For the first time all week, I could finally relax.
No school.
No getting attacked by my childhood friends for merely existing.
No existential crises caused by my little sister.
No witnessing Hikari and Miya trying to murder each other on a basketball court.
Granted, that was a pretty sweet match.
Can’t complain when two attractive girls throw down on the basketball court.
Either way it was nice to be able to just chill.
Nothing but peace and quiet.
The glory of the weekend was here.
As I lay in bed staring up at the ceiling, I let out a long sigh.
The previous week felt like a month.
First there was Kiyomi deciding to psychoanalyze my love life.
Then there was Miya somehow becoming Hikari’s newest rival.
Then there was Hikari acting…
weird.
I frowned.
Actually, that wasn’t entirely fair.
Hikari has always been weird.
She was just being weird in new and increasingly dangerous ways.
I shuddered to think what it all meant.
I rolled over onto my side.
The image of her standing in the park flashed through my head.
Her adorable face and her piercing eyes staring straight at me.
“Thanks…”
“…For yesterday.”
“…And today.”
The words replayed in my head over and over.
I groaned and buried my face in my pillow.
“No,” I muttered to myself.
“Absolutely not.”
I was not doing this.
It was Saturday morning.
I deserved one day without overthinking everything.
Today was going to be simple.
Video games.
Maybe basketball later.
No drama.
No “romcom” nonsense.
A perfect day.
With renewed determination, I got out of bed and headed downstairs.
The moment I entered the kitchen, every survival instinct in my body activated simultaneously.
My spidey senses were tingling.
Something was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Kiyomi was cooking.
Not microwaving something.
Not setting off the smoke detector.
Actually cooking.
Hell had clearly frozen over and satan was in my kitchen.
I stood frozen in the doorway.
She turned toward me.
Then smiled.
A sweet smile.
A loving smile.
The kind of smile that usually appeared right before a surprise villain betrayed the protagonist.
“Good morning, big brother.”
My eyes narrowed.
“Good morning.”
She placed the food on our kitchen table.
A bowl of steamed rice.
Miso soup.
Grilled salmon.
And last but certainly not least, a plate of tamagoyaki.
I was surprised.
Actual food.
Food that appeared edible.
Possibly even delicious.
At least it smelled and looked really good.
I looked at the food.
Then at Kiyomi.
Then back at the food.
Then back at Kiyomi.
I let out a large sigh.
“What do you want?”
Kiyomi gasped.
“I made breakfast for my beloved older brother and this is how you treat me?”
“Yes.”
She placed a hand over her heart.
“You wound me!” Her tone was the most dramatic thing I’ve heard in a while.
“I’ve known you for sixteen years.”
“And?”
“And you’ve never voluntarily made me breakfast.”
“People change.”
“No they don’t.”
She sat down across from me.
Still smiling.
Still terrifying.
I slowly sat down.
Every instinct screamed at me not to touch the food.
It was probably poisoned.
Emotionally poisoned.
The worst kind.
That fiend.
Kiyomi rested her chin in her hands.
“So…”
“No.”
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
“You don’t need to.”
“That’s rude.”
I took a bite of the tamagoyaki.
Damn it.
It was actually good.
This made the situation significantly more concerning.
I took out my phone in case I had to dial emergency services.
Definitely not to do some mindless scrolling.
“Kaito,” Kiyomi said in the sweetest tone of voice she could muster; which was more than I was prepared for.
“No.”
“Kaito.”
“No.”
“Kaito.”
“What?”
Her smile widened.
Target acquired.
“There is a small situation…”
“There it is.”
“Just a tiny situation…” Her sweet smile widened.
I began to fear for my safety.
And my sanity.
Oh who am I kidding, that’s long gone.
“How tiny?”
“Oh, you’ll see…”
My phone buzzed.
A new message appeared.
Akane:
Looking forward to today 😊
Another notification.
Hikari:
DON’T GET THE WRONG IDEA.
I’M ONLY GOING BECAUSE KIYOMI WOULDN’T STOP ASKING.
Another.
Miya:
Understood.
I stared at the messages.
Then at Kiyomi.
Then back at the messages.
Then back at Kiyomi.
I was completely dumbfounded.
The girls were all texting each other and me in a group chat.
“Kiyomi…” I tried to say this as calmly as possible.
