Chapter 26: Beach Day Life with Ultimate Girls
Hello again ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Ultimates of all ages, wesst1 back again, once again!
I'm glad everyone enjoyed the last chapter, knowing you enjoy this story makes it all worth it.
Now we've been pretty serious the past few chapters, for better or for worse. So now, I must ask: Are you ready? Ready for pure fanservice? Does it count as fanservice if it's typed and there are no illustrations? I would assume so, but I could be wrong.
As you can probably tell from the title, this is that beach chapter I kept promising. Beach attire will pretty much be the same from Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp, with a few exceptions and additions, but we'll get to those throughout the chapter. I hope all of you will enjoy this chapter, but if you're wondering when we get back to the story proper, you know, life at the dorm, next chapter, I promise. So, look forward to that!
Without further delay, on with the story!
"Summertime. When the weather gets warm and the days get long, there's only one place to go. Sure, camping is fine for some, but to get the real summer experience one needs to go to the beach. The white, soft sand. The blue ocean that stretches beyond the horizon. The sun that makes it all sparkle like an endless sheet of the most priceless jewels. Really, it's the perfect place for romance…"
Enoshima turned to look to her side before finishing, "At least that's what I'd like to say." Her eyes were focused on Naegi in his t-shirt and swim trunks as he set up a parasol with the Warriors of Hope and Owari's family all trying to get his attention.
"Muku-nee said you narrate when you're annoyed. I just thought she was making that up," a young voice noted.
"Yes, well, sometimes things get complicated when your brother is involved," Enoshima said with a pout.
It was supposed to be simple. Summer break was half over, and the residents of the dorm had not been to the beach yet. Enoshima had a private villa and offered to put together a trip to the beach. This would serve as something of an apology for her actions throughout the school year, and the beach would serve as something of a battleground. After all, Naegi was still a teenage boy surrounded by attractive young women at a private beach. Either way, the girls were hoping for a shift in the relationship dynamic.
When Enoshima called to invite Naegi, Komaru and Monaca had overheard the words "beach" and "private villa" and had commandeered Naegi's phone to beg Enoshima to invite them. That soon devolved into Monaca inviting her friends and Komaru inviting Yuta. I can't help but admire their ability to get what they want. They're almost as good at it as me, Enoshima couldn't help but think. So, she acquiesced to them as a show of respect to her fellow little sisters. She also thought currying favor with them might be another way to win Naegi over, so inviting Komaru and the kids did have its advantages.
After that, Enoshima decided that one more group of children wouldn't make too much of a difference and asked Owari to bring her siblings. It also helped ease Enoshima's newfound sense of guilt over her past actions.
"Well, despite Junko-chan's pouting, you and the others being here isn't that big of a deal, Komaru-chan. Masaru-kun is the only one who invited someone else without telling anyone," Ikusaba said.
"Junko-onee-chan told me that was the witch who lives in the nearby caves," Komaru said in disappointment.
"Don't believe everything Enoshima-san tells you, Komaru-chan," Yukizome said as she approached the girls. "I have to say, Enoshima-san, this is very generous of you. We're all grateful to you for doing this, even if a few of the girls still have their doubts about you."
"You all may hate me again after this trip is over," Enoshima said with a confident smirk.
"That's a declaration of war if I ever heard one," Ikusaba said with a look to match her sister's.
"Age and experience can beat youth and strength, girls. Remember that," Yukizome said as she went to check on everyone else.
Komaru was just enjoying the show. It was like one of her favorite manga had come to life. Thanks for the material, Makoto! Komaru thought.
As Komaru was getting to know his dormmates better, Naegi had just finished setting up a spot on the beach for the children.
"…and one last umbrella and there we go. I need to go help Celes-san set up, but you kids can go play, just stay close by," Naegi told the children.
"I'm gonna go find Aoi-nee and Yuta-nii and go snorkeling," Masaru loudly declared.
"You should ask your cousin if she wants to go too," Kotoko suggested to Masaru.
"I think Yumeno-san is sleeping in the villa," Naegi said.
"Himiko-nee does love her naps," Masaru shrugged.
"I-I guess I'll go build sandcastles. Maybe if they're good enough, Mahiru-onee-chan will take pictures of them," Jataro said.
"I'm going to look for seashells. Pretty shells that pair well with the Lil' Ultimate Cutie that is me," Kotoko announced.
"I suppose I will explore. It will be like field research," Nagisa said.
"We're gonna go fishing with Akane-nee. Maybe we'll catch something really tasty," Sadaharu told Naegi as the other Owari children nodded in agreement behind him.
"What about you, Monaca-chan?" Naegi asked his newest little sister.
"Me? Oh, I haven't decided yet," Monaca responded. That's not really a lie, I don't know what I'm going to do, but I do know who I'm going to do it with. Warriors of Hope Quest: Obtain the Perfect Sister-in-Law begins now, Monaca thought as she spotted Enoshima.
Little did Monaca know she wasn't the only one with that plan in mind. While the dorm residents each had their own plan of attack for today, the children and younger siblings who accompanied them were planning to lend a helping hand. Today was a competition and Naegi was the prize.
Oblivious to all of the scheming going on around him, Naegi said, "Well, like I said, I'm going to go help Celes-san get set up. If any of you need me, I'll be close by."
A little while later, Naegi was checking to see if he had forgotten anything for Celes. "Table, check. Towel, check. Umb-sorry, parasol, check. Chair, check. Did I forget anything, Celes-san?" Naegi asked his friend.
"No, my Knight, you have done admirably. Please, allow me to reward you," Celes said as she approached Naegi and unzipped her beach robe.
