“Then, I will return to my designated position now.”
Hmm. Are you really going back there? I feel like it would be better for you and your squad members to wait here instead. It’s not like there are no members of the Justice Realization Department or Student Council patrolling the beach. Yeah, if something comes up that requires your input, you’ll be called immediately, right?
“Thank you for the suggestion, but for initial response to incidents, it’s more beneficial for our squad members to be on site and ready. No matter where something happens on this vast beach, we will be nearby.”
“I see… Well, if that’s how you want to do it, I’ll respect that. But isn’t there a risk of getting picked off one by one if your squad members are too far apart?”
“…Our squad members are not weak enough to be picked off that easily. Thank you for your concern, but there’s no need to worry.”
To be fair, the conversation we just had was part of our job, but now that Yukino, my only conversation partner, has left, I feel quite lonely. I remember that in the past, even when I was alone, time would fly by while looking at my phone screen, but these days, if I don’t have someone to talk to, I get unreasonably depressed, and that’s a bit scary.
How should I put it? It feels like I’ve become a social animal that simply dies when there’s no human warmth around, regardless of my own intentions. If I had to evaluate it, it might lean toward being a good thing, but still, feeling down when I’m alone feels a bit excessive.
I gaze blankly at students from other academies, as well as our own, building sandcastles here and there.
The elementary kids are creating cute little things together. Instead of a castle, they’ve made something resembling a round hill topped with sound suppressors instead of flags…
Umm. Let’s pretend I didn’t see that.
The middle schoolers are supposed to be making sandcastles, but instead, they’re crafting impressive sand sculptures that draw out involuntary applause. Occasionally, I spot some familiar faces, which brings me joy.
The high schoolers are building a massive sandcastle and having a gunfight… Hmm, this looks like a strangely familiar scene I’ve seen during an event before.
Wait, is Kivotos sharing “tips on building huge sandcastles” among themselves in the Bamboo Grove? How is it that they’re all building fortresses out of sand?
And why are they destroying each other’s castles during a sandcastle-building contest? Is that their way of keeping competitors in check?
This is frightening, Kivotos.
Wow, what’s that pink lump peeking out from under the sand pile over there? Since I can’t see Halo, it looks like they’re fast asleep. Impressive, really.
I turn my gaze away from the dizzying scene and relax in the shade of a parasol, enjoying the peaceful sea breeze.
“Oh, there you are, Misono Mika. It seems you’ve finished your tasks for today?”
I wonder how much time has passed since then.
Upon hearing a familiar voice and opening my eyes, I see Hina and Nagisa naturally sitting down in the empty spaces beside me.
“Hey, how did you know to find me?”
“Huh? I just wandered around and got tired, so I stopped by the sea’s house. I didn’t particularly look for you, Mika.”
“Ah…”
What is this feeling? Hearing that it was all just coincidence and that they weren’t looking for me makes me a bit sad. It seems Nagisa doesn’t understand my feelings…
“…I was looking for you with my eyes while wandering around.”
“Uh-huh, so you were just thinking of acknowledging me if we ran into each other by chance… I get it.”
Still, Hina gives me a bit of lip service. Thanks, Hina…
Honestly, I understand why Nagisa is acting so cold. You’d have to be crazy not to get it otherwise.
Having a significant other saying, “I really like you, but I can’t seem to let go of this other person. So, please allow me to date both of you,” is like hammering a nail into the heart.
Then they follow it up with, “Oh, I think it’d be nice to hang out and get to know each other better. Have fun,” so how could I look at her kindly?
If acting a little cold is the level of a saint, then I feel like there’s a different tier entirely.
“Well, according to Nagisa-chan, I’ve finished all my tasks! Just a moment ago, I was chatting about work with someone from the student council… But then I got a bit bored and thought about closing my eyes for a bit.”
Fufu, you’re being cute. There’s no need to beat around the bush and say you felt lonely being left alone.
“Ahaha… How did you know? I thought I hadn’t shown it.”
“Mika, if you’re not deliberately trying to hide it, your thoughts tend to show up on your face. Just like now.”
Somehow, though, I feel a bit lighter as Nagisa manages to bring a smile to my face and sneaks a sip from my lemonade.
“…This is bland.”
“Well, of course it is; the ice has melted, after all. I always feel this way, but Nagisa-chan is truly careless in strange places. But just now, your expression was really cute!”
Even if the tea brewed that day isn’t to Nagisa’s taste, her expression can be so clear that it’s like a straight line. The bizarre taste of melted lemonade is hard to ignore.
“…You two, have you known each other for a long time?”
“Uh? Yeah, I guess you could say we’ve known each other for a long time. We first met over ten years ago in kindergarten.”
As Nagisa answers Hina’s strange question, she gently takes my hand. I definitely feel like my mood has improved significantly. I wonder how Hina encouraged this conversation.
But suddenly, a question strikes me.
“Uh? You two hung out for half a day and haven’t talked about that yet?”
Calculating in my head, they must have spent at least three or four hours together, so they should have brought this up by now.
“Well, the main topic of conversation was about Hina. I got caught up wondering what aspect of her captivated you so much, and before I knew it, I ended up asking this and that.”
Hmm.
Did she just call her Hina? Nagisa… the same Nagisa who calls Seiya, Seiya-chan, is calling Hina, Hina-san? I never imagined that.
