-268- At the pool
Hori and the group's destination was a special swimming facility located next to the school building.
It was the exclusive swimming pool for the swimming club.
When they arrived, a bustling crowd greeted them.
"There are still so many people," Kushida Kikyou remarked.
"But it's already much better compared to the first and second day, right?" Ichinose Honami added, prompting a discussion among the group.
Hori stood at the back, also observing the lively scene in front of him.
Because it was the last day of the open house, they had thought there wouldn't be as many people today. However, it turned out to be very crowded.
Regardless of whether they were male or female, junior or senior students, everyone was dressed in casual clothes and carrying swimming gear. They entered through the entrance, chatting and laughing, creating a lively atmosphere.
If it was already so bustling outside, it must be even more crowded inside.
The group, clearly excited by the scene, stood at the entrance pointing and discussing without hurrying to go in.
However, Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki were impatient.
"We should get inside already!"
"It's so hot out here, right?!"
Their loud voices made the girls suspicious.
At this time, Sudou Ken stayed close to Horikita Suzune, behaving unusually quietly.
"Um… Horikita…"
"What is it?"
"Nothing, just wanted to say I'm glad you came."
"Understand this: I didn't want to come. Also, whether you're glad or not has nothing to do with me."
"You're still as unapproachable as ever…"
Sudou scratched his head, seemingly trying to get closer to Horikita, but was met with her cold indifference. He was displeased, but less irritable than usual.
It seemed Sudou's temper had no effect when facing Horikita.
Meanwhile, Sakura Airi was being pestered by Shiranami Chihiro and Amikura Mako.
"You're Sakura, right? I heard you're close with that guy… Nanaya. Could you tell us more about him?"
"I'm curious too! Please tell us!"
Shiranami and Amikura enthusiastically surrounded Airi, making her nervous and timid, even starting to get teary-eyed.
Clearly, Sakura couldn't handle such enthusiasm from others.
As for why those two girls were so enthusiastic, it was simple: one wanted to create a rival for Ichinose to solve her own problem, and the other was just purely curious.
As a result, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was left alone.
He didn't seem to mind, though.
After all, for someone who had spent the entire summer holiday alone in his room, having "friends" invite him out to play was something to be happy about.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have suggested to Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudou in the chat group yesterday to have Hori invite the girls out to swim.
Seeing the situation getting more chaotic, Hori shrugged and finally spoke up.
"All right, let's go in. We only have today, and there won't be time to play like this tomorrow."
With that, Hori led the way into the swimming facility.
The group immediately stopped their chatter and hurried to follow.
…
The swimming pool's scale was comparable to the water park on a luxury cruise ship.
There were large swimming facilities, including water slides, beach areas, water tracks, and even diving boards. There were several pools connected, each located in different corners.
Additionally, there were numerous stalls selling light snacks and refreshments like hot dogs, fried noodles, okonomiyaki, ice cream, and cold drinks.
Students moved between the water facilities and the stalls, creating a festive atmosphere.
"How did it end up like this?" Hori muttered, coming out of the changing room and seeing the scene in front of him, somewhat speechless.
At this moment, Hori had taken off his hot uniform and was wearing beach shorts.
Around him, students couldn't help but turn their gazes towards him.
Especially the girls, whose eyes shone with interest.
"That's Nanaya from Class 1-D, right?"
"Wow… great body…"
Seeing Hori in beach attire, several girls' eyes sparkled.
In the past, Hori wouldn't have attracted such attention.
Though Hori wasn't unattractive, he didn't have the stunning looks that would make people gasp. His appearance was slightly above average, with his ranking in the girls' handsome list primarily due to his skills and popularity rather than looks.
However, Hori without clothes was different.
Due to rigorous training from a young age, Hori had defined muscles and a clear six-pack.
His body wasn't overly muscular like a bodybuilder but had a normal build with well-defined muscles, creating an ideal physique.
Naturally, this kind of body attracted girls' attention.
Meanwhile, the boys were focused on someone else.
"This is more like it, the summer vibe!"
Ichinose Honami appeared, holding a beach ball and looking at the festive scene with satisfaction.
Wearing a white bikini with patterns, her graceful figure, fair skin, and impressive bust caught everyone's attention, along with her delicate face, making the boys almost drool.
Hori couldn't help but glance over.
This glance let him see the enticing curves and full figure of Ichinose, making him feel a bit flustered and causing him to touch his nose with a wry smile.
At this moment, the others started to appear.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Kushida Kikyou, in a red bikini with pleated edges, showcased her figure, second only to Ichinose, and her youthful aura as she smiled brightly.
"So hot…"
Horikita Suzune wore a white bikini. Though her figure wasn't particularly remarkable, her slim body and fair skin were striking, but her face showed clear annoyance.
"Do we really have to play here?"
Sakura Airi didn't show her swimsuit, instead wearing a thick sun-blocking shirt, hiding her skin. Yet, her bust, even larger than Ichinose's, couldn't be concealed, and the protruding curves made the boys almost pop their eyes out.
"Oh… ohhhhh…!"
Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken made sounds of amazement.