Be careful with the laid-back beauty who took a liking to me. Otherwise, it will be too late! - Chapter 30: Proposal for a Sweets Tour

Chapter 30: Proposal for a Sweets Tour

At the meeting time, everyone gathered, and we headed to the indoor pool located one station away.

After separating by gender to change into our swimsuits, I left the changing room with Asahi.

“Wow, I’m feeling kind of nervous at this time.”

“Y-Yeah…”

I had never felt this way at a pool before, but I was anxiously waiting for Saya to arrive in her swimsuit.

Before changing, Saya told me, “Look forward to my swimsuit,” and I couldn’t help but imagine her in various swimsuits.

After chatting with Asahi for about five minutes, Saya finally emerged from the changing room.

Maruyama-san and Shiina-san, who had changed with her, were nowhere to be seen.

“Kubo-kun, can I borrow Hinata for a bit?”

“Sure, go ahead. I’ll tell Yuna and Shiina-san, so you two can spend as much time together as you want.”

Asahi waved his hand dismissively while grinning at me.

“Hinata, let’s go!”

“Go where?”

Without knowing where we were headed, Saya took my hand and led me away.

As she walked briskly, I worried she might trip but admired her back.

Her long hair was tied up in a ponytail today. She wore a rash guard on top, so I couldn’t see her swimsuit, but her beautiful legs were visible.

Normally, she wears black tights, so I felt fine, but bare legs were a bit risky.

After walking for a bit, Saya stopped and turned around.

“There’s no one here. Hinata, can you look at my swimsuit?”

“Uh, yeah, I want to see.”

I worried I might have been too honest, but she smiled sweetly like an angel.

“Then can you help me take off the top?”

“Take off the top…?”

I thought I misheard her and repeated her words slowly.

“I just want to lower it. I’d like you to help me.”

“…O-Okay.”

Unable to refuse her pleading gaze, I decided to lower the zipper.

With trembling hands, I reached out, but she suddenly grabbed my wrist and pressed it against her chest.

“S-Saya!?”

“Oh, sorry! I thought touching here might help ease your tension since you seemed nervous…”

No, no, no! Instead of easing my tension, this was putting me in a whole other state.

My heart was racing, my face and ears turned red, and I felt too hot to lower the zipper properly.

“Um, thanks, Saya.”

At this point, I just needed to lower the zipper all at once. If I took too long, I might not hold up.

Slowly lowering the zipper, Saya smiled happily and said she would take it off herself.

“How do I look, Hinata?”

“Wha—!”

She spun around in front of me, asking for my opinion on her swimsuit.

Saya wore a white and black bikini that suited her perfectly.

“It’s c-cute… very cute…”

“Yay! I’m happy to hear that! I chose a swimsuit I thought you’d find cute.”

Her hair fluttered as she hugged me tightly.

Though I didn’t voice it, inside I wanted to shout “Wow!”

“Yeah, it’s cute. It really suits you, Saya.”

I gently patted her beautiful head. Since there weren’t many people around, I let myself indulge.

Saya’s hair is so lovely and fluffy. I could touch it forever.

“Hinata, do you like to pat heads?”

“Yeah, I guess I do…”

“Fufu, you can touch as much as you want. Anywhere is fine as long as it’s you.”

Hearing “anywhere” makes me want to caution her that it’s dangerous to say that to a guy, but Saya probably only means it for me.

“I want to touch your head too.”

“I’m not as soft as you, though…”

As I said this, she stood on her tiptoes and gently patted my head.

“So fluffy… Let’s just be the two of us. We came here together, so let’s pretend Yuna, Akari-chan, and Kubo-kun aren’t at this pool.”

“Eh…?”

As I considered that, Saya giggled mischievously, then put her rash guard back on.

“Just kidding! Should we head back?”

She squeezed my hand tightly, and I gently squeezed hers back.

As we held hands and returned to Asahi, Maruyama-san and Shiina-san had arrived too.

“Ah, you’re back! Oh my, oh my, look at you two getting cozy without hiding it!”

Maruyama-san spoke in a tone reminiscent of a teasing mother, grinning at us.

Saya tilted her head, seemingly confused by Maruyama-san’s words.

“Is this being cozy…?”

“I-I’m not sure…”

After chatting for a bit, it was proposed that we go on the slide.

“I heard it can fit two people. You two, Kubo-kun and Saya, should ride together. Akari-chan and I will go together. Asahi, are you okay going alone?”

When Maruyama-san asked this, Asahi’s demeanor seemed different than usual.

“Uh, yeah, that sounds good.”

I noticed Maruyama-san seemed to catch that odd vibe too, as she smiled slightly.

“Asahi, let’s ride together later, okay?”

“Y-Yeah, sure…”

(I feel like I’ll see a side of Asahi I’ve never seen before when he’s with Maruyama-san.)

Asahi seems to have a one-sided crush on Maruyama-san, and I hope things go well for them.

“Wow, Saya-chan, your hair is so smooth!”

“Hehe, I use good shampoo.”

While we waited in line for the slide, Saya was happily chatting with Shiina-san.

Then, as if she remembered something, she turned to us and made a suggestion.

“Oh, right! Akari-chan, Hinata! This summer break, how about we go on a custard sweets tour together? I want to go with everyone from the custard club!”

“‘Custard club’?”

Both Shiina-san and I echoed in surprise, wondering when such a thing was created, and how I was added.

“These three love custard. Oh, would ‘Custard Buddies’ be a better name?”

I had no particular attachment to the name, so I decided to ask about the custard tour.

“Does the custard tour mean we only go to eat custard sweets?”

“Yeah… what do you think?”

“I’d like to go on this custard tour! What about you, Shiina-san?”

“I’d love to join if you let me! Saya-chan probably knows a lot of custard sweets.”

“Great, it’s decided then! I’m looking forward to it!”

As I watched her clasp her hands together and smile, I couldn’t help but smile back.

Sometimes, Saya looks troubled with a dark expression. She really shines when she’s smiling.