Chapter 9: We're Best Friends, so We're Going to the Pool (Before)

We're Best Friends, so We're Going to the Pool (Before)

The day has finally arrived.

It's the day we've been planning for ages.

"Did you bring your swimsuit, Yuuki?"

"Of course I did. It would be weird if I forgot."

"I'm so proud. I finally see my best friend's growth right now."

"So you thought I was a kid who hadn't grown at all yet?"

Yes, the pool.

The place is a fairly large indoor pool, about two blocks away from the nearest station.

I'm glad it happened to be nearby. If it was too far, I'd run out of energy... I do exercise regularly, you know!

This place holds special memories for me; I've been coming here with Yuuki since we were little.

I wonder how many years it's been since I last came here? I feel like Yuuki was still so small back then.

He was so honest and kind back then... Now he's a womanizer surrounded by all sorts of girls.  

Did I raise him wrong? How did it end up like this?

"Okay, let's go change. Let's meet near the entrance."

"Yeah, okay."

"See you later."

"Mm."

I parted ways with Yuuki and headed towards the changing room.

Opening the door in front of me... well, it was a flesh-colored space.

There were probably a lot of people there because it was the summer vacation season, but even so, it was quite crowded.

Hmm, I don't feel anything, to the point where I'm starting to doubt if I was really a man in my past life.

I don't know if it's because my body is female now, or if I've simply gotten used to it.

I quickly took off the clothes I was wearing and picked up the swimsuit.

"...Uh..."

... Am I really going to wear this?

I bought this swimsuit on impulse back then, but now I'm starting to feel embarrassed.

I could wear it normally in front of Hakaze-san. I'm probably confident I can wear it in front of the other girls too.

And I think I could wear it in front of the boys in my class too, since I'm a guy inside. It's not like it'll be lost, right?

But...

The thought of myself wearing this swimsuit in front of Yuuki is so embarrassing I can't wear it.

"....."

No matter how embarrassed I feel, this is the only swimsuit I have. I have no choice but to wear it.

It's not like I'll lose anything, right...? 

Nothing's going to happen just because I wear it, right?

... Okay.

I looked at the swimsuit one more time, steeled myself—

I put it on.

...I chose it myself (with the advice of Hakaze-san), and I know I have no choice but to steel myself.

Yeah, I guess it can't be helped.

Besides, I can't keep Yuuki waiting forever. He's probably already finished changing and is waiting for me.

I checked the clock; about ten minutes had passed since I entered the changing room.

Ten minutes was enough time to agonize over whether to get dressed or not.

I lightly tied my hair with a rubber band, grabbed what I needed, and left the changing room.

I could see Yuuki's silhouette even from a distance.

Nearby was someone I often saw at school.

"Ayano-chan...?"

It was Ayano-chan, the tsundere beauty who often waits for Yuuki when he comes home from school.

She was wearing a swimsuit, so I could tell she'd come swimming.

What a coincidence, it seemed she'd come to the same place as us.

"So Uzuki-san is here today too. That swimsuit suits you."

"Well... that's obvious, isn't it?"

Heh...hehehe, a natural womanizer, huh? That's what you'd expect from a harem protagonist.

But seeing him like that makes me irritated, or rather, annoyed.

I don't like it.

Why are you so popular, Yuuki? You don't need to be popular.

...Anyway, those two have been talking forever. I need to stop them soon or my fist will move on its own.

"Hello, Uzuki-san?"

"Hieek... Kirihara-san is with you too."

"Oh, Haruka, aren't you a little late?"

"Well, unlike you, girls have things to prepare here."

Mental preparation, heart preparation, another preparation, and all that.

"I'm sorry... I'm going to go see my friend."

"Okay, got it. See you at school, Uzuki-san."

"Yes... Okay."

Saying that, Ayano-chan turns her back to us. 

Too bad, huh, Yuuki? The girl from your harem is gone.

She probably wanted to stay with you longer!

"Uzuki-san, she seemed kind of scared."

"Hm? Maybe it was just a little cold in just a swimsuit?"

"...Well, that's fine then. I hope she takes care of herself more."

Yuuki says strange things, but that's just the kind of guy he is. He hasn't changed at all since we first met.

Ayano-chan is gone, and it's just Yuuki and me.

"....."

"....."

I look at Yuuki, and he's shirtless with just swim trunks. It seems he's there more for fun and to play than for swimming.

Well, that's why we came today, to have fun.

We take turns looking at each other's swimsuits.

Of course, Yuuki's gaze is fixed on my body.

"....."

"....."

──How embarrassing!!!

I can feel my cheeks turning red.

He's staring at me, so intensely.

I don't usually show this side of myself, and the last time was years ago, so it feels strange to suddenly show him how grown-up I've become.

A little while ago, I wouldn't have felt anything, so why now?

"... Stop staring."

"Oh, right, I'm sorry."

It was too difficult to say that while looking him in the face. I just lowered my head and said "stop staring" as a small act of resistance.

... I don't understand my own feelings.

Well, we came here to have fun today, so I shouldn't worry about it.

When it's time to have fun, I should have fun, that's all that matters.

...

...

"Don't you have anything to say instead of just staying silent?"

"....?"　

He's so inconsiderate, especially since I, his best friend, dressed up so nicely.　

Can't he remember what he's talking about earlier? Something like, "So Uzuki-san is here today too. That swimsuit suits you." or something else?

I want to hear something too, even if it's just because we're best friends.

