Chapter 24: Melody on the Waves

The students on campus began whispering to each other, full of excitement. The announcement of the beach trip had everyone's face lit up. "Finally, I get to see the ocean again!" "Wow, I can't wait to wear my beach clothes!" "I want to go swimming and diving right away!"

In the middle of the commotion, I just stared at the book in my hands, completely uninterested.

"Hey, Akira-kun, did you hear? We're all going to the beach!" Ayaka came up to me, her face glowing.

I glanced at her, then back at my book. "I know, but I don't think I can go."

"Huh, why not?" Ayaka looked disappointed. "This is what everyone's been waiting for, you know."

I closed my book. "Actually, I have to work tomorrow to make up for the hours I missed when I was sick." I got up and left, leaving a quiet Ayaka behind.

The news spread quickly. "What? Akira-kun can't go?" "The world must be ending!" "What a shame. He's not as free as I thought." The disappointed students had no choice but to go without me.

However, when I arrived at the restaurant, Manager Toshiro called me.

"Um, Akira-kun, there's something I need to tell you," he said. "Starting tomorrow, you all won't be working at this branch. You'll be working at our new branch, right by the beach!"

"What?! Manager, you should have said so from the beginning! You made us worried for nothing!" one of the employees complained.

I froze. The same beach? Right then, I pulled out my phone and opened the student group chat. "Actually, I can go with you all tomorrow, but I still have to work."

Immediately, a flood of excited messages filled my phone. Ayaka, Reina, Mika, and Sayo saw the message. Their faces instantly brightened. Ayaka squealed with joy, Reina gave a faint smile, Mika immediately got busy picking out a sexy swimsuit, and Sayo began planning her costume.

At that exact moment, I sneezed. Achoo! It was as if a lot of people were talking about me.

The next morning, my fellow employees and I opened the food stall on the beach. Most of the students had already arrived and were swimming. I focused on preparing food, while the girls who planned to make a grand entrance were still in the changing room.

When my break came, I sat on a chair, sighing. Suddenly, Ayaka appeared.

"Hey, Akira-kun, what do you think of my swimsuit?" she asked, wearing a bikini that showed off her figure. The customers who saw her were stunned into silence. Ayaka looked embarrassed. "Hey, don't stare at me like that! I'm getting shy!"

I looked at her, but reacted as if it was no big deal. Then, it was Reina and Mika's turn to emerge, causing the customers to go wild. Some even got nosebleeds.

"Isn't that Mika Tanaka, the famous artist and model?" "What? Mika-chan is here?" "And the girl next to her is just as cute! Could they be from the same agency?" The whispers attracted a huge crowd.

Then, Sayo appeared. The otaku at the beach had been waiting for this moment, a classic anime scene where a female character comes out in a swimsuit. When Sayo walked out, the otaku cheered and took pictures of her non-stop.

I was getting annoyed; I just wanted to rest. But Ayaka grabbed my arm. "Akira-kun, come here!"

We found a spot far from the crowd. Ayaka held my hand, making the other beachgoers look at us with envy. "Wow, young people these days are really so romantic," an old woman said at the beachside.

We walked over to Renji and Hanamura, who were sunbathing.

"Hey, Akira-kun, are you on break?" Hanamura asked.

"Yeah. The stall got really crowded because of Mika and Sayo," I replied.

"Did you know? There's going to be a fireworks show tonight!" Renji said. "Are you going, Akira?"

"I don't know," I replied.

"Fireworks? I can't wait to see them!" Ayaka smiled.

The fireworks show began. Ayaka and I stood on the beach, watching the fireworks explode in the night sky.

"I wish Yui were here," I murmured. "She'd be so happy to see this."

Suddenly, Ayaka leaned closer. "Akira-kun, there's something I want to tell you," she said, her voice almost swallowed by the sound of the fireworks.

"What is it, Ayaka?"

"Actually, I... I... love you and like you!" she shouted.

My heart fluttered. I thought she was going to hug me. But she just smiled. "Akira..." she said.

"I like it too," I replied, a sweet smile spreading across my face.

Ayaka's eyes lit up. She felt so happy, remembering our time in high school and college. All her efforts to get me, the closed-off and cold guy, had finally paid off. She looked at me full of hope.

"I like the fireworks," I continued. "I hope Yui and Yukari can light fireworks together."

Ayaka's face fell slightly, but she wasn't angry or sad. "Oh well," she said, with a look of contentment. "Maybe next time. The important thing is, I'm happy to see you smile again."

She had successfully expressed her feelings, even though my answer was different. For her, that was more than enough.