Upon seeing bare skin, Naegi began to panic. "Ce-Celes-san, p-please. I know you like your jokes, but this is-" Naegi stammered as he covered his eyes.
"Relax, Naegi-kun. I am wearing a bikini," Celes told him as she internally celebrated Naegi's reaction to her.
Uncovering his eyes, Naegi did see that she was wearing a bikini. It wasn't too revealing. It actually looked like her normal outfit had turned into swimwear. Breathing a sigh of relief, Naegi began to laugh at himself. "Sorry Celes-san, when I saw you in that robe…Well, I guess I didn't expect you to be dressed for swimming." Get your mind out of the gutter, Makoto! Why did I think that anyway? Naegi asked himself.
"Make no mistake, Naegi-kun, I have no intention of getting wet, and I refuse to get a tan. In fact, that is where your reward comes in," Celes explained.
"Huh?" was Naegi's confused reply.
"You are going to put sunscreen on me. And I want you to be thorough. Leave no spot uncovered," Celes ordered with a smile as she held a bottle of sunscreen out for Naegi to grab.
That's why I thought that, Naegi realized. Never one to turn down a request or an order, Naegi did comply by taking the offered bottle. Celes laid down on her stomach before motioning Naegi to begin.
"Ah! So cold," Celes moaned and shivered as Naegi's lotion covered hand made contact with her back.
"S-sorry, Celes-san," Naegi stuttered as he tried to think of anything else but the intimate situation he was in. He had known there was a chance something like this would happen, but now that it had, he found himself unprepared for it. Think of anything else. Don't think about Celes-san's back or the curve of her hips. Don't think about her slender neck…It's not working! Naegi screamed in his head. The best he could hope for was to put his brain on autopilot for this.
"Mmm, excellent, my darling knight. I think a promotion is in order," Celes cooed as she enjoyed the sensation of her crush's hands rubbing her. When she was sure Naegi had covered the exposed skin behind her, she rolled over and ordered, "Now do my front."
Naegi nearly short-circuited upon hearing that but complied with a nod.
"Heehee, careful, I'm ticklish," Celes giggled as Naegi rubbed lotion on her stomach.
"I would never have expected that," Naegi said in a desperate attempt to distract himself with a conversation.
Dropping her act, Celes, or rather Yasuhiro Taeko, leaned over and whispered in Naegi's ear as he was covering her arms. "Someday, I'll tell you all my weak spots."
Naegi's face turned an unhealthy shade of red as her hurriedly finished and said, "Glad I could help, Celes-san. If you need anything else, I'll be around," before hurrying off towards the water. I really hope it's cold. Why do I think I'll be hoping for that a lot today? Naegi wondered.
"Oh my," Celes thought aloud. "Perhaps I overstimulated him too soon." After some thought, she shrugged. Naegi wouldn't hold it against her. Now that she had her fun, she could enjoy the show for the rest of the trip. My strategy today girls is "high risk, high reward" what will your opening plays be? she wondered.
After Naegi had both cooled and dried off, Enoshima approached him. "Wow, Naegi-kun, no need to rush. We haven't even been here an hour and you've already been in and out of the ocean. We're here to relax."
"I…well, I…oh boy," Naegi stammered as he struggled to come up with an excuse.
"I'm joking. We're all going at our own pace today. Just look at me, I haven't even taken off my overshirt and shorts yet," Enoshima said as she pointed to herself.
Naegi saw that that was indeed the case as Enoshima had not changed into swimwear yet.
Enoshima caught him looking and smirked. "I'm wearing my swimsuit under my clothes. Now seems like a good a time as any to take these off," she said playfully as she turned her back to Naegi.
As Enoshima removed her shirt and shorts, Naegi saw that she was wearing a school competition swimsuit. I hope I don't look disappointed, Naegi thought.
Without turning around, Enoshima asked, "Naegi-kun, could you get something out of the pocket in my shorts?"
Naegi dug around in the pockets and pulled out a black sharpie. "Enoshima-san," Naegi began, "why do you need a marker?" Naegi's question was answered as he looked up to see Enoshima thrusting out her chest with a blank spot on the swimsuit.
"Go ahead and mark me, my Ultimate Hope," Enoshima said giving her breasts a playful jiggle.
Naegi may not have been able to turn his brain off when he was with Celes. His brain had completely shut down with Enoshima, his nosebleed the only proof he was not an incredibly realistic statue.
"Naegi-kun? You in there?" Enoshima asked as she snapped her fingers in front of his eyes.
"I told you this would be too much," Ryoko reprimanded.
"Today is a battle of seduction, Ryoko-chan. Either go big or go home," Enoshima responded.
"Go change. How about that," Ryoko said. Then, becoming rather bashful, Ryoko added, "Besides, that bikini you bought was a much better choice for this."
"And yet you judge me," Enoshima replied in mock disappointment.
"We should do something about Naegi-kun though, Ryoko pointed out, ignoring Enoshima.
"Well, there is a nice, secluded spot a little further down the beach," Enoshima said as she made up her mind, only to find that during her inner conversation, Naegi had disappeared. "Where did he go?" she asked.
Monaca came from behind Enoshima and answered, "Mikan-onee-chan saw Naegi-kun bleeding and took him inside the villa. Playing to your strengths isn't a bad idea Junko-onee-chan, but you overstimulating him isn't going to do you any favors today."
"I never thought being 'too sexy' was possible," Enoshima sighed.
"I think ordinarily you'd be right, but today you have other weapons at your disposal," Monaca said with a playful smirk.
"Oh? And what might those be?" Enoshima asked, understanding what Monaca was saying.
