I Was Supposed to Be Giving Love Advice on the School Radio, but Before I Knew It, the Beautiful Girls at School Were Hitting on Me
Under the scorching sun, the two of us girls were enjoying playing in the water.
I scooped up water with both hands and splashed it forcefully at her, who was standing in front of me.
She shielded her eyes with her hands and narrowed them slightly.
“Hey, Senpai, that’s too much water !”
“Oh, maybe it was too early for Makino.”
“It’s not a matter of being too early…ugh, my face is so salty.”
The girl standing in front of me…Kinami Makino stuck out her tongue in displeasure.
She was still in middle school last year, so she still had a childlike innocence about her, and I couldn’t help but smile at her childish behavior.
…Well, the water gun was a bit too powerful for a middle schooler… Still, I couldn’t help but smile as she spat out the seawater that had gotten into her mouth.
“Ah, there’s an opening.”
“Guh.”
In an instant, the merciless cannonball hit me, who had let my guard down.
“Hmph, if you show any openings in front of me, this is what happens.”
“You really are no ordinary person…”
We looked at each other and smiled. Since coming to this beach, I don’t even know how many times I’ve had this kind of exchange with Makino. It wasn’t the kind of play I had imagined, but I was satisfied.
However, Kina kept glancing toward the sandy beach. She didn’t say anything, but there was a hint of anxiety in her eyes.
…There’s no need to worry about me, you silly girl.
“Still, those two aren’t coming.”
“Ah, well, I mean, they came all the way to the beach, so what are they thinking?”
Kinami crossed her arms and turned away, looking so annoyed that it sounded like she was about to make a “puff” sound.
“Really, with two beautiful girls right in front of him, what is he thinking, just watching from a distance?”
“What !?”
Makino reflexively jumps back, wrapping her arms around her body as if to protect herself from something. Oh, did I say something wrong?
“Why are you so scared? It’s just a normal reaction for a high school boy.”
“No, that’s not what I meant…eh, is that how high school boys are?”
Makino gives her a mixed look of disgust and curiosity…
“Yes, all high school boys are beasts. There’s no need to be too wary of cute girls like Kinami san.”
“Me too…is that so?”
Makino muttered quietly, looking down. …Well, she wasn’t lying, was she?
However, as I watched her staring intently at the parasol, a sense of guilt began to well up within me, and I apologised to Kageyama kun in my heart.
“Um, Prez.”
“Hm? Is something wrong?”
When I looked up at Makino’s voice, she shifted her gaze awkwardly.
“Well…Senpai and his younger sister seemed to get along well….”
“Yes, they are.”
The tone of her voice was slightly different from before, but she was able to speak without using any particular words.
“…Um, if you have a sister that seems to get along that well…”
She stopped speaking after saying that much. But it was already clear what she wanted to say. I mustn’t get flustered. I thought to myself as I took a slow breath, but I couldn’t feel the air passing through my windpipe.
However, after a moment of silence, she suddenly brightened up.
“If you have a younger sister, life must be so much fun !”
“Makino…”
“I have a brother and a sister, but they’re so bratty it’s a pain ! Honestly, I wish I had a sister like Akari chan.”
She finished in one breath and scooped up some water from the ground.
“Well, I’ll go get those two ! Just wait here for a sec, okay !”
She smiled and started to run off.
“Makino !”
“…Huh?”
She slowly turned around, still cupping her hands. I desperately wanted to stop her, but I didn’t know what to say.
“Well…you’re attractive enough, you know?”
No, such superficial comfort is meaningless. She knew that too, and smiled.
“Thank you, but compared to Prez, I’m just a little girl.””
With that, she walked away briskly.
I could somehow understand her feelings that she couldn’t express. But my understanding alone was surely insufficient. I couldn’t help but sigh.
“Hey, are you alone, Miss?”
Taking advantage of my weakness, a voice called out to me from the side. I turned my gaze in that direction and saw a guy who looked like a typical playboy standing there.
“A beautiful woman like you sighing by the sea will get hit on.”
“…Yes, thank you for your concern.”
He seemed to think he was being funny, but he frowned in dissatisfaction at my reaction.
“Hey, I was just trying to help you out, and that’s the reaction you give me?”
“…I thought I said thank you, but did you not hear me?”
I know it’s best not to react to people like this, but today I couldn’t help but respond. His words swirled around in my stomach, and I blurted out a harsh reply.
I glared at him, and he flinched for a moment, but then he snorted in pride.
“Anyway, you’re dressed like that, but your attitude is confusing. You’re probably just trying to pick up guys at the beach, right?”
“What…!”
I instinctively took a defensive pose against his leering gaze. But perhaps mistaking my disgust for an opening, the man continued to press his point.
“You’re acting like you’re offended by being hit on, but honestly, you’re the one who’s at fault for dressing like that, right?”
“I see…”
This is pointless. There’s no point in talking to this guy. I just want to get out of here as soon as possible. But what about that girl…
“Hey ! That’s creepy !”
…As if on cue, Makino appeared with a cheerful voice. She said she would bring Kageyama kun and the others, but she was the only one there.
Her appearance was completely out of place, but at least we were able to meet up, which was fortunate. Let’s get out of here quickly…
“M-Makino chan, let’s just go for now.”
“Eh, what’s up with you all of a sudden?”
“I’m this person’s friend, but if you’re hitting on her, please leave.”
Makino stood her ground, ignoring the height difference, and charged forward. I tried to push her body aside and move forward, but her face was turned toward the man, and her words were unnecessarily sharp.
However, as if responding to her words, the man also flashes a vulgar smile.
“No, no, don’t misunderstand. I just have business with the girl behind you ! I don’t have the slightest interest in hitting on you !”
As the man laughs mockingly, Makino can be seen clenching her fists tightly.
“Hey.”
“No, no, even I have no interest in someone like you !”
“Shut up !”
I let out a voice from the bottom of my stomach and then I raised my head. I saw the man take a few steps back. I was probably showing a face that I wouldn’t show to anyone.
“Get out of here right now, or I’ll make sure you can’t hit on anyone ever again…..!”
“I-I’m sorry…”
Even though I used such strong words, he was only that weak, and he ran away with his tail between his legs. After catching my breath, I noticed the girl standing next to me.
“Um, Makino ! You don’t have to listen to what guys like him say ! You’re already attractive enough, so…”
No, I want to comfort her. These aren’t the words I want to say, and these aren’t the words Makino wants to hear. But my feelings aren’t coming through, and my words are just slipping off the surface.
“But Makino, you’re so cute ! If it were me, I’d choose Makino first…”
“It’s okay !”
Her sharp, yet fragile voice echoed across the sea.
Seeing that I had fallen silent, Makino took a deep breath and slowly raised her face.
“Thank you, Prez. That’s right, I’m me, after all !”
“Makino…”
“Alright, then I’ll go pick some flowers ! And while I’m at it, I’ll go get Kageyama senpai and the others too ! Oh, right, they haven’t been coming, so maybe I’ll give them a little taste of my power !”
I wanted to say, “Wait” but I couldn’t. If I said that, she might break down.
“Well, I’m off !”
She scooped up some water and walked slowly away from the sea.
When she said she was leaving, she had a big smile on her face, the same expression she had when she was working as a waitress at the beach house.
Maitoshi