The meals on the luxury cruise ship are mostly buffet-style, which most students use.
I wasn't particularly hungry, just a little peckish, so I bought a sandwich and tea at the shop. Thinking it might be nice to eat on the deck while gazing at the sea for once, I began searching for a suitable spot.
Then, I spotted a bench facing the ocean. However, it seemed someone had already claimed it. If it was someone I knew, I figured I could ask to share the seat.
The person who turned around at the sound of my footsteps was Nanase. Apparently, she was the one who'd gotten there first.
"Ah, H-Hyakkiya-senpai!"
She had just taken a big bite of her sandwich, so she looked at me while trying to keep the filling from falling out. Seeing her hurriedly chew made me feel a little guilty.
"Ah, sorry. Should I come back later?"
I said it, but knowing Nanase's personality, there was no way she'd agree to that.
"P-Pwease, f-feel fwee!"
Determined not to spit out what was already in her mouth, she quickly resumed eating.
"Gulp… Um, sorry. It's just that, well… I was in the middle of eating."
Her tone made it sound like she was confessing a secret, but it was obvious she'd been eating. Hell, I'd known the moment I saw her.
"Uh, did you need something from me?"
Nanase still seemed a bit flustered.
"Well, I was looking for a place to eat too. Mind if I join you?"
"Of course! Let's eat together!"
Nanase welcomed me warmly, even though I was the one intruding. She smiled at me, looking oddly happy.
"Here."
She scooted over slightly on the bench, making space beside her, then gestured for me to sit.
…I'd actually planned to use the bench next to hers, but…
"…Thanks."
Still, it was Nanase's kindness, so I muttered a small thanks and sat down.
"Ah, Senpai, you have a sandwich too?"
"Wasn't that hungry today, so I grabbed one from the shop."
"Same here. You know how it is—sometimes you're not really hungry but just want a little something?"
"Exactly."
Nanase chuckled softly at our shared sentiment and resumed eating.
"Senpai, what kind of sandwich did you get?"
As I ate while gazing at the sea, Nanase turned her face toward me.
"This is a katsu sandwich. Pretty good. What about yours?"
"Mine's a fruit sandwich. It's delicious too."
A fruit sandwich? They had those?
Glancing at hers, I saw strawberries and whipped cream stuffed between the bread. Who would've thought you could put fruit in a sandwich…
"…If you're okay with it, wanna swap a piece?"
When I asked, Nanase froze for a second in surprise.
"Eh, really?"
"Of course, only if you're fine with it."
"Absolutely, yes!"
Whoa, that was an instant reply.
Well, she'd been eyeing my katsu sandwich with interest, so she must've wanted to try it.
"Ah, but my sandwich is already half-eaten…"
Nanase suddenly looked down at her hands.
True, the fruit sandwich was the only one she had left, and she'd already taken a bite.
"Isn't that fine? I don't mind if it's a little smaller."
"…Right. You're the type who doesn't care about stuff like that, huh?"
"Wait, why do you sound mad?"
"It's nothing… I just feel stupid for getting nervous over nothing."
I wasn't entirely sure what she meant, but Nanase and I ended up swapping sandwiches.
We chatted a bit as we ate, and within about ten minutes, the sandwiches were gone.
But now, Nanase and I found ourselves in an indescribably awkward situation.
"…Nanase, you get how I feel right now, don't you?"
"…Yes, I do. I feel the same way."
"I was only a little hungry at first, but… eating just a bit somehow made me even hungrier."
Nanase gave a wry smile, as if to say, Exactly.
We hadn't been that hungry to begin with, but eating a little seemed to have woken up our stomachs.
"The buffet's probably not crowded right now. Wanna go together, Nanase?"
As I stood up, Nanase energetically agreed and followed after me.
......
Time: 2:00 PM
After finishing my meal with Nanase, I headed to one of the luxury cruise ship's facilities—the private pool.
The private pool was, as the name suggested, a pool you could reserve for exclusive use. At 20,000 points for 60 minutes, it wasn't exactly cheap, but being able to enjoy it with close friends made it worth the cost.
Because of that, the private pool was surprisingly popular, with reservations filling up almost completely from its opening at 8:00 AM to its closing at 8:00 PM.
I hadn't made a reservation myself, but since Arisu invited me and I didn't have any other plans, I agreed to join.
