Chapter 28 - Pool Date 4

<b>Pool Date 4</b>

Though it was a bit awkward, we were able to have fun, at least for a while, with the help of the countless attractions, including the water slides.

Tired of playing outdoors, I suggested that we go inside to settle down.

“I didn’t know that this was in here…”

“Apparently so…”

The inside of the cavernous facility was like a hot spring, reaching almost 40 degrees Celsius.

“Aren’t you glad we just took a break?”

“Yeah.”

We found a space and sat down. I couldn’t see much because of the steam, but it seemed to be a place for couples, as the surrounding people were all couples. Naturally, they were very close to each other.

“Hey, you need to get a little closer…”

“Ah…”

This place was definitely meant for couples.

There was no space to avoid touching Aisa, who huddled close to me. Our shoulders were almost touching.

“Ngh…”

I’d really prefer if you didn’t use that type of voice in this situation,…….

Even though we weren’t, I was having the illusion that we were in a hot spring together. Though, when I actually looked to the side, I could see that everyone’s wearing swimsuits. However, just by seeing them through the stream, I was bound to get weird feelings about it. Essentially, we had no way out without seeing them. When I was thinking that I might have to start counting the primes, Aisa opened her mouth.

“Hey. Kouki.”

We were both looking away from each other, so I couldn’t see her expression. However, I was sure that she was wearing the softest look in a long time.

“What is it?”

“You know… I’ve been wanting to… apologize to you…”

“Apologize…?”

I waited for Aisa’s words.

“I’ve always wanted to apologize to you. Sometimes I hate this personality of mine…”

“Why, again…?”

Aisa’s personality wasn’t bad at all, especially when she’s interacting with people other than me. The evidence of this was that she was the center of the class. She spent every day surrounded by people, adored by her classmates, and even if she didn’t get along with me, she was quite popular.

“I was too naive.”

“Naive…?”

“Yes. You know, you’re like family to me.”

“Well, that’s how I grew up.”

We really did spend our childhood as a pair of siblings, or at least something like that.

“Yeah, I know… But, we’re not blood related.”

“That’s right.”

“I should’ve realized that, but I think I was too naive to believe that Kouki would not be going anywhere.”

Naive…?  I was sure that I had spent a lot of time thinking that Aisa was a special person in my heart.

“When I went to school, I became distant and clueless… Even so, I knew that Kouki would never abandon me.”

“Well, I wouldn’t abandon you.”

“Yes. But after all, the distance between us is too great. It’s hard for us to go back as the pair of siblings we were before.”

That’s right. That’s why I stopped being the sibling, and she thought it was fine, too.

“I thought that when Kouki came to our house as Manami’s tutor, we would become like a family again.”

I somehow understood what Aisa meant.

But still, it was difficult for us to close the gap naturally.

“Thanks to Manami, I’ve come this far, and as an older sister, I need to be strong.”

“Yeah…”

Aisa made direct eye contact with me.

“I’m not an honest person, so even if you are nice to me, I’m sure there will be times in the future when I’ll act like that.”

“That’s true.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Aisa, who just admitted that.

It’s too late for that now. How many years do you think I’ve been dealing with that?

“Fufu. Yeah. Kouki will still forgive me, and I will take advantage of that a lot.”

“That’s quite the statement.”

“Yeah. But in return.”

Aisa’s face came closer and closer to mine, making my heart skip a beat.

“I’ll try to find something I can do for you, Kouki.”

“Like what…?”

“Like… what? Of course I’ll try to watch out for my usual attitude, but…”

“I know that’s not going to happen anytime soon, so don’t worry about it.”

“Muu…”

Aisa puffed up her cheeks childishly, but it seemed that she couldn’t argue back.

“Anyways, just be yourself.”

“But…”

“I was happy to hear that you felt that way today, Aisa.”

“…”

If Aisa wants things to be the way they were when we were a family, then it seems that her normal attitude is still the same as it was back then, when she couldn’t be honest.

“What’s ……?”

“No, you’ve become very popular. I was thinking about how you’re completely different from back then.”

“It’s not that easy to change.”

So the only people who could spoil her without changing were her family members. I was glad that hadn’t changed.

“You know what?”

“What?

“Keep up the good work.”

“Yeah…”

When my words reached Aisa’s ears, both of us became too overwhelmed to stay. We decided to leave without a second thought.