Puhah…
Not long after being forced into the water due to Hifumi’s sudden rampage, a loud noise echoed. I peeked my head above the surface and saw two motorboats flipped over and damaged everywhere.
I found the belt’s button and pressed it exactly twice, causing the inflated belt to transform into a tube shape. Honestly, if it weren’t for the guns, I probably wouldn’t have needed it…
Not too far away, Hina also surfaced. Coughing and spitting out water, she looked up at the sky with a dejected expression.
I swam through the waves towards Hina. It might have been more comfortable without a tube after all.
Only after I got right next to her did Hina glance my way. Her face was complex and hard to describe.
“…I really wanted to win.”
“Hahaha! I know, right? What a half-baked conclusion… Yeah, I guess I’m a bit disappointed too.”
“It’s not that I cared much about winning… I used to, but not so much anymore.”
“Hmm… So, you desperately wanted that wish ticket? But even if it wasn’t the way you wanted, your feelings came through.”
I reached out my hand to Hina. No matter how hard she kicked in the water, it was clear she wouldn’t be faster than me, so I planned to pull her along.
“…Yeah, my feelings were conveyed. But the actual answer never came.”
Hina shyly grabbed my hand, leaving me momentarily speechless.
Thinking back, I hadn’t given her a definite answer.
“Ahaha, that’s true! I didn’t answer you, did I?”
It was a question that was hard to give a light response to.
If I accepted one person, I would have no reason to turn down the others.
Having made my feelings clear, it was already acknowledged by the Arius Squad kids and Haruna. It might be a bit overconfident to think that way, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there might be even more people out there who like me too. It’s silly to assume there wouldn’t be more when there are already so many who do.
If I had even half as much popularity when I was a guy, I might not have wished for more. I might have even had a relationship before I randomly fell into Kivotos.
Having even one romantic experience might have kept me from being so oblivious to the signs until now… Or maybe not? Is being clueless about this kind of thing unrelated to experience in romance?
…You need experience to know, damn it.
“Honestly, I knew there was no reason for you to like me, Mika.”
Huh? What on earth is this about…
“I’m not particularly cute or a great talker. My body hasn’t changed for years, making me look like a child…”
Ah, a complex. Usually, such things arise from comparing oneself to others. So, if Hina is feeling this way, the person she compares herself to must be…
“When I first saw you and Kirihouji standing side by side, I thought you two looked like perfect matches. You suited each other so well compared to someone like me… So I disliked Kirihouji.”
Yeah, it must just be Nagisa. Naturally.
In silence, I led Hina towards the capsized boat. I could see a boat on the other side preparing for a rescue.
There probably wouldn’t be much time left to talk like this.
“When you were kidnapped by Kurodate the other day, Kirihouji, who contacted me first… must have looked even more desperate than that. Thanks to that, I could reflect on my own feelings a bit. I too found myself liking you, Mika, to the point where I could even temporarily set aside my values, which meant so much to me.”
“…I see.”
“However, I couldn’t possibly push Kirihouji away standing next to you. I didn’t want to admit that, so I made a silly excuse, wishing you would look at me properly… hoping against hope I might get a sliver of a chance.”
Love can exist as a one-way street.
But for love to be perfect, it must go both ways.
And so, I asked myself, do I genuinely like Hina?
Simply not wanting to see her hurt wouldn’t be enough for me to accept her feelings, even with Nagisa’s permission. A relationship built on one-sided feelings can never reach completion.
I want Hina to be happy. It’s not just about wanting her happiness. I wish for everyone’s happiness within my reach if possible.
But looking back, my feelings for Nagisa also started from the same place.
It’s just that, over the past few months, Nagisa understood me and comforted me after I spilled the guilt I had been harboring.
…No, that’s all an excuse. The truth is, I had a filthy desire not to push away someone who genuinely likes me.
In the end, all stories come back to square one.
I wanted Hina. I can’t deny that.
What worries me is the hurt Nagisa might feel when I take Hina for myself. I didn’t push Hina away under the pretense of not wanting to hurt her while carelessly inflicting pain on Nagisa. I didn’t want to be such a contradictory person.
It seems I’m destined to forever remain a child who can never grow up.
“I’m sorry, Mika. I forced myself between you two…”
“Hina-chan, aren’t you giving up too easily? I’ve already decided on my own resolution.”
“Resolution? What do you mean…”
“Well… To kneel and plead while driving a stake into the heart of the one I love? Yeah, I guess I turned out to be an irredeemable greedy person. I just can’t bring myself to give up on you, who I love so much!”
Hifumi dug out a straw hat that had floated down from the capsized boat and placed it on my head. If she wants to mess around, I figured it’s better if I wear something like this to avoid getting scolded too much.
“…Still, that feels excessive.”
