Kagami and I's train ride has reached its destination. We exit and step onto the ground of the train station. Thinking about it now, how did I know which train to take, or where it would lead me? I glance at the sign announcing the station's name, but the letters smear together, a watercolor of symbols I can't decipher. Blurry. I blink, but it stays that way. I tell myself it's not worth thinking about—but the thought keeps thinking about me.
Kagami and I walk towards (where we believe) the beach. As we walk, we notice different shops around. I'm unfamiliar with the area, and I don't think I've ever heard of some of the shops. Kagami wants to enter them and see what they have in store (laugh), but I drag her away by the arms. One storefront in particular catches my eye—bright, but oddly familiar. Kagami notices my glance and smirks, as if she knows a joke I don't. It's just a store, I tell myself. Just a store.
As we walk closer to the beach, I get a bad feeling in my gut. I think it's telling me to run away as soon as possible! I'm assuming I'm being told this because no one can endure being relentlessly attacked by Olympia, Kumiko, and Kagami. Not to mention, I had a little run-in with Emanon, Kumiko's aunt.
Sometimes I wonder if this is a sequel to some other story—one where I lived an abhorrent life, a "Tensei Hentai Shounen" condemned for sins I can't quite recall. Maybe that's why I keep expecting punishment.
It took a while, but we finally arrived at the beach. In the distance, I can see Kumiko sitting on a beach chair. Closer to the water, I can see Olympia enjoying the sea. Kumiko seems to have noticed us, but Olympia seems off in her own world.
Kagami calls out to them, "Yo, yo, Kumiko and Olympia! Yo, yo!"
Seems like I'm not the only one she greets that way. For some reason, I feel less special…
Kumiko doesn't say anything, but she does wave to her. I'd say us, but Kumiko is looking directly at Kagami and only Kagami.
Kagami runs up to Kumiko and gives her a big hug. Surprisingly, Kumiko accepts her hug.
I greet Kumiko, "Yo, Kumiko. How art thou?"
She glares at me.
I try again, "Hello, Kumiko, it's rather cool to see you today."
She glares at me once more.
I try one last time, "Hey, Kumiko, it's nice seeing you again."
"Hello, Tensei Hentai Shounen," she responds.
"Ah, I must not have given you my name yet. It's Kiyomi Otonashi. O-T-O. Oto!"
"Yes, yes—I know you're not attracted to me. You're not a homosexual because I hate you. I hate you, and that's why you're a homosexual."
"You're being ignorant, but you made it seem somewhat cool. We're at the beach, but you should tone it down."
"Don't tell me what to do, and I won't tell you what to do. By the way, bite off your tongue and choke to death."
"How did what I said warrant such a response!? Gami-sama, a little help?"
Kumiko laughs at what I call Kagami. But this time, she doesn't wipe her face off. She continues to laugh, for quite a while, I should add, and only stops when Kagami begs her to.
"Kumiko, please don't laugh at what this pervert calls me. He's evil incarnate. He's the other face of love: darkness. Don't enable him to harass me! I thought the plan for today was for us three to gang up on him."
So the cat's out of the bag. Well, it's not like the cat was ever inside the bag to begin with. Wait… I knew this was what this date was for, yet I still came. Damn, I have awful anime logic… Please believe that the next volume I narrate, I'll do a much better job. Wait—Are you seriously already closing this book!? Or should I say exiting the tab?
"Tensei Hentai Shounen," Kumiko calls out to me, "How come you haven't narrated the outfit I'm wearing, yet?"
"Yeah, you didn't do so for me in the last chapter either," chimes in Kagami.
"That's because I'm not a pervert!"
"Pervert?" asks Kagami, "What about our attire is pervy? We're wearing casual beach clothes.
"The only person making our clothing pervy is you!" exclaims Kumiko.
That's it. For the remainder of this chapter, no—volume, I will not utter a singular word again. These two don't deserve my words; they are unworthy of my grace.
But then all of a sudden I hear: "Kiyo, Kiyo! Guess who." Olympia's palms slide over my eyes—wet from the sea, cool as glass. For a heartbeat, it's like being blindfolded in a game I don't remember agreeing to.
"Is this Kumiko?" I jokingly ask.
"Are you an idiot!? How are you not able to recognize my voice by now!?" Olympia lets go of me.
"Yo, Kumiko, it looks like Oto is building a tent. Do people normally do that when going to the beach?" Kagami asks.
Kumiko has a sinister smirk on her face, but Olympia seems puzzled. Not because of what Kagami just said, but because of something else.
Olympia is staring at Kagami, seemingly confused about who she is. I guess the two aren't familiar. But it seemed like Kagami at least had an idea of who Olympia was.
"Olympia," Kumiko calls out, "this is my friend, Kagami." She then turns to Kagami, "Kagami, this is my friend, Olympia." She grabs both of their arms and puts them facing each other. "Shake."
Kagami seems eager to shake hands (or perhaps to just touch her) with Olympia, but Olympia hesitates. She even retracts her arm, but Kumiko reels her back in. Reluctantly, Olympia shook hands with Kagami. Enthusiastically, Kagami shook hands with Olympia.
"Why do you seem unwilling to shake hands with me, Olympia? Do you not like me? No—Do you dislike me? What have I done to make you dislike me? Wait… Olympia, do you hate me?" asks Kagami.
"Of course not! Sorry, I don't know why I'm being weird. Maybe it's just that I didn't know we'd gain an extra member to the Harass The Tensei Hentai Shounen Club today," Olympia responds.
"The what club?" I chime in.
They all laugh. I don't. Olympia laughs too, but the sound doesn't reach her eyes—it's a little too high, a little too quick. Like she's practicing friendliness instead of feeling it. I always thought she was the friendliest person out there, based on my observations, of course. But why is she being so awkward with Kagami? She was friendly to me. Too friendly, some may say. Maybe it's a girl thing, as if I'd know anything about that. As if I'd know anything about other people. I live my life observing from the shore, while everyone else is enjoying the sea.
But that's not really how things are now. My feet are in the water. It's cold—shockingly so compared to the sand. Yet I stand there, watching them from a distance. Half in, half out. The change is nice. Maybe I'll join them. Later.
As Olympia awkwardly responds to Kagami's banter, Kumiko occasionally chimes in, not making it clear whose side she's on. She's teasing them both equally.
My mind has already wandered off.
It's no longer on the beach.
I'm just watching them.
I'm just watching my friends.
I'll join in once I feel like it.
But for now—
The view is wonderful.