Chapter 4: Parker and the Competitive Swimsuit
Things had been going smoothly up until the point where I managed to procure the coveted competitive swimsuit with Shinomiya-san in Akihabara and held our planning session. However, we couldn’t proceed with the shoot the following day as planned.
We had finished the preparations, and all that was left was to take the photos, but that morning, I received a message from Shinomiya-san: “I’m so sorry. It’s impossible for me today.” Accompanied by an apologetic emoji, her tone conveyed genuine regret. Since we hadn’t rented a studio or scheduled a joint shoot, rescheduling wasn’t an issue.
“Hey, Takumi. Can I tell you something I just realized?”
It was the start of a new week. As I idly gazed at the now-familiar scene in the classroom—Shinomiya-san surrounded by a crowd of boys and girls—Shin suddenly turned to me with a serious expression.
“I’m guessing it’s something trivial, but I’ll humor you. What did you notice?”
“Trivial!? How dare you say that!? I won’t tell you if you’re going to be like that!”
“Then I don’t need to hear it.”
“Why not!? Don’t be so cold—listen to me, please!!”
He’d hyped it up only for me to brush him off, and now this was the result. What a tiresome guy to deal with first thing in the morning. I wouldn’t mind if he just rambled, but I wished he’d stop grabbing my shoulders and shaking me.
“Alright! Fine, I’ll listen, so calm down already!”
“That’s right! You want to hear it, don’t you? Geez, you should’ve just said so from the start!”
Shin laughed heartily, slapping my back with loud thwacks. For a fleeting moment, I felt something akin to murderous intent. Not only was he getting more annoying by the second, but his unnecessary strength made it painful.
“What I realized is—Shinomiya-san’s smile!”
“…Huh?”
“Her smile, I said! Sure, it’s always been lovely and refined, right? But there was something artificial about it, like she was putting on an act.”
“…I see?”
“But today, Shinomiya-san feels different somehow. If you asked me to put it into specific words, I’d struggle… but it’s like she’s more natural, you know? Her saintly aura has intensified, and her charm has doubled!”
Should I praise him for being such a dedicated fan club member or be creeped out by how obsessively he observes her? Either way, noticing such a subtle change was impressive. Me? Of course I’d noticed too. But saying her charm had doubled was a bit of an exaggeration.
“What happened over the weekend, I wonder? Could it be… a crush? Or—or—or maybe even a boyfriend!?”
Shin’s voice faltered, like a broken wind-up doll. How he jumped to that conclusion just because her smile seemed less forced was beyond me.
“Hey, Takumi, what do you think!? Do you think Shinomiya-san has a boyfriend now!?”
“Why does it always turn into this kind of conversation… Lower your voice a little.”
“When a girl changes, it’s a universal rule that she’s fallen in love! Listen, Takumi, this is an unprecedented crisis. If there’s really a dating scandal about Shinomiya-san, it’ll be chaos!”
She wasn’t some top-tier idol with a no-dating clause facing a tabloid exposé—just an ordinary high school girl. Shinomiya-san getting a boyfriend wouldn’t cause that much of a stir. Probably. Hopefully. Maybe.
“We need to inform the club members and investigate ASAP, or it’ll be too late! Takumi, you’ve got to help—”
“You’re awfully lively this morning, Anno-kun.”
“…Good morning, Shinomiya-san. It’s just another typical, uneventful morning, isn’t it?”
Speak of the devil. While we were engrossed in this nonsense, Shinomiya-san approached with a gentle smile.
“Is that so? For someone claiming it’s uneventful, you seemed to be having quite an amusing conversation. Something about me getting a boyfriend, perhaps?”
Her face was smiling, but her eyes weren’t—a terrifying combination. Shin, who had been huffing excitedly moments ago, shot to his feet, straightened his posture, and declared his innocence like he was reciting an oath.
“Good morning, Shinomiya-san! I swear to God, Takumi and I weren’t gossiping! You can rest easy!”
“If that’s the case, then fine. But before any strange rumors spread, let me set the record straight. I don’t have a boyfriend. Understood, Shin-kun?”
“Y-Yes…! Understood! Thank you for clarifying, Princess!”
He bowed deeply, as if grateful for the mercy of a forgiving lord.
For the record, “Princess” was Shinomiya Rinoa’s nickname within her fan club. It was the first time I’d heard him say it to her face.
“I’m glad we’re clear. It’s nice that you two get along so well, but morning homeroom is about to start, so you should probably head back to your seats.”
“Yes, ma’am!! I’ll do that right away!!”
Without so much as a goodbye to me, Shin bolted to his seat like a rabbit on the run. I glared resentfully at his retreating back while contemplating how to deal with the ominous aura radiating from the person beside me.
“Honestly. I wondered what you two were so cheerfully discussing this early in the morning, and it turns out to be this… Couldn’t you talk about something more meaningful?”
“Let me say one thing: I’m innocent here. I didn’t affirm or deny anything. Shin was the one doing all the talking.”
“If you’d properly said, ‘I don’t think that’s true,’ you’d have been acquitted. But since you said nothing, you’re guilty as charged.”
“You’re as unreasonably harsh as ever.”
Shinomiya-san giggled at the heavy sigh I let out. Her saintly aura had increased? Nonsense. If you asked me, her bratty streak was stronger than ever.
Thinking something like that would undoubtedly get me in trouble if she overheard, but just then, my phone buzzed in my chest pocket. A message had arrived—from none other than Shinomiya-san herself. Wondering why she’d bother texting me when she was right here, I checked it.
“During lunch break, come to the rooftop without anyone noticing.”
I was an inconspicuous guy, so slipping up to the rooftop unnoticed was doable. But for someone as popular as Shinomiya-san, who’d be swarmed the moment she stepped into the hallway, it seemed impossible.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ve got a perfect plan.”
As if reading my mind, another message followed to dispel my doubts. Nothing in this world was truly perfect, and self-proclaimed perfection was usually the sloppiest of all—that was a universal truth.
“Got it. I’ll dash to the rooftop as soon as lunch break starts.”
“There won’t be a cardboard box to hide in, so be careful.”
Her reply came just as the classroom door burst open and Miko-sensei stormed in with more energy than anyone else. I decided to spend the morning classes plotting a route to the rooftop, like a covert operative named after a snake, ensuring no one would spot me.
＊＊＊＊＊
“You arrived pretty late, didn’t you, Anno-kun?”
“I did my best to hurry, though…”
Lunch break had finally arrived. After much deliberation, I concluded that acting bold and confident would be less suspicious than sneaking around nervously. Ignoring Shin’s invitation, I dashed to the rooftop at full speed. There was no guarantee my carefully laid plan would work, after all.
