...
"Ah~ I'm stuffed, totally stuffed."
Most of the food had been eaten up. Pretty much everyone was full, except for Inuzuka Shu, who was still gnawing on a few skewers left on his plate.
"This growth phase is terrifying."
[Be careful not to upset your stomach.]
"It's fine, it's fine."
Nekozaki Kyo patted her belly and casually said: "Don't you guys feel like something's missing? Hmm, did anyone bring dessert?"
(Dessert? I forgot—should I go back and get some now?)
"Here."
Izumi, hearing that, silently pulled out some homemade cookies from his bag and placed them on the table.
"Everyone, give these a try. These are the snacks I brought— I tried making s'mores cookies!"
"Wow!"
"Saiki-kun, try one!"
Izumi picked up a cookie from the plate and handed it to Saiki. Saiki took it, bit in, and showed a blissful expression.
[Well done! Izumi.]
[So delicious~]
"Hehe, Saiki-kun loves sweets the most, right? These are made with marshmallows toasted, wrapped in thin crispy cookies and chocolate, with extra sugar added on purpose!"
"Truly god-tier technique."
(I love you—Izumi.)
"You're exaggerating!"
Inuzuka Shu reached over, grabbed a cookie, and bit down: "Mm∽ Izumi, as expected of you!"
"Stop it!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Amid the laughter and chatter, everyone enjoyed the treats. Shikimori watched Saiki smiling while eating and thought:
Shikimori [How does Izumi-kun manage to win Saiki-kun over so well? So jealous ಠ╭╮ಠ ]
(Izumi's always been clever since we were kids.)
Shikimori sneaked over to Izumi's side and whispered: "Izumi-kun, could you teach me how to make those cookies?"
"Oh, sure! I'll write down the detailed recipe for you later."
Shikimori said emotionally: "Thank you! You're such a good person."
"No problem at all!"
...
After everyone finished cleaning up, Nekozaki Kyo looked toward the river excitedly: "Then let's go play by the river!"
"Oh!!"
[I'll just sit here and rest. You guys go have fun!]
Saiki sat in his chair and pulled out a book from who-knows-where.
"Huh!"
Shikimori walked behind Saiki and saw the title of the book he was reading: "Wilderness Water Drowning First Aid Booklet: Children's Edition."
(((o(ﾟ▽ﾟ)o)))
Shikimori stepped in front of Saiki, reached out, and pulled one of his arms to make him stand up.
"Saiki-kun, we're already at the river. Don't just sit here—come play by the water a bit! Even just sitting over there would be nice. Dip your feet in or something. I don't think these books are really that useful for you!"
[This book is very useful.]
"Okay, okay, fine. Then let's go to the river and see."
Shikimori smiled brightly and pushed Saiki forward from behind like coaxing a child.
(Safety awareness naturally needs to be strengthened a bit.)
As soon as Saiki reached the shore, he spotted Hachimitsu Yui lying on a huge inflatable shell like a shell princess, surrounded by a bunch of little kids.
"Wow, so cool!"
"It's a shell! It's a shell!"
(As expected of Hachimitsu-san.)
Inuzuka Shu and Nekozaki Kyo were clutching their stomachs nearby, unable to stop laughing hysterically.
"This is really popular with kids... haha."
"How did you even pull that thing out... hahaha."
But Hachimitsu Yui only played for a little while before lending the shell to the kids. She then went to the riverbank with Nekozaki Kyo to splash around in the water.
Saiki glanced over for a couple of seconds, then walked to a shaded spot where the sun was blocked by the slope. He pulled out a fishing rod from somewhere and started fishing.
Izumi: "Saiki-kun, can you actually catch fish here?"
[Of course, no problem!]
Right after Saiki finished speaking, the rod twitched. He quickly reeled it in and pulled out a fish.
Shikimori: "So amazing! You really caught a fish!"
[Hmph! Of course—]
Inuzuka Shu waved toward where Saiki was fishing and shouted: "Hey!! Saiki, Izumi, come play too!"
Nekozaki Kyo: "Mi-chan, you come too!"
"Oh!"
Shikimori stood up and asked the two still sitting there: "Saiki-kun, Izumi-kun, are you two just going to stay sitting? Want to come play together?"
[I'm good. Right now I feel more like fishing.]
"Me too. I'm not great at swimming, so I'll just stay here with Saiki."
"This..."
Shikimori [I want to play with Saiki, but I also don't want to disturb his fishing mood. Hmm...]
"Speaking of which, this year's swimsuit styles are seriously varied. They're almost as diverse as dresses!"
[Oh? Really?]
Saiki looked toward the riverbank and only now noticed that Hachimitsu Yui and Nekozaki Kyo were wearing swimsuits.
"Saiki-kun, Hachimitsu and the others look pretty cute in their swimsuits, right!"
[Well, yeah, I guess they're pretty cute!]
Saiki looked for a couple of seconds, then turned his gaze back and continued fishing.
Seeing the swimsuits made Saiki think of the swimsuit that silly disciple of his had worn yesterday while he accompanied her shopping. A faint smile spread across his face.
(If Umaru had come too, she'd probably be splashing around happily by the river just like them. But with that girl's personality, even if she bought a swimsuit, she probably wouldn't come out. She'd just be lazing around at home playing games. I have no idea who she learned to be that lazy from...)
Shikimori caught Saiki's evaluation and the smile on his face, and a slight sense of crisis welled up inside her.
"Then Saiki-kun, Izumi-kun, I'm going to go play first. Don't wander off too far, okay!"
"Oh!"
[Have fun!]
Shikimori gripped her clothes tightly, turned, and headed toward where Hachimitsu and the others were.
When she reached the riverbank and started wading, Nekozaki Kyo sneaked up and hooked her arm around Shikimori's shoulders.
Nekozaki Kyo pressed her cheek close to Shikimori's and gave a mischievous grin: "Mi-chan, when are you going to show off your swimsuit? Why are you still wearing your outer clothes!"
"Um... I'm a little embarrassed!"
Nekozaki Kyo leaned close to her ear and whispered: "Embarrassed? Embarrassed? Then why did you pick such a sexy one yesterday? Wasn't it to wear for Saiki-kun!"
Shikimori Σ(っ °Д °;)っ
"N-No! Don't say it so loud."
Shikimori sneaked a glance toward Saiki. He and Izumi were still sitting leisurely by the side, chatting and enjoying the breeze.
Izumi: "The riverside really is great. Cool and comfortable. Thanks to you today, Saiki-kun!"
[It was everyone's decision together! No need to thank everyone left and right—it's such a hassle.]
"Hehe, is that so? Sorry."
Shikimori pulled her gaze back: "Um, let me think about it!"
Seeing Shikimori hesitate so much, Nekozaki Kyo just reached out and started tugging at her clothes: "Hesitating that much? Come on, forget it. Don't be shy—let me take a look!"
╭(°A°`)╮
Shikimori: "Nooo~"
"Let me see!"
"No! Nekozaki."
Nekozaki Kyo took off nonexistent glasses: "Be good, let me see!"
Nekozaki Kyo reached out to pull again, while Shikimori shyly dodged the attacks.
Peaceful playful scuffling sounds filled the air.
...