Chapter 1: Summer Vacation, Everyone Assemble!

“—And so, everyone, even during the summer break, please maintain the awareness of being refined young ladies of Hiyuri Academy. Always be mindful of the gazes around you and ensure you do not compromise your dignity and grace. Letting loose is sometimes necessary in life. However, never forget to keep our school motto—‘Noble, discreet, resilient’—in a corner of your heart. And also—”

After the closing ceremony in the auditorium, I, Gendoji Asaka, walk back to the dormitory with my schoolmates.

“The principal’s speech was, as always, so long.”

“Fifteen minutes of nonstop talking,” I respond.

“It was wrapping up nicely with the motto part, but then it just kept going.”

The sunlight streaming through the corridor windows shines on our red sailor uniforms.

The long-awaited summer vacation. I need to pack my things.

“Finally, the first semester is over. Gendoji-san, are you going back home?”

“Yes. I plan to leave before noon today. Tenryuji-san, are you going back to your family too?”

“Nah, you know I’m preparing for external entrance exams, so I’ll stay here and study every day. Though I’ll probably go back for Obon.”

“That sounds tough.”

Hiyuri Academy’s internal advancement rate is about seventy percent.

“Gendoji-san, you’ve been looking kind of happy lately,” Kujou-san says.

“Have I?”

“Yeah, you must’ve been really looking forward to summer break,” Himura-san adds.

“Well.”

“That relaxed expression… don’t tell me, you got a boyfriend?” Himura-san teases.

“…Hehe.”

“What’s with that pause? No way, that’s not true, right? Hey, hey, sneaking ahead is against the rules!” Tenryuji-san panics.

“A boyfriend? No way… hehe.”

That person isn’t someone who could be summed up with a small word like “boyfriend.” If I had to say, he’s my everything, my entire life. He brought my dead heart back to life.

These past few weeks, I’ve been dying to see Yuu-nii again. I kept replaying our time in Shonan over and over, savoring it. What’s he doing right now? Just a few more hours, and I’ll see him.

Thinking about it makes my face break into a smile.

“Gendoji-san? We swore as Hiyuri ladies to protect our purity, right?”

“Hehe.”

“You wouldn’t go and get a guy behind our backs, right?”

“Hehe.”

2

After the closing ceremony, I headed to Mahiru’s classroom. Finally, summer vacation.

“Mahiru, you ready to go?”

“Miya? Hang on a bit. I’ve got a volleyball club meeting after this.”

“Practice?”

“No, just a meeting about the summer schedule or something. It’ll take about ten minutes.”

“Then I’ll wait in the classroom.”

Mahiru’s team is aiming for the Spring Tournament, so the third-years won’t retire until after the second semester. I stop by the restroom, buy a drink from the vending machine, and return to the classroom, only to find some male students still there.

What now?

I don’t really talk to boys, and just walking into the classroom without saying anything feels awkward. Plus, it’s the outgoing group I’m bad with. I decide to hide somewhere else until they leave, but as I turn to go, I lock eyes with one of them.

“Hey, it’s Haruyama-san!”

It’s Araki, the class’s central figure. He and the other boys start walking toward me.

Sweat trickles down my spine.

“Hey, Haruyama-san, wanna come to the afterparty?”

“Huh?”

What afterparty?

Honestly, these outgoing types always want to throw parties for everything. I went to one after the sports festival in my first year, but I couldn’t keep up with the vibe and noise, so I’ve avoided them since.

“Uh, um…”

“We’re going to karaoke after this. Wanna join?”

“S-sorry, I’ve got… something today.”

Singing in front of classmates? No way.

“Oh, really? Then let me know when you’re free. Oh, we haven’t exchanged Line yet, right?”

“Uh, well…”

As I’m trying to figure out how to escape Araki’s pushiness, someone suddenly pulls my shoulder.

“Eek!”

A soft sensation presses against the back of my head.

“You’re late, Miya.”

“M-Mahiru!”

“Ryuushaku!”

