About thirty minutes had passed since class began.
At first, the boys had been trying to burn the image of the girls in their swimsuits into their memories, but once they actually got in the pool, the girls were submerged up to their shoulders, and the water’s reflections made visibility poor, so most of the boys gave up and started playing their own games.
Some competed to see who could hold their breath underwater the longest, others raced to see who could reach the opposite side first, and some just floated on their backs enjoying chill time.
I was taking a break poolside, getting some sun on my back, when Minegishi came over.
He sat down next to me and spoke up.
“Man, this is bliss. Even if it’s just for an hour, getting to thoroughly admire the girls in their swimsuits. If we’d had regular class, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“If you stare too much, you’ll probably get hated though.”
“Ahaha, well yeah. If I keep looking so obviously, I’ll probably get kicked out, so maybe I should look more discreetly? Hey, look, Hanazono’s over there.”
“Mm…”
Looking over, Hanazono was just getting into the pool from the poolside.
Her figure quietly rippling the water’s surface had a certain elegance to it.
I thought I could see a slightly bored expression on her face.
Perhaps that was a nuance only I could pick up because we were dating.
Either way, it was certainly nice that my understanding was deepening.
“If it’s Hanazono, she’d probably listen to excuses even if she caught us looking, so should we get a bit closer? Casually, of course.”
“Nah, I’m good. I’d be scared if we got caught.”
Honestly, part of me wanted to observe Hanazono more closely along with Minegishi.
But knowing how Hanazono looked when she saw something vulgar, I couldn’t bring myself to keep watching.
More than that, as her boyfriend, joining in on Minegishi’s moves would be absolutely wrong.
“Hmm, you’re really proper about this stuff. I guess that’s why the transfer student likes you.”
“She’s just a childhood friend, so there’s no liking or not liking about it. She’s the same as when we were in elementary school.”
“Come on now. There’s a rumor that Miyagi’s also after Nikaido. Honestly, the Nikaido in your memory must be totally different from now, no wait, she definitely has to be totally different.”
“Well, that’s true too, but it’s about one’s state of mind. But wait, does Miyagi like Nikaido?”
I wanted to warn him that he was being deceived, but if it reached Remi’s ears, it would be over.
“I don’t think it’s exactly ‘like,’ but she’s probably his type. She’s complete, and how should I put it, she’s the safest choice.”
“Ah, I guess that’s one way to think about it.”
Listening to the sounds of water splashing and cheering, we two guys chatted for a while.
The boys’ group from Class 2 looked like a picture-perfect popular group.
They were the type of guys from a group I wouldn’t have associated with in middle school, but I think the popular types are really good at casual conversation.
When I’m not talking, they talk for me.
Just maintaining that stance allows me to relax.
“Speaking of which, I’ve been curious about something – why are you so close with Yuzuha?”
“Huh?”
I flinched and looked at Minegishi.
It seemed he hadn’t meant anything by it, as he frantically waved his hands.
“Ah wait, sorry if that sounded weird. But you guys seemed close from the beginning, so I was curious.”
“Well… there were even rumors that we were dating.”
When I said that, Minegishi looked embarrassed.
“Sorry, that was me.”
“What?”
“I casually mentioned that Yuzuha seemed like she was dating Yoshiki, and then everyone got really excited about it. Sorry.”
“No, it’s fine.”
…That was unexpected.
The rumor that spread shortly after enrollment was denied by Yuzuha in front of everyone and dissipated.
I had thought that rumor was mixed with more malice.
There probably were people like that too, but the source was just casual conversation.
“I’m glad it was Minegishi who started it. I didn’t want to spend time wondering who it was.”
“I appreciate you saying that.”
Minegishi replied bitterly, then continued.
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“When I walked home with Yuzuha yesterday, when we were alone, I asked her again about her relationship with you. I also told her that I was the one who had initially misunderstood and spread it around…”
Minegishi scratched his head vigorously.
“Then that girl got really intense, telling me I should at least apologize to you. I was done for – so that’s what it means to step on a landmine.”
“That happened, huh. Sorry about that.”
