After School, at a Family Restaurant at Night, With That Girl From My Class

was a long line of people waiting for their turn.

We quickly became part of the line and waited our turn while chatting.

There was no option to leave without enjoying the main attraction, and it was Raimon-san’s wish, too.
Above all, time flies when the four of us were chatting with each other, even if we were waiting in line.

“Ahh.
Sorry, is it okay if I leave for a minute?”

As the line was nearing its end, Natsuki cut in apologetically.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“I’m hungry~.
I remembered I hadn’t eaten anything since this morning.
My stomach is rumbling.
I’m going to get something light to eat.”

Without any further time to stop, Natsuki took off from the line like flowing water.

Well, his personal goal was to “ride on a float and sway in a flowing pool”.
I guess the water slide didn’t appeal to him that much.

I couldn’t force him to do it, since it was also my way of thanking Natsuki today.

The other thing I could do was pay for the hot dogs that Natsuki would enjoy.

—But then, a few minutes later.

“I’m sorry, you two.
Do you mind if I leave for a bit too?”

“You too, Shiori? Why?”

“I’m feeling a little dizzy.
I think the heat is getting to me.”

“Eh, are you okay? Can you walk? If you want to go to the emergency room, I can…”

“I’m fine.
I’m not really good in the summer.
It’s always the same, and it will stop once I get in the water and cool off.
It’s not worth going to the emergency room.
So, you two have fun for me and Inumaki-kun.”

Before Kazemiya could worry anymore, Raimon-san also left the line.

…She had a very steady gait for someone who said she was feeling dizzy.

“………”

“………”

Now there were only two of us left, me and Kazemiya.
We looked at each other.

This Snake Escape’s rubber boat was for two people.
At first, the plan was for me, Natsuki, Kazemiya, and Raimon-san to ride separately as boys and girls, but considering the number of people remaining, the combination would be…me and Kazemiya.

“…What should we do? Inumaki-kun and Shiori are gone.”

What should we do, I wonder…No, what should I do.

“Okay, next please.”

Before we had time to think about it, we were told by the staff that it was our turn to go.

Can I ride alone? If I were to run away, what would…Kazemiya do? Ride with someone else? Behind us are…two men.
Then, if I ride alone here, will Kazemiya ride with the guy behind me?

“Next one, please.
What’s wrong?”

That’s it.
I decided.

“Let’s get in.”

—Absolutely disgusting.

“Na-Narumi?”

Kazemiya seemed surprised, but perhaps because she had jammed the order, she was led somewhat forcefully by a female staff member, and the two of us boarded the rubber boat as we were asked to do.

“…Finally?”

“…if we stop riding too, it’ll make that two uncomfortable.”

I was making excuses.

“And you know what Raimon-san said.
We should enjoy ourselves too.
So let’s have fun.”

“That’s…right.
Yeah.
Let’s have fun.
For both of them.”

The more words I piled up, the more they sounded like excuses.
Fortunately, Kazemiya accepted my excuses.

I was in the back and Kazemiya was in the front, so I couldn’t see her face.
I think her ears were a little red…

“………..”

I noticed it too late because I was focusing on the faintly red ears.

Today, Kazemiya’s hair was pulled back.
And I was sitting behind Kazemiya.
The white nape of Kazemiya’s neck, which was usually hidden by a golden veil, came into my view.

Was it because of the summer heat? The drops of sweat, shining transparently in the sun, flowed down the line of the nape of her neck, following gravity.

…Oh, no.
This is not good.
I have to take my eyes away. My whole body was numb with a sense of immorality as if I was seeing something I shouldn’t be seeing.
Not only that.

A sweet, sloppy, ugly possessive desire rose up, and I wanted to make a mark on her white neck.
A mark to prevent anyone from stealing it, to prevent it from being handed over to anyone else. What is this? Was I such an uncontrollable person?

“Okay.
Then, here goes–”

Immediately after the staff member’s voice brought me back to myself, the rubber boat began to run in the course with the current of the water.

“Hiiyaa…!”

“Whoaa…!”

It was surprisingly fast.
And the repeated curves stimulate a subtle thrill, which was interesting.

“Ahaha! This is so much fun!”

“Yeah! It’s awesome to get your mind off things!”

No, really.
It was just the right attraction to distract me from this weird mood.

I wish it could have continued until my head cooled down, but we soon came to an end.

Finally, after passing through a cascade of water, the rubber boat landed in a small pool.
I hurriedly get out of the boat before I feel weird again.

“Narumi, were you bad at this kind of thing?”

“Not really.”

“Really? You seem to be in a hurry to get off the boat.”

“…There’s a lot going on.
This one too.”

She didn’t even know what I was thinking, and she was so carefree.

“Hmmmm? There’s a lot going on, huh?”

“…I mean, when you’re the one in behind you could get out quickly, so you’d better get out too..”

“Okay, okay.”

As it was, I climbed out of the Snake Escape pool with Kazemiya.

“Then, let’s meet up with Natsuki and Raimon-san.
He said he was going to buy hot dogs.”

Anyway, the sooner we met them up, the better.
Before I felt weird again.

“Hey.
Since we’re here, why don’t we go in the other pool for a minute?”

Unaware of my difficulty, Kazemiya called out to me as if to stall me.

Her hair dripping in water.
Her faintly red cheeks.
The upward glance was caused by the difference in height.

“Just the two of us…”

Unfortunately, my spirit was not strong enough to refuse this invitation.