The time was around 11 a.m. I checked my wristwatch before I took it off and left it on the drawer of my bedroom.

The bright sun and hot weather couldn’t manage to keep us out from having fun. Kazuki, Ryouta and Chika were playing throw and catch with a big colorful beach ball while splashing sea water to each other by the shallow area. Rather childish but seems so exciting that made me also want to join them. Takuma and Ken were in some distance from us, amusing themselves by making a big sand castle. Fionna who was still wearing the same dress was sitting alone on the big rocks under the trees behind all of us distantly, still not planning to join any of us most likely. Kaigo and Ringo couldn’t be seen yet. They hadn’t shown up since they entered into their own room to change their pajamas, maybe was preparing to shock us with even more peculiar outfits.

I was with Elena and Kaede under a big beach umbrella by the dry shore. The second was curling up in a ball. Her face looked pale, and not so comfortable with the shining sun, but still insisting to come out here. Maybe she suddenly felt sick from the long trip.

“I will go to the mansion and get some medicines for you, okay?” Kaede volunteered mildly.

“Thank you, Keade-chan,” Elena smiled weakly.

The nurse left us. I asked the patient.

“Are you okay?”

“It is nothing,” she put the back of her left hand on her forehead to check if she was having a fever. “Just let me rest for a while,” She was breathing rather heavily.

“Um? Sure.”

I have the tendency to put my hand on her forehead as well. But I think she would only get the wrong idea because we are still not fully as close as before. Thus, I restrained myself from doing that maybe an indecent act toward her, or at least it is still too early. Why do I think of myself as though Kazuki? Did I get infected already?

Instead, I just asked.

“Don’t you mind if I stay here and accompany you?”

She was slightly surprised.

“Ah? What are you talking about? Maybe, hmm … I don’t mind … very much. Since when you have become such a sissy?”

Elena does look like more Elena-ish now. She stretched her arms behind to support her back leaning, and looked at me strangely. She surely likes to use that kind of unfeminine tongue toward those who are close to her. But, I also know how to deal with that ‘tsundere’ side of her.

“I … I am so sorry. I just think … I may not want to disturb you resting. Really, I am very sorry. … I won’t bother you anymore,” I put on the face of the guiltiest person in the earth, and stood up to leave her. As very much expected, the still innocent young woman immediately fell for my trap.

“I … I … I didn’t mean that way. I … I … I thought you can be joked with. I … I … I am so … so … sorry,” she was so nervous that couldn’t even say a sentence properly. Really funny watching her who is usually so collected being fooled when she wanted to fool me first. I couldn’t hold it much longer and burst into a big laughter.

“Ha-ha-ha, I … I … I.”

After 2 seconds, she finally realized that she had been outsmarted. Her face quickly turned as red as a radish.

“So mean of you. I don’t wanna talk to you anymore, from-now-on.”

She is cute when she gets irritated, but just slightly though. More of it, would be deadly.

“Sorry, sorry, can’t help it really, ha-ha-ha. Now, I really am in a serious mode,” I cleared my throat unnecessarily. “Please accept my apology, Princess Elena-sama. Please forgive my rudeness and ignorance.”

I said as earnestly as I could for a moment before chuckling again secretly at my stupid scheme. Making it seems not as seriously as I meant to be. Yes, she most likes to be called as Princess Elena-sama, and most hated being tricked.

“Ah-ha, see? You are the one who fall into my trap, see?” she showed a satisfied expression. Did she really not realize it? I was confused. Was she going to trap me?

“I am not angry anymore. Don’t be so shocked. I am just playing with you. And always remember that it is me, Princess Elena-sama who will always win against anyone in the world. Especially her brilliant brain. No one can even compare.”

She stuck her tongue out a little, mocking me as a loser. I always cheer her up like this, and have always been doing this anyway since we were together in the past. My goal had been achieved though, looking at her spirited face again with my own special way for her without any kind of medical treatments. Just being skilled enough with some magical words had made me a talented psychics or motivator, or at least it works for her.

“I see that you have returned to your old self. Why were you so cold when we were at the park?”

Elena changed to a bit hesitated. Not that kind of previous hesitance against the strangers, but an indecision to tell the truth.

“You know?” she spoke reluctantly without looking at me.

“Of course I don’t know,” I quickly cut her clarification, playing with her.

“I was just …,” she rushed quickly before paused, and bit her thin lower lip. Then she said something in a very low voice, almost soundless. I didn’t catch what she just said. But I think I know her meaning.

“Embarrassed? You are? When?” I teased her.

“Yah, why should I em-bar-ras-sed?”

This young princess still didn’t want to admit, and was taking very seriously at my joke. I gave a sigh, and she was provoked so easily.

“What? Can you prove of anything?” she proudly challenged me.

“If I can, is there any prize?”

“Anything you wanted?”

Seems interesting to further play with her. It was too long already after the last time.

“Ok, it is you who said that. Where should I start? Hmm, can you explain why are you sick now?”