“You’re the one who got here too fast, Shinomiya-san. There’s no one else around—how did you manage to reach the rooftop without drawing attention?”
I glanced around, confirming that it was just the two of us. The silence was almost eerie, far removed from the usual clamor of the school. It felt as though some kind of barrier had been cast to keep everyone else away.
“Hehe. It’s simple. Think back to what the last class of the morning was.”
“Hm? The last class was PE, wasn’t it? What about it?”
Scheduling a grueling PE class on a Monday—the most depressing day of the week, when the long stretch ahead looms large—was a cruel move. They say a healthy mind resides in a healthy body, but I’d much prefer they’d slotted it midweek when mental fatigue starts to kick in.
“PE classes include changing time, so they end earlier than regular lessons, right? I took advantage of that. The moment we were dismissed, I rushed to the locker room.”
The rest went without saying. She’d changed before the bell rang, returned to the classroom, grabbed her bag, and made a beeline for the rooftop. But why go to all that trouble just for lunch break?
“Knowing how dense you can be, Anno-kun, you’re probably wondering why I went through all this effort.”
“…If anything, your actions are so mysterious they’re starting to scare me.”
Who’s the dense one here? At least call me slow on the uptake or something.
“This time, I’ll give you the answer as a special treat. The reason is—this!”
“No way, is that—!?”
With that, she pulled a rectangular box wrapped in cute pink fabric from her bag. Could this be the legendary item from those famous urban tales—?
“That’s right, it’s my homemade bento! I made it for you, Anno-kun, since you’ve been helping me out so much lately!”
She handed it to me, and I accepted it with trembling hands. I hadn’t felt this nervous since the first time I attended a cosplay event with a camera in hand. To think a day would come when a girl would make me a bento in my lifetime.
“Thank you, Shinomiya-san. Wasn’t it tough making this in the morning?”
“I’d love to say it was a huge ordeal, but honestly, I prepared most of it last night. All I had to do today was pack it, so it was pretty easy.”
“Even so, it must’ve taken a lot of effort… Wait, did you reschedule the shoot just for this?”
“No, the rescheduling and the bento aren’t related. Some things came up… Anyway, let’s eat already! If we dawdle, lunch break will be over before we know it!”
I checked the time at her urging and realized we had less than ten minutes until afternoon classes started. She was right—if we kept chatting at this pace, I’d have to fight through the rest of the day on an empty stomach. For a growing boy, that was far too harsh a fate.
“Well, if you’re saying you don’t want to eat the bento I made with gratitude, Anno-kun, that’s a different story.”
“Hold on, I never said I didn’t want to eat it!”
“I went to the trouble of waking up early to make it, and yet… you’re so mean, Anno-kun.”
She covered her face with both hands, letting out exaggerated sniffles in an obvious fake cry. I could see her peeking at me through the gaps between her fingers.
“If you don’t cut it out with the teasing, we really will run out of time.”
“Hmph… Anno-kun, aren’t your reactions getting a little too lukewarm? Don’t you want to enjoy our conversation a bit more?”
“I’m enjoying it plenty already. If I weren’t, I wouldn’t have bothered coming all the way up here…”
If anyone found out about this secret meeting, it’d be more than just a hassle. Even so, I’d taken the risk to come here because spending time with Shinomiya-san felt good—no other reason. Well, the fact that refusing wasn’t really an option played a big part too.
“Thank you. I enjoy talking with you too, Anno-kun.”
“…Glad to hear it.”
Her soft smile caught me off guard, stirring an odd sense of embarrassment. To hide it, I shifted my attention to the bento box, untying the string and lifting the lid.
Inside was the ultimate combo: karaage—consistently ranked number one on the list of boys’ favorite dishes—and tamagoyaki. There was also a side of kinpira gobo. She was right—without prepping this the night before, it would’ve been a Herculean task.
“Itadakimasu.”
“Please, dig in.”
Under Shinomiya-san’s watchful gaze, I picked up my chopsticks. Naturally, I went for the karaage first. The soy sauce and ginger had soaked in perfectly, and though it had cooled, the crispy texture remained. This was the kind of dish that begged for rice.
“Um… Did it suit your taste?”
“…”
The tamagoyaki had a fluffy texture with a perfect balance of sweet and salty—it wouldn’t be out of place at a high-end restaurant. The kinpira gobo was thinly sliced yet crisp, with a bold flavor that made it an ideal side dish.
“H-Hey… Don’t just stay silent—please answer me. Is the seasoning okay? Does it taste good?”
Shinomiya-san asked anxiously. Oops—I’d gotten so absorbed in eating that I’d completely forgotten to respond.
“It’s fine. Everything’s so delicious I almost feel bad eating it.”
“Phew… I’m glad it’s to your liking, Anno-kun. You didn’t say anything, so I started getting worried.”
“Sorry, sorry! It’s not just that it’s delicious—I was kind of moved since it’s been a while since I last had someone’s home cooking.”
When was the last time I ate my mom’s cooking? She’s always busy with work every day. Come to think of it, it’s been over a year since we last had a family meal together. I hope she can come home for the end of this year, at least.
“Oh, come on, you’re exaggerating. If it’s okay with you, I could make you a bento every day from now on, Anno-kun. That is, if you’d like…”
“Haha. I appreciate it, but I’ll just take the sentiment. It’d feel too bad to put you through that, and honestly, pulling off a secret meeting like this every day would be impossible.”
It worked out today because PE happened to be right before lunch, but on a normal day with regular classes, it wouldn’t go so smoothly. If someone spotted Shinomiya-san sprinting down the hallway and up the stairs, she’d be 120% suspicious.
“True, continuing these secret meetings as they are would be impossible. But, Anno-kun, did you know there’s a way to solve this problem in one fell swoop?”
“Oh…? If there’s such a groundbreaking solution, I’d love to hear it.”
It sounded as plausible as inventing a device to stop global warming or coming up with a way to eliminate all conflict from the world—utterly far-fetched.
“You’re too naive, Anno-kun. Nothing’s impossible if you believe it isn’t! All we have to do is make these secret meetings not secret.”
“You’re being unusually cryptic. If it’s not a secret meeting, it’d just be a friendly lunch between a guy and a girl, right?”
“Oh, look at you being perceptive for once. Exactly! We just need to announce that you and I are a couple!”
“Sorry to burst your bubble when you’re acting like it’s a genius idea, but if we did that, there’d be a corpse lying around this school building in no time.”
