Chapter 47 - Produce ①

As beach ball flew, water splashed in the bluish-white background.
At the same time, when the girls in swimsuits cheerfully laughed, the voice of innocence resounded in the atmosphere filled with the feeling of the middle of the holiday.

Guys with familiar faces were playing on the midsummer sandy beach.
It"s not like we have rented the beach, so it"s crowded with ordinary guests, but in any case, despite being high school students, they are a group who already have the apt.i.tude of party animals. They totally blend in. Though generally they are divided into several groups of friends, all of them are enjoying the sea.

What should I do, somehow, I have a feeling that I have to absolutely avoid this place…

– Yo, Ichijou-kun

– … Hm?

Feeling very lazy, I planned to be a.s.similated by the chair when cla.s.smate Ogino started a chat. Being a part of the football club, he indeed looks tan and toned.
Normally, he would be mixed in a lively gathering, what"s the deal with him?

– Well, um… About Karen… No need to worry?

… As a matter of fact, it has been like this since last night.
There were 5 guys in the room, but just everyone had to give their comment of sympathy one at a time. Come on, I"m not mourning. I wonder if they think that I ran away to this beach because of excessive disappointment. Well, it"s not like they are really off-target…

That said, I still ought to keep my mouth shut.
Um… yeah. That in truth, it is not about rejecting or being rejected, that we are simply hug friends. Seriously, just what is hug friends? I can"t help but feel embarra.s.sed myself, really.

Seeing how Ogino had a worried face, I resisted the grin, which was trying to show on my face.

– She always only rejects

– …… I heard so

– Did you go for it knowing that hurdle is high…?

– It"s not really like that… It was simply, on impetus, you know. You get it, right?

I could see Tachibana playing in the water with other girls over there.
There was that thing from yesterday, so now I can once again see her radiant smile. Look, even just by looking at her from afar like this… she"s too cute. Clear weather suits her after all. That bright hair, it really shines under the blue sky.

I"m, going crazy. Calling her cute and all.
Not only that. As girls of the cla.s.s gather, by the time I notice, I start looking for her…

Still, normie b.a.s.t.a.r.d"s next words shocked me.

– Is it… appearance, after all? Ichijou, are you unexpectedly a sucker for a pretty face…?

– …

My thoughts, in regards to her.
Even though I have to properly sort them.
Even though, without putting on airs, I have to able to properly put everything into words in front of everyone.

… Is it, about pretty face? After all…?

While that thought was stuck I my chest and wouldn"t come out, my face rapidly stiffened.
It seems Ogino couldn"t simply watch as gloominess appeared on my face. I caused a useless concern again.

– Ah, sorry, sorry… Did I ask something strange?

– … I"m just asking for reference, but still. Ogino, what about you? Do you, go for looks…?

It appears he was surprised that I have asked such a question. Looking at me for a while, he blinked several times. It"s understandable. He probably guessed from my usual speech and conduct, that I have no interest in other people.

And it was, well, truth. I didn"t have any interest.
But as Tachibana"s face flickered in my head, I couldn"t help but ask.

– Let me think… I guess… I go for looks?

– What"s that. You admit it so easily…

– Because, isn"t it unbelievably annoying when others say "Are you going out with that?". And I feel sorry for the girl who is told so. Everyone sees boyfriend and girlfriend as a set, no matter what.

– Being a good match, is that about it? That, does everybody care about it?

– Well. To be honest, there is also a question of how to fall in love with something other than the appearance.

I don"t understand.
But it"s not like I know what is correct.

– I don"t get it… Then, for example, and I mean for example. If it were a guy like me and Tachibana, would the two of us had to be laughed at behind our backs?

– Who knows? Ichijou, you"re generally clever and it"s not like you are hated. However, realistically speaking, you will get watched. It"s like a sort of an appraisal.

– Are a boyfriend and a girlfriend something that should be shown off to others…?

I don"t know of the worries of the normie b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. And I don"t even want to.
Girlfriend… and possibly a friend, is not a trophy. Moreover, she is not just some appearance. Does that way of thinking smell of a virgin? And yet, I don"t care. I can"t become normie-like after all.

For a moment, my eyes met with the blonde girl in the distance. She cutely winked at me.
And just with that, I have, unlike the usual me, gently looked at her. Adult-like black swimsuit with frills that we have bought together when I was her boyfriend.

"Ehehe. h.e.l.lo… Do you want to hug?"

"Dummy. Don"t look here, just play…"

"Jun… Jun… ♪ If we stare at each other, we"ll get caught… ♪"

But I … was looking for a more convincing reason.
If it wasn"t her, I wouldn"t get along with her so much, right?
Surely, what is there in the root is not some appearance.

Stop, stop, if I stare too much, we"ll get caught.

– Well, there are other cute girls as well. Even if it is Ichijou sucker for a pretty face, shouldn"t there be a girl for you?

– Humph… Don"t know what you"re talking about…!

– Let"s join them soon. Summer and sea, this is a rare chance

Summer, and what"s more, sea, huh?
Even if you search the whole world, is there any other situation as bright as this one? And yet, I kept worrying about one girl. While I felt dispirited.

A grinning person not caring about that approached.

– Hi, Ogino. Ichijou too♪

Hyoudou came wearing a sporty swimsuit. Yet behind her, she even brought elder sister Komatsu with her. For some reason, both of them seemed to be in a good mood.

– Heave-ho, heave-ho…

Several guys were transporting… a rowboat? I haven"t noticed before, but there are some boats lined up on the beach.
As though even Ogino wasn"t informed, he is standing with folded arms and seems very curious.

– Hee? What… are you doing?

– Something like a group work game? Well, I will be doing explanations after this♪

And then she came one step in front of me and whispered,

– Yesterday. Did you… make up with Karen?

– Ha, haa? What"s that all of a sudden…

– Well. She seemed to be in a good mood since last night, so I guess you did. Fufu…

– What… Grinning so much…

– Don"t worry. You, I will produce you as Karen"s boyfriend. Be ready, okay…♪