I had to confirm something.

“We’ve…been here, right?”

Fushimi blinked in surprise.

“You remember?”

“So we have.I think it was around here where you slipped and fell into the sea.”

“…Why do you only remember stuff like that?!”She pouted.

“The water barely reached your waist, but you kept shouting,‘I’m drowning!!’”

“I—I was just scared, okay?!”

I sat down on the tetrapod and felt the heat it absorbed from the sun pierce my shorts.That and the rough texture made for a terrible chair.

“When was that, first, second grade?”

“Yes, yes we were, Ryou!”

She acted as though an amnesiac friend had suddenly recovered all their memories.She really was that happy.

“Himeji wasn’t there, was she?”

“Nope.Ai caught a cold then.We came all the way here for a local children’s party when we were in second grade.”

There were local events for children like that multiple times a year.They had us visit the sea, hold Christmas parties, and go flower viewing… I wasn’t sure if those sorts of things still happened after we grew up, but I went to a lot of them with Mana, Fushimi, and Himeji.

Fushimi crouched down to avoid sitting and dirtying her clothes.

“Was that why you chose this beach?”

Fushimi nodded; she replied while keeping her gaze on the ocean, “I was hoping you’d remember.”She giggled.“I’m glad you did.

“So you came here looking for me, huh?”she asked.

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Why?”

“Uh…”

Because you disappeared—why else?

I didn’t know what to tell her, and after a short silence, she shyly asked me:

“…Were you looking for me to do something dirty?”

“Wha—?!”How’d you get that idea in your head?!“Of course not!”

“But y-y-you know, that’s a pretty normal situation!”

“Normal where?”Who gave you that idea?

“You see it all the time in the movies!”

“What sort of movies are you watching, young lady?”

“You know, the classic scene where a group of friends goes somewhere together, but then the guy and the girl end up all alone, and they start kissing, French kissing, groping each other, and…”

“Okay, stop right there.”

That’s definitely an R-rated movie.Actually, it sounds like an excuse for a “movie,” if you know what I mean… Should you even be watching those?

“And then they find their dead bodies the next day.”

“All right, that wasn’t what I was picturing.”

So a splatter.Okay, I guess that scene is actually pretty cliché, then?

“B-but I’m not saying I wanted you to do that, okay?!”

What if she’s just being the classictsundere…?

[AI ERROR / SAFETY BLOCK - RAW ENGLISH RETAINED]

No.Don’t think about it.She actually looks like she’s being honest, waving her hands desperately to avoid misunderstandings.

“But what counts as dirty?”

“Don’t ask me.”

“Is a kiss considered dirty?”

Didn’t you just hear me?

“That’s in the gray zone, I think…”

Out of nowhere, Fushimi placed her hand on my cheek and turned my head, making me look straight into her eyes.

“Is gazing into each other’s eyes dirty?”

“I don’t think so…”

Our shoulders were nearly touching.I never really looked directly at her face, much less at this overwhelmingly close distance, so there was something novel about it despite having known her for so long.

“I don’t think a kiss is dirty, either.”

She went from an upward glance to holding her chin high.She licked her lips and softly tilted her head.

Then my phone vibrated in objection.

I put my hand into my pocket to check it, but then she grabbed my hand and leaned on me.

“Don’t think about anything else but me right now…” Her voice was faint, like a sigh.

Our eyes met, and she looked down.I was sitting cross-legged, and she sat down in the empty space between my legs, then buried her face in my chest.

“Rub my back.”

Her ears were burning red.

I stroked her back softly as requested.

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