The sea breeze carried a salty, humid warmth, blowing over everything on the beach.
Imaizumi Keita leaned back against the beach chair. From this angle, he could see the two figures frolicking in the waves not far away.
The two were splashing water at each other in knee-deep waves, letting out a series of crisp, uninhibited laughs.
Yanami's hair, which looked even more vibrant and smooth when wet, clung tightly to her pale cheeks and neck.
The splashing water sparkled.
The sunlight spilled over her, making her already dazzlingly white skin look as if it were coated in a layer of glowing highlighter.
Shioyaki Lemon's wheat-colored skin shimmered with energetic luster in the sun, making one's gaze involuntarily fall upon the contrast in skin tones.
Imaizumi Keita's gaze eventually drifted back to Yanami Anna, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
Honestly, this woman...
With a personality like hers, a bright and sunny place like this really suited her best.
As he was thinking, a stuttering voice suddenly sounded beside him.
"Um... Classmate Imaizumi."
Imaizumi Keita turned his head to see that Koma Chihana had stood up beside him at some point.
She was wearing a school-issued swimsuit with a long-sleeved sun protection jacket over it, wrapping herself up tightly.
Her long bangs covered most of her eyes, making her look even more gloomy, and even her tone became blunt.
"Your eyes... are perverted."
"Eh?"
Imaizumi Keita raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Your gaze has been fixed on Yanami and Shioyaki since a while ago."
Imaizumi Keita adjusted his sitting position and cast his gaze back toward Yanami, responding in a matter-of-fact tone:
"I'm just appreciating beautiful things. Don't you think, Koma, that the way they look right now is very pleasing to the eye?"
Imaizumi Keita didn't give Koma a chance to argue back, proactively turning the topic to her.
"Setting that aside. Koma, aren't you going to play at the seaside? I see the President and Senior Tsukinoki seem to be having a lot of fun."
He pointed with his chin toward the other side, where Tamaki Shintaro was being chased all over the beach by Tsukinoki Koto with a water gun, letting out a series of pathetic screams for mercy.
"I-I'll pass..."
Koma Chihana shook her head, pulled away slightly to sit down on the waterproof tarp, and hugged her knees while looking gloomily at the two playing.
"I-I don't really like crowded places. Staying... staying here is fine."
"Is that so."
Imaizumi Keita nodded and didn't make any further comments.
For Koma, forcing her to go would likely only make her feel more uncomfortable.
He withdrew his gaze from the bickering childhood sweethearts and let it fall on the cup of Lemon-flavored shaved ice by his hand that had already begun to melt slightly.
This was the portion Yanami Anna had bought and forced upon him earlier.
As for her own strawberry-flavored cup, she had only hurriedly taken a few bites before being called away by Lemon.
Thinking of this, Imaizumi Keita naturally picked up the strawberry shaved ice, took a scoop with the spoon, and put it in his mouth.
The cool, sweet and sour taste instantly dissipated some of the summer heat.
Hmm, the taste is pretty good.
He placed the shaved ice Yanami had left behind in front of himself, and then pushed the almost untouched Lemon-flavored cup toward Koma Chihana.
"This is for you."
"Eh?"
Koma Chihana was startled by his sudden move, and her whole body became alert.
She looked at the brightly colored shaved ice in front of her, then at Imaizumi Keita's expressionless face, her eyes filled with wariness.
This man... what does he want to do now?
Is he trying to bribe me this way so I won't tell anyone about his impure gaze?
Seeing her wary look, Imaizumi Keita sighed helplessly in his heart.
He extended his finger and pushed the shaved ice a few inches closer to her, explaining in a flat tone:
"Yanami bought this earlier. She didn't have time to eat it before Shioyaki called her away to play. If it's not eaten soon, it'll completely melt."
"...Yanami bought it...?"
Koma Chihana was stunned.
Her gaze swept back and forth between Imaizumi Keita and the strawberry shaved ice in front of him that had clearly been eaten.
A clear logical chain slowly formed in her mind.
Yanami bought two cups of shaved ice, one Lemon and one strawberry.
The Lemon one wasn't eaten before she was called away by Shioyaki, and the strawberry one was already being eaten by Imaizumi.
So, if no one eats this Lemon shaved ice, it really will go to waste...
She looked at the shaved ice in front of her, then at the two figures still frolicking in the distance, and finally couldn't resist the temptation.
"Then... then I'll help myself."
She said softly, carefully picking up the spoon and taking a small scoop of the yellow ice into her mouth.
The Lemon's tart sweetness and the ice's coolness melted on her tongue, bringing a sense of comfort to her slightly agitated body.
She took a few more bites, and the restraint in her heart dissipated slightly.
After a while, Koma Chihana put down the spoon and suddenly turned to ask Imaizumi Keita beside her.
"Ima, Imaizumi..."
"Hmm?"
Imaizumi Keita had just finished the last bite of ice with strawberry pulp. Hearing her voice, he looked up in confusion.
"...Do you like Yanami?"
This question was asked directly and abruptly.
Imaizumi Keita paused. He looked into Koma Chihana's eyes, which were full of curiosity, and nodded simply and flatly.
"I do."
His voice wasn't loud, and his tone showed no ripples: "Why?"
*Cough! Cough cough cough...!!*
Koma Chihana clearly hadn't expected her tentative question to be met with such a blunt and straightforward affirmation.
She was so shocked by this unexpected answer that she couldn't catch her breath.
The mouthful of shaved ice she had just eaten got stuck right in her throat, triggering a violent fit of coughing.
Her cheeks instantly turned bright red, and her whole body curled up as she coughed until tears almost came out.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Seeing her look like she was about to suffocate, Imaizumi Keita didn't care about anything else.
He immediately stood up, approached Koma, and began to pat her back with moderate force.
"Slow down, don't rush, catch your breath."
With Imaizumi's help, Koma soon recovered, and her coughing subsided.
"Ima, Imaizumi..."
Looking at Imaizumi's concerned expression, Koma Chihana thought of how President Tamaki usually cared for her, and her tone involuntarily softened.
"Hmm?"
"Th-thank you."
"Oh."
Imaizumi Keita stood up and stretched, seeing Yanami standing in the waves waving at him.
"Imaizumi-kun! Come over here!"
Yanami Anna waved at him while holding a water gun, and Shioyaki was cheering beside her.
Imaizumi Keita turned to look at Koma and reminded her: "I'm going in the water to play. Take your time with the shaved ice. If you want to come over, then come over; don't force yourself."
He stood up, tucked in the corners of the waterproof tarp, and walked toward the seaside.
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