Chapter 2 Sweeter than usual
Summer vacation. Normally, it’s a long break free from school, but at Shirakumo Academy, where we attend, there’s an event called “Attendance Day.”
As the name suggests, it’s a day we have to go to school.
Apparently, it’s to check on students’ well-being or to help fix disrupted sleep schedules—something like that.
That said, all we do is clean, and we’re dismissed by noon. There’s no need to wear uniforms either; everyone shows up in gym clothes. It doesn’t feel particularly meaningful, and in past years, I’d drag myself to school grumbling about the hassle.
Summer’s heat is already my least favorite thing. I’d rather avoid going outside as much as possible… but this year, I wasn’t that annoyed.
Because I’d be with her.
“Ah, Youhei-kun. Good Morning.”
Just before nine in the morning—later than usual—I arrived at the classroom, and a small girl in gym clothes greeted me.
“Hime, Morning.”
Returning her greeting, Hime gave a small, happy smile.
It had been three days since we last saw each other—since I visited her house.
“I’m glad you came. You’re such a sleepyhead, Youhei-kun.”
“…Honestly, I barely woke up in time and almost overslept.”
“You shouldn’t stay up too late, you know.”
“Haha, I’ll be more careful.”
Her gentle scolding warmed my heart, but then our homeroom teacher walked in.
Maybe because it was summer vacation, sensei seemed even less motivated than usual. After taking attendance, they scribbled cleaning assignments and required headcounts on the blackboard, said, “Clean up and you’re free to go~,” and left the classroom.
Was that really okay…? Not that I was worried. If anything, the students wanted to leave early too, so sensei’s lax attitude was appreciated.
Now, where should I clean? Apparently, we could pick spots on a first-come, first-serve basis. Easy tasks like taking out the trash or restocking supplies filled up instantly. Groups of friends claimed larger areas like classrooms or hallways, signing up together.
“Youhei-kun, can I put my name down with yours?” Hime asked.
“Yeah. I was just wondering where to pick.”
Of course, I’d planned to clean with her even without her asking. But I’d been hesitating, wanting a spot that wouldn’t be too hard on her.
“…A place where just the two of us can clean would be fine, I think,” Hime suggested.
Nodding at her idea, I realized she might prefer somewhere quieter, just us two, over a lighter workload. I’d thought a classroom would be easier with more people helping, but if that’s how she felt…
“How about the stairs? It only needs two people.”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
Our school has four floors, so it might be a bit tough, but that’s probably why no one else had claimed it.
I wrote down my and Hime’s names, securing our spot. Grabbing a broom and dustpan, we headed to the fourth floor. Starting from the top would be more efficient, so we climbed the stairs together.
Once there, we each took a broom. Time to start cleaning… but first, a playful urge struck me.
“Hime, do you know how to use a broom?”
“…I do have cleaning duties at school, you know.”
“Haha, I was gonna teach you if you didn’t know.”
It was a joke, obviously.
She might be an eight-year-old who skipped grades, but she does the same things we do. I knew she’d be familiar with cleaning tools.
I was just teasing to lighten the mood.
But then—
“I take it back. I don’t know, so can you teach me?” Hime said.
Uh-oh. She’d turned the tables on me.
“Eh? Uh, well…”
“Please, Youhei-kun. You hold it like this, right? How do I move it?”
Hime leaned in close.
Her body pressed right against mine. The sweet scent of her drifted up, so close I could feel it.
“Youhei-kun, show me how to move it.”
“Uh, you want me to move your broom?”
“Yes. You said you’d teach me, so please do.”
I-I was just kidding…
But Hime was all in. She had to know how to sweep by now… Still, I’d started this, so I had to follow through.
“Okay, I’ll hold it then.”
I gripped the broom Hime was holding, leaning over her. It was an odd situation—two people using one broom.
“Like this, you move it side to side.”
“Hmm, I see… It’s tricky, so please show me a bit more.”
“Tricky, huh?”
“Yes. Very tricky, so I’d like Youhei-kun to teach me thoroughly… ehehe.”
Oh no. Hime was having way too much fun.
Glancing at her, she looked delighted, clearly enjoying the moment.
“Can we keep going like this all the way to the first floor?”
“That might be a bit tiring.”
It wasn’t that I disliked it, but the position was tough.
Hime’s height meant I had to crouch, which was physically draining.
Plus, being so close was kind of embarrassing… I was hoping she’d let me off soon when—
“Oh? Oh my, oh my!? Found a lovey-dovey pair!” a voice called out.
It came from behind—boisterous, to put it nicely. To put it less nicely, it was like someone had broken the volume knob.
“Wah!”
Startled by the loud voice, Hime flinched and pulled away from me… Oddly, I felt a twinge of reluctance at that.
But we couldn’t stay glued together forever—cleaning wouldn’t get done—so it was probably for the best.
Turning toward the voice, I saw a girl with a ponytail. Petite, with sun-tanned skin that stood out.
“Kumori-san,” Hime said.
“Yup! Hoshimiya-senpai, Ozora-senpai, yo!” she replied.
Her name was Kumori Hane-san. A first-year high schooler with a distinctive ponytail, she was the sole member of the newspaper club.
Both Hime and I had been interviewed by her before, so we knew her… but running into her here felt off.
