"The ocean, yeah!!!"
As soon as he changed into his swim trunks, Fuuma ran off like a shot. Several people turned and chuckled softly. A group of high schoolers frolicking like kids must have seemed endearing to them. He was running so happily, but I was nervous he would trip on the sand, trash, or shells.
"Fuuma, you're going to fall!!"
"I'm fine!! You come over here, too, Shigebe-kun!!"
He ran all the way to the water and then screamed as a big wave came crashing toward him. He was like a kindergartner.
Summer vacation had arrived. As a high school student, I wanted to experience at least a little bit of that textbook youth. Go to the beach or the pool with friends, or go to a summer festival. Watch some fireworks. And maybe even have a fated encounter with a girl—that might be asking for too much.
Shaking off my desires, I thought back to the present. Summer vacation had started for students. So—
"Hehe, you forgot your sunscreen."
"You're right… brother! Sunscreen!!"
The brothers were, of course, with us. Yuuma-san, who had slowly caught up to me, smiled pleasantly.
"Shigebe-kun, aren't you hot?"
"Well, a little. But not that much—"
"You'll get heatstroke if you don't hydrate. What if you almost collapse again like last time?"
"He's right…"
His words hit me hard. The sun was indeed beating down, making it a perfect day for the beach. I'd definitely collapse if I wasn't careful. Haruma-kun suddenly pushed a sports drink, which he seemed to have bought from somewhere, into my hands. The drink felt cold going down my throat, quenching my thirst. It was delicious.
"Thank you."
"…It's nothing. We'd just be troubled if you collapsed."
When I thanked him, he pouted and looked away. Just as I expected.
I looked at the two of them. It was the first time I'd seen them in swimsuits, which was natural. They had just the right amount of muscle, making my own flimsy body look particularly pathetic next to them. I had been doing some strength training since Yuuma-san effortlessly carried me, but it hadn't had much of an effect yet. How frustrating.
"Hey, everyone!! Hurry up and come over here!!"
As I was mulling over my thoughts, I heard Fuuma's impatient voice from a distance. It seemed he had lost his patience.
"He's calling. Shall we go?"
Yuuma-san smiled pleasantly. …The truth was, I was also excited. I ran toward Fuuma, who was standing knee-deep in the sparkling water.
"Fuuma, if you go out too far—"
"Hah!"
I was about to say "it's dangerous," but he cut me off. He yelled and splashed water at me. He was laughing playfully.
"You got me!!"
"Ahahahaha! Whoa, it's cold!"
I splashed water back, and he screamed. His exaggerated reaction made me laugh. When I looked back, Yuuma-san and Haruma-kun were staring at us, both with gentle smiles. It was a waste to just watch when we were at the beach.
I was having so much fun, and maybe it was because of my excitement, but I felt bolder than usual. I went over to them and grabbed their wrists.
"Huh?"
"H-hey."
Their flustered reactions were amusing. I gave their hands a gentle tug and smiled.
"You two, don't just watch, let's play!"
"…Okay."
"Ah… yes."
They were probably dazed from the heat, and their faces were a little red. A splash of cold water would cool them down. It was a childish game, but the water fight with Yuuma-san and Haruma-kun was surprisingly fun. I laughed so hard my cheeks ached.
"Shigebe-kun, this is fun!"
"Haha, it's so much fun!"
The innocent smiles of the brothers shone brightly in the sun.
"I'm exhausted…"
"We ended up just chasing each other around."
"It's been a while since I've done that. It was fun."
"…It's salty."
Exhausted and drenched, we sat down on the rocks. We had definitely gotten too rowdy. It felt less like high schoolers having fun and more like little kids.
After a short rest, we'd go to the shoreline again. …Maybe I'll look for some pretty shells to take home as a souvenir. It feels like a waste to leave with nothing.
As I was thinking that and staring blankly at the blue water, I heard a voice from behind me.
"Hey, guys, do you have a minute? Want to hang out with us?"
"Whoa, they're super handsome! Oh my god!"
A group of several older, beautiful women had approached us. They were clearly excited to see Yuuma-san and the others.
Wow. A reverse-pickup. So they really existed. The brothers were as popular as ever. When you looked at them like this, "a picture of a handsome man dripping wet" was the perfect phrase. I watched them from a slight distance. I figured Yuuma-san would probably brush them off with a practiced, easygoing demeanor. I couldn't imagine for a second that he'd agree to a pickup when he finally had a chance to hang out with his brothers.
"Hehe. We appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid we'll have to decline."
Just as I thought. Yuuma-san replied calmly, without a hint of fluster. What a pro. Fuuma looked completely bewildered, and Haruma-kun looked bored, as if he had no interest. But the women didn't give up; one of them gave a cute laugh and spoke again.
