Surprises In Summer

By the time that Nitsuki made it to the top of the trail and into the clearing, her thighs and calves were aching, her lungs felt as if they'd been filled with lead, and sweat dripped from her brow, stinging her eyes.

She briefly took in the familiar, picturesque view of the small lake and cascading waters that flowed down the mountain, but right now the only thing she could focus on was her boyfriend, who was leaning against a nearby tree looking smug.

He looked just as bad as her, yet he had the nerve to be acting cool with his own labored breathing.

"H-hey, Nia," he said with a smirk. "Glad you could join me. Took you a while, didn't ya?"

"Shut it," she muttered as she collapsed onto a patch of grass next to him. She groaned in pain and frustration, trying to will her aching legs and lungs to recover on the cool ground. "How long have you been waiting? A minute?"

"Two and a half, actually." He swallowed as he shakily took out his phone and pointed to it. "So… about the bet, I think that makes me the winner~"

Nitsuki grabbed the legs of his shorts and pulled him down to the ground with her. "I don't wanna hear it, you overpowered idiot. We're having a tie."

He yelped as he tumbled to the ground beside her. "Ow! Geez, someone's a sore loser. And I didn't cheat either, for your information. It's just the result of hard work and a healthy dose of natural talent. Just accept my rightful win."

She rolled her eyes, ignoring him and glancing at his legs. "Yeah, yeah. Sure, Mr. Leg Day. Rub it in that I can no longer compete fairly." A wistful sigh escaped her lips. "The sacrifices I made for the sake of my womanhood…"

His smug expression faded into one of guilt. "A-ah, I didn't mean it like that. Sorry, I was just playing around—"

Enough of her energy had recovered to suddenly sit up and kiss him. "Shush, it's just some dry humor. I'm fine, promise. I'm not the same shy kid that clung onto any win they could get." She gave him another kiss. "Thanks for humoring me in the race."

"Oh. N-no problem." His face flushed, and he hesitantly wrapped an arm around her.

They just sat there for a little while, basking in the ambience and low rumbling of the waterfall as their bodies cooled and recovered. Mist gently drifted in the air, coating them in a fine layer of dew, and the occasional bird chirped in the distance.

All in all, not a bad place for a date.

Once her breathing had lowered to a normal pace, she sighed and looked to her boyfriend. "So, before we get on with our lunch, what favor are you going to ask of me?"

"Hmm…? Oh. What do I want from you?" He rubbed his chin in thought as he looked at the sky. "Well, we did end in a tie, so how about—"

"I wasn't serious about that. You won fair and square despite my grumblings." She lightly punched him in the shoulder and gave him a playful grin. "So, name your price. I'll do whatever you want. Just make sure you're not too mean, alright?"

"…" His cheeks began to flush, and a nervous smile crept over his face.

Nitsuki blinked. Oh. Oh no. That wasn't the goofy smile he usually had when they flirted, that was the look he made when he was embarrassed over something he really wanted.

"…What are you planning?" she cautiously asked, her heart rate slowly starting to accelerate.

"Um, well. It's something I've always wanted to do, but… I didn't want to ask since I was a tad bit afraid of what you'd think of me."

"…" She was silent, trying to figure out where this was going. What exactly did he want from her? Was it something sexual? Something embarrassing? Something she'd never even considered?

"Well?" she prodded. "I'm all ears."

He closed his eyes for a second, took a deep breath, and exhaled it all out. Then, with the utmost sincerity, he spoke.

"Can you give me a lap pillow?"

Silence.

There was nothing but the sound of birds chirping and the rush of water pouring down the mountainside.

"A lap pillow," she echoed. "You want a… lap pillow."

He nodded enthusiastically like he was some sort of dog. "Y-yeah! Um, admittedly I've sort of fantasized about it since… well, forever… Could you please fulfill this dream of mine?"

She couldn't believe her ears. Here she'd been expecting something raunchy, perhaps a joke or some sort, but instead, he just wanted to lay his head in her lap.

That's it? That's the big favor? All the build-up for a lap pillow?!

"I… um, yes?" was her eloquent response.

Tachibana's eyes lit up with a wide smile. "Sweet!" Before she could protest, he shifted over and rested his head in her lap beneath the shaded tree, his hair tickling the exposed skin. He let out a happy sigh, and she could feel the heat rising on her cheeks.

"You're a weirdo, you know that? I was expecting a much bigger request," she muttered, running her fingers through his hair. It was soft to the touch, and her nails lightly scratched his scalp.

"Eh he, I'm a simple guy. What else can I say?" He chuckled and closed his eyes, relishing the feeling of her touch as they both lost themselves to the moment.

Just the two of them, alone with the world at their fingertips. No worries, no responsibilities. Just peace and quiet, enjoying the day and each other's company.

Nitsuki sighed softly and leaned back against the tree trunk, gazing up at the sky with her boyfriend. The sun was high above, casting a gentle warmth upon them and making the lake shimmer with a beautiful hue of blue. A breeze rustled the leaves and sent a chill through her body, making her shiver slightly.

…This was nice.

***

Time slipped by unnoticed as they sat there in the clearing. The sun rose higher, and the sounds of nature became the backdrop to their conversations. They talked and joked, shared secrets and dreams over bento, and enjoyed the other's company as the hours melted together.

