Chapter 392: Affection Blooms Even in a Shitty Game's Event
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 392: Affection Blooms Even in a Shitty Game's Event
“Just one bite.”
I said to Miyuki, who was eating a small ice cream cone. She readily held it out to me.
At the same moment, a large mouth descended and swallowed the ice cream on top of the cone…
“Hyaah…?”
Letting out a startled cry, Miyuki stared blankly at the now-empty cone before shooting me a look of disbelief.
“What are you doing…!”
“Delicious.”
“You swallowed it already…? Don’t you have a brain freeze?”
“Nope.”
“You’re so simple…”
With a faint laugh, Miyuki’s hand wiped away the soft-serve ice cream smudged on my lips.
Hmm… it felt like a very peaceful and sweet scene from a romantic comedy.
Sure, it was a bit stale, but you need these kinds of cookie-cutter clichés to make a shitty game like DokiAka work.
I wrapped an arm around Miyuki’s shoulder as she licked the remaining ice cream, and together we wandered through the town, filled with the faint salty scent of the sea.
After a while, we returned to the hotel.
Miyuki’s legs seemed to be a little sore; she sat on a sofa in the corner of the lobby, massaging her calves.
I sat down next to her, placed her legs on my lap, and took over the massage as I spoke.
“Do you have any student council work or anything today?”
“Nope. I’m free today.”
“Then you want to go to the beach, get some fresh air, and then grab lunch?”
“Yeah, sounds good.”
“I’m bringing Mitsushima and Asahina, too.”
“Why them all of a sudden?”
“I thought it’d be fun to hang out together.”
“Really…?”
Miyuki’s voice trailed off as her eyes narrowed slightly.
A gaze that seemed to be trying to figure out my true intentions.
I acted nonchalant and continued massaging her legs, and a positive answer finally came from her lips.
“Alright, then.”
For someone who was always wary of Hiyori, Miyuki agreed quite readily.
Why? Was it because of my attitude this morning, compared to Tetsuya’s?
Or had Hiyori’s occasional words of thanks made her start to see her in a different light?
Whatever the reason, this change of heart in Miyuki was a very welcome development.
It wasn’t a drastic change, but compared to before when she saw Hiyori as a thorn in her side, this was a huge step forward.
Of course, Miyuki might have some other motive, but for now, this was enough.
“Then should we bring a bigger beach mat?”
I shrugged at Miyuki’s follow-up question and answered.
“We can just put two together. Or we can just sit on the sand.”
“But then sand will get in my underwear?”
“I’ll wash it out for you.”
“Hey, what are you saying…!”
Miyuki pushed my arm, taken aback by the sudden sexual joke.
From the sound of it, though, she seemed a little expectant. I had a feeling she’d be very satisfied if I focused on caressing her tonight.
With that in mind, I sent Hiyori a message as Miyuki and I headed back to our room to change.
[Where are you?]
[The beach. Hanging with friends.]
[We’re heading out in about 20 minutes. I’ll rent a parasol and tell you where we are, so come over when you’re done.]
[Okay, I’ll head over then.]
[I said come when you’re done. I’d feel bad for your friends.]
[We’re done.]
[You’re not lying, are you?]
[I’m not! What do you want me to do, we’re really done!]
[Why are you getting mad.]
[Sorry♥]
The way she acted like she was losing her mind was both funny and cute.
I had a feeling she wasn't quite done hanging out with her friends, but since she said so herself, I figured it would be fine.
Hiyori’s friends, especially the guys, would probably be disappointed, but I didn’t care.
I have no intention of looking out for those who get left behind.
And after what Tetsuya pulled today, that feeling had only grown stronger.
[See you in 20 minutes, then.]
* * *
“This is a really nice spot. I thought places like this would all be taken.”
Miyuki remarked, looking out at the sea from under the parasol we’d rented.
Sitting in the shade, I laid out the various snacks we’d bought and replied.
“Luckily, there was one left. I guess that offering I made at the shrine really worked.”
“You’re quite the believer, aren’t you?”
“It’s just an expression.”
“When are the others getting here?”
“Should be any minute now. Want a snack?”
“Not right now. Oh, there they are.”
Two girls were approaching from the direction Miyuki pointed.
The combination of blonde and light brown hair was quite striking.
Both were wearing simple white T-shirts and shorts, but they weren't very wet.
Were they just talking the whole time?
I wasn't sure about Miho, but Hiyori was definitely wearing a swimsuit underneath.
I felt like I could already see right through Hiyori’s T-shirt.
“Hello, Hanazawa-senpai.”
Was it Miho’s politeness, bowing deeply as soon as she arrived, that pleased her?
Miyuki greeted her back with a bright smile.
“Hi.”
Just as expected from Miyuki, who held Miho in high regard, her reaction was cheerful.
What if I seduced Miho too and we had a foursome?
If she and I could act as a bridge between Miyuki and Hiyori, wouldn't that be a ridiculously hot scene?
After briefly entertaining the thought, I gestured with my eyes for Hiyori to say hello.
Hiyori gave a slight nod and said.
“Heeey.”
“Right. Hello to you, too.”
She was being relatively gentle with Hiyori as well.
You couldn’t call it warm and fuzzy, but it was a far cry from the tense atmosphere of the first day.
