Chapter 9. Borders and Barriers (4)

It wasn’t a micro bikini. I wasn’t so insane as to choose something like that.

However, the red bikini Ria was wearing was definitely small in area. So small, in fact, that it was smaller in area than the swimsuit Ria had confidently put on earlier and then suggested calling a draw.

While it did cover the necessary parts, honestly, at this point, wouldn’t it be less embarrassing to swim in underwear?

And, being in the cramped changing room with Ria like that, I honestly felt my face was about to explode. Perhaps my face was redder than Ria’s.

First of all, the bikini itself was a very, very classic bikini. In fact, that’s why it suited Ria so well.

To reiterate, it’s not a micro bikini. At least the bottoms look like proper women’s underwear. However, isn’t the most embarrassing part of such swimwear the top?

The red triangles were precisely covering only the parts that needed to be covered on Ria’s chest.

As a result, the areas above, to the side, and below those triangles were slightly visible. If it had covered everything else, it would have been an ‘underboob’ swimsuit, but as a classic bikini, the cleavage was visible, and naturally, the side of the breast was also visible.

…It suits her.

Coincidentally, Ria was also holding one hand near her waist and holding her head high confidently, so it suited her very well along with her proud chest.

It’s frustrating.

I don’t know why it’s frustrating, but it is. I’m incredibly frustrated thinking about who might have seen her like this.

So, I couldn’t help but point it out.

“Ria.”

“Why? Don’t tell me you’re going to suggest we end it in a draw now?”

“I have absolutely no intention of doing that.”

I replied with a growl, reached out, and grabbed the necklace hanging around Ria’s neck.

And then I realized.

The outer part of my fingers brushed lightly against the upper part of Ria’s chest. It was just a slight touch, but I could definitely tell what that sensation was. It wasn’t the sensation of touching the thoracic vertebrae. It was definitely the sensation of brushing against soft, yielding fat.

Suppressing the urge to blush furiously, I gently pulled the necklace, and Ria tilted her head slightly towards me.

Our eyes got a little closer.

“Why do you wear this around your neck?”

“Huh?”

“If you wear it around your neck while swimming, you might lose it.”

I tried my best to look directly at Ria as I spoke. It felt like my gaze would drift downwards if I let my guard down even a little.

“It’s not exactly cheap, you know? If you want to remake it, you have to go all the way to the Gnome territory.”

Honestly, this also bothered me a little.

No, whether Ria wears the friendship ring or not is her choice. Since Ria usually wields a sword, she might not wear it because it’s inconvenient.

The ring on my hand sparkled. Along with the ring on Ria’s neck. Since I had personally infused it with holy power, it was natural for it to glow faintly.

“…”

For some reason, Ria couldn’t say anything in response.

I slowly moved my hand, took the necklace from Ria’s neck. Then, after removing the ring, I took Ria’s hand.

After putting the ring on her fourth finger of her right hand and looking up, Ria’s face had turned bright red. Her composure from moments ago was long gone.

When I gave her a smile, Ria seemed to realize it belatedly.

“You, you wear one too.”

Ria said that while pushing a swimsuit towards me.

Still, it was a swimsuit that seemed slightly larger in area than the one I had chosen. However-

“…Huh.”

I let out a sound like that upon seeing the swimsuit.

When I handed the swimsuit to Ria earlier, I didn’t notice. I was so preoccupied with my own thoughts that I hadn’t properly looked at what swimsuit Ria had chosen.

But, now that I see it-

“…Why is this color like this?”

As I asked with a serious expression, this time Ria gave me a smile.

Her face was still incredibly red, though.

“Well, you chose one to match my hair color, so I chose one like this too.”

“…”

I seriously considered.

Has Ria ever watched porn?

Ah, of course, even if she has watched adult videos, depending on her taste, it might be content she has no reason to watch. After all, aren’t the categories for female and male porn different? Naturally, male porn focuses on the actresses, and female porn focuses on the actors.

Since there are countless such videos released every day, the content must all be different.

So, it’s possible my brain is just that rotten.

But, even so.

Even so, would anyone go to the beach wearing a golden bikini? It’s not the end of the world.

