When I Rescued A Lost Girl, What Was Waiting For Me Was The Girl Who Was Ranked Number One In The List Of Girls I Wanted To Have As My Girlfriend - Chapter 124
Chapter 124: Enjoy SUMMER (Part 10)
I was anxious about what she might be asking for, as she had come to me specifically with a request. However, her proposal turned out to be unexpected.
“Is this okay?”
“Yeah, this is good.”
If anything, we were just floating together in the sea. Maybe we moved a little to avoid being noticed by others.
I was pushing a float, and we were leisurely floating. I sometimes saw couples doing this in pools, wondering what was enjoyable about it. Perhaps it was the sense of submission?
“I’ve been thinking lately that we haven’t spent time relaxing like this, Takayuki-kun.”
After thinking back, she might be right. We did things together, but it was indeed often busy.
“I’d spend time like this with you anytime if you invited me.”
My summer break was mostly filled with plans to laze around at home. Occasionally, I might go out for a change of pace with Riko, saying it’s a study break or something.
“You know, Takayuki-kun.”
Harano murmured in a calm tone while gazing up at the endless blue sky.
“I want you to invite me.”
“Why?”
Harano, who had been gazing absentmindedly at the clouds drifting in the blue sky, shifted her gaze momentarily.
“For example.”
“Yeah?”
“If Takayuki-kun is bored at home, thinking, ‘I have nothing to do,’ and then Hiwatari-kun invites you to hang out, wouldn’t you be happy?”
“I would be happy.”
I answered, imagining that scene. It was already evident that I would be happy without needing to imagine.
“That’s why.”
“So, would Harano be happy if I invited her to hang out?”
“I would be happy. Very happy.”
I couldn’t help blushing at her calm yet sincere response. Since I rarely receive such direct expressions, I wasn’t sure how to react.
“If that’s the case, I’ll handle it properly.”
“Please do.”
After saying that, Harano leaped off the float into the sea with a splash.
As I was wondering what had just happened, she handed me the float.
“Do you want me to hold it?”
Although I thought so, it seemed she had a different idea.
“Takayuki-kun, you can get on too. I’ll push it for you.”
“Huh, no, it’s okay.”
It’s embarrassingly normal.
However, Harano, seemingly not intending to accept my refusal, continues to press the float onto me.
“Come on, hurry!”
“Why are you rushing me!?”
“Just because! Consider it an order too.”
“…”
When told that, I found myself at a loss for words.
I reluctantly tried to get on the float, but doing it on the sea proved to be quite challenging.
My desperate attempts to get on seem somewhat ridiculous.
After a struggle, I finally managed to get on the float, settling my bottom into the hole and successfully floating.
This posture would be incredibly embarrassing if seen from underwater. Thinking that Harano was in this position just a while ago, I felt my face heat up.
Nevertheless, spending time leisurely looking up at the sky like this isn’t so bad.
But…
“Okay, I’ll push you now.”
Harano starts pushing the float slowly, making me move forward.
Since my hands and feet are not touching the water, I cannot resist her will.
It’s a bit scary, too.
If you don’t trust the other person, you end up in a constant state of tension. You can’t relax and enjoy looking at the sky.
However, in this seaside setting, I don’t expect her to play around, so I ease my body’s tension.
Harano was chatting with me in a relaxed manner. To some extent, maybe she did trust me.
“What were you doing last summer, Takayuki-kun?”
For some reason, she suddenly asks such a question.
I don’t have any memorable moments from that time.
“Nothing special. Just lazing around at home. I didn’t have friends back then.”
I made friends after meeting Harano. And I met her around autumn, after the cultural festival.
Last summer, I was alone.
I never thought I’d end up coming to the sea with friends like this.
“Indeed, I spent a lot of time alone.”
“And you, Harano?”
Since she asked me, I decided to inquire back.
“I’m the same. If someone invites me, I’ll go, but I didn’t really invite people myself. So, on days with nothing going on, I’d end up being Nanano’s company.”
That sounds amazing. If every summer vacation were like that, I could spend a lifetime. Surely, one must wish for the end of summer vacation to never come.
“Speaking of that, Riko did kind of drag me around.”
When I lazed around at home, Riko would come and say, “You’re probably not planning to go out anyway, so I guess I have no choice but to keep you company,” and drag me along for shopping.
She did that multiple times, too.
Come to think of it, I’ve been dragged around like this every year.
This year, too, I was dragged along for shopping as usual.
Even though I made friends this year, it would be lonely if I stopped being there for Riko. If someone calls out to me, I’ll still be there for them.
“Riko-chan is a good sister, isn’t she?”
“In what way?”
“You really love your big brother, don’t you?”
“She’s cheeky and selfish, and it’s not that I hate her, but…”
“That’s the reverse side of love, or rather, it’s because she loves you so much. She just wants attention from her beloved big brother.”
“…I wonder about that.”
I can somewhat understand the desire for attention. She is a bit of an attention-seeker.
“Takayuki-kun is a good big brother. Riko-chan’s attitude says it all. Nana really likes him too.”
“If being liked by Nana-chan is because I’m Riko’s brother, then I guess I should thank Riko.”
As I jokingly brushed off the slightly embarrassing compliment, Harano laughed along in amusement.
“So I’m sure Takayuki-kun will make a good boyfriend.”
Harano suddenly blurts out such a statement. Since she has her back turned, I can’t see her expression, but her voice sounds lively.
“Isn’t it possible that being a good big brother doesn’t necessarily translate to being a good boyfriend?”
“Well, yeah, it might not be guaranteed, but I think so. I envy Riko-chan.”
She mumbled the last part softly, and I couldn’t quite catch it.
I thought about asking her again, but Harano quickly changed the subject, so I missed the opportunity.
“We’ve drifted quite far, so let’s head back soon.”
“Yeah, okay.”
I also jumped off the float energetically, following her lead. The water splashed onto Harano, and she let out a cheerful “kyaa.”
“Shall we switch?”
After that, we decided to put Harano on the float and return to our original spot.
The thought crossed my mind that if I were to dive now… But each time such impure thoughts arose, I would slap my own cheek. Apparently, I can’t stay calm in the presence of a classmate in a swimsuit.
Harano looked puzzled at the sound of the slap.