“Eh, why is Hibari here!?”

After confirming that Hibari was there, I was surprised once again.

I mean, Hibari was supposed to be at her apartment at home…

Hibari held out the handbag she had been carrying to me and said, “I came to deliver something you forgot.”

“Something I forgot… don’t tell me!?”

I took the bag from Hibari and looked inside… there were the shark-patterned swim shorts that Hibari had chosen for me. My swimsuit was in there. Also drinks and a towel. For some reason, there were sunglasses too…

“Hi-Hibari~~!!”

My savior! A savior had appeared! Now I could wear properly fitting swimwear and play with Yuito and everyone!!

“Th-thank you, Hibari! No, Hibari-sama, thank you so much!!”

“I’m glad I made it in time. And I’m glad we didn’t create a pervert.”

She said this while looking toward the store clerk. The clerk smiled wryly and said, “I’m also glad I didn’t create a suspicious person. Please enjoy your time here.”

“Eh, store clerk. Were you secretly thinking I was one step away from being a suspicious person!?”

I had thought she was seriously worrying about it with me, but maybe it was actually a reaction to the possibility of a suspicious person being born right before her eyes!? Though I was also seriously considering wearing elementary school swimwear…

Hibari and I left the store soon after.

“You probably forgot it because you were taking things in and out of your bag until the last minute. I think checking is good, but overdoing it is problematic.”

“Yes…”

I couldn’t say anything back and just nodded obediently.

But I was really saved by Hibari coming. Now that I think about it, I could have contacted Hibari and asked her to bring it… no. Having her come just for that would be too inconsiderate.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Eh, you’re going home already!?”

“Yes. My business is finished.”

Even though Hibari had come to deliver it herself, I ended up in a situation where I had her come specifically to deliver swimwear and then leave.

Moreover, looking at Hibari’s outfit, she wasn’t wearing her summer maid uniform… but a hoodie and shorts. Her hair was in a ponytail. While not a swimsuit, it was an outfit that wouldn’t look out of place for a pool customer.

Not only had she delivered the swimsuit, but she had also changed out of her maid uniform…

“…”

“Yuji-sama?”

It would be wrong to let Hibari go home like this! Something, wasn’t there something to use as an excuse?!!

‘You idiot! It’s Kasajima’s job to make sure things don’t get awkward!!’

‘Besides, the maid is probably alone right now, isn’t she? Kasajima, don’t you… don’t you feel bad about leaving the maid alone!’

‘The maid must want to go to pools, beaches, and other events to refresh herself in summer too! But if you don’t invite her…’

I suddenly remembered what Tajima had told me. Although his ultimate goal was to see Hibari in a swimsuit… there were parts of what he’d said that made sense.

Hibari also wanted to have fun in summer. And where we were now was a pool, which could be called the essence of summer.

“Hibari. Um… well…”

Even though I could usually invite her casually… Now I was somehow getting tongue-tied.

Maybe it was because of what Tajima had made me newly aware of, or because Hibari’s outfit wasn’t her usual maid uniform but casual clothes. Also, with her ponytail, she looked strangely alluring…

But I had to invite her now!!

“Ah, if it’s okay with you, would Hibari also—”

“You don’t need to be considerate. Today, please enjoy yourselves with just your fellow students, without including someone like me.”

“Eh, ah… yes.”

It was probably Hibari’s way of being considerate.

When an invitation was returned with consideration, it would be hard to forcibly invite her further… but letting Hibari go home like this also felt wrong…

“Ah, that’s right!”

“?”

I had thought of something.

◆

“Okay, please choose something you’d like to eat!!”

I had brought Hibari to the area lined with food stalls.

By the way, I had properly changed into my swimsuit. I never knew that having the right size could make me this happy…

Being a pool attached to an amusement park, there were many stalls, and the variety of food was abundant—yakisoba, frankfurters, french fries, ice cream…

“Why are we here?”

“Summer means pools, but buying and eating food at stalls is also one of the highlights, right? If you’re not going into the pool, I thought I’d at least have you enjoy this.”