“Yo, both Iron Wall Maidens are here!”

“Still massive as ever.”

“Wanna get sandwiched?”

“Hey, Ryuushaku, why don’t you—”

Mahiru, taller than the boys, looks down at Araki.

“Sorry, she’s got plans, so I’m borrowing her.”

“Oh, uh, sure.”

“C’mon, Miya, let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Mahiru pulls me by the hand.

“That was quick.”

“It ended faster than I thought.”

Mahiru applies sunscreen while walking. When we were kids, she’d get super tanned every year, but I haven’t seen her tanned in ages.

“Want some, Miya?”

“Thanks.”

“By the way, Asaka’s on summer break too, right? She said she’s coming back today.”

“Yeah, she’s supposed to arrive at the station this afternoon.”

“Then let’s go pick her up with Yuu-nii.”

“Good idea.”

And so, at 1 p.m.

We gather at the north exit of Fujinomiya Station.

People leaving the station head down to the bus terminal. That group over there is probably tourists. Every few minutes, people pour out of the station and get sucked back in.

Tanned kids, students in tracksuits, salarymen with sweat-stained shirts. A foreigner with a massive backpack, probably a hiker given the outdoor vibe.

Everyone seems brimming with energy—maybe because it’s summer? Looking north, Mt. Fuji watches over us.

“It’s so hot.”

Mahiru unbuttons her polo shirt completely, fanning herself. She had it buttoned up tight at school just moments ago.

“Here.”

“Eek!”

A cold sensation hits my neck. I turn around, startled, to see Yuu-nii grinning with a canned drink in hand.

“Geez, you scared me!”

“Sorry, sorry. Which one do you want?”

Looks like he bought drinks from the station’s vending machine.

“I’ll take cola,” Mahiru says, sidling up to Yuu-nii.

“Knew you’d say that… Here.”

“Thanks.”

A crisp pssh sound rings out. Mahiru really loves cola… but wait, her cleavage was totally visible just now!?

Is she oblivious to those assets, or is she doing it on purpose…?

“Miya, what’ll you have? Only tea or canned coffee left, though.”

“I’ll take tea. Thanks.”

I quench my thirst and wait for Asaka.

“You seem happy,” Mahiru says.

“Well, thinking about the three of you finally getting together… I’m kinda restless.”

He starts pacing.

“Unlike a certain someone, we’re not going anywhere,” Mahiru teases.

“Yeah,” I add.

“Sh-shut up.”

“Haha.”

Our relationship started in July. I brought Mahiru and Asaka to meet Yuu-nii, and we did all sorts of things. Exploring abandoned houses, getting lost at the mall, going to the pool, watching fireworks at the summer festival…

That was the first and last summer we spent as a group of four. But now, it’s starting again. Our summer—

“There’s Asaka,” Mahiru says.

I look toward the station and spot my best friend. Asaka, in a straw hat and white dress, runs toward us.

“Miya-chan, Mahiru-chan!”

“Asaka!”

“Welcome back!”

Finally, the four of us are together. Asaka heads straight for Yuu-nii.

And then—

“Yuu-nii!”

“Whoa!”

Asaka throws herself into Yuu-nii’s arms, wrapping her hands around his back and burying her face in his neck.

“W-what? Huh?”

What’s she doing in public like this? This isn’t just a joyful reunion hug—it’s almost like…

“Hey, Asaka?” I say.

A moment later, a soft chu sound comes from them.

Huh?

Asaka’s straw hat falls, her long black hair swaying.

“Hey, Asaka…” Yuu-nii says.

It lasted only a few seconds, but the shock was immense.

“Hehe, salty.”

Asaka pulls her face away from Yuu-nii’s neck, licking her lips. Yuu-nii, holding his neck, blushes. From the heat or from what Asaka just did…?

Even Mahiru, usually bold, looks stunned, her expression frozen in shock.

“Sorry to keep you all waiting,” Asaka says, picking up her straw hat with her usual calm demeanor and natural tone, smiling. But I didn’t miss the faint flush on her face.