The members, apparently, were me, Arisu, Kamuro, Hashimoto, and Kitou. Somehow, I was the only outsider.
"Whoa, this is seriously huge."
"...Yeah."
A little later, Hashimoto and Kitou from Class A appeared by the poolside. Hashimoto sounded excited as he took in the sight of the expansive pool.
I had asked beforehand if it was okay for me, an outsider, to join a Class A gathering, but surprisingly, everyone was welcoming. Especially Kitou, who practically jumped at the chance to include me—that was nice.
"Well, well, girls sure take their time, huh?"
"...Hashimoto, if you keep staring like that, Arisu and the others will hate you."
"Come on, Hikigaya. It's our classmates in swimsuits we're talking about! Plus, Princess and Kamuro are both beauties. There's no way I wouldn't be curious!"
And I'm already pretty hated!
Hashimoto said it with full confidence, but that wasn't exactly something to brag about, was it? Kitou was making an extremely uncomfortable face too.
As I was thinking that, the door connecting to the girls' changing room cracked open slightly. The three of us turned almost simultaneously, but no one stepped out.
Instead, we could hear voices from inside.
['Come on, let's go already, Kamuro-san.']
['W-Wait, seriously, hold on—I'm changing into a different swimsuit first!']
['If you keep doing that, we'll waste all our time. Don't worry. It suits you.']
['It's not like I can pull off anything like you can!']
['Fufu, thank you for the compliment.']
Arisu and Kamuro were exchanging a conversation that was… hard to describe.
"Y'know, there's something appealing about not being able to see it."
Hashimoto stared intently at the changing room door with a strangely philosophical expression.
"Dude, you're seriously coming off as a creep."
"Don't look at me like that! Any guy would feel the same! Kitou and Hikigaya might act calm, but deep down, they're not, right?"
I'm not thinking about that at all.
I wanted to say it, but Hashimoto's eyes seemed to forbid any denial, so I nodded in agreement.
…Against my will.
But the two inside were still arguing, and they showed no signs of coming out.
['Fine! I'll go, okay!? I'll just go!']
['I only picked what I thought suited you, Kamuro-san. Though I admit, it might be a little bold.']
['So you were doing it on purpose!']
We, the ones waiting for their grand entrance, were stuck in a kind of purgatory.
Ah, Kitou had already slipped into the pool to swim.
"You hear that, Hikigaya? 'Bold,' she said."
"Sounds like it."
Anticipation—and the awkwardness that came with it.
Where should I look when they come out? What should I even say?
['It's time to make up your mind. Even I feel embarrassed about Hachiman seeing me, you know? Not that I care about Hashimoto.']
['Same here! Hashimoto's just gross, but Hikigaya's reactions are unpredictable—that's what's annoying!']
...
I glanced sideways at Hashimoto, who was silently staring at the sky with narrowed eyes.
"...Hikigaya, wanna push me into the pool?"
"Relax. Those two are just special cases. You're the kind of guy who'd normally be popular."
"Hearing that from someone who is popular just sounds like sarcasm..."
I thought I was giving him a proper pep talk, but it only seemed to crush his spirit further.
"Y'know what, I feel like Princess'll yell at me if I stay, so I'm gonna go swim. Hikigaya, you handle the compliments."
"Wait, hey—"
True to his word, Hashimoto sank into the pool like a defeated man.
Now, I was the only one left waiting outside the changing room. I wished Kitou would come back, but when I looked at the pool, he was doing the butterfly stroke. Probably shouldn't interrupt.
['Fine! I'll go, okay!? I'll just go!']
Kamuro, now completely reckless, shouted—and at the same time, the half-open door burst open with force.
["Oh, how fortunate, Kamuro-san. It seems only Hikigaya-kun is waiting for us."]
Following Kamuro, who had practically leaped out, Arisu stepped out gracefully.
"Oh, come on..."
I was stunned by the sight of the two.
Arisu was still within acceptable limits. She wore a white swimsuit with a small pareo tied around her waist, and her hair—usually left down—was tied back. A hibiscus-like flower accessory adorned her head, complementing her swimsuit and amplifying her charm.
But the real problem was the girl beside her.
"...Quit staring. Got something to say?"
Kamuro's face was red as she snapped at me.