The moment that lie spread, I wouldn’t just lose my place here—my life would be over. And it’d be a gruesome end, too, after brutal torture at the hands of the Shinomiya Rinoa fan club.
“Don’t worry. I’d protect you properly. I’d say, ‘Please don’t do anything awful to my precious Anno-kun!’ How’s that?”
“‘How’s that?’ isn’t the issue here. Did you forget our conversation this morning? Even Shin was freaking out over his wild imagination. Imagine what’d happen if that wasn’t just a fantasy but reality—you can figure that out with a little thought, right!?”
“Hmph… I thought it was a brilliant plan… Is it really no good?”
“Of course it’s no good! Besides, even if it’s a lie, could you really date a guy you don’t even like, Shinomiya-san?”
Putting aside the fact that my life would be forfeit for a moment, this was the fatal flaw in her plan. Jumping from friends straight to boyfriend and girlfriend was too big a leap, no matter how you looked at it.
The feelings you have for someone you admire and romantic feelings are different. It’s not something to take lightly. Some people might date casually to test the waters, but I, at least, couldn’t do that.
“I suggested it because I thought it’d be fine if it was you, Anno-kun… But you’re right. Someone like me wouldn’t do, would I?”
Shinomiya-san’s shoulders slumped sadly as she spoke. Her reaction was so unexpected that my brain short-circuited for a moment. I’d assumed it was her usual teasing, but was she actually serious? My overheating mind scrambled to process it.
“Uh… No, it’s not that you wouldn’t do or anything! If anything, I’m honored—I mean, I’d be the one asking if I’m even good enough for you…”
“…”
My explanation fell flat as Shinomiya-san kept her head down. Then her shoulders started trembling slightly. Wait, she’s not crying, is she? I had no idea what to say in a situation like this.
“…Pfft, hehe.”
“Sh-Shinomiya-san?”
Just as I was panicking, wondering what to do, I heard a stifled laugh. It was like a dam holding back her amusement had finally burst.
“Hehehe! Oh, come on! It’s a joke, just a joke! Don’t take it so seriously!”
“…What did you say?”
“I just felt like teasing you a little, Anno-kun. Obviously, making a bento every day would be a hassle, and I know lying for that reason isn’t right.”
She laughed heartily, slapping my shoulder repeatedly. As expected—or rather, as always—I’d once again become a plaything for this faux saint.
“Toying with a guy’s pure heart isn’t cool, you know.”
“That’s why I’m reflecting on it just a tiny bit this time. I didn’t expect you to get so flustered, Anno-kun. Does that mean I’ve got a knack for acting?”
“Well… yeah, I’d say you do. A top-tier talent, even.”
And not just with this fake crying. When she got fully immersed in a role or situation during a shoot, Shinomiya-san was incredible. In those moments, I’d say she even outshone top-tier cosplayer Yuzha-san.
“Thank you. Hearing that from you gives me confidence, Anno-kun.”
“That doesn’t mean you should keep pulling stunts like this, okay? It’s way too hard on my heart.”
“I can’t promise anything, but I’ll say I’ll try to behave.”
As she spoke, she flashed me a wink that sparkled like a twinkling star. She seemed to think cute gestures could get her out of anything, so I’d have to give her a proper lecture someday. Sadly, that day wasn’t today.
“Talking with you really is fun, Anno-kun. Can we do it again tomorrow?”
“What, is chatting with me on a reservation system now? I don’t mind, but at least try to keep it low-key while we’re at school, okay?”
Since we sat next to each other, never talking would actually be weirder. But if we chatted loudly during breaks, we’d stand out in a bad way and risk becoming targets for the fan club’s wrath.
“Yeah, staying at school after hours on purpose would be odd too. Oh, in that case—”
“You’re not about to say, ‘Let’s meet at Anno-kun’s house after school!’ or something, right?”
“How did you know!? Did you read my mind or something!?”
I let out a sigh laced with exasperation as I shot back at Shinomiya-san, who was staring at me wide-eyed in disbelief. “There’s no way I wouldn’t figure it out.”
“It’s the perfect place to chat freely, after all. That said, I’m not exactly rolling out the welcome mat for you to drop by anytime.”
“Hmph… What would you allow then, Anno-kun?”
Shinomiya-san puffed out her cheeks and pouted. Truth be told, she’d be welcome anytime, but if she started showing up every day, I’d probably end up so dependent on her I’d be a wreck without her—and that scared me. On the other hand, being stared at by her adorable pufferfish face was just as troubling.
“Well, you’ll come over for the shoot, right? Isn’t that enough?”
“But I think we need to bond more for that shoot! Don’t you agree!? Don’t you!?”
In an instant, Shinomiya-san leaned in close—too close. Our noses were practically touching, which was bad enough, but then I felt the soft press of her ample chest against me, wreaking havoc on my self-control. Worse still, I’d already seen a glimpse of it in the flesh, so my imagination was running wild despite my best efforts.
“Why don’t we just do the shoot we couldn’t do yesterday today? I brought the swimsuit for that very reason!”
“Why the heck did you bring that to school!?”
No way—don’t tell me this was her plan all along.
“Why? Because the scenario is ‘After school, a girl shows off the swimsuit she’ll wear for tomorrow’s swimming class at the house of the classmate she’s interested in…?’ Obviously, I’d prepare for it if we’re shooting in that setting!”
She had me there—I couldn’t argue with that. To recreate this scene, a weekend or midday wouldn’t cut it. It had to be a shy reveal of the swimsuit bathed in the glow of the setting sun streaming through the window. That’s the kind of photo I was after.
“Or maybe you don’t want to shoot it, Anno-kun? If that’s the case, I could tell everyone about how you secretly took pictures—”
“I never said I didn’t want to, okay!? Let’s do it after school at my place! Please, let me shoot it—I’m begging you!”
“Hehe. You should’ve just said that from the start. You’re such a contrarian, Anno-kun. You really ought to work on that, you know?”
“Hahaha! Too bad for you! I’ve been called a straightforward, good kid since way back—written right there on my report cards! You’re the only one who calls me a contrarian!”
I’m not some elementary school kid who picks on the girl he likes. It’s Shinomiya-san’s fault for teasing me at every turn.
“So that means I got to be your first, huh, Anno-kun?”
“Why do I feel like there’s a hidden meaning in the way you said that?”
“Since you already took my first, we’re even…”
“See, that phrasing is weird, isn’t it!? And stop blushing! It makes it sound too real!”
Anyone overhearing this would get the wrong idea, and even though I knew it wasn’t true, her flushed cheeks and fidgeting made me embarrassed too.
“You’d better take responsibility for making me like this, Anno-kun.”