“Keep us waiting, my foot!” I exclaim.

“What’s wrong, Miya-chan?”

“What’s wrong? What was that just now? S-so suddenly, what was… that…?”

“That?”

“Hugging like that in public, what were you thinking?!”

“Oh, that,” Asaka said casually.

“That?!”

“You and Mahiru used to hug him when we were little, didn’t you?”

“Tch, that’s because we were kids!”

“That doesn’t matter. With the bond we have with Yuu-nii, this isn’t weird at all.”

“But still…”

“Besides,” Asaka glanced at Mahiru, “didn’t you say, Mahiru-chan, that when you reunited with Yuu-nii, you got so excited you hugged him too?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I guess,” Mahiru replied.

“It’s the same thing. I just couldn’t help hugging him after seeing him again after so long. You two have been living in the same town since he came back, so you can see him anytime, right?”

“Well, yeah,” Mahiru nodded.

Mahiru, who’s pretty casual about physical contact, seemed half-convinced.

“I only get to see him once in a while, so I’d appreciate it if you’d understand.”

“Hmm.”

Now that she mentions it, maybe… No, but even if we’re close with Yuu-nii, we’re adults now…

“And if you were in my position, Miya-chan, you’d probably do the same thing.”

“I wouldn’t do—ah!”

I suddenly remembered when Yuu-nii figured out who I was during the name-guessing game, and I hugged him in the heat of the moment.

“…”

B-but that was the mood, the flow of things! I was just so happy he finally realized it…

“What’s wrong, Miya-chan?”

“No, but normally people don’t kiss!”

“Kiss?”

“Don’t play dumb. I heard a ‘chu’ sound.”

“Oh, that was just my lips accidentally touching him in the moment. It’s not like it was a real kiss or anything. You’re overreacting.”

“Overreacting?!”

“Compared to that name-guessing game you played, this is nothing, totally normal.”

“Ugh…”

Bringing that up…

“Pretending to be someone else and interacting with Yuu-nii for nearly three months, now that’s something,” Asaka continued.

“Yeah, true,” Mahiru agreed.

“That was rough for me too,” Mahiru added.

“Stop it! Don’t dig up my dark history!”

“Sorry, sorry. Anyway, I brought souvenirs, so let’s eat them together later.”

Asaka held up a paper bag from her feet.

Souvenirs?

“I got these from a traditional confectionery shop in Kamakura. Perfect with tea.”

“Yay!”

The spot on my neck where Asaka licked feels hot. My heart’s pounding so hard it hurts.

That warm sensation…

If my guess is right, Asaka licked my neck with her tongue…

In this scorching heat, I was sweating quite a bit. Naturally, my neck too…

It feels like a door I shouldn’t open has started to crack, so I picture my dad’s naked body to suppress the excitement.

“Yuu-nii, let’s go.”

“Y-yeah.”

Miya calls me, and I head down the stairs, following the three of them.

“How long’s your break, Asaka?” Mahiru asks.

“Until September 1st.”

“Wow, that’s pretty long. So you’ll be here the whole of August?”

“Yeah.”

Asaka’s eyes scan the town as she walks, occasionally showing a hint of sadness, probably noticing changes in the scenery.

“What now? Straight to Moonlight Terrace? Or should we grab food somewhere? Have you eaten lunch, Asaka?” Miya looks around at us.

“Actually, not yet. You guys?”

“We haven’t either.”

“Alright, let’s eat then. My treat,” I say.

We grab lunch at the mall’s food court before heading back to Moonlight Terrace.

Miya, Mahiru, and Asaka are in my room.

It’s been since my senior year of high school that the four of us gathered here like this. Now they’re high school seniors. Time really flies. They used to be so small.

“What’s up, Yuu-nii?” Mahiru peers at my face.

“Just feeling nostalgic.”

“?”

“Thinking about the past.”

This room’s full of memories. The three of them used to sprawl on that bed, playing games, watching TV, napping, or getting help with homework…

We had so much fun.

