Chapter 151: Even Apart, We Will Always be Friends (3)

“Wow, it’s cold!”

“But it feels good.”

“Nyeeeh…”

The boys came to the riverside after breakfast.

The girls were changing into their swimsuits.

We didn’t bring swimsuits to begin with, so we stayed in our regular clothes, and even if we got wet, they would dry quickly in this sunny weather.

“Kou-chan, are you able to swim now?”

“Hmm…”

“Let’s practice later.”

Both Shouhei and Koji were playing in water that went up to their shins.

I sat down on a large stone and dipped my feet in the water.

The contrast between the cool feeling of the water and the heat of the sunlight leaking through the trees was quite comfortable.

The bottom of the river was strewn with small stones, so I kept my sandals on.

“Shouhei, Koji. I need your help.”

“With what?”

“What?”

I stood up and looked at the bottom of the river.

Yeah, I think we can manage by collecting some of the big stones.

“I want to build a shallow enclosure for Jaja and Nana to play in. I think they’ll be fine if we use rocks to separate them.”

Ideally, the water would be shallow enough for Jaja and Nana to sit in, just enough so the water goes to below their stomachs.

I think we can do it by blocking the water with stones.

“Ah, that’s a good idea. Kou-chan, let’s look for some big stones.”

“Nii!”

“Don’t go too deep yet.”

As I watched Shouhei and Koji cheerfully start collecting rocks, I also started preparing.

“Maybe here.”

As I searched the riverbank, I found a flat bedrock on the bottom of the river in a good spot.

The surface of the rock, polished by the current, was so smooth that it didn’t seem to hurt to put my butt on it.

The water was shallow because of the slope, and if we gathered rocks around it, we could make a simple pool.

“Nii-chan, what about this?”

“Oh, that’s good. I’ll carry the ones you can’t carry, call me when you find some.”

“Nyaa.”

Well, I guess I’ll do my best.

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

“We finished!”

“Nii!”

Shouhei and Koji shouted loudly in joy.

It took about forty minutes from the start of work to create a natural pool for the twins.

“Oh, it looks so much better than I expected.”

“I didn’t know that just piling up stones would stop water from getting in.”

I’ve tried to eliminate the gaps.

I’m surprisingly good at this kind of work.

“It’s hot as expected after all that exercise.”

“It’s just right, isn’t it? The water also feels good.”

I was so absorbed in my work that I found myself drenched in sweat.

If you looked at them, both Koji and Shouhei had beads of sweat on their foreheads.

It seems that Aoi and the others should be here by now, but it’s taking a long time. I wonder what they’re doing.

“Hey. I’ve brought you something to eat.”

It was Officer Doggy who came down the stairs leading to the cottage. Officer Inoue followed behind her.

She was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, her golden hair, tail and ears shining in the sunlight.

He was holding a plastic bag on his right arm and a portable chair on his left.

“What’s that?”

Shouhei got out of the river and ran up to Officer Doggie.

“Lemonade my mom brought from home, and rice balls for lunch. The scary thing about playing in the water is dehydration.”

“Your body may be cold, but you’ll sweat. It’s important to drink plenty of water. Here.”

The plastic wrapped rice ball, water bottle, and paper cup were all in the plastic bag. Thank goodness. I was actually thirsty.

“The girls will be here soon, so take a break. Oh, I like your enclosure.”

Officer Doggy nodded at the stone pool we’d built.

“Yeah. I’m sure the twins will be fine in this. Koji-kun and Shouhei-kun, don’t go too deep, okay?”

“Yes.”

“Nyaa!”

The elementary school students replied cheerfully to Officer Inoue’s words.

“What are they doing?”

Aren’t they too slow?

Did something happen to Jaja and Nana?

“It takes time for a girl to get ready and they’re wearing swimsuits, so there’s a lot to check.”

Is that so?

I don’t get it.

“I kept you waiting! Look, Kazamachi! It’s okay to be charmed!”

“Ah?”

The one who appeared with a high-pitched voice was Saeki.

What’s that bright lime green thing you’re wearing? Is that a tankini?

She was wearing a swimsuit that had a separate top and bottom, and the bottom was like hot pants.

Her short, speckled hair, characteristic of the short-haired calico cat tribe, was pulled back into a short ponytail.

“Oh, you look good, Saeki.”

It’s the perfect outfit for the lively Saeki.

This guy, too. If only she’d shut up, she’d be popular.