“It’s summer vacation. Why are you at school? And in uniform?” I asked.
Today’s Attendance Day was just for our class, I thought.
I couldn’t figure out why Kumori-san was here.
“Maybe newspaper club activities?” Hime suggested.
Good point. Club activities would explain her presence.
But just as I was nodding—
“Nope, remedial classes! Newspaper club’s on break for a bit… Ugh, I didn’t finish my assignments. I was studying in an empty fourth-floor classroom when I heard your voices,” she explained.
Not even club activities, huh.
Kumori-san… sounded like she was struggling academically.
“Man, I got so caught up with club stuff I didn’t make time to study. Ended up with a failing grade in math!” she said.
What a cheerful girl.
Failing and attending make-up classes didn’t seem to dampen her spirits—she seemed almost amused.
“Remedial classes? Like Onee-chan,” Hime said.
“Yup, I’m always licking wounds with Hoshimiya Sei-senpai!” Kumori-san replied.
“You study together even though you’re in different grades?” Hime asked.
“Yup! The assignments are just worksheets, so all the remedial students from every grade are in the same classroom,” Kumori-san explained.
“I see. Thank you for looking after my sister,” Hime said.
“No, no! I’m the one grateful for her company!” Kumori-san replied.
Maybe thanks to Kumori-san’s bubbly vibe, Hime was chatting without her usual shyness—a rare sight, since she seldom talked to anyone but Sei-san or me at school. It was heartwarming, and I couldn’t help watching.
Kumori-san must’ve noticed my gaze.
“Ozora-senpai, your eyes are burning! Can’t take your eyes off Hoshimiya-senpai, huh?” she teased.
“…Burning? I don’t think so,” I said.
Maybe my gaze was warm, but I wouldn’t call it burning.
Through Kumori-san’s lens, though, it seemed different.
“Guhehe. This kinda thing’s great, right? Age gaps are my jam!” she said.
Her eyes were practically heart-shaped.
Oh, this girl… She’s the type who loves romance, isn’t she?
“Was I a third wheel? Coming to a secluded spot like this and interrupting—sorry! I’ll vanish, so you two can pick up later!” she added.
Yup, as expected. Kumori-san had the wrong idea.
“We’re here to clean. It’s not what you’re imagining,” I said, trying to set her straight.
Still, I was curious about Hime’s reaction. Had I made her uncomfortable by drawing attention to us? I glanced at her, a bit worried.
“Age-gap relationships are your thing? You like older brothers too, Kumori-san?” Hime asked.
“Yup! Older brothers, younger brothers, mature guys—I love ‘em all!” Kumori-san replied.
“Hmm. I don’t quite get younger brothers or mature guys, but older brothers are great. Someone like Youhei-kun is the best,” Hime said.
“Really!? Guhehe… Thanks for the treat!” Kumori-san said.
“…? You’re welcome?” Hime replied, puzzled.
Phew, good. Hime didn’t seem to grasp the full meaning of Kumori-san’s words.
Kumori-san, with her apparent romance obsession, was talking about relationships, but Hime wasn’t picking up on it, so their conversation was slightly off-kilter.
Hime seemed to sense something was amiss but didn’t question it, letting the chat fizzle out softly.
“Uh, well… We’ve gotta clean, so. Good luck with your make-up classes, Kumori-san,” I said.
Time to part ways. I figured if we kept talking, it’d veer into more awkward territory, so I tried to end the conversation.
But Kumori-san wasn’t so easily deterred.
“…Did you know? The city’s leisure pool got a big renovation this summer! Oh, and there’s a huge festival next weekend!” she said out of nowhere.
I frowned, wondering what her angle was, when she leaned in and winked at me exaggeratedly, whispering, “Perfect events for a date, right?”
She meant to whisper, at least.
But her voice was so loud it didn’t matter. Not only did I hear it—Hime did too, clear as day.
“Pool. Festival. I see… They do sound perfect for outings,” Hime said.
Hime, taking “events” literally, was adorably earnest.
But Kumori-san likely meant “date events,” not just outings.
(Ugh, such a meddler…)
She was definitely a romance nut—and the troublesome kind who’d butt in.
Newspaper club… A gossip-loving girl? Maybe not surprising. But to zero in on me and Hime like that? She was next-level.
“Well, I’m outta here! Hoshimiya-senpai, Ozora-senpai, be happy!” Kumori-san said, dashing back to the empty classroom.
She’d left a parting shot, but I hoped Hime wouldn’t take it to heart.
“Be happy? Well, I am happy with Youhei-kun,” Hime said.
Okay, she’d noticed, but her purity kept her from reading too much into it.
Hime was just too cute.
…And yeah, I was happy being with her too.
(Ugh, Kumori-san’s making me all self-conscious.)
Her comments were getting to me, making me overthink.
I thought she’d been a nuisance… but her meddling turned out to be helpful for Hime.
“Youhei-kun, want to go to the pool and festival?” Hime asked soon after we resumed cleaning.
There was no reason to say no.
So, that weekend… we made plans to go out.
Mid-August. About two weeks left of summer vacation.
Today, I was heading out with friends in a car—straight to the pool.
“Pool time! Woohoo!” Sei-san cheered.
