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As the competition was about to begin, Zenkichi was standing by the sidelines when he heard a familiar voice to his right side.
"Yo!! What are you doing here all by yourself, Hitoyoshi-kun? Hehe. Especially after that little encounter with Nabeshima-senpai~"
And there she is, with that devil-may-care attitude and annoying personality, holding a box of donuts in hand, his one and only best friend in the whole school, Hansode Shiranui. She stood right by his side wearing a, honest to god, kiddie one-piece swimsuit; mostly blue that stuck close to her body with a white frilly skirt and frilly armbands and a transparent pink swim ring around her hip.
"Are you a kid?!" Zenkichi yelled, bewildered.
"Ho...shit...She cute."
"Ah man..."
"Lucky..."
He blinked his eyes, confused and shocked at the same time, he turned around to the crowd of students around them with sharp, cold piercing eyes.
'...Are there fucking lolicons in here?' He thought as he observed the passing students intently.
"Yup!" Shiranui replied with a bright smile and closed eyes.
Her reply snapped Zenkichi out of his daze and clicked his tongue. He didn't manage to find them and since they weren't hurting anybody, he'll just drop it...for now.
He wasn't going to admit it out loud but Zenkichi has a huge soft spot for Shiranui. They try to mess with her and he wouldn't hesitate to crush their balls.
"So you saw Nabeshima-senpai and I...?"
"Anyone with a working pair of eyes could clearly see what was going on between you two." Shiranui said with a blank expression and chuckled as Zenkichi's face turned red. "So...?" she suddenly asked with an inquisitive gaze.
"So, what?"
"What did you guys talk about?"
"Wait, you don't know?" Zenkichi raised his brows, surprised. He thought for sure that Shiranui was in on it or had heard about the two's little competition.
Shiranui rolled her eyes, "I might be the most cool person you ever know in the world–"
"You're also quite modest and humble, as always." Zenkichi sarcastically mumbled.
"–but even I'm not at the level of being all-knowing! Hmph! Though I would've known about it as well if it weren't for gramps calling me a while ago about some problem that had occurred in one of the school's facilities. He wanted me to send an announcement to the broadcasting club and have the students and staff avoid that area for the time being."
"Huh. Well, what kind of problem is it?"
"The ghostly kind." Shiranui blankly said, making Zenkichi blankly stare back. "Now, spill! I wanna know~!" But the former broke out into a pouting expression.
Zenkichi rubbed the back of his head for a moment and began to explain to Shiranui, of what had happened and how it happened.
"So wait, you got smothered by Nabeshima-senpai's boobs, you two almost got into a fight, but it ended up with her asking you out?"
Zenkichi nodded.
"..." Shiranui's face was like a confused Jackie Chan meme. "What...? Huh?"
"Just roll with it, Shiranui. Just. Roll. With it."
"How can I?! She just went and groped you, in a very public area for a bet or wager, and I wasn't there to enjoy it!?" Shiranui groaned. "What the heck! I wanna know more and see through it to the end, because I'm the no-nonsense and well-informed Shiranui!" She complained, as she showed how serious she was: she frowned and narrowed her eyes as a dark aura exuded from behind and spread across her body.
He wasn't going to lie, she looked a bit intimidating but also hella adorable at the same time; especially since she was wearing such a childish swimsuit. She was literally like a child trying to act like an adult.
Zenkichi's fingers twitched, the urge to pinch her cheeks was strong.
"Alright, alright." He raised his hands in surrender and let out a sigh. "But do you seriously want to get involved with whatever bullshit they're doing?"
"...Are you seriously asking me that?"
There was a moment of silence.
"Yeah, fuck! Why did I ask you that? You're like some chaos incarnate but you work in the shadows like some kind of fucking ninja..." Zenkichi paused, turned towards Shiranui with a serious and wary expression. "Are you a ninja?"
"Shishishi. Now why would I reveal my secrets? Nin-nin!"
She innocently smiled.
"You didn't deny it."
Zenkichi rebuked her with deadpanned eyes.
"...Hitoyoshi-kun, tell me the truth. You enjoyed it didn't you."