“…Do whatever you want.”
My dejected mutter was drowned out by the chime signaling the end of lunch break as I slumped my shoulders in defeat.
＊＊＊＊＊
“Hey, Takumi. You free after this today?”
Classes were over, and the moment of truth had arrived. Some students headed to club activities, others stayed in the classroom to chat with friends—everyone spending their time as they pleased. As I packed up to leave, Shin approached me with a serious expression.
“I’ve been thinking about it all day, and… I just can’t stop wondering about Shinomiya-san.”
He glanced briefly at the desk next to mine as he spoke. Said Shinomiya-san had left the classroom with a radiant smile the moment homeroom ended. She was probably already out of the school building by now—her destination obvious without needing to say it.
“Is it just me, or is everyone phrasing things in a misleading way today…?”
“D-D-Don’t get the wrong idea! It’s not like I like Shinomiya-san or want to confess or anything like that, okay!?”
I couldn’t help but smirk at Shin’s excuse, straight out of a classic tsundere heroine playbook. I never thought I’d hear such a stereotypical line from my friend in real life.
“I get it. This is about the stuff from this morning, right?”
“As expected of my best friend! You catch on quick—saves me the trouble!”
Shin beamed, clapping me on the shoulder with glee. I wish he’d drop the habit of smacking me every time he got excited—my body isn’t a punching bag.
“The fan club’s planning to discuss whether Shinomiya-san really has a crush or a boyfriend. You’re not a member, but since you sit next to her, you’ve got to join us!”
“Are you serious? She already denied it—there’s nothing to discuss, is there?”
“Are you serious!? Do you just swallow the ‘we’re just friends’ excuse when a tabloid catches an idol in a secret rendezvous? No way, right!?”
“Well… sure, but… even so, isn’t it wrong to keep digging when she’s already said no?”
Everyone’s got one or two secrets they’d rather keep hidden. For me, it’s being a photographer. What Shin and the others were planning was basically prying into Shinomiya-san’s private life—not exactly a feel-good move.
“If you’re a fan, sometimes it’s important to just watch and support, don’t you think?”
“W-Well, yeah, that makes sense, but… I still can’t help wondering—hey, where are you going, Takumi!?”
I stood up, slung my bag over my shoulder, and started heading out of the classroom. Shin grabbed my shoulder in a panic to stop me.
“Sorry, Shin. I’ve got plans today. Let me know tomorrow how it turns out.”
“Wait… Hold on, Takumi! The meeting can’t start without you!”
“See ya,” I said, shaking him off and leaving the classroom. I could hear my friend’s desperate cries behind me, but I ignored them all. If a meeting’s at risk of falling apart just because one person’s missing, they should just call it off.
“Phew… The Shinomiya Rinoa fan club is something else. They wouldn’t go as far as tailing her, right?”
I let out a heavy sigh as I stepped out of the school building. I didn’t want to suspect my classmates, but since they were already snooping into her private life, it wouldn’t be shocking if someone crossed into near-criminal territory.
Of course, if they actually did that, it’d be more than just expulsion-level trouble. But Shinomiya-san’s charm was apparently worth that kind of obsession.
“…I’d better watch my step too.”
I sighed with a mix of exasperation as I retorted to Shinomiya-san, who was staring at me wide-eyed in disbelief. “There’s no way I wouldn’t figure it out.”
Right now, I’m just the guy who sits next to her, so no one suspects a thing. But this is also an environment where one slip-up could mean instant doom. I need to tread carefully.
With that thought in mind, I started my journey home. The train ride from school to my place takes about thirty minutes—not too far, not too close. The fact that it’s a straight shot without transfers is quietly convenient.
“Anno-kun, where are you right now? I’ve already reached the station!”
As I swayed idly on the train, a message from Shinomiya-san popped up on my phone. She didn’t need to specify which station—it was obviously the one I was heading to right now.
“I’ll be there in about ten minutes, so wait for me.”
“Got it. Hurry up, okay?”
After school, we’d hastily rescheduled our second shoot. But just like the rooftop meeting, the challenge was how to avoid being noticed.
When Shinomiya-san had whispered during class, “Why don’t we just go home together?” I nearly let out a weird noise and almost blew our cover.
After some discreet note-passing, we settled on a simple plan: leave school separately and meet up at the station nearest my house. Honestly, it’s more accurate to say there wasn’t any other option.
The moment I arrived and stepped out of the gate, Shinomiya-san was waiting for me. For some reason, she approached with her cheeks puffed out.
“You’re late, Anno-kun! Didn’t I tell you to take the train right after mine? What were you doing!?”
“I told you this week’s my turn for cleaning duty, so I’d be late leaving school, didn’t I? And even then, I rushed here as fast as I could.”
I mentally begged for mercy as she grilled me right off the bat, offering my excuse. If she had complaints, she should direct them at Shin, who’d stopped me as I tried to leave. Without that delay, I could’ve caught a train two runs earlier.
“See? It would’ve been better if I’d helped you and we’d come together. Waiting for you alone was a real ordeal, you know!”
“An ordeal? What kind of—wait, no way!?”
Had my worst fears already come true? Alarm bells rang in my head as I scanned our surroundings, on high alert.
“What’s wrong, Anno-kun? You’re suddenly looking around like… did you see a ghost or something?”
“It might be something like a ghost, in a way. More importantly, can you tell me what was so tough?”
“Oh… by ‘ordeal,’ I mean, well, it was hard to kill time for the hour or so between leaving you and meeting up here.”
“…Oh, that’s all?”
Her tone had been so dramatic that I’d panicked, thinking a stalker had shown up. Turns out she just didn’t have anything to do. Talk about anticlimactic.
“What’s with that reaction? Put yourself in my shoes—I was left hanging! Standing around doing nothing is torture, you know!?”
“Yes, yes, I’m terribly sorry about that. I was an idiot for worrying even a little that something might’ve happened.”
Don’t scare me like that. If something had happened to Shinomiya-san, I’d have regretted letting her go alone.
“I see… So you were imagining something naughty, huh, Anno-kun? Like something out of one of those dirty books?”
“Alright, enough chit-chat—let’s head to my place! If we take too long, it’ll be night before we know it!”
“What exactly did you imagine, Anno-kun? Tell me—I want to use it as reference for later!”
I deliberately ignored Shinomiya-san as she tugged at my sleeve, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and started walking toward home. What would she even use my daydreams as a reference for?
“Why are you ignoring me!? Did you think of something so naughty you can’t face me? You’ve got a pervy side, don’t you, Anno-kun!?”
