CH 98

The three of us were playing in the pool. We were playing in the pool, splashing each other, swimming hard, and so on. There are endless ways to play in the water. So it was inevitable that Igarashi would say something strange.

"Let's catapult!"

"What? What is that? What do you mean?"

Suo and I tilted our heads as we soaked in the water. What on earth does she want to do?

"That thing! I don't get it! Look! You stand on your dad's shoulders, and he stands up so vigorously, and you jump off his shoulders! Didn't you do that a lot when you were a kid?"

"Ahhhh. I know what you mean. I mean, that automatically makes me a jumping jack, right? Well, okay."

I dive into the water. Soon Igarashi's feet are on my shoulders. Then I rise vigorously to the surface.

"Watch me fly! Tou~!"

Igarashi used my momentum to jump as hard as she could. She looks like a goddess as she flies through the air, splashing water. I thought I could even see a rainbow-like haze around her as the water spray reflected the light diffusely. Then she landed on the water in the same position.

"Kyaahh, that was fun! I flew so high! Isn't it amazing?"

"Yeah. It was kind of fun. Right, Suo?"

Suo looked somewhat reluctant. She looked serious, as if she was pondering something. But it's strange that when "Suo" is written on her chest, it looks kind of dumb.

"Is something wrong, Suo?"

"Hm? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was just thinking about something. Oh, I see. I guess Igarashi doesn't mind that kind of thing. Screaming machines and such."

"Yes. I like the ones where you go round and round and fall with a bang! So next time. I'm going to Fuji Koki Ultra Land with Tokiwa! I'm so excited!"

"Fuji Koki Ultra Land? Oh, that's great!"

Suo sometimes seemed to be thinking about something. Is something worrying her? Igarashi sensed this and swam up to Suo and hugged her.

"Hey, hey Suo. Let's ride a water bike together. You like motorcycles, don't you?"

"Water bike? Where did you find that... oh, you mean that..."

Igarashi and Suo are staring at me. Are they expecting me? I feel like I'm losing as a man if I run away here!

"Hey, it's Kanata on the bike... please, come on in, you two..."

I turned my back toward them and floated directly on the water. Then I felt two soft touches on my back. Suo and Igarashi sitting on my back.

"Engine fire ahhhhh!"

I get fired up and flap my arms and legs as hard as I can. With the two of them on board, I make my way over the water.

"Kyah! Not that fast at all! Haha!"

"Igarashi. Hold on to me! I'll speed up!"

Suo said something crazy! She bent down and hugged me as if she was pressing her chest against my back. Is she trying to go rider style? Then she pulled down her goggles, put her hands on my shoulders, and made a gesture like she was going to put on the gas pedal. Oh my God, this girl is a motorcycle enthusiast! I pushed the water with my hands and feet to increase my speed. Every once in a while, Suo would move my shoulder and play with the direction I was going.

"Fuhaa! I'm feeling better today!"

"This is a bike date? Suo is so cute! Kyahaha!"

The two of them riding on top of me looked like they were having a great time. I, on the other hand, was having a hard time. It was very tiring. But the girls are having fun. If you're a boy, you have to do your best.

[Hagiri's POV]

After the event, I dozed off for a while. When I woke up, Tomoe was lying on my back hugging me. If I moved, I would wake her up. I decided to stay in the same position because I knew she would immediately gag if I woke her up. When I was about to fall asleep again, I noticed that Mio wasn't in bed. I looked around the hotel room and found Mio lying on the sofa by the window where I could see the skyscraper. She was reading a book intently. A book wrapped in a gorgeous binding. It was a special book I had given as a gift to a special woman, including her.

The title of the book was:

=========================

[Royalty]

Written by Arthur Maurice Hokart

Translated by Shoto Hagiri

=========================

"You're reading this book with great enthusiasm, aren't you? I heard you've already finished reading it?"

"I have found something new in this book no matter how many times I read it. So I was mistaken to think that I had finished it."

Mio took her eyes off the book and turned her head toward me.

"I still think. I think that Hagiri-sama is the one who is worthy to carry the modern royalties."

"I am honored to hear you say that, but..."

"Yes, there is an obstacle. There is a traitor who wants to snatch the Goddess from the side. If we don't purge them, there will be no order in the world."

I smile involuntarily. Mio is a gem of a person who can accurately read my wishes and carry them out.

