Prologue
Only one week remains until the end of summer break. For Kazuya, he's completely fine not doing anything until the end of it, but it's not same case to his friends.
"Want to go somewhere before summer break ends?"
Excitedly asked by Yuu over the phone. The one he called is Kazuya. He is a bit irritated from Yuu's suddenly calling. He was just reading a light novel until a while ago.
"It's okay for me, but I'm going to buy something tomorrow, so if your plan is for tomorrow, I can't come."
"Don't worry, It's not tomorrow, It's the day after that."
"I see."
With that, the whole gang planned their trip, and they're going to spend their youths.
Chapter 10
"Master, I'm going out!"
"Come back, before night!"
After hearing his Master's voice, Kazuya left his house, and goes on to his walk. He was planning to go to the mall to buy the aircon he wanted. He worked for almost a month, and he thought that It's enough to buy an aircon.
"The train is not cramped today."
Said by Kazuya who was amazed by the unexpected occurrence at the train. He just sat at a seat, waiting for the train to arrive at his destination. After 20 minutes, the train arrived at Kazuya's destination.
Kazuya left the train and goes on to mall. While on his way to the mall, he felt that the sun is much stronger than before. It doesn't bother him that much, but he still noticed the change.
He arrived at the mall, and entered it. As soon as he enter, the cool breeze of the aircon surprised Kazuya's skin. He was bathing in sun a while ago, but now his skin was tingling in cold.
"So this is aircon, huh? It's not like I didn't felt it before, but It's still amazing!"
After the inspection from the guards, Kazuya goes on to the electronic shop to look for an aircon he can afford. The electronic shop was located at the 3rd Floor so Kazuya has to ride the escalator to climb.
"I wonder if this thing will eat me."
Kazuya just thought useless things about the escalator. But he still reached the 3rd Floor. The electronic shop was in his left, so he goes left. After arriving to the shop, Kazuya asked the counter if they have an aircon that has a cost, covered by Kazuya's wallet.
"We have!"
"Really?! Could you please show it to me!"
Kazuya saw a short but seems sturdy aircon. It has a hot and cold function, so if winter comes, it can be a heater. Kazuya inspected the aircon for 5 minutes then decided to buy it!
"Thank you for your patronage! We'll deliver your aircon tomorrow morning!"
"Thank you!"
With that, Kazuya's goal to have an aircon, has been fulfilled!
+++++
Kazuya have gone home, and shouted "I'm home!" so that his Master will know that he was already there.
"Welcome home!"
"Huh? That's strange, my Master doesn't greet me back."
Kazuya just thought to himself. Kazuya's Master never greets him back, so it's strange for Kazuya to hear his Master greet him. He took a peek at the living room, and saw Yuu sitting in front of a table and sipping tea.
"So it's just Yuu, huh?"
Yuu looked back at Kazuya once then returned to sipping his tea again. Kazuya took a seat in front of Yuu, then asked:
"So, why are you here?"
"To invite you, of course. We're going to the swimming pool tomorrow. You and I can invite as many as we can, you in or not? Of course, I invited Hajime already."
A swimming pool. Minors can't afford beach, so instead they're going to swimming pools. This is the vacation spot for people with tight budget but still wants to have fun.
"I already bought an aircon, and spending time with friends is important too. There's no harm in coming, so why not?"
"So your in? Okay, I will register your name to the reservation. For now, you should call all of the people you wanted to invite."
As soon he heard that, Kazuya looked at his phone intensely. Although, he has a cellphone, he doesn't use it. Simply, because he don't know how to use it. But today is different. He will be forced to use his phone now!
He took his phone and typed Hideko's number. He took it not a long time ago. After he typed the number, the sound of her phone ringing can be heard.
"Umm, hello, Is it you, Kazuya? You don't call very often, so I'm a bit surprised that you called me. So what's up?
Kazuya was just staring at his phone dumbfounded. No matter how may times he see this phone, he really can't believe that their voices can be heard even from someone far away.
After some minutes, he returned to his senses, and answered the phone.