“Onee-chan, calm down. We’re not there yet,” Hime said.
In the car, Hime was trying to settle an excited Sei-san. I watched the sisters from beside them.
We’d met up at a nearby convenience store earlier. Now, the three of us were squeezed in the back seat—Sei-san, Hime, then me, from the window side.
“It’s gonna be so fun! I’m swimming tons today!” Sei-san said.
Sei-san, by the window, was hyped up. Her voice was loud, her gestures wild, and Hime, stuck next to her, looked a bit annoyed.
“Be quiet like Youhei-kun,” Hime said.
“No way! I’m so stressed from assignments and make-up classes—I’m gonna let loose today! I’ll swim upstream in the lazy river and hit the waterslide ten times, so brace yourself!” Sei-san declared.
That’s the spirit.
Sei-san must’ve been really looking forward to today after all that. Her eyes were practically bloodshot… Okay, her enthusiasm was a little scary.
“Onee-chan’s going to be a handful today,” Hime sighed.
“You’re handling her…?” I said.
I’d think it’d be the other way around, but whatever.
Hime let out a weary sigh and leaned lightly against me, as if exhausted from dealing with Sei-san.
Good job. To comfort her, I steadied her, and she leaned in more. Was she clinging to me? So cute…
While Hime relaxed, Sei-san seemed more focused on the car’s speed than on us.
“Mei-chan, go faster!” she urged.
“Safety first,” came the reply.
Today’s driver was Mei-san.
Dressed in her usual maid outfit, she handled the steering wheel with practiced ease.
(…She’s so tiny, it’s kind of a funny sight.)
Mei-san’s youthful appearance made her driving look surreal.
But, looks aside, she’s an adult. No need to worry about her skills… Her feet reached the pedals just fine, so it seemed safe enough.
“How long till we get there? Three minutes?” Sei-san asked.
“About thirty minutes. Sit still,” Mei-san said.
“Ugh, that’s forever!” Sei-san whined.
She fidgeted, but Mei-san ignored her, driving steadily.
Thanks to that, the ride was smooth and comfortable.
The car was air-conditioned, and the seats were oddly plush.
Maybe that’s why.
“Zzz… zzz…”
Before I knew it, soft breathing came from beside me.
Glancing over, I saw Hime fast asleep, leaning against my arm, looking content.
“Oh, Hime-chan’s out,” Sei-san noticed, lowering her voice.
“Youhei-sama, you okay?” Mei-san asked, probably checking via the rearview mirror.
I didn’t want to wake Hime, so I nodded silently to show I was fine.
“Then, please look after Hime-ojōsama for a bit… She was so excited for the pool, she barely slept last night,” Mei-san said.
Just like a kid before a field trip.
She’s mature for an eight-year-old, but moments like this were age-appropriately adorable.
I’d let her sleep until we arrived.
Careful not to move, I stayed still. Hime sleeping wasn’t an issue, but—
“Hime-chan’s asleep… Sound asleep? Hmm, sleeping…” Sei-san mumbled.
Sei-san’s behavior was, as expected, on my mind.
I hadn’t found a good moment to talk with her.
She’d been acting like something’s bothering her for a while. I really wanted to hear what she was thinking at some point.
Thirty minutes by car, and we arrived at the city’s leisure pool.
Right away, I parted from the Hoshimiya sisters to change. Mei-san, by the way, had errands to run and wasn’t joining us at the pool. She’d pick us up later.
(Alright… Guess I’ll head out.)
Changing was quick. I put on swim trunks and a rash guard—that’s what it’s called, right?—and stepped out of the locker room.
I looked around, but the girls weren’t there yet.
(Guess girls take longer to change… Wait a sec.)
That’s when it hit me.
(I’m at the pool with girls.)
I’d only thought of this as hanging out with friends.
But now that I considered it, going to the pool with girls was kind of a big deal, wasn’t it?
Realizing that, I got a bit embarrassed. I tried to calm down… but my timing was awful.
“Youhei-kun, sorry to keep you waiting,” a voice called.
My body tensed, freezing me in place.
I’d been lingering near the women’s locker room exit, so she spotted me right away.
Barefoot, making cute pitter-patter sounds, Hime approached. The moment I realized it was her, my tension melted away.
“…Oh, it’s Hime.”
“Yes. It’s Hime.”
She waved her hand lightly in response, almost playfully.
Of course, Hime was in a swimsuit—a red two-piece that matched her eyes perfectly.
She held an inflatable ring under her arm, giving off a summery, kid-like vibe that suited her.
“Um… how do I look? It’s a new swimsuit,” she asked.
“Cute. Really great,” I said.
Sharing my honest thoughts, Hime gave a shy smile.
Unconsciously, she hid her mouth with the ring… but it was transparent, so I could see her lips curling up.
“Your hair’s tied up?” I noticed.
“Yes. Onee-chan did it in twin tails,” she said.
“Looks good. Suits you,” I said.
Hime usually wore her hair down, but now it was in two ponytails, giving her a fresh look.
“Ehehe. You always give me lots of compliments, Youhei-kun. I’m happy,” she said.
No, no—I’m happy seeing how much my words delight you.
“Where’s Sei-san?” I asked, realizing she wasn’t there.
