"Well then, I will be returning to my designated position."
"Hmm. Do you really have to go back? I think it'd be better if you just waited here with your squad. It's not like the beach is unpatrolled; there are plenty of members from the Justice Task Force and the Prefect Team around. If anything happens that requires your attention, you'll be called immediately."
"I appreciate the offer, but for us to ensure a swift initial response when an incident occurs, it is more advantageous for my squad members to be on standby in the field. That way, no matter where trouble breaks out on this vast beach, we will be nearby."
"I see… Well, if that's how you want to do it, I'll respect that. But won't your squad members be too far apart? Doesn't that risk them being picked off one by one?"
"...My squad members are not so weak as to be picked off one by one. I appreciate your concern, but there is no need to worry."
Technically, our conversation had been work-related, but now that my only talking partner, Yukino, was gone, I felt a little lonely. I seem to recall that in the past, time would fly by just staring at my phone screen, but these days, I get downright depressed if I don't have someone to talk to. It's scary. It feels like, against my will, I've become a social animal that will just up and die without the warmth of human contact. I suppose it's a good thing, but feeling down just because I'm alone seems a bit much.
I stared blankly at the scene before me, where students from our school and others were building sandcastles everywhere.
The little elementary school kids were making something small and cute. It was less a castle and more of a round hill, upon which they planted a suppressor instead of a flag…
…Right. I'm just going to pretend I didn't see that.
The middle schoolers, tasked with building sandcastles, were instead creating sand sculptures so impressive they took my breath away. It was nice to see a few familiar faces among them.
The high schoolers were building a massive sand fortress and then having a gunfight… Hmm, this scene looks familiar, like something I saw in an event once. No, seriously, is there some Kivotos-wide group chat where they share "pro tips for building giant sandcastles"? How did every single one of them end up building a fortress? And why are they trying to destroy each other's castles in a castle-building contest? Is that how you deal with the competition?
Kivotos is a scary place.
Wow, what's that pink lump sticking out from under a pile of sand in the distance? Their halo isn't visible, so they must be sleeping soundly. That's incredible.
I averted my eyes from the dizzying sight and leaned back in my chair under the shade of the parasol, enjoying the peaceful sea breeze.
"Ah, there you are, Mika. It seems you're done for the day."
How much time had passed?
I opened my eyes at the sound of a familiar voice and saw Hina and Nagisa taking the empty seats on either side of me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Hey, how did you know where to find me?"
"Pardon? I was simply wandering around and grew tired, so I stopped by this beach house. I wasn't specifically looking for you."
"Ah…"
What is this feeling? Hearing her say it was all a coincidence and that she had no intention of finding me makes me feel a little hurt. It seems Nagisa doesn't understand my heart at all…
"...I was looking for you."
"Right, so you were just planning to say hi if you happened to run into me… I get it."
At least Hina offered some lip service. Thanks, Hina…
To be honest, I know why Nagisa is being so cold. You'd have to be an idiot not to. Your partner drives a nail through your heart by saying, 'I really like you, but I don't think I can give this person up either. So, please let me date you both,' and then follows it up with the insane suggestion, 'Oh, I think it would be great if you two spent some time together and got to know each other. Have fun, okay?'. Of course, she's not going to look at me fondly. The fact that she's only being a little cold makes her a saint of unparalleled proportions.
"Well, like Nagi said, I'm done with my work for the day! I was just discussing some business with someone from the GSC a little while ago… and then I got a bit bored, so I was thinking of taking a little nap."
"...Huhu, you're so cute. You don't have to beat around the bush and say you were lonely after being left all by yourself."
"Ahaha… how did you know? I didn't think I was being that obvious."
"Unless you're actively trying to hide it, your thoughts are usually written all over your face, Mika. Just like right now."
Maybe her mood had improved a little. Nagisa let out a small laugh, casually took my lemonade, and took a sip.
"...It's bland."
"Well, of course it is. The ice has all melted. I always feel like you can be surprisingly careless in the strangest ways, Nagi. Still, that expression just now was really cute!"
Even when the tea of the day isn't to her liking, Nagisa never lets it show on her face. For her to grimace like that… I guess the bizarre taste of watered-down lemonade is hard for anyone to endure.
"...Have you two known each other for a long time?"
"Pardon? Yes, I suppose you could say that. We first met in kindergarten, more than ten years ago."
As Hina watched us with a strange expression, Nagisa answered her question and gently took my hand. It seems her mood has improved quite a bit. I wonder if Hina said something to smooth things over.
But then, a question popped into my head.
"Huh? You two spent half the day together and you haven't even talked about that yet?"
By my rough calculation, they must have been together for at least three or four hours. A topic like that should have come up and passed long ago, right?
"Well, our conversation was mostly about Ms. Hina. I couldn't help but ask all sorts of questions, wondering what part of her had managed to bewitch you so completely."
"...Hmm."
She called her Ms. Hina? Nagisa… the same Nagisa who calls Seia "Seia-san," is calling Hina "Hina-san"? I never would have imagined it.