"You have groups of adorable children around, it's the perfect opportunity to show another side of yourself. Showing a cute and nurturing side of yourself might help you with Makoto-onee-chan," Monaca suggested as she held out her hand.
"Let me change and then we can get to work, my adorable little sister," Enoshima said as she shook Monaca's hand.
At that moment, Naegi could swear he heard Tanaka's voice in his head saying, "a dark bargain has been struck." Naegi blamed it on being disoriented due to blood loss and his recent regaining of consciousness.
Tsumiki saw Naegi shake his head and asked, "Is everything alright, Naegi-kun?"
"Yeah, everything is fine, just a little delirious, I guess," Naegi answered. That wasn't completely true, as Naegi still found himself in an awkward situation.
Tsumiki Mikan was, among other things, well…meek. So having her tend to him in such a bold and revealing bikini was causing Naegi more than a little bit of trouble. If you don't want another nosebleed, look anywhere else in the room. Do not look directly at Tsumiki-senpai no matter how much you want too…Bad Makoto, bad! Naegi mentally scolded himself.
Tsumiki was oblivious to all of this at the moment. As the Ultimate Nurse, she was nothing if not professional. She sat Naegi down and before instructing him. "Lean forward and firmly pinch below the bridge of your nose non-stop for 10 minutes."
Naegi pinched his nose but before he leaned forward, he noticed that Tsumiki was directly in front of him. "Uh, Senpai, about me leaning forward…" he began.
Misunderstanding, Tsumiki put her hand behind Naegi's head and said, "Like this," before she pulled Naegi's head into her chest, causing Naegi to freeze up while turning an unhealthy shade of red.
Naegi had no idea how he and Tsumiki were in this position before he realized that he and Tsumiki had an audience. A small girl with red hair in a witch's hat, about a year younger than Naegi, had entered the room while muttering, "Snack for mana," while half asleep. Once she turned and saw Naegi and Tsumiki, she woke right up and screamed, "Nyeeeeehhhh!"
This snapped Naegi out of his own stupor, as he screamed "Gyaaah," while blood gushed from his nose.
Naegi's outburst and once again bloody nose caused Tsumiki to realize what had been happening as she screamed, "EEEEEEEKKKKKK!"
Once the mess was cleaned up and everything was explained to the young girl, Yumeno Himiko, Naegi sat on a nearby couch and followed Tsumiki's original instructions while Tsumiki waved a paper fan to cool him off.
"I'm sorryyyyy!" Tsumiki wailed as she waved the fan.
"It's fine, Senpai. You didn't mean any harm," Naegi assured her.
Yumeno, who sat off to the side as she munched on a candy bar, looked at the two and thought, Do I really want to go to Hope's Peak Academy? Seems like a noisy place.
Asahina Aoi loved the beach. Really, she loved anywhere where she could swim. She was the Ultimate Swimmer for a reason, after all. This beach trip was different though. A competition unlike any other she had ever taken part in was taking place and the prize was Naegi Makoto.
So how did she win this competition? That was the big question she was asking herself. What to do? What to do? Just showing off my talent won't do, Naegi-kun already knows what I can do. I don't think I can impress him any more than he already is with my swimming talent, Asahina thought as she was treading water. When she was in the water, everything seemed so much simpler and she thought much more clearly, so the first thing she did was swim out to deeper water.
Unfortunately, she couldn't really tell what was happening on the beach from her position. Rather, she could see, but she couldn't really make out the motive behind it. She saw Naegi rub lotion on Celes, much to Asahina's annoyance. She saw Enoshima take off her shirt and shorts to reveal a competition swimsuit and hand Naegi something.
What's that dripping off of Naegi-kun? Asahina wondered.
She saw Tsumiki take Naegi into the villa. That seemed like as good a reason as any to return to shore. Asahina's arms were getting tired, anyway. Though jealousy and suspicion brought her back to shore, Asahina was still unsure of what she was going to do. Invite Naegi to go swimming? That might work, but she needed a break first. Ask for him to put sunscreen on her? She was still good on that front.
Maybe there are donuts in the villa. Sugar will help me think, Asahina reasoned as she stepped out of the water.
By this time, Naegi had come back outside and saw Asahina come out of the water. Being the helpful soul that he was, he decided to bring her towel to her. As Naegi approached, he asked, "Are you enjoying yourself, Asahina-san?"
"You bet I am!" Asahina exclaimed happily, both because she had enjoyed herself and because her chance with Naegi had presented itself. Until, of course, Asahina realized she still didn't have a plan. Hoping that she would come up with something, Asahina accepted her towel and began to dry off.
Meanwhile, Naegi had come to the conclusion that Asahina didn't play fair. There was no way around it, Asahina was a rare combination of sexy and cute, and never was that more apparent than now. Her hair was wet, and her tanned skin was glistening in the sunlight as droplets of water trailed down her body. Down her slender neck. Down her powerful thighs. Down into the valley between her large…anyway, Naegi knew that many others would kill to be in his position.
Naegi was so spellbound by the sight of his classmate that he didn't hear her calling for him. "Naegi-kun? Yoohoo! Naegi-kun," Asahina called.
"Huh? Sorry Asahina-san. I was just admiring the view," Naegi admitted before freezing up again. Why did I admit that? I sound like a pervert, Naegi thought.
He needn't have worried. Asahina was oblivious to the true meaning as she said, "It's great, isn't it. It's beautiful!"
"Yeah," Naegi agreed. You are, he silently added.
Asahina did end up using her talents, just not the ones she was expecting.
As Naegi and Asahina were having their moment, Maizono and Koizumi were making the most of the view as well.
