The Best Friend of the Person I Like is Secretly Approaching Me - Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Summer vacation began.

It had been a while since Seko-kun, Haru, and I started going out on our days off.

Due to circumstances at home for both me and Hinata during Golden Week, we couldn’t hang out.

So, we decided to take a slightly longer trip during the summer vacation.

Fittingly for summer, we settled on going to a swimming pool.

Going to the pool with friends was a first for me, and ever since we made that plan, my heart had been racing.

Knowing that Seko-kun, a boy, would be there made my heartbeat race even faster.

…Speaking of the pool, I’d need to wear a swimsuit.

But I only had the one designated by the school, and that was from my elementary school days.

I couldn’t possibly wear that now.

“I’ll have to buy one, won’t I…”

I quickly searched for swimsuits on my smartphone. First, I wanted to see what kind of swimsuits high school girls nowadays are wearing. The results displayed quite bold pictures.

I wondered how they could wear such outfits. Digging deeper, I found reasons like wanting to try daring looks while young, admiration for adult women, and also because it’s popular with men.

“What popular with men…”

I had never considered such things before.

However, this time I will be going with Seko-kun.

If that’s the case, shouldn’t I also think a little about that?

But why would I need to think…

I imagine Seko-kun seeing me in a flashy swimsuit, and when I think about his expression at that moment——

“Well, it’s a special occasion after all.”

I murmured as if to convince myself.

Thinking that Haru might also be struggling with this, I text her to ask if she wants to go shopping with me.

She responds immediately, and then we decide to go swimsuit shopping that very day.

I meet up with Haru at the station and look at her outfit.

As always, just looking at her lifts my spirits; she looks so cute.

Inspired by her, I’ve worn a hat today, but she isn’t wearing one.

Since I had researched stores in advance, we headed straight to one, where I picked up a slightly flashy swimsuit.

Haru lets out a surprised gasp when she comes over to me.

“M-Misa. You’re going with that?”

“…Yes. Do you think it’ll suit me?”

“Uh, it’s you, so I think it’ll suit you, but… you like this kind of thing?”

“…Maybe. I think I like it.”

It’s not for me. It’s probably for him——

***

In the end, I bought that swimsuit, and I came to the pool with Haru and Seko-kun today, bringing that swimsuit..

Even though I chose it myself, I hesitated to put it on in the changing room.

Glancing at Haru, I see she’s already changed into a cute swimsuit.

I think I should have chosen something less revealing, but it’s too late for that.

I take a deep breath and change.

After we finish changing, we head towards the poolside, where Seko-kun is already waiting for us and having changed as well.

This is the first time I’ve seen him in swimwear, as we didn’t have swimming classes in junior high school.

Even though I’ve never thought much of shirtless men in the media before, seeing him made my heart beat a little faster.

When Seko-kun notices us, he shows an expression as if he’s utterly smitten.

Seeing that expression makes me feel a bit happy that I chose this swimsuit.

Yet, a greedy part of me wants more.

“Seko-kun, what do you think?”

“It’s amazing! Perfect! I thought a goddess had descended! Please go out with me!”

“Fufu, I’m glad. This was quite a challenge for me.”

On the surface, I maintain my usual attitude, but inside, my heart is pounding wildly.

I’ve received many compliments from Seko-kun before, but today feels exceptionally special.

Maybe it’s because I was praised for something I did.

Later, Seko-kun also praises Haru, who, despite acting tough, looks a bit happy.

Then, on Seko-kun’s suggestion, we decided to go on a water slide.

I’ve never been to a leisure pool like this with friends before, so I’m not sure what to do for fun.

I’m eager about the idea since Seko-kun suggested it, but I still have a fear of heights.

Even from afar, it looks very high, so I wonder if I’ll be able to enjoy it.

Maybe that’s why I didn’t notice that Haru wasn’t following us. But Seko-kun notices and turns back to call out to her.

When he does, Haru brightens up and runs over to us.

That’s when——

“Ah!”

Haru slipped and fell.

My body moved instinctively, but Haru fell right into Seko-kun’s arms.

Naturally, both ended up in an embrace in their swimsuits.

My heart felt a little restless.

