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Of course, after a meeting, everyone had to hang out at the shop.
Not a drinking party!
Just a light drink!
If this counted as a drinking party, those poor seniors who only get five a month would cry~
"Man, we're heading to Palau next week? That's so soon. Shiro, I'm gonna miss having you as my body pillow."
On the couch, Asuza was holding a beer in one hand and hugging Shiro with the other, face full of reluctance.
What could Shiro do? He could only enjoy it while complaining about Asuza's sins in a resentful tone.
"Asuza-nee, you thrash around so much when you sleep, I can't get any rest…"
These days, Asuza seemed especially tired from her studies and other stuff.
Every time she came home, she skipped even her favorite "art" sessions and just collapsed into bed.
Fine, sleep then—but she had to cling to Shiro…
She'd basically forced night-owl Shiro into a normal sleep schedule.
Only thing was, he kept having nightmares… usually involving being entangled by an octopus.
"…"
Iori and the others looked away in silence, afraid they'd snap and punch someone if they listened any longer.
Damn it!
That scumbag was the one getting all the benefits!
"Asuza-san's not going?"
Iori was surprised. He thought for sure someone as playful as Asuza would tag along.
"I'm a third-year now."
Asuza smiled bitterly. She really wanted to go, but she was too far behind.
"None of us third-years can go."
"If it's Asuza, she might even have to repeat a year, haha."
Thanks to her quirky personality, Asuza had a few too many failed subjects~
"Repeat a year? Even better!"
Shiro's eyes lit up. If she stayed two more years, senpai would become kouhai!
Just imagining it was exciting~
Smack!
Before Shiro could daydream further, Asuza's hand chopped him square on the head.
"Your face gave you away, Shiro~ Even if I repeat, I'll always be your senpai~"
Damn it!
Clutching his forehead in frustration, Shiro vowed to sign up for an expression-control class once they got back!
Asuza ruffled his hair, then casually pulled him into her arms and started stroking his head, turning to Kohei.
"So Kohei's going too?"
"…If I'd known it was abroad, I would've said no."
"Too late now. Don't even think of backing out."
Iori had every intention of keeping a close eye on this guy.
Run away?
Not a chance!
Asuza looked at them both with teasing tender eyes. So sweet~ So youthful~
Meanwhile, Tokita noticed the calendar in the corner. It was already the end of August...
"If we're going abroad for two weeks at this time…"
"When you guys get back, your summer vacation will almost be over too, right?"
Not noticing the strange expressions on the upperclassmen's faces, Shiro answered lightly, "Yeah."
Beside them, Kohei was muttering about wanting to watch a livestream.
At that moment, the upperclassmen looked a little sentimental, with a hint of nostalgia.
"So... our summer is coming to an end too."
Hearing this, Shiro and the others froze. That's right—this summer might be the upperclassmen's last summer together!
Next year, they'd be seniors, and everything would be pretty much set. Even if they wanted to gather again, it'd be hard.
But...
"Don't you guys have a break this month too?"
"You can still have some fun, right?"
"Ending it like this feels a little too abrupt!"
Despite the juniors' persuasion, the upperclassmen just smiled and rubbed their heads. "Haha, that won't do."
"We're all really busy, it's hard to even find a time to meet."
"Let's pause club activities for a while."
Tokita smiled. There were just too many things going on—even after Shiro and the others returned, club activities might still need to take a break.
Everyone was about to start squaring off with real life~
At that moment...
Shiro finally realized: retirement… was really coming soon.
This summer might be the last summer where everyone was together.
Looking at the smiling faces of the upperclassmen, Shiro suddenly felt he should do something.
In the past...
The upperclassmen had always been the ones looking after them. This time—
They should consider things from the upperclassmen's side!
Bang!
Shiro slammed the table and stood up in excitement. "Senpai!"
"Hm?"
Everyone turned to look at Shiro, and on his completely bare body (presumably from diving or hot spring context), they saw the aura of a passionate shonen protagonist!
"This summer—are there any things you've always wanted to do but never had the chance?!"
Maybe due to some kind of special intuition, Iori and Kohei understood what Shiro meant and smiled.
Even Chisa, who had been reading nearby, came over.
The upperclassmen were a bit confused by their juniors suddenly getting so serious.
"Things we wanted to do, huh…"
"I guess there are a few."
"Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
Iori: "If that's the case, then let's make up for those regrets together!"
Kohei: "There's still time before we leave."
Shiro: "And this summer—will never come back again!"
Chisa didn't speak, but she stood beside the other three, eyes resolutely on the upperclassmen.
She might not be good at expressing herself, but she also wanted to give the senpai who had always cared for her a perfect, regret-free summer!
"You guys…"
At that moment—
The upperclassmen's eyes welled up with tears.
No one knew what they had felt last year when they saw not a single freshman join the club.
Luckily—
Today, they had met the best group of juniors.
And these juniors were even trying to make up for the upperclassmen's summer regrets!
This is amazing!!!
Without any pretentiousness, the upperclassmen accepted the juniors' goodwill.
They each wrote down things they hoped to do together this summer on slips of paper.
"Summer Regret Notebook!"
Looking at what the upperclassmen had written, Shiro summed it up, "Basically, it's throwing a party where we wear yukata and eat takoyaki, right?"
"Sounds very summery!"
"That would definitely be fun!"
"This is exactly the kind of event summer needs!"
Everyone was a little surprised—the upperclassmen's wishes were unexpectedly simple, and also really fun!