Maizono had done so many photoshoots on beaches that this trip felt more like a homecoming than a getaway and Koizumi would never pass up such a picturesque location and not take photos.
"That's good, Sayaka-chan! Now give me your best pout!" Koizumi ordered.
Maizono did just that, but Koizumi swore she saw Maizono give a surprised look before she pouted. After snapping the picture, Koizumi followed Maizono's gaze and saw Naegi with Asahina and soon Koizumi had a pout to match Maizono's.
Though it made them feel guilty, the two were happy when Asahina ran into the villa. Seizing the opportunity, Maizono called out, "Naegi-kun! Over here!"
"Maizono-san! Koizumi-senpai! You two look like you're enjoying yourselves," Naegi said as he noticed Koizumi's camera.
"What can I say? Sayaka-chan is a great subject. I thought about asking Junko-chan to join us, but she seems busy with Monaca-chan," Koizumi explained.
Changing the subject, Maizono asked, "Are you alright, Naegi-kun? We saw Tsumiki-senpai pull you into the villa a little bit ago."
The memory of Enoshima's request caused Naegi to turn red before he stuttered, "F-fine. J-just a prank fr-from E-Enoshima-san having unintended consequences."
Though curious, the girls didn't press Naegi any further. Instead, Koizumi asked, "Naegi-kun, could you model for me for a bit? I want to give Sayaka-chan a break."
"I don't mind, but are you sure? I don't think I've got what people would call a 'beach body'," Naegi said, self-consciously.
"I have to disagree, Naegi-kun, that exercise regimen you've been on is clearly paying off," Maizono countered, as she flirtatiously rubbed Naegi's arm, paying close attention to the developing muscles.
Koizumi clenched her teeth and added, "Sayaka-chan is right, Naegi-kun. And what better way to commemorate that than with pictures that showcase your progress."
Still slightly embarrassed, Naegi agreed. "Okay. If you're sure, then I'm happy to help."
*Click*
"Wait, we're starting now?" Naegi asked as he turned bright red.
"When the perfect shot presents itself, I have to take it," Koizumi said with a shrug. That's one for the private collection, Koizumi told herself.
I guess that makes sense for the Ultimate Photographer, Naegi thought.
"Now, go stand over there where Sayaka-chan was standing. I'll tell you how to pose when you're there," Koizumi ordered.
"Yes, Senpai!" Naegi responded.
As he was doing that, Maizono walked over to Koizumi and whispered, "I want a copy of that last one. He looked absolutely adorable."
Koizumi thought about it and then nodded. I guess I can share some of my collection with others who appreciate it, Koizumi reasoned.
A few minutes later
"Try flexing a bit!" Koizumi ordered.
"Wh-what?"
"Sorry Naegi-kun, but you're cute when you're self-conscious," Maizono explained.
I wouldn't have outright admitted it but… "It does make him fun to tease," Koizumi agreed as she snapped a few pictures.
How does Enoshima-san do this? Naegi wondered, before remembering that Enoshima was more likely to be the teaser and not the teasee.
After a few more pictures, Naegi said, "I'm glad to see our repair job holding up, Koizumi-senpai."
"It's been working just like new," Koizumi responded happily as she rubbed her cheek against her camera.
*Click*
Koizumi went wide-eyed as she saw Naegi holding up his phone snapping pictures of her. "That one is so cute, I should use it as wallpaper," Naegi said.
"D-delete that right now!" Koizumi ordered.
"Sorry, Koizumi-senpai. As per my master's teachings, once I take a photo, I never delete it," Naegi teased before he started to run, with Koizumi soon running after him.
Maizono was off to the side trying not to laugh. Her cheeks were puffed out, she was hunched over, and her mouth was covered, hardly looking like the elegant and composed idol she was.
*Click*
Now it was Maizono who looked like a deer in the headlights as Naegi had stopped long enough to take a picture of her.
"Can't have you feeling left out, Maizono-san," Naegi said cheekily.
"Naegi-kun, you'd better delete that," Maizono growled before lunging at Naegi.
After a few minutes of running, Koizumi collapsed, completely out of breath. Naegi and Maizono soon plopped themselves down next to her to make sure she was alright. As the three laid on their backs, Naegi decided to take one last picture.
*Click*
"Naegi-kun!" Maizono scolded.
"Just look, Maizono-san," Naegi said as he showed the picture. The three students were red-faced but smiling widely. Even though Maizono and Koizumi had their eyes shut in the picture, the two girls thought it was the best picture taken all day.
"I-huff, I need to step it up. The Ultimate Photographer can't be outdone by a novice. Even if he is her student. But it's my loss today. I don't think I can beat that," Koizumi said with a laugh.
"The day isn't over yet, Senpai," Naegi encouraged with a smile. "That said, I do think this is the best photo I've ever taken. If you don't mind my saying, I think you two look beautiful in this," Naegi added while blushing.
Maizono who was used to compliments, just blushed and smiled. Koizumi, however, turned completely scarlet and fainted.
"K-koizumi-senpai!" Maizono and Naegi shouted.
Maizono checked to see if Koizumi overheated. While Koizumi did feel a little warm, Maizono understood that it was what Naegi said that caused this.
When Maizono moved aside, Naegi picked Koizumi up and said to Maizono, "I'll get Koizumi-senpai inside and cool her down." With that, he ran off to the villa.
Sweet boys like Naegi-kun are dangerous, Maizono realized. With a sigh, the Ultimate Idol said, "We all picked a complicated man to love," before following Naegi and Koizumi inside.
