KYOUSUKE'S CHAPTER 4

A boarding the ship, I felt intensely nervous. My body straightened up without me wanting it to and my shoulder stiffened hard. My eyes restlessly lingering our surrounding as if I was looking out for any hazard.

Pap!

Someone knocked me on the waist.

"…Ugh….huh…?"

"Don't get too anxious, it's contagious!" Kirino whispered as she stared at me.

"…B-but! Look at this cruise! It's big and not to mention, it's my first time boarding a cruise!"

"Tch, don't make some noise here. You're not a kid! It's just a cruise."

Clicking her tongue, Kirino stepped forward after the guards gave her permission to enter upon showing them the electronic cards we received.

"…"

Gosh, you've been all over the situations for modelling. Sure it's not a big matter to you…. But for a normal person like me, it's way beyond that….

Here we are, me wearing a complete suit with my everyday hairstyle while Kirino was wearing white dress as the first time we have gone to lavish place like this together.

The reason we came here was because we were invited to join Makishima Kaori's birthday party. Two days before, Saori out of sudden, urgently insisted us to come… said just for special occasion. Of course the whole circle will come. I'm not sure whether the Aragaki sibling will come or not.

We don't have reasons to decline either.

Sigh… I want to see Ayase…

….

"….? Huh?!"

The hell am I thinking?!

I immediately came back to sense and reality as I saw Kirino was already talking with Kaori in butler outfit.

Huh?

A woman in men's attire?

I'm not complaining but the outfit looks too good on her that makes me extremely envious.

I walked toward them and sent a greeting.

"Yo, Kaori-san."

"Wizz, you guys are quite early."

"Oh? By the way, where's Saori?"

"She's quite busy at the moment, I'll guide you from here."

"I see…. and the other members of our circle?"

"I think they're with Saori."

"—So, heading straight to your room or strolling first?"

"WE GOT A ROOM?!" I without full conscious, raised my voice.

Quickly my stomach got nudged by Kirino.

"—Ouch!"

She stared sharply into my eyes with disgusting look.

"Of course we have… don't make fuse out of sudden, you're embarrassing me."

"…Ah… my bad…"

Turning her sight away from me, she chose.

"Let's take a walk, we'll go the room later."

"Alright."

Kaori searched a thing in her pocket and took out a key.

"—Your room is 402, at the second highest level."

Kirino took the key and nodded.

"Kay, got it."

"Come, let's go to the outdoor area."

From our position, we took the right path prior to our sight until we reached a roofless area.

"….!"

Bright light from the sun temporary blind our eyes with quick flash.

Mumble* Mumble* Mumble*

….as we saw a lot of people leisuring and playing near a big pool at the center of the place. Almost everybody is in their swimsuit, men in trunk, women and girls in either one piece of bikini. Some were wearing jacket while peacefully watching others.

"Woaw…" I humbly expressed my surprise.

Paradise for men!

"This is where you can have fun for the time being. Just go to the counter if you don't bring your swimsuit." Explained Kaori.

Pointing upward at the highest level, Kaori again said,

"—There's deck if you like to view things in high place. You can enter it via the lift."

Continuing, we briefly walked near the pool and eventually make a U-turn. We went straight until we reached a point where a café is open. Between our sides, there were corridors which lead to yet-to-be-known place.

Kaori griped her hands on the waist and took a short breath.

"As you can see, this is the café. Just order anything you like, it's on the house."

Looking around with confidence, she continued.

"Actually, I'm not very familiar with this cruise. I just showed you what I know."

"—Mm..hm.." she nodded proudly.

What?

"Ahh…."

Both Kirino and I immediately lost our hype, though it's not much. Soon, we just kept with the flow.

"Where's Saori?" I asked.

With smile, she said.

"Follow me."

And led to the café and finally the kitchen.

Upon arriving, we saw many chefs were busy preparing dishes. Each of them passionately minded their own business despite Kaori's presence.

Until, we heard a familiar voice.

"Oh, you guys are here already?"

Saori, Kaori's little sister and also our circle's leader.

Today, we got to see Saori in her ojousama mode.

"Yo, Saori. What are you doing?"

Pointing her thumb back on the shoulder, she answered.

"We're making a huge sculpture cake. It's in the finishing phase."

"BIG CAKE?" suddenly Kirino raised her voice with excitement.