I’d assumed she’d come with Hime, but even as we talked, she hadn’t shown up.
“What’s Onee-chan doing…? She said she’d join us soon and to go ahead,” Hime said, looking puzzled.
I was about to ask Hime to check on her when—
“U-Ugh… Sorry for the wait,” Sei-san said, stumbling out of the women’s locker room, arms crossed.
Her face looked pale. She was wearing a bikini, which showed off her skin tone clearly. Her whole body seemed redder than usual.
(…N-Now I’m getting nervous!)
Hime had been calming, but Sei-san?
She felt more like a classmate. Seeing her made me suddenly self-conscious.
The more I thought about it, the worse it got. I’d never had much luck with girls at school, so this reaction was inevitable.
(Uh, what do I say? Compliment her… too forward? I did it with Hime, but with Sei-san, will it seem like I’ve got ulterior motives? No, but—)
I was mentally debating my next move.
Meanwhile, Sei-san didn’t seem to notice my inner turmoil.
“W-What do I do!?” she panicked.
“Onee-chan, why are you crossing your arms?” Hime asked.
Hime, the only calm one here, had picked up on Sei-san’s odd behavior.
Now that she mentioned it, Sei-san’s posture was strange. Crossing her arms… or rather, covering her chest.
“It doesn’t fit!” Sei-san said.
“Even though you bought it last year?” Hime asked.
“Yeah. It’s too small—it might snap!”
Talk about a tough situation.
“Y-Youhei? I, uh, have a favor to ask,” Sei-san said.
“I’m not looking! Nope, definitely not!” I said.
I averted my eyes to be safe. I wanted to keep things friendly with Sei-san. Letting a moment’s curiosity ruin that wasn’t worth it, so I made my innocence clear.
But Sei-san wasn’t the type to get mad over something like that.
“I know you’re not a perv, Youhei. But, um… could I maybe borrow your shirt?” she asked.
Oh, got it.
I was wearing a rash guard—a swim shirt. It’d cover her upper body, so it was perfect.
“O-Okay, here,” I said.
I quickly took it off and handed it to her.
Crisis averted, right?
…Or so I thought. Maybe Sei-san and I both let our guards down.
“Thanks—kya!?” she yelped.
As she reached for the shirt, her arms moved from her chest.
I hurriedly looked away. Thank goodness—I didn’t see anything. If I’d caught a glimpse of something sensitive, I wouldn’t have been able to face her. Props to my reflexes.
“S-S-Sorry! I’ll go put it on!” Sei-san said.
Her face beet red, she bolted back to the locker room.
Watching her retreat was, naturally, the ever-calm Hime.
“Puberty, huh. I’m jealous,” Hime said.
“J-Jealous?” I asked.
“Yes. I want to grow up fast too… Oh, and I’m jealous of your shirt,” she added.
With that, she gave my side a little poke.
…It should be safe to look now. Confirming Sei-san was gone, I turned to Hime.
“Jealous,” she repeated.
Her eyes had a slight pouty glint as she looked at me.
That expression was just… so cute, I couldn’t help but laugh.
(Hime really is soothing.)
Her voice, words, gestures, expressions—everything felt endearing.
I was glad she was here.
Thanks to her, the tension I’d felt with Sei-san vanished instantly.
“You wouldn’t be in this mess if you didn’t hate shopping,” Hime said dryly to Sei-san, who’d returned wearing my rash guard.
“I invited you to buy a new swimsuit yesterday, didn’t I?” Hime added.
“B-But… I bought it last year, so I thought the size would still be fine!” Sei-san protested.
She looked uncomfortable.
The rash guard zipped up the front, covering most of her upper body. But being men’s clothing, it was tight around her chest, leaving some cleavage visible. That alone was enough to overwhelm a high school boy—I couldn’t look directly. If she’d stayed in her bikini, I’d have had an even harder time knowing where to look.
As a bonus, the hem reached her upper thighs, covering more than before.
For me, this made her easier to talk to.
“Onee-chan, you’re growing. You need to mind your clothing sizes,” Hime said.
“Ugh… M-Maybe I gained a little weight?” Sei-san mumbled.
Hime was a bit miffed, while Sei-san looked visibly deflated.
Well, Sei-san often got scolded by Hime, so this was a familiar scene. Their sisterly bond was, as always, heartwarming.
“Youhei-kun, I’m sorry for the trouble my sister caused,” Hime said.
“Sorry, Youhei~,” Sei-san added.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind at all,” I said.
I didn’t even consider it trouble, so I shook my head to reassure them.
If anything, I was just a bit embarrassed to be shirtless now.
Not that I had much to hide. Missing a shirt was no big deal.
“Wanna go swim?” I suggested.
We were at the pool, after all. Things had settled, so it seemed like a good time.
The shade here wasn’t enough to beat the heat. The water would feel better.
“Totally! Hime-chan, let’s go!” Sei-san said.
“Alright. We came to have fun, so I’ll let the lecture slide for now,” Hime said.
“Yay!” Sei-san cheered.
As usual, the sisters made up in a flash. Sei-san grabbed Hime’s hand, and Hime naturally held hers back as they started walking.
“The lazy river over there good?” I asked.
“Sounds fine. But, Onee-chan… you remember I can’t swim, right?” Hime said.