“You aren’t changing the topic, right?”

I gave a nod. She continued.

“I think I am just too tired from that 2-hour long trip.”

“That is one of the reason, maybe. Then can you tell me what exactly did you have for your breakfast?”

“I didn’t eat anything, only a drink when we arrived. I mean with Kaigo and Ringo at the park.”

“What did you drink if I may know, for investigation purpose? I supposed?”

“Cold coffee milk, for the investigation purpose! I supposed!” she exclaimed.

“I see, just as I remembered it right. Then, I can conclude the reasoning now,” I said confidently.

“Kyaaa …!” Chika cried in their too-intense play. But it seems more like an excited scream. We were not faltered even for a moment, and continued our battle of wits.

“You can? You sure?” Elena was still doubting my ability. But no problem. I will make her regret soon.

“Yes, all those previous acts of yours proved that you were sleepless last night, only had a little rest, or even none at all. Then, you are mentally exhausted from meeting with us, your old friends, before also took that long trip which even a usual person would be tired from.”

“Drinking coffee as a proof to keep me away from feeling sleepy, and I being sick right now is also because I hadn’t rested well last night? Well, you have a quite not so stupid but also too delusive brain. But, do you think that the real life can be concluded like a detective story that will have all clues arranged and presented nicely as if for solving the mystery perfectly? Ha-ha. Let’s just say that I really didn’t sleep last night. But how does that fact connect with me being embarrassed like you have said so proudly pre-vious-ly? Hooam ….”

Elena fussed me with a long lecture, and ended it with a big yawn. She still hadn’t forgotten to close it with her small hand though. And I still hadn’t discouraged at all.

“At least you admitted, or just giving me a handicap saying you were sleepless last night. Then, you should be in a tired condition, for example giving out a yawn like you have done so gracefully pre-vious-ly. Hooam …,” I pretended her pose perfectly. I think she would try to throw some sands into my mouth, but horrifyingly she just gave out a small chuckle.

“Fu fu fu ….”

Without any further waiting for something super extraordinary to happen. After that third laugh of her, I hurried up to break her casting delay.

“Then why were you standing in front of the seat?”

“Huh?” she was surprised.

I let out a breath. I barely saved my life.

She got tensed, and looked even further away from me. She knew what I was thinking. If she were so wearied out because of the sleepless night, then she should have kept her energy as much as possible for the already planned long trip to the mansion.

She must have realized that she won’t be escaping from me if I were to do the next move of ‘Why are you only being so talkative now? You were so silent before.’ So, before the absolute checkmate. She changed her plans entirely. She hurried up and replied with something interesting, to change the topic.

“Ah, look, I even forget to bring my poka-poka out here.”

It isn’t even that interesting. I cut her once again with an evil smile.

“He-he. It is so unlike yourself. And yet it is your usual custom poker face who likes to act elegant in front of the people you aren’t so close to. Especially to those charming young men.”

I stopped, realized something.

“You don’t mean?”

“Oh, my Highness and the Goddess! This person really couldn’t be salvage from his over self-confidence anymore. Please, I know him no more.” She looked at me with pity, and shook her head. But then we laughed together. Her mood really could change as fast as light travels.

As though had heard us, Chika showed her last ultimate water element magic to her two enemies as the killing blow, and came to join us.

“Umm, sorry. But what are you two joking together? Dating, huh? Ele-nee?”

I remember something again. Chika also used to call Elena as an oneechan. Not as frequently as Kaede though, because of Elena’s busier schedule for always being called by the teachers to do something out of the number one student in our school. But still, their bond isn’t any less.

I am relieved that the uneasy feeling I felt before between the two of them had been sorted out before I know.

“Dating? Are you kidding? Ha-ha. I can’t tell you, Chika-chan, for the sake of certain person’s self-respect. If not, he or she can’t even have the face for the community anymore.”

Elena said with certainty as though it is really real. But still couldn’t pretend for more than 5 seconds. Chika laughed too, at me of course because she knew very well her sister’s meaning. Reason? Because there isn’t any ‘certain person’ near these sisters anymore, except me.

“Hm, mm, mm,” I nodded lazily with the distinguish sound that has the same meaning as ‘yeah, yeah, yeah’ or ‘whatever’ in human languages.

Then I saw Kaede returning back from the mansion with medicines for our already too healthy and active friend. Even so, Elena still took it as a form of appreciation. She has just always been like that from the very first time I met with her. Only acts tough on the outside, but would be very happy if being concerned earnestly. I smiled unconsciously to my untruthful yet so innocent friend as she drank.

I turned my head to face to the beach again where Kazuki and Ryouta were left playing previously. That place had become a serious battlefield of 4 people. All of us were watching them since it was as exciting as a final tournament or something. Kaigo and Ringo were their new enemies and were playing together as a team breathtakingly. Two versus two. Who will win? Wow! But most importantly, since when I wonder?