Maizono eventually shooed Naegi out of the villa, much to the boy's confusion. After assuring him that she would look after Koizumi, Naegi did go back to the beach where he spotted Nanami, Pekoyama, Ikusaba, and Sonia with a…watermelon?
"Suikawari?" Naegi asked as he approached.
"Oh, Darling. Yes, I suppose it is," Sonia said, unusually subdued.
"Pekoyama-san and Ikusaba-san are a little too good," Nanami added as the two girls in question looked uncharacteristically sheepish.
"What do you mean 'too good'?" Naegi asked, unsure of why that would be an issue.
"Our instincts are allowing us to find the watermelons without guidance," Ikusaba explained.
"And, well, Sonia-san seems disappointed there isn't much of a mess," Pekoyama added as she pointed to cleanly cut watermelon halves behind the group of girls.
"That's not unusual if you're using a sword that is sharp enou…okay, I see what you mean," Neagi finished as Nanami held out a dull wooden sword. "How did you even manage to make such clean cuts with this?" Naegi asked.
With a shrug, Ikusaba and Pekoyama answered, "Natural talent?"
I had to ask, Naegi thought with a chuckle. "If you want a smashed watermelon, I suppose I could give it a try," Naegi offered. The words had barely left his mouth as Sonia blindfolded him and spun him around.
"My Darling saves the day once again," Sonia chirped happily as she finished spinning the boy and placed the wooden sword in his hands.
As Naegi stumbled forward, he heard the four girls attempting to guide him.
"Darling, straight ahead!"
"Young master, a little to the left."
"Too far, Naegi-kun. Back to the right."
"Up, left, down left!"
Is Nanami-senpai giving me directions to the melon or is she guiding me through the Lost Woods? Naegi asked himself. As odd as it was, Naegi still did as instructed until all four girls told him to take a swing. Naegi felt something cold splatter on him, signifying that he had indeed been successful.
After Naegi removed his blindfold, he announced, "Hey girls, I did it!" Once the four had congratulated him, all five students decided it was time for a snack. Nothing ever ends simply for the young Lucky Student, though, and he soon found himself being fed watermelon by the four and unable to turn any of it down.
Naegi was glad that he had managed to avoid getting sick from overeating watermelon. When Owari and her family had passed by, he made sure to offer them some and thankfully they had taken him up on his offer. Owari may love her meat, but thankfully, Naegi had managed to get the children to adhere to a more balanced diet.
When Suguru and the others asked if he wanted to join them in fishing, Naegi gladly accepted. He hadn't been able to spend as much time with the young Owaris or the Warriors of Hope as he would have liked this summer and was determined to make up for that today.
While Owari and Sadaharu started baiting hooks, Naegi took time to show Mari, Ataru, and Suguru how to cast their lines.
"While you hold onto the pole, use your thumb to press this button. Pull your arm back and as you swing forward, take your thumb off the button," Naegi said as he demonstrated the motions ending in a decent cast.
"Nice one, Mako-nii!" Ataru cheered.
"Ataru! You're scaring the fish," Mari scolded.
"Does that mean we won't catch anything?" Suguru asked.
"It's okay, Suguru-chan. The fish should be back if we're all quiet and once they know there's food," Naegi reassured the youngest Owari. "Now, casting takes practice, so if any of you need help, just let me or your sister know. And be careful, those hooks are sharp," Naegi told the little Owaris.
"Yes, Mako-nii," the three said.
It wasn't long before everyone was set up. The only ones who had trouble were Ataru and Suguru, which wasn't surprising given their age. While Suguru was more than happy to let his sister and his big brother figure help him, the more spirited and impatient Ataru was not. He was bound and determined to cast his line by himself.
"Ataru-kun, if overhand is giving you trouble, try side casting for now. I always found it easier because I can see my hand," Naegi explained as he demonstrated the technique.
"Okay, I think I can do that," Ataru said as Naegi handed back his rod.
"Mako-nii, can you help us reel this in!" Sadaharu called as he and Owari fought with something on his line.
Naegi rushed over in an attempt to help, leaving Ataru to practice. Naegi didn't know what Sadaharu hooked, but it was strong, and it certainly felt big. With no small amount of effort, Naegi, Owari, and Sadaharu managed to get the fish close enough to see its shadow in the water.
During this time, Ataru had taken up a position close by, figuring that if Sadaharu caught a big fish in this spot, he could too. Doing just as Naegi had shown him, he moved his arm and his pole to the side in an attempt to side cast. Unfortunately, six-year-olds aren't known for being mindful of their surroundings as Ataru's hook hooked itself on Owari's bikini top. One cast later and Ataru was using a very familiar looking lure.
The snaping sound broke Naegi's focus. Later, he would realize that he shouldn't have been surprised. With how hard the three were fighting with Sadaharu's catch, Owari's top had begun to strain against her sizable bust. But right now, Naegi felt blood coming from his nose before he jumped back with all his might, all while keeping his grip on Sadaharu's fishing pole. Naegi's Ultimate Luck didn't let things end with that though, as his jump was the extra push, or rather pull, he and the others needed to land Sadaharu's catch.
While Owari was celebrating, her younger sister, Sayuri covered her eldest sister's breasts with her hands; Sadaharu was trying to reel in Ataru's line as fast as he could; and Naegi had fainted again.
I'm starting to think there's something to being the "Ultimate Lucky Student." I've lost a lot of blood but I'm still alive, and that certainly is lucky, Naegi thought as he regained consciousness. The first thing he noticed was that he was still outside if his view of the sky was any indication. The next thing he noticed was that there was a slight weight on the lower half of his body. Naegi had some idea of what that weight was, but to confirm it, he carefully lifted his head to check. Naegi's suspicions were confirmed when he saw everything from his waist down buried in sand.
