Dinner Invitation

"Here they come, here they come."

A boy said excitedly.

Almost all the boys immediately turned their gazes toward the other side of the pool.

All they saw were youthful, beautiful figures in swimsuits of every color. The sight was dazzling, and some of the boys wished they had a few extra pairs of eyes.

Horikita Etsuka was already in the pool. He rested his left hand on the edge, his lower body submerged, and couldn't stop himself from looking curiously toward the girls.

The girls were just as curious about the boys. They gathered in small groups and whispered among themselves.

"Wow, I didn't know Kanzaki had some muscle."

"Yeah. But Shibata's build is just like I imagined. Don't you think so, Kurakara?"

Amikura Mako wore a purple one-piece swimsuit. Her big eyes searched the boys' side of the pool for someone.

"Hey, Kurakara, what are you looking at so intently?" A small hand came to rest on her shoulder.

Amikura Mako snapped out of it and smiled guiltily. "Oh, it's you, Ichinose. I wasn't looking at anything."

"Oh? Is that so?" Ichinose nodded, then turned to look toward the boys. "Huh? Why can't I see Horikita?"

"Huh? Horikita?" Amikura Mako blinked. Curiously, she asked, "Is there something you want to talk to Horikita about, Ichinose?"

Ichinose glanced sideways at Kurakara, then replied as if it were nothing:

"No, I just want to see what Horikita's body looks like."

"Huh? Wh-what! You want to see his body!" Amikura Mako's face instantly turned bright red, and it was as if steam were rising around her.

"I-Ichinose, you're being so direct! Do you like Horikita?"

"Hmm? Was that too direct?" Ichinose realized how it sounded and smiled, shaking her head.

"I'm sorry, Kurakara. I didn't put it quite right. I just wanted to know whether Horikita's muscles and build were similar to Shibata's, since their athletic abilities are about the same."

"Phew~" At Ichinose's explanation, Kurakara finally relaxed. But she immediately realized something.

Isn't that still wanting to see his body?!

Ichinose put a hand on Kurakara's forehead and asked, though she already knew the answer:

"All right, all right. Actually, I want to talk to Horikita about starting a study group. After all, next time, anyone who fails a class will be expelled. Everyone in our class has been getting steady grades, but we should still step things up."

"Oh? So that's what it is." Amikura Mako slowly unclenched her tiny fist.

A glint of mischief flashed in Ichinose's eyes as she pointed to a corner by the pool. "Horikita's over there!"

"Where?" Kurakara immediately looked where Ichinose pointed, but Horikita Etsuka wasn't there at all.

Ichinose covered her mouth and giggled, but the sound still escaped.

"Hey! Ichinose, you tricked me!" Amikura Mako immediately realized she'd been fooled. She puffed out her cheeks, planted her hands on her hips, and glared at Ichinose.

Ichinose reached out and pinched Kurakara's soft cheeks, then blinked. "Kurakara, do you like Horikita?"

"I... I..." Amikura Mako couldn't answer for a moment when Ichinose asked her that.

Ichinose understood at once.

"Oh~ So Kurakara likes—"

"Ichinose!" Amikura Mako looked around, afraid someone might notice them, and hurried to cover Ichinose's mouth with her hand.

Ichinose slipped away with a light hop, her hands behind her back. The soft flesh on her chest bounced. "Hehe, Kurakara, there's nothing wrong with admitting it. I'll help you."

"Ichinose, keep your voice down." Amikura Mako gritted her teeth. She'd learned her lesson and pinched the soft flesh at Ichinose's waist.

"Kurakara, I can defend myself, you know." Ichinose raised a hand to block her too.

They kept fooling around until they ended up in the water, laughing as they splashed each other.

Hearing the girls' clear, bell-like voices, Horikita Etsuka looked toward Ichinose. Watching her youthful figure bounce about, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"See no evil, see no evil..." As he spoke, he peeked through a narrow gap between his eyelids.

Girls fighting really is the best thing to watch. Uh... though they aren't actually fighting.

Although he'd gotten his wish and seen the girls in their swimsuits, Himeno Yuki, his desk mate, hadn't shown up.

Did Himeno take the day off?

The swimming teacher arrived rather late, but after briefly showing everyone how to float gently in the water, he announced that they could do as they pleased.

"Etsuka, take this!"

While Horikita Etsuka was observing how humans played, Nakanishi Jiro scooped up some water and splashed it at him.

Etsuka's hair got soaked. Drops of water ran down his bangs, but he didn't move or react at all.

Nakanishi Jiro was completely thrown. He wondered if he'd made Etsuka angry, and leaned over to ask cautiously:

"E-Etsuka, what's wrong?"

Horikita Etsuka moved with lightning speed, scooped up a handful of water, and splashed it behind him.

Nakanishi Jiro's face took the full force of the water.

"You got so caught up watching that you forgot to keep an eye on me, huh?" Horikita Etsuka's lips curled slightly as he scooped up more water and struck back, astonishingly fast.

"Damn, damn!" Nakanishi Jiro cried out in surprise, caught completely off guard. "Etsuka, that's no way to treat your buddy! You're fighting dirty!"

"War is all about deception. Ever heard of that?"

Happy times always seemed to fly by. Swimming class soon ended, and everyone was exhausted from playing.

After quickly drying off and changing, Etsuka left the changing room.

He brushed his bangs up, revealing his fair skin and high nose bridge.

The Horikita family had excellent genes; nearly every one of them was handsome or beautiful. There was no doubt about it, and Etsuka had benefited from them too.

"Horikita!" Amikura Mako stood in the distance and waved to Etsuka.

Horikita Etsuka focused on her and saw that she'd already changed into her school uniform. Her hair was still wet, though, and she'd tied it up in a bun.

Amikura Mako usually wore her hair in a high purple ponytail, but this time she'd tied it up in a bun. It really gave her a different look.

"What's up?" Horikita Etsuka asked curiously.

Kurakara slowly approached, stopping about three or four fist-lengths away from Horikita Etsuka.

Her face was a little flushed. Maybe it was because swimming class had just ended.

"Um..." Kurakara looked around. "Horikita, are you going to the cafeteria to eat?"

"Yeah." Horikita Etsuka nodded.

Swimming was the last class of the afternoon, and Horikita Etsuka didn't like eating late, so he usually went to eat as soon as the last class ended.

"Then, want to go together? There's something I'd like to ask you. We can talk while we walk." Amikura Mako looked at Horikita Etsuka hopefully.

"Sure." Horikita Etsuka agreed without a second thought.

After all, having a meal with a pretty girl had to be much better than eating with Nakanishi Jiro, right?

Nakanishi Jiro: "?"