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[-Continuation-]
[-After One Hour-]
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[Hachiman's POV]
As I stood outside our stay, waiting for the others to get ready, I felt a sudden pat on my shoulder.
?!..Startled, I turned to see Ryota standing behind me, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Hachiman, at this point, I am not sure whether to say you have 'fashion sense' or 'wired sense'."
Ryota remarked, as his eyes roamed over my outfit. His expression shifted from confusion to amazement as he took in the sight before him.
"I don't really mind, as long as I feel comfortable." I replied casually, shrugging off his comment and pushing away his hands playfully.
As Ryota said, I was sporting a pretty wild look - a swimsuit short, no shirt, topped off with a cowboy hat and some square sunglasses. Oh, and I had Ryota's camera slung around my neck, which I may or may not have 'borrowed' without asking.
But then, my focus shifted to the task at hand.
"Did they finish changing?" I inquired, knowing that Ryota, having just come from inside, would likely have the latest updates.
"Probably… but I think they can follow up. So, let's go ahead. I really want to dip myself in some cold, natural river water. Haah~! It has been ages since I got to do something like this." Ryota said, rolling his hand over my shoulder.
"You seem pretty relaxed." I commented, moving forward with him, though not before removing his hand from my shoulder.
"I have always been lax, though." Ryota replied in his typical carefree manner.
"That's not wrong." I acknowledged with a nod.
Ryota shrugged. "...nah. Maybe I really am more relaxed compared to the usual relaxation I claim to have."
That sort of makes sense, yet it doesn't at the same time.
"What's the difference?" I remarked, trying to wrap my head around his words.
Ryota shrugged again, his expression unreadable. "Like I would know." He quipped with a smirk.
"Yeah, then shut the hell up!" I retorted.
I should have expected this the moment he spoke like a proper adult all of a sudden, that something was fishy.
"That's what I am saying too. Now, come on, stop the serious stuff and let's chill." Ryota declared, his tone shifting to one of lightheartedness.
"Well, you at least got that right."
"Yes! Let's march forward, Soldier!"
"..." Should I be responding to that?
No way. Let's just ignore him.
With Ryota walking ahead of me with high spirits, I simply followed behind him.
...
I walked along with Ryota with a clear mind, as my legs simply tailed behind him.
Soon, I heard the murmur of a trickling stream.
Heading for the source of the noise, we walked along the path until we came across a small brook. It was about as small as a shallow ditch. It was probably a tributary.
Basically, if we walked further downstream, we would probably find a river.
As I continued my pace, the thick, overgrown trees started to recede little by little. The sound of the water intensified, and the forest gave way to a conspicuously open space. This was the dry part of the river bed.
"Ohhh, this feels pretty nice."(Ryota)
"Yeah." I couldn't help but mutter approvingly.
The river might have been two metres wide, but the calm and gentle current didn't even reach my thighs, and the current was gentle and calm. The water seemed perfect for a dip.
Gazing at the water's brilliant reflection, I walked along the riverbed.
Not later, right ahead of a few metres in the quiet forest, I could hear high-pitched voices shouting in glee.
"How coooold!"(Yuigahama)
"This feels great!"(Komichi)
When I cast my eyes in that particular direction, Yuigahama and Komachi were frolicking in the river. Even from a distance, I could tell they were in swimsuits.
What the hell were they up to…?
"Oh, Big Brother. Hey, hey! Over here!"(Komichi)
"…huh? Hikki?"(Yuigahama)
I immediately turned in the opposite direction to Komichi's voice to not come as ganging upon them. But I noticed Ryota wasn't around.
"Big Brother! Not that side. HERE! Why don't you join us!" Komachi shouted, catching sight of me not looking towards them despite them calling me over.
Well, it was intentional, as I was debating with myself about turning back as I was a gentleman, and approaching girls in their swimsuits without their consent was against my principles.
However, now that she'd called me over and all, there was really nothing for it.
"What? Did Ms. Hiratsuka also say to you guys to play around in the river…? " I demanded, turning up to them.
"Yeah, wait, I didn't expect you to be here, Hikki?" Yuigahama answered my question with a question, cowering behind Komachi as if she were embarrassed about her swimsuit.
"Well, it's pretty hot outside, so I thought about taking a dip wou–!"
"Who cares?" Komachi cut in midway through what I was saying. "Oh, you really have a camera! Big Brother, click me some pretty pictures, will you? Pretty please."
"Sure."
"Haha, I love you, Big Brother!"
…what for? Just for some unprofessional pictures?
….
.
After clicking some random photos of solo Komichi in different poses and also a couple with Yuigahama, I excused myself as I could see her nervousness.
It is not the nervousness of fear of me but it was that of nervousness of showing off her beauty to someone they like which I have no interest in.