"H-hey Mako-nii," Jataro greeted timidly.
"We were wondering when you would wake up," Masaru said with a wide grin.
"We hope you don't mind. I told them to wait and ask you, but Hiyoko-onee-san was insistent that you wouldn't mind," Nagisa explained.
Ordinarily, Naegi wouldn't mind. Hearing that Saionji was involved had him a little on edge. Although she was better behaved, sometimes Saionji would still go too far. "As long as she didn't go to fetch crabs to bury with me, I'm fine with this. I know we haven't had a lot of time together and I'm sorry about that," Naegi told the boys.
"You can't help being important, Mako-nii. We know we have to share you. It's just…" Nagisa tried to say.
"We're still kids, so we're allowed to be selfish every once in a while. And we want our Mako-nii!" Masaru added.
"That's why we were so excited to come here with everyone. Even if it meant we only got a bit of time with you," Jataro finished.
Careful not to mess up their work, Naegi pulled the boys into a hug as best he could. Sadly, the tender moment didn't last.
"Hey! No hugs without the Lil' Ultimate Cutie!" Kotoko shouted as she ran towards the boys. "It's not fair, I love Mako-nii too, you know!" Kotoko yelled at them.
"Mako-nii loves you too, Kotoko-chan," Naegi said as he gave the small girl a big hug as well. Once he let go, Naegi asked, "Were you with Saionji-senpai?"
"Yep! Hiyoko-nee and I are gonna make you pretty, Mako-nii," Kotoko explained.
"Huh?" Naegi asked. At his new angle, Naegi looked at his lower half again. Rather than a mound of sand, Naegi saw that he was sporting a mermaid's tail. Looking past Kotoko, he saw a mound of seaweed, which he could only assume was going to be a makeshift wig.
"So, finally up, are you?" Saionji asked with a slightly sinister edge in her voice. Naegi saw that she was carrying two seashells and a handful of flowers. Naegi had a feeling he knew what those were for. "I got you the perfect top and necklace to go with your new hairstyle, Naegi-kun," Saionji explained.
"Well, I guess that's not so bad," Naegi said with a sigh of relief as Saionji placed the shells and flowers. Considering who he was talking to, he knew it could have been much worse.
"And when your makeover is finished, we'll send pictures to everyone," Saionji said as she held up her phone.
"Wait, what?" Naegi asked.
"You wouldn't want to disappoint these precious little ones, would you? Their Mako-nii would never do that. And they were so looking forward to playing with you today," Saionji said in an attempt to guilt trip Naegi. To give Naegi a little extra push, the four Warriors of Hope gave Naegi the Lil' Ultimate Puppy Dog Eyes.
Resigned to his fate, Naegi laid down and said, "You're a bad influence, Senpai."
"And you'd make a good father…er, I mean, you're a good older brother. You're a good older brother," Saionji corrected herself.
Whether they heard her the first time or not, the Warriors happily agreed.
The day was winding down, and although they were staying at the villa tonight, it was almost time for dinner. Ordinarily, this would be a simple enough matter, but Naegi noticed that no one had seen Mioda, Komaru, or Yuta for quite some time.
After the group had lunch, Mioda had announced that she had found a cave nearby and said she wanted to do some spelunking. Komaru joined her, thinking it sounded fun, while Yuta decided he needed a change of pace after his all of his races against his sister.
That had been hours ago, causing the others to worry. I don't know why. Mioda-senpai is responsi-…well, Komaru is…no, not really. Yuta-kun! Yuta-kun is…okay, maybe there's plenty of reason to worry, Naegi thought as he hurried to the cave.
"WHOOOOOOOOOOAAAAA!"
Naegi knew he didn't imagine that, but he had a feeling that he wasn't about to enter a haunted cave. Although, knowing Mioda-senpai, she'd probably love to play with a ghost, Naegi thought as an image of Mioda partying with famous ghosts flashed in his mind. Add in Komaru's sensitivity to spirits and for all Naegi knew, it could happen. Deciding he needed to focus, Naegi shook his head and went into the cave, pulling out his flashlight in preparation for what he might find.
He wasn't exactly prepared for this. In fact, he wasn't even sure he understood what he was seeing. "The Ghost with the Most" it was not, it wasn't even "The Ghost with the Least," it was Mioda, tangled up in an old rope that looked like it had been pulled out of the ocean, with Komaru and Yuta attempting to untangle her. That answered one question but raised so many others. "Mioda-senpai, what happened?" Naegi asked.
"Oh, hey Mako-nii," Yuta greeted.
"Would you believe this happened as an unfortunate jump rope accident?" Komaru asked.
"Actually, I would," Naegi admitted, as he approached Mioda. "Are you alright, Mioda-senpai?" he asked.
"I'm okay, Makoto-chan. Just a little tied up," Mioda joked with a wink.
"So, a 'jump rope accident'. Like I said, I believe that, but I'm not sure how exploring a cave leads to this," Naegi said as he began to try an untangle Mioda.
"Well, it turns out the cave is flooded further back. When we were about to leave, we saw a hole that leads out into the ocean," Komaru began.
"The water was so clear we could see a box with this rope wrapped around it. So, I dove down to get the rope so we could try to pull it out. And well, I don't know if the rope was rotting away or if the box was too heavy, but the rope snapped," Yuta continued.
"It wasn't a total loss because the box moved and broke open. Unfortunately, it was empty," Komaru added.
"Ibuki decided to show them that this rope was a great treasure," Mioda interjected.
"But the cave floor was slippery and, well, you see the results," Yuta finished.