“Eh? You can’t swim, Hime?”
I was stunned. I couldn’t help but ask again.
Hime was a genius girl who’d skipped grades. I’d assumed she could handle anything.
But it seemed there were things even Hime couldn’t do.
“To be precise, I’ve never practiced swimming,” Hime clarified.
“Back when Hime-chan was even younger, she couldn’t do intense exercise,” Sei-san added.
Right. Hime had some limitations when it came to physical activities.
I remembered when we first met. She’d been wandering, exhausted, and sitting by the roadside when I found her.
“Since coming to Japan, my health has improved, so I can exercise now,” Hime said.
“Yeah! Hime-chan’s been super energetic lately,” Sei-san agreed.
“Yes. I can’t swim, but I can float, so the lazy river should be fine… Just stay close, okay?” Hime said.
“Of course. Youhei, you’ll keep an eye on Hime-chan too, right?” Sei-san asked.
“Yeah, I’ve got her,” I said.
I see. She couldn’t swim, but she wasn’t afraid of water.
If it was just a matter of inexperience, she’d be fine.
“It’s my first time in a big pool like this, so I’m excited,” Hime said.
She was clearly thrilled.
Her expressions were usually subtle, but today they were easy to read.
She’d been so excited she barely slept last night… I hoped this day would become a wonderful memory for her.
“It’s lukewarm!” Sei-san declared as she stepped into the water.
“Yeah, same,” I said, feeling it too.
It was cooler than the air, but not as cold as I’d expected. A bit disappointing.
“Hime, come on in,” I said, reaching out to her.
She looked a little hesitant about entering the pool. Since she wasn’t used to water, it made sense.
“Thank you. I’m coming in,” she said.
Hearing my voice seemed to erase her hesitation instantly.
She took my hand and stepped in slowly. Sei-san quickly reached out from the side, supporting Hime’s waist, so there was no risk of her sinking.
“Here’s your floatie,” I said, handing it to her.
With that, Hime was all set.
“…It’s lukewarm,” she said.
Her verdict matched ours.
But her tone wasn’t negative. If anything, her bright expression suggested she found even the lukewarm water amusing.
“Onee-chan, it’s moving,” Hime said.
“Yup! Pretty cool, right~?” Sei-san replied.
“Yes. Just floating, but my body’s moving,” Hime said.
“Y-Yeah! Uh-huh… Nope, I can’t wait. Youhei, take care of Hime-chan!” Sei-san said.
“Sure, but what’s up?” I asked.
“I wanna float too!” she declared.
Sei-san couldn’t hold back any longer.
Leaving Hime to me, she leaned back and floated on the water’s surface.
“Hime, you okay? Just hold here?” I asked.
I gently placed my hand near her waist. Hime was so petite, I worried she might slip through the floatie’s hole. This way, she wouldn’t sink.
“Thank you. I feel safe with Youhei-kun holding me,” she said.
Hime was completely relaxed now.
Her body was loose, leaning her weight into my hand. She was light to begin with, and the water’s buoyancy made her feel even lighter—almost like I was holding her with one hand.
This way, even if she couldn’t swim, she’d be fine.
“Ahh, this is the best! All my study stress is melting away…!” Sei-san sighed.
She looked blissful.
Assignments and remedial classes must’ve really piled up for her.
“Onee-chan’s a lazybones who hates going out, but she’s surprisingly eager for amusement parks or places like this. She loves playing like this,” Hime said.
“Yup! Last year, I went to the beach with friends~,” Sei-san said.
Sei-san had a wide social circle. She was beautiful but gentle and approachable. Being in the student council, she was well-liked. She probably went out with friends often.
“She fell asleep sunbathing and didn’t swim much,” Hime added.
“Hime-chan!? That was supposed to be a secret… I got so sunburned afterward, it was a mess. Don’t remind me!” Sei-san protested.
“You might burn today too. You okay?” I asked.
“I put on sunscreen, so I’m good~ Oh, and I put some on Hime-chan too, so don’t worry,” Sei-san said.
“Yes. She applied it thoroughly,” Hime confirmed.
“Good. You and Sei-san have fair skin, so sunburn would be rough,” I said.
“Yup. I turn bright red right away~,” Sei-san said.
“Youhei-kun, you’re fair too. Do you turn red when you burn?” Hime asked.
“Nah, I tan. It doesn’t hurt much, so I’m pretty sturdy,” I said.
“Jealous~ I wanna tan too,” Sei-san said.
“If Onee-chan tanned, she’d look cute, like a boiled egg,” Hime said.
“What’s that supposed to mean!? Don’t say I’m round like a boiled egg!” Sei-san exclaimed.
“I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just a metaphor… I meant cute,” Hime clarified.
“Cute? Okay, then! If it’s cute, I’m fine with anything~,” Sei-san said.
…And so, we enjoyed the lazy river, chatting about nothing in particular.
The whole time, I kept supporting Hime’s body.
I knew she was safe holding the floatie, but she seemed more at ease with me touching her.
About fifteen minutes later, after one loop around the lazy river, I started feeling thirsty.
It was a scorching summer day. The water helped, but the sun was intense. When I suggested a break, both Sei-san and Hime agreed.