No matter how I think about it, this is clearly a cosplay outfit, specifically for intimate activities between lovers. I don’t know why such things exist when choosing a swimsuit.

“Wouldn’t you usually choose yellow rather than gold for someone with blonde hair? Honestly, this is a bit too much…”

“Why? Scared? Are you afraid to wear it?”

“…”

I glared at Ria.

“…Fine. Who says I can’t wear it.”

Come to think of it, in the end, it’s me and Ria who will be playing there.

That’s right. If I’m embarrassed, Ria will naturally be embarrassed too.

I snatched the swimsuit from Ria’s hand.

When I went to another changing room, changed, and called Ria, Ria was momentarily speechless upon seeing my swimsuit outfit.

Ria, who had been staring blankly at me without even blushing from embarrassment, nodded and said.

“…Let’s just choose something else.”

It seems she came to her senses after seeing it.

*

It took us a little over an hour to choose swimsuits. By the time we came out of the store, I was a bit exhausted.

However, Ria didn’t seem to have any intention of wasting the time we had taken to come out like this, and she took me, who wanted to go back to bed immediately, to a certain place.

It was Ria’s uncle’s house, where Ria had taken me last time. Although he’s just close friends with my father.

There was no one inside this time either.

“Why does a house have a swimming pool?”

“Don’t houses abroad have many swimming pools?”

No, that’s true.

I do think there are such houses in Korea. Luxury apartments often have swimming pools for residents, and it wouldn’t be strange for really large houses to have swimming pools. Perhaps in Korea, there might be an infinity pool somewhere in a mansion in the countryside.

However, the swimming pool here, where we are now, felt different from that.

It was a swimming pool that seemed to be made by the city hall for citizens to use, not one made for playing.

“You weren’t surprised when you saw the shooting range inside the house, so why are you surprised by the swimming pool?”

“…No, I was surprised by the shooting range too.”

Seeing me speak, Ria let out a short laugh.

And then, we dropped the luggage we brought onto the floor.

As I watched her blankly without any particular thought,

“What are you doing?”

“Huh?”

“Well, since we came to the swimming pool, we should change into our swimsuits.”

“…”

Ah, right.

Ria was here to teach me how to swim. And I didn’t have a swimsuit… Although Ria insisted that swimsuits for swimming pools and swimsuits for playing were different, that was from the perspective of others.

I went near Ria, took out a swimsuit from my bag. And headed to the changing room with Ria.

…Naturally, Ria and I changed clothes far apart from each other.

I don’t know why there are separate male and female changing rooms inside a private mansion, and why there are lockers inside that can accommodate more than ten people changing at the same time, but fortunately, we were able to change without being in each other’s sight.

*

The swimsuit I wore wasn’t a very embarrassing swimsuit, after all.

A yellow bikini swimsuit.

Perhaps feeling sorry for making me wear a golden bikini, Ria eventually chose a relatively normal bikini for me.

Her own bikini was the one I had chosen.

Thanks to that, I was incredibly embarrassed right now.

Ria and I were both in the pool. The water was up to our chests.

As is typical for swimming beginners, I started by holding the handle and floating my body in the water.

Ria stood next to me, helping me position my body by placing her hands on my stomach or waist.

“…”

In addition to that touch, and precisely because the water level was at this height, the water coming in and out between Ria’s breasts was very clearly visible.

Moreover, the wet skin visible above the water looked strangely seductive.

Truly, she’s the heroine, no doubt about it.

Ria, who was helping me train, was surprisingly serious, and I became annoyed again.

I feel like I’m constantly paying attention to Ria alone. I don’t dislike it, but I can’t help but feel a sense of unfairness.

If only I could have finished imagining possibilities alone in my previous life.

Standing in front of a glass barrier where the other side is clearly visible, I see a person on the other side, beyond the same glass barrier.

Although our eyes occasionally meet, I can’t tell what kind of interest that person has in me or why they are looking at me.

That feeling was so frustrating that I eventually kept my mouth shut and focused on my swimming practice.

I just hope that Ria saw it only as me concentrating on practice.