Chapter 30

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“Hey Shouma, are you working hard?”

“…Why are you here, Tendou-san?”

A few days later, when he spotted that familiar face amongst the bathers, Shouma’s face instantly turned into a frown.

His employer wore a long-sleeved rash hoodie over his swimming costume while enthusiastically waving his hands in the air towards Shouma. His completely white skin, never tanned, shined through the height of summer. It was quite ill-matched to be precise.

The beach house where they were staying, had been a reconstructed, large two-story pension. The roof of the first floor was stretched out like a rush mat, while underneath it, handmade wooden chairs were lined up. Next to the building all the life buoys, umbrellas and parasols were available to hire for the customers.

There were four part-timers, including Shouma. Three men and one woman. In addition, there was also the shop manager, Yoshino and her husband.

“It was me who invited Tendou-san!” said Yamato, who peeked out from behind Tendou.

He was in a much better mood around the man than how he was at the Summer Festival.

“…But, why?”

“Look, if I invite a handsome guy, my popularity goes up, which means I can meet more people!”

A sigh escaped from Shouma’s mouth at his friend’s idiotic logic.

“Well, to speak more sensibly, most of us are underage [1] right? We decided that it would be better to have an adult with us. My father also said it would be safer for me to do so.”

Added Yoshihiro, as if to follow Yamato in the path of refuting him.

His father was a policeman, and as a result of his job, he tends to be a bit of a nag at young people’s events.

“Besides, Tendou-san is amusing and reliable!”

“Also, he’s quite a caring person, not to mention, he’s cool! I wanna be his apprentice!”

Said the two of them in perfect unison.

The unexpectedly high praises about Tendou made Shoma slightly suspicious.

(When did these two befriend him?…)

It’s true that all the three of them had a cheerful and sociable personality, but he didn’t expect his drama-fan employer and his University friends to be in personal contact with each other.

Shouma didn’t think Tendou got their numbers without their permission, like he did with him, so he guessed they became more than just acquaintances at the Summer Festival.

“Shouma-kun!”

It was Tomami who came running up to them, calling his name.

It seemed that their classmate was also invited by Yamato.

She wore a white bikini, showing her long arms and legs. Her fine skin reflected the rays of the sun.

It was a very uncomfortable sight to behold. Even if one didn’t have a single guilty thought in mind, one couldn’t help but look away.

The girl silently positioned herself next to Shouma.

“Can you forgive me about today? I’ll surely help you in the kitchen at lunchtime!”

“It’s okay. I can handle this, so Washizu-san can freely play as much as she wants.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry. I’m going to take what I signed up for!”

Shouma made a money sign with his index finger and thumb. Tomami, who had previously furrowed her brows apologetically, only sighed at this with a pout.

Yamato tapped Shouma on the shoulder.

“You’re just as calculating and greedy as ever.”

“Don’t call me that! I came here to work so that’s the least I can do!”

“Come-on! You self-supporter!”

“Hoi, that never sounded like a compliment from your mouth!”

Tomami was still laughing, as if amused by the exchange of the group of fussing men before her.

“Fufufu, then I’ll tell my auntie to save you some money, Shouma!”

“Good luck with that!”

“Un”

Just then a voice called out behind them “Tomami!”.

Looking over, her friends stood there, beckoning to the girl to join them as they took a dip in the sea, who had probably been called there by Yamato.

Tomami bowed her head and said “Well, it was nice to see you!” then turned towards her friends. Even her back was dazzling as she ran away.

Shouma patted his friends on both sides of their back.

“Come on, both of you, go and play! You didn’t come to the beach just to sit here and talk, did you?”

“That’s right!”

“Let’s go!”

“Have fun you two!”

Shouma watched them go as they ran off. His friends waved at him for a while, but then they gradually disappeared into the crowd.

“Well, then I’ll get on with my job!”

To be honest, when Yamato and his friends told him that they were going to come vacationing to his part-time place, Shouma felt it would be bothersome and more of a hassle, but now that they really came as they promised, it’s slowly becoming a bit more fun.