I knew exploding wasn’t the right move right now.
“What’s going on?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said with a smug look on her face.
“You literally made a group chat called Operation Summer Romance.”
“That proves nothing.”
I let out a heavy sigh.
“What is this group chat for?”
“For a beach trip.”
My eye twitched.
“A what?”
“A beach trip.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s summer.”
“That’s not a reason.”
“It literally is.”
I looked at the participant list.
Me.
Tadashi.
Hikari.
Akane.
Miya.
Kiyomi.
I immediately stood up.
“No.”
Kiyomi blinked.
“No?”
“No.”
“No, what?”
“No…” I waved my hands around like a crazy person.
“To all of this.”
She pointed at my phone.
“You haven’t even read the details.”
“I don’t need the details.”
“You do.”
“I really don’t.”
She sighed dramatically.
“Fine.”
Then she pointed toward the front door.
A horn sounded outside.
Both of us looked toward the window.
A van sat in front of the house.
The driver’s side window rolled down.
Tadashi leaned halfway out of it and started yelling at the top of his lungs.
“WOOOOOO!”
Oh no.
“KAITO!”
Oh no.
“THE SUMMER OPERATION IS UNDERWAY!”
Oh no.
I slowly turned back toward Kiyomi.
“Kiyomi…”
“Yes?”
“…What have you done?”
Her smile became positively demonic.
“Character development, big brother.”
I closed my eyes.
Somewhere in the distance, I could hear my peaceful weekend dying.
Oh chill weekend, I hardly knew ye.
I’m sad to see you go.
You died so young.
“Transportation has arrived,” Kiyomi stated smugly.
“I hate you.”
“No you don’t.”
“That’s the worst part.”
“Come on.”
She stood up.
The smile never left her face.
“We’re burning daylight.”
Pause.
“And Hikari already said yes.”
I froze.
“What?”
“And Akane.”
“What?”
“And Miya.”
“What?”
Obviously I had read some of the messages in the group chat, but things hadn’t really sunk in until she said all of that.
A look of dread appeared on my face.
I was starting to feel sick.
Kiyomi’s grin widened.
“Operation Summer Romance is officially a go!” Kiyomi thrusted her hand in the air as she said that.
I suddenly had a horrible feeling.
Today was going to be a very long day.
I don’t really remember the van ride to the beach.
Hell, I don’t even recall getting in the van in the first place.
I just know it was fast.
Hikari and Akane sat next to me.
They insisted I take the middle seat.
Of course.
Miya quietly observed everything from the back seat.
Tadashi drove and Kiyomi took the passenger seat.
She would occasionally look back and flash a grin at me.
I swear she was jotting things down in a notebook.
Okay, maybe I remember more than I let on.
But I was trying not to.
That’s what happens when you have plans for the day, and they get detonated within the first half hour of you waking up.
The van pulled into the parking lot.
I got out as soon as Hikari and Akane would let me.
So much for bodily autonomy.
I was immediately hit with a cool ocean breeze.
The sunlight felt so nice on my skin.
The smell of the beach brought me back to younger days.
The sound of the waves crashing on the beach was soothing.
I could immediately feel myself relax.
Especially after all the nonsense from the previous week…
The girls left for a bit to get changed.
Tadashi and I started speaking about potentially catching tomorrow’s 80s throwback Lakers-Celtics game together.
His family had just purchased a new entertainment system and he was eager to show it off.
This actually felt nice.
Then Kiyomi spoke.
“Alright everyone…”
Uh oh.
“Swimsuit reveal time!” Her voice was utterly ecstatic.
My mind went blank upon hearing that.
Hikari emerged first.
She was wearing an athletic black-and-red swimsuit.
Nothing flashy.
Nothing frilly.
Something she could actually move in.
Something built for competition.
Because of course it is.
She had her hair tied up in a ponytail.
Her toned legs glistened in the sun.
She looked really good.
Like really, really good.
Tadashi leaned over.
“She looks like she’s about to challenge Poseidon to a fistfight.”
“Facts. She’d probably win too.”
Hikari pouted.
“I heard that.”
Tadashi grinned.
“Good.”
Hikari then looked directly at me.
Not because she wants my opinion.
Obviously.
Definitely not.
“Well?”
“What?”
“The swimsuit!” She looked like was about to burst a blood vessel.