"Umm, Hideko? I was hoping to invite you at the pool, we're going to gather there tomorrow at 12:00 PM. You know, to build some summer memories?"
"The pool? Okay, I'm free tomorrow. See you tomorrow."
The call had ended, and Kazuya gave Yuu a thumbs up, as a signal that she's going. Meanwhile, at Hideko's house:
"Big Sister! Please help me pick a swimsuit!"
Hideko suddenly opened the door to her sister's room and shouted those words.
"Hey, Hideko, You startled me! What's with this swimsuit? Going to the pool?"
"Actually, yes, I'm going to the pool."
"With Kazuya?"
Himeko said teasingly to Hideko. As a response, Hideko nodded once. But she's not blushing. Hideko was very calm today. As if she went to a meditation. Himeko smiled at Hideko and said with her fists on the air:
"All right! Let's pick a swimsuit beautiful enough that Kazuya will faint if he saw it!"
"Yes!"
With that, the two sisters went on shopping for swimsuits.
"Next is Haruka, but I don't know her number. Yuu, do you know Haruka's number?"
"You mean Haruka Tomoe? You just gone on a date a while ago, why did you not get her number?"
Kazuya just scratched his left cheek and chuckled on his own mistake. He stood up and left the house. Obviously, he's planning to go to Haruka's house and invite her directly.
Kazuya's house is just 2 stations away from Haruka's house. Kazuya rode the train and waited patiently until he arrive on the station.
"This train never ceases to amaze me. Trains in Edo Era is still developing. Besides, trains in this era is much faster than trains in my time."
"Arriving at Station 3."
Realizing that he arrived at his destination, he quickly left the train station, and walked towards Haruka's house. After some minutes, he reached Haruka's house.
"Ding, Dong!"
The sound of the ringing doorbell can be heard even from outside the house.
"Oh, who might you be?"
The figure of a woman appeared before Kazuya. She's Haruka's mother. Although, she's already on her 40's, her face is so young that you might think she's just on her 20's. Just so you know, this mother is a member of a certain mother group called "Forever Teens." It's a very useless information, though.
"I am Kazuya Satoru, Haruka's schoolmate. I came because we have something to talk about."
"Oh? Please wait a minute young man. Dad! Please call Haruka from upstairs!"
Dad raised a thumbs up to his wife before climbing the stairs to his daughter's room.
"Wait, what If I go to Kazuya's house directly and invite him? Wait, if I do that, he might think that I'm a pushy woman! What do I do? I really want to see Kazuya this summer?"
"Honey, there's someone calling for you."
Haruka looked once at her dad and said:
"Not today, I have something to worry about."
"Umm, but he said he's your schoolmate. I think his name is Kazuya Satoru?"
The moment Haruka heard that name, she immediately got down to stairs as if someone is chasing her.
"Hello, why... did... you... visit?"
Because she ran from her room to the door, she's catching her breath right now. Seeing Haruka like that, Kazuya just smiled to her.
"Haruka, I want to invite you to a swimming pool tomorrow. It's to create summer memories, you know?"
It took for a while for Haruka to give her reply. She's still catching her breath, you see.
"I'm in. See you tomorrow."
"Okay, since I don't know your number, please give it to me now."
Haruka immediately gave her number to Kazuya. Kazuya interpreted it that Haruka is in some kind of rush, so he typed her number to his phone as fast as he can.
"Goodbye! See you tomorrow!"
As soon as Kazuya left, Haruka immediately looked at her mother and said:
"Mother, I'm going to shop for swimsuit today!"
+++++
Kazuya just took a seat to a nearby bench them released a really heavy sigh.
"Aki, please come here."
Only 5 seconds have passed since he said that, Aki suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"You called?"
"Yes. Now that you think about it, your power is really convenient. You can teleport anywhere as long as there's air in that place."
Aki's given Soul Seal comes from the japanese god called "Fujin", the god of wind. With this, she can teleport to any place with air.
"Yes, it's convenient. But I can't use it in just anywhere. If someone saw me appearing out of nowhere, I think it's not a bad idea. In addition, just teleporting once is taking all my strength."
