Ah, I really want to pretend I don’t know.
I’m serious.
She smiles seductively.
“What do you think, big bro? The swimsuit from Seira Land?”
The confident smile of Seira wears a navy one-piece swimsuit that clings to her body with a white nameplate reading “Seira” in hiragana attached to her chest.
In other words, it’s the school swimsuit more famously known as “Sukumizu.”
[Seira sis······.]
The Black Prince sighs in his head.
A Sukumizu in her 60s?
And she’s even wearing a pink float on her left arm, right?
And what’s this, big bro? Seira Land?
Is she really losing it?
Eww.
It’s the ocean! It’s summer!
Seira’s red gaze turns toward me.
“Hehe.”
She poses in a sexy manner, like something out of a magazine.
Seira winks cutely and says, “What do you think, big bro? The deadly charm of Seira Land? It might be dangerous if you get hooked!”
What am I hooked on? What’s dangerous? Well, it is dangerous.
For my mental health. Damn it.
Seira has lived a life far from ordinary since childhood.
I already knew from the setting books and volume 11 of the original that she does this to yearn for a normal childhood.
But seeing it in person drives me crazy.
Wearing that Sukumizu and blurting out such nonsense makes me feel genuinely sick.
Does she really think that looks cute?
I’m about to lose my breakfast.
As much as I want to throw some harsh words, she’s the President of the Hero Association.
An extraordinarily valuable person.
To maintain a good relationship with her…
‘No matter what, this isn’t it.’
Even if I’ve got a loose tongue, this isn’t right.
Just then, as I clutch my trembling hands.
[Partner······. At least say something nice, even if it’s just empty words. Doesn’t Seira sis make you feel sorry for her?]
The Black Prince sides with Seira.
[Just this once, praise her. Okay? I’m asking like this.]
The Black Prince pleads earnestly.
“Uhuhuh.”
Seira keeps releasing strange giggles and striking sexy poses.
If it’s going to be infantile regression or sexy poses, I’d prefer one or the other.
Having both is more than I can bear.
I’m about to vomit.
I’m not doing it for the Black Prince, but to stop that disgusting display, I should at least say it’s fine to wrap this up.
Am I avoiding it because I’m scared of poop, or is it just too disgusting to handle?
If a single phrase can end this nauseating scene, I would gladly do it.
After a long time, I muster up the courage to say something disgusting.
Calming my racing heart, I say it with a trembling voice.
Calming my racing heart, I stammer out, “Ah, um… it suits you…”
Seira’s eyes widen at my words. Her red orbs tremble slightly.
Swish.
Seira opens a black lace fan she’s pulled from somewhere and smiles. “Really, big brother? No, really? Hehe. Of course, there’s no outfit that doesn’t suit this body…”
Her blushing face peeks from behind the fan. It seems she’s decided to end this disgusting concept play.
Yet, the nauseating feeling in my stomach shows no sign of letting up.
Seira waves the fan delightfully.
[Well done, partner. Good job.]
The Black Prince’s compliment echoes in my mind.
Not one bit happy about it.
In fact, I might just go crazy.
To cool the boiling anger, I need to eat something.
I sip the orange aid sitting on the table next to the sunbed.
I feel my stomach settling a little.
Then, “President. Maintain your dignity. Everyone’s watching, you know?”
With a familiar voice from behind, Aris appears. She’s wearing a white bikini that highlights her figure, brushing back her silver hair.
“Ahem. Yes, yes. I am a great elder of the academy. I suppose I need to maintain some dignity. Understood.”
Seira, slightly taken aback by Aris’s remark, mutters while fanning herself.
Did someone just catch onto that?
Ridiculous.
My head is spinning.
“I worry that I, as an adult, might have intruded too recklessly while our cute kids are playing. Now then, everyone, have fun!”
The President’s nonsense continues.
Trying to act cool while stepping over mere nonsense—it’s not that impressive.
Seira, waving her fan, lounges on the sunbed.
