If there was one thing I hated, it was summer. Hot, boiling summers where it became far too hot to wear my jumper. Well, that and tight, clingy clothes. Those were all for show and never for comfort. Why put yourself through that just to pull?
Anyway, it was a hot summer, and wearing my jumper had caused me to faint once before, so my dad (who I barely saw growing up because he kind of died) was being quite firm on this, even though I'm an adult and can think for myself. I had resigned to staying the rest of the day indoors as a result, away from prying eyes, because I hate to admit it, but I'm kind of embarrassed by my body. Or rather, parts of my body. However, my brother, Tokageroh (I could tell it was him because he spoke in a far softer way than Mitsuki), insisted I come outside with the others, even trying to use 'Katsuhiko's there' as an enticer. Finally, I got sick of his bugging and told him I'd be out in a minute. Though meek, that boy can be pretty stubborn. He was probably just too awkward to go by himself.
He led me on a half-hour journey to a river leading to a lake, where the girls were gathered, trying various ways to keep off the heat. I crossed my arms to cover my chest and kept my head down. Boys, as a rule, tended to feign interest or stare at girls like me. Girls who are, as some say, well endowed, although that is not a good thing in any case if you ask me. That was probably a big reason Tokageroh was so interested in Takara-san. It couldn't be because of her personality or other looks, or her fanatical devotion to some cult she believed her father to have been in.
Though I had a similar body shape, I lacked the oozing confidence Takara-san has, where she can gladly make an example of herself with a laugh and a smile, and barely wear anything in the summer. Unfortunately, I also lack the resistance against the elements Majomiko-san possesses, because she isn't human any more, and so to cover up that wooden chassis, she wore a heavy-looking kimono. Being meek was unbecoming of me though, and was bound to gain even more stares, because I wasn't like shy and sweet Shizuka. Maybe I could play it off as not feeling well.
I glanced up, trying to figure out where everyone was. Shizuka had fixed me with a look of concern, but nobody else was looking in my direction, which was a relief. I went over to her, because I wasn't sure what else to do, and gave her a smile. To one side stood Katsuhiko-kun, not really talking to anyone. His hair was wet and his rumpled shirt was unbuttoned (though I could only see him from behind at the moment) and practically sliding off his shoulders. I didn't look long because I hate being stared at myself, instead focusing on assuring Shizuka and Majomiko I was fine. Why I was doing so I would never know. Maybe I liked these people enough to call them friends. Even so, I paid little attention to what they said otherwise.
I can always blame the heat for that. Eventually, I settled myself in the shade as some of the girls went into the water. I wished I had a book to read briefly, or just something to do, and normally I loved the water, but I didn't want to go splashing around fully dressed, especially not while Takara was in there. That clumsy great oaf was bound to knock someone out the way she was going.
"Arigeta!"
I looked over to see Katsuhiko-kun rushing over to me, buttoning up his shirt as he went. Possibly embarrassed about that weird mouth-thing that adorned his chest. I gave him a smile and allowed him to sit beside me.
"Are you okay?" Were the first words out of his mouth. I groaned.
"I'm just comfortable over here."
"I thought you liked being in the water is all."
"It's not as fun when it's crowded." I rested my head on his shoulder, almost on instinct.
"Maybe we could go to the lake." He offered.
"I have nothing to change into."
"Me neither. Besides, it's hot, it won't kill us. It'll probably help."
"You're not going to leave it until I say yes, are you?"
He gave a hum of thought and spoke with a laugh. "Probably not."
I rolled my eyes and stayed cuddled up to him. "But I'm comfy like this." I half-whined, which drew out another laugh.
"You won't be for long. We're in the middle of a heatwave."
"You're the one that took off his shirt."
"Oh, you got a view of that, did you?" He sounded embarrassed.
"Wasn't that bad of a view." I assured him with a slight laugh.
"Must have been looking from behind then." He joked. I felt him start to raise his arm as though to put it round me, but it must have been instinct because after a moment he realised what he was doing and dropped it.
"Let's go swimming." I offered, hoping to alleviate his awkwardness. He brightened instantly.
"Yeah, sure! We can go to the lake a little aways so we don't bump into the girls."
He stood and helped me up, and I found he'd had a bit of a growth spurt recently. We walked side by side, me still with my arms crossed tightly over my chest, him humming away, lost in his own little world by the looks of it. I put my hands in my pocket and just watched him, gazed at that smile. I spared a glance over my shoulder, to the girls, but could not see Tokageroh with them. He'd probably escaped inside, annoyingly. I'd expect that of him now.
Ahead stood a crystal clear pool of water, I couldn't quite gauge how deep, that glittered and shone under the sun. With a sudden burst of confidence, Katsuhiko charged forward and leaped into the water, only to swear and yell it was a lot colder than he had expected. I laughed and stepped in with delicate feet into a point I was sure was shallow. It wasn't deep at all, waist deep at least, which was good. I had taught myself to swim a little in the past, but I wasn't that confident in very deep water still. I liked to have somewhere to put my feet just in case. It was rather cold, I had to agree, but so was every unheated body of water when you first get in. He gestured for me to come to the middle, and I obliged, wading out until my foot caught on something and I was pitched forward.
My face never hit the water, however. I heard Katsuhiko curse and felt strong hands close around my arms as he caught me. I glanced up and my eyes met his, and he quickly averted them with a blush.
"S-sorry...are you okay?"
"Yeah, thanks." I took a moment to straighten myself up and patted his cheek, and he made a face. I let my hand linger there a little longer before splashing him full force with as much water as I could. He yelped and reared back before scowling and splashing back.
"No fair, I wasn't ready!" He yelled as he kept on his assault, not once ceasing kicking and throwing water as best he could, and I laughed and kicked back. By the minute, we were absolutely soaked. At least he was right about the water combating the heat quite well.
By the hour, we had tired of our playful water war and retired at the water's edge. Quickly, the heat began to sting our skin once more, and yet I was now in a good mood the heatwave couldn't manage to destroy, and happily laid my head on Katsuhiko's shoulder again. Comfortable. I may have even drifted off, only awoken when I heard the voices of the others approaching. It was at that point that I had to get to my feet and rejoin the group I called my friends. A strange mix, we were, but they still remained the kindest people I'd ever encountered.
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