I thought the food at stalls was rather expensive. But when you’re not alone, when you’re with someone, you ended up buying things anyway~

“Food?”

“Weren’t you in the mood for it? Or are you not hungry right now?”

I had brought her here rather forcefully before hearing Hibari’s opinion.

I then checked Hibari’s expression.

“No. I gratefully accept Yuji-sama’s kindness.”

“I see! Then that’s good. Please choose what you want to eat without hesitation!”

Hibari looked around the stalls as if thinking about what to eat…

“Shaved ice, I suppose. Because it’s hot.”

“Alright, let’s have shaved ice!”

We each ordered shaved ice, and I went ahead to secure seats. I had Hibari bring both portions of shaved ice, but if she got hit on while I was alone securing seats, that would be more troublesome.

Many customers were using tables for breaks, but since it was still before noon, I was able to secure seats successfully.

“Yuji-sama, sorry to keep you waiting.”

Hibari came carrying two portions of shaved ice.

I took the purple-colored shaved ice with grape & blueberry syrup.

“Thank you. Sorry for having you carry them.”

“Do you think I would lose in arm strength to mere shaved ice, Yuji-sama?”

“I don’t think that!? But even if they’re light, you carried two portions, so I’d say thank you.”

“Is that so?”

“There are individual differences, so please think of me as that kind of person~”

Since it wasn’t a deep topic, I brushed it off lightly and used my spoon to slightly break down the mountain of shaved ice to make it easier to eat.

“You’re right. Let’s eat first.”

Hibari also broke hers down slightly with her spoon.

“Well then, let’s dig in… Wait! What is that colorful thing?!”

Even though I was trying not to look, I ended up commenting on it.

“It’s shaved ice.”

“I know that!? I mean the color!”

Hibari’s shaved ice had become colorful like those rainbow afros you saw at 100-yen stores.

When she’d been ordering, I’d thought she was adding way too many syrup flavors.

“Strawberry, mango, melon, peach, grape & blueberry, and pineapple flavors.”

“Quite a variety of syrups on there. Well, freedom is good.”

“Yes, I chose freely.”

“It really feels like ‘freedom’, and I think that’s good.”

After my commentary settled down, Hibari and I each took our first bite of shaved ice.

The first thing I felt was coldness. Next came the grape & blueberry flavor I had chosen. It wasn’t cloying since it was with ice, but it had a rich taste. The syrup wasn’t ordinary liquid but somewhat jam-like, which probably created that rich flavor.

The ice wasn’t roughly shaved and crunchy, but fluffy with a nice texture.

Yeah, this was the good stuff.

“This shaved ice is delicious~”

“It’s good shaved ice.”

“Yeah.”

It cost a bit more than the regular 300-yen ones, but this was worth paying extra for~

I found myself eating the shaved ice in silence.

Then… I called out to Hibari.

“Hibari. Stick out your tongue and go ‘bleh’. Like ‘bleh.'”

“? Bleh…”

Following my instruction, Hibari stuck out her tongue just a little. Having eaten the part with strawberry syrup, her tongue had turned red.

“Haha, your tongue turned red~”

“Is it funny?”

“Not that funny!!”

Didn’t having your tongue change color from eating shaved ice syrup count as one of summer’s best memories!?

“Sorry. I couldn’t give a funny reaction.”

“No, I wasn’t demanding a funny reaction. Is my tongue colored too?”

I also stuck out my tongue a little, going “bleh”.

“It’s faintly purple.”

“I see.”

“…”

“…”

But there wasn’t really anything more beyond that!!

“Then I have something to say too.”

“Oh? What, what?”

“Commercial shaved ice syrups are actually all the same except for flavoring and coloring. In other words, the syrups themselves all taste the same.”

“Eh, really!?”

I unconsciously stared at my own shaved ice.

I didn’t think this one was commercial though.

“If it has the color and smell of that fruit plus sweetness, the tongue will recognize it as that fruit’s flavor even if the base is the same taste.”