"Oh, come on! They have boats here, you know!"
"Hey, what about you, mister?"
Huh? Me, too? I didn't think I was even on their radar. As I stood there, dumbfounded, a small, healthily tanned hand grabbed my arm, and my mind went blank. My heart started pounding from the unfamiliar contact.
"Wha—"
"Haha, what was that sound! Hehe, you're so cute!"
A weird sound had come out of my mouth. My face flushed, and it wasn't just because of the heat. My head was spinning as I desperately tried to come up with something to say—
Thump. An arm wrapped around my waist. Who was it? It was Yuuma-san, sitting right next to me.
"Yeah, isn't he so cute?… He's an innocent boy, so he gets too nervous in situations like this to have fun. So we'd really appreciate it if you left us to ourselves."
His beautiful lips curved into a perfect smile. It was a picturesque, inhumanly lovely grin. His words, however, made my spirit die a slow death. It was certainly a convenient excuse to turn down a pickup.
"Oh, I see… Sorry about that! We'll leave you alone."
"If you change your minds, come find us again!"
"Bye, bye, innocent boy!"
Realizing it was a lost cause, the women withdrew without a fuss. I was happy that they waved to me, but that last comment stung. It was painful. I somehow managed to wave back.
"What's wrong, Shigebe-kun?"
His voice was soft. It was hard to believe he was the same person who had just stabbed me with his words.
"…I wish I were more used to this sort of thing."
"Being innocent is cute, you know?"
The arm around my waist tightened slightly. Yuuma-san said it with a beautiful smile that could make any girl fall head over heels.
"…That doesn't make me happy."
"H-how long are you going to keep your arm around my waist!?"
"My bad, my bad. I just got a little jealous."
"Who, me?! I wasn't…!!" [T/N: Shigebe said this for being called cute (i think hehe(]
His hand smoothly slipped away. The fact that he could do something like that so naturally was proof of how experienced he was. I was envious. I wonder how many people he'd been with.
It's nice. I wish—
"…I wish I could be in a relationship with someone."
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"…What?"
All three of them made a sound, each one different from the others. The only thing they had in common was that they were rare, flustered sounds.
Fuuma, looking hesitant, was the first to speak.
"You said you want to be in a relationship… did you mean, like, in that way?"
"Yeah, well… of course. The romantic kind."
There was no other way to interpret it. Saying it out loud made me a little bashful. My voice was tinged with embarrassment, and I saw Haruma-kun sigh and furrow his brow.
"What do you mean, 'with anyone'? Would you be satisfied with just anyone?"
"Oof… that's not it, but…"
His sharp gaze and dismissive words stung my heart. It was as if he was calling me insincere, and as I thought about it, maybe he was right. My head started to spin. Because I also wanted to be confident, like them, and get used to being hit on. I didn't want to show that clumsy, embarrassing side of myself where my face turns bright red and I start sweating.
And simply put—it would make me happy if there was someone who would say they liked me.
"…What's your type, Shigebe-kun?"
Yuuma-san's question came out of nowhere.
My type. My type, huh. From my past experiences, I'd get all flustered if someone was just a little bit kind to me. From their perspective, it would probably be creepy for someone like me to fall for a simple act of kindness. My cowardly self had always used that as an excuse not to confess.
"Um… someone kind?"
"Anything else?"
Silence.
"…Anything else? I don't think I really have anything else…"
Honestly, I'd just be happy if someone like me could even get noticed. If they were to fall for me on top of that, I'd feel like I was in heaven. Haruma-kun's disgusted stare was terrifying.
"I… I see. So there's no one specific you have in mind?"
"Yeah…"
"Thank goodness—"
"…Huh? What for?"
Fuuma let out a sigh of relief, and I was completely taken aback by the sound of pure relief in his voice. Why was he so glad I didn't have anyone in mind? When I asked, Fuuma let out a small "ah" before speaking up, flustered and in a panic.
"Oh, um, I was just thinking… that if you got a girlfriend, you might not hang out with me anymore!"
"Hahaha, what is that? Don't worry about something so silly."
I laughed. To think that's what he was worried about! I would never stop hanging out with Fuuma. And besides, I couldn't see a future where I'd ever have a girlfriend anyway.
Yuuma-san, beside me, smiled with a sense of ease.
"Haha, I get it. You just want to get used to things so you won't panic when you get pushed around like that, right?"
"Well… I guess so."
"Then I'll help you get used to it. Okay?"
"W-wait, Yuuma-niisan!"
"Don't tease Shigebe-kun!"
I was being teased, just as Fuuma said. Maybe after that little incident, I had just been certified as a new toy. Yuuma-san smiled as he made his joke, even though I was being serious. That's the kind of confidence a popular guy has.