“It looks practical.”
“…”
Tadashi laughed and then slapped me in the back.
“HE’S TRYING HIS BEST.”
She crossed her arms.
“You’re staring.”
“I looked at you for half a second.”
“That’s staring.”
“It literally isn’t.”
“…Tch.”
Was she really enjoying me staring at her this much?
Okay, I admit it… I was staring.
It was hard not to.
Cut me some slack.
I’m not some Buddhist monk.
Then Akane appeared.
It was clear she had meticulously picked out her outfit.
Her swimsuit was soft blue with delicate ruffles and small bows woven into the design.
Everything matched immaculately right down to the flower accessory in her hair.
Very girly.
Elegant.
The outfit perfectly hugged her curves, her assets on full display.
Tadashi had a look on his face like he had solved the secret to life.
“Oh.” It looked like Tadashi was trying to stop himself from drooling.
“What?” I replied.
“I understand.”
“Understand what?”
“Everything.”
She immediately walked up to me.
“What do you think?~”
“I think you’re wearing a swimsuit.” My brain had stopped functioning at this point.
It couldn’t handle the double whammy of Hikari and Akane right now.
Akane pouts.
“That wasn’t the question~”
“It was the safest answer.”
Akane smiled.
“Do you like it?~”
I nodded.
“You look nice.”
Akane instantly entered into a critical hit animation.
Meanwhile, Hikari looked like she wanted to throw me into the ocean.
“…Thank you, Kaito. You’re so sweet~”
Tadashi leaned over and whispered.
“Direct hit. It was super effective!”
I wasn’t quite sure who had gotten hit harder from that exchange, Akane or me.
“Her calcium canons are incredible,” Tadashi grinned like an idiot.
I smacked Tadashi in the back of the head.
“Dude, shut up.”
Then Miya appeared.
Simple black bikini.
Nothing flashy.
Nothing attention seeking.
No special effort whatsoever.
She just walked out looking like a model.
I felt like the whole beach was staring at her.
Tadashi looked at me.
“How does she keep doing that?”
“Doing what?”
“Making literally everything look effortless.”
All I could do was give him a shrug.
I hadn’t the slightest clue.
The only thing I could think of was because it was Miya.
Not that a lot of blood was flowing to my brain at this point.
But I digress.
Miya looked directly at me.
“…Hello.”
“Hey Miya.”
“…You came.”
“I was forced to.”
“…Same.”
Miya looked around and noticed everyone staring.
“…What?”
Nobody answered.
Everyone immediately looked away.
After a few moments, I finally rediscovered the ability to speak.
“You… you have no idea what’s happening right now, do you?”
“…No.”
“Thought so.”
“…You’re all acting strange.”
Miya genuinely didn’t seem to understand why everyone was suddenly struggling to maintain eye contact.
Honestly, that somehow made it worse.
Oh my sweet, summer child.
Kiyomi was wearing a coat which she took off for her grand reveal.
Since I know you pervs want to know what MY LITTLE SISTER was wearing, I will sadly describe her look too.
Ugh… kill me now.
Kiyomi had on a black and pink bikini.
The pink outline of her bikini perfectly complimented her hair.
She was also wearing a sheer cover-up that was both see-through and matched her suit.
Hair perfectly styled in twin tails.
She was also wearing some accessory wrapped around her leg which I don’t know the name of since I’m a guy.
She struck a pose the second she stepped out of the coat she was wearing.
“Ta-da!”
“Why do I feel like you’re hosting a television show?”
“Because I am.”
“No. You’re not.”
“In spirit, Onii-chan!”
That answer somehow made me even more concerned.
Tadashi’s jaw dropped down to the sand.
“Wow…”
“Dude, if you don’t stop staring at my sister… they’re not going to be able to find enough of you to convict me.”
“I’m just taking in all the scenery.” He made a grand gesture with his arm.
“Look at how lovely the beach is today.”
Looking at all four of them standing together was strangely surreal.
Hikari looked ready for battle.
Akane looked ready for a date.
Miya looked like she’d accidentally walked out of a fashion magazine.
And Kiyomi looked like she’d orchestrated the entire event from the shadows.
Which I know she did, but still.
For some reason Kiyomi was holding a clipboard.
I could have sworn she was empty handed last time I looked at her…
Kiyomi surveyed the scene.