"I sure do. Could you two run to the villa and get a knife or something? Ask Ikusaba, she usually has one handy. I'll see what I can do here," Naegi said as he got to work on untangling Mioda. When the two younger group members left, Naegi asked Mioda, "You aren't hurt are you, Senpai?"
"Ibuki is okay, Makoto-chan. Yuta-chan and Komaru-chan just seemed so disappointed with our adventure that Ibuki had to try to cheer them up," Mioda answered.
"They appreciated it, trust me," Naegi reassured Mioda as he made progress untying her.
"You think so?" Mioda asked, hopefully.
"I know my sister, she did. And while I may not know Yuta-kun as well as Asahina-san does, I think I know him well enough. Just the fact that you tried to make this fun for them means a lot," Naegi told Mioda, as he removed more of the rope.
"That's good. If Ibuki brings her friends on an adventure, her friends need to have fun," Mioda said.
"They did worry about you when you got tied up, but that's to be expected when something like this happens. And done!" Naegi announced as he dropped the rope at his and Mioda's feet.
"Once again, the day is saved. All thanks to Makoto-chan!" Mioda announced with a bounce and a happy pose. It seemed as though she hadn't learned her lesson as she slipped again and collided with Naegi, landing on top of him.
The two Ultimates were face-to-face, the surprise making it look as though they were staring into each other's eyes. It was at that moment that Komaru and Yuta came back. Komaru just smirked, but Yuta asked, "Do, uh, do you want us to come back?"
Mioda and Naegi both turned scarlet and scrambled to get up, both babbling in an attempt to explain the situation. Although Mioda found herself wishing the kids had taken more time in finding the knife.
After the misadventure in the cave, Naegi was happy dinner went off without a hitch. Beach barbeque was simple enough, thankfully, and everyone was more than happy to help. Of course, just because the sun had set didn't mean the fun was over. Summer wasn't summer without fireworks, after all, and the group made sure they had plenty.
From rockets to firecrackers to sparklers to snakes, there was even a bamboo launcher. The smaller children were each given a sparkler, although Masaru lit a fountain and ran off with it, declaring it the hero's weapon "Illumina". Thankfully, Ikusaba put a quick stop to that with a tackle and a giant swing into shallow water. After ensuring the boy would properly reflect on his reckless actions, the group worked their way up to bigger and bigger fireworks.
Naegi, however, was exhausted from the events of the day and decided to relax and enjoy the show.
"Rough day?" someone asked.
Naegi turned and saw Yukizome sit down next to him. Naegi knew he shouldn't think it, but he was disappointed that Yukizome was wearing a t-shirt over her pale blue bikini. "Yes and no," he answered. "I had fun, but I didn't spend time with everyone. I'm sorry about that, Sens-Chisa-chan," Naegi said as Yukizome gave him a dangerous look.
"We're spending time together now, aren't we?" Yukizome reminded him. "I am happy you all include me in these things. Not as a teacher, but as a friend, too."
"You're one of us, Chisa-chan. Like it or not," Naegi joked.
"Oh, I like it just fine. A little bit of insanity isn't so bad. Every once in a while, at least. It makes these quiet moments much more enjoyable," Yukizome replied. When Naegi didn't say anything else, Yukizome began to say something before she felt a weight on her shoulder.
"Naegi-kun?" she asked.
The only response she got was some light snores.
"You really wore yourself out today, didn't you?" Yukizome asked softly, not expecting a response. After she asked that question, Yukizome carefully resituated Naegi so that his head was in her lap. Yukizome didn't say anything after that, she just stroked Naegi's hair and softly hummed a lullaby. He's earned it, she reasoned. She was glad she bided her time today. She may not have gotten to speak with Naegi as much as she liked, but she was going to make the most of this intimate moment.
Naegi awoke suddenly, feeling disoriented. The last thing he remembered was talking to Yukizome and now he found himself in a futon, surrounded by his friends who were fast asleep in their own futons. Someone must have moved me to my futon. Good thing I was dressed for bed, he thought. Attempting to go back to sleep, Naegi rolled on his side only to see a green lump under his blanket.
Lifting up the blanket, Naegi saw Monaca sleeping soundly next to him. Did she sleepwalk over here? he wondered. His parents never mentioned Monaca sleepwalking, so maybe it was something else. It didn't really matter, Naegi supposed, but he wondered if he should take her back to her own futon.
Monaca clearly had other plans as she wrapped herself around Naegi as tightly as she could. Well, that settles that. Maybe she's feeling lonely. She has a new family but as her new brother, I'm not really spending much more time than her old one, Naegi thought guiltily as he stroked his youngest sister's hair.
Monaca gave a contented sigh and a small smile in her sleep. Whether she was enjoying her dream or telling her new brother that all was well, Naegi didn't know, but he resolved to make it up to her in the morning as he closed his eyes.
Before he drifted off to sleep, Naegi heard more shuffling of blankets and felt something touch his forehead. Opening his eyes, he saw a sleeping, or possibly only pretending to sleep, Enoshima Junko in his futon. Enoshima was hugging Monaca, which was no small feat considering how tightly the small girl was holding Naegi and was touching her forehead to Naegi's.
While Naegi knew there was probably an innocent explanation for why Monaca was in his futon, he wasn't as sure that was the case for Enoshima. Naegi knew he couldn't wake Enoshima without waking Monaca, and even if he could, he knew how attached Monaca was to his classmate. Monaca's small smile had gotten bigger since Enoshima had joined them.
