“Right, Arisa-chan!”
“Yes! Chiharu-san.”
“Oops, Ayaka-san!”
In a normal swimming pool—with no waves, currents, or other gimmicks—three beautiful girls were passing a beach ball back and forth.
There weren’t any specific rules, but it seemed they weren’t allowed to let it fall into the water.
The two boys were watching those three beautiful girls from a distance.
“Yuzuru, I sometimes wonder…”
Soichiro declared with a pensive expression, as if he’d just attained some sort of enlightenment.
“Don’t guys really have no place in this world?”
At those words, Yuzuru snorted softly.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Well…”
“That’s what I might have said a little while ago.”
Yuzuru watched the three beautiful girls—Arisa, Ayaka and Chiharu—playing happily.
Arisa has strong foreign heritage—her skin tone, hair colour and facial features give her an air that is somewhat different from that of the average Japanese person.
Her slender, curvaceous figure has an almost artistic quality to it, without a hint of vulgarity.
Arisa was wearing a black triangle bikini adorned with a ribbon in the centre.
Although she usually gives off a demure impression, wearing such a daring swimsuit makes her look suddenly very grown-up.
The black fabric contrasted beautifully against her pale skin, making her look absolutely stunning.
Perhaps because—like Yuzuru—Ayaka has inherited European genes from distant ancestors, her appearance is visibly different from the average Japanese—her facial features are deeply chiselled and perfectly proportioned.
Her high nose and beautiful cherry-coloured lips—every single feature was exquisite, arranged in a balance that could be described as the golden ratio.
Her hair is of a lustrous black silk colour, and her eyes are a deep, reddish amber.
Her skin is a beautiful ivory colour and incredibly smooth.
She posessed a figure every bit as stunning as Arisa’s.
Her limbs were long, her waist slender, and her bust and hips formed a beautiful silhouette.
Ayaka was clad in a very simple, bright red triangle bikini.
With a figure that would put adults to shame, she instantly takes on a sensual air when she dons this passionate red swimsuit.
She certainly does not look like a fifteen-year-old.
Chiharu is the heiress of a family with a long history and tradition.
Maybe because of this, or perhaps it has nothing to do with it at all—most likely, it doesn’t—, she exudes a somewhat mysterious aura.
Hazuki has striking hazel eyes and light brown hair that glows in the sunlight.
She has Japanese-style features, with a straight nose and wide-set eyes framed by long lashes.
Her skin is as smooth and beautiful as white porcelain.
The curves of her bust and hips are more pronounced than those of Arisa and Ayaka, yet her waist is tightly cinched.
Her limbs are slender and long.
Chiharu was wearing a bikini made of white and pink fabric, its edges adorned with frills.
As the frills slightly concealed her cleavage and buttocks, she gave off a demure impression despite the revealing outfit.
The sight of them playing together so affectionately was truly picturesque.
Above all, what was wonderful was that all three of them possess magnificent busts.
Every time they tossed the ball upwards, the ‘balls’ on their chests swayed dramatically.
It was a heavenly sight.
“Hmm, guys really are unnecessary in this world.”
That was Yuzuru’s thought.
“Yuzuru… have you finally understood?“
“Forgive me for my ignorance and immatury, my fellow man in arms.”
Yuzuru felt ashamed of the version of himself from just a short while ago, who had been so ignorant of the world.
Up until now, it was precisely because he hadn’t known of that magnificent view that he hadn’t been able to agree with Soichiro’s opinion.
But now, he could empathise.
“Nah, it’s fine as long as you understand, mate…”
“Soichiro, my guy…”
Yuzuru and Soichiro dapped each other up.
“…Right, enough of that farce, Soichiro. To be honest, you saved me. …Spending a whole day alone with Yukishiro was, honestly, kinda exhausting.”
Yuzuru offered Soichiro a sincere thank you, quite different from the banter of a moment ago.
It wasn’t that he disliked Arisa.
He could even say, for now, that he enjoyed her company.
In fact, playing with her in the lazy river and the wave pool had been fun.
But… there was a limit.
If they were a real couple, they might be able to keep the excitement going forever by constantly flirting and touching each other, but Yuzuru and Arisa couldn’t do that. (At least Yuzuru had no intention of doing anything that would betray her trust.)
That’s why he was grateful to have met up with Ayaka and Chiharu.
When it’s just girls together, they can have fun without any awkwardness.
And Yuzuru could relax with Soichiro.
…It’s just human nature for a man to want to show off his best side and get nervous in front of girls.
“Same with those two. …To be honest, dealing with them all day is tiring too. …But don’t get me wrong, it’s not like it isn’t fun.”
Dealing with just one girl is hard enough.
With two of them together, it must be even harder.
Yuzuru at first felt sorry for Soichiro.
…But, thinking about it, he brought it on himself by two-timing. So there was absolutely no room for sympathy.
Yuzuru immediately regretted feeling sorry for him, even for a moment.
“By the way, Yuzuru. Honestly… do you think it’s actually possible to force someone into marriage?”
“It’s not impossible, what would you get out of that these days?”
Yuzuru replied to Soichiro’s question.
“You’re right. …It might have been different before, but nowadays, it’s not really possible, right?”
“Yeah. …Forcing someone to do something like that would be pretty backwards.”
Whereas in the past one would have had no choice but to swallow one’s pride, we now live in a wonderful age where one can take legal action for abuse of power or sexual harassment.
If they were to ignore Arisa’s wishes and force her into marriage, they might well be sued.
So, if they’re managing the risks properly, they wouldn’t do such a thing.
“After all, it’s obvious that a match she doesn’t want will fall through no matter how hard you push it. Anyone with common sense would know that.”
The absolute worst-case scenario would be if it ended up in some gossip magazines.
That’s no laughing matter.
“So you’re saying Yukishiro’s parents lack common sense?”
“I don’t know. …I can’t speak for her adoptive mother, but I’ve heard her adoptive father is pretty reasonable.”
“…He definitely must be aware of the risks.”
“Right.”
That said, it doesn’t necessarily mean Arisa is lying.
So, according to Yuzuru’s theory…
“Despite appearances, Yukishiro is quite timid. I guess it’s a personality thing.”
Having been taken in, she probably can’t defy her adoptive parents, either emotionally or in terms of her position.
Because Arisa didn’t explicitly refuse, they mistook her silence for consent and pressed ahead with the matchmaking—and by the time she realised it, it was too late for her to say no.
Just as Yuzuru and Soichiro were discussing this—
“Oi, Soichiro! Yuzuru!! Come over and join us!!”
Just then, Ayaka’s invitation came through.
Yuzuru and Soichiro exchanged a glance, then swam over to the three of them.
