"Whoa, so this is it..."
About ten minutes after leaving my house, I let out a sigh that was part admiration, part awe at the sight unfolding before me.
We were on the second floor of the shopping mall, in a corner lined with women's apparel shops. With August just around the corner and the beach season in full swing, every store was busy promoting its trendiest and best-selling swimwear at the front.
I had never had any reason to set foot in a women's clothing store before. Facing the vivid, overwhelming sight of so many swimsuits made me freeze in my tracks.
"Let’s see... ah, there it is! That’s the shop."
Naturally, Haruka didn't hesitate for a second. She grabbed my arm and started pulling me toward one of the boutiques.
"Whoa, hey... it might be a bit late to ask, but is it really okay for me to be in here? I feel a little out of place."
"It might be tough for a boy to walk in alone, but it’s perfectly normal for a guy to be here with his girlfriend. Look, there are plenty of other couples, right?"
Now that she mentioned it, I did see several pairs of men and women who were likely together. The other female customers didn't seem to pay them any mind.
If I acted too self-conscious, I’d actually end up looking more suspicious. I had nothing to be ashamed of, so I decided to just stand tall.
The store Haruka led me to was a brand I didn't recognize. It didn't have that high-end, intimidating atmosphere; it felt more like a popular, mass-market shop for students.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the flurry of pastel colors, I checked the price tag on a swimsuit-clad mannequin near the entrance. The prices were reasonable enough for a high schooler’s budget. Perhaps because of that, there seemed to be many customers around our age.
Suddenly letting go of my hand, Haruka stood against the backdrop of colorful swimsuits and flashed a truly joyful smile.
"Now then, it’s Tatsumi-kun's turn! I want you to pick out a swimsuit that looks good on me—or better yet, one you want to see me wear, okay?"
"Haruka, you're the one wearing it. Shouldn't you be the one to choose?"
"I’ll choose from the ones you pick for me. I’m buying this to show you, after all. It wouldn't mean anything if it didn't match your taste, right?"
I was left speechless. She said it with such casual confidence that it caught me completely off guard. Even though the store was well air-conditioned, I felt my body temperature spike.
I had been at my limit ever since we left the house, trying to keep my composure. I really wished she’d stop adding fuel to the fire so nonchalantly.
I took a deep breath. Calm down, me...
"Oh, but I might be a little troubled if it's too revealing. For those kinds, we'll just check the size, and then I'll show you back at home, okay?"
Calm down...! Please, just calm down, me...! Stay cool!
Why was she so proactive about the idea of showing me the skimpy ones? If she was going to say something like that and then turn red herself, she shouldn't have said it at all!
I cleared my throat and tried to maintain my composure, shifting my gaze toward the racks to hide the heat in my cheeks.
There were more varieties than I’d imagined. For someone who only knew the basic categories of "one-piece" or "bikini," it was a fascinating sight.
It felt awkward to stare too intently at the displays, so I decided to start by looking for something that seemed decent—and preferably as modest as possible.
"...How about this one?"
"A one-piece? Oh, the knit pattern is so cute! Do you like this style, Tatsumi-kun?"
"Well... yeah. It’s just an impression, but I think it matches your vibe."
I had pointed out a one-piece swimsuit in a cream-colored fabric, decorated with a delicate weave from the chest to the waist—I later found out it was called crochet. The lower half featured a blue, skirt-like design with matching shorts underneath. It looked practical and secure while still being stylish.
"Hehe, I see. Then let's count this as the first candidate. What else?"
"Anything else...? Uh... how about this?"
Naturally, she wasn't going to stop at just one.
Next, I found a sporty two-piece. The top was a tank top style and the bottom was a pair of short pants. It was a very functional design, but the subtle accents gave it a modest, charming appeal.
"A sporty one this time. It looks easy to move in! It might be better for a pool than the beach. Okay, next!"
"Right. ...Hmm, aside from those..."
Having reached a state of total resignation, I began scouting the racks with a serious gaze. Honestly, it didn't matter much to me what I wore, but this was for Haruka. I couldn't afford to be half-hearted about it.