She strikes an unnecessarily seductive pose on the sunbed and winks at me. “Was that the President just now?”
“So cute! She’s super adorable!”
“President, could this be an unexpected gap moe?”
“I want to pinch her cheeks!”
“To be both cool and cute! President is the best! Truly the pride of our Shuo Academy!”
The extras spout ridiculous nonsense.
Pride of Shuo Academy? More like shame, right?
Yuck.
If I have to watch and hear more of this damn spectacle, my optic nerves and brain won’t hold up.
I turn my gaze away.
Next to me, bikini-clad Aris catches my eye.
Wait a moment, a bikini?
Aris was supposed to be in a management swimsuit, right?
Her official swimming suit illustration and merchandise clearly had her in a management swimsuit.
But why a bikini?
Of course, it suits her figure well, but it feels a bit strange.
My gaze is drawn to Aris.
“Ugh…!”
Our eyes meet.
Aris’s face turns red.
She points at me with her finger and says, “What are you looking at? Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. Withdraw that improper gaze immediately! This swimsuit isn’t worn for such shameless intentions. I’m wearing it as a decision to experience the current trend among the students! Do you understand?”
Without me even asking, Aris piles on the excuses.
Her face is crimson.
She shyly covers her ample chest with one arm.
“The Student Council President in a bikini… how bold… I’ve never seen this before…”
“Surely the Black Beast must have extended his claws even to the Student Council President. That uptight Saionji-senpai in a bikini…!”
“I heard that when the Student Council President slept over at the beach, the building was shaking all night. The people downstairs were so loud they couldn’t even sleep!”
“Ah, the Black Beast… So the rumors about sending people away just by making eye contact are true, how scary… Yikes! I think I just made eye contact!”
As soon as Aris finished speaking, extras began whispering among themselves on the beach.
I’m really going crazy.
What kind of vacation is this? It feels more like torture.
“Junior! Bad boy Junior. I’m here! What do you think? How’s my swimsuit? This time I’m confident I’ll be chosen by you!”
Aris was quickly joined by the purple-haired beauty, Kasumi.
Still wearing her trademark white headband and a purple bikini, she clapped her cheeks, which had turned red.
“This time, you’ll pick me, right? Junior, I trust you.”
“Choose me. Kim Deok-Sung.”
“Master! You surely prefer Eri, don’t you?”
“My lord, just look back at me just once…”
“Hey, you! Of course, you’ll choose me, your loyal maid, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, right?”
Five girls approached me while I was lounging on a sunbed.
If it were any other day, I wouldn’t be bothered, but since they’re all in revealing swimsuits, I feel a bit dizzy.
By the way, what’s this about making a choice?
Even at the beach, they’re doing this.
My head hurts.
[Partner, you seem troubled. Tsk tsk. You should have toned it down a bit.]
What am I supposed to tone down?
[Alright. Since it’s uncomfortable to watch, and you did my request earlier, this time I’ll help you out. Partner, wanna hear a sweet tip?]
‘What tip?’
[In situations like this, you should change the subject. Since we’re at the beach, suggest going for a swim and everyone will agree.]
Swimming?
To be honest, swimming in the ocean feels awkward because of the saltwater.
But I have no choice.
This time.
Sipping on some orangeade, I set it down on the table and said,
“Stop with the nonsense and let’s go have some fun in the water. We came all the way to the beach after all.”
I pointed at the ocean.
All the girls turned their gaze toward the sea.
Splash, swoosh!
A transparent emerald sea that looks straight out of a movie.
The waves crash white against the sandy shore and fade away.
The girls’ eyes sparkle as they watch the scene.
Even if they’re heroes and all, deep down, they’re just high school students.
Honestly, who wouldn’t get excited about swimming?
“Hmph, that’s true. Since we’re finally at the beach, swimming is a must.”
Rin nodded seriously.
“Y-you’re not wrong. Hmph! I-I’m not particularly interested in swimming, but, well, since we’re here, I guess I have no choice…”
As Olivia crossed her arms and turned away with a snort, Eri, holding a dolphin-shaped float in one hand, waved her arms excitedly.