"…By the way, what are your guys' types?"
I asked, out of the blue. I was curious to know what kind of "unattainable beauty" would capture the heart of guys who were idol-like figures to all the girls in school.
"Hmm… maybe a cute girl, like a small animal?"
"I like a caring person!"
"…And, someone older. Someone I'd want to protect. Because I want them to rely on me."
Their answers were all over the place. If a girl like that existed, she would be the protagonist of some shojo manga. And if a cute girl that even Yuuma-san praised were to fall for him, I hoped he'd tell me about it—I found myself thinking. I wanted to see her just once. But then I pictured a small, lovely girl standing next to Yuuma-san.
I could also easily imagine who Fuuma's type would be. I didn't have a specific person in mind, but a gentle girl who could look out for clumsy him would be a perfect match.
And then there was Haruma-kun. The way he said it with an embarrassed blush was so endearing and age-appropriate. I'd never say that to his face, or he'd give me a cold look. But the image of Haruma, looking like he's trying to act older than he is and telling an older sister-type to "rely on me," was probably incredibly charming.
"I can sort of picture it. If you guys find someone you like, I hope you'll tell me."
"Of course. I think you'll get to meet them soon."
Yuuma-san's reply implied he already had someone in mind. I was a little jealous of his vibrant youth. Fuuma just laughed, while Haruma-kun hid his face in his hands.
Just then, a small, growling sound came from Fuuma. It seemed his stomach was rumbling.
"Haha, all that playing made me hungry. Want to go to the beach hut?"
"I'm hungry, too. Let's go see what they have."
Fuuma stood up and took my hand to pull me up. I wonder if they have yakisoba. I want some shaved ice, too. Just thinking about it made my stomach growl, and Fuuma laughed.
"I'll go grab a table first. Take your time getting over there!"
He called out to Yuuma and Haruma, who were still sitting. Yuuma-san waved a hand. Alright. I was going to earn some points for myself. Romance could wait. This summer, I was going to make sure they all realized I wasn't someone they needed to be wary of.
You can do this, Shigebe Masato. I don't know if you can—but my relationship with them is finally growing, so I have to try!
I made a small fist. Under the hot sun, I was secretly hyping myself up.
***
"How dense can he be!!!"
"I'm not surprised. He's cute."
"He's cute, but!! I… I think I should try to be a little more like Yuuma-niisan…"
"Hehe. So, Haru, can you hug a boy's waist?"
"That's… that's…"
"Now, now, don't try to force it. …We should go meet up with Fuuma before we get heatstroke. …Besides,"
"…?"
"Today isn't the only day we can hang out. We're going to a lot of different places, so you'll have plenty of chances."
"…You're right. I need to try harder."
***
I stretched with a soft groan. Having already changed, I stared blankly out at the sea. A comfortable exhaustion had spread through my body, and I felt like I would sleep well tonight.
"Before I knew it, it's already evening…"
The crowd had thinned out. The sunset slowly sank into the horizon. Even the voices of people mingled with the sound of the sea were quieter than they had been during the day.
The crimson-dyed sky and water made me feel a little sentimental. Was it because it felt like today—a day I had so much fun with Fuuma and the others—was ending, and by extension, that the summer vacation was ending too?
"What's wrong, Shigebe-kun?"
I turned at Fuuma's voice. He seemed to have finished changing. He walked toward me, wiping his hair with a towel, his flip-flops sinking into the sand.
"…I just feel a little sad. I had so much fun hanging out with Yuuma-san and Haruma-kun. I hope we can all do it again sometime…"
—Even though this might be the last time.
When I said this with a tinge of regret, Fuuma, illuminated by the setting sun, looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.
"Huh… didn't I tell you? We're going to a festival, and we're even going to an amusement park sometime during the summer."
"…What?"
This time, I was the one who was completely taken aback.
"They said they definitely want to go, too. Today isn't the last day."
"Ahahaha, what is that? I got all sentimental for nothing!"
I had created a whole sentimental mood all by myself.
"…You really want to hang out with my brothers, Shigebe-kun?"
"…Yeah. They're good people."
I don't dislike being around them. No, on the contrary, I rather like it. Even though I have to be more careful with how I interact with them because of Fuuma, I still genuinely enjoy spending time with them.
"Hehehe, that makes me so happy! I'll plan a ton of things!"
"Ah, wait, not so many that it's a bother! Yuuma-san must be busy with his entrance exams!"
"No, no, it's okay! I'll take that into account too!"
I wasn't sure if he was really listening, and I felt a little worried.
The day might be over, but with the feeling of new chaos and more opportunities to hang out, a careless, goofy grin spread across my face.