“——see? I told you so. Between leaving your stuff behind and this, you’re quite the scatterbrain.”

“Sh-shut up…but, thanks…”

The exchange between the two was no different from usual, yet my heart was unsettled.

“Aren’t you going to let go?”

“Ah!”

“…!”

I spoke out unintentionally.

Whether it was hard to watch them like that or there was another reason, I wasn’t sure at the time.

But I could distinctly feel my heart settling down a bit.

***

The line for the waterslide was long, giving me a lot of time to prepare mentally——or so I thought.

Instead, the tension only increased as we climbed higher.

Still, saying I was too scared to go now would be unfair to the two of them.

That’s why I had no choice but to steel myself.

Finally reaching the starting point, my body was trembling from fear.

I thought time would resolve this, but it never did. I wonder if the two of them are okay.

Taking a quick glance, Haru seemed perfectly fine and clearly excited.

Seko-kun…he didn’t show it on his face, but his body was slightly trembling. Could he be like me?

Just then, Seko-kun looked at me with concern.

“Yosaki, are you okay?”

“Uh, yes. It’s just higher than I expected.”

“…Really?”

“…I admit. I’m actually a little afraid of heights…”

“Oh. If you had said so, we could have decided not to go. Do you want to get off now?”

“No. We’ve already waited in line, and since it’s a rare opportunity, I want to see it through. Besides, Seko-kun said it would be fun and invited me.”

“Hmm…”

Seko-kun started clutching his chest.

I wonder what’s going on?

“Hehe. That’s a lot of responsibility, Seko.”

““It’s definitely going to be fun. They said so on TV, and look at how many people are lining up! But Hinata, you’re fine with it?”

“Well, yeah. I’m good with heights and I kind of like roller coasters.”

“Roller coasters… I’ve wanted to try them, but I think they might be too much for me.”

“That’s not true, Misa! There are different levels of roller coasters, so you can find one you’ll enjoy! How about we go together next time? I’ll be with you!”

“Really? Fufu, maybe I’ll take you up on that.”

As usual, Haru playfully teased Seko-kun, and the situation returned to our usual atmosphere.

It’s times like this that I feel saved by her.

“Next, please!”

We were urged to the starting point by the staff.

The moment I tried to step forward, my body started trembling again.

“I… I don’t think I can…”

I felt utterly pathetic and sorry for the two of them.

I was about to cry when the staff suggested——

“If you’re scared, why don’t the two of you slide down together? Having someone with you can be reassuring.”

“T-Then, Misa, let’s slide down together!”

Haru quickly offered.

But after hearing the staff’s advice, what popped into my mind was the scene where Seko-kun and Haru were embracing each other earlier.

“Seko-kun. I want to slide with you.”

Those words had slipped out of me before I knew it,

“Uh, me?!”

“Why with Seko?! Wouldn’t it be better with me? I mean, we’re both girls, and I’m not scared at all. You can rely on me.”

“No. I want to slide with Seko-kun. Seko-kun, you’re a little scared too, aren’t you?”

“…You noticed?”

“Yeah. Your body is trembling slightly. I felt relieved knowing I wasn’t the only one, but if I slid with Hinata now, I’ll be leaving such a scared Seko-kun alone. I don’t want to do that. Besides, sliding with someone else who’s also scared might be more fun, don’t you think?”

It was a forced excuse.

The truth was that I just wanted to slide down with Seko-kun, and that was all there was to it.

I couldn’t possibly say that openly though.

After all, I’ve been rejecting his feelings this whole time.

He embraced me from behind as we reached the starting point.

I could feel his body warmth directly.

Despite it being summer, it feels comfortably warm.

My heart calmed down.

——And then we slid down together.

I let out a surprisingly loud scream, but when I met Seko-kun’s eyes, we both burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! That was so scary! I didn’t expect it to be that fast!”

“Ahaha. Really, it took me by surprise. I’ve never screamed that loud before.”

It was really fun.

Initially, I was just trembling because of the height, but the moment I was with Seko-kun, my trembling stopped and I was able to really enjoy the water slide.

“It made my heart race so much.”

Was it the water slide that made me feel this way?

Or maybe——