Chapter 31: The Protagonist and the Others Go to the Beach

The sunlight was dazzling. The only sound reaching my ears was the steady rhythm of the waves.

We had come to the beach. It seemed that a Deep Calamity had been confirmed in this area, so a few selected teams were being dispatched to investigate. Other than that, we were apparently free to relax and enjoy ourselves.

Curse Seekers are tough, so swimsuits are fine for them—but for us Connectors, it doesn’t really make much of a difference.

Then again, maybe it’s because we might have to fight in the ocean, so we’re expected to wear something we can swim in. …Even so, I wish they’d at least provide something like a combat-ready swimsuit.

Right now, everyone on the team was changing, and since I finished early, I was waiting on the beach alone. I get that girls take longer to change, but how long could it possibly take?

"Girls really take a long time to get changed, huh."

"Yeah, they do… wait, who are you?"

I reflexively replied to the sudden voice. It wasn’t one I recognized—maybe just someone who happened to be here.

A girl peeked at me timidly. The choker around her neck stood out.

She was wearing a rash guard, with her hat pulled down low.

…She didn’t look like someone planning to swim much.

"Hm? I’m just a passing Curse Seeker, you could say?"

"I… see."

She was a strange one, but I guess she really was a Curse Seeker. Then again, this was a dangerous area, so only people like that would be allowed here. Maybe she was part of another team.

"…Sorry, I just started talking to you out of nowhere."

"No, it’s fine."

"R-Really? That’s good… well, I should be heading back now."

She hurried off.

The whole time, she seemed unsure about how close to stand to me. I wonder if she had some kind of business. Maybe she was looking for someone on my team?

Maybe I’ll ask later.

Still, they’re taking a while. Something might have happened—I should probably go check.

Crunch, crunch—the sound of footsteps on the sand echoed.

"Oh my, Shinozaki Nagisa."

"Kotozuka-san."

Right on cue, Kotozuka-san stepped out from the changing room.

She was wearing a blue bikini.

Her long, slender limbs stood out beautifully. Her midriff—normally hidden—was exposed to the sunlight, almost dazzling. She already had a great figure, but just switching to a swimsuit gave her a more mature aura than usual.

…It’s hard to know where to look.

"What is it?"

"…No, nothing."

After letting out a small sigh, she stepped closer.

"Why are you looking away?"

"Well… I thought maybe you wouldn’t want a guy staring at you."

Then she grabbed my wrist.

"Uh… Kotozuka-san?"

"It’s true—I don’t like men with ulterior motives."

"…Right."

"But being unable to look at me at all is irritating in its own way."

She pushed my hand against the wall behind me, forcing me to face her directly.

Her grip was strong—it hurt a little.

My entire view was filled with Kotozuka-san.

I only averted my gaze because I thought she wouldn’t like being stared at.

…Though honestly, it’s hard to look directly, too.

"Um… you look beautiful."

"Good."

She nodded, then released my hand.

…Was that what they call a kabedon?

The situation was so confusing that I ended up feeling strangely calm.

Now that it’s over, I just feel embarrassed for being forced to look at her like that.

"What are you two doing?"

Before I knew it, Akegami Sora was standing there, staring at us with a skeptical look.

She had her rash guard zipped all the way up, so I couldn’t tell what kind of swimsuit she was wearing.

…Did she just see that?

I mean, it probably looked like I was being attacked by Kotozuka-san.

How do I even explain this? I glanced at Kotozuka-san, and she gave a small nod toward Sora.

"Alright then."

"…What are you doing!?"

Without warning, she pulled down the zipper of Sora’s rash guard.

"Since we’re here, you might as well show it off."

She forcibly removed it despite Sora’s resistance.

Underneath was a light-colored one-piece swimsuit with frills.

"You don’t need to hide it out of embarrassment, do you?"

"Shut up! I don’t want people staring at me!"

"Not even Shinozaki Nagisa?"

"…It’s not like that!"

"And what was that pause just now?"

"Whatever, just give it back!"

…That was an impressively forceful way of changing the subject. Not wanting to be seen, Sora covered herself with her hands while chasing Kotozuka-san around, eventually retrieving her rash guard and putting it back on.

"Oh, Shinozaki-kun, you came over here too?"

"…Akegami, aren’t you out of breath?"

It seemed Shishiba-san and Kisa-san had finished changing as well, both stepping out together.

They both wore rash guards over similarly bright-colored swimsuits. Maybe they had the same taste.

"So, Shinozaki-kun—what do you think?"

After removing her rash guard, Kisa-san spun around.

"It suits you."

"Hmph, I was hoping for something like ‘cute,’ right, Honoka?"

"…Why me?"

As Kisa puffed out her cheeks, Shishiba-san frowned awkwardly.

"Why don’t you have him compliment you too, Honoka?"

"Honestly, I’m fine without that."

"Ehh—"

Shishiba-san joined the team more or less by chance, but maybe she and Kisa-san had already grown close.

"Alright, let’s all go swimming!"

"Don’t just start running—you’ll fall."

"Akegami, you won’t be able to swim dressed like that."

"…I don’t care. I’m not swimming."

I followed everyone toward the shore.

"Sora-chan, let’s go!"

"Hey—don’t pull me!"

Kisa dragged Sora toward the sea.

Meanwhile, Kotozuka-san rested under a parasol.

Well, I was resting under the one next to hers.

"I’ll sit here."

"Aren’t you going to play in the water, Shishiba-san?"

"I’m just not in the mood… and since I joined the team on a whim, it’s a bit awkward."

"…Is it okay to be that honest with me?"

"Doesn’t matter."

After saying that, Shishiba-san fell silent, staring blankly at the ocean.

…Honestly, I’m not sure how to interact with her either. She’s someone from Sora’s past, and she helped us recently, but beyond that, we don’t really have much of a connection.

"So, what’s the deal between you and Akegami?"

"What do you mean… well, she seems unstable, so I just want to help her."

"Good to see you’re close enough to call her by name."

She smiled faintly, then stood up.

"Well, she seems like a handful—so do your best."

"At what?"

"Who knows?"

…Maybe she meant something like, take care of her.

We’ve got time, so I’d like to get along better with Shishiba-san too—but it doesn’t seem like it’ll be simple.

"So that’s what Shinozaki Nagisa is like in person, huh."

The girl with the choker, her hat pulled low, muttered to herself—as if speaking to a crab walking along the sand.

"The other day, someone who looked like Akegami Sora was buying a swimsuit… guess it was worth following her."

A glimpse of bandages could be seen beneath the sleeve of her rash guard.

"…I’m nervous, but maybe I’ll try talking to them."

As she idly traced patterns in the sand with her fingertip, she looked up—

—and saw a fish with an unnaturally large face.

Its outline flickered and distorted. A Deep Calamity.

"《Saint Arts》—‘Arrow.’"

Arrows of light formed around her and pierced the creature, shattering it.

"I wonder if they’ll get along with me… though, if possible, I’d kind of like to capture Akegami-san too."

She returned to idly drawing in the sand.

Crunch, crunch—the damp grains made a soft grinding sound.