161) Chapter 22. Because It’s Summer! (9)
Jinwoo was in trouble, so I hurried toward her—then froze mid‑step.
Uh… well…
We’re all in swimsuits right now.
Of course, wearing swimsuits isn’t strange. It’s the beach. Sure, some people were splashing around in regular clothes, but most were in swimwear.
So it wasn’t embarrassment I felt.
It was discomfort.
Because I hate that guy.
And no matter how you look at it, swimsuits cover about the same as underwear. Actually, depending on the design, they cover less.
My usual underwear covers almost everything under the chest. And my panties normally cover the entire back of my hips.
But this swimsuit doesn’t. The sides and underside of my chest show a little, and the triangle covering my butt is smaller, showing off its shape. The design itself is meant to show how pretty your body is.
But I didn’t wear this to show him.
Even if my previous life as a guy is long gone, I haven’t forgotten everything from back then.
My body—and my friends’ bodies—are exactly the kind teenage boys would like. Some girls too. Not in a sexual way, but pretty bodies are appreciated by anyone.
So would it really be smart to walk up and show myself to that jerk?
But that thought vanished the moment I saw Jinwoo’s terrified face.
“Hey.”
Right.
No matter what, I can’t ignore my friend when she’s like that.
The guy flinched at my voice and looked at me.
“What are you doing?”
Strangely, I didn’t stutter.
My temper was boiling, and besides—he already lost to me once. Why would I be scared?
“What, you guys again?”
“What do you mean ‘what’? We’re tourists here to have fun.”
Soi stepped forward.
“And we just happened to run into someone bothering our friend. What are you doing? Why are you holding her up?”
“I—I wasn’t holding her—”
“Then why does her face look like that?”
Jinwoo’s face was red.
At least she wasn’t pale.
Or maybe she was embarrassed that someone she knew saw her like this.
“Oh, wow, you’re all here. Wow.”
Hmm.
Was that last “wow” calling us over, or just an exclamation?
Judging by the girl’s slightly open mouth, it was definitely an exclamation. Her eyes trembled as she looked between me, Soi, Chae‑yi, and Hyeonji, then down at her own body.
Well…
It’s not like she’s lacking. She’s plenty pretty. Objectively, she’s got a big chest too. Yeah, definitely big.
Just… a little smaller than our group’s average.
“Wow.”
She said it again, then shook her head hard to clear her thoughts and glared at the boy again.
Then she grabbed Jinwoo’s hand and gently pushed her toward us. Jinwoo stumbled and almost fell into me again—
“Ah.”
But Chae‑yi grabbed her arm and steadied her.
…Was Chae‑yi’s reflexes always this good?
“So, what’s going on?”
Soi asked again.
“You got business with Jiwoo or something?”
“Jiwoo?”
The boy’s expression twisted.
His eyes flicked to Jinwoo, then to our faces.
His gaze trembled a lot.
Maybe it was pride, maybe something else, but he was trying desperately to keep his eyes on our faces.
Makes sense.
From his perspective, we’re all people he hates. If he looked at our bodies and liked what he saw, he’d be teased to death.
“She’s Jiwoo. My relative.”
I pulled Jinwoo—still held by Chae‑yi—toward me and linked arms with her.
“Ah.”
Jinwoo murmured, her face turning even redder as she lowered her head.
Uh… well…
If she reacts like that, it’s a bit…
And despite being skinny, Jinwoo’s body is soft. Why?
Her side where my elbow touched, her thigh… That lower body that filled my vision earlier wasn’t just due to bone structure.
“…Relative?”
“Yeah, relative. What’s your problem?”
“…”
He opened and closed his mouth like a fish.
Right.
We already agreed on this. If anyone got suspicious, we wouldn’t even mention Jinwoo’s real name.
Jinwoo and Jiwoo sound similar, but if we insist, what can he do?
“Well, he was asking if she was a guy. Seriously, what kind of joke is that? She’s obviously just a cute girl. So I figured he was trying to flirt or something.”
Anyone would see that as picking a fight, not flirting.
But the conclusion was easy.