"Oh, I see."
Kazuya learned something new today, and he can't help but feel amazed.
"Well, did you called me here just to ask that?"
"No, It's not like that. I was planning to invite you to a swimming pool tomorrow. For a gathering, you see."
Aki touched her chin for minute then gave her answer:
"Sorry, I can't come. I have an appointment."
"Oh? That's so bad. Well, that's all, give me your number so you won't have to teleport the next time I call you."
Aki gave her cellphone to Kazuya and he typed her number to his phone. With that, Kazuya's business with Aki is now finished.
"Next is... Hirokawa!"
He came to Hirokawa's house, or should I say dojo, to invite him to the swimming pool. But Hirokawa declined his invitation because there's a training camp going to be held tomorrow.
And so on, the people who are going to come are:
Kazuya Satoru
Yuu Ichirou
Sakurajima Hajime
Haruka Tomoe
Hideko Shiori
Only five people will come at the swimming pool gathering. After finishing his mission, Kazuya have gone home.
+++++
"Big Sister! There! That's the women's swimsuit shopping section! Let's go immediately!"
"Okay."
Hideko and her sister, Himeko, is now shopping for a swimsuit Hideko will wear for tomorrow. At the same time:
"At last, I arrived at my destination. The shopping mall is quite far away from my house!"
Haruka have gone to the shopping mall to buy swimsuit she can wear for tomorrow, the same reason as Hideko. When they're in front of the women's swimsuit section, they can't help but see each other.
When Haruka and Hideko's eyes have met, Hideko immediately thought:
"What? Isn't that Haruka Tomoe? The girl who confessed to Kazuya? If she's here, it means that Kazuya invited her too, right? Wow, she's so beautiful! No matter how many times I see her, I just can't help but feel amaze! But I won't lose!"
Noticing that Hideko is staring at her, Haruka thought to himself:
"This is one of Kazuya's friends, right? She's one of my classmates, too. I think her name is Hideko Shiori?"
Haruka noticed something and moved her sight downwards:
"Ah! Her breasts are quite big! On the other hand, mine is small! I wonder if Kazuya likes small breasts? Wait, what am I even talking about!?"
The two are just taking side glances at each other. Himeko, smelled something fishy and asked:
"Hey, Hideko, do you know this girl? Both of you are taking side glances."
"Big Sister, we're just classmates."
Himeko is just staring Hideko with suspicious eyes, her eyes are saying "Is that really it?"
"There's really something between these two. I wonder what is is?"
Himeko just thought to herself. The "something" that she's talking about, is the fact that these two are love rivals! A couple of minutes have passed, and Haruka decided to move and enter the shop.
The sisters entered the shop after her.
"What about this, Hideko?"
"Sister! Isn't it too sexy!? I'm going to die from embarrassment If I wear that!"
Himeko showed her a two-piece swimsuit, where you can almost compare it to thongs. Meanwhile, Haruka is having a hard time choosing between a two-piece swimsuit and a one-piece swimsuit.
"Which one should I take?"
"Maybe you should just take the one-piece swimsuit."
"Eeeeeh?!"
Himeko suddenly appeared behind Haruka and gave a suggestion. Haruka was shocked because she suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Aren't you Hideko's companion? Why are you here?"
"Oh? Hideko is still in the dressing room, so I figured that I should check you out."
After Haruka received an explanation, she realized that asking an advice from an adult is a huge help. So she asked Himeko for an advice.
"Your not paying attention to what I said earlier, right? I'm saying that I one-piece swimsuit will suit you better."
"Why? I thought that a two-piece swimsuit will do fine."
"Well, that's because..."
Himeko scratched her head once, then whispered her answer to Haruka.
"That's because a two-piece swimsuit might not emphasize your breasts. On the other hand, a one-piece swimsuit will emphasize your breasts better."
After she whispered her answer, Haruka felt like her soul will get out. She turned her back, then she picked a blue one-piece swimsuit, and walked towards the dressing room. While she's still walking, Himeko touched her shoulders and said while raising a thumbs up.
