«I thought you were joking when you said I had to come with you to buy swimsuits... but seriously, what do you need all this stuff for?!» Hakuto mutters, struggling to carry four bags in each hand, all overflowing with bikinis.
«On the contrary, I've never been more serious in my entire life,» Yuzu replies, cheerfully hopping ahead of him, while Rika trails behind at a safe distance, visibly embarrassed by her sister's childish behavior.
Indeed, the three of them are strolling through Uchide Shōtengai, one of the city's most famous shopping streets, lined with fashion boutiques, perfumeries, and other luxury shops—a place usually visited by calm, refined people of high social standing, where Yuzu's wild energy definitely doesn't go unnoticed.
«Hey big sis, aren't you getting anything? You passed on the ones I tossed out—the ones that were way too tight for my boobs—so pick something! Summer's coming up, after all!»
«M-Maybe I'll get one when you're not around...» Rika replies softly, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. «...And lower your voice; there's no need for everyone to hear you.»
«Ugh, you're so boring...»
Yuzu suddenly stops in front of yet another clothing store. «Wow! This place has the best swimsuits in all of Ashiya! We totally have to go in!»
~She's said that at every single store we've passed... and hasn't skipped even one!~
Yuzu then grabs her sister by the wrist and forcefully drags her into the boutique—Rika's expression is anything but enthusiastic...
«Wow, these are the most beautiful swimsuits I've ever seen in my whole life!» Yuzu exclaims, enchanted by a huge wall covered with all kinds of swimsuits—bikinis, bottoms, and one-pieces.
~She's said this too after entering every store...~
«Come on, big sis, pick one to try on! Hakuto and I will gladly offer you our absolutely indispensable expert opinion!»
«No way I'm showing myself to Hakuto in a swimsuit...!» Rika mutters, her face turning an even deeper shade of red.
«I'd remind you he's seen you in a swimsuit—the day we had that aperitif in the jacuzzi! So don't be shy... he's your brother, after all. He's not gonna bite!»
«I-It's not the same... It's a whole different story...!»
«You're so complicated... Fine, I'll just pick one for you!»
With a quick move, Yuzu grabs a bikini and a bottom—the first ones she can reach—then starts pushing Rika into the changing room. «Don't go anywhere unless you want to miss Rika in a super sexy swimsuit, not those covering things she usually wears! We'll be quick!»
Hakuto swallows hard—heart pounding. Somehow, the thought of Rika in a sexy swimsuit is getting him way more worked up than he's willing to admit.
After nearly five minutes, there's still no word from Yuzu and Rika.
~How the heck long does it take to put on a swimsuit...?~
Hakuto is clearly growing impatient. He barely has time to wonder when...
«Come out already! You look super sexy, what are you so embarrassed about?!»
Yuzu's voice echoes through the entire store.
«I told you no...!»
Rika, on the other hand, speaks in a much lower voice, barely audible to me as I stand near the changing room curtain.
«Ifthat'showyou'regonnaplayit...»
Right after Yuzu says that, the curtain starts shaking, as if there's a wild struggle happening inside the changing room.
«Y-Yuzu... I told you... to stop sqeezing my ass...!»
Rika's voice, though still quiet, reaches Hakuto's ears sounding more... breathless, almost like a moan—and his imagination starts to drift into some pretty indecent territory.
~Squeezing... her ass? Seriously...?~
Hakuto eventually ends up having to use the huge bags Yuzu gave him to cover himself in front.
Finally, the curtain swings open—and so do Hakuto's eyes.
Rika is wearing a tiny red swimsuit—almost as red as her face—way sexier than anything Hakuto ever imagined.
The top is modest, with a light built-in push-up to show off her modest B cup, but the real stunner is the bottom: the thong so thin that the strap disappears completely between her toned cheeks. From behind, it's almost as if she's wearing nothing at all.
«So, what do you think? She's super hot, right?»
Hakuto stands frozen, like he's staring at a masterpiece—and to him, that's exactly what Rika looks like. All the words he wants to say get stuck in his throat. The result? Just silence... and a few incoherent mumbles.
«S-Say something, Hakuto... At least Yuzu will be satisfied, and I can finally get dressed again...» Rika murmurs shyly, her eyes fixed on the floor.
«Y-You... you look really good. Seriously...»
Hakuto has never struggled this much just to say a single sentence.
«I knew it! Then this one's a keeper!» Yuzu exclaims, clearly delighted.
Rika is just about to head back into the changing room when...
...the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly puts Hakuto on alert. They're coming from inside the store.
An instant later, the changing room door swings open, revealing a short, plump man in his sixties, dressed far too sharply—definitely one of Uchide Shōtengai's regular rich guys. He might've seemed normal if it weren't for the fact that... well, he's clearly gone completely nuts!
He's drooling uncontrollably, his tongue hanging out like a thirsty dog, arms reaching out toward Rika. Worse yet, his pants are down to his knees—and a short, twitching erection sticks out between his thighs.
«Come here... come here, little girl! I... I want you! I wanna cum in your ass!» the man slurs, staggering forward like some kind of horny zombie.
Rika steps back, but she's not afraid. Her eyes are sharp, her expression tense, and she shifts into a stance Hakuto recognizes instantly—Zenkutsu-dachi, a classic karate position.
Hakuto is impressed by how quickly and skillfully Rika prepares to defend herself, but what shocks him the most is the complete coldness and detachment she shows. Being attacked by a pervert like this is far from normal—and should terrify any girl—yet Rika doesn't seem fazed at all, almost like this is something she's used to...
Nevertheless, Hakuto has no intention of leaving Rika at the mercy of that man. He quickly steps in between them, urging his two stepsisters to move back. The man charges at him, but Hakuto easily takes him down with a swift kick to the knee, followed by an elbow to the face. Two hits that are more than enough to keep a man of that age and build pinned to the ground until the police arrive, promptly called by the store clerk.
«I want her! Let me go! I need to have her! I want it more than anything else in the world!» the man yells with all his strength while Hakuto holds him down on the ground.
Typical words from a regular pervert, really, but they bring to mind the strange words once spoken by Hakuto's classmate, Itsu Thazreel.
«Rikaislikeacatinheat—shedoesn'teventrytobeprovocative, buteveryonearoundherwillfeelirresistiblyattractedtoher.»
~Whatifthat'strue...?~