“What? That’s not the reaction I was expecting. I wouldn’t despise you if you had a nosebleed or something.”

“Even if you say so…”

With Saeki’s appearance, cuteness is more prevalent than sex appeal.

How can I be shaken by someone, when it wouldn’t even be weird if you were said to be younger than me?

“You’re thinking of something very rude right now, aren’t you?”

“Nope! You have a nice body, Saeki! Wow!”

I told you not to read my thoughts so naturally!

“Shouhei, what do you think? Isn’t it cute? Isn’t it a little embarrassing?”

She placed her right hand on her head and her left hand on her waist.

Saeki appealed to Shouhei by wiggling her entire body.

“It looks good on you, Ichika-neechan. It’s cute.”

“I’m happy, but that’s not…”

Poor Saeki.

You can’t expect the kind of reaction you’re looking for from our cool youngest.

Even then, you have a child’s build.

In fact, you look like a child who’s tiptoeing to make themselves seem a little taller, which is rather funny.

“Kazamachi, you better remember this.”

“I didn’t say anything!”

False accusation, it’s a false accusation!

“Nishishishi!”

When Koji saw his sister, he shook his shoulders in amusement and laughed.

He held his mouth in an attempt to hold back, but apparently he couldn’t.

“You too, idiot brother.”

“Nii!?”

So why is Koji picking a fight he can’t win?

“Wait up, Icika-chan! Really! You should at least carry your stuff!”

I could hear the pattering of sandals coming from the cottage.

Is that Mikuma?

“Ah, Mikuma’s here too…”

Wow…

“Oh, Kunpei-kun… um, how… is it?”

“Well, no, I mean, what can I say?”

She dropped the bag on her shoulder and hid her body with her arms as she looked up at me.

I didn’t know what to say to that.

No, I have to say something! I need to say something tasteful!

You have to wring out your limited vocabulary, Kazamachi Kunpei!

“T-thank you?”

That was the result.

“What’s that? Aren’t you an idiot?”

Saeki interrupted me in a bad mood.

Yeah, that was my fault, wasn’t it?

“I-it looks good on you…”

“T-thank you…”

Her long hair, which she usually wears in braids, was tied back, and her swimsuit boldly exposed the nape of her neck, shoulders, collarbone, and chest.

The thin straps wrapped around her neck, not back.

The two large mountains were covered only by a thin cloth with a red and blue border pattern, which swayed with Mikuma’s movements.

The sunlight shone through the pareo covering her lower body making it transparent and it became a sight that’s hard to look at directly.

“I tried my best. Ehehe.”

Mikuma’s face turned red and she fidgeted with her hands in front of her chest, rubbing them together.

What is this cute creature?

“W-what happened to your glasses?”

I forcibly change the direction of the conversation.

I’m afraid I’m going to say something weird when I see something like that.

“I’m not going to swim, so I thought it would be good once in a while.”

Yeah.

The glasses-wearing Mikuma is also good, but…

“… Mikuma without glasses is also cute.”

My impression has changed, and it feels fresh.

“Huh.”

Huh?

Mikuma’s eyes widened and she stiffened.

“Wow, you’re too direct.”

“Nii-chan, what you were thinking probably came out of your mouth.”

Eh?

“C-cu-cu-cute…”

Mikuma’s mouth flapped open and shut and her red face turned even redder.

What came out of my mouth?

… Maybe I let something slip?

“Ah, no! That’s not… well it is but! It’s just that you’re usually cute! Oh, of course, now too! But not now! Um! Mikuma!　Hey, Mikuma, get a grip!”

“Awawa”

I grabbed Mikuma by both shoulders and supported her as she staggered around with her eyes rolling around.

Wow, it’s so smooth!

Not!

“Mikuma! Hold on, Mikuma!”

I feel like this is my fault!

“Wow, their so young! It makes me embarrassed to look, Toshio-kun.”

“Don’t tease them, Doc.”

The pair of officers sitting on leisure chairs pouring lemonade into paper cups were laughing happily.

No, don’t just look, can you help me?

I’m so happy for you, Yunno, it was worth the four hours I spent picking out a swimsuit. It’s a good thing I was brave enough to go for it.

Four hours?

Don’t the employees complain about that!

“Aoi and Rouge-san will be here soon. They had a hard time getting the twins ready, so we came out first.”

No, so don’t try to just brush it off Saeki! You’ve got to help Mikuma! Your best friend’s in trouble, you know!

“Kunpei-san!”

It was then that I heard Aoi’s voice.