We bought drinks from a vending machine and sat on a bench. Each of us got a small can of juice.
Sei-san and I chugged ours, but Hime was still sipping hers slowly.
I was fine with taking it easy… but—
“Sorry! I’m gonna go swim!” Sei-san said.
Clearly not done playing, she headed back to the lazy river.
Her love for amusement spots was real. Usually sleepy, she was bursting with energy today.
“…With Youhei-kun here, Onee-chan can play freely and have fun,” Hime murmured, watching Sei-san backstroke in the lazy river.
She gripped her juice can tightly with both hands. Her narrowed eyes seemed almost relieved.
“She usually looks after me, so even when we go to places like this, she can’t play freely. I felt bad about that… so I’m glad she’s enjoying herself,” Hime said.
Just as Sei-san cherished Hime, Hime cherished Sei-san deeply.
Their sisterly bond warmed my heart. These two were as close as ever.
“Of course, I don’t think Onee-chan sees me as a burden. But sometimes, I want her to play without worrying about me,” Hime added.
“Then, since I’m here with you today, Sei-san can have fun freely,” I said.
Hime nodded slightly.
“I’m having so much fun with Youhei-kun by my side,” she said.
“I have fun with you too, Hime,” I replied.
“Oh, but if you want to play too, please tell me, okay? I’ll rely on Onee-chan to look after me then,” she said.
She was being considerate of me too.
But my feelings were a bit different from Sei-san’s.
“…I think I’d rather stay with you, Hime,” I said.
I repeated my earlier sentiment on purpose.
Because it was true. The lazy river or waterslides were fine, but being with Hime felt better.
I wasn’t here for the pool itself.
I came because Hime and Sei-san were here.
So she didn’t need to worry or hold back.
“Ehehe,” Hime giggled.
My feelings had reached her clearly.
She smiled, looking at me with an innocent expression.
“Then, I’ll rely on Youhei-kun a lot,” she said.
Murmuring that, she started sipping her remaining juice.
The small can might’ve been too much for her. After drinking some, she seemed full and held the can out to me.
“I can’t finish it. Can you have the rest?” she asked.
“You sure? Alright, I’ll take it,” I said.
It was her half-drunk orange juice. I usually drank sodas, so it’d been a while.
(…Was it always this sweet?)
When I took a sip, it felt sweeter than I remembered, which was odd.
Maybe because it’d been a while?
Or… because it was an indirect kiss with Hime?
I’d noticed, of course, but Hime didn’t seem to mind, so… as the older one, I figured it’d be weird to make a fuss and tried not to think about it.
There wasn’t much left. I finished it in one more gulp.
Yup. Orange juice was definitely sweet.
“Youhei-kun, can I make a selfish request?” Hime asked.
“Sure, go ahead,” I said.
I answered instantly. If it was something I could do, I’d be happy to.
Right after finishing the juice, as we sat side by side on the bench, Hime pointed in a direction and said, “Can I practice swimming over there?”
Her gaze was fixed on a small kiddie pool.
It did look shallow—perfect for practicing swimming.
“Got it. Sei-san’s… probably fine,” I said.
“It’s close by, and Onee-chan always finds me no matter where I am, so she’ll join us during a break,” Hime said.
I considered checking with Sei-san, who was playing in the lazy river, but it could wait. Since Hime was okay with it, we headed to the kiddie pool together.
First, I checked the water depth. It was just above my knees—about Hime’s navel. Shallow enough to avoid sinking but deep enough for swimming practice. Ideal.
“Hime, can you put your face in the water?” I asked.
“Yes, I can manage that,” she said.
She demonstrated, dipping her face in without hesitation. As she’d said, she wasn’t scared of water—just inexperienced with swimming.
She’d probably pick it up quickly.
“What should I do first? Swimming like Onee-chan seems hard,” she said.
“Backstroke’s a bit advanced,” I said.
Sei-san, despite appearances, was surprisingly athletic. She could do backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke—probably better than me.
“Let’s start with kicking,” I said.
“Kicking?” Hime asked.
“Yup. I’ll pull your hands, and you kick your legs like fins. That’ll move you forward,” I explained.
“Hands? I just hold your hands, right?” she said.
When I held out both hands, Hime grabbed them tightly without hesitation.
Her small fingers were delicate. I held them gently but firmly enough to support her, then prompted her to kick.
“I should lie flat, right? Let the water’s buoyancy carry me,” she said.
“Exactly. Don’t fight the buoyancy—just relax,” I said.
As expected of a genius girl. Understanding buoyancy made explaining easier.
Hime was analytical. She’d think through the principles before acting.
“To maximize buoyancy, I should keep my larger surface area—my stomach—down… Tensing up disrupts posture, so that’s no good. In this position, I kick my feet to generate forward momentum,” she muttered.
After her analysis, she threw herself into the water.
No hesitation. She kept her stomach down, as theorized. Still gripping my hands, I gently pulled to support her.
“Nn,” she hummed.
Keeping her face above water, she kicked her legs. Thanks to that, she moved forward slowly.
“Hey, you’re already swimming,” I said.
Hearing that, Hime stopped kicking and stood up.
Then, she bounced with innocent joy.
“Really? Am I swimming?” she asked.
“Yup, you were great,” I said.