“I can tell she’s a good person. I understood why you trusted her so much back then. But that doesn’t mean I don’t find you irritating, Mika. I still can’t fathom why I’m fitting into this mix of things.”
“Ahaha, that’s only because I like you too much—”
Nagisa’s nails dig into the back of my hand. Even if Nagisa slapped my cheek hard, it wouldn’t hurt like this; yet, oddly enough, the pain here is quite strong.
“…Mika, can’t you read the room?”
“Sorry.”
Anyway, I somehow opened my mouth and got myself chewed out without even gaining anything. I thought my mood had improved, and since I could use a title for Hina that I don’t use for Seiya, I thought this was fine.
…Sometimes, I really hate my terrible intuition.
“I guess it’s still too hard to say I’ve permitted it yet…?”
“Of course. I’m still in the wait-and-see phase.”
When I sneak a glance at Hina, she surprisingly looks peaceful even in this situation. It seems like things between them went surprisingly well… Now I’m really curious about what the atmosphere was like when they were together.
“By the way, Mika… could you hand me that hat?”
“Huh? The hat?”
If we’re talking about the straw hat… the one I adorned with lily decorations to give to Nagisa…
“…Huh?”
What’s up with the sudden request for that?
I distinctly remember I intentionally modified it to make a show of it being mine. So why now… Could it be?
“…No.”
“What?”
“I don’t want to give it.”
An inexplicable irritation bubbled up. It felt like something that was mine was being treated as someone else’s, but…
This is undoubtedly my emotion. I could be sure of that.
I didn’t want to return the proof of Nagisa’s possessiveness, her affection displayed toward me. I’m just being greedy; once I have something in hand, I won’t let it go again—
What am I even saying?
There must be a reason behind the request to hand it over for a moment. Why am I overreacting like this?
Even if it was meant in a way to just use it with the initial intention, it shouldn’t have felt upsetting like this.
…Looks like I’ve mentally exhausted myself.
Listening to Makoto laugh beside me for hours, worrying that Trinity might lose during the festival, and then meeting Yukino while also thinking about work…
Hmm, this really seems to be a stress issue. Even though there are still a few days left until the day arrives, I feel like I’m already living in that future. Damn it.
“Ahaha, if I give this to you, it feels like I’m letting go of Nagisa-chan. I really don’t want that. Nah, I won’t let go for a lifetime.”
Really, all I need is just a moment.
Seeing Nagisa’s bright smile as if it were inevitable calms my dizzy heart. The strange feeling I had just moments ago has vanished completely.
“Well then, if Nagisa-chan says it like that, I guess I have no choice.”
I take off the straw hat and pass it to Nagisa. Indeed, there wasn’t any significant reluctance.
“…But you have to return it quickly, okay? That’s going to be something I keep for a lifetime.”
This time, the flower decoration isn’t real but artificial, so I won’t have to worry about it wilting like it did with the flower crown. Of course, I still think fresh flowers are the best for events.
However, with the festival only a week away, it’s obvious that real flowers will wilt during that time, right? Instead of making it a couple more times, it’s better to put an artificial one from the start.
Fufu… it won’t take long either. But I feel happy to hear that you’re going to keep it forever.
Once Nagisa receives the straw hat, she pulls something out from her pocket and attaches it to the hat before handing it back to me.
“It’s all done now. Please check it out.”
I wonder what she’s planning to do with it. As I turn the front of the hat toward myself, I blink in confusion.
“What is this…?”
“Do you like it?”
“… ”
Earlier, I talked about my past with Nagisa, about the things I liked and disliked. Apart from the fact that this world exists in the form of the game “Blue Archive,” I think I revealed almost everything I could.
So maybe that’s why, seeing something resembling a wooden plaque with a random parrot next to the lily decoration makes me burst out laughing without realizing it.
“Ahaha, what is this, Nagisa-chan? It doesn’t match at all…!”
“R-Really? Is it that bad?”
“Yep. Seriously, Nagisa-chan, where’d you even find this?”
“I saw a stall selling wooden carved decorations and I thought of you while browsing, so I bought it… Huh.”
Once, I had a parrot as a pet. For about three or four years. Then due to some personal circumstances, when I moved, I had to give it up because of noise complaints.
I felt grateful that Nagisa remembered that story. Even if this wooden plaque doesn’t suit the situation, I still appreciated the gift itself.
In fact, even if the gift itself didn’t resonate with me, I might have been just as moved now. Knowing that someone remembers the fading “me” felt like a significant gift in itself.
“Thanks, Nagisa-chan. I’ll cherish this separately☆”
You’re such a mischievous one. Don’t expect anything next time.
“Yeah, I love you too!”
Even as I say it playfully, why does it feel more embarrassing on my end? It’s such a strange feeling.
But, there are clearly other people here… Oh snap.
I cautiously glance over, and the peaceful expression from moments ago has vanished completely, replaced by Hina crossing her arms as we made eye contact. While I got caught up in my little world with Nagisa, I inadvertently brought winter’s cold winds to this summer beach.
After that, I had to sweat it out trying to appease Hina, who was surely sulking no matter how I looked at her.
…What kind of confidence did I have to boldly declare my dual relationships?
I can already see the hardships ahead. I’m worried about whether I’ll even have guaranteed personal time in the future.
Hmm, maybe for someone like me, who has come to hate being alone, this might turn out to be a good turn of events?