You know, some people try to piss someone off so they’ll chase after them. I don’t know if that works in real life, but it already happened, and it could look like that.
Since things were already like this, I was about to open my mouth and treat him like trash—
“What’s going on here?”
Someone suddenly cut in.
A woman wearing a thin windbreaker over a one‑piece swimsuit.
Huh. I feel like I’ve seen her face somewhere.
When our eyes met, she widened hers for a moment, then smiled softly.
What? Do I know her? Where have I seen her?
“Uh, sis.”
The boy spoke.
So she was his older sister who came with him to the beach.
Then he really hadn’t been trying to flirt. He must have genuinely recognized Jinwoo and spoken to her.
My heart thumped loudly.
It wasn’t me who was at risk of being exposed, but that didn’t mean I wanted Jinwoo’s identity revealed to the world.
Whatever her reason for hiding it, she’s my friend now.
“Ah, are you family?”
The girl’s voice instantly became polite.
We also relaxed our posture a bit, becoming more polite without even discussing it. All of us shifted our weight onto one leg at the same time, like we’d rehearsed it.
Jinwoo, still clinging to my arm like a sloth, didn’t move away.
“Yes, that’s right. Is something the matter?”
The woman asked calmly.
We all exchanged glances—me, Soi, Chae‑yi, Hyeonji, and even the girl.
And silently, we all agreed.
If we pushed this any further, we’d ruin our own vacation.
“No, it’s just… I think there was a bit of a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding? Are you sure? Because—”
“Grah!?”
The boy’s sister smiled sweetly as she grabbed his ear and yanked.
Judging by the loud yelp, it must have really hurt.
…Wait, wasn’t his ability supposed to be strengthening his body a little?
And it still hurts? Well, I guess so. Even when he fought me, he freaked out when I tried to pull his arm off.
“He must’ve said something weird again, right?”
“Um…”
The girl looked around awkwardly.
But her expression clearly said she was enjoying this. She was pretending to be troubled.
“I’ll apologize on his behalf. He still hasn’t grown up.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Jinwoo.
Still clinging to my arm, Jinwoo fidgeted and shook her head.
“N-no, um, it’s okay.”
“You heard her. You apologize too.”
“I—I didn’t—”
“Ahem.”
The boy’s face twisted with injustice, but honestly, I didn’t feel bad for him.
Sure, maybe he recognized Jinwoo.
But why call out to her? They weren’t close. They didn’t have good memories. After that incident, they acted like strangers in class.
He must’ve been trying to pick at something.
“…S-sorry.”
He finally bowed his head.
“I’m sorry as well.”
His sister apologized again, politely.
Now we were the ones in the awkward position, so we all nodded together.
“Well, if we stay here, it’ll just be awkward for everyone. We’ll get out of your way. Enjoy your trip.”
“Ah, yes, have a nice vacation.”
…Is that how you’re supposed to say it?
I’ve never had to say something like that before.
The woman smiled at me again and turned away.
The boy was still being dragged by the ear.
Hmm. Something about her still felt familiar—ah.
Right.
Only after they walked far away did I finally remember.
She was the woman I saw on the bus when I went to the hospital last time.
I don’t remember her face perfectly, but the atmosphere was almost identical. It must’ve been her. That’s why she looked at me so meaningfully.
Well, it is a time when adults take vacations too.
“But, but—”
While I stared blankly after them, the girl suddenly spoke up.
When I turned, she was looking at us with the excited expression of a happy puppy.
“Did you guys come here by yourselves? Without adults?”
Her eyes sparkled. Why?
Why did she look so hopeful?
“W-with parents… but they’re somewhere else.”
“I knew it!”
She shouted happily at my answer.
“Then want to hang out with us? I mean, I came with my relatives, but ugh, you know? I get along horribly with my cousin. I’d rather be with friends than stay near him.”
Ah.
I get the feeling.
“It’s summer, right? Because it’s summer! Places like this are best enjoyed with friends!”
When she puts it like that, it’s hard to refuse.
And she did help Jinwoo, so…
I guess we don’t have much choice.