“Current standings have shifted significantly,” Kiyomi said with a smug look, scribbling furiously as if her life depended on it.
“WHY DO YOU HAVE A CLIPBOARD?” I yelled.
“Data collection,” she replied in a way that made it seem like it should’ve been the most obvious thing in the world.
“Standings~?” Akane said with a head tilt.
“What standings?” Hikari declared loudly.
“…Interesting,” Miya stated calmly.
I shook my head so hard I was afraid it was going to fall off.
“NO.”
Kiyomi just shrugged me off.
“Alright everyone.”
“No, Kiyomi.” I felt like I was talking to a dog that just peed on the carpet.
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
“You don’t need to.”
Kiyomi produced a laminated itinerary.
Nobody knows where she got it from.
The clipboard had already vanished.
And I’m way past the point of asking questions.
“Why is it laminated?” Tadashi said with a confused look.
“Because I’m a professional,” Kiyomi had a confident look on her face when she said that.
“Before we get started with today’s activities, let’s get a group picture!”
Everyone gathered around.
Hikari and Akane immediately tried to stand next to me.
Of course.
I could feel the potential chaos brewing.
Miya then simply walked over and sat down right in front of me.
Akane had a shocked expression on her face.
Hikari looked like she was about to throw hands.
Tadashi sat next to Miya.
Kiyomi then took the picture with the biggest grin on her face.
We all quickly dispersed afterwards.
Tadashi leaned over to me.
“You know what’s funny, bro?”
“What?”
“The girl trying the least somehow keeps causing the most problems.”
Before I could think about what Tadashi had just said, Kiyomi pulled out a volleyball.
Seriously, where is she getting all this stuff?
Kiyomi smiled.
“Is everyone ready for some beach volleyball?”
Everyone enthusiastically agreed.
Well, everyone except me.
I wanted to go for a swim but then the teams would be uneven.
I therefore decided not to be a party pooper and join in.
“Alright everyone. Kaito, Hikari, and Akane on one team. Miya, Tadashi, and yours truly on the other. Let’s play!”
Hikari and Akane looked at each other.
I could literally feel the sparks and tension in the air.
The game started almost as soon as Hikari finished talking.
Immediately, Hikari and Akane begin competing.
Not against the other team.
Against each other.
Well against the other team too but that seemed like more of a side show to them.
Tadashi served.
I managed to bump the ball up.
“Set!” I called out.
Hikari dashed forward.
“Mine!”
She jumped straight up into the air and spiked the ball down hard.
Kiyomi attempted to hit it back but then bailed at the last second.
Point.
Tadashi served again.
I was just barely able to bump the ball this time.
Akane was in perfect placement to send the ball over the net.
“I’ve got it~”
We scored once more.
Tadashi laughed.
“They’re absolutely fighting over him.”
“…Obviously,” Miya responded coolly.
After that, both sides got more serious and things started to go back and forth.
Tadashi made a crazy serve that went between all of us.
He tried it once more.
I dove but was able to make a difficult save.
Sand flew everywhere.
The ball stayed alive and we were able to score though I didn’t see who hit the ball over the net.
Hikari looked over to me.
“Are you okay?”
At the exact same time, Akane had a worried look on her face.
“Did you get hurt?~”
Both girls froze after having spoken simultaneously.
Then slowly turned away from each other.
Silence.
“I’m fine.”
Both girls didn’t hear me.
Tadashi burst out laughing.
“This is amazing. I couldn’t ask for more peak content.”
A few plays later, I served the ball.
Tadashi returned the serve with force.
I somehow was able to bump the ball.
Hikari rushed for it but missed the spike as she was blocked by Miya at the net.
“…Tch.” She looked really annoyed.
“You gotta stay relaxed and unpredictable until the last second.”
“What?”
“You’re telegraphing where you’re hitting.”
A few plays later, Hikari managed to spike the ball in between everyone after following my advice.
She turned her head in a huff.
“…Lucky guess.”
“It literally worked.”
“Still a lucky guess.”
Akane smiled.
“Nice set, Kaito~”
“Pretty sure I scored the point.”
“Because of his set~”
“Because of my spike.”
They stared each other down.
They looked like two boxers just before Round 1 started.
Tadashi smiled.
“Do you hear that, Kaito?”
