“Ahh, ahh, I lost at rock-paper-scissors~ I wanted the morning slot too~”

Having lost the rock-paper-scissors game to go around the pool alone with Yui-kun, I was now bored.

Just because I was bored didn’t mean…

“Hey, are you alone? Want to hang out with us?”

“Just for a little bit is fine. Come play with me!”

“Want to take a break together at a hotel near here?”

“I’ll pass~”

I didn’t have the kind of loose morals to entertain men who hit on me.

Maybe because of my appearance, I got hit on a lot. It had been that way since long ago. And the looks from others—calling me loose, a bitch, saying I’d sleep with anyone… they decided on impressions without knowing me.

I was particularly sensitive to those kinds of looks. But at some point, when there were so many stares that I couldn’t process them all myself, I got tired of denying it and started just letting it slide. Even if that became a factor in making the impression worse.

But lately, I might have been feeling a bit more at ease mentally.

“We’re desperately trying to get along equally with everyone, so don’t interfere!!”

Kasajima Yuji. Intimidating face. Maybe because of his solid build, he looked like a delinquent, a dangerous guy, or a villain.

But he was also someone in the same situation as me, easily misunderstood because of his appearance. If you talked to Kasajima, you’d find he was surprisingly not a bad person.

The reason I felt more at ease mentally was because I had gained an ally who was in the same situation and could understand my troubles.

For me, Kasajima was just that kind of person. But Yui-kun was obsessed with that guy. Whenever something came up, he’d talk about Kasajima with a smile on his face. Today’s pool trip was supposed to be just the three of us—me, my sister, and Yui-kun—like last year. But Yui-kun invited Kasajima and… one more person.

That Kasajima… he had captivated Yui-kun more than I had…

“Ah, it’s Kasajima.”

Wandering around aimlessly, I arrived at an area lined with food stalls. Near there, at a set of tables and chairs that were provided, Kasajima was sitting alone.

“What’s that guy doing alone? Don’t tell me he’s depressed because he couldn’t find a swimsuit. Well, I guess it can’t be helped~ If it’s just for a little bit, I could be his conversation partner—”

After I took one step forward… I couldn’t take the next step.

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

“Thanks. Sorry for making you bring it.”

From behind Kasajima came a really beautiful woman with her hair in a ponytail. That person was definitely… Kasajima’s maid, Hibari-san.

She was holding shaved ice, so they were probably going to eat it together.

Kasajima and Hibari-san ate shaved ice. From my perspective, it was someone else’s business, and one look should have been enough. Plus, I was watching from far away so I couldn’t hear their conversation.

It had nothing to do with me. So I should have just left.

And yet…

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

“Quite a variety of syrups on there. Well, that’s fine by me.” 

“Yes, I chose freely.” 

“I think that free-spirited approach is really good.”

For some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

“Hibari. Stick out your tongue like this. Stick it out.”

“? Bleh…”

“Haha, your tongue turned red~”

“Is that amusing?”

“Not that amusing!!”

I still couldn’t hear their conversation, but I could see their expressions. Kasajima’s intimidating face kept changing expressions, but he looked happy. Hibari-san had her usual blank expression, but… there was no dislike or anything like that. Rather, she just didn’t show emotions easily, but inwardly she was… that kind of feeling.

…What was I doing, standing there dumbfounded and staring intently?

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

“Well, who knows.”

“It’s definitely that! I can tell even with your poker face!!”

“Please eat quickly.”

“Tch, it’s definitely that…! Ah!? That brain freeze hit again!”

It was the first time I’d seen someone become so emotionally expressive just from eating shaved ice.

Kasajima was intimidating but actually very expressive. Hibari-san was beautiful but always had a poker face.

Two people with different features and appearances. And yet, somehow, they felt like they belonged together. As if they deeply trusted each other. That kind of space where only the two of them could let their guard down.

This was—a well-matched couple.

I felt like something clicked into place.

I wanted to be like that someday too. With whom? With whom, well that would be…

“I don’t mind listening to you talk anytime. After all, the fact that there are things you can’t tell Yuito or Mahiro-san is probably part of why you chose me.” 

“The food was seriously delicious. See ya.”

“Hey, Riina—”

If possible, I wanted to be sitting next to—

“No no no. What am I thinking? Kasajima? No way, no way.”

I was supposed to be thinking of Yui-kun, but for some reason Kasajima’s voice flowed through my mind.

Kasajima wasn’t my type at all! I liked Yui-kun who was cool and kind! I wanted Yui-kun to be my boyfriend!

“Argh, jeez! Haven’t things been all messed up lately because of Kasajima! That guy doesn’t mean anything to me at all!”

Right. He meant nothing. I didn’t think anything of splashing water from a water gun on that intimidating face of his. I was supposed to not think anything of it…

◆

“Kasajima. We’re going over there next.”

While saying that, the place Riina pointed to was—

“I thought you and this place would be the least likely combination…”

“It’s just a whim.”

“I get that.”

Riina and I were walking toward a certain place. That place was…

“A water slide, huh…”

Right. A water slide. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it the highlight of pool facilities. I had definitely planned to ride it, but in Riina’s case, I thought for sure she’d save it for her time with Yuito.

“It’s just to kill time.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Well, just because we were going to the water slide didn’t mean anything special would happen between Riina and me.

I’d just leave Tajima alone for now… I wondered if Mahiro and Yuito were having fun.