Wednesday, August 4
The summer sun was mercilessly shining down from above. With this fine weather, the skin of those who walked under this shining sun gradually tanned. Normally this was a situation you'd get sick of, but it didn't seem like these people felt that way based on their expressions. In fact it was the opposite. They had dazzling bright smiles. It was very similar to the sparkling clear sea in front of them.
“Yahooo! It's the sea!”
Sanae threw off the parka she had been wearing, revealing the swimsuit beneath and cheerfully began running towards the sea. Each step she took shook the many frills on her swimsuit. She had been eagerly awaiting this day, and couldn't hold it in any longer as she spotted the sea.
“Sanae, wait. You have to exercise before you get in”
However, there was someone that doused that burning urge of hers. That someone was Koutarou who had come to the beach together with her. After Sanae had run off two or three steps, Koutarou grabbed her arm and stopped her. That was common sense to someone athletic like Koutarou.
“Okay. I'll have her do it!”
“Ah!?”
However, Koutarou had only be able to capture her body and half her soul, as Sanae-chan's soul slipped out and continued towards the beach.
“Geez, that girl...”
Koutarou stared at her back with a wry smile.
“I'm... sorry”
The left behind body and other half of the soul, Sanae-san, dropped her shoulders and apologized to Koutarou. Though it looked like the two had split, they were essentially the same person. Sanae-san was well aware that her feelings of being carried away appeared on the surface of Sanae-chan and her face turned red with embarrassment.
“Well, she's at least matured a little seeing as she left you behind”
Koutarou knew that nothing would come from scolding Sanae-san. Being somewhat of an introvert, being overly strict with Sanae-san would only have the opposite effect.
“Thank you very much. Uhm, K-Koutarou-san, I will do my best to make up for Sanae-chan”
With her face beet red, Sanae-san desperately spoke. Sanae-chan had been drilling into Sanae-san that when they were at the beach, she should be actively speaking to Koutarou. That was also the reason why she had switched from calling him Satomi-san to calling him Koutarou-san.
“Don't worry. She'll be right back anyways”
“Eh!?”
Sanae-san's heart almost stopped, as she thought that her promise with Sanae-chan had been found out.
“Koutarou! Koutarou! The beach is boring without a body! I can't touch the water!”
“See?”
“Aha, ahahaha”
But fortunately, Koutarou had no idea about their promise. Sanae-san laughed with relief.
Koutarou had come to the sea to play with his friends. The group consisted of Koutarou, the nine invaders, Kenji and the five members of the cosclub as well as the two haniwas. With this many, just setting up blankets and parasols was quite the workload.
“Well, that should do it”
After setting up his fifth parasol, Koutarou decided to rest. That was when something cold was pressed up against his cheek.
“Uwoah!?”
“Good work, Koutarou”
“Thank you for your efforts, Master”
Theia and Ruth called out to Koutarou after surprising him with that sudden chill. Theia was wearing an elegant, white swimsuit, while Ruth was wearing a simple yet cute swimsuit. The chill on Koutarou's cheek was a cooled plastic bottle that Theia had pressed onto him.
“Oh, it's just you Theia. Don't scare me like that”
“Fufun. Even that is part of my affection. Just accept it”
“You just felt like playing a prank, didn't you?”
Koutarou accepted the bottle while sending a suspicious glance at Theia. She responded with a smile rather than apologizing.
“You could say that... Koutarou, you've gradually started understanding your lord's feelings”
“I'm not complimenting you. I'm dumbfounded”
Koutarou removed the bottle's cap as she stared at Theia.
Theia had brought Koutarou's beloved cola. Not the diet kind, but the normal sugar one. That was the flavor he preferred.
“Master, I'm sorry for surprising you”
Ruth bowed her head, blushing slightly.
“No, that's okay, Ruth-san”
Koutarou was confused as to why Ruth was bowing, but Theia soon told him that reason.
“Koutarou, why are you only forgiving Ruth? That was her suggestion”
The truth was that it was Ruth that had come up with the idea of pressing the bottle up against Koutarou's cheek. Theia frowned as only she was criticized, being the direct perpetrator.
“That's...”
“Your Highness, the truth is that Master has also forgiven you. But since he is a man he is being stubborn”