Summer Invitation

Kazama In safely escorted Ichinose Honami to the entrance of her dormitory, the chill of the night rain seeming to linger between them. He looked at her slightly pale face and damp hair ends, his voice carrying a rare note of clear concern: "Go inside and take a hot shower right away. Letting the cold seep in will make you catch a cold."

Ichinose Honami hugged his jacket, the fabric still holding his body heat and scent making her cheeks warm. She nodded firmly, her voice soft but carrying an unyielding insistence: "Mm! I know. Kazama-kun, you too! You're completely soaked—make sure you go back and shower and change clothes right away! Don't catch a cold!" She chirped like a worried little bird, repeating her reminders.

Kazama In looked at the undisguised concern in her eyes, and his ink-black gaze seemed to soften for a moment. He gave a quiet "Mm." "Good night, Honami."

"Good night, Kazama-kun!" Ichinose watched his tall, straight figure disappear around the corner of the hallway before hugging the jacket and swiping her card to enter the dormitory, a lingering thrill and warmth still stirring within her. The jacket in her arms seemed to still carry the heat of their rain-soaked run.

Time passed amid the cicadas' cries and the scorching heat, and summer vacation finally arrived. The campus of Advanced Nurturing High School grew much emptier, but the connections between students never ceased.

Kazama In's communicator buzzed, and a message from Sakayanagi Arisu popped up on the screen, carrying her signature sweet yet subtly domineering style:

"Onii-chan~ On a scorching summer day, what's the best thing? Of course, it's sunshine, the beach... and swimsuits! (◕‿◕✿) Want to see the new swimsuit I bought? An exclusive preview~ I guarantee it'll make your heart race~"

Attached was a photo—only a fair, slender hand, fingertips pinching the corner of a thin swimsuit strap adorned with pearls, the background a blur of lace trim, leaving plenty to the imagination.

Kazama In's ink-black eyes swept over the photo, and he replied expressionlessly: "Not interested. Watch out for sunburn."

"Tsk, Onii-chan is still so cold~ How sad~ (╥﹏╥) But I've taken plenty of swimsuit photos, you know. One day when I'm in a good mood, I'll send them to you for your appreciation~" Sakayanagi's message followed immediately, carrying a hint of impish threat and coaxing.

Almost at the same time, another message came in. Sender: Ichinose Honami.

The content was much more formal, yet it also carried an unmistakable anticipation and a touch of shyness:

"Kazama-kun, happy summer vacation! Everyone in Class D is organizing a trip to the Municipal Water Park next weekend. Hirata-kun and the others are going too. Um... if you're free, would you... would you like to come along? Everyone really hopes you can make it! The water park is nice and cool! (Attached with a cute smiley face emoji)"

Kazama In looked at the two very different messages. He automatically filtered out Sakayanagi's teasing. He thought about the noisy bunch from Class D (especially Sudo and the others), then recalled Ichinose's line "everyone really hopes" and that smiley face. He checked his schedule—nothing special that day. "Water activities... a chance to scout the terrain and observe interpersonal interactions." He found a reason for himself and replied to Ichinose: "Okay. Time and place?"

On the weekend, at the entrance of the Municipal Water Park, the sun was blazing and the crowd was buzzing.

At Class D's meeting point, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood there like a log as usual; Horikita Suzune, wearing simple casual clothes with a sun-protection jacket over them, crossed her arms, her cool gaze sweeping the surroundings; Kushida Kikyo was chatting cheerfully with Hirata Yosuke and Karuizawa Kei; Sakura Airi timidly hid behind the group, her face slightly flushed.

"Ah! Kazama-kun is here!" Kushida, sharp-eyed, was the first to spot Kazama In approaching. Because it was summer, Kazama In was wearing very thin clothes that clearly showed his muscle lines. And the outfit felt very sunny.

"Yo, Kazama! Looking cool!" Hirata greeted with a smile.

Karuizawa Kei also let out a whistle and teased, "Not a bad physique, Kazama."

Horikita Suzune's gaze lingered on him for a moment before shifting away, but the tips of her ears turned slightly red.

Sakura Airi only glanced once before hurriedly lowering her head, her heart racing.

Kazama In was used to the stares and teasing. He just nodded lightly. "Mm."

Kushida Kikyo seemed to remember something and suddenly clapped her hands excitedly, her voice sweet and raised: "Oh, right! Has everyone been checking the school forum lately? The Light and Shadow Modeling Club released their latest promotional photos, and there's a male model who's super handsome! It's Kazama-kun!"

Everyone's eyes focused on Kazama In again, filled with curiosity and admiration.

"Really? Kazama, you're a model now?" Karuizawa was surprised.

"Mm. Earning points." Kazama In was concise.

