Our beach excursion with my lovers had finally begun. I started by joining Shiro-san and Lilia-san, and the three of us decided to go for a swim together.
So far, so good. Since we weren't exactly racing, the staggering difference in our physical specs didn't really matter; we should have been able to enjoy a normal swim—or so I thought.
"...Shiro-san, do you remember what I just said a few moments ago?"
"You said we should swim together, the three of us."
"Yes, exactly. So, keeping that in mind... why are we currently at the bottom of the ocean?"
"I thought that if we were going to swim regardless, it would be more pleasant to do so amidst scenery only found in the deep sea."
"...Is that so?"
Since we had been teleported by Shiro-san the moment we entered the water, I had no idea where we were. However, looking up, I couldn't see even a glimmer of light from the surface, so I could only imagine we were at a significant depth.
The fact that it was unnaturally bright only in our immediate vicinity and that we could speak inside a dome-shaped layer of air was undoubtedly due to Shiro-san's power.
Well, it seemed the very situation I’d been fearing had manifested immediately. Based on my experiences thus far, Shiro-san had a habit of losing all sense of restraint whenever she started frolicking.
Actually, I didn't feel like she exercised much self-restraint normally, but when she was in high spirits, she seemed to forget the concept entirely.
"Even if I were to concede, say, ten thousand steps, at a depth like this, wouldn't we be crushed by the water pressure—ah, no, never mind."
At a depth like this, we would probably be flattened the instant we stepped out of this dome... but unfortunately, the person standing next to me was not someone to whom such common sense applied.
Most likely, she had made it so that even a regular human like me could walk out and swim this very second without any issues... though I had no intention of testing that theory.
It was then that I realized Lilia-san hadn't reacted at all for a while. Already suspecting the worst, I turned around to look.
"L-Lilia-san... I knew it. She fainted."
It seemed her mind simply couldn't keep up with the sudden transition to the seabed. Lilia-san's eyes were spinning, and she had lost consciousness.
However, immediately after that, Shiro-san moved her hand slightly, and Lilia-san snapped back to reality with a start.
"Eh? A-Are? Where am I? What happened?"
"This is the sea. I woke you up because I didn't think you would be able to enjoy our beach trip while unconscious."
"...I-Is that so? Thank you... for your consideration."
...That was strange. Under normal circumstances, you'd think this was an act of kindness intended to prevent Lilia-san from missing out on the fun. In fact, there was no doubt Shiro-san had done it with one hundred percent good intentions.
But why was it that thoughts like "Lilia-san's last escape route has been cut off" or "Even fainting isn't permitted in front of Shiro-san" kept floating through my mind?
"...Anyway, Shiro-san, let's just swim normally. Please take us back to the beach."
"Hmm... I have a condition."
"That's strange, isn't it? Why am I the one being given a condition in this situation? Well, for now, I'll at least listen..."
This was not a good trend. Shiro-san was frolicking, and now she was presenting a somewhat unreasonable demand—a pattern I had experienced several times before.
Which meant, with a very high probability, Shiro-san was going to...
"I believe there has been an insufficient amount of flirting."
"...Excuse me?"
Oh, as expected, she had started saying something outrageous.
"You and I are lovers. We have come to the beach. And furthermore, both Lilia and I are currently wearing swimsuits."
"...Y-Yes, that's true."
"Despite that, setting aside 'Happy and Embarrassing Happenings,' there has been almost zero physical contact. I consider this a grave state of affairs. Lilia, don't you agree?"
"Eh?! M-Me?! I, well..."
"Don't you agree?"
"I do! It's exactly as you say, Creator Shiro-sama!"
Perhaps she hadn't expected to be put on the spot, as Lilia-san replied in a total fluster.
The sense that she had been coerced was overwhelming. Sadly, no matter how much Shiro-san insisted that formalities weren't necessary, she was still the Top of the World. Given Lilia-san's personality and position, she really had no choice but to agree. Ah, look, she's taking more stomach medicine.
"U-Ummm. Shiro-san, please just be direct. In short, what do you want?"
"As for me, I wish to flirt more with Kaito-san. However, I understand that since you have to visit the other pairs as well, you cannot stay only with us forever. Therefore, I will settle for a compromise."
"...A compromise?"
"Yes. Therefore, I demand a hug, here and now. A long, deep, and... needy one, if you please."
"..."
I understood her request. However, given how she sounded strangely uncertain about that last word, I suspected she might have picked up some odd terminology from somewhere again.
Also, the sight of her saying those lines with a completely blank expression was quite surreal... wait, hold on.
Could it be that the reason Shiro-san brought Lilia-san and me to the seabed was specifically to create this situation? It would be easy for the current Shiro-san to predict that I would ask to be returned to the beach.
Was being at the seabed with just the three of us meant to reduce my embarrassment and make it easier for me to accept the demand?
Thinking about it that way, it seemed to explain why she had bothered making this air dome instead of swimming immediately after teleporting us.
"...Shiro-san."
"What is it?"
"Could it be that this was your goal from the very beginning?"
"And if it was?"
"Wow, you're really just going to admit it that boldly..."
"Yes. Because I want to flirt with Kaito-san."
"Guh..."
This woman was incredible. Despite the roundabout setup, she wouldn't bother hiding her motives at all. And being told so bluntly that she wanted to flirt was embarrassing in its own right. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy about it, but still...
I had definitely been outmaneuvered. Besides, the request itself was actually quite sweet, and I found myself wanting to grant it.
It seemed the choice I had was also... only one.
"...Eh? Um... does... does that include me too? If you did something like that to me while I'm dressed like this, I—ah, that's right. Fainting is..."
Serious-senpai: "Why does everyone keep trying to turn this into a flirt-fest?! Is it so wrong to just keep the comedic tone going?!"
Machina: "Fufufu, getting so worked up... Could it be that you're jealous? You want to hug my child too, don't you, Serious-senpai?"
Serious-senpai: "Huh? There's no way I'd want to—"
Machina: "Surely you aren't suggesting that you don't want to hug my precious, darling child, are you?"
Serious-senpai: "—Of course I want to!!"
Machina: "Yes, yes, I thought so. My child is exceptionally cute, after all. Anyone would want to hug him. As I thought, Serious-senpai understands! I'm happy I don't need to give you any 'Education'!"
Serious-senpai: "Ha... haha... You're right... ???... Seriously, please come back soon."