"Woohoo~! I'm awake!"
Early Saturday morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Rokuka, bursting with excitement, sprang out of bed earlier than usual.
Still in her pajamas, she dashed straight out of her room and headed for Senya's.
"Senya, wake up… huh? Where is he?"
All she saw was neatly folded bedding—no sign of him.
With a hasty "thump-thump-thump," she hurried downstairs, only to see her older sister, Toka, busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast, scooping up some miso soup to taste it.
On the coffee table, the black-winged creature raised its head at the noise but quickly dropped it back down to nibble on walnuts.
"Sis, where's Senya?"
"He has work, he can't be as leisurely as we are. He ate quickly and left—Kudou-san came to pick him up."
Rokuka noticed the unwashed dishes on the table and realized her sister was right.
Toka waved to her.
"Come over and help me taste this—see if it's good."
"Fish tofu soup… Wow, absolutely amazing! The texture and flavor are perfect. With skills like yours, sis, you could even open a restaurant or be a food critic someday."
"Playing up your compliments just to get me to let you go out so early, huh, slick talker?"
Just like Senya…
But opening a restaurant or becoming a food critic… Toka found herself slightly lost in thought at her sister's words.
"I'm telling the truth! You've got the skills, the looks, the cooking talent… which lucky guy will get you in the future?"
"Alright, enough flattery. Go change your clothes, check that you've packed everything you need. After breakfast, I'll finish cleaning up, and we'll head out to meet the others. Excited or not, don't be late."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Rokuka zipped off to the bathroom to wash up.
Toka absentmindedly plated the dishes she had been preparing.
She sighed slightly, unsure of her exact feelings. Why was Senya's face the first thing that came to mind?
Meanwhile, the Takanashi sisters were bustling with energy early in the morning. The same went for the Sawamura household.
"…Sunscreen, check. Goggles, check. Sunglasses, check. Sunhat, check. Swimsuit, check."
Eriri meticulously went through her packing list, humming happily as she stuffed everything into her backpack.
Her mother, Mrs. Sawamura, watched her with a gentle smile, feeling genuine joy at her daughter's excitement.
But considering the specifics of the trip that Eriri had casually revealed, she felt it was her duty as a mother to offer a bit of guidance.
She took the swimsuit from the backpack.
"Eriri, don't you think this swimsuit might be a bit… outdated?"
Eriri froze, then panicked slightly, snatching it back and spreading it out in front of her.
"Outdated? I just bought this last year! I think it's cute!"
"It is cute, yes, but the pale orange color and the frilly edges make it look too childish. You're about to be a high schooler—mom thinks a slightly more mature style would suit you better."
"Ehh! What do I do now?!"
She tossed the swimsuit onto the bed and frantically rummaged through her drawer. Unlike underwear, swimsuits aren't everyday items—she only had a few.
She pulled out three more: two visibly small from previous years, and one similar to the one on the bed, just a different color.
"Ahhh! Why didn't you tell me sooner, Mom?! How am I supposed to fix this? We're about to meet everyone—there's no way a swimsuit shop would even be open now!"
Eriri wailed in despair.
"It's your fault, Mom! Why didn't you warn me?"
"You didn't prepare in advance, how is that Mom's fault?"
Still, seeing her daughter on the verge of tears, Mrs. Sawamura softened. After all, this was her precious girl, and she couldn't bring herself to tease her further.
"I knew this would happen, so I already prepared something for you. Ta-da~ Look at this~"
She brought over a small, delicate paper bag.
Eriri perked up immediately and grabbed it, opening it eagerly.
Her frustration melted into shy uncertainty.
"Mom… is this… too… daring?"
Inside were two swimsuits: one pristine white, one a fresh navy.
Both were extremely minimal—if she wore them, she felt she'd be exposing almost her entire body. The tops were narrow, one tied in front, the other without shoulder ties, like a chest binder. The bottoms were simple triangles, tied from the sides.
She had never worn anything like this before—she didn't think she could pull it off.