Kushida continued enthusiastically: "They shot so many styles! Suit elite, vintage knight... they all had such a great feel! But..." She changed the subject, a gossipy glint in her eyes, "The most stunning one was a set of photos of a super, super beautiful girl! Wearing a black gothic dress, with a cold and mysterious aura, like a dark queen who stepped right out of a painting! The forum went crazy, everyone asking which class she transferred to or if she was a new club member! Too bad the Modeling Club's confidentiality is so tight, they didn't reveal a single detail." As she spoke, she pulled out her phone and flipped to the forum page, showing the sensational side-profile shot of the "Dark Night Rose" (Senior Shimizu had still couldn't resist releasing one of the most mysterious, face-obscured shots as a promotional gimmick).

The photo showed only a small portion of the "girl's" delicate side profile and elegant neckline, wearing a black lace hat, her gaze distant and cold. Set against the gothic dress, the beauty was breathtaking and full of mystery.

"Wow! She's really beautiful!" Karuizawa leaned in to look, genuinely impressed.

"This aura... incredible!" Hirata also nodded.

Sakura Airi stole a glance too and whispered in awe, "So pretty..."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka expressionlessly swept his eyes over the photo. ...The angle and lighting are handled cleverly. But the skeletal frame... His gaze subtly drifted toward Kazama In, who stood nearby with an "I have nothing to do with this" expression.

Horikita Suzune also studied the photo carefully, her cool brow slightly furrowed. She felt there was something oddly familiar about the "girl's" silhouette and gaze, but she couldn't quite place it.

Just then, a burst of exaggerated noise approached from a distance.

"Hey--! Everyone! We're here!"

Sudo Ken, Ike Kanji, and Yamauchi Haruki, wearing flashy board shorts, came running over noisily. They had clearly overheard Kushida's earlier words.

"A beauty? What beauty? Where?" Ike's eyes lit up, and he was the first to rush to Kushida's phone. "Whoa! No way! This girl... this aura... this figure... She's amazing! Totally my type! Just the kind I like!" He stared at the photo, practically drooling.

"Yeah, yeah! Those legs! That waist! That mystery! Awesome!" Yamauchi Haruki echoed, equally infatuated.

Sudo Ken, though not as exaggerated, rubbed his chin and gave a rare comment: "Mm... yeah, she's pretty hot."

Sakura Airi watched Ike and Yamauchi drooling over the photo (which was actually Kazama In in drag), then looked at the completely indifferent, uninvolved-looking Kazama In himself. She felt something was off and couldn't help muttering softly, in a dazed voice: "But... that pretty sister... feels kind of familiar..."

But that sentence was like a pebble thrown into a still lake!

Horikita Suzune whipped her head toward Sakura, then quickly toward Kazama In. Her cool, phoenix-like eyes suddenly blazed with sharp light! Familiar? The "girl's" height and frame in the photo... that cold gaze... An absurd but increasingly clear thought took shape in her mind! She stared hard at the forum photo again, then at Kazama In, her gaze full of scrutiny and shock! Could it be... no way?!

Kazama In: ... He felt Horikita Suzune's gaze, almost piercing through him, and a rare flicker of awkwardness and trouble crossed his mind. Sakura... an unwitting troublemaker... His face remained impassive, as if he hadn't heard Sakura's words or felt Horikita's scrutiny.

Just as the atmosphere grew subtly tense and strained because of Sakura's careless remark, a vibrant, sunshine-like voice broke the deadlock:

"Class D, everyone! Good afternoon!"

Ichinose Honami arrived, leading a group of Class B students. Her smile was radiant, like a clear summer sky. Class B's students also greeted Class D warmly.

But when Ichinose's gaze passed through the crowd and landed precisely on Kazama In in the corner, her cheeks instantly flushed as red as a ripe apple! Her azure eyes, like a startled fawn, quickly darted away, then couldn't help sneaking back, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. Kazama-kun's physique... is even more than I imagined... She felt her heart racing uncontrollably, even the tips of her ears burning red.

This utterly bashful, clearly heart-racing reaction for someone was impossible for the many sharp-eyed students from both Class B and Class D to miss.

A girl from Class B immediately elbowed her companion, winking and raising her eyebrows.

Karuizawa Kei gave a knowing smile, looking from Ichinose to Kazama In.

Kushida Kikyo's smile remained sweet, but deep in her eyes, a faint shadow flickered past, barely perceptible.

Hirata Yosuke also offered a friendly smile.

Horikita Suzune temporarily set aside her doubts about the photo, watching Ichinose's reaction, her brow furrowing deeper.

"I-Ichinose, good afternoon." Kazama In seemed not to notice Ichinose's unusual state—or deliberately ignored it—greeting her calmly, his voice as flat as ever, as if he hadn't just been showing off his abs to a crowd.

"G-good afternoon! Kazama-kun! Everyone!" Ichinose struggled to steady her heartbeat, her voice still trembling slightly. She dared not look at Kazama In again, instead turning to address the group. "Let's hurry inside! It's cooler in there!"

And so, in a delicate atmosphere of mixed thoughts, surging gossip, flushed faces, and racing hearts, the main forces of Class D and Class B converged and surged in a great wave into the noisy Water Park. The changing room doors swung open and shut, signaling that this summer poolside story, filled with sunlight, splashing water, and countless hidden secrets and ambiguities, had only just begun.