Episode 107: Swimsuit and Straw Hat

「Thank you very much!」

We finished our shopping and stepped out of the store.

「Man, I never thought Kazunari would become the kind of guy who could pull that off. You’ve really grown up.」

Yuji voiced his thoughts after watching me shop.

Well, it’s true, because the old me could never have imagined worrying so seriously about someone else to prepare a gift like this.

Currently, we were waiting for Sara-senpai and Natsumi-senpai to finish changing.

A guy’s changing is over in a few minutes, but it doesn’t work that way for women.

We decided to use that waiting time to shop at a nearby store.

It was the right move to bring some money that I hadn’t entrusted to Sara-senpai, just in case something like this happened.

Speaking of money, Sara-senpai had bought tickets for both of us when we were getting on the train, and when Natsumi-senpai saw that…

「Umm… Takanashi-kun, I’m not really impressed with you letting Sara buy things like this, or rather… right, Tachibana-kun?」

「Y, yeah. Kazunari, seriously, at least pay for your own…」

「Um… please do not misunderstand. This wallet and the money inside belong to Kazunari-san.」

「…Huh? But you just pulled that out of your own bag, Sara.」

「That is because I have been entrusted with managing Kazunari-san’s living expenses.」

Natsumi-senpai and Yuji froze.

That’s right, I haven’t told those two about the key and the wallet yet…

「…No, yeah, I get it. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I mistakenly thought you guys hadn’t progressed that far yet.」

Natsumi-senpai spoke with a rather delicate phrasing, and then…

「Kazunari… wow, that’s impressive, yeah.」

As if echoing her, Yuji sent a delicate reaction my way too.

In contrast to their reactions, Sara-senpai stood there with a somewhat proud smile.

That was the exchange we had.

I know it’s not exactly normal, but if it makes Sara-senpai happy, then there’s no problem.

Setting that aside, I currently have a straw hat in my hands.

The other day, when I saw Sara-senpai during her fitting, I was certain this would look good on her, but even though I wanted to buy it as a present, I hadn’t really had the chance.

I’m relieved I finally managed to buy it, so now all that’s left is to wait for Sara-senpai and the others to arrive…

Or so I thought, but it seemed they were already done changing, as they were walking toward us right then.

「I am terribly sorry to have kept you waiting.」

「Thanks for waiting~」

「………」

I had seen her in this during the fitting the other day, but the swimsuit design that fits Sara-senpai’s neatness is just wonderful.

And since it was only for a short time back then, I didn’t have the leeway to think about it much, but Sara-senpai, who usually prefers clothes that aren’t revealing and don’t show her body lines, is standing right in front of me in a swimsuit.

Seeing her like this, I can really tell that Sara-senpai’s proportions are incredible…

As I lost my words and stared at her in silent admiration, Sara-senpai’s face grew redder and redder.

「Um, Kazunari-san… I can tell from your face that you are pleased, but, well, it is embarrassing…」

Once she said that much, she rushed over to me and hid herself behind my shoulder, sticking close to me.

「Ah, wait, just a bit more…」

By the time I realized my true feelings had slipped out, it was too late. Sara-senpai, whose face must have turned even redder, muttered something that made me agonize even more.

「…Kazunari-san, you pervert.」

Partially out of embarrassment, I almost forcefully placed the straw hat I was holding onto Sara-senpai’s head.

「A, ah… Kazunari-san, this is…」

Sara-senpai looked understandably bewildered.

Say it… just say it…

「I thought it would definitely look good on Sara-senpai in her swimsuit, so I prepared it. It’s a p, present. Well, it might be embarrassing, but could you show me how you look wearing it?」

I said it… I managed to say it.

Hearing that, Sara-senpai might have been embarrassed, but her happiness must have won out because she held the straw hat on top of her head with both hands and…

Nod…

She gave a small nod.

Then she stepped away from me and, perhaps feeling shy, pulled slightly on the brim of the straw hat as she faced me.

「It’s cute. It really suits you.」

I wasn’t being flattering; it was how I truly felt, and I was surprised by how naturally I could say a line like that.

Sara-senpai returned to her spot diagonally behind me and…

「Thank you very much… I am very happy.」

She whispered that in a voice only I could hear.

「…They’re hopeless, they’ve completely lost sight of their surroundings. Agh… I’m about to vomit sugar.」

「…Behind those two, there were some guys who were probably following them to hit on them, but they disappeared while watching that.」

Those two, it was the same with the wallet thing, but their distance has been closing rapidly lately.

I said that Takanashi-kun couldn’t function without Sara, but I wonder what would happen to Sara if Takanashi-kun wasn’t around.

Anyway, since Takanashi-kun can only see Sara now… I won’t be satisfied unless Tachibana-kun gives me extra compliments to make up for Takanashi-kun’s share.

「Sigh… well, those two are fine, it’s nothing new. By the way, Tachibana-kun, aren’t you forgetting to say something to me?」

「…No, well.」

Hoho, so he’s staying quiet even though he knows. I’ll have to make him say it, even if it’s out of spite.