"Whoa, whoa...!"
Melt stood there in a bikini the same shade of pink as her hair, a matching pareo wrapped around her waist. As she spoke, Yugo’s face turned bright red with flustered confusion.
Her vibrant, cheerful personality was a perfect match for the seaside setting, and when combined with her striking figure, the sight was a bit too much for a red-blooded high schooler like Yugo to handle.
He knew he couldn't act on any impulses with Fee and Yui right there, but seeing Melt in her swimwear made it impossible not to be acutely aware of her.
(We actually... kissed, didn't we? It’s making me all... restless...)
It had happened a while ago, yet the memory of that kiss remained vivid. Then there were the other incidents—seeing her naked (even if it was during an emergency or involving a double) and that time he’d seen her underwear. His face turned an even deeper shade of crimson.
Lately, she hadn't been hiding her feelings at all, treating him less like just a friend and more like a man. Yugo, unsure how to navigate this shift with his very first friend in this world, let his eyes wander in a mix of embarrassment and confusion. That was when the next challenger entered the fray.
"Oh, you were fast, Melt. I see you’ve already joined him."
"O-Oh, Setsuna...!"
Yugo responded with a small smile to Setsuna, who had approached with a quiet grace that stood in sharp contrast to Melt’s energy.
Looking at her in the standard school swimsuit designated by the academy, he felt a brief wave of relief at the lack of exposed skin—until he realized something was off.
"Phew... It’s a bit tight. Is the swimwear here always this restrictive?"
"Uh, well... I wouldn't really know much about girls' swimsuits..."
Yugo quickly looked away as she adjusted the suit where it was digging into her. At first, he thought he was imagining things, but there was no doubt: the swimsuit Setsuna was wearing was far too small for her. It looked like it was practically bursting at the seams, accentuating her curves in a way that made her look incredibly voluptuous. The tight fabric emphasized the valley of her cleavage and the line of her thighs.
He’d felt safe because of the modest design, but the hidden danger was far worse. As Yugo struggled with how to react to a look that was, in its own way, even more daring than Melt's bikini, Setsuna leaned in with an alluring smile and a whispering, suggestive voice.
"Maybe the size is wrong? Did the staff make a mistake? Or perhaps..."
"O-Or perhaps what?"
"Hehe... maybe I’ve just grown a bit more than expected...!"
She flashed him a meaningful smile while drawing deliberate attention to her chest. Yugo stared blankly into the distance, paralyzed. Setsuna pressed her advantage.
"I think the sun is getting to me. I'm feeling a bit lightheaded. I’d like to go rest in the shade for a bit... would you come with me?"
"Wha...!?"
It was a surgical strike, as precise as a move in a game of shogi. She had intentionally chosen a smaller size and let Melt go first to create a contrast between her modest look and the provocative reality. Now, she was leading the dazed Yugo exactly where she wanted him. It was a perfect plan utilizing her beauty and her brains—until an interference occurred.
"Oh, I see! That sounds rough, Setsuna! In that case, you should stay here and watch the bags with Ryuga! Take all the time you need to rest!"
"Ngh...!!"
"I know! There was a shop back that way. Let's go buy some cold drinks for her! Come on, Yugo!"
"Eh? Oh, r-right..."
Beaming with a bright smile, Melt completely derailed Setsuna’s strategy, attempting to flip the situation so she could get Yugo alone instead. Seeing Yugo nod as he was swept up in the momentum, Setsuna turned to Melt with a smile of her own.
"That’s quite all right, Melt. Don't worry about me. I’ll be fine after a short break. I’ll stay here with Yugo and watch over Fee-kun and the others."
"I’m telling you, it’s no trouble at all! Come on, Yugo, let’s go! We’ll get drinks for everyone while we're at it! It's settled!"
"Wait, wait, wait...!"
"Wait, wait, wait...!!"
"U-Um... Melt? Setsuna? Are you guys okay...?"
Usually, the two were the best of friends, and they certainly didn't hate each other now, but some moments simply allowed for no compromise. The beach, the swimsuits, the school trip... the chance to be alone with Yugo was far too precious to simply hand over to a rival.
If I back down now, I’ll lose my pride as a woman! That shared realization fueled their desperation.
(As expected of Setsuna... she had this all calculated. But I won't let her have her way so easily!!)
(Tch... I knew she’d be trouble, but pairing that bikini with those proportions is just foul play, Melt!)
Precisely because they respected each other as attractive women, they were clashing with everything they had. While the rest of the group—Yugo included—cowered as the two girls radiated an intimidating aura and traded sparks, a carefree voice suddenly drifted through the air, seemingly oblivious to the tension.