“No, I’m the one who should be apologizing now. Well, anyway, I apologized.”
“Yeah. Well, I wasn’t really bothered by it.”
“That’s nice, having a proper friendship like that. I’m genuinely jealous.”
Minegishi pouted and cast his gaze forward.
Just then, Yuzuha was getting back into the pool from the poolside, and I also followed her figure for a few seconds.
I found myself thinking that it would be nice if Minegishi, like Takeru, would also become
someone I could talk to as a guy friend.
“But still, Yuzuha’s got big breasts…”
“Minegishi. As a friend, let me give you some advice – you should probably hide that kind of thing.”
“Huh? Hide looking at her chest?”
“Yeah. If you look too obviously, she’ll notice and you’ll get removed from the friend zone. Girls are sensitive to gazes.”
“Come on, it’s fine. Yuzuha’s absorbed in swimming, right? And we’re this far away?”
“Well, it’s not just about what Yuzuha thinks. Other girls and teachers too—”
Just as I was about to give my warning, Kagami-sensei’s sharp voice flew over.
“Minegishi! We’re short one lane rope, so go get one from the storage room!”
“Huh, the storage room!? That’s like a ten-minute round trip!”
“You’re the PE committee member, aren’t you? I’m counting on you. By yourself!”
“Ugh, seriously…? Yoshiki, is this what you were talking about?”
…Just as I thought, sending obvious gazes continuously really does result in virtual banishment.
It’s probably Kagami-sensei’s way of dealing with it, but it’s super effective.
Minegishi couldn’t even ask me for help and trudged away dejectedly.
I felt a bit sorry for my new friend’s misery.
Pool time was also coming to an end.
As the boys and girls were getting out of the pool from separate sides, I was sitting at the midpoint keeping watch.
Perhaps because Kagami-sensei felt relieved after banishing Minegishi, she had entrusted me with moving the lane ropes.
If we waited until after class, we wouldn’t make it in time for the next period, so we had to move them back to their original positions now.
In the end, Minegishi never made it back, so I had to handle the moving by myself.
When I reached for the lane rope that marked the boundary between boys and girls, I heard cheering.
Looking over, I saw Miyagi and Takeru in the middle of a heated swimming race.
Watching them, I felt envious.
If I hadn’t had to stand as the boys’ representative in negotiations, I could have been playing in the pool too.
“I kind of got the short end of the stick…”
Just as I muttered that, the water surface rippled.
“Hm?”
Yuzuha burst out of the water with a vigorous “Boo!”
“Whoa!”
“Hehehe, did I surprise you? Yoshiki looked bored this whole time!”
At the sight of water dripping down her body, I instinctively looked away.
“Of course this kind of chore is boring. You look like you’re having fun though, Yuzuha.”
“Of course it’s fun, it’s a pool! Yoshiki should get in too. Want to come over here? It’s almost the end anyway.”
“No way, the girls would kick me out with full force. Besides, organizing these ropes by myself takes forever, so I don’t have time either way. Oh, are you saying you’ll help me?”
“No way, no way, that’s funny!”
“It’s not funny. Well, I figured as much.”
Yuzuha laughed with a “That’s too much trouble!” and took off her swimming cap.
The tips of her light golden hair touched the water’s surface, spreading ripples in circles.
As I was casually looking down, Yuzuha continued.
“Speaking of which, wasn’t my follow-up before class nice? If I hadn’t been there, all the boys would have had to go to the classroom. I’ve grown since that time.”
“That time?”
“When Yoshiki and Hanazono-san were at the arcade—”
“Wait, wait.”
I hurriedly stopped her and looked around.
That time – she meant the day I confessed to Hanazono.
It would have been dangerous if someone had been listening.
“Please, continue to be careful about keeping that matter secret from now on. Hanazono would also want to say it herself if she’s going to tell anyone.”
“I know that. No one’s listening right now, so it’s fine.”
“Just as a precaution.”
From below, Yuzuha gave me a light “Okay, okay” response.
Her reply didn’t seem to have sunk in at all, which put me in a mischievous mood.
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