The heat was still rising through my entire body — all because of that indecent bikini.
I looked at myself in the mirror one more time.
…
No.
Definitely not.
I'd worn far more embarrassing things at Black Lotus and done it dancing in front of a crowd of people.
But they were all strangers or people from that world. Standing like this in front of my school group felt so much worse.
I wanted to hide under a towel.
Mei was watching me with a sad, almost guilty expression.
"Aika-san, I-I'm so sorry, I didn't think… T-there's a shop in the hotel! We can go get another one right now if you want."
Her attempt to offer a solution was kind of adorable. I didn't want to make her feel guilty when she'd only been trying to help.
"I think it looks good on her," Yuuna cut in, slowly approaching from the side while looking me over.
And before I could react, she slipped behind me. Her hands came up and firmly cupped my chest from behind.
"With a body this soft and full, it's only natural to want to show it off a little, isn't it?"
"Kyaah!!"
My face exploded red.
"K-Kanzaki-san… w-what are you doing?!"
"Just confirming the quality. They're bigger than they look. And very soft too." She kept squeezing like she was kneading dough.
"Y-you've confirmed enough already!"
Yuuna laughed and let go.
"Fair enough. So — are you going to the shop?"
I did want to get a more modest one, but I'd make everyone wait, and seeing Mei's face made me feel bad.
"I-it's fine…" I managed, voice trembling and still flushed. "I'll wear this one. It's… okay."
It is absolutely not okay. Not even remotely.
At least Mei seemed relieved.
"Good decision," Yuuna added with a small laugh.
…
…
…
A few minutes later we headed out to the main pool.
The place was enormous.
Glass ceiling.
Palm trees.
Artificial waterfalls.
A lazy river winding around part of the complex.
There were even giant water slides disappearing into the tropical décor.
"Wooooow!"
Rika practically sprinted ahead.
"THIS IS INCREDIBLE!!"
"Don't fall before you even get in the water…" Harada sighed.
Just then the boys looked up.
Silence.
Arima spat out his entire drink.
"PFFFT!"
A nosebleed started immediately.
Harada went completely rigid, glasses fogging up, mouth hanging open.
"I wasn't… expecting something like this…"
Rika shot them both a withering look.
"Boys are so embarrassing."
Arima, still bleeding, raised a hand.
"I-it's not our fault!"
He pointed at me.
"Shimizu-san…! I-I wasn't expecting… well…!"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Because Rika had already smacked him with a rolled-up towel.
"Stop staring so much!"
"I'm not staring!"
"Liar!"
"It was just an initial reaction!"
Harada ended up pulling Arima away before the argument could escalate.
I just wanted to disappear.
Why did I always end up at the center of these situations?
The water was warm.
I stepped in carefully.
And almost immediately, all the tension started to melt away.
"Ah…"
This was living.
Rika was already splashing half the club.
Harada was trying to maintain order.
Arima ended up shoved into the water after complaining too much.
Yuuna simply floated with a calm expression, like she was meditating.
For the first time since we'd arrived, I felt like I could genuinely relax.
Then the hotel staff appeared.
Immaculate uniforms.
Silver trays.
Cold drinks.
Appetizers.
Desserts.
All served directly poolside.
"Huh…?" Arima blinked.
"Are they… serving us?"
"This is incredible!" Rika shouted, accepting a drink.
One of the staff members approached me.
He was absurdly handsome.
Perfectly styled hair.
Flawless smile.
An elegant uniform even beside a pool.
He looked like a Final Fantasy character with that haircut.
He bowed slightly.
"Miss, would you prefer fresh-squeezed juice or a specialty cold drink?"
…
I glanced around and every single server looked like this.
What on earth?
Why does the staff look like a magazine photoshoot?
The girls attending the boys were just as gorgeous.
Was this a hotel or a host club in disguise?
"U-uh…"
I froze completely.
The staff member kept smiling with impeccable professionalism.
"Take your time."
No!
Don't look at me so directly!
It makes it worse!
"J-juice is fine."
"Excellent choice."
He handed me the glass with exaggerated elegance before stepping away.
I watched him go.
…
What kind of training did they give staff here?
A few meters away someone screamed.
"N-Nishino-san fainted!!"
Everyone turned.
Another girl from the drama club was completely passed out on a sun lounger while a staff member tried to assist her.
"I think it was when that waiter smiled at her…" someone commented.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah…"
Rika burst out laughing.
"What a lightweight!"
…
…
A while later we ended up gathered around a table by the pool.
Drinks, appetizers, small shared plates.
The conversation drifted naturally from the hotel… to Mei.
"I still can't believe you own all this," Arima said.
"And that they treat us like this…"
"It's a little intimidating, honestly."
Mei smiled shyly.
"Well…"
She fidgeted nervously with her glass.
"My family… manages this complex."
Silence.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"What?"
Rika reacted first.
"What do you mean 'manages'?!"
"Well…"
"My father runs the Hirano Group…"
Another pause.
Harada's eyes widened slightly.
"The Hirano Group?"
Arima nearly choked on his drink.
"THE Hirano Group?!"
Mei nodded, embarrassed.
"Y-yes…"
"But… don't they have hotels all over the country?"
"Shopping centers too…"
"And construction companies…"
"And restaurant chains…"
Mei smiled uncomfortably.
"More or less…"
Everyone stared at her.
Nobody knew how to react.
Rika was the first to break the silence.
"MEI-SENPAI IS A MILLIONAIRE HEIRESS!!"
"R-Rika!"
"That's incredible!"
Little by little the conversation drifted toward everyone's families.
Arima mentioned his parents were accountants.
Rika said proudly that both of hers were teachers.
Yuuna explained that her mother had been an actress for many years before retiring, and that her father worked as an architect.
Harada, completely naturally, mentioned he'd been raised by his mother, a lawyer who was always busy.
Finally…
Everyone looked at me.
"What about you, Aika? What's your family like?"
I felt my heart stop.