She was wearing a black bikini. That alone wouldn't have been so bad, but the fabric covering her chest was noticeably smaller than usual. The bottom half wasn't much better—just a thin string tied tightly, drawing the eye whether I wanted to or not.
"Just so you know, I didn't pick this swimsuit."
"Actually, we decided to pick each other's swimsuits."
Arisu smoothly clarified Kamuro's vague complaint.
"...I see. Well, it suits you."
That much was undeniable, so I made sure to say it.
"I'm gonna go swim for a bit... Huh?"
Staring too long at girls in swimsuits wasn't good, so I turned to dive into the pool—only for Arisu's small hand to grab my wrist and stop me.
"...What's this about?"
When I asked, Arisu smiled sweetly.
"Don't you think it's rude to look at someone in a swimsuit and not give a proper opinion?"
"I just said it suits you."
"That's not an opinion. That's just lip service. I expect something more detailed."
"Lip service? Then shouldn't you ask Hashimoto and the others too?"
"Kitou-kun is one thing, but Hashimoto-kun's opinions are completely unnecessary."
Damn, she's brutal to Hashimoto.
"...Your hairstyle."
"Hm?"
"It's different from usual. Tying it back like that goes well with the swimsuit. The hibiscus hairpin too."
"Fufufu, I'm glad you think so."
Then, I noticed something.
On Arisu's neck—a bandage was still stuck there.
"You're still covering it... So it hasn't faded yet?"
When I pointed it out, Arisu turned her face away slightly.
"I-It's none of your business!"
With that, she walked off toward the beachwear area.
...Seems like the mark I left hadn't completely disappeared yet.
Now, it was just Kamuro and me left, but neither of us had much to say, leaving an awkward silence.
"Uh, yeah. The swimsuit looks good on—"
"Don't force yourself to compliment me."
She shot back instantly.
"No, I mean it. It does suit you."
"How? This thing is just..."
Kamuro looked down at her own swimsuit and sighed.
"You're naturally good-looking, Kamuro. You should have more confidence."
"...Save the flattery."
"It's not flattery. Look, Hashimoto's sneaking glances over here."
"Creep."
Damn, that was brutal. I shouldn't have brought it up, but at least I didn't mention how her legs were trembling—she should be grateful for that.
"Well, we came all the way to the pool. Might as well enjoy it."
"Yeah. I don't hate swimming."
Finally agreeing, Kamuro nodded slightly—and for the first time, she smiled faintly.
Feeling like I'd witnessed something rare, I dove into the massive pool ahead of me.
"...Calling me pretty… What an idiot."
.......
After enjoying ourselves at the pool, we played two-on-two beach volleyball. Now, we're in the middle of a one-on-one match, first to five points.
Hashimoto and Kamuro are locked in a heated battle—or rather, Kamuro keeps aiming the ball straight at Hashimoto's face. It's a real showdown.
I take a short break and walk over to the beach chairs where Arisu is sitting.
"Good work. I was watching your beach volleyball match. Beating Kitou-kun is impressive, as expected."
As if she had predicted I'd take a break, Arisu says this while holding a drink in one hand.
"Kitou was strong too. It was my first time playing beach volleyball, but it was pretty fun."
"Is that so? I'd like to try it sometime."
Arisu lowers her gaze slightly.
She usually wouldn't say something like this, but around me, she tends to let her guard down. Maybe her true feelings slipped out unintentionally.
"Then wanna go for a swim together?"
"Don't joke about that. My legs don't work well, so I can't swim even if I get in the water."
"That's why I said together."
"…Huh?"
I slide my arms under Arisu's knees and behind her neck, lifting her up in a princess carry.
"I never imagined you'd princess-carry me of your own volition, Hachiman-kun."
Arisu looks surprised.
Well, I have done it once before, but during the sports festival, it was more out of necessity since time was running out.
"Hehe, so what do you plan to do now?"
She acts composed, but… I take a few steps back to get a running start toward the pool, fully intending to shatter that composure.
"…Um, I think I can guess what you're about to do… You are joking, right?"
Her eyes dart between the pool and me, her expression stiffening in rare panic.
"I told you, didn't I? We're swimming together."
"W-wait, hold on—!"
Ignoring her protest, I dash toward the pool.
Then, bending my knees, I leap into the water with Arisu still in my arms.
"Kyaah?!"
Of course, I don't let her crash into the water at full force—I cushion the impact with my whole body.