If it worked out, it would definitely be a very memorable party!
"What do you think?"
Tokita asked hopefully from the side.
"No problem!"
"Let's make it all happen!"
Everyone was full of confidence—even Chisa seemed a little excited.
"Then everyone, let's meet up in yukata!"
Tokita smiled brightly. As expected, yukata and summer were the perfect match!
…
After leaving the dive shop, Shiro didn't head straight home to get a yukata. Instead, he walked toward the train station.
Of course, he wasn't running away.
He was here to pick someone up—
Someone who had gotten stuck in the countryside because of a watermelon.
Seeing the blue-haired silhouette in the distance, Shiro waved to signal her over.
However—
As the figure got closer, Shiro froze.
What the heck is going on with that chest size?!
On the way home—
Shiro looked at Aina's chest with a conflicted, hesitant expression.
He tried to say something a few times, but didn't know how to ask.
If it weren't obvious from the way they were walking together that they knew each other, the nearby pedestrians probably would've already called the police.
Even now, though no one had called, people were glaring at Shiro like he was some pervert.
They muttered under their breath, "If you're together, go home and look there, you damn creep!"
(?????)
Shiro, now feeling deeply wronged, didn't know how to explain to this random dude—
He was just curious about Aina's physical development—not, no! That's not it! It's…
Well, okay, it was her physical development.
Seriously though—how does someone go from buns to massive pears in one summer?!
And we're talking really big pears!
Before, Aina had the kind of body that wouldn't even get flagged by moderation bots with just a band-aid on!
Now it's like she went through a genetic mutation!
Don't tell him eating watermelon makes your boobs grow?!
He'd only ever heard about papaya doing that—when did watermelon get in on the action?!
Just because they're both melons doesn't mean they have the same effects!
If she stays in the countryside any longer... would she literally become the size of a watermelon?!
Shiro imagined Aina's head... plus boobs the size of watermelons...
{{(°△°; "}}!
A full-body shudder.
At that moment—
Aina acted like she hadn't noticed Shiro's gaze at all. In fact, she very deliberately straightened her back.
Her expression was full of expectation, as if just waiting for Shiro to ask.
Unfortunately, she had come back secretly this time—otherwise she could've stunned all three of them in one go!
Didn't Iori like big boobs? Well, she had them now too!
Thinking of Iori, whom she hadn't seen in a while, Aina blushed.
But when she remembered that as soon as she left, they went off to an uninhabited island without her, she got all puffed up with frustration again!
"..."
Watching Aina's shifting expressions, and failing to figure anything out, Shiro looked away.
Whatever—
Real or fake, he'd know once they got home.
If they were real: research time.
If it's a tumor: off to the crematorium.
If fake: she's coming to the event tonight.
"We're supposed to be going to rent yukata, right?"
Having finished her little emotional rollercoaster, Aina looked at the residential buildings ahead and asked in confusion.
This really looked more like the road home.
"No need. I already had one prepared for you."
Shiro answered nonchalantly. After confirming today's event, he had already arranged everything.
"Prepared?"
Aina looked at him suspiciously. With her love-struck mind, she started imagining a little fantasy scenario.
Just imagine—!
First, he helped her with her family issues, then helped prepare her yukata...
The thought suddenly flashed through Aina's mind—"Could it be that Shiro likes me?!"
Just thinking about it made her brain short-circuit. No way she could like Shiro, absolutely not!
Putting aside the fact that she liked Iori, just Kiyoko alone would be an obstacle. That was her best friend!
But... what if he suddenly confesses to her later?!
It would be so awkward if she had to reject him!
Aaaaaaaah!
Lost in her spiraling thoughts, Aina didn't even realize that while she was overthinking, the two of them had already arrived at Shiro's front door.
By the time she snapped out of it... Shiro was already unlocking the door.
!!!
Creak~
The sound of the door opening yanked Aina back to reality. Her face turned bright red as she started spouting nonsense.
"Wait, Shiro... I know I'm really attractive, but this isn't right... Iori... Kiyoko..."
" Aina chan~ Long time no see!"
Before she could finish, a soft body suddenly hugged her tightly. She looked down—Kiyoko?!
Why is Kiyoko here?!
(′｀;)?
Seeing Aina frozen in place, Shiro scratched his head, "Iori? Kiyoko? Aina, what are you even talking about? And your face is so red, are you having heatstroke?"
As her best friend, Kiyoko instantly understood the look on Aina's face—it had to be her romance-addled brain acting up again. (λ?_??)
Kiyoko pinched Aina's cheek with a teasing smile, "You okay, Aina? Maybe we should skip trying on the yukata and go to the hospital?"
Buzz buzz!!!
At that moment, realizing she had completely misunderstood, Aina's entire face went bright red. Shiro even swore he heard the sound of water boiling.
Also...
Did Aina's boobs get... droopier?!
"N-no need! I... I just really missed you guys!"
Then, overwhelmed with embarrassment, she flung herself into Kiyoko's arms.
A second later, Kiyoko, with a perfectly calm face, dragged Aina into the house...
BANG!
...and even thoughtfully shut the door in Shiro's face.
A moment later, Kiyoko's amazed voice rang out from inside the house—clearly reacting to Aina's dramatic changes.
But then—
"Tch!"
A loud, annoyed sound followed almost immediately.
That confirmed it for Shiro—Aina was still Aina. Not some alien clone.