"Don't give up hope! You might be a late bloomer. Just believe in yourself and drink lots of milk."
"I don't think milk will be enough."
After Haruka said that, she walked towards the dressing room like a lifeless human.
"Poor thing."
Himeko can't help but to utter those words to Haruka. With that, the two girls shopped their own swimsuits and prepared for tomorrow.
+++++
"Wow! So hot!"
The piercing sunlight can be felt at Yuu's standing location. They agreed to meet up at the nearby fast-food restaurant. Hajime, Yuu and Kazuya are gathered in front of the fast-food restaurant.
Yuu is trying to endure the sunlight, and trying to find a better location where the sunlight won't hit him. Hajime is fiddling with his phone, while Kazuya is just waiting and standing patiently. All 3 of them are silent a while ago when:
"Hey, don't you think the girls are taking too long?"
Yuu engaged on a conversation. Hajime followed up to his question.
"Yup, you have a point. Maybe they're trying their best dressing up as beautifully as they can?"
"For who?"
Yuu asked that, but after a few seconds he immediately realized the answer. Yuu looked at Kazuya with envious eyes, and he's thinking that:
"Damn it! I wish I'm a handsome guy too!!!"
Kazuya on the other hand, is still waiting patiently for the two of them. 1 minute has passed, and Yuu immediately got back on his feet, and engaged into a conversation.
"Now that you think about it, we still haven't engaged into a "boy talk!" So, now let's engage on one! While waiting for the girls!"
"I see, then what's the first topic?"
"What kind of breasts do you like? Big ones or small ones?"
Yuu's question placed a really heavy atmosphere in the environment. All of a sudden, the two boys became silent.
"Oh, your silent. Does that mean I'm going to answer first? Personally, I like bigger ones. I think they're soft. But sadly, I really can't seem to like small breasts. I feel like I'm a pedophile if I start to like small breasts."
When Yuu gave his statement, the atmosphere became heavier and heavier. Hajime is staring at Yuu with terrified eyes. Even Kazuya is trying to keep his distance from Yuu, as if saying "I'm not involve in this conversation."
"Why are you guys looking at me like that? Is there's something wrong?"
Hajime just pointed his finger behind Yuu, as a signal. When Yuu tried to turn his head, he saw Haruka staring at him with terrifying eyes. She picked up a nearby rock, then threw it to Yuu.
"It's sexual harassment, you know?"
Haruka said as she remove the dirt from her hands.
Lesson: If Haruka is around, don't talk about breasts.
Because of the intensity of the throw, Yuu was unconscious. But he's not dead.
"Don't worry, Yuu, I'll pray for your soul. Rest in peace."
Hajime said as he close his eyes and pray. But I repeat, he's still not dead.
"Just don't talk about breasts in your next life. It's not funny."
Haruka said as she cross her arms. But I repeat again, he's not dead. Kazuya is just standing beside them, and smiling at them. Only 3 minutes after Haruka arrived, Hideko arrived at fast restaurant.
"Now that everyone's here. Let's go. I reserved a bus for us to ride."
Hajime picked up his phone and called the bus, to tell that it's time to pick them up. After waiting again for 5 minutes, the bus has come to pick them up.
"I guess I'll just carry Yuu's dead body."
Hajime volunteered to carry Yuu to the bus. But I repeat again and again, that he's still not dead! When everyone was already at the bus, the driver gave them a thumbs up, then turned on the engine. With that, they set off for their swimming pool vacation.
+++++
"Ahh! How long did I sleep!?"
Yuu finally woke up, after sleeping for approximately 4 hours. He still didn't changed to his swimming trunks, so he immediately gone to the dressing room to change to it.
Meanwhile, Kazuya is sitting at the corner of the pool. He's not doing anything in particular, he's just sitting there. Haruka and Hideko are playing beach volleyball. They're a bit awkward at each other at first, but they befriends each others rather easily.
Hajime is swimming through the whole pool. It's freestyle, in case you want to know. Everyone is having fun, except Yuu. After some minutes, he finally showed up and jumped to the pool while shouting:
"Banzai!!!"
