Chapter 19

"Wh-What? A pool!?"

From the other end of the phone, Aira's flustered voice could be heard. Yugen sighed inwardly, thinking it was probably not going to work out.

The events leading up to this had started about an hour ago.

Yugen's grandfather suddenly said, "I got these from a shareholder benefit. Go with Yuki Seijou," and handed Yugen two tickets to a famous swimming and entertainment facility.

Yes, a pool.

Going to a pool means wearing a swimsuit.

Wearing a swimsuit means exposing your skin.

Aira seemed unaccustomed to men and was not good at seeing men's skin.

She probably didn't like exposing her own skin either.

Yugen also didn't really want to see Aira in a swimsuit, but it would be a lie to say he didn't want to see it at all. However, he was sure he would get nervous if he saw it.

From nervousness and embarrassment, he wouldn't be able to enjoy himself properly.

Yugen wanted to decline.

But if he was told something like, "Normal couples play at pools or the beach in the summer," he couldn't argue.

"Yeah, well... that's right."

"Pool... that means wearing a swimsuit, right?"

At first, Aira seemed flustered, but her voice quickly regained its composure.

Since it was over the phone, it was hard to gauge her emotions.

But she was probably not happy about it.

Yugen knew that Aira, who he knew, wouldn't want to go to a pool with a man she didn't like.

"Of course, you don't want to. Yeah, I'll talk to grandpa."

"Is... is it okay?"

"I'll tell him something like you're embarrassed about being seen by other guests or that you don't want to show your skin to other men. He'll probably back down."

He wouldn't force her.

Of course, they would need to go somewhere else, like an amusement park or a movie theater.

"But... it's difficult, right?"

"Well... it's not easy, but..."

How many girls these days would say they're embarrassed to wear a swimsuit at a pool?

What about their school swimming classes?

There were points to nitpick, but...

"I can go."

A calm and composed voice came back.

It was a very helpful response for Yugen, but it made him uneasy.

Was she forcing herself?

"You're not bothered by it?"

"If I don't like it, I'll say so. That's what you told me. I don't mind, so I can go."

"Are you not embarrassed?"

"It's a matter of TPO. Wearing a swimsuit at a pool isn't strange. ...We wear swimsuits in swimming class, after all."

That's true.

Is it really like that? Maybe he was overthinking it?

Yugen tilted his head in thought.

"Of course. But don't misunderstand... I don't go to pools with men I don't like. I don't know about others, but I don't want to and I don't go. I'm not that kind of person, and I don't want to be misunderstood as someone who has feelings for me."

Aira said this firmly and continued calmly.

"But you won't misunderstand, right, Kasegawa?"

"Well... yeah. Unless we're actually 'engaged,' I wouldn't invite you."

"That's right. And you're harmless. If you were harmful, your true colors would have shown long ago. ...Well, unless you're incredibly good at hiding it."

"Harmless or not. You're not a pest or a predator. ...But men are wolves, as they say."

Does Yugen have any ulterior motives? If asked, he would say no.

He has the same level of libido as a normal high school boy.

"Are you a wolf, Kasegawa?"

"...I think I'm more like a well-trained large dog."

"Right? But I'm a cat person, so I don't like you."

"Got it. By the way, I'm a dog person."

Of course, in this situation, whether he's a dog person or a cat person isn't that important.

If she wanted to argue about it, Yugen was ready to take her on.

"Anyway, I brought up the 'engagement.' You accepted it to protect me. It's only right that I cooperate."

"No, you don't have to feel obligated..."

"Actually, a week ago, I thought I might be invited by a girl in class, so I bought a new swimsuit. Being invited by you was unexpected, but... the timing isn't bad."

She's not bothered by it. In fact, she seems willing.

It feels like she's being considerate, but...

If she says this much, it would be rude to say, "No, I think you don't want to go," and decline.

If he did, he shouldn't have contacted her in the first place.

"Alright, I get it. About the place and time..."

"Yes. Please wait a moment. I'll take a note."

---

A few days later.

Yugen, already in his swimsuit, was waiting for Aira by the poolside.

Around him, other men were waiting for their partners as well.

Doing this made him feel like they were really a couple.

Of course, Yugen didn't think of Aira as a romantic interest, and vice versa.

Pretending to be a couple when they didn't like each other was a unique experience.

It would definitely be a memorable experience, for better or worse.

As he was thinking this, he noticed that the men around him were all looking at one point.

Yugen followed their gaze.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"..."

Involuntarily, a sigh of admiration escaped his lips.

Aira's swimsuit was incredibly beautiful.

Even the self-proclaimed large dog, Yugen, was captivated.

"Kasegawa, I need you to say something."

"Ah, sorry."

Yugen snapped out of it when he saw her frowning and looking at him coldly.

He then took a closer look at Aira in her swimsuit.

First, the swimsuit itself was surprisingly a bikini.

And it was black.

The design wasn't just black; there were white patterns near the edges, and a large bow decorated the center.

The black swimsuit contrasted beautifully with her porcelain-white skin, making it even more striking.

The bikini naturally drew his eyes to three points: her neck, chest, and waist.

Her slender build gave an overall slim impression, but the parts that should be prominent were prominent.

First, the smooth décolletage from her neck to her collarbone.

Then the beautiful, full breasts that created a dazzling valley.

Below that, a smooth curve leading to a slender waist and a well-defined navel.

Beyond that, the curves hinted at the lines of her back, even from the front.

Her long, slender legs in the black swimsuit were a sight to behold.

It was a shame her upper arms were hidden by the blue rash guard, but it only made him imagine more.

"Well, you know... that..."

"That?"

"I just felt a little disappointed that you're not my real fiancée."

Yugen complimented Aira's swimsuit with a half-joking tone.

Aira smiled, understanding it was a joke.

"That's a shame. ...You look good too, Kasegawa. You said you do workouts at home and go to the gym with friends. I see it's true."

"Of course. ...Men care about their bodies too, to some extent."

Maybe not as much as women, but a sloppy body is embarrassing.

It made him glad he had been exercising regularly.

"But, Yuki... I thought you were the type to be embarrassed by this."

Exposing her skin and seeing men's skin.

This place was filled with people, and she would inevitably be seen by and see the skin of unknown men.

"TPO, remember? And please don't point it out. It's embarrassing when I think about it."

Aira's skin was tinged with a rosy blush.

She was clearly embarrassed.

"That's my fault. ...Where should we go first?"

"Let's... just relax and have fun."

"Then, how about the lazy river?"

They started walking towards the lazy river area.

Personally, I think black goes best with blonde hair.

It's interesting.

I'm curious about what happens next.

If you think the heroine's swimsuit is cute,

please consider bookmarking and rating the story.

---

There hasn't been much change in the "dere" level.

Also, it seems I've been defending the top spot in the genre-specific real-life romance category for about ten days now.

Thank you all for your support. I appreciate it.

I'll keep working hard, so please continue to support me.

If you find this story interesting and haven't bookmarked or rated it yet,

your bookmark and a five-star rating would be a huge encouragement.