"Fortunately, an opportunity will soon arise. The amusement park where that man is going to take the goddess is one of the companies I own. I'll make it work. It would be too good for a tramp to die at the foot of that beautiful mountain, so flamboyantly and vividly."

Mio smiled ferociously. I don't know if it will work, but it will be one act of demonstration. Besides, I didn't order it. On the contrary, it's Riri's friend who sets it up. She wouldn't retaliate recklessly. Besides, it would be a good data collection. I had hoped that Edileza Reichi would only be able to seize people's hearts and minds through her violent devices and charisma, but recently, she has shown the potential to participate in the sacrificial rituals. It seems to me that the tide is turning in my favor. It's fun to be the one who ignites the upheaval. I will let him dance on my hand at best.

"I'm sorry, Hagiri. But we owe him."

I'm so tired from all the water biking. I sat by the pool to regain my strength. Igarashi was still full of power and was swimming easily through the water.

"You should drink some of this."

Suo sat down next to me. There was something emo about having a scantily clad Suo sitting next to me that made me feel like an adolescent. It would have been perfect if I had been wearing men's school swimsuits instead of my hideous bikini shorts!

"Thanks Suo. What is this, a green can of guarana?

"It's Brazilian guarana juice, my favorite juice. It's my favorite juice."

I opened the green can and drank it. It tastes different from the guarana juice in Hokkaido.

"Yes. It's delicious."

"I guess so. Fufufu. The red guarana from the other day was good, but this one is better for me."

Suo's face was beautiful as she looked into the distance. She must be remembering her homeland. Is this kind of thing called saudade?

"You already have a pretty good grasp of me, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. I'm not going to lie to you, but I did some research on the Brazilian debt."

"I see. It must be hard for Himena to deal with me like this... That girl really is still worried about me."

Suo put her hand on her forehead and looked down. I'm glad. Suo doesn't hate Ayashiro after all.

"It's true that the debt thing is a difficult topic. But me and Ayashiro can manage it. How about it? Why don't you get out of Hagiri's place?"

I tried to solicit her straight away. But Suo shook her head.

"I'm a sinful woman. I don't deserve to be loved by anyone."

Suo stared at her right hand, looking disappointed.

"There was a better way. I should have given up. She should have just kept on defiling herself until her heart was broken. If I were a woman, I could have taken that path. But I chose the easiest path. Continuing to bear my sins is my punishment."

It's an abstract statement, and I honestly don't know what she's saying. But I understood that she couldn't leave Hagiri's side just yet.

"Hey, Suo. Is that punishment absolutely unavoidable?"

"It's impossible. The day will come when the punishment will overtake the crime. No one can escape it. Until that day, I want to live comfortably."

I am a punished person. I feel sad to be punished. So I have to say.

"Even after you are punished, I'm sure Ayashiro and I will be there for you."

"I can't do that. Yeah, I can't."

"Yes you can. So think about it. Think about grabbing our hands."

I stood up. Then I turned to Suo and said,

"I can make you laugh too, anytime! Look!"

I pull Igarashi's hand, who has just come over to me, and hug her from behind.

"Hey, Suo's looking at me. Oh no."

Igarashi wiggled herself.

"One gag! Titty head massage!"

I attached Igarashi's back head to my own chestplate. Then I moved my pecs up and down at super high speed.

"Eh? What? What's shaking? That feels so good...ahaha...nn."

Igarashi was making some kind of sexy voice, but I was more interested in Suo's reaction. She is opening her mouth. Oh no! Is this ironic gag slipping?!

"No! I can't be a bright person anymore!"

I jump into the pool with Igarashi in my arms.

"Hey, hey! You're the one who slipped, and I'm diving too? Kyaaaah!"

I and Igarashi sink into the water. Then we quickly float back up to the surface. Then Suo looked at us and laughed hysterically.

"Idiots. There are idiots. There are nice people who try to make me laugh. Ah, ah, ah!"

Suo continues to laugh. I hope that smile will become real someday. I hope so. I wish this prayer could reach anywhere.

***Author's musings***

Suo, the motorcycle enthusiast!

And the way Hagiri plots against him is so emo.

And Igarashi, who slips and dives into the pool with Suo, is just precious!

Well, Season 4 is about to accelerate!

Well, there will be some comedic events here and there, so please enjoy the seriousness while taking a break!