“Hear what?”
“The sound of your life getting more complicated.”
“I reject that interpretation.”
On the next play, Miya managed to save a ball that would’ve landed untouched.
The save somehow turned into a perfect set.
A second later Kiyomi spiked it home.
Point.
The game paused briefly while everyone reset.
Without thinking, I spoke.
“That was ridiculous.”
Miya tilted her head.
“…What was?”
“That save.”
I pointed toward the spot on the beach where she made the save.
“You were already moving before the ball changed direction.”
Silence.
“You read it before everyone else did.”
For the first time all day, Miya looked genuinely caught off guard.
“…I suppose.”
“That’s not normal.”
“…It isn’t?”
“No….” I shook my head.
“Most people react.”
I pointed at her.
“You predict.”
For a moment Miya simply stared at me.
Then the smallest smile appeared.
“…Thank you.”
And suddenly the temperature around me dropped ten degrees.
I looked to my left.
Hikari was staring.
Not a very nice stare I might add.
I looked to my right.
Akane was smiling.
Not a smile I ever want to see on her face ever again.
Tadashi slowly lowered his sunglasses.
“Bro.”
“What?”
“You’re cooked.”
“I was being nice.”
“You were being oblivious.”
While our team started off strong, eventually the game swung in the other direction.
Turns out Miya is a natural at beach volleyball too.
Though, we did keep the game pretty close.
I have to admit, I had a lot more fun than I thought I was going to.
Not that I hate volleyball, I just really want to jump in the ocean.
It’s been nearly a year since I’ve gotten to swim.
After a riveting game of volleyball, we all decided to take a short break.
Kiyomi went to go get some ice cream for everyone.
She told me it was her way of making it up to me.
I felt like some sort of dastardly scheme was about to take place.
I got under the umbrella we set up and drank some water.
Akane rushed over.
“Kaito, sunscreen~”
“I can apply my own sunscreen.”
Akane smiled.
“Not properly~”
I gave her a look that basically said, “are you serious right now?”
“I absolutely can.”
“You missed half your shoulder last year~”
I stared at her silently.
She stared back with a determined look on her face.
Then she smiled.
“I have photographic evidence~”
“…Proceed.”
A few meters away, Hikari had a scowl on her face.
“…Tch.”
Tadashi looked at me.
He could barely contain his laughter, like a comedian breaking character.
“Oh she’s furious.”
“About what?” I replied.
“You really are amazing.” Tadashi rolled his eyes hard.
Miya looked at me.
“…I’m beginning to understand.”
“Understand what?” I responded.
“…Why you look tired all the time.”
Silence.
Tadashi couldn’t contain his laughter anymore.
“She figured it out. In record time too.”
After Kiyomi returned with shaved ice for everyone, we all went our separate ways.
I went for a quick swim.
The ocean water was so soothing.
I missed it.
After swimming for about twenty minutes, I decided to get out and walk along the shoreline.
There were people all around me just enjoying their day.
It was nice seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces. Find the original chapter at novelping.com.
In contrast to this, I spotted Hikari all by herself.
She was sitting on a breakwater just staring out at the ocean.
She had a very pensive look on her face.
I walked up to her.
“You’re surprisingly quiet.”
She looked up at me.
“Go away.”
“Good talk.”
I sat down beside her anyway.
We stared at the sea for what seemed like hours until she looked at me.
“Can I ask you something?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“Whether or not you’re about to hit me.”
“…No promises.”
I laughed.
“So what’s up?”
Pause.
“Do you think I’m difficult?”
I was caught completely off guard.
Because Hikari never asks questions like that.
Ever.
“What?”
“You heard me!”
“…”
“Everybody always says that I yell too much.”
“…”
“That I’m stubborn.”
“…”
“That I’m intense.”
“…”
“That I’m hard to deal with.”
I took a deep breath since it could possibly be my last.
“You are difficult.”
“Wow…”
“You asked.”
“You’re the worst.”
“And you’re impossible.”
I paused.
I needed to choose my next words carefully.
“I’ve known you for twelve years, Hikari.” I took a deep breath.
“You’ve been impossible the entire time.”
She looked like she was about to hit me.
I didn’t miss a beat.
“So if I wanted somebody easier to deal with…” I gave her a soft smile.
“…I would’ve left a long time ago.”