“…Yay,” she said softly.
She looked so happy, I wanted to pat her head.
But she was still holding both my hands, making it tricky. It restricted my movement, but it felt like she was clinging to me, which wasn’t bad at all.
“Next, want to try putting your face in the water and practice breathing? It’s okay if you’re scared—we don’t have to,” I said.
“No, I’m fine. I’ll try,” she said.
We moved to a slightly harder step.
Hime handled it with ease. If she could swim without holding my hands, she’d have mastered kicking.
“Hime, you might have a knack for swimming,” I said.
Her progress was faster than I’d expected, which surprised me.
She’d mentioned before that she wasn’t confident in her athleticism, so I’d thought she’d struggle more.
“I’m surprised too. I wasn’t confident… but maybe it’s because Youhei-kun’s holding my hands. I’m not scared at all,” she said.
Saying such cute things again.
I was thrilled, but also a bit embarrassed, wanting to hide my goofy grin.
But with Hime still holding my hands, I couldn’t cover my face… and seeing me, she gave a mischievous smile.
“That’s my thanks for all your praise. You’re grinning, Youhei-kun,” she teased.
“Well, I’m happy, so I can’t help it,” I said.
“Happy?” she asked.
Admitting defeat, I shrugged.
At that, Hime squeezed my hands tighter.
As if she didn’t want to let go.
“Ehehe. Can I keep you a bit longer, Youhei-kun?” she asked.
“Yeah. It’d be great if you could swim without my hands by the end of today,” I said.
At this rate, she might even manage a crawl.
Or so I thought… but Hime didn’t seem too eager.
“Letting go… might be a bit soon. I’m still struggling to relax. Without holding Youhei-kun’s hands, I feel like I’ll sink,” she said.
“You don’t have to push yourself,” I said.
“…Well, that’s partly true, but it’s also an excuse,” she admitted.
“An excuse?” I asked.
“Yes. Letting go of Youhei-kun’s hands feels like such a waste,” she said.
No wonder she hadn’t let go.
Hime was clearly enjoying holding my hands.
This girl… she kept tugging at my heartstrings.
Letting go might’ve been better for her swimming practice.
But after such a cute confession, how could I let go?
Mastering swimming could wait for another day.
With that in mind, I kept helping with her practice, our hands still linked.
After a while in the kiddie pool, Sei-san approached, looking satisfied.
“Oh, it’s Onee-chan,” Hime said.
“Hey~ Sorry for playing solo~,” Sei-san said.
She was in high spirits.
With summer break bogged down by assignments and remedial classes, her usual frowns were gone. It felt like the first time in a while I’d seen her beaming.
“I went on the waterslide too. Only five times so far,” she said.
“Five times…!” I exclaimed.
Sei-san might’ve been enjoying herself the most.
Hime and I were having fun, but we couldn’t match her enthusiasm.
“What’re you two doing~?” Sei-san asked.
“Youhei-kun’s teaching me to swim,” Hime said.
“Eh? Hime-chan, you can swim now?” Sei-san asked.
“Yes. Watch, Onee-chan,” Hime said.
Hime grabbed my hands again, and I pulled her as before.
She kicked her legs, showing off to Sei-san.
“W-Wow… That’s how you swim,” Sei-san said.
She seemed a bit shaken. Was she surprised Hime was swimming, or was it something else?
She kept glancing at me, like she wanted to say something, which nagged at me. But Hime stopped swimming and lifted her face from the water, so I missed my chance to ask.
“Onee-chan, was something off?” Hime asked.
“No, uh… your hands… Never mind, it’s nothing!” Sei-san said.
“…Weird Onee-chan. Well, she’s always a bit odd,” Hime said.
“I’m not weird!” Sei-san protested.
The sisters bantered as usual.
Sei-san took a breath to calm herself, then looked at Hime again.
From the poolside, she gazed at her beloved sister with warmth.
“Hime-chan, that’s amazing~ You’re already swimming like that,” Sei-san said.
“It’s thanks to Youhei-kun,” Hime said.
Hime puffed out her chest proudly, as if showing off.
She must’ve been thrilled by Sei-san’s praise. Her cheeks were redder than usual, and she seemed excited… or rather, exhilarated.
Her energy was high, her voice louder and clearer than normal, though slightly slurred, suggesting she wasn’t entirely calm.
It was great she was enjoying herself so much. Still, I figured I should keep an eye on her.
It was like… a parent watching a kid hyped up at a festival or amusement park, running around wildly.
(I’m being overprotective, aren’t I?)
I knew it myself. I felt almost sisterly toward Hime… or maybe even more.
That’s why I couldn’t help watching her every move.
We weren’t related, yet I worried this much.
Some might call it overbearing or meddlesome.
But this time, my feelings for Hime ended up being a good thing.
“Hime-chan, wanna take a break soon?” Sei-san suggested.
“Yes. Can we get another drink?” Hime asked.
“Sure~,” Sei-san said.
As we prepared to leave the pool for a break, I let go of Hime’s hand since we didn’t need to hold on anymore.
We started walking through the water.
Sei-san had already turned away and begun heading out.
I climbed onto the poolside, following her.
After a few steps, I felt something off and stopped.
I’d sensed Hime right behind me.