Get it together, Tatsumi.
Haruka seemed surprised by my sudden intense focus, but she quickly joined in the search. No matter how much she wanted to please me, she had to have her own preferences too. I wanted her to look good, but I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable.
Focusing on items in her favorite color, blue, we picked out a variety of styles together: monokinis, bikinis, halter necks, and high-neck designs.
"We’ve picked quite a few. Should we call it a day for the selection?"
"Yeah. Now we just need to narrow them down. By the way, how many do you plan on buying?"
"Maybe two or three? If I buy too many, the summer will end before I get to wear them all."
"Fair point."
As I looked around for a mirror to check the sizes, my eyes snagged on a word I didn't recognize.
"Brazilian Bikini."
Being completely ignorant about fashion, let alone swimwear, I had never heard the term. Curious as to why these were kept slightly apart from the other bikinis, I looked at the nearby mannequin and my eyes nearly popped out of my head.
Compared to everything else we’d seen, the amount of fabric was significantly smaller. While it wasn't quite a "micro bikini," it was clearly not designed for actual swimming. The top was daring, and the bottom didn't even cover half of the hips. Not only was the fabric scant, but the strings holding it all together looked dangerously thin.
I was about to look away, thinking it was far too sexy for us, when I noticed Haruka staring intently at that same mannequin.
"...Tatsumi-kun. Do you... want to see me in something like this, too?"
She asked the question with her face turned beet-red, all the way to her ears.
An image of Haruka wearing that exact suit flashed through my mind, and I immediately shook my head with enough force to cause whiplash.
"No, wait! That just happened to catch my eye! I didn't mean anything by it...!"
"...Really?"
"..."
She looked at me with earnest, searching eyes, and I found myself at a loss for words. I desperately racked my brain for a response and finally managed to squeeze one out.
"...I won't say that the desire to see it is zero. As a guy, I’m obviously curious. But... I don't want you to wear something that makes you uncomfortable just for my sake."
"So, you do want to see it?"
"Wait, no, I mean..."
"............"
"...I want to see it."
What was happening? How did I end up here? Unable to withstand the flaxen glow in her eyes that seemed to peer into my very soul, I finally gave in and nodded.
A mischievous, playful grin spread across her face.
"Huummm... I see, I see. So that's how it is, huh?"
"...You were the one who dragged it out of me. What’s with that look?"
"Oh, nothing! Just thinking~ ...Geez, don't look so sulky. I’m sorry for teasing you. You're a boy too, after all, Tatsumi-kun."
"............"
Honestly, having her nod with that "I know exactly what you're thinking" look was even more damaging to my pride. But saying anything else would just be digging my own grave, so I kept my mouth shut.
Haruka, acting perfectly composed now, called out to a nearby clerk.
"Excuse me, can I try these on? I have my own liners."
"Certainly! The fitting rooms are right in the back. Please, go right ahead!"
"Thank you! Come on, Tatsumi-kun."
"Wait, me too?"
With the clerk’s amused gaze on my back, I was dragged toward the fitting area. I understood why she needed to try them on—buying the wrong size in swimwear is a disaster—and I’d mentally prepared for this. But being this close to the action made my body stiffen with a fresh wave of tension.
We reached the fitting rooms in the back, and Haruka disappeared behind the curtain with the pile of swimsuits. As she left, I heard the faint rustle of clothing and immediately moved a respectful distance away.
I thought about taking out my phone to pass the time, but checking a phone right in front of the women’s fitting rooms felt like a bad idea, so I put it away.
I couldn't settle down. Not only was I waiting for my girlfriend to change, but being a guy standing alone in a sea of women's swimwear made me feel like everyone was staring at me. I knew my awkwardness probably made me look more suspicious, but I couldn't help it.
After a few minutes of staring blankly at the ceiling, the sound of a curtain drawing back snapped me to attention.
"Sorry to keep you waiting... ehehe. How do I look?"
Haruka stood there, blushing and smiling shyly. I couldn't say a word; I could only stare.
I thought I was prepared. I thought I’d braced myself. But in the end, I’d been naive. I’d told myself it was "just a swimsuit."
