-Mina’s POV-

“Munya…”

The hazy view in front of my eyes gradually clears up as if the focus is adjusting. However, my vision and mind are still somewhat foggy compared to usual. A ceiling different from the one at home. Right, I’m in Okinawa now, feeling unwell and lying in bed…

“Oh, did I wake you up, Mina?”

“N-nya!?”

The moment my vision focuses, Yuu-kun’s face is unexpectedly close, and I involuntarily let out a sound.

“I put the ice pack on your face gently because it tends to slip.”

Saying so, Yuu-kun gently places the ice pack on my right cheek.

It’s cold and refreshing. I close my eyes enjoying the sensation.

“I wonder if the ice packs near your legs have melted?”

“Huh…? Oh my!”

From under the futon, Yuu-kun fiddles around near my inner thighs, causing me to make a strange sound.

“Oh, the skin retains heat, so it melts faster. I’ll bring a new one.”

“Uh… okay…”

Taking out the thin towel wrapped around my thighs, Yuu-kun gets up and heads to the living room where the refrigerator is.

I’m surprised. Right, this is a treatment for the inflammation on my skin caused by sunburn. Yeah, it’s definitely not something inappropriate. So, I shouldn’t feel embarrassed.

While Yuu-kun is away, I try to calm down my racing heartbeat and sit up on the bed with only my upper body.

“Hm…?”

As I try to calm my chest’s palpitations with my hand, I notice something odd at my neckline.

Clunk

From under my pajamas, an ice pack wrapped in a cloth falls out.

I stare silently at the square ice pack that fell out from my neckline for a while.

“Mya… Mya…!?”

Wait… Did it just come out from my neckline? This ice pack.

Which means… Wait, I’m not wearing a bra!?

Where’s my bra!?

“Oh, Mina, your bra is here.”

“Thanks, Yuu-kun… but…”

At that moment, I felt as if time stood still.

With the speed of my thoughts accelerating, the surroundings seemed to be in slow motion.

My bra was placed on the side table.

The deflated sports bra I wore to bed last night…

Oh, this slow-motion, it’s like that.

The one you see right before you die.

In the world of accelerated thoughts, I experienced the concept of mental death.

“Why did you take it off, Yuu-kun…?”

I curled up in the futon and cried.

The first event of Yuu-kun removing my underwear was consumed so carelessly…

“Mina, you were half asleep and took off your bra yourself. I was impressed you could take it off with your pajama top on. Can all women do that?”

Yes, it was my sole doing.

Yuu-kun is completely innocent. Yes.

But should I be happy that our important, embarrassing event wasn’t consumed so carelessly?

No, it’s not good!

“My underwear was seen… and it was the deflated one…”

“I saw you in a sexy swimsuit yesterday.”

“A swimsuit and underwear are different! A swimsuit is meant to be seen in public, but underwear is not! That’s why revealing it in front of someone carries significant meaning for both men and women!”

“Mina, you’re really passionate. Did you feel a bit better?”

While laughing, Yuu-kun wraps a towel around the ice pack and inserts his hand under my neck as I lie on my back in bed.

“Huh?”

“Your neck is especially sunburnt, so it’s necessary to keep the ice pack on.”

With his hands behind my neck, Yuu-kun’s face comes close again, and my heart rate increases.

“Okay, I’m fine.”

Thanks to the ice pack wrapped around my neck, it feels pleasantly cool.

So, the ice pack that fell from my chest earlier was this…

I was worried it was put in my braless chest…

Relieved…

Wait a second! I’m still braless!

Why am I relieved?

I haven’t solved anything!

“Yuu-kun, could you step out for a moment?”

“Hm, changing clothes? Need help?”

“I-It’s okay!”

“Really? Alright, I’ll be outside. I had something to do anyway.”

Saying so, Yuu-kun leaves the girls’ room.

I hurriedly take off my pajamas and pull out a new set of pajamas and underwear from my travel bag.