“How about you shut your mouth!? What do you take me for!? I wouldn’t think that kind of stuff about a classmate!”
“Huh…? You’ve taken tons of pictures of me in compromising poses, and you’re saying you don’t think about it at all? Does that mean I’m not attractive? If so, I’ll lose all my confidence as a girl!”
Shinomiya-san’s shoulders slumped dejectedly. Her rollercoaster of emotions was giving me a headache.
“No, you’re fine. You’re more than attractive enough, Shinomiya-san. Don’t make me say it out loud.”
My face felt hot. Saying it outright was embarrassing. I couldn’t look her in the eye and quickened my pace to hide it.
“Ehehe… Thank you. Then I’ll do my best to make sure we get some amazing shots later!”
Shinomiya-san skipped ahead of me, then spun around with a dazzling smile. You idiot, me—why didn’t I have my phone in hand? I cursed myself for missing the chance to capture this moment forever, burning it into my memory instead.
“Anno-kun? What’s wrong? You’re spacing out.”
While I was staring, Shinomiya-san closed the distance and peered up at me from below. The power of her upward gaze sent my heart racing.
“N-Nothing! Come on, let’s go already!”
“Oh! Did you get captivated by my smile? Are you embarrassed? Tell me!”
Her bratty antics ruined the touching moment like flipping a table. I didn’t want to cause a scene in the neighborhood or start rumors, so I bolted full-speed ahead.
“Hey! Don’t leave me behind!”
Hearing Shinomiya-san’s half-laughing whine of “Anno-kun, you’re so mean!” behind me, I made my way home with a grin.
＊＊＊＊＊
“Alright, Shinomiya-san. Before you change, let’s go over today’s shoot one more time.”
By her third visit, the nerves were gone. We sat in the living room, taking a breather while finalizing the shoot details.
“The scenario is ‘After school, a girl shows off the swimsuit she’ll wear for tomorrow’s swimming class at the house of the classmate she’s interested in…?’ Right?”
“Yep. I’m wearing the swimsuit under my uniform, so the idea is to take it off and make the boy’s heart race.”
“We’ll use my room again, then. After shooting you taking off the uniform to reveal the competitive swimsuit, what’s next?”
“Hmm… How about borrowing your bathroom to take a shower? It’d bring out the texture of the material too, don’t you think?”
Not a bad idea. Today’s focus is on the prototype swimsuit Shinomiya-san got from Manager Uezu. Using the shower to see how it looks when wet—both in terms of photography and testing the material—makes sense. Though, since it’s a prototype, I can’t help but worry it might turn see-through.
“Plus, taking a bath in a swimsuit has this forbidden, kinda naughty vibe, doesn’t it? Something’s bound to happen!”
“I’m not some hormonal teenage boy, so don’t get all worked up over your fantasies. If you keep saying stuff like that, I won’t be able to use the idea even if I want to.”
She says she wants to show a side of herself she hasn’t seen yet, but her thoughts seem to veer too much in that direction. It’s logical in the sense of baring herself, but as the one going along with it, I’m in a tough spot.
“Anyway, jokes aside. After we finish shooting in the room, we’ll take some shower pics. Anything else you’d like?”
“Hmm… Since I’ll be taking stuff off, I’ll need to put something back on, so how about shooting me changing? Like a candid shot through a crack in the door.”
“…Are you serious?”
“I wouldn’t suggest it if I weren’t. Don’t you think it’s about time you tried some sneaky shots, Anno-kun?”
She grinned mischievously. If you took just that last part out of context, it’d sound like I’ve got some seriously twisted preferences—please stop.
“I’m not into sneaky shots, okay?”
“Oh, really?”
Shinomiya-san shot me a skeptical look, as if she couldn’t believe it. It’s unfair to label it a fetish just because of one mistake.
“Yes, really! That was a total fluke—just a momentary lapse, an accident!”
“Oh, Anno-kun, you’re such a contrarian. If you ever feel like sneaking a shot, feel free to do it anytime, okay?”
“That wouldn’t even count as sneaking anymore. Anyway, enough of that—let’s talk about what to watch out for this time, based on last time’s reflection. Do you remember?”
“Uh… what was it again?”
She tilted her head with a blank look, instantly filling me with dread. This is the girl who’s held the top spot in our grade since enrollment—how could she forget something we talked about just recently?
“Tell me what I need to be careful about, Anno-kun.”
“Sigh… Basically, don’t get swept up in the moment like last time.”
“Oh? Did that happen?”
My head hurts. She’s playing dumb on purpose—I know she gets it. If she understands, I wish she’d just say it herself.
“Hehe, kidding. I know. Instead of stripping everything off at once, I should reveal what’s underneath little by little, right?”
“…Correct.”
Last time, I let Shinomiya-san’s energy and the flow of the moment take over. We got some great shots, but it ended up way more intense than planned.
“Even though you’re wearing the swimsuit underneath this time, try to take it off slowly, like you’re teasing. It’ll make the boy in the scenario feel more flustered, I think.”
“Got it. So you’re into teasing play, huh, Anno-kun? Hehe. Well, I’ll let you in on a secret—I love teasing and watching you squirm too!”
“That’s not what I’m talking about! And for the record, there’s not a single guy in the world who’d dislike a girl undressing in front of him to reveal a swimsuit underneath!”
No counterarguments accepted. Especially if that girl is a breathtaking beauty like Shinomiya-san, who everyone admires. Honestly, if this weren’t a shoot, my rationality would’ve flown out the window in a heartbeat.
“Then here’s a special tidbit just for you, Anno-kun. This is actually my first time showing off a swimsuit since starting high school.”
“Wait, really?”
I wondered if she hadn’t gone to a pool or the beach with someone last summer, then remembered her saying she didn’t have any close friends she could trust. And since our school doesn’t have swimming classes, no one’s ever seen her in a school swimsuit either.
As if reading my thoughts, Shinomiya-san leaned across the table, bringing her face close to mine.
“You’re the only one who gets to see me in a swimsuit, Anno-kun.”
She whispered it in a sweet tone laced with a hint of shyness, making my heart skip a beat.
“Hehe. I’ll go change in the bathroom then. Get ready for the shoot, Anno-kun!”
“Oh, uh… got it.”
“I’ll leave the door cracked open a bit, but no peeking, okay? Absolutely no peeking!”
“Enough with the setup—just go change already!”
The old “don’t push, don’t push” gag doesn’t actually mean “push,” you know. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to look or shoot, but I’m not about to do something I know would spell my doom. With a deep sigh, I watched Shinomiya-san skip off to the bathroom, giggling and humming.
“Sigh… Guess I’d better prep too.”