At first, I found them annoying for taking over my room, but before I knew it, I was enjoying our time together. Their grown-up selves overlap with their mischievous kid selves.

Miya, the prank-loving tomboy, turned into a calm, literary girl.

Mahiru, the energetic, boyish one, grew tall and became a dependable leader.

Asaka, the clingy, lonely one… hasn’t changed much.

“Miya, Mahiru, Asaka.”

I look at each of their faces.

It’s super late, but I’ve gotta say it.

“I’m home.”

“Welcome back.”

“Welcome back.”

“Welcome back.”

3

With summer, Moonlight Terrace sees more customers, and as the summer break kicks in, it gets even busier. Students, families with kids, tourists from out of town—the place is packed with all kinds of people.

But today, even beyond that, the customer flow was heavier than usual, keeping Mom, Dad, and me running around like crazy.

“Welcome!”

“Please take a seat here. Three people, right?”

The place is at max capacity.

“Okay, please wait a moment.”

How did Mom and Dad manage this place on their own?

“Thank you for coming!”

I worked myself to exhaustion from morning again today. It’s great that business is booming, but I’m a bit worn out.

I flop face-down onto my bed.

Once you lie down, it’s hard to get back up. Beds must have some magical power to trap people. I only meant to rest for a bit, but I’m so drained I can barely move.

No, no, they’re coming soon.

Stand up, come on, stand up.

“Ugh…”

No good. It’s like invisible roots have grown from my legs, anchoring me to the bed. And now sleepiness is creeping in too.

It’s reminding me of those dark days in that soul-crushing job. Coming home from work, skipping dinner, and collapsing straight into bed…

This is bad. If I keep this up, the sleepiness and memories of that toxic workplace will mix, and I’ll plunge straight into a nightmare. Just then, a familiar, lively voice hits my ears.

“Hey, Yuu-nii!”

“Oh, Mahiru.”

Mahiru, in a tracksuit, walks into the room. Looks like she’s fresh from club activities, with an enamel bag slung over her shoulder.

“The other two not here yet?”

“Asaka stopped by the shop earlier but went home for something. Miya should be here soon. So you’re basically the first.”

We’d planned to go out for dinner as a group of four tonight.

Mahiru sits on the edge of the bed.

“It was hot today, huh?”

“Yeah… I mean, I was inside the shop, so I didn’t really notice.”

“It’s scorching, man, scorching. Just moving a bit makes you sweat buckets.”

“Yeah? If it’s too hot in here, you can wait downstairs.”

My room still relies on a fan as the main cooling force.

“It’s fine. It’s better than the second gym with its awful ventilation.”

“Oh yeah, that place gets hot.”

“You’ve been there too, Yuu-nii?”

“Sometimes. Only when the first gym was booked and the volleyball team was off, though.”

Thanks to Mahiru, my mood’s shifting. My body’s still tired, though.

“You seem kinda down, Yuu-nii.”

“Do I?”

“Summer fatigue?”

“Just a bit tired. It was crazier than usual today. Let me rest a bit.”

“…That’s why you’re sprawled out like that.”

“Shut up.”

“Hmm. Want some juice? Sweet stuff’s good when you’re tired.”

“Nah, I’m good.”

Sweet stuff won’t fix my exhaustion. Meat, that’s what I need. My body’s craving liver.

Suddenly, I feel pressure on my legs.

“Hm? What’re you doing?”

Mahiru’s turned toward me, massaging my legs.

“I’ll give you a massage. Whoa, your legs are swollen.”

“Yeah, I was on my feet all day without a break.”

Her slender fingers move from my calves to my thighs.

“How’s it feel? Good?”

“Yeah, feels good.”

The hardened fatigue seems to melt away.

After about five minutes on both legs, Mahiru straddles my lower back and starts pressing on my waist. Push, push, she moves upward, applying pressure.

“Whoa, ugh, whoa!”

“Sir, you’re really tense,” she says playfully.

It hurts, but it feels good.