I had completely underestimated the sheer destructive power of a girl as beautiful as Haruka Akise wearing one.
"S-Say something..."
Every little movement as she fidgeted with embarrassment pulled at my heartstrings.
The suit she was wearing was a simple, light blue halter neck. It wasn't flashy or overly erotic—and because of that, it highlighted her incredible natural figure. The lines of her shoulders and neck were elegant, leading down to the soft curves of her chest.
My gaze drifted down to her toned stomach, where the contrast between the blue fabric and her pale skin was mesmerizing. Without a skirt or shorts to hide them, the healthy curve of her hips and the long, graceful lines of her legs were on full display.
Her fair skin and feminine curves, usually hidden under her clothes, hit me with a directness that made my vision swim.
"...It looks amazing on you. Really."
"Really?"
"Yeah..."
I could only offer a dazed, brief response, but it seemed to satisfy her. It was probably glaringly obvious to anyone watching that I was completely captivated and barely able to think.
I said it looked good on her, but that wasn't a review of the swimsuit anymore—it was a review of Haruka herself.
"Then I'll change into the next one! Just wait a second!"
"A-Ah... next? There's more...?"
I was starting to regret picking out so many different styles. This meant a fashion show that wouldn't end until we had gone through the whole pile. Would I even survive until the end?
As I stood there, trembling at a premonition of my own demise, Haruka finished her second change and pulled the curtain back again.
"Next is this one! I think the frills are really cute. What do you think?"
"Whoa...!"
I let out a gasp as she playfully swayed the ruffles on her shoulders.
This one was an off-shoulder, high-waisted bikini with a blue checkered pattern. While it was definitely "cuter" than the first one, it emphasized her waistline in a way that made her look even more shapely. My eyes were drawn to her slender, pale thighs... was I discovering a leg fetish I didn't know I had?
I fought to keep my knees from buckling and managed to find my voice.
"It’s really cute. It looks great."
"Thanks! ...But wait, we have to actually pick which ones to buy. Compared to the first one, which do you like better?"
Right, that was the point of all this.
I compared the image of the first suit burned into my brain with the off-shoulder one in front of me. Both were great in completely different ways. It was impossible to choose.
"...They both have different vibes, so let's put them in the 'maybe' pile for now. We can decide once we’ve seen the others."
"True, the other one was a bit more mature. Okay, next one coming up!"
"Got it."
The lively atmosphere continued, even as my sanity and my knees took critical damage. The private fashion show—or rather, the swimsuit competition of the year—marched on.
"Okay, I’ll take these two. I’m going to pay at the register, so Tatsumi-kun..."
"Got it. I'll put the others back on the racks."
"Thanks!" she chirped, heading off toward the front of the store.
I gathered the remaining swimsuits and started walking. Seeing the ones I’d picked out for her, knowing they might end up with someone else, felt like a bit of a shame. But in the end, Haruka was the one making the choice. I was just there to help, and I shouldn't overstep.
Just as I finished hanging the last suit back on its hanger, a familiar voice caught my ear.
"Come on, Shio, wouldn't this one be great?"
"Absolutely not. It’s too flashy, and there's too little fabric. You just want to see me in it."
"Ehh?! This one’s no good either...?"
A short-haired guy was lamenting loudly while holding a flashy swimsuit, while a girl with a short bob was looking at him with ice-cold eyes.
No matter how I looked at them, there was no mistaking who they were.
"Hashimoto... and Shinohara-san?"
It was my best friend from the soccer club, Hiroto Hashimoto, and his girlfriend, Shio Shinohara. It looked like they were out on a shopping date as well.
Hearing my voice, they both turned around.
"Oh! Yanagida! What are you doing in a place like this?"
"Given where we are, it’s obviously a date with Akise-san. It’s been a while, Yanagida-san."
I waved back at the boisterous Hashimoto and returned the polite nod from Shinohara-san. I felt a bit bad for interrupting them, but it would have been cold to just ignore them.
"Yeah, long time no see. Are you two on a date, too?"
I called out to them, closing the distance between us with a teasing grin.