Figuring that it was too late to deal with his situation, Naegi decided to let it pass and deal with whatever the fallout would be in the morning. He figured he could let Enoshima get away with whatever it was she had planned in return for Enoshima spending so much time with Monaca at the beach. Still, he couldn't help but think, Enoshima still doesn't play fair, before he drifted back to sleep.
Naegi was awoken by the sound of arguing. From what he could tell, when Pekoyama and Ikusaba woke up for their morning training the two saw Enoshima in his futon, and in true Enoshima fashion, she took the opportunity to gloat. The rest of the group soon joined them, resulting in Enoshima sitting in the corner wearing a signboard that said "reflecting". Naegi himself was receiving silent treatment from the other girls when he confessed that he knew Enoshima had joined him and Monaca last night. Lastly, Monaca seemed to be enjoying the jealous complaints from her friends.
Thankfully, once breakfast was over, everyone had made up and began to clean up. The mood was understandably one of melancholy, knowing that their beach trip had come to an end, but the group promised to do this again next year. With renewed enthusiasm at the promise, the group cleaned up and took one last group photo to commemorate their mini vacation.
As Naegi was loading things into the vans the bus that Sonia had rented, he heard golf clapping behind him. He turned and saw an unimpressed Kirigiri Kyoko. "I'm glad to see you didn't do anything reckless for a whole 24 hours. You surprised me," she admitted.
So, Kirigiri was the one watching me, Naegi realized. Yesterday, after the group arrived, Kirigiri disappeared. Naegi had assumed that she had stayed in the villa with Yumeno, but clearly she had spent their whole trip watching him. "You're still mad about what happened in Novoselic, aren't you?" Naegi asked.
"You're damn right I am!" Kirigiri nearly shouted. "I think I have every right to be. My mother, my best friend, I'm tired of the people that are important to me dying, Naegi-kun, and your habit of tempting fate with your reckless heroism isn't helping," Kirigiri scolded.
"I-I don't really have a response to that. I never meant to make anyone worry, I was just trying to keep people I care about safe," Naegi said.
"And who keeps you safe, Naegi-kun? What happens when we can't be there? Your luck is unpredictable, what happens when it runs out?" Kirigiri questioned. She was fighting them back, but Naegi could see tears forming in her eyes.
Enveloping her in a hug, Naegi said, "I'm sorry, Kirigiri-san. I guess, I guess I'm still who I was when I got to Hope's Peak. The same teenage boy who thought if he could be help all of you succeed, that was all that mattered. Like I'm not really worthy of being with so many amazing people because I can't contribute an Ultimate Talent. I don't know if I can promise not to be stupid and reckless, but I'll try. For you," Naegi told Kirigiri.
*Sniff* "You'd better," Kirigiri ordered as she pulled back and began to help Naegi load things into the bus.
"I really am sorry," Naegi repeated.
"I understand why you did it. I understand it was the right thing to do. You spend so much time worrying about all of us, I just wish you would do that when you decide to be a hero. But I guess you wouldn't be Naegi Makoto if you acted any other way," Kirigiri said. You wouldn't be the man we love if you did, she added mentally.
"I'll make it up to you, I promise," Naegi said.
"There you go, making reckless promises. I will hold you to that, I hope you realize," Kirigiri warned him, playfully.
"I do. That's why I made that promise," Naegi responded with a smile.
"Hey! No having moments without us!" Mioda shouted as she and the rest of the group appeared, dispelling the serious atmosphere.
With the playful mood from the previous day somewhat restored, the bus was loaded up and the group said "good-bye for now" to their brief trip to paradise.
When the Naegi siblings arrived home and were immediately greeted by their parents.
"How was it?" Mr. Naegi asked.
"Awesome!" Komaru exclaimed with stars in her eyes. She was eager to get back to her room and storyboard for a new manga idea. A manga that Naegi would later find out starred a character that looked suspiciously like him.
"It was the most fun I've ever had!" Monaca cheered. The rest of the family was happy to hear that, but slightly sad that it was probably not a child's hyperbole.
"Exhausting," Naegi told his parents with a tired smile.
"Oh?" Mrs. Naegi asked.
"Onii-chan was pretty busy yesterday. His girlfriends barely gave him time to catch his breath," Komaru explained.
"Really, now?" Mr. and Mrs. Naegi asked.
"Yep! We documented as much of it as we could," Monaca said as she and Komaru pulled out their phones.
"Wait! Stop!" Naegi begged. But it was too late. Komaru, Monaca, and their parents were enjoying a recap of his day yesterday. Mostly they were laughing at his expense, but Naegi swore he heard his father say, "That's my boy," every so often.
Summer term can get here soon enough, an embarrassed Naegi thought as he slunk away. Embarrassing memories aside, he did have fun and couldn't wait to do it again. Maybe next year Fukawa-san and Ogami-san will come with us, Naegi hoped as he made his way back to his room to rest from his vacation.
Sorry for the delay, my dear readers. I would have loved to have gotten this out faster, but my current situation with my grandfather makes that difficult. So, for now, I suppose the story is on a quasi-hiatus. I'm still going to try to work on updates, but they'll probably come at a glacial pace. I'm sorry about that, and I hope you will all understand. I don't plan on abandoning this story any time soon. I'm here until it's finished or until people no longer want to read it (hopefully the former).
Like I said at the beginning, next chapter brings us back to school. For those wondering, Toko/Syo will be the focus of the next chapter, so get ready for that.
Until next time, oh readers, mine, stay frosty!
Edit 9/30/2024: I regret to inform you all that the idiot author of this work, (me) forgot to include Kyoko until a helpful review reminded me. I am sorry everyone. It's been a while since I forgot a character and I will try not to do it again. Thank you for alerting me, dear reader!