NOVEL NEXT chapter 96
96
52, Miyamura Eien’s Favorite Things
The second time.
“I was looking forward to sliding with Hidetaka.”
“Oh.”
Sakiya, clad in a tank top bikini with black and white colors, known as a tankini, climbs up to the water slide with me, holding hands.
The speed of the previous momentum crosses my mind.
There’s no other feeling but fear.
“Hideyori, there’s nothing to be scared of.”
“Sakiya…”
“Don’t be frightened, you’re a strong man… But that vulnerability is also part of your charm.”
“Is that… so?”
“Sometimes, it’s okay to seek comfort from me, Hideyori.”
“Ms. Sakiya…”
Sakiya’s small hand gripping mine felt stronger than usual.
And her eyes spoke volumes, offering reassurance.
“Don’t be afraid, don’t let stereotypes defeat you, Hideyori.”
“Yeah! I’m not scared! I won’t lose!”
“That’s the spirit, Hideyori!”
“Yeah!”
And so, I boarded the water slide with Sakiya.
“Ahhh!”
“I can’t… I just can’t…”
“What’s with you ahhh!?”
It was a mess.
—
The third time.
This time, my opponent was Tsugaru, clad in an orange tankini swimsuit, slightly resembling Sakiya’s style.
It seemed to match her green hair.
She had picked it out with Sakiya, and probably bought it on a whim.
“But why do I have to slide with you too?”
“Mwahaha, Akechi’s misfortune tastes like steak.”
“You have some interesting tastes…”
“…You know, recently I’ve been thinking, Akechi, you remind me a little of someone I knew in a past life… or maybe not…”
“Huh?”
Tsugaru laughed teasingly.
I also felt, faintly and vaguely, that I might harbor similar feelings towards Tsugaru.
With mixed emotions, I prepared to slide down the water slide.
“What if I said you’re stupid?”
“You’re stupid, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!”
That’s the kind of guy you are…
I thought you might be similar to Kasumi-san, who can’t stand a moment of foreign words, or something like that, but I can’t say it.
You’re definitely a useless woman from your past life, you know?
———
Fourth time.
Risa, with her large bust, was wearing a simple blue bikini swimsuit.
Suddenly, Takel’s interests were visible there, and I got annoyed.
“I’m really tired of doing this three times, so I’m sorry to ask you, Akemi-kun.”
“Oh, it’s okay…”
“But it’s not changing at all! You know, Akemi-kun.”
“It’s going to slide six times, and it’s a big difference, you know.”
“You’re not getting upset. If you’re scared, you can get caught by your older sister.”
“Your older sister, huh… You’re quite late for your birthday, aren’t you?”
Risa was born in late March.
Finding a birthday later than that is difficult.
“That’s not what I mean. Look, I’ll put myself in your hands.”
“Ah, ah…”
Risa’s firm hands catch you.
“Really, you’re like another older brother.”
We laugh and flow away together on the water slide.
———
Fifth time.
Risa, who was serious and didn’t have an ending, finally seemed to be ending, and I felt relieved.
I waited, and then Eimi came.
“You’re great, Shuryo-kun.”
“Yeah, I think Eimi is great too.”
“Just because it’s still developing, you know?”
“Ah, ah… Just kidding.”
“Ah, that’s not a joke, it’s serious. What, are you trying to laugh it off? You won’t fool me!”
She was quickly denied with a sharp tongue.
Eimi was wearing a white one-piece swimsuit.
Very clear, and slightly embarrassing to the point where it’s hard not to see her as a woman.
“This is definitely scary, Shuurai-kun.”
“Y-yeah…”
“Shuurai-kun…”
“Huh?”
She spoke in a serious tone, gripping my hand.
Then, she looked at me with an upturned gaze.
“Absolutely, I won’t let go of my hand… …I won’t leave you behind, okay…?”
“Ah, absolutely! I’ll take you wherever you want to go!”
“Absolutely! Absolutely, yes!”
“If Eimi says so, I won’t let go.”
I won’t let go of Eimi’s hand, no matter where we go.
“Ah, wait a minute?! Shuurai-kun is jumping off the stage too early!”
“Eh?”
“aaah aaah aaah aaah aaah”
We quickly became separated.
——————
The sixth time.
By the time I got used to it, it was almost over…
To be honest, I’m so exhausted that I just want to go home and sleep as soon as I’m done.
“Wait for me, Shuurai-san”
“Eh, Eien-chan…”
Eien-chan’s blue bikinis were drawing out her figure very well.
She’s my beloved heroine, just as I imagined.
Happy… …inexpressible…
If I can ride the water slide with this kind of child, then I can endure any fear.
“I’m… happy.”
“Hehe, Hideyori, you’re so funny.”
I prayed fervently.
“Hideyori…”
“What’s wrong, Aien?”
“I’ve finally been rewarded… I wanted to see this view. Really… truly… I’ve always wanted to fulfill our promise to go to the pool together. It’s always been a lingering regret in my heart. And now it’s come true! Haha… amazing… I never thought this day would come.”
Aien, with the brightest smile I’ve never seen even in the game, graces us beautifully.
Ah, Aien’s dream has finally come true.
A dream that even Takeru from the original couldn’t fulfill.
The promise to go to the pool that Aien was supposed to make with Hideyori, Emi, Risa, Tsugaru, and Takeru.
Sayaka and Master weren’t in the original, but remembering the events of Aien’s route, it seems that promise has finally been fulfilled.
“You can’t be satisfied with just this, Aien.”
“Eh?”
“This isn’t the goal. It’s just the start.”
“Hideyori…”
“If you don’t show more and more desire, you’ll be left with regrets that won’t die even after death! How about we all have a hot pot party in the winter?”
“I’d love to!”
“Then don’t you dare be satisfied yet!”
“Yes, Hideyori!”
The original story hasn’t even started yet.
From here on, Takeru will be involved in various incidents.
I might disappear at the game’s ending, but Aien, you’ll always be smiling happily by Takeru’s side.
“I love youuu!”
Aien screams as she rides down the water slide.
She keeps shouting ‘love’, so I can’t help but ask what she means.
“What’s thaaat?”
“It’s thaaat.”
“You.”
Splash! Aien and I reach the pool’s floor.
“……”
It’s over…
I’ve endured this hell six times.
“Hey, are you okay, Hideyori?”
Takeru’s voice reached me, forcibly lifting my body that had ‘died’ in the pool.
“Chin, he’s dead…”
“Alright, he’s fine.”
Takeru let go of me with a cold voice, so I put strength into my legs to keep from falling.
By the way, I was bothered by the conversation we had while sliding down the water slide, so I decided to ask directly.
“So? What do you like, Aien-chan?”
“Ah, awawa… um, well…”
Eien-chan’s flustered voice.
I still remember her screaming about what she liked just a moment ago.
But before I could hear her answer, the water slide was over.
“I like trash.”
“Huh?”
I inadvertently responded to the words left by Eien-chan, her face turning red.
†
The Girl in the Birdcage arc, concluded!
Since the main story started, more than half of it was spent on the Girl in the Birdcage arc, and it was quite nerve-wracking.