“It’s summer! It’s the beach!”
Finally here it comes.
The classic line from summer episodes of Japanese anime.
“Master! Everyone! Let’s all go have fun together! Hurry, let’s go swimming!”
Yank.
Eri grabbed my wrist and exclaimed.
“Wait, Nishizawa. We didn’t come here just to play. Don’t get too excited and hurt yourself!”
Aris chimed in from the side.
It’s the perfect setup for a classic Japanese anime beach episode.
Sigh.
I guess I can’t help it since I’ve sinned.
Led by Eri holding my wrist, I jumped into the seawater.
“Beach time!”
“It’s summer!”
Eri shouted again, while Makoto, jumping in beside her, echoed, “It’s summer!”
Arden jumped in.
Splash.
The emerald sea water coldly wrapped around their body.
Dipping into the cold water under the scorching sun felt refreshing.
[Ah, the ocean is the best after all.]
The Black Prince mumbled in his head.
“Honestly, really. It can’t be helped. Everyone is so childish. Hmph.”
Then, Olivia jumped into the sea with a tsundere huff.
“I’m coming too! Wait for me!”
“Junior! I’ll join you!”
With serious expressions, Rin and Senior Kasumi entered the water.
“Take that, Bonaparte! Shinozaki style! Wave slash!”
Splish!
Rin splashed sea water on Olivia.
“I won’t forgive you either, Bonaparte! Ha!”
“Bonaparte, that’s bad! I’m attacking too!”
Then, with a splash, Senior Kasumi joined in, while Makoto timidly attacked Olivia next to her.
“Ugh, how dare you mess with me! Are you ready? I, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, the Platinum Knight Princess, will take you on! Ha!”
Chuck.
Placing her hand on her chest, Olivia created a splash towards the three.
Splash! Splish! Splaaaaash!
The fierce water fight went on and on.
It was quite the scene worthy of a light novel.
Meanwhile, while the four were busy splashing around, Eri, who had pulled my wrist, floated a dolphin tube quite far from them and excitedly said.
“Master. Let’s ride the dolphin tube with Eri-ling.”
That damn dolphin tube, still not giving up, huh?
A sigh escaped me.
“Don’t you hate it? Master, you said we should all play together. Are you saying you don’t want to ride the dolphin tube with Eri-ling?”
Eri lowered her head.
She fiddled with her dog collar and spoke.
Wait, why is she still wearing that damn dog collar?
[Just get on it, partner. Is that so hard?]
The Black Prince urged in my head.
Splash.
Eri trembled as she was splashed by the waves.
Maybe because the sea water hit her, her orange hair stuck to her neck.
Seeing that reminded me unnecessarily of that day.
The image of her waiting for me while getting soaked in the rain all day.
A silly part of my heart ached.
“Just get on.”
“Really? We’re riding together, right? Let’s go! Let’s go! Eri-ling will take the lead!”
With sparkling eyes as if she hadn’t been depressed at all, Eri grabbed my wrist and pulled me onto the dolphin tube.
Is this an act?
Damn it.
Whether it was an act or not, I found myself on the dolphin tube.
Wobble.
With two people on that cramped round dolphin tube, it shook violently.
Is this really okay?
“Master. Hold Eri-ling’s waist. If you don’t hold on, you’ll fall. I can’t let you fall!”
Eri looked at me and said.
Even without her saying it, I had to hold on because the center of gravity was off.
This can’t be intentional, right?
Reluctantly, I wrapped my arms around Eri’s waist.
Maybe because she was wearing a bikini, the feeling of her bare skin against mine was a bit awkward.
Her pink frilled bikini caught my eye.
Her slender body too.
Even if the chest area was a bit lacking, she was balanced like a light novel heroine.
“Eri-ling’s dolphin is setting off with Master aboard! Whoooosh!”
Just as Eri raised one arm and shouted in excitement.