She changed the subject
Zenkichi shamelessly raised a thumbs up. "Fuck yeah. As uncomfortable as it was, it's not everyday I can have two soft and comfy boobs against my face."
"Eh? Really? Huh. And here I thought you and Kurokami had a certain thing going on...like friends with benefits."
"I should be annoyed or angry but I do understand your conclusion. It's actually more weird that I hadn't already boned her back in middle school."
Shiranui turned towards him with a shocked expression. "Did you–?"
"No." Zenkichi immediately shut that down.
Shiranui stared at him.
Zenkichi stared at the swimming pool and the wandering students.
"...I still can't believe you talked me into this." Shiranui muttered under her breath, glaring at Zenkichi. She changed the subject.
She groaned. "Why did I let you talk me into this? I should've at least been at the stands, cheering you guys on while eating those ramen you paid me back. Heck, it would've been more fitting if I was an mc!"
"Cause you love me?"
Zenkichi teasingly said and he burst out laughing when Shiranui punched his abs in annoyance, only for her to tremble and retrieve her fist back with an angry look.
"Guh! What are your muscles made out of? Steel!?"
'Iron actually.' Zenkichi inwardly commented as he looked down at his body with pride and joy.
It had taken a few weeks training his body and strengthening it by practicing the numerous martial skills he copied and going to the gym and did a lot of lifts.
All that effort had truly sculpted Zenkichi into the ideal man body he's been dreaming of since he was a kid.
He had a well-built frame with defined muscles that weren't too bulky but also not too lean. With clearly defined six-pack abs that felt like they were bricks. He was in the perfect balance of strength, agility, and endurance. He knew that he wouldn't falter in the competition later on, thanks to all of his rigorous training and the swimming skill he got.
And maybe, just maybe, he might even enjoy the competition with her by his side.
He looked at her with a small smirk.
"Did you already forget Shiranui-san? You're part of a team, you ain't in this competition for yourself. You're here with us." he said as he rubbed her head. "So stop being a loner and just enjoy the competition with us!"
Shiranui made a face and grumbled. "Pervert. Cringe Lord."
Zenkichi coughed and looked away, feeling his cheeks heat up. "W-what're you talking about?"
"You're lucky I don't judge people by their desires or fetishes, otherwise, I'd have to kick you out of my life." Shiranui said with a smirk, trying to hide the slight blush that crept onto her face.
"R-really?" Zenkichi couldn't help but stutter. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it." Shiranui said with a shrug, but the smile on her face gave her away.
They continued to make small talk as they waited for the competition to begin, and as they talked, Zenkichi couldn't help but feel grateful for having someone like Shiranui in his life. She may be a bit eccentric and troublesome, but she was always there for him no matter what.
He felt a sense of calm and relief wash over him as he looked at her, knowing that she was one of the very few people he could count on.
Especially since she was the only connection he has on the secret group that was behind Naze and Takachiho.
'No. Leave that thought for now and, like I just said to Shiranui, enjoy the event. And who knows, maybe I'll even get to enjoy some more soft and comfy boobs along the way...'
"Ah. I almost forgot. Hitoyoshi, there's a club that we have to look out for. They're the swimming club members and–" Shiranui was just about to inform him about a dangerous enemy when they heard something...interesting.
"—I shall also participate in this swim meet together with my club! Whichever club gets a higher score than us, regardless of place, will get funding directly from me. It'll be five times than the normal amount, no questions asked." As soon after she said that, almost every student in the building had instantly got fired up.
"..." Both Zenkichi and Shiranui sweatdropped.
"That girl is really something," Shiranui commented with amusement.
Zenkichi couldn't agree more. "Yeah. I guess this competition just got a little more interesting."
As they watched the students get even more hyped up, ready to compete, Zenkichi couldn't help but feel a fire ignite within him. He was determined to win, not just for himself, but for his team and their club.
...Also because it's fun.
But for now, he'll just focus on the competition and give it his all. With his team and Shiranui by his side, there was nothing he couldn't do.
"Now let the first inter-club swim meet event begin! The first event is water basketball!"
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