She smiled.
Tiny.
Barely visible.
“Don’t tell anyone about this.”
“That sounds like a threat.”
“It is.”
I laughed and gave her a quick side hug as we remained sitting.
I think her smile widened but I couldn’t be sure.
I wish she would smile more often because she has the most adorable smile on the planet.
After a few minutes of us continuing to stare out at the sea, I got up, and began walking down the shoreline.
Akane ran up to me as I was walking down the beach.
“Mind if I ask you something, Kaito~?”
“That sentence never ends well.”
She smiled and gave me that cute head tilt of hers.
“It doesn’t~”
Pause.
“Have you been having fun lately~?”
I thought about it for a minute.
“…More than usual.”
“Good~”
We continued to walk down the shoreline.
The waves were crashing right next to us.
It felt like we were in our own little world.
Akane looked at me with a serious look on her face.
“You’ve been thinking a lot recently, haven’t you~?”
“That’s a terrifying thing to say.”
“Why~?”
“Because it means you’ve noticed.”
“I always notice~”
“…”
“You’re scared~”
“…”
“See~?”
“I’m not scared.”
“You’re totally scared~”
“Of what?”
Akane stopped walking.
She looked out at the ocean.
Then, she looked back at me.
“Making a choice~”
I stayed silent.
I had absolutely no clue how to respond.
She was right on the money.
Akane stared straight into my eyes.
“You always do this~”
“Do what?”
“Take care of everyone else first~”
“…”
“Even when it makes you miserable~”
“I…”
“You know it’s okay to want things too, right~?”
She paused then gave me that devious yet adorable smile of hers.
“Of course, if one of those things happens to be me…”
“Akane.”
“I’m just saying~”
“Akane.”
“I regret nothing~”
Akane giggled and then ran off.
I stood there shaking my head thinking to myself, “What am I going to do with these girls?”
I continued walking down the beach.
I found Miya sitting alone.
Reading.
Of course.
She seemed the type.
I walked up to her.
Whilst I typically don’t like to bother people when they’re reading, since I hate when that happens to me, I decided to make an exception.
“You came to the beach to read?”
“…Yes.”
“Why?”
“…Because the ocean is soothing.”
“That doesn’t really answer the question.”
“…People reveal things when they’re relaxed.”
I paused.
“Not sure why but that’s a terrifying sentence.”
“…I know.”
She paused.
“…You act differently around each of them.”
My eyes went wide.
“Uh…”
“…Interesting.”
“Stop studying me.”
“…No.”
I decided to leave her alone after that enlightening, yet frightening conversation.
I wasn’t sure how much more crazy I could handle before I’d be forced into a straightjacket.
At least I was enjoying my time on the beach.
I guess today wasn’t a total bust.
A short distance away from the rest of the group, underneath the shade of a beach umbrella, two individuals sat observing the battlefield.
One was Kiyomi Sakamori.
The other was Tadashi Nakamura.
Both had drinks in hand.
Both wore sunglasses.
Neither could be trusted.
Kiyomi glanced down at her notebook.
Tadashi glanced over.
“You actually brought the notebook to the beach?” Tadashi shook his head in disbelief.
“Of course I brought it. Great generals never enter battle unprepared.”
“That is the most insane thing I’ve heard all week.”
“Thank you.”
Tadashi leaned back in his chair.
“So.”
“So.”
“Observations?”
Kiyomi flipped through several pages.
“Hikari is becoming more aggressive.”
Tadashi nodded.
“Agreed.”
“She spent the entire volleyball game trying to prove she was the most useful person on Kaito’s team.”
“Yup.” Tadashi laughed.
“And every time he complimented somebody else, she nearly exploded.”
“Can’t deny that.”
Kiyomi scribbled something down.
“Hikari remains predictable.”
“That’s why we love her.”
“She would hate hearing you say that.”
“She would hate hearing most things I say.”
Kiyomi nodded profusely in agreement.
They both understood that Hikari’s aggressiveness was a positive factor in attempting to break me out of my indecisive stupor.
Naked force is decisive in winning conflicts after all.
Tadashi took a sip from his drink.
“What about Akane?”
Kiyomi immediately smiled.
“Oh, she’s dangerous.”
Tadashi laughed.
“That’s exactly what I think.”
“She’s adapting.”
