Underneath The Bandages, You Are Prettier Than Anyone - CH 15.3

“Wah! It’s so cold! Haru-kun, take this—!”

“Uwah~! Hold it, Yuki!”

We were bathing in the shallows of the sea, where water barely passed our knees. She had the brightest smile as we splashed water on each other.

Back when she was sick, Yuki was strictly forbidden to go to the beach, or even to a swimming pool. I vividly remember her pitiful sight on the ledge of the gym pool, longing for a dip. With bandages wrapped all around her, it was a constant thing.

Now that she was free from the gauze, she could enjoy herself in the water to her heart’s content. Joyfully playing in the water, she was almost a kid again—Except for one thing, that is.

Whenever she’d raise her arms to spray me with water, her ample “assets” would sway around, those I’ve been inadvertently admiring.

Then, out of nowhere, she giggled while looking straight at me. I wondered what was so funny until I noticed a dangling piece of seaweed on my head. It looked like I was wearing a wig.

“You did this on purpose, didn’t you, Yuki?”

“Nope, it was the ocean~ Don’t worry, It suits you!” She giggled heartily.

Her laughs were so adorable I couldn’t feel angry at her naughty pranks, and I was having so much fun, I could forgive her for anything she might do.

Then I walked out of the shallows, approaching the floatie I’d left near our things. I picked it up and went back to her.

“Yuki, playing in the shallows is fine, but why don’t we go a bit deeper?”

“Deeper? Um, but I don’t know how to swim…”

“I know. That’s why I’m going to take you on a trip to the sea! This little guy will help,” I showed her the floatie.

She never swam before due to her illness. No matter how athletic she was, swimming in the ocean for the first time must’ve been scary. That’s why I’d escort her today, all in hopes I could show her the wonders of the ocean.

“Don’t worry. The height of where we’ll go will hit your chest, maximum. Also, the current isn’t too strong today, so it’ll be fine just floating in the water.”

“O–Okay. Please take care of me…”

“I will. I’m a good swimmer, after all.”

Then we both go further in the ocean. After reaching the spot, I place the floatie and Yuki got in. She had a tense expression on her face, but with this bad boy, she wouldn’t drown for sure.

I pulled her by the hand, and we were soon nearer the blue immensity of the ocean, where sun rays almost seemed like patterns on the ground. It made me forget about the scorching heat of summer.

Bathing sure is wonderful.

“How is it, Yuki?”

“It feels very nice. The ocean is such a wonderful place, isn’t it, Haru-kun? I didn’t know just floating around would be so much fun!”

Floating around me, her smile sparkled.

“Someday, I wish to be able to swim like you. I wanna do so many more things, too!”

“You’ll learn for sure! Oh, but don’t push yourself too hard now. It’d be a disaster if you drown.”

“M’kay! I’ll just feel the waves and chill with you…”

Right now, she depended on the floatie, but with her athleticism, it won’t be long until she’s able to swim. I gaze at her swaying left to right, imagining what she’d look like when swimming—A graceful mermaid, flowing as if part of the water itself.

Our time together at the sea went by fast.

After enjoying the ocean’s marvels, the two of us played in the sand, building castles together. I could even hear praises from the passerby after we’d built a palace. Her seriousness in building sandcastles amazed me.

Then we went to the beach house together to eat shaved ice and watch the tides crash against the sand. We thoroughly enjoyed the ocean to the fullest, chasing each other in the surf, borrowing a beach ball to play with, and so on.

Finally, we washed ourselves off in the shower room attached to the beach house and decided to return home around 3 in the afternoon.

By the time we got on the bus, we were both exhausted. Yuki ended up sleeping peacefully next to me, dead-tired from all the playing.

Her dozy figure was extremely adorable, her head leaning on my shoulder. I gently held her close, tenderly patting her head so as not to wake her.

Since she moved in with me, every day has been filled with joy. It reminded me of our glorious days in elementary school.

And I hope to continue making happy memories with her, much like this one.