I’m proud of you, Miyuki.
“Come on, sit.”
At my indifferent words, patting the mat, Miho and Hiyori sat down side-by-side.
As I took out a board game, Hiyori’s eyes filled with bewilderment.
“What’s that?”
“A board game.”
“Why a board game all of a sudden?”
“Have you played this one?”
“No…?”
“It’ll be fun.”
“I mean… who comes all the way to the beach to play this? We can play board games in the hotel lobby.”
“But there’s no atmosphere there.”
“You sound like an old man.”
I brought my index finger to my lips in a shushing gesture and opened the box.
Unlike Hiyori, who was grumbling with a sulky expression, Miho seemed interested in the game.
Does she like wholesome activities? She might be very good at it.
If we just jumped into the water, a conflict might erupt between Hiyori and Miyuki.
They might pretend it was an accident while splashing water hard at each other.
They were getting closer, little by little. There was no need to rush things.
Hiyori was right that it was an unfitting game to play on a beach with the sea breeze, but I was sure they’d enjoy it once they started.
“It’s because I can’t swim.”
Miyuki said, placing a hand on my leg.
Hiyori’s eyes widened at that.
“You can’t swim? Like, you never learned?”
“It’s not that. I had a close call in the ocean once. So I’ve been hesitant to go in the water ever since. Even if I do, I only go where it’s shallow.”
“Really…? I didn’t know that.”
Hiyori nodded slowly in understanding and, as if she had no choice, lowered her gaze to the board game instructions.
Should I praise her for giving in, even though she was a bit reluctant?
I’ll have to reward her with a good press on her solar plexus later.
* * *
“Hey, why do you only put the dice on my casino! You’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you!? Trying to make me go broke!”
Hiyori shrieked.
Miyuki looked at her with a condescending smile and said.
“This is a rational choice.”
“You should be trying to win, not just trying to keep me in check!”
“I am trying to win. By the end of the round, I’ll have the most money.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yup.”
“You’ve played this before, haven’t you?”
“Nope. This is my first time, too.”
“That sounds like a lie.”
“It’s Mitsushima’s first time too, and she’s doing great.”
“Are you calling me stupid?”
“That’s not what I meant. Why are you reading into it like that?”
Pouting, Hiyori urged me to hurry up and start.
It was nice to see her genuinely into it, unlike her earlier indifference, but contrary to what I’d hoped, the situation was developing in a way that forced Miyuki to keep Hiyori in check.
At this rate, Hiyori was just going to keep fuming.
If only she used her head a little more… it was a real shame.
As I was thinking that,
“Huh…?”
When the round ended and we all checked our money, I was the one with the least, my mouth falling slightly open.
How did this happen? Was it because Miyuki subtly kept me in check at the end?
“What? I have more than you.”
Hiyori’s voice was filled with ridicule as she’d narrowly avoided last place.
I scratched the back of my head and clicked my tongue, expressing my disappointment.
It seemed I was the one who needed to use my head, not Hiyori.
“Looks like Matsuda-kun has to do the penalty.”
At Miyuki’s sympathetic words, I slowly got up. I told everyone I’d be right back and headed to a cafe on the beachfront to buy the drinks for the penalty.
I was a little nervous leaving the three of them alone, but watching them play the game, Hiyori and Miyuki seemed to get along surprisingly well.
They even seemed to be teasing each other.
The problem was that the teasing was meant to get under each other’s skin, but with Miho there as a relief pitcher, there probably wouldn’t be any major issues.
After buying the drinks everyone requested, I returned to the beach to find our spot in quite a commotion.
“I said no, so why are you being so persistent…!”
Hiyori was looking disgusted at a group of guys who had approached their mat.
Were they getting hit on? It made sense. Three pretty girls without a guy around, in a spot that easily drew attention. It was only natural that some guys who’d lost their minds would flock to them.
But Hiyori’s reaction was a bit much.
“I said no, my friend said no, and my senpai said no. Just go away already.”
“Come on, there are three of us, too. Let’s hang out…”
“If you want to hit on people, do it at night with someone else. Stop being so pathetic.”
She was openly showing her distaste for the shirtless guys.
It wasn’t that her attitude was wrong.
It was very effective at getting rid of losers.
But against a group like this, the kind of bluffers who act tough in a group, it could easily provoke them.
Miyuki must have said no as well, but she probably hadn’t been as forceful as Hiyori, which led to this situation.
From my perspective, it looked like Hiyori was protecting Miho and Miyuki.
This meant there was a good chance this incident could bring the two of them a little closer.
But the event itself was so typical of a shitty game.
Hiyori’s friends yesterday, Tetsuya today, and now this…
Why do only things that make you frown happen?
Can’t I expect a wholesome event that doesn’t involve guys?
Instead of this old-fashioned pick-up cliché, the scene would have been so much better if, say, Hiyori got a leg cramp in waist-deep water and started flailing, and Miyuki overcame her trauma to save her…
But our foolish God probably hasn't played enough dating sims to think of something like that, so I’ll be generous and let it slide.
Besides, once this ordeal is over, He will surely grant me a warm, sweet event as a reward.
With those thoughts, I quickened my pace and headed toward the three of them.