Chapter 45: Oh, Great Ocean!
"Oh, the ocean!"
"The sky is so blue! This feels amazing!"
"It really is the ocean! This is so moving! We've been so exhausted lately!" Takada exclaimed, rubbing his face dramatically into the sand.
"Is he crying?"
"It's understandable, though. He's been working out a lot lately and has even lost three kilos!"
"He's adorable, though—using sand to wash his face!" Sendo commented at just the wrong moment.
"This is really your fault, isn't it?" Omura teased.
"I'm free!" Sawamura shouted out randomly. The last few days really had worn the team out, as if Sendo thought heading to the beach would be the solution for everything.
"Shut up, idiot! People are staring!" Sendo said, unable to hold him back—he's like a wild cat.
"Oh, the ocean! It's so great! This is the true southern scenery!"
"Look at the stars by the ocean—they're beautiful!" Two of the girls joined in with admiration, though Fumino immediately pointed out the stars at any chance.
"Furuhashi! Your swimsuit is so pretty! I never noticed, but you're actually not small-chested! That guy said you should get a one-piece because you're still a kid," Wakana teased Fumino quietly.
Yesterday, when they were picking out swimsuits, Fumino flat-out refused to join everyone.
"Is that so?" Fumino said with a friendly smile, standing a bit straighter.
"Actually, I put in a thick padding! Don't bring up flat chests!" Fumino thought to herself, feeling a bit dark inside.
"Why didn't I grow?" she sighed.
"Hey! What are you two lagging behind for? Hurry up, we're not waiting for you!" Sendo shouted to the two trailing behind.
"Coming!"
…
"So, what should we do first?"
"How about making sand sculptures?"
"Do you even know how to do that? Let's save it for later and start with something exciting!"
"Yes, yes!" Several people nodded in agreement.
"What about water balloons? We can warm up with that, then buy water guns for a water fight!" Ohno suggested.
"Great idea! And how about beach volleyball?"
"And watermelon splitting! I've always wanted to try that!" Sendo added.
"Huh? Didn't know you'd be into that stuff! Haha, alright, I accept your request!" Sawamura replied.
"Wait, what…?"
"Ow, ow, ow!"
"You think you're some kind of 'sama' or something?"
"I'm sorry! Let go of me!"
"So, how about we start with water balloons, then a water fight, followed by beach volleyball? We'll save the watermelon splitting for later and finish with a swim in the ocean," Sendo concluded.
"What about the sand sculptures?"
"Uh…." Everyone, being Japanese, didn't think much of it, but Sendo had a strong urge to say something about it.
"Let's leave it for last! Now let's start with stretching exercises!"
"Let's go, warriors!" Sawamura said sternly.
"Oh!" everyone responded in unison.
"Uh… that felt like something a thug would say! Eijun's really something!"
"Hey, don't say that kind of thing at a time like this!"
.....
"I got it! Here I come! Take this, Sendo! Feel my smash attack! Strike!" Sawamura's loud voice could be heard from far away.
"You idiot, where are you even aiming?"
"It's a big throw! (They love using baseball terms for everything here.) Ei-chan just never gets tired of challenging Sen-chan, does he?"
"Yeah, but he's never actually won."
"Hahaha!"
"Hey! I can hear you guys over there!"
"Sorry! Sorry!"
"Yes! Yes! Yes! I… won!!!"
"You idiot, if you keep messing around, I'll hit you!"
"Bleeh!"
Ultimately, certain actions rendered the water balloon game unplayable. Let's just say it was a disaster.
Undeterred, Sawamura challenged Sendo again in the water fight, only to be chased around with a water gun, completely unable to hit him back.
"Damn it! I'll win next time! Just you wait... But no more water fights with him! Haha!"
"What are we doing next?"
"Beach volleyball!" Sawamura shouted immediately.
"Denied," Sendo replied blankly.
"Why not?!"
"Eijun's just going to challenge him again, isn't he?"
"Darn it! My grand plan is ruined again! Just wait, Sendo—I'll get my revenge!"
"Eijun, what's with that constipated look? Don't tell me you're already thinking about taking me on again? Is this some kind of rebellion?"
"Uhh…!"
"Or maybe you're just feeling pent-up and need to let it all out?"
"This, this…!" Sawamura's shifty expression had everyone thinking he looked particularly cool and silly.
"Oh, whatever! Let's do watermelon splitting! The gift shop has wooden swords. What do you say? I'll go buy the watermelon!" Sendo finally decided.
…
"Alright, let's begin! I've always wanted to try this!" Sendo said, picking up a long cloth to blindfold himself.
"Let me…!" Sawamura said excitedly.
"Denied!"
"Why not?!"
Finally, after much insistence, Sendo reluctantly tied on the headband, picking up the wooden sword.
"Hahaha! Ready? Then let's get started! Hurry, everyone!"
With Sawamura's words, they set the watermelon in place, while Ohno and Takada helped spin Sendo around; his sense of direction was way too good, so if they didn't disorient him, it wouldn't be fun.
"Feeling dizzy! Let's go, Eijun!" Sendo said, unusually excited.
"Hahaha! Yes, move forward now!"
At Sawamura's command, Sendo began walking forward.
"Now turn left! Keep going!" Sawamura dug himself deeper into trouble.
"You idiot, left!"
"Now, right!"
Finally, Sawamura got the exasperated Sendo, veins bulging in his forehead, to circle around a few times before reluctantly guiding him to the watermelon. With everyone laughing, Sendo split the watermelon in one stroke!
"Awesome!" They started eating the watermelon while chatting about recording videos.
And, of course, Sendo didn't forget to give someone a lesson.
"Hey!!! Sendo! Don't do anything crazy! There are rules! Don't come any closer!"
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