“Huh~”

So worrying about which flavor to choose was wasted time—no no. I shouldn’t think about that. Let’s not think about it. Choosing syrup flavors was part of the fun of shaved ice.

“But this shaved ice’s syrup is probably homemade. It has actual fruit pieces in it, and you can clearly taste each fruit flavor even with your eyes closed.”

“Yeah. It’s worth the higher price.”

“It is.”

While having such small talk, we continued eating.

“…Mm.”

I glanced at Hibari’s shaved ice. At first I thought it was just really colorful… but now it was starting to look like the one with lots of syrup would be more delicious…

“Hey, Hibari… Could I have a bite?”

“…”

When I said that, Hibari’s hand, which had been eating the shaved ice, stopped.

“You know, the one with lots of different syrups also looks delicious.”

“Truly ‘the grass is greener on the other side’… That’s fine.”

“Yay!”

I leaned forward and took some of Hibari’s shaved ice with my spoon. I think I got the melon and pineapple syrup parts.

“Mm, delicious! I thought the flavors would get all mixed up… but this works too!”

Making shaved ice colorful… I’d try that next time too.

“Want to try mine? Well, your shaved ice has lots of flavors, so if you don’t need any more flavors, you can pass—”

“I’ll eat it.”

“O-oh. I see. So Hibari can eat an easy flavor too…”

“?”

I took some of the grape & blueberry flavored shaved ice with my own spoon and held it out in front of Hibari.

“Here, say ‘ah’.”

“…”

“Hibari?”

Hibari seemed to freeze up. Maybe she didn’t want it after all?

Just when I thought that, she tucked her hair behind her ear… and took a bite of the shaved ice I was offering.

“…Mm, it’s cold and delicious. The grape and blueberry have rich flavors and are good.”

“Right?”

After another short conversation ended, we continued eating our shaved ice.

We were eating, but… the shaved ice was gradually starting to melt. Even when it became somewhat liquid, it was still delicious.

“Shaved ice melts pretty fast, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.”

It was when I tried to drink some of the syrup that it happened.

“Nah!? Cold! It hit me! Brain freeze hit me!”

I had been careful, but I didn’t expect it to come at that moment…

“…”

“Ow ow… Oh? Hibari, did you just laugh?”

“I think you’re imagining it.”

“…I see.”

My head was hurting from brain freeze and I was looking down a bit… but when I caught a glimpse of Hibari’s face, I felt like she was smiling faintly…

“By the way, doesn’t Hibari get headaches?”

“I do get them. I’m having a bit of a brain freeze right now too.”

“You’re in pain. I couldn’t tell at all.”

“I basically keep a straight face.”

“But I can read you sometimes. This time was no good. I was fooled.”

“What do you mean fooled? Also… you have something on you.”

“Hm?”

Hibari touched her own nose with her finger, making some kind of gesture. When I touched my nose, I felt something cold.

I thought I had been careful not to get it on my nose when drinking.

“Hm? …Don’t tell me you laughed because I had it on my nose?”

“Well, who knows.”

“It’s definitely that! I can read you even with a straight face!!”

“Please eat quickly.”

“Tch, it’s definitely that… Agh!? Brain freeze again!”

“…”

And so Hibari and I finished our shaved ice.

“Phew~ The heat suddenly became coolness~”

“Yes.”

“My tongue is more than cool—it’s super cold.”

After completely finishing a chunk of shaved ice, it naturally became cold. The tip of my tongue was especially cold too.

But there was a faint remaining taste of sweet honey.

While feeling that sweetness, I gazed absentmindedly at the pool bustling with people…

“We couldn’t go into the pool together this time, Hibari… but let’s come to the pool again.”

“Yes.”

The corners of Hibari’s mouth turned up slightly.

Ah, it felt like I had seen Hibari smile just a little for the first time in a while. But it was a more natural smile than before… Well, I didn’t need to think too deeply about it.

I felt like I’d be able to see Hibari’s smile again.

Perhaps it was because of the sweetness on the tip of my tongue that I thought this absentmindedly.