With a loud splash, water sprays everywhere as both of us resurface.
"Wh-what was that for?!"
For Arisu to raise her voice like that… that's unusual.
"So? How was your first dive?"
I say it so casually, as if nothing happened, which seems to irritate her. She bites her lip lightly.
"…That was absurd. Carrying a woman—let alone one with bad legs—into the pool like that…"
She glares—no, stares at me with an intense look.
"Of course I took precautions. I wouldn't have done it if I wasn't sure you wouldn't get hurt."
"…How mean. Saying something like that leaves me with no room to argue."
"Lately, I've been aware that I've become a bit of a tease. …'Kyaah', huh? That was pretty cute."
The moment I say it mockingly, Arisu's pale skin instantly flushes red.
"Wh—?! That was your fault!"
"Unfair. I don't recall telling you to scream like that."
"Th-that's…"
"You always act so composed, but I didn't know you could make sounds like that. A little surprising."
"~~~~~~!!"
Overcome with embarrassment, Arisu clamps her mouth shut and starts pounding her fists against my chest.
…Maybe I went too far?
"So? How was your first dive?"
"…Just a little bit… it was fun."
Though she mutters it reluctantly, her quiet voice reaches my ears clearly.
"Wanna go again?"
"I refuse."
She shuts it down instantly with a dead-serious face.
"Then wanna go back to the chairs?"
"No, I think I'll stay in the water with you a little longer. Make sure you hold me tight, okay?"
"Yeah, of course."
When I answer, Arisu smiles happily and leans into me.
..........
The private pool time ended in the blink of an eye. After everyone changed and left the locker room, we were about to go our separate ways when I noticed Arisu lightly tugging at my sleeve.
"What's up?"
"If it's alright with you… would you like to spend some time together tomorrow? Maybe chess at a quiet café?"
"Oh? What's this, Princess? Getting pretty bold—"
"Kitou-kun, please silence Hashimoto-kun."
"Wha— H-Hey, Princess?!"
Hashimoto, who had been heckling, was immediately dragged away by Kitou at Arisu's command.
As he left, Kitou waved at me.
…Was that supposed to be a farewell? I didn't expect Kitou to do something like that, but I waved back just in case.
"So, tomorrow, huh?"
"Yes. Unless… you already have plans?"
I absolutely couldn't schedule anything for tomorrow.
Tomorrow was my date with Asahina.
But I couldn't just say that outright, so I decided to dodge the question.
"Yeah, I've got something tomorrow. Sorry, can we do it another day?"
"I see. That's unfortunate. May I ask who you'll be with?"
"...Just Ishizaki and the guys."
For a brief moment, her eyes seemed to scrutinize me, but I must've imagined it.
"Well, let's play chess some other time."
"Of course. I'll be looking forward to it."
With that, we parted ways, and I walked through the ship's lobby.
---
Not even three minutes later, someone else called out to me.
"Hachiman-kun!"
"Hiyori? What's up?"
It was Hiyori, jogging toward me with a smile. Something good must've happened.
"Actually, I just found this huge library on the ship! They have tons of books we don't have at school. Want to go together tomorrow?"
Another request for tomorrow.
But since I couldn't accept, I had to turn her down the same way I did with Arisu.
"Sorry, I've got plans tomorrow. Maybe another time?"
Hiyori's expression dimmed slightly.
"If you already have plans, I understand…"
"Sorry. We'll definitely go to the library together before the trip's over."
"Right! And, um…"
Her tone dropped just a little, though her smile remained gentle.
"Who are you going with?"
For some reason, despite her usual kind expression, I felt something lurking beneath her words.
"Y-You're kinda scary right now, Hiyori."
"What do you mean? More importantly—"
"Huh? Oh, uh… Ishizaki and the guys."
"Ishizaki-kun and them, huh?"
Again, I couldn't exactly say "I have a date with Asahina."
"I'll text you later. Looking forward to the library."
"…Okay!"
She waved me off with a smile. Hiyori really was a soothing presence.
---
But that thought lasted only a moment. As soon as I turned the corner, I ran into another familiar face.
"Wah—! H-Hikigaya-kun…?!"
"Yo, Matsushita?"
Seriously, what's with all these encounters today?
"What a coincidence! Oh, hey, Hikigaya-kun. You free tomorrow?"