Ugh…

"—How tall it is?! What is the flavor?!" she added eagerly.

"About four and half meter. It's white chocolate with raspberry."

Kirino took a deep breath as if she was imagining the cake with hype.

"Ummm~"

"—Haaa….~ I can't wait to eat it!"

Huh… You can make fuse but I can't?

"By the way, thank you for coming to nee-san's birthday party, I really appreciate it."

Kaori approached Saori and tightly hugged her, expressing with smile,

"It's onee-chan, right?" Heee…~"

"I-I….mm….." With short breath, Saori cutely replied.

"—I'm suffocated….!"

"—Geez!"

"Hehehe…! Call me, call me! Onee-chan~"

Saori pushed Kaori away gently.

"Don't wanna…. Hmp!"

"B-but… You called me one-chan that time!"

"Like I said, that's the only moment…. Well, if I have another request, I'll reconsider calling nee-san like that once more."

Kaori looked frustrated.

"Such a devil little sister!"

"You C.A.N.N.O.T. Nee-san is spoiled too much."

"Aww…."

Sister's argument. Kaori and Saori used to have bad terms in a long run. Ever since the day I confessed my love to Kirino, they got their relationship in good condition out of sudden. All in all, I never expect Saori has this cute side too.

"By the way guys, you should go to the pool now."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"We invited Claris to perform at tonight's performance—"

"WHAT? CLARIS IS HERE TOO?" once again Kirino yelled.

"Yes, however, it's only fans meet up and some handshakes. They will perform some shows during the party."

Looking up the ceiling and putting a finger beneath her mouth, Saori added.

"—If I remember it….Hmm…."

"—They'll show up in swimsuit…"

"OOOHHHH…..!?~" Kirino's loud voice echoed the kitchen.

Quickly, I knocked her head lightly.

"It hurts! What the hell are you doing?!"

"Keep your voice down!"

"Opss…." she groaned, covering her mouth.

Last temporarily her sorry, she entered her sole fantasy, mumbling with blessed eyes.

"…Ehehe… I got to see, Claris in swimsuit….Hehe…"

And drooling….

I can't do anything about that.

"And Kuroneko?" I asked.

"Probably at the pool too."

"Ah!" Kirino snapped.

"—I think I saw her when we were walking."

"Ha? Why won't you call for her?"

"Don't blame me… She was too far for her to hear my voice."

"Well… whatever."

I kept an eye contact with Saori and Kaori.

"—I think we will meet Kuroneko first."

"Claris first right?" Kirino intervened.

"Whichever!"

"Why would we waste our time meeting her when we can meet Claris?"

"Just meet both of them!"

"Cehh..."

"Hahaha! What an amusing siblings, go and have fun. We'll settle things here. If you need anything, just meet me at the bar you saw just now, I'll be there." Said Kaori.

"Alright then, off we go."

We left the kitchen and headed toward the pool area we visited minutes ago.

As soon as we had our eyes on the scene.

"It's Claris!"

"Where?"

"Near the west area!"

"Got to meet them and took photographs!"

"Hurry up, we'll miss them!"

BRROOOOMMM!

Crowds immediately rushed the area, hitting everything that did not move according to the wave.

"Ouch!"

Left and right without stop had been busied with crowd wave.

Oh... uh?

And I lost sight of Kirino.

Darn. There's too much people that would want to meet Claris.

BROOOOMMM!

The wave continued.

After minutes, the crowd wave had calmed and flooded the west area. Hearing rumors and stuff, I only knew Claris was there but I couldn't personally see them.

"Ahhaa….."

There's no way I can get through them…

"I can't see Kirino either."

Looking back and forth, I tried to make a decision. This cruise is huge and I know too little about the area.

Maybe I should head back and ask Kaori.

Kirino probably is within the crowd.

"Perhaps she will be back after she finishes her business…"

I turned around and walked back to the café, finding the bar Kaori said earlier.

Soon, as intended, I found the bar and Kaori was standing behind the bar.

I didn't see Kirino.

Is she not done yet?

I raised my voice and called out for Kaori,

"Hey, Kaori-san… Have you seen Kirino?"

Huh…?

I saw a guy…

…seemed familiar.

As I was approaching the guy and Kaori, he turned his sight toward and me.

"Gekh…!"

….As he spurted the same.

It was Ayase's brother…. Aragaki Satoshi.