CH 19

The woman standing in front of us was smiling down at Ando-san,

“You …….”

I shook my clenched fist.

“Do you have any idea how much pain Ando-san went through because of you?”

Marina Ando took off her sunglasses.

“By the way, who are you? Could you possibly be Hiyori’s boyfriend?”

“It’s not anything like that, but ……”

“But?”

Marina Ando’s tone was calm, but she radiated a sense of intimidation, as if she was holding a knife to our throats.

“….We live together.”

I said, and Marina Ando shrugged her shoulders.

“I see. …. you’re the culprit. I let her swim around for a bit …. and she got carried away. If my dad finds out, he’ll start making a fuss again.”

“What?”

“The other day, I went to Hiyori’s apartment to see her for the first time in a while, but it was … empty. I asked the landlord and he said she had already moved out. …. Hey, we haven’t heard anything?”

Marina Ando told me, but Ando-san kept quiet.

“Even though I picked out the perfect apartment for you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not exactly a good place for a growing girl.”

“Haha, you make me laugh.”

Marina Ando said.

“I mean, to leave the apartment without permission and end up at a man’s place……As expected of that man’s daughter……this f*****g b***h.”

She said, and her cronies beside her laughed.

“What, don’t you feel a little disgusted?”

“Marina-chan, is she that kind of person?”

“I mean, family …. something Hiyori-chan told us about yesterday. …”

Everyone in the circle whispered to each other.

Marina Ando probably heard about this, but she didn’t seem to care.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. If I waste any more time talking here, my beautiful skin will get burned. I’m a model, I have to take care of myself~.”

She patted her long arm.

“So, for the time being… Hiyori, come.”

“Wha……?”

Finally, Ando-san spoke up.

“It’s a nuisance to us when you do whatever you want. We will find you a suitable place to live again. This time, you will be on your own, okay?”

She said with a sly grin.

“Don’t s***w around! Ando-chan is Hidetsugu’s wife!”

“That’s right, that’s right!”

Shuya and Nobukazu say.

“Huh?”

“”Uu. …….””

Marina Ando flinched as she glared at them

Then her gaze caught Ando-san, who was holding the hem of my shirt tightly.

“… I see.”

Then she nodded, as if she had gained some kind of understanding.

“Kenya, come in.”

She said, and one of her cronies stepped forward.

He was a dark-skinned, well-built man.

“What, Are you going to use violence?”

Shuya said with trepidation.

“Ahhahahaha! I wouldn’t do that, you idiot~!”

Marina Ando said laughing.

“Hiyori’s boyfriend? What’s your name?”

“… Hidetsugu Matsuo.”

“Hidetsugu Matsuo. You fight with Kenya.”

“Huh?”

“For the Beach Flag.”

*******

Before I knew it, we were surrounded by spectators.

“Let’s settle this with a single match like men, shall we?”

Marina Ando said as she placed a flag in the sand.

“Let me confirm one thing.”

“What is it?”

“This match, if I win… will you pull away?”

“Yes. But if you lose… I’ll take Hiyori with me.”

Marina Ando said.

“I’ll go ahead and tell you, Kenya works out a lot because he enjoys strength training. You seem to have a good body there, too, … but I bet you’ll lose, right?”

“Do you really believe so?”

“What?”

“It’s okay, let’s get on with it.”

Marina Ando bit her lip.

“You’re an irritating man.”

She said.

“Somebody give the signal.”

“I-I’ll do it.”

One of her cronies offered. Me and my opponent, a guy named Kenya, got into starting positions.

“If I beat you, Marina will give me a prize. I definitely won’t lose.” Kenya said.

“I see.”

I answered shortly.

“Then…Begin!”

And we started moving at the same time. Cheers erupted all around us.

“Hidetsugu! Don’t lose!”

“Kenya, beat him!”

Next to me, Kenya, who had a strong physique, ran along the beach at a high speed.

He certainly seems to be physically strong.

But …..

“What!?”

Kenya shouted next to me. I win the flag with him behind me, head sliding.

“Yay! Hidetsugu wins~!”

Everyone in the circle got excited.

“Y-You’re kidding…?”

Marina Ando was stunned.

“Damn it, why ……?”

Kenya kicked the beach in frustration.

