The beach was just a short distance from the hotel, large and roughly rectangular in shape. The sky was a clear blue, the sand was white and fine, and a refreshing sea breeze blew in, lifting the azure waves and crashing them against the nearby reefs, breaking into a scattering of jade-like white foam.
Unfortunately, there were no coconut trees nearby, which would have added a touch of tropical charm.
It was almost noon, and the beach was relatively empty, except for Kinoshita Kazuya and his group.
...
There weren't many entertainment options on the beach, really. It was mostly just swimming, playing in the sand, or playing ball.
Swimming goes without saying. In this scorching summer, swimming in the cool ocean is undeniably a comfortable enjoyment. Watching others splashing each other in the water or floating on an inflatable dolphin out at sea.
Playing in the sand typically involves burying people in the sand or building sandcastles.
As for playing ball, it refers to beach volleyball. Please don't associate it with strange spherical objects.
Unfortunately, Kinoshita Kazuya wasn't interested in any of these activities now. He had done most of the preparation beforehand, and he was exhausted.
He walked over to the parasol he had set up earlier, settled into a reclining chair, silently grabbed a bottle of cold drink, and looked towards Nanaumi Mami and her friends.
Then he suddenly understood why so many men liked to come to the beach. Even with an awkward past relationship, one could still openly witness endless beautiful scenery.
He saw Nanaumi Mami and her companions splashing each other, the water droplets sliding down the girl's body, outlining curves of endless beauty.
Kazuya silently gave Nanaumi Mami a silent thank you in his heart: Thanks for the treat!
...
"Kazuya-kun!" Nanaumi Mami came to Kinoshita Kazuya's side, "Stop daydreaming."
Because lying on the beach and sunbathing was so comfortable, Kinoshita Kazuya was almost asleep, "Mami-chan, what's wrong?"
"Little Kazuya, you know, how's the fun?" Nanaumi Mami had her hands tucked in her jacket pockets, but it didn't give off a spoiled impression, instead, it was quite cute.
"It's pretty good. To be honest, I relaxed too much and almost fell asleep." Kinoshita Kazuya stood up and stretched.
"If you don't play during the summer of your first year in college, it's a desecration of life, you know?" Nanaumi Mami spoke seriously, but she was making it up as she went along.
"Is that right?" Kinoshita Kazuya was nonchalant.
Listening to Nanaumi Mami's voice, he enjoyed the girl's gentle tone.
The girl's voice reached his ears, with a light, airy, and ambiguous allure, both inviting and distant.
"Little Kazuya, what do you want to drink?" Nanaumi Mami bent over, her alluring figure forming a curve as she searched for a drink in the tent.
"Just an iced Coke." The skirt of her jacket couldn't cover her cute little bottom. Noticing the inappropriate angle, Kazuya retracted his gaze and asked Nanaumi Mami to get him a drink.
"Here, little Kazuya." Nanaumi Mami handed the drink to Kazuya with a smile.
"Thanks."
"Gulp, gulp, ah!"
Kinoshita Kazuya twisted open the bottle cap and took a large gulp.
"Really, I don't know what's so good about Coke. Guys seem to love drinking it." Nanaumi Mami started a general mockery.
"No, no, it's not that I like to drink Coke. It's the season, the beach that chose Coke." Kazuya put the Coke bottle cap back on, shook it hard, and said, "Coke forever, cheers!"
White bubbles burst out of the bottle's mouth. Kinoshita Kazuya caught them with his mouth, the pungent carbon dioxide gas slid down his throat, taking away the summer heat and leaving behind joy.
"Mami, see you later!"
Kazuya left to go swimming.
He watched Nanaumi Mami walk to the beach chair he was lying on earlier, lean back, and look up at the sun like a mermaid.
Nanaumi Mami lay there, waving to say goodbye.
...
Under the azure sky was an endless expanse of blue waves.
He walked forward step by step, slowly immersing his body in the cool, icy seawater. The summer heat seemed to be in another world.
He let the cool seawater wrap around him.
Kinoshita Kazuya swam in the sea for a while, but before he could get his fill, he was called over by Kibu.
...
Ichinose Chizuru deeply regretted her inability to change her friends' travel destination before. She had thought that Izu Peninsula wasn't that small, that they might not meet, that if they did meet, they might not greet each other, and that even if they did greet each other, they might not end up acting together.
But...
"Imaizumi-kun!?"
"Ah! Shinbo-chan."
She had been betrayed by her best friend...
Minami Chizuru had dressed in a conservative school look today. She had her hair in two long braids, wore old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses, a green T-shirt, and white shorts.
Minami tied her hair up to conceal her cuteness, and she wore black-rimmed glasses with a higher prescription to hide the charm of her eyes, giving her an overall conservative look.
"Shinbo-chan is here too!" It seemed that more than one person knew her. Kibu knew her too.
"How do you know each other?"
"Well, we did international exchange together." Shinbo said.
"What a coincidence!"
"Yeah, we're also enjoying the liberation after the exams...hehe!"
Kazuya glanced at Minami Chizuru. Since she planned to be low-key at school, he didn't need to greet her.
"By the way, Kazuya, you and Ichinose-san know each other, right?" Kazuya turned around and was stabbed in the back by Kibu: "How can you not greet an acquaintance? That's so rude!"
Kazuya gave a wry smile as he looked at Ichinose Chizuru.
"Long time no see, Ichinose Chizuru-san." Kazuya greeted her.
Nanaumi Mami noticed the unusual look on Kazuya's face.
"Yes, long time no see, Kinoshita-kun." Minami Chizuru even concealed her smile, lacking the approachability she had as a rented girlfriend.
The acquaintances exchanged a few university student pleasantries.
After that.
"Let's go, Yozuki." Minami Chizuru turned around, arms crossed, exuding an air of aloofness.
"Aa-um, sorry, we already got a spot."
"Hmm, see you later!"
"Bye."
...
"It's almost noon, ...who's going to buy some food!"
"I want beer."
"I'm craving barbecue..."
"Sorry, I was thinking too much, there's no..."
"Alright, let's decide who's the errand runner by rock-paper-scissors, OK?"
"OK!"
"Girls join in too."
"Yeah, who told you to mock our outfits?"
"Alright!"
"Rock, paper, scissors..."
...
"Mami, should we play rock-paper-scissors again?" Mami's friend suggested, noticing her absentmindedness.
"No need, a deal's a deal." Nanaumi Mami smiled indifferently.
She glanced at Kinoshita Kazuya.
"Okay, it's not good to leave Mami alone, I'll go with her." Kinoshita Kazuya looked at Nanaumi Mami's slender arms and suggested worriedly.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you, Kazuya." Kibu looked at Kazuya with some curiosity, who had taken the initiative to help.