I assumed she was following, but… turning around, I realized she hadn’t climbed out yet.
(Huh? Something’s wrong…)
The moment I thought that, I dove back into the pool on reflex.
“—Eh?” Sei-san gasped, a beat late.
Only then did I fully grasp the situation.
(Hime’s drowning.)
No mistake. In the split second I’d looked away, something had happened to her.
“Cough, cough,” came a small choking sound.
About a meter from the poolside, Hime was struggling, trying to get her face above water. I reached out, supporting her body.
“Hime, you’re okay,” I said.
My voice was calmer than I’d expected.
From behind, I wrapped my arms around her waist, lifting her slightly. Her frantic kicking was making her position worse, so I held her up.
“…!” she gasped.
“Calm down. Breathe slowly,” I said.
She might’ve swallowed some water. I rubbed her back gently, speaking softly.
Suddenly, Hime’s body went limp.
Moments ago, she’d been thrashing, but once I touched her, she relaxed completely, leaning into me and taking deep breaths as instructed.
“In… out… phew,” she breathed.
Finally, she seemed to calm down.
Not quite drowning… more like almost drowning.
Thank goodness I noticed in seconds. Being overprotective paid off for once.
“Hime-chan!? A-A-Are you okay!?” Sei-san cried, rushing over.
Her face was pale, clearly worried sick about Hime.
“…I’m sorry,” Hime said.
Apologizing first in a moment like this was so like her.
She must’ve been scared, yet her guilt for causing trouble seemed stronger.
But it was an accident. She didn’t need to apologize. To reassure her, I gently patted her head.
“I’m just glad you’re safe,” I said.
“…Thanks to Youhei-kun saving me,” she said.
“Nah, I’m sorry for looking away,” I said.
“Wahhh, I’m sorry too! I should’ve watched Hime-chan better…!” Sei-san said, nearly in tears.
She jumped into the pool, hugging both Hime and me.
I held Hime from behind, Sei-san from the front. Caught in the middle, Hime looked a bit smothered.
“Onee-chan? Now I might drown in your chest,” Hime said.
“No drowning allowed! Sniff… Hime-chan!” Sei-san sobbed.
Hime didn’t cry. Even now, her expression barely shifted.
But Sei-san cried enough for both of them, her face a mess of tears and snot. It was almost comical, and it made Hime laugh.
“Onee-chan, your crying face is funny, so stop,” Hime said.
“But… W-What happened?” Sei-san asked.
“I slipped. I tried to regain my balance, but my body wouldn’t move right, and I panicked. If I’d stayed calm, the water was shallow enough to stand in… I guess I wasn’t thinking clearly,” Hime explained.
Hime had been visibly excited today.
That must’ve thrown her off her usual composure.
At least she was safe. As long as nothing happened to her, that’s what mattered.
“Youhei-kun, Thank you,” Hime said.
“No big deal. Don’t worry about it,” I said.
As I said that, I realized I was still holding her up and loosened my grip to set her down.
But Hime didn’t let go of me.
(Is she still a bit scared?)
Even if it was brief, she’d nearly drowned. It’d be natural to feel shaken.
“Honestly, I was panicking… but the moment Youhei-kun touched me, my mind cleared. The tension left, and I didn’t swallow too much water,” she said.
“I’m glad I made it in time. I should’ve kept holding your hand, though,” I said.
I couldn’t take pride in “saving” her. Ideally, I shouldn’t have looked away at all.
I should’ve confirmed she was out of the pool. I was deeply regretting that. Overprotective or not, in a place like a pool, you couldn’t be too careful.
(If she’d developed a fear of water because of this…)
She’d been swimming so well.
If she became afraid of water, it’d be my fault. I had to stay by her side until she could swim confidently again.
That’s what I was thinking when—
“Youhei-kun, look,” Hime said suddenly.
She let go of me.
Before I could wonder what she was doing, she dipped her face in the water… and then kicked her legs, swimming to the poolside all on her own.
Just moments ago, she hadn’t wanted to let go of my hands.
“I can swim now. Thanks to almost drowning, I learned how to relax my body,” she said.
…She must’ve sensed my worry.
Being the bright girl she is, she probably swam to reassure me.
“Hime-chan, that’s amazing. You’ve grown so much without me noticing,” Sei-san said.
She’d been watching Hime’s feat too.
Overcome with emotion, she was tearing up for a different reason now. I thought she was being dramatic, but only for a moment.
“Hime…!” I exclaimed.
Guess I couldn’t talk either.
Seeing Hime swim, I couldn’t help clapping, overwhelmed with joy—more than I’d realized.
“Ehehe. You’re both overreacting,” Hime said.
She hadn’t expected such a celebration.
She smiled shyly, no trace of the fear from her near-drowning.
“Shall we get out? I’m a bit tired,” she said.
“Yeah, sounds good~ Let’s relax with some juice,” Sei-san suggested.
“Got it. I’ll grab some drinks. You two rest,” I said.
Sei-san and I climbed out of the pool, and the three of us walked slowly together.
I checked Hime’s steps—she seemed fine.
(Good. She doesn’t seem traumatized.)
With a bit more practice, she’d swim confidently.
More than anything, I was thrilled that today ended as a bright memory for her, not one of fear.
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