So I moved away a little from them, stepped a couple of steps into the lake, reaching the water above my ankles, kneeled down, and scooped up some water. The clear, refreshingly cool water soothed my flushed skin.
As I scrubbed my face over and over, a familiar voice assailed me all of a sudden.
"My, worshipping the river, are we now?" The mocking voice jolted me from my peaceful moment of contemplation.
Before I even turned to face the speaker, I caught a glimpse of their reflection in the gently flowing water.
Honestly, the image was distorted, blurred by the ripples, offering only a hazy outline and the stark contrast of a black swimsuit.
Leaving the rest to my 'wild' imagination.
With a sigh, I tore my gaze away from the mesmerising currents and glanced up to meet the cold, biting words that had interrupted my thoughts.
Yukinoshita Yukino stood before me, a vision of snow personified.
Her skin was translucent white. Long and beautiful legs that extended from her shapely calves to her hips. A surprisingly narrow waistline, and a modest yet still eye-catching 'bosom' which also happened to be related to the integrity I was talking about.
Yukinoshita, in a swift motion, concealed herself from behind a pareo, covering up the sight that had briefly captivated my attention.
I took a deep breath, which I don't even know when I hold it in like that.
That was dangerous. Just then, I almost died from lack of oxygen.
–*click*click*click!
Without conscious thought, my hand slipped down to the camera hanging from my neck, capturing three quick images from the same angle. I didn't dare adjust my stance or attempt to frame the shots properly.
I couldn't risk missing the chance to witness her beauty firsthand.
As the shutter clicked, I silently prayed. Oh, God! Please bless this lowly child of yours to at least get one perfect image.
"I see you still haven't rid yourself of your lawless behavior. Actually, it seems to have escalated. Now you're not even trying to cover it up, doing these things in broad daylight. Shameless." Her words sliced through the air, sharp and unforgiving.
"You have got the wrong idea! This is... for project research. Yeah, project research." I scrambled for an excuse, desperately trying to sound innocent.
"Pervert." Ignoring my reasoning, Yukinoshita mutters under her breath.
"What gave you the idea that I am a pervert who goes around taking other people's pictures?" I pressed, feeling defensive.
"Well, aren't you then?" She shot back, her words piercing through my thin defenses.
"Of course I am not, and you know that. I have explained multiple times that it was just a reflex, not intentional." I retorted, shifting the blame onto something entirely unreasonable in a last-ditch effort to salvage the conversation.
"Stop lying with such unreasonable excuses and cover up your crimes." Her firm response cut through my feeble attempts at justification.
"Fine, you asked for it. Let me tell you the truth... the reason I always end up clicking you." Frustration mounting, I decided to abandon the pretense and speak plainly.
"Though I doubt your foul mouth is capable of saying anything decent. Spit it out." She complied, her curiosity barely concealed.
"It is because you are so cute and beautiful that it made me want to capture that moment." I admitted bluntly, leaving no room for misinterpretation. "And I am feeling the same right now."
"They say a man's gaze speaks louder than his words, and his actions more so than mere words." She asserted, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"So what does my gaze say to you now?" I countered, looking straight into her eyes as I took a step closer.
"Lustful and vulgar as ever."
"Nope. Appreciation and awe." I corrected her.
…and maybe a slight obsession. But there is no need to say that out, right?
"...How ridiculous. Is that what you call it? Aren't you supposed to be good at reading negative emotions? But it seems you can't even recognize your own feelings correctly." Yukinoshita continued with a small smile
"Stop assuming I am always wrong just because it's me."
"I have no idea of ever doing that." She replied nonchalantly.
"You always do that."(Hikigaya)
"Stop changing the topic."(Yukinoshita)
"I am not doing anything as such."(Hikigaya)
"Stop imitating me."(Yukinoshita)
"Tsk, anyway, how about taking a few pics? The camera's great, trust me." I offered, lifting the camera hanging around my neck with a broad grin, no shame whatsoever.
"What kind of nonsense is that?" Yukinoshita's refusal was immediate.
"You seriously don't want to? You're not planning to finish this trip without taking at least one picture, are you?"
I had clicked a few pictures just now, but, as the saying goes, the more, the better.
"What? Is there a rule that says we must?"(Yukinoshita)
"Hah, classic loner logic."(Hikigaya)
"Moreover, since when did you start asking for permission before snapping photos?"(Yukinoshita)
"Fair point… yeah, you're right."(Hikigaya)
"Ehh…?" Yukinoshita was surprised.
"Anyway, enjoy yourself. I will make sure to meet your expectations."(Hikigaya)
"Don't twist my words."(Yukinoshita)
"Come on, Komichi and Yuighama have been waiting for you."(Hikigaya)
"....Just don't do anything perverse. You can't expect everyone to be as understanding as me." She warned, finally walking away.
For some reason, that comment hit me really hard.
"Sure..." I muttered.
.
[To be continued….]
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