While teaching Kani Nayuta how to swim, Kasumigaoka Touji couldn't help but recall a certain scene from the anime Grand Blue, where the upperclassmen taught Iori and Kohei to swim. To accustom them to the water and teach them to remain calm even in unexpected situations, they would resort to rather extreme methods—like violently yanking down their swim trunks…
He was genuinely tempted to try something similar! However, pulling such a stunt in a public place was utterly inappropriate. If only they could book a hotel room with a private pool… Kasumigaoka Touji mused to himself.
…
The morning was dedicated to swimming lessons. After a simple lunch, the three of them spent the afternoon simply enjoying the various attractions of the water park. After all, coming all this way and not having fun would be a waste of the rather steep 4,200 yen admission fee.
"Winter-sensei! Utaha-chan! Let's go try that one!"
Kani Nayuta, brimming with enthusiasm, pointed excitedly at the massive water slide 'DEKASLA' towering nearby! Its starting point was at the height of a three-story building, and it stretched over a hundred meters in a winding, twisting path. It looked truly magnificent under the bright sun.
"Let's go!"
Having come to Tokyo Summerland, this was a must-try attraction. Kasumigaoka Touji led the way with light steps, the two girls following close behind.
They waited in line for a considerable time before it was finally their turn. However, a new logistical issue presented itself: this particular slide was typically designed for one or two riders at a time. With three of them, the numbers were slightly off.
"Hmm… You two go together," Kasumigaoka Utaha pondered for a moment before voluntarily stepping aside. She had experienced this slide many times before with Kasumigaoka Touji, so letting Kani Nayuta have a turn this time was perfectly fine.
"We can always go again later."
Kasumigaoka Touji pulled Kani Nayuta in front of him, gave her shoulder a reassuring pat to signal her to sit, and turned his head with a smile. "Agreed!"
Kani Nayuta echoed cheerfully. She bent down and carefully seated herself at the top of the slide, gripping its sides firmly.
Kasumigaoka Touji sat down directly behind her, wrapping one arm securely around the girl's slender waist. He gently pried her hands from the sides, and with that, the two of them were propelled downward by the rushing stream of water.
As the centrifugal force and speed increased, and feeling the soft sensation under his hand, Kasumigaoka Touji couldn't resist giving it a playful pinch.
Kani Nayuta, who had been whooping with exhilarated cries of "Woooh—!", suddenly let out a cute, surprised "Kyaaa!" Then, with a loud splash, the two plunged into the landing pool below.
Thanks to the morning's practice, Kani Nayuta instinctively kept her eyes and mouth tightly shut. Kasumigaoka Touji, meanwhile, found his footing the moment they hit the water. He stood up swiftly in the pool and easily pulled Kani Nayuta up beside him.
The silver-haired beauty spat out a stream of water, wiped her face, and then couldn't help but swat at Kasumigaoka Touji's arm. "Winter-sensei! You're too mean! You scared me!"
"Just tell me, wasn't it exciting?" Kasumigaoka Touji puffed out his chest, looking at her with an air of righteous accomplishment.
Kani Nayuta could only roll her eyes at him in response.
Just then, Kasumigaoka Utaha came sliding down from above. Kasumigaoka Touji chuckled. Standing ready beside the slide exit, he moved with lightning speed, catching her in a graceful princess carry the moment she emerged from the water. He then carefully set her down in the pool.
"Not bad! Well done, Onii-chan!" Kasumigaoka Utaha, both surprised and caught off guard by the gesture, patted his shoulder in approval once she had regained her balance.
"Of course!" Kasumigaoka Touji replied proudly.
...
The trio went for another ride.
After that, they experienced various other attractions—the lazy river, the water roller coaster, the water swings, and finally the Ferris wheel. Before they knew it, the sky was beginning to tinge with the colors of dusk.
"Let's call it a day."
Kasumigaoka Touji glanced westward at the orange-hued horizon. The sun seemed on the verge of setting completely.
"Okay."
"It's starting to get a bit chilly now, too." Kani Nayuta hugged her arms, rubbing her fair, slender skin. Once the sun began to dip, the temperature dropped noticeably. Having just disembarked from the stationary Ferris wheel after a long ride, they felt the chill more keenly. If they had been moving around, they probably wouldn't have noticed.
"Here, put this towel around you for now." Hearing her comment, Kasumigaoka Utaha pulled a large bath towel from her bag and handed it to Kani Nayuta.
Kani Nayuta accepted it gratefully, blinking up at her friend. "Aren't you cold, Utaha-chan?"
"I'm fine…"
"What about you, Winter-sensei?"
"Not cold at all."
...
The group chatted amiably as they made their way toward the changing rooms, parting ways at the respective entrances.
The changing facilities at Tokyo Summerland were connected to communal shower rooms. Kasumigaoka Touji headed into the men's shower area first, thoroughly washing off the chlorinated water from head to toe. He then changed back into the clothes he'd worn that morning and waited by the changing room entrance, bag in hand.
Women truly were slower in this regard.
He waited a full ten minutes before Kasumigaoka Utaha and Kani Nayuta finally emerged.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" Spotting Kasumigaoka Touji, Kani Nayuta immediately jogged forward, linking her arm through his with an apologetic smile.
Seeing her like this, the slight trace of impatience Kasumigaoka Touji had felt melted away.
"It's fine. I just finished up myself," he said with a smile. His gaze shifted to Kasumigaoka Utaha. "Let's go. We'll grab something to eat first, then head home."
"Let's go!"
"Anything in particular you'd like for dinner? There's a well-regarded udon place nearby, and also a teppanyaki restaurant with great reviews."
"Let's go for teppanyaki," Kasumigaoka Utaha chose the latter option without hesitation.
Kani Nayuta also expressed a preference for teppanyaki, so the decision was quickly made. The three of them followed the navigation on Kasumigaoka Touji's phone toward the chosen restaurant.
By the time they left the park, darkness had fully descended. Under the deep blue-black canopy of the night sky, the glow of streetlights, the sweeping beams of car headlights, and the myriad illuminated signs of the city intertwined, painting a vivid picture of urban nightlife.
Kani Nayuta turned her head to look back at the brightly lit expanse of Tokyo Summerland, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. "Today was so much fun!"
"You're satisfied already?" Kasumigaoka Touji glanced up from his phone, a teasing glint in his eyes as he looked at her. "I'll make you feel even better when we get home!"
It had already been agreed that she would be staying over at their place tonight.
"Then I'll be looking forward to it, Winter-sensei~." Kani Nayuta met his gaze with a charming, lingering look of her own. Under the interplay of various city lights, her thin, cherry-colored lips seemed to glisten with a tantalizing moisture…