Chapter 124: This "Purity" You Speak Of, What Does It Even Mean?
The seas around Okinawa are known as the "Seven-Colored Sea."
The water quality here is exceptional, with over 200 different types of coral reefs. When the sunlight penetrates the water and reflects off the seabed, it creates the wondrous spectacle of a "seven-colored" ocean.
Jashin-chan thrashed around in the water for a bit, then turned to look at Minos. "Hey—! Minos! Let's race! See who's faster!"
"You're on! But I'm not going to lose!" Minos, who was enjoying her swim, called back to Jashin-chan, full of confidence.
"That's my line! I'm not losing to you!" Jashin-chan raised a fist, equally confident.
"I'll be the referee!" called Medusa, who was happily floating along with the current. Hearing their challenge, she enthusiastically raised her hand, wanting to be involved.
"Medusa, all you need to do is cheer for me," Jashin-chan replied.
Stare—!
Minos, sensing something, squinted her eyes at Jashin-chan.
Medusa, meanwhile, let out a little "Eh?" a troubled expression on her face. Minos was her friend, too, after all. She felt it wasn't right to only cheer for Jashin-chan.
"Anyway—" Jashin-chan swam over to Minos and pointed toward the deeper water. "I'll count down from three, and then we head in that direction. We'll see who's faster."
"Fine," Minos replied, looking where Jashin-chan was pointing.
Just then, a sinister grin spread across Jashin-chan's face.
"ONE!" she shouted, and then exploded forward like an arrow released from a bow. Her speeding body tore the surface of the sea apart, kicking up two massive white wakes that glittered in the sunlight.
"So despicable! That girl!" Poporon, watching from nearby, shot Jashin-chan a look of contempt.
Pekola just looked on, already used to it.
The instant Jashin-chan shot forward, Minos also blasted off like an arrow. After knowing Jashin-chan for so long, she understood her personality perfectly. The moment she had refused Medusa's offer, Minos had already guessed what Jashin-chan was planning.
...
Back on the beach.
Ryohei Tanaka quickly averted his gaze from Lucoa, looked out at the angels and demons in the ocean, and nonchalantly changed the subject. "They're really having fun, aren't they!"
"Mhm, yes they are," Lucoa replied, not pressing the issue. Her soft body settled back down onto the beach mat, and she said with a curve of her lips, "Tanaka-kun, I want to have some fun, too."
"You really know how to put someone in a tough spot," Ryohei said. Seeing Lucoa lie back down and stop staring at him, he inwardly breathed a small sigh of relief. He scooped up another dollop of sunscreen and began rubbing it between his palms.
"Oh, I'm not putting you in a tough spot, Tanaka-kun. Right, Ms. Yurine?" Lucoa propped herself up on her elbows, resting her chin on her pale, soft hands as she looked sideways at Yurine.
'Who are you trying to rope into this?'
Yurine gave Lucoa a sidelong glance, then looked away. "No. You are putting him in a tough spot."
"Eeh!?"
"Tanaka-kun has to consider my feelings, so..." Yurine began to explain bluntly.
"Mmph—!"
Before she could finish, Ryohei "ambushed" her, and a soft, cat-like moan escaped her lips. Her whole body went rigid. She instinctively covered her mouth, and her delicate, pretty face flushed crimson in an instant. Yurine was incredibly embarrassed, especially with an outsider right there...
She immediately buried her face in her fair, slender arms.
Lucoa, at this point, wasn't sure how to react. Ryohei's mood also became a bit awkward.
Then, he saw Lucoa, as if nothing had happened, begin to casually practice yoga, doing her best to pretend she hadn't heard a thing.
A small smirk appeared on Ryohei's face.
A short while later—
"Yurine, turn over. Time to do the front," Ryohei said, after finishing applying sunscreen to her slender, pale legs.
"Mhm," Yurine replied softly, and rolled over onto her back. The blush hadn't faded from her face, and her reddish-brown eyes seemed to be covered in a thin layer of mist. Ryohei's smile widened.
When Yurine's gaze met his, she shyly lifted her forearm to cover her eyes, as if she wouldn't be as embarrassed if she couldn't see him.
"Yurine..."
"Hm?"
"Why are you so adorable!"
Ryohei was hit with a critical dose of cute from her gesture, and an indescribable fluttering stirred in his chest.
Yurine's blush spread all the way to the tips of her ears.
Nearby, Lucoa glanced at Yurine. The girl really was very cute. But she felt that she herself was pretty great, too!
...
Soon, Ryohei finished applying Yurine's sunscreen.
Her face still flushed, Yurine propped herself up on the mat with her hands, then sat up. She looked at Ryohei, her eyes still glistening. "Tanaka-kun, now it's my turn to put sunscreen on you."
She couldn't be the only one who was embarrassed; she wanted to see him embarrassed, too.
"Sure!" Ryohei replied. He hadn't thought much about it, only that having Yurine put sunscreen on him would be a very nice experience, so he didn't refuse.
"After I'm done with Tanaka-kun, I'll help you." Yurine stood up from the mat, turned, and looked at Lucoa—who was now holding a perfect split—with narrowed eyes. She had promised the woman earlier, and she intended to keep her word.
"That's okay." Lucoa, holding her ridiculously flexible pose, waved her hand dismissively. "I am a very pure and loyal familiar! I refuse to be touched by anyone other than my Master! Not even you, Ms. Yurine!"
"This is the first time I've heard you described as a familiar like that," Ryohei's mouth twitched. He was about to lie down but turned his head to look at Lucoa, then quickly looked away. Her pose was far too alluring; he didn't dare look for long. If he looked any longer, he wouldn't be able to keep his "spear" down.
"I'll set the 'loyalty' part aside for now," Yurine said, placing her hands on her hips and looking down at Lucoa with a completely deadpan expression. "I'd just like to know which part of the word 'pure' has anything to do with you."
'You've really got some nerve saying that!'
'What part of anything you do has any connection to 'purity'?!'
'What kind of 'pure' familiar poses like that in front of her master in a sexy bikini?!'
"The word 'pure' was invented by me," Lucoa stated, holding up one pale finger, completely serious.
Ryohei, who had just lain down, froze and turned to look at her.
Yurine knelt down on the beach mat, picked up the sunscreen, and said distractedly, "In that case... please explain the meaning of the word 'pure' to me."
"It means 'Purely White.' My skin is pure and white, without any blemishes," Lucoa announced, proudly puffing out her chest, which jiggled with the movement.
"That's not what it means!" Yurine and Ryohei retorted in unison, completely exasperated.
"No, no, that is exactly what it means," Lucoa said, wagging her finger. "Because I invented the word, I have the final say on its definition."
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