Now that we have a proper banana boat, I explained to Kuro and Sieg-san how to play with it. Then again, I've never actually ridden one before, so my explanation was rather vague.
It was a poor explanation, but Kuro and Sieg-san seemed to understand to some extent, and after nodding with a smile, they turned to the banana boat and spoke.
[Unnn, I think I understand the gist of it. As for the power needed to play with the banana boat, I can move it with my magic, so we should be able to play without any problems.]
[The only problem is the speed though. If we go too fast, we'll get knocked off...]
[That's right. I mean, considering our physical abilities, I feel like I would get knocked off.]
Well, I guess you could say that losing balance and falling is also fun to some extent... but that's only if we're going at a sensible speed.
If our banana boat would be accelerating according to Kuro's or Sieg-san's standards, I'll definitely lose my grip along the way. However, I'm not that worried about this.
If it was Shiro-san who would be holding the controls, we would have to discuss in detail what speed would be safe, or I would be in mortal danger.
She can be a bit airheaded sometimes, but she's not the kind of person who would do something insane in a situation like this.
No, of course, Shiro-san doesn't mean any harm even in such a situation... but her basic specs are just too high and her experience in adjusting with others isn't high enough, so she was somewhat lacking when adjusting with others.
Well, I think the current Shiro-san, who is expanding her gaze to a wider and vaster range, would likely be able to make such detailed adjustments to suit the needs of others in the near future.
[Unnn, that's right. That's why I think it's best to match Kaito-kun's sense. For the time being, Kaito-kun should ride in the middle of the boat, which has the least vibration, and we'll start out slow and gradually increase the speed. And then, if Kaito-kun thinks that the speed is just right, give me a signal and I'll maintain that speed.]
[I see, that would be great.]
[Then, I think it would be best if the pilot Kuromu-sama would ride in front, while I ride behind.]
Sieg-san and I both agreed with Kuro's suggestion. After all, there seemed to be no problem. I guess I'll be able to enjoy my first time trying out a banana boat without any worries.
With this in mind, we moved the banana boat out to sea. Well, of course, it was Kuro who carried it. Kuro carried the banana boat with one hand and let it float in the sea, before she got on the front of the banana boat.
After Kuro rode on the front, I also got on the banana boat. I don't know if magic was used to kept it from shaking or not, but I was able to get on easily without much trouble.
However... Arehh? This... makes me much closer to Kuro than I thought... N- No, is this something I just don't know about?
As I was thinking about this, the boat slightly shook and I felt the presence of Sieg-san behind me. I guessed that Sieg-san had gotten on board too... As I thought, aren't we too close with each other?
I mean, thinking about it again, I'm between two beauties in swimsuits... Is this that so-called being sandwiched? N- No, in terms of height, it made sense for Kuro, the shortest of us three, to be in front, and it was safer for me, the least physically capable person, to be in the middle than in the back where the shaking would be greater. It was inevitable that I would end up in this situation.
However. However, I say. Even though I told myself those things, my eyes couldn't help but move to the beautiful skin of Kuro sitting in her swimsuit, and my attention was also being strangely drawn towards Sieg-san, who was riding behind me.
...Wait, arehh, I see! I was wondering why my attention was being strangely drawn towards Kuro and Sieg-san... It's most probably because neither of them, along with me, were wearing any kind of life jacket.
Of course, I understand that it's not necessary, considering Kuro and Sieg-san's specs... but I was strangely nervous because the places that would normally be covered by a life jacket were exposed.
[Alright, then let's immediately depart~~ I'm going to slowly raise the speed, so Kaito-kun, tell me if you think the speed is just right, okay?]
[Y- Yeah, alright.]
No, I should calm down. I'm just being confused by the situation of being sandwiched between my lovers in swimsuits. It's not like anything crazy is going to happen as long as I'm riding normally and the speed is properly adjusted for me, so as long as I firmly hold on to the banana boat, things like me losing my balance touching their bodies wouldn't happen.
Just as such things roll around my mind, as soon as the banana boat started to move and gain some speed, the strange thoughts completely disappeared from my mind.
The sun was strong and I could feel the heat, but more than that, the breeze caressing my skin and the occasional splashes of water felt good. The surface of the water, reflecting the sun's rays, was dazzlingly beautiful.
[It's so beautiful. The breeze is also very comfortable.]
[Yes, I agree.]
The banana boat was already going pretty fast, but I could clearly hear Sieg-san's voice, which wasn't that loud. Since our banana boat wasn't being pulled by the jet ski, there was no engine noise, which probably made it easier for us to have a conversation.
[Kaito-kun, how's the speed?]
[Unnn, it should be alright to go a little faster.]
[Okay~ Then, I'll accelerate a little more!]
Kuro seemed to be enjoying it so much that I could tell just by her voice, and she was even making some exaggerated movements such as holding the handle with only one hand, which naturally also got me excited.
[Ahh, going even faster than this might be a bit...]
Yes, I might have gotten "too excited" at that time. That's why "I didn't notice it", and "overlooked it".
[Unnn, roger that!]
No, in any case, I was the least familiar with magic among us three, so it would have been difficult for me to notice it unless I had activated my Sympathy Magic at full force.
The fact that Kuro had secretly used magic while making those exaggerated movements earlier to make letters appear in front of Sieg-san's eyes, and that she had glanced at me for a moment and leaked out a smile that looked like she was planning some prank...
[Eh? ————!?]
The speed of the boat suddenly slowed down to a speed I hadn't expected, and almost as soon as I lost my balance, sending my body forward, my hand that should have had a firm grip on the boat's handle somehow left my grasp.
With the situation like this, I think it was inevitable that my unbalanced body would immediately try to cling to the object in front of me.
However, in this case, it was important to know "what was in front of me".
And thus, even though I must have lost my balance quite vigorously, it felt as if I was "gently caught by a cushion of air", receiving "no impact", and as I clung unto Kuro's body who was in front of me, I heard her whisper into my ears.
[...There are times when I think that "just Shiro is unfair", you know?]