"...Why?"
"I was just thinking I'd love to hang out. Y'know, the ship has pools and stuff."
There was a free public pool separate from the private one we used earlier. That must've been what she meant.
…Again, I had to turn her down.
"Sorry, I've got plans tomorrow. Another day?"
"Ah, well, that's fine. Next time, then. Can I text you?"
"Of course. I appreciate the invite."
"Hehe, thanks! Oh, right…"
"Hm?"
Matsushita beckoned me closer, so I leaned in slightly.
"Next time we go to the pool together, look forward to seeing me in a swimsuit, okay?"
With that, she waved and skipped off.
…Huh. Unlike the other two, Matsushita had a different kind of charm. She always managed to surprise me.
---
"Come to think of it, my phone's been off this whole time."
I'd forgotten about it after leaving the pool.
I pulled it out and turned it back on.
Immediately, messages from several people popped up.
[Amasawa]: Senpaiii, let's go on a date tomorrow! You wouldn't turn down a cute kouhai's request, right?
[Nanase]: Lunch with you today was really fun! If you're free, want to eat together again tomorrow?
[Horikita]: Don't even think about pretending you forgot our deal during the exam. You're telling me everything about your relationship with my brother. Clear your schedule for tomorrow.
Nanase made sense, but were Amasawa and Horikita just ignoring my consent?
"…Why tomorrow of all days?"
Would it be fine to refuse?
And why was everyone fixated on tomorrow?
The day after would've been fine too.
---
"Hey, Hikigaya."
Yet another voice called out to me.
"President Nagumo?"
Standing there was Nagumo, smirking faintly. This felt just like yesterday.
"So, you've got a date with Nazuna tomorrow, huh?"
"Yeah. Looking forward to it."
Since Nagumo already knew about yesterday's conversation, there was no harm in answering.
Hearing that, he spread his arms wide.
"How about it? Instead of Nazuna, wanna hang out with me tomorrow?"
"Hah?"
Another dumbfounded noise escaped me—two days in a row now.
What the hell was this student council president saying?
"With me, you'd get access to any facility on the ship. Plus, I'll treat you to any high-end restaurant you want. C'mon, guys hanging out is way better than—"
"Sorry, but I already promised Asahina-senpai first. Can't do it."
I didn't have time for this, so I quickly walked away.
It might've been rude, but Nagumo was probably just messing around anyway.
"…Will tomorrow's date be okay?"
It wasn't like I was doing anything wrong, but for some reason, a sliver of unease lingered in my mind.
"Eh, whatever happens, happens."
Muttering something close to a prayer, I slipped my phone back into my pocket.
....
9:00 PM, Third Night.
"Hah? Masayoshi's holed up in his room, depressed? I don't know anything about that, and what exactly am I supposed to do?!"
"Wait, hold on. You're the only one Nagumo will actually listen to. Could you at least check on him tomorrow—"
"Not tomorrow! Absolutely not tomorrow!"
With that sharp retort, Asahina hung up on Kiriyama and tossed her phone onto the bed.
Normally, she might've taken the matter more seriously, but right now, she had something far more important on her mind.
"…Did the spa, picked out accessories and perfume for tomorrow, alarm's set."
Perfect! Asahina pumped herself up.
"I'm so excited for tomorrow. It's my first date ever. And who'd have thought my first would be with someone younger?"
Muttering to herself, she flopped onto the bed, letting her body sink into the mattress.
"B-but he said he likes older girls, and he was the one who asked me out… so it's totally possible, right?"
Just a tiny bit of wishful thinking made her blush, and she hugged her pillow tightly to hide her embarrassment.
"I wonder where we'll go. Maybe lunch at a café first. Oh, right—Hikigaya-kun said he likes novels and manga, didn't he? The library could be fun. And then just the two of us at the pool…"
Suddenly, her words trailed off.
"…Oh no… this is bad…"
Even though no one was around, she covered her face with her hands, desperately trying to suppress the smile creeping onto her lips.
"…I really do like him, don't I?"
The full-length mirror in front of her reflected Asahina's face—flushed redder than she'd ever let anyone see.
(A/N: Hmmm..... It looks like someone will soon notice something strange about Hachiman.)
=================================
Want to support me?
You can join as member in my P4TR30N
p4treon.com/ShirooYuki ( Change 4 to a)
See ya!!