Shiori

When Higashino Makoto changed into his swimming trunks and came out of the locker room, the three of them were already on the beach.

Shiori Itsuka wore a white bikini with laces tied in a bow at the waist.

She had the best figure of the three, with a shapely figure, curves in all the right places, and fair skin that shone softly in the sunlight.

She was laying out a picnic blanket, and as she bent over, her long hair fell over her shoulders, revealing a section of her smooth back.

Mana Takamiya wore a black two-piece swimsuit, consisting of a short sports vest on top and boxer shorts on the bottom.

Her figure is not as good as Shiori Itsuka's, but she has the advantage of being toned.

She moved swiftly, taking a drink out of her bag.

Itsuka Kotori was wearing a pink one-piece swimsuit with a large bow on the chest.

She put her hair up in a bun with a hairband, revealing her smooth neck.

Higashino Makoto glanced at her, then glanced at her again, and then looked away.

Let's sit at the same table with Xiao Si and Xiao Qi.

Kotori Itsuka seemed to sense his gaze, turned her head, and stared at him with her red eyes.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing."

"Snort."

She turned her head and continued tidying up. But Higashino Makoto noticed that her ears were red.

Higashino Makoto walked over to the picnic mat and sat down.

Shiori Itsuka handed him a bottle of water, which he took and drank a sip.

Mana started a fire on the other side; the charcoal grill was brought from home, and the charcoal was already red-hot, steaming.

"Higashino- kun, what would you like to eat?"

Shiori Itsuka squatted next to the cooler, rummaging through the ingredients inside. Beef, lamb, chicken wings, shrimp, corn, shiitake mushrooms—a whole box full.

"Anything is fine."

"Then I'll bake a lot more."

She took out a tray and arranged the ingredients one by one on it.

The movements were practiced and skillful, as if they were doing something they had done countless times.

Higashino Makoto watched as she sliced the beef into thin slices, marinated it in sauce, and then laid the slices out one by one on the grill.

A sizzling sound rang out as grease dripped onto the charcoal fire, causing a small flame to leap up.

"Higashino- kun, have a taste."

Shiori Itsuka handed him the grilled meat skewers.

The meat skewers sizzled and glistened with oil, sprinkled with sesame seeds and cumin, and smelled delicious.

Higashino Makoto took it and took a bite. The meat was tender, and the sauce had permeated every fiber, with a perfect balance of salty and sweet. He chewed it and swallowed.

"Tasty."

"Real?"

"Really, you could apply for a chef position at a hotel."

Shiori Itsuka's face flushed slightly.

"It's not that amazing... it's just a habit I have."

"I heard Kotori Itsuka and Mana are picky eaters. Did you raise their tastes like that?"

"Probably. They didn't like eating out when they were little, so I had to learn to cook for them myself."

She placed a few more skewers of meat on the grill.

Higashino Makoto leaned back in his recliner, watching Shiori Itsuka busily working in front of the grill.

Her long hair was clipped back with a hairpin, revealing her slender neck.

As she bent over to flip her hips, the straps of her bikini swayed gently around her waist.

Mana assisted her, handing over seasonings, flipping the meat, and plating it. The two worked together seamlessly, as if they had done it countless times before.

Kotori Itsuka sat on the picnic mat, hugging her knees, staring blankly at the sea.

The sun had moved from its zenith to the west, turning the sky a golden-red hue.

The sea surface shimmered, as if sprinkled with a layer of broken gold.

The four of them sat around a picnic mat, eating barbecue, drinking beverages, and chatting about this and that.

Shiori Itsuka said Mana she was afraid of the dark when she was a child and dared not sleep alone at night.

Mana said that Kotori Itsuka was a crybaby when she was little, and she would cry for half a day if she fell down.

Kotori Itsuka and Mana started arguing without hesitation.

Higashino Makoto listened to their conversation, occasionally interjecting with a comment.

The setting sun shone on the four people, casting their shadows onto the beach, where they overlapped.

After dinner, Shiori Itsuka arranged the rooms.

There's a villa next to the private beach, owned by Mio. It's usually unoccupied, but it's cleaned regularly.

There are enough rooms, one room per person.

Higashino Makoto was assigned to the room at the end of the corridor on the second floor.

The room wasn't big; it contained a bed, a wardrobe, and a window.

Outside the window is the sea, and moonlight spills onto its surface, creating a silvery-white shimmer.

He lay on the bed, his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

The sounds of Kotori Itsuka and Mana arguing could be heard downstairs, along with Shiori Itsuka's attempts to mediate.

The sound grew fainter and fainter, then farther and farther away, and then there was silence.

It's late at night.

Higashino Makoto rolled over and closed his eyes.

He was debating whether or not to go find Mio Takamiya.

Shiori Itsuka, Kotori Itsuka, and Mana were all together, making it difficult for him to make a move.

Together?

He wanted to, but he figured he'd be beaten to death.

Although they couldn't beat him, he didn't like to force them.

Forget it, let's go find Mio.

He sat up, preparing to get out of bed.

The door was pushed open.

There was no knocking, no footsteps, only the faint creaking of the door hinges turning.

A figure stood in the doorway, wearing a white nightgown, with long hair draped over her shoulders and slightly curled ends.

The moonlight shone on her, making her nightgown appear semi-transparent and outlining the curves of her body.

Shiori Itsuka.

She stood there, neither coming in nor leaving.

He simply stood at the doorway, one hand gripping the doorknob, the other hanging at his side.

After a moment of silence, she spoke.

"Higashino- kun, you're still awake?"

"Without."

I... can't sleep.

"What's wrong?"

She lowered her head, her long hair falling down and obscuring her face.

"Thinking about something."

What are you thinking about?

She remained silent for a long time.

"Miss you."

Higashino Makoto looked at her.

She looked up, the moonlight shining on her face, her eyes bright, tinged with a hint of shyness.

"Higashino- kun, may I come in?"

"Come in."

She went into the room and closed the door.

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled shadows throughout the room.

She walked to the bedside and sat down.

The mattress sank in slightly, and her body tilted slightly, moving closer to him.

The strap of her nightgown slipped off her shoulder, but she didn't pull it up.

"Higashino- kun."

"Um."

Do you know why I came to find you?

Before Higashino Makoto could answer, she lowered her head and looked at her hands.

Because I don't want to wait any longer.

"Wait for what?"

"Waiting for the right time, waiting for the right reason, waiting for the right identity."

Her voice was very soft.

I don't want to wait any longer.

Higashino Makoto looked at her. She looked up, her eyes reflecting the moonlight.

"Higashino- kun, I like you. Maybe I've liked you since the moment I was born... Isn't that strange?"