But having a high school girl do this feels half-criminal. I heard about those sketchy “JK reflexology” places with actual high school girls, but those got shut down…

“Ughh.”

The melting pleasure is too much to resist. Mahiru’s weight and warmth on my lower body, the perfect pressure—it’s refreshing.

“Nn, nn.”

Her hands reach my back, then my shoulders.

“Whoa, it’s rock-hard. This part might hurt.”

“Huh… hurt?”

She stands up briefly, then straddles my waist again, holding my right shoulder with her left hand and lifting my right arm with the other. As I wonder what she’s doing—

“Gah!”

A dull pain shoots through my right shoulder.

“Ow, ow, it hurts!”

It feels like my back’s being peeled off! I can’t see what she’s doing!

“What are you doing, Mahiru?! Ow!”

“Bear with it. It’ll hurt more if you squirm.”

“Eek!”

I try to resist, but she’s stronger, and I have no choice but to endure the pain.

“Now the left.”

“Arghhh!”

It was hell compared to the earlier bliss, but when it’s over, my shoulders feel light, like I’ve sprouted wings.

“Whoa, whoa!”

“How’s that?”

I stand on the bed, amazed at how light my body feels. The fatigue that held me down is gone, and I feel like I could do anything.

“That felt amazing, thanks, Mahiru.”

“Hehe.”

She flashes a big grin.

“Alright, my turn to do you.”

“Huh? N-no, I’m good.”

“Don’t be shy.”

She must be tired from club activities. Plus, carrying those big things around has to make her shoulders stiff.

“Come on, face that way and sit.”

I half-force her to sit on the bed.

I’m confident in my shoulder-massaging skills, honed over ten years of rubbing bosses’ and clients’ shoulders. Time to show her my technique.

I touch Mahiru’s slender shoulders.

“Ah… mm.”

“How’s that?”

The key is the right amount of pressure for the shoulder.

Even though Mahiru’s tall, she’s still a girl, so you might think to go easy, but volleyball’s tough on the shoulders. I’m going all out.

Pushing up firmly with the thumb, kneading back with the remaining four fingers.
“Feels good?”
“Nn, y-yeah, feels good…”
“Not hurting, is it?”
“No… nn, it’s good…”
Mahiru’s breathing started getting rough. Heh heh heh, writhe in agony under my massaging skills.
“Haa, haa… ah!”
Mahiru’s voice echoed in the room.
“Ugh, nn…”
With reactions this good, it’s worth doing. This is starting to get fun.
“Hey, feels good, huh!”
“Ah, feels good… ah!”
“Here? Is this the spot?”
“Yeah!”
“Where’s it good? Say it!”
“There, right there… ahn!”
That’s when it happened. The door flew open, and Miya’s angry shout rang out.
“You two, what the heck are you doing… huh?”
Miya and Asaka were standing at the doorway. When I stopped my hands, Mahiru collapsed onto the bed as if all strength left her.
“Au…”
“You guys finally showed up. Also, Miya, what’re you yelling about?”
“Huh? Oh, uh, I heard some weird noises, so I thought you were doing something strange…”
Miya’s face flushed, and she looked down.
“Something strange? Like what?”
“What were you doing?” Asaka asked.
“Just giving her a shoulder massage, that’s all. Right?”
“Y-yeah,” Mahiru let out a small voice.
“Anyway, you guys, we’re going for yakiniku today. I’m in the mood to eat some serious meat.”
“Yakiniku? Woohoo!”
Miya’s face lit up with a smile in an instant. As she passed by, Asaka sidled up to me and whispered.
“Yuu-nii, if it’s okay, could you massage my shoulders later too?”
“Hm? Sure thing.”
“Thank you!”
Asaka said happily, taking my hand. So Asaka’s shoulders are stiff too, huh? Well, hers are pretty big, so it makes sense.
“Mahiru, get up already, it’s meat time!”
“Wait, hold on, I can’t move yet…”
Miya grabbed Mahiru’s hand and forcefully pulled her up.
“Yakiniku!”