Both couples got ready for the day. They were still perturbed by the information given to them by Aime. It definitely puts a damper on their mood to enjoy things. Nabiki and Kuno were already at each other's necks. Though, it was already bound to happen. Nabiki did trick him after all.
However, it was going to be more difficult to leave if they had to confess feelings for one another.
Kuno and Nabiki strutted up to where Shuutaro and Shinobu were quietly having their breakfast. Kuno slammed his palms on the table, rattling the plates and glasses. "One of you two have to confess. I cannot stand to stay here with her."
Shinobu hit her blush with the back of her hand. "Well..."
"You do like each other, don't you?" Nabiki added, placing on hand on her hip.
Neither of them responded.
"Ugh... Curses!" Kuno threw his hands up in defeat. "We're going to be stuck here forever!"
"We might as well enjoy it while we can," Nabiki grabbed Kuno by the shoulders and pointed him towards the breakfast buffet. "Serve me a plate, will you Kuno-baby?"
"No."
"The sooner you go the sooner you don't have to talk to me for about five minutes." Nabiki offered alternatively.
Kuno tentatively considered this option while chewing the inner side of his cheek. One moment away from Nabiki in return of filling up her plate with delicious foodstuffs. "Very well." He was off. He already knew was sort of things Nabiki liked to eat considering she'd steal food off of his plate and often out of his hands all the time.
Once he was gone, Nabiki turned towards the other two. "Don't think I can offer you a couple yen in exchange for a confession? Even if it's fake?" She rubbed her forefinger and her thumb together.
"I have no need for money." Shuutaro responded after chewing thoughtfully on his sausage.
"Oh?" Nabiki tilted her head. "Everyone needs money."
Shinobu filled in her. "He's rich," she said.
"Is that so?" Nabiki inhaled sharply. There goes that plan. It was obvious that they were going to need a little push because there was no way it was going to be her and Kuno.
Speaking of, Kuno returned, balancing both his plate and Nabiki's and set it on the table right next to them.
Just then, Nabiki hatched a plan. "Say, would you like to join Kuno-baby and I by the pool after breakfast?" Perhaps she can weed out a confession, or at least a confession of attraction out of the two. If they were like any hormone-ridden teenagers, it would be hard to resist getting a glimpse of each other in swimsuits.
This idea seemed to have an effect on Shuutaro, it was short but Nabiki's sharp eyes noticed his expression go blank for a moment.
He was imagining Shinobu wearing Lum's tiger striped bikini. It was enough to drive his libido insane. It wouldn't be the first time he's seen Shinobu in a bikini, but something was different this time. "Yes." He stated. "That is... If Miss Shinobu wants to as well?" He raised a brow at her.
"Well I don't see why not."
"Perfect." Nabiki smiled and clasped her hands together.
"Hold on one second!" Kuno pointed a finger accusingly at the back of Nabiki's head, prompting her to turn and look at him. "I did not agree to go to the pool."
Nabiki scoffs, she planned for this all in the span of a second. "And miss out on the chance of seeing a couple of beach babes?"
Immediately Kuno faltered, lowering his finger. "I... I—" He hated how easily defeated he can be by that viper named Nabiki Tendo.
"That's what I thought. Now let's hurry up and eat before it gets cold." Nabiki knew she had won, now it was only a matter of time.
The teens had gathered by the pool with their belongings. There were locker rooms attached where they can change clothes and store them. Also within the locker rooms were showers and baths for after they got out of the water.
The pool itself was rather large and shaped like a heart as per resort aesthetics. It made it easy to sell the idea of an island of love. At least that's what Aime said on the first day during their tour.
The group split up by genders so they could go and change.
While Nabiki slipped into her one-piece, she figured all she had to do from this point on was keep an eye on the two. If she had thought correctly, things should easily fall into place. If not, she would have some orchestrating to do. That's where Kuno comes in.
Once they were gathered outside of the locker rooms, Nabiki picked a spot and threw her towel and things into a lounge chair. "Hey Kuno-baby, could you put some sunscreen on my back?"