“You have weak legs.”

“Oh?”

When I looked down and said, Kenya glared back.

“You’re mostly just working on your arms and chest muscles to look good, aren’t you? Your legs they have muscles too, but in the end, they are lacking, that’s because you haven’t done any running.”

“You! Don’t get carried away!”

Kenya stood up and tried to hit me.

Screams flew around me. But I caught the unleashed fist with one hand.

“What!?”

“…Too slow”

I lightly brushed Kenya’s leg off and sent him sprawling onto his butt.

“Ggh!”

He glared at me, but seemed somewhat wary.

“W-Who are you..”

Marina Ando said, flinching.

I looked at her,

“I have one thing to tell you.”

“What?”

I looked at Ando-san, who was watching over me once.

I smiled at her and look at the stupid woman again.

“Ando-san is …”

I bit my lip,

“—-Hiyori IS NOT YOURS!!”

(T/N: CHAD)

The scream seemed to be absorbed into the blue sky.

Everyone’s eyes were wide open, including her.

“If you ever do anything to make Hiyori sad again,…… then I won’t let you get away with it.”

(T/N: GIGACHAD)

Marina Ando flinched.

“Y-You..”

“I will protect Hiyori… absolutely.”

The place went quiet for a moment.

“…What’s with this guy?”

Marina Ando turned her face downcast and shuddered.

“…. Kenya! How long are you going to stand there blabbering! We’re leaving!”

She yelled hysterically, turning on her heel.

“Oh, hey! Wait for me!”

Kenya rushed to his feet and chased after Marina Ando. Finally, she stopped and turned around.

“Matsuo Hidetsugu… I’ll remember this.”

With that, Marina Ando left.

“……Fuuu~.”

I let out a small sigh.

“Matsuo-san!”

I heard a shout.

Ando-san hugged me.

“Thank God, Matsuo-san, you’re okay. …”

“I’m fine. But more importantly, are you okay, Ando-san?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

She looked up at me with tear-stained eyes.

“I’m glad”

I smiled,

“Um, Matsuo-san ….”

“What’s wrong?”

“You just called me Hiyori. …”

“Ah …, no, that’s …..”

I looked at her, looking at me earnestly in front of me, and I said,

“… I guess deception won’t work anymore”

I giggled,

“Ando-san … no, Hiyori.”

“Y-yes.”

“I love you…I love you, Hiyori.”

I was extremely embarrassed and ashamed, but I clearly told her how I felt.

Then tears welled up in her eyes.

“I-I’m sorry. It’s because I suddenly said something strange …….”

“……, no, it’s not that. I’m very, very happy.”

She said.

“M-me too,…I’ve always,…… loved you,……I’ve always loved you,…… Matsuo-san… …no,…… Hidetsugu-san.”

“Hiyori……”

We both looked at each other.

And I noticed that the stares around us were stabbing.

“… Hey, you guys. Why are you crying?”

Everyone in the circle was shedding a great deal of tears.

“Hi, hidezuugu~! You’re a man who does things when he has to!”

“I’m so moved~!”

Shuya and Nobukazu said in nasal voices.

“Hidetsugu and Hiyo-tan, congratulations!”

Ebina said with a few tears in her eyes.

“Congratulations~!”

Everyone said in unison.

“E-everyone …… hehe, it’s kind of embarrassing.”

I said, and Hiyori also smiled shyly.

“Ahem…Then, both of you, Kiss!!”

Ebina said,

“Hey, hey.”

“Hidetsugu, there’s no reason to hold back anymore, right?”

Ebina smiled.

Everyone else was smiling warmly at us, too.

“You guys……”

Then I looked at Hiyori.

“Hidetsugu-san…….”

Then she quickly closed her eyes.

Her face was really lovely.

“Hiyori……”

I kissed her.

Checking each other’s softness. Then, I slowly pulled away.

“…Thank you, Hiyori”

“……Thank you too,……Hidetsugu-san.”

We smiled and then I hugged Hiyori.

“I meant what I said before. No matter what happens from now on, I will definitely protect you. So … stay by my side, Hiyori.”

“Yes,…., Hidetsugu-san…., I love you.”

Then, though, things got noisy around me again.

Hiyori and I were immersed in our own world for a while.