The right side of her swimsuit top falls off. I turn my head away instantly.

  Mai and Akane were shocked.

  “MIZUKI! ARE YOU OKAY?!”

  “Y-yeah…”

  She stops. She noticed her swimsuit fell off.

  The other two girls noticed it too, gasping in shock.

  Kaguya and Hikaru saw from a distance and looked as if my life ended right there.

  "He's done for, isn't he?" said Hikaru, trying his best not to laugh.

  "Yeah...we should probably help him out." replied Kaguya, slightly worried.

  Mai looked at me ferociously, reminding me of Akane's terrifying stare.

  “Kaito…how dare you…”

  I try to laugh it off and chill the mood.

  “Haha, I guess we won…”

  “I’m taking you to the police station. Public nudity and sexual harassment.” said Mai, looking at me disgusted.

  “I’m all for it too.” agreed Akane with her.

  Kaguya came to intervene, rushing over the hot beach sand.

  “Come on…it’s not like he wanted to do it on purpose. He happened to fall over her. Right, Mizuki?”

  She was all red. Embarrassed. Flustered.

  “Y-yes…”

  Kaguya felt reassured. She didn’t want to see her friend behind the bars.

  “Then it’s all cleared up. Our time to play.”

  Mai and Akane leave the sea disappointed that they were so close to winning. Kaguya and Hikaru get in position and we start playing.

  Fifteen minutes later we find ourselves losing 11-2.

  Hikaru was on cloud nine, screaming, “Yeaaaaah! We did it Kaguya!”

  “Yaay!”

  I look at Mizuki, tired of carrying the game.

  “What happened…”

  Mizuki, still embarrassed, let out a small reply as

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  “I’m sorry, Kaito…it’s all my fault.”

  “It’s okay…let’s get out of the sea. We lost.”

  We head to the beach chairs where all our stuff was left. We were both disappointed with the result after the good performance in the first game against Mai and Akane.

  Mizuki was dead silent. It’s not like her. I try to open up the conversation.

  “Hey Mizuki…I’m sorry for that, earlier.”

  She froze for a second but turned her head to me while slightly blushing.

  “Hehe…not a big deal. It’s okay. If anything, I am sorry for not focusing on the second game and being the cause of our defeat.”

  “It’s okay. It’s just a game after all.”

  “Look at the others. They’re having so much fun. I’m glad I used my villa to create such a deep bond in our group and make so many memories with you guys. But I feel…that I’m just an extra.”

  I glare at her confused, not understanding what she means: “What are you saying?”

  “I mean…you all know each other for a long while. I feel like I’m just a new member that can easily be replaced anytime soon…”

  Is she feeling extra? Not part of the group? What?!

  “Mizuki, really, what are you talking about? How can you say something like this? Everyone is having fun with you! Imagine how Mai would react if you told her you feel extra.”

  They both start to imagine it.

  (“Mizukiii, nooo waaaay! (as Mai hugs her tight).”)

  “Yeah… you’re right. But it just doesn’t feel right.” Mizuki kicked her feet in the sand.

  “If we didn’t want you in our group, then we wouldn’t have called you over in our trip. Or I wouldn’t have allowed you to live in my house. You’re just as equally important as any of the other four.”

  Mizuki widened her eyes. She found comfort in those words.

  He’s right…I know that. I just felt a bit awkward that I was not a childhood friend like the others…but if he says so...it’s okay. I’m a member of the group just as much as the others…I can be myself entirely now.

  “I guess you are right, Kaito. Thank you for reassuring me. Can you come with me tonight on a walk? I want us to talk about something important.”

  “Sure thing. Let’s meet at 9 P.M.”

  She looked happy.

  “Thank you.”

  Meanwhile, the other four were having a fierce battle. I see Kaguya hitting a perfect ace and grab the win. She jumped out of the water and rushed with Hikaru towards us.

  “Kaito! We’ve beaten everyone! We’re the best!”

  Mai and Akane were down in the dumps.

  “The same scenario…twice…”

  I try to lighten the mood, raising my hands up in the air.

  “It’s okay. We still have 5 more days of summer fun ahead of us. You can get revenge any day.”

  “You’re right! Tomorrow, let’s do it again!” clenching their fists.

  Everyone agrees as we all laugh it off.

  We grab some cold drinks from the cooler and lay on our beach chairs. Everyone was enjoying this summer trip so much. I was happy to spend precious time with them, in such a place.

  We play until evening comes. We gathered a whole bucket of cool shells, we saw a crab and we buried each other in sand, and Akane was pretty annoyed.

  "Let me go!!!!"

  Evening comes.

  We all gather up in the living room, and decide what to do for the rest of the day.

  “So, what do we do now?”

  As usual, Mai came with the first idea.

  “Let’s take a walk through the station’s center! Let’s find all kinds of cool shops and street foods!”

  “Sounds good!” replied Akane in a positive mood.

  “I’m all for it!” agreed Hikaru with no hesitation.

  Kaguya thinks about it a bit.

  “Sorry guys, I’m tired. I want to stay in my room and rest.”

  “No problem! Kaito, Mizuki, what about you?”

  I exchange glares with Mizuki. We agreed on something earlier.

  “We’re also just going to rest. We’re exhausted.”

  Mai puts on her sad face. Still, she had 2 friends with whom she’d go.

  “Oh…so it’s just the three of us. Let’s go, guys!”

  “Okay!”

  The three get ready and leave, heading for the neon city center. We’re just three left in the house.

  Kaguya yawns, “Guys, I think I’m going to sleep.”

  “No problem!” replied Mizuki cheerfully.

  Now I can go with Kaito and not attract any suspicion to us! Perfect!

  Kaguya heads to her room while Mizuki and I remain in the living room.

  “So…should we prepare?”

  “Sure! Grab some light clothing, and let’s go for a walk.”