This summer was incredibly hot, and for the first time in my life, I bought sunscreen.

Apparently, there are different levels of sunscreen, and Tachibana-san said, “This year, you should go for SPF 50 instead of 30,” while selecting a gel-type sunscreen for me.

I applied it generously all over my body and went outside. Since we were going to the beach, I figured there would be no harm in applying as much sunscreen as possible.

According to Souta, today’s gathering, which was advertised as a “Beach Group Date,” had somehow transformed into a major event for our summer vacation.

When Tachibana-san asked for participants at Suzakura, the number of people who raised their hands exceeded expectations, and once it passed 50 people, Tachibana-san stopped counting.

 I decided not to think too much about how many of those people were probably there just to see Tachibana-san in a swimsuit.

Of course, if a large number of Suzakura students were coming, Aotaka students wouldn’t stay silent either.

Our Aotaka High School principal’s famous words are, “Those who conquer the summer, conquer their club activities. But those who conquer the sea, conquer their youth.” Hearing rumors that had spread about the gathering, a group of warriors from Aotaka High School gathered, heading toward the beach with just as much enthusiasm as the Suzakura students. All they saw in their eyes was the shining promise of youth.

Enduring the deadly rays of direct sunlight, I boarded a train with air conditioning. After about 30 minutes of swaying, we arrived at the station near the beach. There was the sea, and there was Tachibana-san in a swimsuit. Just thinking about it made my blood boil.

As the train rocked, although there weren’t any familiar faces, more and more Aotaka and Suzakura students boarded the train, and I couldn’t help but overhear them whispering, “Isn’t that Tachibana-san?” “Wow, she’s so cute.” There was a nervous, somewhat excited energy filling the air in the train car.

◆

“Oh, you’re in this car, huh?”

A familiar voice rang out. I looked up and saw Souta, with his hair stylishly set, sliding into the seat next to mine. He was wearing short shorts that were at least 10 centimeters above the knee and an aloha shirt, which seemed a bit too much, but I decided not to comment since it was already too late.

“Good morning. I didn’t know you had an aloha shirt.”

“I bought it for today. Natsuki, you’re looking just like usual, huh?”

He commented on my unremarkable outfit of a plain white shirt and shorts, making me feel a bit self-conscious.

“I’ll probably take it off once we get there anyway. I thought it’d be fine.”

“You’re going on a beach date with your girlfriend, aren’t you? How can you not put some effort into it?”

The rumor that Tachibana-san and I were dating had spread completely within Aotaka High School. If it had spread to Suzakura, there was no way I’d be able to go home safely. I could only hope it hadn’t.

“That’s why Souta’s really putting in the effort. Shirataki-san’s coming too, right?”

“Well, yeah, but we’re not officially dating or anything yet.”

Souta said proudly, his nose puffed up. Depending on how things went today, Souta and Shirataki-san might become the first couple from our grade, the “Suou High School Couple.” I secretly hoped it would happen.

“Is anyone on the 23-minute train?”

“I am. I think I’m on the third car.”

“I might head over there too.”

“I’m getting really nervous.”

“What color swimsuits is everyone wearing? Is yellow uncool?”

“I’m just going with blue. Worst case, I’ll buy one at the beach house.”

A group of students from our class started chatting excitedly. Even from their short messages, I could tell everyone was feeling nervous and fidgety.

“What if someone asks me to put on sunscreen?”

“That’s definitely not going to happen, lol.”

“Why are you even worrying about that? LOL.”

“Getting way too hyped, hahaha.”

The one over-worrying and causing a stir in the group chat was our class representative, Haneda. He had the typical appearance of someone with a bob cut and black-rimmed glasses, and despite his bad grades, he was full of humor. It seemed like he was really into today’s beach group date, and he had just reported in the group chat that he bought a rainbow-colored swimsuit.

“Sunscreen is way too much, lol.”

Souta next to me burst out laughing, and I couldn’t help but laugh too. He was jumping too many steps ahead. There was probably no girl who would ask a guy who wasn’t her boyfriend to apply sunscreen for her.

── Little did I know, I’d soon regret laughing.