Only two days remained before Advanced Nurturing High School’s summer break came to an end.

  Seizing the opportunity, the scorching summer sun exerted its st ounce of heat, mercilessly baking the earth and distorting the distant scenery in a haze.

  The students of Css B, stifled by the oppressive weather, had collectively decided—after a full-css discussion—that the best way to deal with the heat was to go for a swim at the school’s open pool.

  However, before that, they had to convince a certain someone to join them…

  "I refuse!!"

  A miserable wail echoed from one of the boys’ dorm rooms, startling even the cicadas outside into momentary silence.

  The group gathered at the door exchanged gnces before letting out a collective sigh.

  As expected, getting this guy to come out wouldn’t be easy.

  Inside the room, Uesugi Gen had wrapped one arm around Ichinose’s slender waist, burying his head into her chest like an ostrich avoiding reality.

  "I refuse!"

  He repeated, then shamelessly began spouting nonsense with a straight face.

  "I’ve contracted a rare disease where exposure to sunlight will kill me. If I leave this room and step beyond the protection of air conditioning, I’ll take constant AoE burn damage from an interstelr-level sor attack, eventually drying up into a salted fish!"

  Not only that, but he even tried to pull Ichinose onto his side, theatrically describing the horrors of UV radiation.

  "Ichinose, listen to me—prolonged and frequent sun exposure accelerates skin aging! If you spend too much time in the sun, your beautiful skin will wrinkle, and then… you won’t look as pretty anymore."

  As he spoke, he took Ichinose’s soft, delicate hand into his own and gently kneaded it before continuing.

  "Besides, sudden and intense sun exposure can cause redness and swelling. With how strong the sun is outside, anyone who goes out could easily get sunburned."

  Bit by bit, his words began to sink in.

  Ichinose hesitated, clearly wavering.

  "Then—"

  "Uesugi, have you considered that there’s something called sunscreen that prevents all of that?"

  From outside, Kanzaki Ryuji, who had been eavesdropping, immediately jumped in to counter before Ichinose could be fully convinced.

  "Shut it, Kanzaki! No one asked you!"

  Realizing his pn was this close to succeeding, only to be foiled by this guy, Uesugi shot up and shouted toward the door.

  "Then… if Gen-kun isn’t pnning to leave the room for the next few days, what about food?"

  Ichinose, rather than dismissing his words, followed along with his logic.

  "You can just bring me food."

  Uesugi answered without missing a beat, head still buried in her embrace.

  "…"

  Everyone outside had the same thought.

  This guy… is completely shameless!

  Ichinose stroked Uesugi’s head gently and spoke softly.

  "But, you see… I want to go with you, Gen-kun."

  "Why? You don’t even like being out in this kind of heat, do you?"

  Uesugi questioned.

  He knew Ichinose wasn’t a fan of the sun—her brief hesitation when he mentioned UV damage earlier confirmed that much.

  "Because… even if it’s hot outside, I’d still rather be with Gen-kun than stay in my room alone."

  "If you don’t go, you’ll just stay here and py games. That means we’ll have less time together. I don’t want that."

  Uesugi fell silent.

  For the first time, he realized something.

  Ichinose… had never interrupted him while he was gaming.

  Even when she visited him and saw that he was pying, she would quietly wait for him to finish before speaking.

  "And besides…"

  Ichinose continued,

  "There are only two days left before summer break ends. I want us to have some memories from this summer. You were so busy with exams on the uninhabited isnd and the cruise that you never even had a chance to rex."

  Uesugi sighed and lifted his head from her embrace.

  "You…"

  "Alright, let’s go swimming."

  He tidied Ichinose’s skirt and pulled her up with him.

  "Mm!"

  Ichinose beamed brightly and nodded enthusiastically.

  "But before that…"

  Uesugi pced a finger to his lips, making a shushing gesture before shifting his gaze toward the door with a wicked grin.

  Ichinose immediately caught on, her smile deepening as she let him take her hand.

  As the two silently approached the door, the murmuring outside grew clearer.

  "Why’s it so quiet all of a sudden?"

  "Oi, don’t push from behind!"

  "Kanzaki, move over! You’re stepping on my foot!"

  "You guys have listened long enough. Let me have a turn!"

  "Shut up! It’s because you’re too loud that we can’t hear properly!"

  …

  Hearing their whispered discussions, Ichinose’s face gradually turned red.

  Even someone as naturally open and sociable as her still got embarrassed in situations like this.

  Noticing her flushed cheeks, Uesugi couldn’t resist reaching out and pinching them lightly.

  Their eyes met.

  【Now you’re embarrassed, huh?!】

  【It’s your fault!】

  Ichinose pyfully smacked Uesugi’s back while still holding his hand.

  【Watch this.】

  Uesugi clenched his fist, brought it to his lips, and cleared his throat before casually saying—

  "Sigh~, Ichinose, let’s just go. I suddenly remembered something that makes it impossible for me not to go swimming."

  Huh?

  Something that made Uesugi have to go swimming?

  Everyone outside perked up their ears.

  Ichinose immediately caught on and pyed along, tilting her head with a curious smile.

  "Oh? I’m a little curious now, Gen-kun. What could possibly make you want to go swimming?"

  Yes, yes, we’re curious too!

  Everyone outside nodded in unison.

  "Hmm…"

  Uesugi deliberately lowered his voice, just enough that the people outside could barely hear.

  "Actually, not too long ago, Kanzaki secretly told me… that he likes someone in our css. He asked me to help create an opportunity for them to spend time together."

  ???

  NANI?!

  "…"

  The excitement about Uesugi and Ichinose immediately vanished.

  Because this—this was a juicier revetion.

  Their eyes inconspicuously shifted toward Kanzaki Ryuji.

  Meanwhile, Kanzaki’s usually stoic face visibly cracked.

  He frantically waved his hands.

  "That’s a lie! Uesugi’s talking nonsense! I never told him anything like that!"

  Oh? So you do like someone?!

  Even Uesugi was stunned.

  He immediately crouched by the door with Ichinose, eavesdropping on his own setup.

  "N-No… That’s not—"

  As Kanzaki spoke, he suddenly realized something.

  His face instantly turned red.

  Then, he stormed toward the door, pounding on it furiously.

  "OI! UESUGI! Get out here and tell them I never told you I liked someone!"

  "No—wait! I never asked you to help set anything up!"

  "That’s not it either! Just—get out here and clear this up!"

  "YOU SAY IT! SAY IT, DAMN YOU, YOU BASTARD!!"