Today they fired up the atmosphere as usual.

Just then, Shouma spotted Tendou sitting alone in a chair.

“Huh? Tendou-san, aren’t you going to the beach?”

“Nah, I’m in the guardian category this time. I’m not really interested in the sea in the first place.”

“So why didn’t you turn down the invitation?”

He looked good in his yukata at the Festival, but neither the white beach nor the blue sea suited him. Not to mention, he didn’t seem to be enjoying himself at all.

Shouma thought his employer would rather watch a drama in his air-conditioned office than stay here.

Tendou took a glance at the sea out of the corner of his eye.

“Usually, there are a lot of kaii around the waterside, you know. So I was a bit worried about you, Shouma.”

“Tendou-san…”

Shouma couldn’t help but sound deeply moved.

(Regardless of what others say, Tendou-san is truly kind.)

He gave them a hint when he said he didn’t know what was going on at the time of the Random Assailant, and when Shouma was attacked by the Mikoshi Nyuudou, he immediately rushed over to help him out.

As Yamato and Yoshihiro said, Tendou might be quite a caring character after all.

Shouma’s heart warmed up. But…

“Also, there is nothing better than to eat some cold delicacies in hot weather and a place like this.”

(Ah, so that was his real intention.)

The feelings that had been building up in him, suddenly faded away. He knew he had been foolish to be even a little bit sentimental.

“So, I would like one soft serve ice cream. After that, you can also get shaved ice with assorted frozen fruits on top and lastly, a ramune.”

“…You’ll get a cold tummy, Tendou-san”

“Don’t worry. Sugar is supposed to keep my stomach warm.”

“What’s with this mysterious theory about no calories when warming something…”

Despite these remarks, Shouma wrote down the order on a slip of paper he took out from his pocket.

“By the way, won’t you like some alcohol, Tendou-san? We have beer and the likes, too”

As Shouma drew his employer’s attention to his supposed twenty plus years of age, Tendou shook his head with a wry smile.

“I don’t wish to drink. I made a small mistake a long time ago while being drunk and I’ve been trying not to drink ever since.”

“Huh, so even Tendou-san can be like that.”

It was a surprising fact. Somehow, Shouma had a proper and somewhat tidy impression of him in his mind.

At that moment, the news about the frequent drowning accidents around the area broadcasted from the suspended television.

It seemed a group of High School students had been swept into the river and later they had been found dead. The caster read out a quick warning about the hazards of going into the water and then moved on to the next news. Even the following one was another drowning accident. This time, it happened in the sea.

“It’s so depressing to see all of this.” said a woman painfully as she looked up at the television. It was none other than Yoshino, Tomami’s aunt. She looked just like a woman of the sea, with a tan all over her body. Even the towel, which was wrapped around her head, helped to make her look like an unyielding sea woman in anyone’s eyes.

“It truly is scary.”

“Recently, there have been a number of people snatched away by the current of the sea in this area. It has been a long time, so I don’t think they are alive, but when I think of their parents, I wish that even their remains would just come home…”

“Manager, you’re scaring the customers.”

“Oh, yes…”

The one who said this was another part-timer, Miki. She seemed to be in her mid-twenties, working as a freelancer.

She was the only woman of the part-timer group.

On her head, a fluffy ponytail bounced everytime she moved. This was the first time she worked at a beach house, so her hands were a little fidgety and she herself was a bit tottered, but even that awkwardness was somehow flattering.

She was the kind of woman who would be popular with men in a different way than Tomami.

“I’m sorry. Even though you’ve come all this way to have fun…”

“No, no, don’t worry about it”

Tendou gently shook his head to the apologizing Miki.

She changed the channel on the television and then walked away as she was called by the guests.

—–

Translator’s Notes:

[1] The age when a person is considered to be an adult in Japan is twenty years old. Both drinking, smoking and even renting an apartment without parental consent could only be legal after that age.

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