Since we’re using the sunset light coming through the window, this’ll be a backlit shoot. I’ll fine-tune as we go, but I need to set up the basics first.
When I first got my dad’s old camera and started shooting, I struggled with all the jargon. Aperture for controlling light and blur, focal length, shooting distance, depth of field determined by all those factors…
Back then, it was all gibberish to me, but I’ve managed somehow thanks to my dad teaching me the ropes and my mom happily letting me photograph her. Without them, I wouldn’t have become Yuzha-san’s exclusive photographer or built this kind of relationship with Shinomiya-san, shooting at my place.
“I should thank them when they’re back… No, maybe apologize first for bringing a girl over while they’re away?”
It’s not like we’re doing anything inappropriate, and I haven’t let her into their bedroom, so I’d like to think I won’t get in trouble.
“Maybe I should call them sometime. I kinda miss their voices, and I’m curious about what they’re up to.”
I don’t think I’m the lonely type, but living alone in this needlessly big house can get mentally draining sometimes. I seriously considered getting a pet once, but gave up since I wasn’t confident I could care for it alone and it’d cost money. That’s why spending time with Shinomiya-san at home feels so lively and comforting—
“…This is bad. Really, really bad…”
“What’s bad, Anno-kun?”
I was fiddling with settings and spacing out when a voice suddenly came from behind me. I whipped around in a panic to find Shinomiya-san standing there, smiling. For some reason, she wasn’t in her uniform but a long hoodie. No skirt—just the hoodie. If I didn’t know she had the swimsuit on underneath, my brain would’ve melted on the spot.
“Uh, Shinomiya-san? What’s with that outfit?”
“This? I brought it from home with the swimsuit, of course. What about it?”
“You went out of your way to bring casual clothes too!? How did that even fit in your bag…?”
“Don’t you know, Anno-kun? There’s this handy thing called a compression bag.”
So she’d prepared that much and brought it to school—meaning she’d planned to shoot today all along. She could’ve just told me beforehand. Then again, knowing Shinomiya-san, she probably kept quiet to catch me off guard.
“By the way, Anno-kun, you were spacing out with the camera in hand. What were you thinking about?”
“W-What!? N-No, I wasn’t thinking anything shady!”
The sudden topic shift made me blurt out a high-pitched, flustered response.
“I didn’t say anything, though? Don’t tell me you were imagining me changing? You really are a closet perv, Anno-kun. If you’re going to fantasize, you should’ve just come to the bathroom.”
Shinomiya-san giggled mischievously, egging me on. If I’m a perv, then she’d be a total tease—how’s that? If she wants me to peek that badly, I might just do it, I grumbled inwardly in mock defiance.
“You’re so fun to tease, Anno-kun. If we keep this up, I might turn into a master at it.”
“We’re already seatmates, so it’s a perfect fit… Wait, no it’s not!”
Reflexively playing along with her quips is probably why I keep getting toyed with, but I can’t stop because, deep down, I don’t mind it.
“Hehe. I’ll stop before you get seriously mad. Oh, if your parents come home, let me know, okay? I’d like to greet them properly.”
“You don’t need to worry about that… Wait, hold on. Why are we talking about my parents now?”
“Because I heard you muttering, ‘I kinda miss their voices,’ of course. Oh, and if they get mad about us secretly doing a shoot, tell me, alright? I’ll explain everything!”
“I’d love to grill you on how much of my mumbling you overheard, but I’ll let it slide for now. What exactly are you planning to say to my parents!?”
“The truth, naturally. Something like… ‘Anno-kun took some risqué photos of me, but rest assured, nothing shady happened!’ How’s that?”
It’s infuriating because it’s not entirely a lie. She’s cleverly hiding a fib in a forest of truth, as they say. The wording’s so misleading it’s making me dizzy.
“Fine. I won’t tell you if they come back, and I won’t introduce you. I won’t invite you over until they’re away on business again.”
“Don’t be so harsh! What about our shoots in the meantime!?”
“…We’ll figure it out when the time comes.”
I nearly said, “If this keeps up, we’ll think of something,” but swallowed it at the last second. I could never say, “I hope it stays like this,” even if my life depended on it.
“This conversation’s over! We’re running late—let’s start shooting!”
We’d chatted too long, and it was already past 5 p.m. If we didn’t hurry, the sunset would fade, and we wouldn’t get the shots we needed for the scenario.
“It’s a shame, but alright. If I tease you too much and we have to reschedule again, that’d be a disaster.”
“We almost did just that…”
Sighing, I followed Shinomiya-san as she hummed her way to my room. I wished she’d show even a hint of her refined school demeanor at home, but monopolizing this carefree, adorable version of her balanced it out to a net zero.
“We’re here. Where should I stand first?”
“Let’s see… How about in front of the desk?”
The swimsuit’s the star, but we’ll start with her showing off the hoodie to the boy—think of it as the wind-up before the jump.
What’s key here is her innocent, girlish smile. Shinomiya-san struck poses like she was at a fashion show, beaming with joy. I snapped shots from the front, side, and back, covering every angle.
“Nice. Perfect. Next, sit on the bedside, okay?”
“Got it,” she said with a smile, plopping onto the bed with a soft pof.
Now we’d capture the moment where she’s gauging when to reveal the swimsuit to the room’s owner—the boy. At first, she teases him, amused by his sneaky glances, but as he holds back, she grows restless and eventually takes action.
When I explained that, she nodded with a grin and immediately struck a pose.
Legs slightly parted inward, hands casually slipped between them, she flashed a gentle smile. Her shoulders were relaxed—posture and expression both natural and spot-on.
“Three, two, one…”
Click. The shutter sounded. I took a few more shots from different angles. Silence stretched on, and I spoke up before she could get carried away.
“Next, get fully on the bed and sit cross-legged, like in gym class, okay?”
“Like this?”
She leaned back slightly, the hoodie’s hem riding up, revealing a peek of the swimsuit’s bikini line between her legs. A faint flush began creeping up her cheeks.
“How’s this pose?”
Before I could respond, she shifted, propping herself up with both hands behind her and spreading her legs wide into an M-shape.
“I saw it in a photo… What do you think?”
“Y-Yeah! It’s great!”
Her sudden switch caught me off guard, the V-line now clearly visible, making my voice crack. I fought the urge to gulp and steeled myself to keep shooting.
“…How about this?”
She leaned against the wall, lifting both legs together slowly. The swimsuit’s fit accentuated her curves, making it more provocative despite the clothing.
Shinomiya-san’s switch had fully flipped. I should probably warn her, but at this point, nothing I said would reach her. Instead, I turned off my own emotions, becoming a shutter-clicking machine, giving only the barest instructions.