Because of his shouting, the four immediately noticed his presence. But they didn't paid it any mind after a while.
"Let's play some beach volleyball!"
Yuu suddenly shouted at the pool, despite knowing there are strangers. After hearing Yuu's proposal, Haruka immediately retorted:
"But we're playing it just a while ago."
"I'm not included there so It's not counted!"
Haruka is just staring at Yuu with annoyed eyes. Since Yuu had realized that something will happen if he continue, he didn't pressed the topic any longer.
"Besides, we only have 5 people here. We still need one so that the numbers are even."
With that reason, Yuu can't even retort. With that, they gave up at the beach volleyball. While everyone was thinking of what to play, Kazuya proposed something
"How about "shiritori?"
(In case you don't know, shiritori is a chain word game where they'll give one character, then chain it with an another character. For example, arigato(thank you), since the last letter(character for japanese) is to, it will be chained with tomodachi(friend). If you use an already used word, you lose. If you don't answer at 30 seconds, you lose, and if you end your character with "n", you lose. Since it's an english web novel, we'll use the last letter of the english word, instead of the last character of the japanese.)
"What? Kazuya, we're in the pool. We can play shiritori anywhere."
Replied by Yuu, and he's reply was a complain, really. As if he's saying "please think of a better one!"
"That's a good idea!"
"What?!"
Haruka supported Kazuya's idea. With Haruka's follow up, even Hajime and Hideko sided with Kazuya. So Yuu can't do anything but to cry.
"Being popular sure is nice."
With that, the five of them formed a circle and started to play "shiritori."
+++++
"Then, we'll start with Kazuya."
"Okay! Important."
The order of their turns are in a clockwise turn. So starting from Kazuya, next is Hideko then Hajime, after that, Haruka and Yuu.
"Tarts!"
"Snake!"
"Eggs!"
"Stun!"
"Okay, Yuu, you lose."
Immediately said by Haruka while looking at Yuu. Since Yuu lost, he's already out of the game. Only four people remains.
"Since the nuisance had gone, What about a punishment game for someone who loses? To spice things up, of course."
"Who are you calling a nuisance?"
In the middle of Haruka's explanation, Yuu immediately interfered to her. But Haruka gave him a roundhouse kick, and he stayed away from them, to Haruka specifically.
"Let's see. The punishment... is the winner can give one command to a one loser, and they have to obey it no matter what!"
"Sounds good!"
Everyone agreed at Haruka's punishment game. Bur deep inside them, they have ulterior motives, for Haruka
"I'm going to win here and command Kazuya to give me a princess carry!!!"
As for Hideko:
"I have to win this and command Kazuya to pet me in the head!"
As for the two boys:
"I don't really have anything in mind. I guess I'll order him/her to buy me a drink."
Because of that, the shiritori will now begin!
+++++
The order is still clockwise so starting from Kazuya, next is Hideko, Hajime, then Haruka. Game Start!
"Birthday!"
"Yolk!"
"Kite!"
"Elephant!"
Back to Kazuya.
"Thorn!"
"Okay, Kazuya, you lose!"
Since Kazuya already lost, he moved from the circle and goes to Yuu, who is now sulking.
"Okay start again! Since Kazuya lost, Hideko will start the game!"
Declared by Haruka while raising his finger. The game starts again.
"Give!"
"Ear!"
"Rise!"
"Elephant!"
"Hideko lost! Elephant is already taken!"
"What?!"
With that, Hideko lost the shiritori. The battle is now between Haruka and Hajime. Haruka is staring at Hajime with eyes saying "You better back down now, while you still have the chance!"
But Hajime doesn't even give the slightest care to her eyes. The play will start with Hajime.
"Tremor!"
"Radio!"
"Oscilloscopes!"
"Sand!"
"Deaf!"
"Fish!"
"Hanger!"
"Grea-"
Just before Haruka finish her word, she suddenly got stumbled! Since she was in the pool, she didn't get hurt, but 30 seconds had already passed since Hajime gave his last word. With that, the game had finished and hailed Hajime as the winner.