It wasn't until Tachibana's eyes flicked to time that they remembered that the real world still existed outside of their private little sanctuary.

"Shoot. It's already past two," he said, sitting up and gently removing Nitsuki's hand from the top of his head.

"Huh, it is? Time flew, didn't it?" she replied, stretching her arms above her head with a contented sigh. "I can't believe we've been here for hours…"

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I guess it's a sign that we're a good match if the time we spend together feels so short, right?"

Nitsuki blushed at his words and playfully jabbed him with an elbow. "You're getting cheese all over this moment, you know that?"

"Hey, you like cheese," he shot back with a grin. "Speaking of which, did you enjoy my cooking for lunch? I worked hard to make it for you."

"Hm? Oh yeah, it was good. The stuffed katsu was a nice touch," she replied as she cracked her back. "Did you put more effort into it since we're on a date? Because if so, I'm definitely appreciative."

"I'm glad. And eh, you could say that." He shrugged and stood up, offering her his hand to help her to her feet. "We still have some hours left in the day though, and I've yet to show you the surprise."

"Ah, that's right." She took his hand and rose up off the ground. "I almost forgot about that. So, where is it then?"

Tachibana smiled, although it was a little more subdued than usual, and he seemed nervous. "Well… I remember something you said in passing a long time ago—think we were twelve. And uh, I sort of wanted to help fulfill that today." He started rummaging through his pack.

Nitsuki tilted her head. "Oh? And what exactly did I say?"

He pulled something out of his bag. Something pastel, frilly, and waterproof.

"…A swimsuit?"

***

The cool water lapped gently at her skin as she dipped her toe into the lake, testing the temperature. It wasn't too cold, but it wasn't warm either, so she gingerly eased herself down the stone steps and into the water.

As it rippled around her, she did her best to keep her pulse steady, but it wasn't easy.

She was wearing a swimsuit.

For the first time in years, she was wearing a swimsuit.

Nitsuki took a deep breath to calm herself and tried to focus on the present, not the past. However, it was hard to when every time she looked down, she saw her reflection staring back up at her.

The suit was a bikini. One that Tachibana had chosen. Pastel blue and frilly. Girlish. Cute. It wasn't too revealing, thankfully, and the bottom piece had a small skirt on it to cover her, but the top showed her shoulders, arms, and the tiniest bit of cleavage that she had.

Her body, in all of its pale and weird glory, was fully on display for the world to see.

Her heart screamed at her. It was telling her that she shouldn't be here. That despite the giddy excitement that was also coursing through her body, she was wrong for doing this. That she should get out of the water, get dressed, and never come back to this place again.

"…"

But she didn't move. Instead, she forced herself to take deep breaths and just… relax.

"Nia, you okay?"

She turned at the sound of her boyfriend's voice and saw him approaching through the water, wearing only swim trunks and a concerned look. The sight of his bare chest didn't make her pulse any slower, and she had to force herself not to stare.

"Y-yeah. I'm fine," she lied. "Just, ah… processing that I'm in a swimsuit. It's… a lot."

Tachibana nodded. "That's understandable, but I hope it's a good kind of a lot." He took a step forward, the water sloshing around his waist. "Because I think you look amazing."

Her face started turning red, and she couldn't help but smile. "T-thank you," she murmured, looking down at her body. Her fingers traced the fabric of the bikini, and she felt a sense of satisfaction wash over her.

She was wearing a swimsuit. Not swim trunks, not a wetsuit, not a t-shirt and shorts.

Admittedly, her brain was still trying to comprehend the fact, and the water was only up to her knees, but this?

…It made her happy.

Tachibana smiled and reached his hand out to her, and she took it without hesitation, her own fingers intertwining with his.

"Come on," he said, tugging her gently towards him. "Don't be shy. We got some time to kill and a lake to enjoy."

"…Okay."

She allowed herself to be led further into the water, the cold sensation sending shivers through her spine and making her heart race. But as she continued to follow, she found her anxiety slowly fading away.

By the time they were both in up to their neck, she couldn't stop smiling.

She turned and hugged Tachibana, burying her face in his shoulder to hide the tears forming in her eyes. His skin was cool in the water, and he smelled of sweat and deodorant.

"…Thank you," she whispered, doing her best to maintain whatever was left of her stoic demeanor as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

"Anytime." Tachibana's arms encircled her and pulled her closer, his hands rubbing circles into her bare back before he pulled away.

"Now, let's have some fun."

With that, he splashed her, sending a wave of water crashing into her face and drenching her hair. Then, he began desperately swimming away to avoid retaliation.

She softly giggled as several more tears mingled with the water. "Y-you idiot, you're the one who has to carry the towels! Don't think I'll go easy on you."

She dove after him, her hands slicing through the water and propelling her forward. All the while, the dumb smile that had appeared on her face refusing to fade.

It was an afternoon filled with joy as the two of them played and frolicked in the lake. They chased and splashed each other, laughing like children in the summer day.

She sniffled a little as she swam. The sun was warm on her shoulders, and the air was filled with the scent of wet grass. She couldn't believe how free she felt, how happy she was—how this surprise was one she'd remember forever.

Nitsuki Amano had finally worn a swimsuit.

And it felt incredible.