“Good. Lower your legs, and let’s move to the swimsuit shots. First…”
“I know…”
Her voice was husky as she returned to the M-shape. With a shy glance away from the camera, she gripped the hoodie’s hem and began lifting it slowly.
“Stop. Look this way, okay?”
“…Mmn. Got it.”
I signaled her when the hoodie reached just below her chest.
A girl teasingly undressing to monopolize the boy’s gaze would feel a mix of excitement and embarrassment, her expression melting under his stare.
“That’s an amazing look, Shinomiya-san.”
“R-Really?”
“Scarily captivating.”
If this weren’t a job, and I weren’t peering through the viewfinder, I might’ve given in to the sweet tension and pounced. But the real show starts now.
“Shinomiya-san, ready for the next step? Stand up for me.”
“Y-Yes…”
I took her hand as she rose unsteadily, spinning her to face away before stepping back with the camera. Sensing my intent, she lifted the hoodie to her waist and paused.
“Perfect, Shinomiya-san.”
Her enchanting peach-like hips—missed in the last shoot—were now exposed. Different from her ample chest, they held a bewitching allure, and I couldn’t resist zooming in.
“Takumi, you a chest guy or a hips guy? Pick one!”
I could almost hear Shin’s voice, but seeing Shinomiya-san’s, I couldn’t choose. I’d want to sink my teeth into both equally.
“Turn around for a front shot. Lift the hoodie just a bit—yeah, nice.”
In sync, she raised the hem with her left hand, exposing the V-line precisely, her right hand resting near her secret spot.
She was shaping the exact shots I wanted before I could even say them. Even Yuzha-san took multiple sessions to sync like this—Shinomiya-san’s done it in just two. I could feel my excitement building.
“H-How is it, Anno-kun?”
Her voice trembled, face flushed as she asked. Shoot—I’d been so focused on shooting I forgot to reassure her.
“We’re getting the best shots. Alright, let’s take it off.”
“O-Okay…”
With a faint voice, she crossed her arms, lifting the hoodie slowly. I had her pause at her chest, snapping from the front and sides before she finally tossed it off with a flourish—
“…”
The moment I saw Shinomiya-san in the competitive swimsuit, words failed me. Simultaneously, I cursed and thanked Manager Uezu in my head for handing over such a thing.
The prototype swimsuit was white, sleeveless, with a glossy, slightly sheer high-end fabric. Zippers adorned the neck and body, hugging her figure to enhance her silhouette, refining her already stunning beauty.
The back was sleek and cool, accentuating her waist and those mesmerizing hips, boosting her sexiness to another level.
But the standout feature was the boldly open chest—like a princess-cut gem, it elevated her twin peaks several notches higher.
If that zipper slipped even a little, they might spill out. Swallowing my urge to capture that miraculous moment, I kept shooting, lost in the moment.
My excitement was at its peak, and Shinomiya-san was just as hyped, striking pose after pose she wanted captured without me even needing to direct her. It’s hard to believe this is only our second shoot.
“Um… could you come a little closer to shoot?”
Her voice was feverish as she made the request. I nodded silently, stepping one, then two steps closer with the camera still raised. In response, she placed her hand on the chest zipper, as if showing off to me.
“You want to see, don’t you?”
The zzzip of metal sliding echoed through the quiet room. As the zipper slowly descended, her twin peaks—finally freed from their long confinement—bounced with a tayun, trembling as if in joy.
“I’ll let you see even closer.”
She dropped to all fours and crawled toward me. The LCD screen framed a close-up of her plump, cherry-pink lips and the valley between her breasts, squeezed by her hands to emphasize their size and softness. Cropping it from her eyes down made it instantly more risqué.
“How’s this…?”
Rising to sit with one knee up and legs spread, she tugged the swimsuit’s chest open slightly. The bewitching fruit became more exposed, the cherries atop her hills nearly peeking out.
“…”
Her eyes glistened, a glossy smile curving her lips. Standing before me was a succubus—stealing reason, draining vitality, offering heavenly bliss while claiming a man’s life.
“It’s still not enough, is it? Then…”
With a sultry smile, her hand drifted to her secret spot. Licking her lips, she lifted the swimsuit just enough to tease, inviting me to the sweet nectar within.
What are you thinking? Stop her! screamed my rationality, clashing with my instincts shouting to capture this untouched treasure without hesitation. In the end, instinct won.
Mind blank, I shot my classmate from every angle.
“Phew… Alright. Good work, Shinomiya-san. Let’s wrap up the room shots here, take a break, then head to the bathroom.”
Exhaling the molten heat raging inside me with a deep breath, I set the camera down.
“Yes… good work.”
Her cheeks were still flushed, but her expression brimmed with satisfaction. Maybe she’d discovered a side of herself she hadn’t known. That fulfilled look—new to me—made me snap another shot without thinking.
“Did you just take a picture?”
“Sorry, sorry. You were just too captivating—I couldn’t help it.”
Apologizing, I draped a large bath towel over her shoulders. Even indoors, staying in a swimsuit could give her a cold.
“Hehe. You’re so prepared and kind, Anno-kun.”
“It’s the least I can do. How about the break? Want to rest in the living room? I can get you something to drink if you’d like.”
“Thank you for the thought, but I’m fine. I’m in such a great mood right now—how about we just keep going and shoot in the bathroom, if you’re okay with it?”
“…Sure.”
Shooting involves stamina with all the posing, so breaks are usually key. But the performer’s energy matters just as much. If she’s riding a high, pushing through could work— I’d stop if she showed signs of fatigue.
In the bathroom, I adjusted the camera settings while pondering how to start. Shinomiya-san handed me the towel, grabbed the showerhead, and turned on the faucet, filling the tub to adjust the temperature.
“Yep, the temp’s perfect.”
She turned back with a smile. Seeing the stunning beauty who sits next to me in class standing in my bathroom in a competitive swimsuit, about to do something, felt surreal. I decided to start shooting here.
“Come to think of it, you’re the first boy to see me shower too.”
“Well… yeah, I guess so.”
Even in a romantic relationship, watching someone shower isn’t common. If anything, showing it to a mere classmate in a swimsuit would normally be considered insane.
“At this rate, you might end up taking all my firsts, Anno-kun.”
“Watch your wording!? That’s the kind of talk that only causes misunderstandings!”
“Oh? What did you imagine, Anno-kun? I’d love to know, but first, the shoot.”
Her teasing grin shifted to focus. She aimed the shower at her chest, letting it flow. The familiar zaaaa of water sounded daily, but now it cascaded over a breathtaking beauty.
