Chapter 366: 145. Swimwear Feast_3
"Anyway, you’re just a bad guy."
"But the responsibility lies with you."
"With me?"
"Because teasing Miss Miki is so much fun."
"Next time I’ll show you the power of the Empress!" Kawashima Miki scolded in embarrassment and irritation. She intended to go out and enjoy the sea breeze but ended up leaning limply against him, her pretty face flushed.
Fujiwara Reya glanced at the clock; it was nearly two in the afternoon.
Miss Miki seemed a bit tired now, yet reluctant to return to bed. She nuzzled against his shoulder, enjoying the rare intimate moment, as Fujiwara Reya took the opportunity to ask once more, "You like it, don’t you?"
"I already said I hate it." Kawashima Miki’s proud tone showed no sign of compromise.
"Then why does your face look..."
"Why am I so easily fooled?"
Fujiwara Reya found her self-deprecating tone increasingly endearing, reaching from behind to put his hand on her chest.
For some reason, in front of her, he always displayed a rude masculine demeanor, sometimes even being a bit cheeky. If in front of other women he was like a crisp white shirt, shining without shadows, then in front of Miss Miki, he was the oil stain on the collar, the crease on the back, the exposed skin of a tear, filled with calculation and conspiracy.
Kawashima Miki knew this too.
She was the Empress, and conquering her was an achievement for any man. Moreover, she had seduced him first, and having it turned back on her could only mean she had given him some opportunity. She did nothing about it, and the so-called dignity and restraint of the Empress fell like confetti along the tour path before the might of the Mountain God and his tenderness.
Her consistent tsundere demeanor in front of him was not due to feeling insulted but rather a subtle sense of shame. It was this sense of shame that formed the mode of interaction between her and Fujiwara Reya—a mode full of fun. It could be said that for the slightly old-fashioned, serene, and comfortable Miss Miki, tsundere was her most beautiful part.
The two didn’t speak, and Snow Treasure would remain silent.
She merely extended her small hand, gently stroking her master’s cheek.
Ah!
Her palm was tiny, tender, and felt refreshingly cool, yet softly pliable... Fujiwara Reya suddenly thought of a serious question: if Snow Treasure went swimming, would she freeze the sea water?
※※※※※
At three in the afternoon, the yacht stopped at the edge of a small island.
A few hundred meters from the shore, Fujiwara Reya came to the deck to look out at the island. The sea mist was swirling and hazy, with faint outlines of distant ships and a vague silhouette of the island’s mountains.
The blazing sun had become gentler, and in August, the sea was calm and tranquil.
The women were all changing into swimsuits in the cabin, while Fujiwara Reya held a whole coconut, drinking and waiting.
The sun hid behind thin clouds, like a bright white cocoon.
On the endlessly stretched horizon, two seabirds soared like swollen points of light, rapidly approaching. Each of their feet grasped an envelope.
One was from Auntie, the other from the Dark Crow.
Clouds wavered, the sky was clear and blue, as Fujiwara Reya sipped coconut juice and lazily opened the letters to read.
Auntie had returned to Hidden God Town and briefly mentioned the preparations for the Mountain God Festival, focusing on the robes of the Mountain God’s Wife. She said she planned to sew three sets: one for herself, one for Kasahara Fumi, and one for Kawashima Miki. As for which of the three Mountain God’s Wives could take the lead that night, it was up to their abilities. At the end, Auntie confidently stated that the Mountain God’s first time would surely be hers.
The letter from the Dark Crow reported on the work content of the past month or so.
Fujiwara Reya had given him two tasks: one was to protect Miss Yukino. While fulfilling his duty of protection, the Dark Crow also secretly followed Miss Yukino on several visits to the Furukawa Conference Hall, and even learned the top-secret information that she used to be Mrs. Furukawa’s maid. In the letter, he also revealed that Furukawa Conference Hall would send someone to participate in the Mountain God Festival, and Miss Yukino might be among them.
The second task was to investigate Miss Shizuka of the Oasis Couple Tea Lounge. Since the second task had a shorter time frame, Gouzi hadn’t uncovered any useful information yet.
Fujiwara Reya tore the letters into pieces and tossed them into the sea, silently pondering a question.
Miss Yukino was highly likely to be a mythical creature, but what kind of creature could she be? If she were human, he would be somewhat concerned; if she were a mythical being, his interest would grow, for any mythical creature associated with the enigmatic Furukawa Conference Hall was sure to be intriguing.
At three-thirty in the afternoon, the fish scale clouds thinned out.
As the sunlight dimmed, the sea appeared listless, with waves like tiny ochre-yellow skirts rippling across.
At this moment, the women, now clad in swimsuits, began emerging from the cabin one after another.
Fujiwara Reya watched the deep blue sea in front of him intently.
What kind of gentleman like him would lecherously stare at swimsuit beauties? Besides, weren’t there all kinds of swimsuits and long white legs? It’s not like he hadn’t seen them before; it wasn’t necessary... Hey, Eri, why aren’t you wearing one!
The previously excited mood cooled slightly, and Fujiwara Reya glared at Kasahara Fumi, who was still wearing her officer’s uniform.
But Fumi had no intention of reflecting on it. She lay on a deck chair, expressionless, covering her face with a book... a complete disposition of not going into the water.
Fujiwara Reya felt some regret and had to turn his attention to the others.