“Hahaha, what can I say! It’s your fault for liking me so much that you’d rather die than not accept me!”
“I never said that… It’s just that I ended up liking such a troublesome girl, what a tragic fate.”
“But you like Hina too.”
“Now I’m not so sure, so please don’t ask me…”
Iroha and Hifumi wore life jackets normally, so they were floating around near the capsized boat without any issues.
“Peroro niiim…”
“Excuse me. Can you please be quiet? You are Trinity students, how can you be so extreme? Because of you, my book sank to the bottom of the ocean.”
The sight of Hifumi, half-lying back and tiredly calling for Peroro, contrasted with Iroha, who sighed and looked annoyed, was undeniably hilarious.
I shouldn’t be laughing considering the serious conversation I just had with Hina. Still, some things are just funny.
I expected the boat to get damaged or capsized, but I never thought it would end up like this before the competition even began…
Our appearance being ferried to the audience on the boat, completely exhausted, must have looked rather pathetic in various ways.
By the way, I asked Iroha how she ended up teaming up with Hina, but she refused to reveal anything, no matter the circumstances.
She then asked me to reconsider the recruitment proposal I had made before. Iroha, there’s no way a missed opportunity comes around again.
[Despite the disappointing outcome of the opening match ending in a draw, both teams displayed an exhilarating contest that wiped away any regret. Thank you, everyone, for your hard work!]
When I accidentally made eye contact with Nagisa, who was worriedly glancing at me from up ahead, I found myself unconsciously touching my lips.
…Is this some kind of phantom pain?
This time, even if Nagisa were to shove two rolls of cake into her mouth at once, I wouldn’t have a word to say. After all, if that happens, I wouldn’t even be able to speak at all.
*
Somehow, upon entering the waiting room for the Trinity team, where Iroha and Hina had also arrived, Nagisa looked at me with a mix of disdain. Thankfully, Hifumi and Iroha had gone off to use the shower, so I didn’t have to show them this morning drama.
“Hehe… Mika-san, you are truly the worst.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Please, I’d rather you not acknowledge that and just deny it. What did you say earlier? I love you, Nagisa? So much love flowing there, huh. You went back after being entranced by Sorasaki in that brief moment.”
Nagisa’s justified anger overwhelmed me. It seems wearing the straw hat was pointless.
“Hahaha… Sorry, Nagisa.”
“That’s why I tell you not to do things that warrant an apology…? You just laugh again, completely unaware of the mood. I’m currently being serious… Huh.”
Nagisa let out a deep sigh while scolding me, suddenly glancing at Hina.
“Honestly, after our trip to the amusement park, I had a feeling this would eventually happen, one way or another. It’s all because of you, Mika; you are so indecisive, you know?”
Indecisiveness is no small thing, especially when I failed to refuse those offers from Mitsuki and Azusa that day…
“I’m just saying this to be sure, but I hope you’re not swallowing any impure thoughts after what just occurred.”
“I-I swear! Absolutely not! Please believe me!”
“Ah, truly… You have no intention of hiding anything, do you? What’s so good about a person like you… No, it’s really because you are that kind of person…”
I felt the water running down like a riptide, but I didn’t loosen my remorseful stance. As it stands, I’m in a sinner’s position where I have to meet Nagisa’s wishes as much as possible.
“I don’t know anymore. Let things go as they will.”
“H-Hey, Nagisa…? What are you doing with Hina-chan right beside you, uh?!”
Nagisa, who had been sitting on top of my hand, moved it away, then cupped my face with hers.
Then, far too naturally, she kissed me. Though it was a kiss we occasionally shared when it was just the two of us, it was the first time we did it openly in front of someone else.
Moreover, we had never gone beyond light kisses up to this point. Today, for the first time, Nagisa’s tongue aggressively pushed through, delving deeper and further.
“Ugh… Chu…”
In front of Hina, Nagisa unleashed her desire to possess me unabashedly. Her yearning crashed into me like a wave.
Even in the midst of it all, my gaze fleetingly shifted to Hina, whose face was bright red and panicked.
Seriously, how is Nagisa so skilled at this? It’s weird considering this is our first time!
The way she pressed her tongue against mine, playfully mixing roughness and tenderness, drew me in. I found myself gasping for air and surrendering to her.
Then, at some point, everything suddenly came to a halt.
The line connecting us remained, but that too broke not long after.
“Heh… Misono Mika, you really are the worst. And here’s one thing you must remember: Sorasaki too. Although this time it turned out like this because I love you so much, it is still not full consent. And please, just don’t go wagging your tail around to anyone else from now on.”
I blankly nodded as I listened to her words. I understood her meaning well enough. She was urging me to be careful with my actions and not to expect chances like this to repeat.
“You really are the worst…”
I silently embraced Nagisa, who whispered that again. I made a vow to myself to get my act together from now on.