"Not daring enough? Nowadays, girls all wear this kind of style. You're beautiful, Eriri, it'll look perfect on you."
"But…"
"No buts. You just haven't worn it before, that's all. Let's try it on and you'll see."
Eriri hesitated, holding the flimsy fabric, still uncertain.
Mrs. Sawamura leaned close, whispering as if planting a little seed in her mind:
"With so many girls going, don't you want little Senya's eyes to stay on you all the time?"
"…Gulp!"
Eriri shivered slightly, her gaze shifting, lips holding back a smile, imagining her mother's words.
"Little Senya's eyes… we're just going for fun with friends… making memories… Mom, don't misunderstand…"
Still, under her mother's teasing gaze, Eriri obediently began undressing to try on the swimsuit.
"Mom… how… how do I look?"
Standing in the center of the room, hands behind her back, Eriri's face was a bright shade of red.
Mrs. Sawamura smiled warmly, holding her daughter's chin gently.
"Eriri, you've really grown up."
"Eh? What do you mean by that?"
"I mean it as a compliment! You look wonderful, and this suit suits you perfectly. Just remember—tie the bottom snugly, or it could loosen in the water."
Eriri's mother had seen girls like Shiwa and Saeko. Even as a grown woman, she couldn't compete with their curves, so her daughter needed to highlight her advantages in other ways.
Luckily, Eriri had inherited her beauty and a nicely rounded figure. Tightening the swimsuit would accentuate her curves even more—a strategic way to stand out.
"I understand."
"And when you talk to Senya, keep your chest up or bend slightly forward—no slouching."
"What does that mean?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
A little secret tactic. Eriri didn't fully understand but nodded obediently. She changed back into casual clothes.
"I told you, when I was with your father, I was the pursuer. I took the initiative, and he was the passive one."
"Yeah, you told me."
Her parents' romantic history wasn't hidden—they often came up in casual conversation.
"Don't let his scruffy beard fool you. He was quite handsome in his youth, almost like Leonardo."
"Mom, come on…"
"Believe it or not, that's how it was. He was surrounded by girls, including childhood friends. The competition was intense, but in the end, I succeeded. Do you know why?"
"Yeah… you arranged a private swimming lesson during a trip and gradually built up your relationship…"
"That's just the act. Do you not understand the more direct principle?"
"What direct principle… Mom, I need to go soon."
"Listen, Eriri. In love or in life, if you want something, you have to go for it. Passively waiting is the most foolish and weak approach. Your rivals want to see you passive."
Mrs. Sawamura placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders, meeting her gaze. She wanted Eriri to understand at least a little about life, to be aware and prepared.
"Mom…"
"Alright, time's almost up. You're meeting at the station, right? I'll take you there."
"Thanks, Mom!"
At the Toudou household, Saeko moved quickly in the kitchen, preparing breakfast—not just for herself, but for Shiwa as well.
"Sorry, Shiwa, I didn't expect you to come this early."
Shiwa explained: her father had to go out for a sudden work trip and couldn't take her, so she came along with him.
Saeko, swift and graceful in the kitchen, earned Shiwa's admiration. With her own minimal cooking skills, Shiwa knew she could only get in the way.
"Alright, let's eat. We're a bit pressed for time, so don't mind if it's not perfect."
"Not at all! I could smell it from afar already. Let's dig in."
"I usually have a light breakfast… oh, there's natto in the fridge. Want some, Shiwa?"
"Uh, no thanks." Shiwa couldn't stomach its sticky, strong flavor.
"No worries, I'm not a fan either. My dad likes it and bought a ton, didn't finish before leaving."
They chatted casually until Shiwa felt it was time to make her request. Despite the trouble, she would repay Saeko double for helping.
Gathering courage, she finally spoke:
"Saeko…"
"Hm?"
"For the beach trip… I actually want to ask you a favor…"
…
Want to unlock up to 60+ early-access chapters and exclusive novels? Join my Patreon today and dive deeper into the adventure!
patreon.com/sabu19