First contact with the sand

The bus was traveling along the coastal road.

The wind blew in through the open window beside me, ruffling my hair and bringing that characteristic smell of the sea.

I was sitting on the window seat, with Haruto in the middle and Kenta in the aisle seat.

— Hey, Riku and Kenta . — said Haruto , with a mischievous smile.

"Which bikini girl do you guys want to see?" he asked Kenta and me .

Kenta didn't think twice.

Rina Takahashi is very pretty," he commented.

"And that body of hers... seeing her in a bikini will be magnificent ," he continued, commenting.

"Not to mention her friend," Haruto added.

They both turned their faces towards me at the same time.

"And you, Riku ?" he asked. Haruto .

(Damn it… it's my turn . ) — I thought.

I felt my face getting hot.

— I-I ... want to see... — I began to stammer.

"There's no need to be embarrassed," Haruto laughed.

"We know you wanted to see Kurokawa in a bikini," she continued . Haruto .

Kenta nodded.

"Since we can't see it now, we can only imagine it," he said . Kenta .

My face got even hotter.

(They don't know that Kurokawa and Kanzaki are the same person... I won't need to imagine.) — I thought.

"Just be careful, these temptations could end up complicating things with Kurokawa ," Kenta continued.

"What do you mean?" I asked .

Haruto leaned in and whispered in my ear:

"He's talking about you seeing Sakura in a bikini," Haruto whispered.

( Sakura ... in a bikini?) — I thought, blushing.

Without meaning to, my mind created an image of her smiling and asking if she looked pretty.

I shook my head quickly.

(Stop it, Riku . I came to the beach to try and have fun… not to complicate things.) — I was blushing furiously.

A short time later, the bus finally stopped.

Izu Peninsula , in Shimoda .

The teachers went down first, and then we did.

"Dear students, enjoy the beach as you wish. We will meet again here at 5:50 PM. So have fun," said Professor Kurimatsu. Touya .

Professor Kano Midori crossed her arms.

" Kurimatsu-sensei , don't you think you're giving them too much freedom?" she asked.

"Kano- sensei, they also need to rest a little," he replied .

She sighed.

"So be it," she said.

Then she turned to us.

Meisei University has rented a house about five hundred meters from here for you to change in. Don't make a mess. Anyone who causes trouble will not be allowed on future outings," she said firmly.

We walked as a group to the house.

Haruto , Kenta, and I were walking together when, suddenly, the two of them started running.

"Hey!" I shouted .

"Why are you running?" I asked.

" So I can change quickly and go see the girls in bikinis!" Haruto replied, laughing.

I rolled my eyes and continued walking at my own pace.

The house had six changing rooms: three for men and three for women.

I went into one of the men's restrooms, which was empty.

I took off my Bermuda shorts and put on my beach shorts.

(Today I'm going to have fun.) — I thought happily.

I finished changing and left the changing room.

The next instant, I felt someone pull me forcefully.

— Huh?!

Before I understood what was happening, I was thrown into a changing room.

When I looked up…

It was Kanzaki Mio.

Hair tied up.

Bikini.

My brain simply stopped working.

(No… it can’t be. Is this really a scene from a romantic comedy?) — I started thinking, blushing.

My face was burning.

— Y-your body is… — I thought, but I immediately fell silent.

She glared at me angrily.

"You idiot," she said in a low voice.

"You didn't pay me yesterday for renting me out," she said angrily.

(So that was it…)

— I-I forgot! I'm sorry, I'll take care of it right away. — I replied quickly.

I picked up my cell phone and went to the Golden website.

(35,300 yen?! That's way too expensive…) — I thought when I saw the price.

Even so, I made the transfer.

— Okay — I said.

"I've already paid. It should go through in a few minutes," I continued.

She sighed.

"Great. Now I don't need to see you anymore," she said.

That's when we heard someone knocking on the door.

" Riku ? I can hear your voice…" Sakura 's voice came from outside. But this is the women's changing room, so I thought it was just my imagination.

(It's over. She's going to find out everything.) — I thought.

Mio reacted quickly.

She took a mirror and a small makeup kit out of her bag.

She let her hair down.

He adjusted his posture.

(She became even more beautiful.) — I thought when I saw her so beautiful.

Mio opened the door.

Sakura's eyes widened when she saw us there.

"You're his girlfriend..." she said.

Mio remained calm.

Yes. I'm Kurokawa Mio, Riku 's girlfriend . He invited me here. I was having trouble adjusting my bikini and he helped me, that's why I'm here.

Sakura blushed slightly.

" I-I understand …" she said.

Our eyes met.

The air grew heavy.

(This trip... it's already started wrong.) — I realized, fearing what might come next.

And we hadn't even set foot on the sand yet.