“Yeah.”
“She isn’t competing directly anymore.”
“She doesn’t need to.”
The two of them exchanged a look.
Both understood exactly what the other meant.
Akane was patient.
Which somehow made her scarier than Hikari.
They both knew that the patient hunter gets the prey.
“She’s playing the long game,” Tadashi observed.
“Correct.”
“Terrifying.”
“Very.”
Kiyomi nodded and made another note.
Tadashi pointed toward the shoreline.
“What about the transfer student?”
Kiyomi followed his gaze.
Miya sat alone reading a book.
“Still gathering data.”
Tadashi laughed.
“She doesn’t even realize she’s participating.” He paused and scratched his shoulder, “I honestly don’t know if Kaito does either.”
“Which somehow makes her more dangerous than the other two.”
“Exactly.”
Silence.
A wave crashed against the shore.
Tadashi slowly lowered his sunglasses.
“So.”
“So.”
“What’s the next step?”
Kiyomi’s smile widened.
The kind of smile that should come with a warning label.
“Oh, I have ideas.”
Tadashi immediately sat up.
“That’s the most terrifying thing you’ve said all day.”
“Want to hear them?”
“Absolutely.”
“Excellent.”
Kiyomi opened the notebook again.
At the top of a fresh page she wrote:
PHASE TWO
Tadashi stared at the words.
Then he slowly grinned.
“Oh, this is going to be good.”
“That’s what I’m counting on.
I sat down and found myself staring out at the horizon.
The sun was slowly sinking toward the ocean, painting the sky in shades of orange, gold, and pink.
The water reflected the light like a brilliant fire, each wave carrying fragments of the sunset across the surface before breaking against the shore.
There were sparkles that scattered around the ocean like a moonless sky.
Seagulls drifted lazily overhead.
I felt at peace.
Serene.
Suddenly, hands covered my eyes.
“Guess who?”
“Gee, I wonder who it could be?”
“Found you, big brother!”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Leave.”
“I have data.”
“What do you mean you ‘have data?'”
“I’ve been timing how long you spent with each girl…”
“Why are you timing these things?”
She ignored my question and pulled out her phone.
“The rankings have changed.”
“There are rankings?!”
“There are always rankings.”
I snatched her phone.
“WHY IS THERE A SPREADSHEET?!”
After the sun had set, we all gathered around for dinner at the beach.
For a moment, I found myself looking around at everyone.
Hikari was arguing with Akane over something completely ridiculous.
Akane was smiling, but there was a determination behind it now that hadn’t been there before.
Miya sat quietly nearby.
Not saying much.
Just watching.
Tadashi was completely engrossed in his meal.
And Kiyomi?
Kiyomi looked entirely too pleased with herself.
A few weeks ago, none of this would’ve happened.
Hikari and Akane would’ve spent the entire day fighting over dumb things.
Granted, they still were but they seemed to be enjoying it.
Miya would’ve been somewhere else entirely.
Kiyomi would’ve still been a menace, but at least she’d only been a menace inside my house.
Now all of them were here.
Together.
I glanced down at the sand.
Maybe this really was just another one of Kiyomi’s schemes.
Well, it was but still.
Maybe, I was overthinking things.
But lately…
Hikari was acting differently around me.
Akane was trying harder with me.
And Miya kept showing up in my life.
I didn’t know what any of it truly meant.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
Still…
For the first time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was changing.
And whether I was ready for it or not…
It probably wasn’t going to wait for me.
Life has a funny way of hitting you with things when you least expect it.
Of putting you at a crossroads.
And I felt I was at that crossroads staring at each path and having absolutely no clue which direction I was going to head in.
But I knew I was going to have to make a decision sooner rather than later.
I watched the waves roll in.
Then back out again.
Over and over.
The ocean didn’t care about any of that.
It just kept moving.
Steady.
Unstoppable.
I couldn’t help but wonder if life was doing the same thing.
Maybe I had spent so much time trying to keep everything exactly the way it was that I never stopped to consider whether things were supposed to change.
The thought made me uncomfortable.
So naturally, I ignored it.
“Sounds like a future Kaito problem,” I nodded to myself.
Future Kaito was going to hate me.
But present Kaito was having a pretty decent day.
Announcement on Older Chapters Will also split older chapters in future.
TY to all my readers!