I (30), Who Works for a Black Company and Died While Regretting My Gloomy Life, Started Over From High School!
Chapter 88: Everyone in the Shijouin family knows about it.

After basking in the overwhelming honor of being the first to admire Shijouin-san’s swimsuit…

We reunited with Ginji and the others and told them about how we saved her from the clutches of the pick-up artists. Fudehashi and Kazamihara repeatedly apologized to Shijouin-san, saying, “Sorry for leaving you alone…!”

“It seems we underestimated how easily pick-up artists would flock to a girl like her in a beach setting. It’s like attracting a pack of hyenas with a sirloin steak,” I said.

“Yeah, it’s not that you should have been cautious, Haruka. It’s more like walking around with roast chicken among starving wolves,” added Ginji.

“No, it’s not that I mind that, but… why are you both using meat as examples?” asked Fudehashi.

“Well, it’s just that… when we saw her in that swimsuit, it felt natural,” I replied.

“That’s right… right?” said Ginji.

Both of them looked at Shijouin-san’s curvaceous figure, a mixture of admiration and envy on their faces.

“But, Niihama… didn’t you get all excited when you saw Shijouin-san in a swimsuit?” Ginji whispered in my ear.

I leaned closer to Ginji’s ear and said, “No, I didn’t faint or anything, but to be honest, when I saw her in that swimsuit, I think I forgot to breathe for a few seconds.”

Ginji gave me a look of disbelief. “If it were anyone else, I’d think you were joking, but knowing you, it’s probably true. You really need to be more careful with your feelings, man…”

But come on, it was really something… to see Shijouin-san shyly unzip her hoodie… It was just breathtaking.

“Speaking of which, Ginji, you seem unusually composed about seeing Shijouin-san in a swimsuit. Did your resistance build up from seeing Fudehashi-san and Kazamihara-san in swimsuits?” I asked.

“Oh, no, when it comes to friends, I feel bad looking at them in swimsuits, so I try to look away or squint my eyes when I see Shijouin-san,” Ginji replied.

“I’ve noticed you’ve been squinting a lot… You’re too considerate, aren’t you?” I said.

In truth, I didn’t want anyone else to see Shijouin-san in her swimsuit, but I never expected someone to understand that male sentiment…

“Now then! Now that we’re all here, let’s hit the beach right away! But before that, we should all do some warm-up exercises together! We can’t neglect that!” Fudehashi exclaimed.

The sports girl Fudehashi clapped her hands, urging everyone to join in. Even though I was already satisfied with seeing Shijouin-san in her swimsuit, I was reminded of our original purpose for coming here.

And so… we entered the next stage of the day, playing in the sea with the girls, an experience I could never have had in my previous life.

“Ahahahaha! Mizuki-san, please don’t splash so much!”

“Hu hu hu hu… It’s impossible, Haruka! I’m on cloud nine right now, being able to play at the beach with friends!”

The scene spread out before us as we watched from the shore was a feast for the eyes.

Both Shijouin-san and Kazamihara were playing in the shallow waters, splashing water at each other, looking incredibly happy. Not just Shijouin-san, even Kazamihara, who had few friends, was fully immersed in the joy of playing at the beach with them.

(I guess she has a few weird old man-like tendencies, but… she’s got something that makes her so alluring…)

Kazamihara had this strange old man vibe and occasionally teased Shijouin-san, making her blush and exclaim, “Hyannn!” in a funny voice.

In response, Shijouin-san would say, “Come on, Mizuki-san! You did it again! Then I’ll do this!” and show off a cute move where they hugged and sank into the water together, their wet swimsuits clinging to each other’s skin, creating an alluring sight.

Meanwhile, Fudehashi was screaming, “It’s the sea! Yayyy!” and charging forward at top speed, showcasing her athletic abilities. I could see her in the distance, producing huge splashes as she raced towards the deeper waters, almost resembling a shark.

(I’m glad… everyone seems to be having so much fun.)

It truly made me happy to see the people I cared about and my friends having so much fun. In my previous life, it was rare to see my ideas bring smiles to people’s faces, so it meant even more to me now.

“Niihama-sama, are you enjoying yourself?”

“Huh? Ah… Natsuzaki-san!” (TLN: I finally dug up his name. I’ll have to go back and fix his name in the prev chapters.)

Beside me, sitting under the parasol, was Natsuzaki-san, who had somehow become our driver this time.

Perhaps to match the location, he had changed from a suit to an aloha shirt, giving him the appearance of a father taking his child to the beach.

“I was trying to stay out of the way so as not to disturb everyone, but I wanted to express my gratitude to you, Niihama-sama,” he said.

“Gratitude… for what?”

“Yes, for dealing with those uncouth pickup guys who were approaching the young lady. In fact, I was about to intervene at that moment, but you beat me to it. Your quick response and the peaceful way you handled the situation were impressive.”

“What…? You were that close?”

He must have been observing from quite nearby to know that much, but I didn’t notice him at all. Come to think of it, I didn’t sense his presence until he came closer…

“Yes, I was watching from a distance to protect the young lady and her friends from any trouble. I rushed over when the situation escalated, but it was astonishing to see you arrive just under a minute after she was accosted. The power of love is truly amazing.”

“N-No, it’s not like that…”

Natsuzaki-san seemed genuinely impressed, but I didn’t feel like boasting about my love-filled brain unconsciously searching for Shijouin-san in the crowded place, almost like a stalker.

“In any case, I’m grateful that you arrived in time, allowing the young lady to enjoy the beach without lingering fear. Many of my colleagues are also cheering for you, so please continue to be strong with your deep feelings and heart.”

“Um… by any chance, has it become quite obvious to the people working for the Shijouin family that I have feelings for Haruka-san?”

“Haha, it’s not just obvious; everyone in the Shijouin family knows.”

“What!?”

“Well, it’s not just among colleagues; it’s become the hottest topic in the Shijouin family. Everyone knows about the day you stood up to the childish master and held your ground. And, of course, the Madam eagerly talks about it multiple times. I suppose the only one who doesn’t know is the young lady herself.”

W-Why, Akiko-san? Why are you spreading my romantic feelings throughout the entire household?

“Hahaha, you seem surprised, but I should be stepping back now. Oh, and…”

Ignoring my surprise, Natsuzaki-san turned on his heels and, just before leaving, threw some parting words over his shoulder.

“I believe you have the qualities of a mature person, capable of consideration and composure, but as someone who lived his younger days like a stuffy old man, I recommend letting loose a bit in a setting like this.”

With that, the discreetly muscular driver departed.

For someone who had similar experiences during his stuffy old man days, his words resonated with me far more than he probably imagined.

“I guess I must appear lacking in youthfulness…”

Under the scorching sunlight, I muttered to myself.