The morning chills and shivers I felt earlier seem to have disappeared, probably because of the nap.

However, my body still feels hot.

But staying naked will only make me colder.

I wipe away the sweat with a towel.

“Oh… these are the underwear…”

Facing the underwear I randomly pulled out from my travel bag, I hesitate for a moment.

Just in case… for that moment if it ever comes… just in case!

I chose a mature black lingerie set, holding onto my summer bonus tightly, after being properly measured by a clerk at a lingerie specialty shop.

“Well, just in case…”

I mutter an excuse to no one in particular as I awkwardly put on the underwear.

“Well… did it look mature enough?”

Glancing at myself in the mirror on the vanity at an angle, I suddenly feel embarrassed.

“Mina, are you done changing?”

“Y-yes! Just a moment!”

Responding through the door to Yuu-kun’s call, I hurriedly put on the new pajamas and covered myself with the blanket.

“Umm, come in.”

“Coming in. How are you feeling, Mina? Cold? Or hot?”

Responding towards the door, Yuu-kun opens the door and enters after a brief pause.

“I’m not feeling cold anymore, so now, I’m actually feeling a bit hot.”

Saying so, I fan my face with my hand.

“Oh, the ice pack you had on your neck came off.”

“Ah… Sorry about that. I must have removed it while changing…”

“Then, let me put it back…”

“I-It’s okay! I can do it myself!”

Saying so, I quickly wrap the ice pack towel around my neck.

“It seems like you’re able to move a bit by yourself now, but overdoing it is not recommended. After you finish eating, go back to sleep, okay?”

Huh? What’s this about?

Wondering, I receive the plate Yuu-kun hands me.

“Oh, this…”

“Remember this?”

The sight of the slightly orange-colored treat and the chill from the plate evoke childhood memories.

“Yeah. This is the orange sherbet that your mom used to make as a summer treat…”

“You remembered too. Yes, it’s orange sherbet.”

A classic treat that would come out when I visited Yuu-kun’s house during summer vacation.

Nostalgia prompts me to quickly scoop up some of the orange sherbet with a spoon and put it in my mouth.

“It’s delicious. It feels so refreshing in my mouth.”

“Yeah. I made it after a long time, but it’s still delicious.”

Yuu-kun also enjoys his share of sherbet with gusto.

“You managed to recreate the recipe quite well.”

“Well, you see, this recipe is surprisingly simple. Just transfer the contents of a canned mandarin into a bowl, freeze it, and then shave it with a fork. It’s a housewife’s wisdom, you know.”

“Huh? Is that so?”

An unexpected fact learned at this age.

But during summer vacation, preparing snacks every day was tough. My mom would often complain about it too.

“This sherbet was also popular among my fellow soldiers. Since it can be made even with canned food provided in the army, ice, and snow-type Spirit Armor users would make it. It was literally an oasis in the depths of the Amazon…”

“They… had it even on the battlefield…”

While nostalgically reminiscing about the battlefield, I watch Yuu-kun eat the sherbet with a thoughtful expression.

The taste of my mom’s nostalgic ice candy, eaten as a brief respite on the battlefield.

What was Yuu-kun thinking under the foreign skies…

“Right now, Suo-senpai and Marin-chan are probably at a trendy shop on Kokusai Street, enjoying shaved ice. Suo-senpai is surely pampering Marin-chan and being dragged around for various shopping. Kotomi is probably fed up with Dr. Kirigaya, and Hayami-san is chatting with colleagues from the same year.”

Ah… that’s right…

Because of me, I ruined Yuu-kun’s day on the trip…

“Yuu-kun… I…”

“After you eat, go back to sleep, Mina.”

As if he could see through my thoughts, Yuu-kun strokes my forehead, gently pushes me back onto the bed, and covers me with the comforter without waiting for my response.

(He’s sneaky for someone younger…)

Thinking so, I fall asleep again, feeling content.