With her free hand under her armpit, her chest naturally lifted and pressed together, the softness evident even through the swimsuit.
A ceaseless stream ran through the world’s finest valley, exposed like a cut gem. The glossy enamel fabric, now wet, began to turn faintly sheer.
“Can you sit on the tub’s edge while showering?”
“Yes, I’ll try.”
Thankfully, she was still composed, her responses clear and steady. Her poses, though, were provocative.
Leaning against the wall, she sat on the tub’s corner. Her right leg bent inward, her left stretched along the edge and dangling into the tub. Her right hand hung loosely between her legs, like the final guardian of a treasure.
“Yeah, perfect.”
Water trailed down her stomach, dripping from her groin in soft patter-patters, pooling and eventually spilling over the edge. A mundane phenomenon, yet it produced shots that rattled my sanity.
Her expression—perhaps always like this, or maybe just now—melted naturally under the shower.
“Anno-kun, can I get in the tub?”
“Of course, go ahead.”
She turned off the shower and stepped into the empty tub. I regretted not filling it, but I was also eager to see what she’d do.
“I’d love to do a bubble bath shoot someday.”
She lay back in the tub, speaking with an innocent smile. I got it—imagining her playing with bubbles, I’d be smitten by her cuteness.
“In that case, I wouldn’t need a swimsuit, right?”
With that bombshell, Shinomiya-san tucked the showerhead into her cleavage, hugging it tightly while flashing a seductive smile. If the fan club saw this, they’d either faint or scream, “I want to be that shower!” in a frenzy.
“Or… how about we skip the shooting and you join me instead, Anno-kun?”
“…What did you say?”
Her sudden suggestion made my finger freeze on the shutter button, and I looked directly at her face. As expected, she licked her lips with a predatory gaze, toying with her prey, and repeated herself.
“I said, why don’t you take a bath with me? Didn’t you hear?”
“I heard you loud and clear—that’s why I reacted like that!”
I couldn’t help but shout my retort. Bathing together is something even live-in couples or newlyweds don’t always do—there’s no way a mere contractual pair like me and Shinomiya-san could share a bath. Just thinking about it made my brain overheat.
My heart pounded so hard it might burst, and not wanting her to notice my panic, I turned away. But as if mocking me, she pressed herself against my back with a soft thud. The plush sensation hit me full force, and then—
“I’ll wash every inch of you right now. With a close-contact service included.”
She whispered into my ear with a scorching, meltingly sweet breath that could burn. It was a miracle I didn’t scream as my heart nearly leapt out of my mouth.
“Or how about I wear the middle school swimsuit you said no to, instead of this competitive one, and service you that way?”
“D-Don’t call it a service…”
“I’ll lather up with body soap and rub against you like this. And once I’m done with your back, of course, the front…”
She slid her body up and down as if demonstrating, her hands reaching for my chest. A back hug overwhelming my senses—I felt dizzy, unsure if I was still standing or collapsing.
“Oh, or maybe the closet perv Anno-kun wants nothing on… to feel me raw?”
Close your eyes. Don’t think. Don’t imagine. Shut it all out. Let the words in your right ear pass straight through to the left.
“By the way, Anno-kun, could you lend me your phone?”
“P-Phone? It’s in my back pocket…”
Before I could finish, she rummaged through my pocket like a thief snatching treasure.
“Locked, huh… Oh, but it’s face ID. Anno-kun, could you lift your face?”
She held the phone up to me. I knew her intent but couldn’t stop her—sure enough, it unlocked. With swift fingers, she operated it, then rested her head on my shoulder, bringing the phone back to my face. And then—
“Say cheese!”
Click. By the time I realized she’d taken a selfie of us, she was already giggling and pulling away.
“Hehe. Your dazed, melted face is so cute, Anno-kun. This’ll come in handy for all sorts of things.”
“I’m not asking what for—just delete that photo right now!”
“Sure, I’ll delete it from your phone. Though it’s already too late since I sent it to mine.”
“Where’s your phone, Shinomiya-san!?”
If I could get to it before it’s saved, there’s still a chance. Dunk it in water, crash the data—anything!
“My phone’s on top of the washing machine. But…”
Hearing that, I bolted out of the bathroom to check the washing machine in the changing area. All I found was the bath towel Shinomiya-san had draped over her shoulders before the shoot. Lifting it revealed her neatly folded school uniform.
“You’ll have to move the underwear under my uniform to get it.”
“W-What… did you say?”
“Go ahead, Anno-kun. Don’t mind me—feel free to grab my phone.”
Touching the uniform she wears to school every day already feels like a taboo, but laying a hand on her underwear? No way I could do that.
“By the way, the underwear I wore today is my absolute favorite out of everything I own… my go-to ‘special occasion’ pair. What would you do if I told you that?”
“!?!?”
A voiceless scream escaped me. So it’s different from the red one I saw last shoot? That was cute enough, but something even better? How could I not be curious?
“…Tch. You little devil!”
But alas, all I could muster was the pitiful parting shot of a defeated coward fleeing with my tail between my legs. If I actually touched it, she’d probably record the whole thing on my phone, turning it into fresh blackmail material. That’s the one thing I absolutely have to avoid.
“That photo… don’t you dare show it to anyone, okay?”
“Of course I won’t. At most, I’ll just set it as my phone’s lock screen.”
“Please don’t. Keep it to staring at it at home.”
It’s slightly better than a wallpaper, but if it’s on her screen, someone might catch a glimpse by chance. If that happened, I’d be done for.
“Kidding! I won’t show it off or brag about it. This is my own precious treasure.”
“Treasure’s a bit much…”
I almost said there must be more important things to cherish, but she hugged the phone to her chest with such a delighted smile that I couldn’t say another word.
“More importantly, Anno-kun, I’d like to change soon… Is that okay?”
“Huh? Oh, of course! You’re all wet—staying in that swimsuit too long could give you a cold!”
As she let out a cute kushun sneeze, I hurriedly handed her the bath towel and turned to leave the changing area.
“Oh! How about taking pics after I take off the swimsuit? This big towel can cover everything—what do you say?”
“No way! Stop saying dumb stuff and just change already!”
I’d love to shoot it, but with no idea what she might pull, I chose to flee like a startled rabbit.
From behind, I heard her pouty voice—“Anno-kun, you’re so mean!”—but I ignored it with all my might.
And so, our second shoot came to an end. But when I prepared some ice cream to thank Shinomiya-san after she returned from the bathroom, it sparked yet another little fiasco, making the day chaotic right up to the finish.
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