"I can see she's a good person. I understand now why you trusted her so much back then. That doesn't mean I'm not still furious with you, Mika. Even now, I can't comprehend how I've ended up going along with this."
"Ahaha, that's obviously because you love me too much to—"
Nagisa's nails dug into the back of my hand. If she'd just slapped me across the face, it wouldn't have hurt this much, but for some reason, this kind of pain is strangely sharp.
"...Can you not read the mood, Mika?"
"Sorry."
And so, I opened my mouth and got shot down. I thought since her mood seemed to have improved and she was using a title for Hina that she doesn't even use for Seia, it would be okay.
…Sometimes, I hate my own disastrous lack of intuition.
"So I guess it's still too early to say you've given your permission…?"
"That goes without saying. I'm still in the 'wait and see' phase."
I glanced over at Hina, and surprisingly, she looked quite peaceful amidst all this. It seems their conversation went better than I thought… now I'm really curious. What was the atmosphere like when it was just the two of them?
"By the way, Mika. That hat… could you give it to me for a moment?"
"Huh? My hat?"
The hat… the straw hat… the one I attached the lily decoration to for Nagisa…
"...Huh?"
What. Why is she asking for it now?
I'm pretty sure she was the one who gave this to me to wear as a way of showing that I was 'hers.' So why now… don't tell me.
"...No."
"Pardon?"
"I don't want to give it to you."
A strange sense of displeasure washed over me. It felt as if I was experiencing an emotion that wasn't my own, but I was certain this feeling was mine.
I didn't want to return this symbol of Nagisa's possessiveness, of her affection. I'm a greedy person; I don't let go of things once I have them—
What am I even saying?
She probably has a good reason for asking for it back for a moment. Why am I overreacting like this? Even if she meant for us to swap them back as originally intended, that's no reason to feel so upset.
…It seems I'm mentally exhausted. Listening to Makoto laugh for hours, worrying that Trinity would lose the festival, and then running into Yukino and having to think about work on top of it all… Yeah, this has to be stress. That time of the month is still a few days away, but it feels like my mood is already living in the future. Damn it.
"Ahaha, if I give this back, it feels like I'd be letting you go, Nagi. I don't want that. I'm never letting you go."
"...Honestly, it will only take a moment."
Nagisa's radiant smile seemed to say what can you do, and seeing it, my chaotic thoughts began to settle. The strange feeling from a moment ago was gone.
"Mmm. If you put it that way, Nagi, I guess I have no choice."
I took off the straw hat and handed it to her. As I expected, there was no resistance.
"...But you have to give it back quickly, okay? I plan on keeping this forever."
The flower decoration this time was artificial, not real, so unlike the flower crown, I didn't have to worry about it wilting. Of course, I still think real flowers are best for special events. But the festival lasts for a week; a real flower would have withered halfway through. It's better to use an artificial one from the start than to have to remake it two or three times.
"Huhu… It won't take long. Still, I'm happy to hear you'll treasure it for a lifetime."
Nagisa took the hat, pulled something out of the pouch at her side, attached it to the hat, and then handed it back to me.
"There, it's done. Take a look."
I wondered what she had done. I turned the hat so the front was facing me and blinked blankly.
"This is…?"
"Well? Do you like it?"
"..."
A while ago, I told Nagisa about my life before I was reincarnated. The things I liked. The things I disliked. All sorts of random stories. I think I told her pretty much everything, except for the fact that this world existed as a game called Blue Archive where I used to live.
Maybe that's why. Seeing a little wooden charm shaped like a parrot suddenly attached next to the lily decoration, a small laugh escaped me.
"Ahat, ahahaha! Nagi, what is this? It doesn't match at all…!"
"W-What? Is it really that bad?"
"Yes. Honestly, Nagi. Where did you even find this?"
"I saw a stall selling carved wooden ornaments and was just browsing when I suddenly thought of you… sigh."
A long time ago, I had a parrot. For three or four years. Then, due to personal circumstances, I had to move, and after noise complaints, I ultimately had to give him away.
I was grateful that Nagisa had remembered that story. Aside from the fact that this wooden charm didn't match the hat at all, I liked the gift itself. In fact, even if I hadn't liked the gift, I probably would have been just as moved. For someone to remember the 'me' that was slowly fading away was, in itself, the greatest gift of all.
"Thank you, Nagi. I'll treasure this separately ☆."
"...You're such a tease. Don't expect anything next time."
"Yep, I love you too!"
Even though I was the one who said it playfully, why did I feel more embarrassed? It's strange.
But wait, there was someone else here besides us… oops.
I glanced to the side and my eyes met Hina's. She was standing with her arms crossed, the peaceful expression from a moment ago completely gone. It seems that in my little world with Nagisa, I had accidentally summoned winter to this summer beach.
After that, I had to work up a sweat trying to soothe Hina, who was clearly sulking but kept insisting she was fine.
…What kind of confidence did I have to so brazenly declare I was going to two-time them?
The hardships to come were painfully clear. I was worried if I'd ever have any personal time for myself again. Hmm, then again, for someone like me who has started to hate being alone, maybe this is a good thing?
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