He usually surrounds himself with harems, but he can't even come up with a thoughtful remark for his best friend.

"Hmm... Wow, Haruka, you look stylish and cute today."

"Eh...?"

"Isn't this supposed to be a moment for you to insult me?"

Usually I would be insulting him, but for some reason, I just didn't feel like it right now.

★

A little while later, I returned to my normal self.

My normal self... my usual state.

Once I got over the swimsuit part, it didn't bother me anymore.

What was I so embarrassed about?

I was able to talk to Yuuki as usual again.

That's right, today I just came to have fun.

"Oh, by the way, I checked on my phone before I came, and it seems like they're running a water slide right now. I'm going, do you want to come too, Yuuki?"

"I guess I'll go."

The words "Summer Vacation Limited Time Only" lured me in, and I decided to go to the water slide. It's a waste of life if you don't take advantage of what you can.

And so, we decided to go together.

"Now, Boyfriend-kun, please hold your Girlfriend-san tightly!"

"Okay!"

"Three, two, one, have a good ride!"

A woman screamed as she slid down. Behind her, a man who appeared to be her boyfriend was clinging tightly.

It looks like woman and man will be sliding together.

...I hadn't heard anything about this.

The only information I saw was that they were currently running a water slide for a limited time.

And now that I'm here, I realize it's not just any normal water slide, but a ridiculously silly-sounding one called the "Boyfriend/Girlfriend Happiness Slider."

What's more, I wish I'd noticed sooner after we started queuing, but by the time I realized, the line had moved so far that there was no turning back.

Now, we're actually next in line.

"Haruka... are we really going to ride this?"

"... I'm fine with it. ...But we're not exactly in that kind of relationship, are we?"

"....."

I can hear Yuuki swallow hard.

Is he nervous?

I am a little nervous, or rather, it's kind of awkward to be seen as being in that kind of relationship with Yuuki.

"Oh my~ another young couple~.. How sweet~"

"Ah... hahaha"

The moment has come.

"Boyfriend-kun, please come closer to your girlfriend."

"....."

As I sat down and got ready to slide, Yuuki followed behind me.

... Isn't he a little too stiff? He's way too nervous.

"....!"

Yuuki leaned closer.

.... It didn't feel unpleasant.

On the contrary—

"Have a good ride!"

"Hah!?"

I was expecting some kind of countdown, so I let my guard down, and then we're suddenly dropped.

Actually, there definitely was one. They did it for the previous couple.

Thanks to the speed of the slide, the wind felt just right on my slightly flushed body.

"Hahaha!"

...I wasted my time being nervous.

In the end, I completely forgot Yuuki was behind me and was just enjoying myself.

★

"Wow, that was fun. How about you, Yuuki?"

"Well, it was pretty fun, I guess."

"I wouldn't mind riding it again."

"No, that's enough! Come on, let's go over there and go for a swim!"

"Huh? That's true. Okay, let's go over there then."

Due to Yuuki's strong opposition to the water slide, we ended up going to the lazy river.

In both my past and present life, my favorite pool is the lazy river. It doesn't use up much energy, but it makes me feel like I'm swimming the most.

Did he point it out knowing my preference? I've gained a little more respect for him.

Grrrrr~

A sound I couldn't tell which stomach it was coming from.

Yeah, first we have to do something about this rumbling stomach.

We look at each other.

"...The timing's just right, let's have lunch."

"Yeah."

Looking around, there was a restaurant in just the right place. As expected of a large facility, it even has a restaurant inside the pool.

"What do you want to eat? I can get something for you."

"Really? Then I'll have some hot dog."

Since he's treating me, I'll accept.

I've always liked the word "free." There's nothing cheaper than free, after all.　　

"...I'm going to the restroom for a bit. You go ahead and find a seat."

"Oh, okay."

I decided to go to the restroom after parting ways with Yuuki. Actually, I'd been holding it in for a while and felt like I was about to wet myself.

That was a close call.

And then, as I finished washing my hands and was about to return to Yuuki...

"Hey, are you free right now?"

"..."

This is what you call a pick-up attempt.

Because I'm a perfectly gentle and cute beautiful girl, I've had opportunities like this several times before.

...It's the same as always.

I can feel the lewd gazes focused on one spot on me. Now that I'm a woman, I understand that you can somehow sense those kinds of gazes.

It's extremely unpleasant.

"... I'm in a hurry. Please don't talk to me."

"Come on, you don't have to say that. Are you alone right now? You're cute, do you have a boyfriend?"

"—!!"

A shiver ran down my spine.

He suddenly touched me, and even grabbed my hand, making it impossible to escape.

In those previous pick-up attempts I experienced, a simple refusal was enough to get away with.

...I never thought a pick-up attempt like this would happen.

I'm a woman, and he's a man. Biologically, there's a difference even in muscle mass.

I want to run away immediately.

I try to escape his grip, but he must be well-trained; he doesn't budge.

My legs are trembling, and my vision is blurring.

Did I do something wrong? I just came here to have fun, didn't I?

I was having a great time just a moment ago.

Why does this have to happen to me at a time like this?

Someone... please....

"This girl is with me. Could you let go?"

"...Tch, so she's already taken."

... Yuuki...?

"...Thank you. ...I'm sorry I showed you such a pathetic side of myself."

Right now, all I could do was express my gratitude to my only best friend who had come to my rescue.

AN:

The plight of TS Girls makes us happy.

Therefore, the equation can be expressed as:

[The plight of TS Girls = The Best]