Kuno was red in the face. "What? I will n—"
Nabiki pulled him by the arm and whispered in his ear. "If they see us doing it, they'll do the same. If we can push them closer together, the sooner we can get out of here. We'll have a confession in no time."
Understanding, Kuno nods. "Yes, I see." He cleared his throat and spoke just above a normal volume. "Yes Nabiki, I shall lather some sunscreen on your back." The delivery was rather awkward and loud. He was clearly overselling it. "Or will some suntan lotion will do? I think you'd look ravishing."
"Just sunscreen will be nice."
Overselling it or not, they had Shinobu and Shuutaro's attention.
Nabiki dug around in her beach bag and pulled out the bottle, handing it to Kuno. "Make sure you don't miss a spot. She sat at the edge of the lounge chair, giving Kuno more than enough room to sit behind her.
The red in Kuno's face subsides. He wasn't flustered anymore, in fact he was quite confident in the task at hand. He'll work with her if it means they're not trapped here. It also means he can reserve his dignity from having to confess.
Or whatever dignity that'll be left after this charade.
Shuutaro picked up hints, however they were all the wrong ones. He took it as a competition of some sort. One he was certainly not going to lose. How dare someone be a bigger gentleman than him!
"Miss Shinobu, please lie down. Allow me to apply sunscreen on you." he instructs, leading Shinobu by the arm. He lies her down and gently brushes her hair to the side.
While Kubo could've left it there as a job well done, he decided to take it overboard. He sensed the competitive nature in the air. "Nabiki," he starts. "Let me get your legs." Before she could even respond, he moves to her front and unfurls her leg by the ankle.
"Um... Kuno-baby—"
"Shh," Kuno held up a finger to her lips, "you needn't utter another word Nabiki Tendo. Just let me take care of it." He squirted a decent amount of lotion on his hand and began to apply it. He massaged it into Nabiki's skin.
For someone with such calloused hands from kendo, he had quite the soft touch Nabiki noted.
Appalled at being shown up, Shuutaro offered to do the same. However he was turned down. Shinobu wasn't quite ready for that kind of touch.
"How about I do you instead?" Shinobu asked, sitting up in the lounge chair. She was less shy about that since she's done it in the past.
Shuutaro nodded in compliance and turned around for her.
While they were distracted, Kuno held on to Nabiki's ankle and gently pulled himself up to be able to whisper to her. "Do you think it worked?"
Nabiki glanced at Shuutaro and Shinobu, that way she didn't have to meet Kuno's gaze. "We'll just have to see... Now could you hurry up and do the other leg?"
"Yes ma'am!" Kuno gave a mock salute and got started.
Pool day was going well so far.
Shinobu was floating backwards in the shallows as Shuutaro hovered his palms under her back to make sure she didn't sink.
Kuno and Nabiki watched from the deep ends while resting in floaties. "I don't think they're going to confess today." Kuno remarked.
"Alright, then why don't you swim over there and 'accidently' drown her so he could save her valiantly and give her mouth to mouth." Nabiki suggested sarcastically. She was wearing sunglasses to hide her expression.
Kuno furrowed his brows at her. "You are frightening, Nabiki Tendo."
"Thank you."
Silence fell upon them, broken occasionally by the laughter of the happier couple.
"Nabiki..." Kuno softened his tone. "If we, somehow don't get back—"
Nabiki didn't want to hear it. She raised her hand to silence him. "We will."
"Yes, well. Consider that we may not... What do you think will happen? Our families, friends, school..."
Nabiki lowered her glasses and shot him an angry look. "Just shut up will you? We're going back. You'll be back home with your sister and I'll be back to mine. Then you can go back persuing Akane and the Pigtailed Girl and I'll be conning money out of you like always."
For once, Nabiki looked afraid. Like she might cry even. But she held it together.
Even if it was the bane of his existence before him, Kuno couldn't bear to see a girl cry. "Nabiki..." He outstretched his hand towards her but she slapped it away.
"Let's just... Keep watching them, okay?" She slid her glasses up her nosebridge in one swift motion, leaving Kuno speechless.
He simply nodded and let it be.