+++++
While Hajime was lying at the couch, he suddenly felt the cold tingling his cheeks. He rose from the bed, and saw Kazuya holding a can of soft drinks.
"Here is your drink."
"Thank you."
Kazuya sat beside Hajime at the couch. It's almost evening and the sun will set soon. So they're already preparing to leave. While drinking the cold drink, Kazuya asked:
"Hajime, did you have fun?"
"I guess, I had fun."
Replied by Hajime then came back from drinking his drink. After he replied, Kazuya asked another question:
"Since the day I extracted your Soul Seal, how are you doing now?"
"I guess It's fine. Everyone else have avoided me since I took off my mask. But you know, It kinda feels good. Having no secret to hide feels really good. It's as if a needle had been removed my chest."
"I see."
Hajime stood up, threw his can to the garbage can, then said to Kazuya:
"Let's go. We're going home now, don't make the others waiting."
With that, Kazuya stood up from the couch, and followed Hajime to the bus. The sun had set now, it means that their gathering is now over.
+++++
Aki's Side Story: My Appointment
"Aki, do you want to, you know? Since we didn't saw each other for a long time, do you want to go to a cafe, and talked about some stuff?"
These words of Tadokoro are still ringing on my head. I apologize for not going to Kazuya's pool gathering. But Tadokoro is a precious friend that I haven't seen in a while, so I guess I have to respond to him.
I agreed to meet up at the Starbucks at 3:00 PM. I tied my hair to my usual style, pigtails. I tidied up myself and dressed up as beautifully as I can. I wore a short-sleeved shirt and a short, frilly skirt.
With my outfit, I decided to head out. My family is still worried every time I go out. They don't have anything to worry about. The Starbucks is just in the corner.
I walked and walked until I reach my destination. When I got there, I can already see Tadokoro waiting there. I have to apologize for him waiting for me.
"Sorry for being late!"
"No, your right on time. I'm just too early that's all."
Tadokoro sure is generous. After that, Tadokoro and I entered the Starbucks and took our seats. The aircon sure is nice. After bathing in sunlight like that, the aircon really cools me.
Using my Soul Seal consumes my stamina and power so I want to avoid it if possible.
"May I take your order, sir?"
"Then, I'll take a cappuccino."
"As for you, maam?"
"Iced coffee."
"Coming right up."
After we placed our orders, some awkward silence are enveloping us. It's only natural though. Both of us doesn't talk very often. It seems Tadokoro can't endure the silence anymore and spoke:
"By the way, do you have a crush or a boyfriend now?"
Boyfriend, huh? I don't really have the time to get one, since I'm busy being Kakuju's Soul Seal. Even though I'm free now, I still can't afford to slack off since I'm going to help Kazuya and rescue the other Soul Seals. I just closed my eyes and shook my head in front of Tadokoro.
"Is that so? Well, I do have a crush."
Woah! The popular and unattainable Tadokoro Kanji has a crush? I'm really curious about the girl who stole Tadokoro's heart.
"Although, she only thinks of me as a friend."
"That's harsh."
So his crush only thinks of him as a friend, huh? So even Tadokoro can get rejected, huh? How ironic.
On that day, we just talked about some meaningless stuff. Although, it was a very normal day, I had fun.
END OF CHAPTER 10
Author's Note: Good day to you all! Please leave a review or a comment! Today, I decided to finish this web novel. Thank you all for supporting and reading this far. So now, I'm going to finish this webnovel's... Volume 1!!! So meaning, we're now going to advance to Volume 2! Since we already reached 50,000 words, I think It's time to end it at Volume 1. At the Volume 2, I will release 2 chapters per week. In the Volume 1, it was 5000 words per chapter it releases once a week. But now, I'm going to release 2500 words per chapter and I'm going to publish 2 chapters per week. So basically, it's still 5000 words per chapter. But everyone advised me to divide it, so I'm going to divide it now. Well, see you next week! Leave a comment and a review!