In the Izu region during the summer, beasts resided.
Under the strikingly clear sunshine that seemed to penetrate even one's heart, the white sandy beach glistened. The endless sea stretched out, gently rocking like a cradle.
The beast frolicked around us as if they owned the place, burning the depths of our hearts.
It felt as if we were being carried away by the heated atmosphere, and our bodies grew lighter.
In this moment, we yearned to dash across that sandy shore, fully embracing the heat. We wanted to dive into the sea and surrender ourselves to the refreshing sensation that felt like piercing through the water.
In this place, even inviting that shy girl who usually avoids conversation to play would be possible.
This irresistible beast of summer were filled with an enticing magic power.
By now, the young folks were most likely reveling in the intoxicating romance of summer. It was a time of endless excitement. If Lisha were here, she'd undoubtedly unsheathe her family's treasured sword, and said, "It's indecent!" at the sight of it.
If it were possible, I too would like to be captivated by the beast of summer. I'd like to fully enjoy the summer heat, gaze at the older girls in swimsuits, and wash away the saltiness of seawater with beer.
I'm sure everyone felt the same way.
However, reality was harsh.
While the beast of summer beckoned us, we were confined to a room in our training camp, unable to go to the beach or the mountains. We flipped through our manuscripts with slightly sweaty hands, listening to the noisy chirping of cicadas.
Reading meticulously to check for typos and errors was different from enjoying a regular book. Fatigue built up rapidly at an astonishing pace.
My forehead grew warm, and my temples and the area around my eyes throbbed.
The train journey that had been so enjoyable had come to an end, and what awaited us at the inn turned training camp was a hellish reading session.
Well, we originally came here for that purpose, but no matter how many times we did it, it was always tough.
While the amount of text wasn't particularly large, the task of reading aloud was challenging. It involved more than just correcting typos and errors; it included improving story structure and expressions, among other things.
Beside me, I had a Japanese dictionary and an electronic dictionary, and I used sticky notes to jot down notes on parts that caught my attention.
"Ahh, I'm so tired!"
Suddenly, Matsuda raised his voice and collapsed backward. He swung his arms like a tantrum-throwing child and took out his frustration on the tatami mats.
"Hey, Matsuda, if you don't read properly, the president will smack you later, you know?"
"You've got a point. But yuusuke, your eyes have been drifting off for a while now. I bet you'll fall asleep in five minutes, no doubt."
"I-I won't do that!"
Probably.
Then, Souji put down his manuscript and stretched widely.
"Well, isn't it a good time for a break?"
"Indeed, shall we make some tea?"
Following Souji's words, Hinata stood up. She was impressively considerate.
Only the members who had gone on the train trip were present in this room. In the past, we used to read each other's works entirely, but it took too much time, lowered the quality, and led to numerous complaints from the circle members. As a result, we now divided into teams for reading sessions.
"Kuroi-san, you must be tired too. Feel free to take a break."
Kuroi-san, who had been thrown into the chaos, smiled pleasantly and said, "Thank you, I will," before sprawling her legs out.
No, rather, had she been sitting in seiza this whole time?
Now, I stretched my stiff legs and lay back, reveling in the pleasurable sensation. This moment was incredibly enjoyable.
However, the eye strain didn't ease, and the weight on my head remained the same. Unconsciously, I massaged my forehead, the area around my temples, and my eyes, and shadows cast over my face.
"Yuusuke-san, is your head hurting?"
"Hm? Ah, it's not so much hurting as it is heavy. I've been straining my eyes too much."
Standing on top of my head was Lisha. Since she wasn't participating in the reading session, she should have been praying or reading manga and books.
By the way, Kanami wasn't here at the moment. She said she was going to check the terrain around the inn. Even though I doubt demons would appear in a place like this, as a guardian, she couldn't refrain from confirming.
So, I had been left behind while the others were busy. Lisha, smiling warmly, said, "Then I'll take you up on that offer," and folded her legs.
No, rather, had she been sitting in seiza this whole time?
Anyway, I stretched my stiff legs and leaned back, savoring the sensation of relaxation. Hmm, this moment feels incredibly pleasant.
But that didn't mean my eye fatigue would disappear; the heaviness in my head remained. Unconsciously, I massaged my forehead, temples, and the area around my eyes, and shadows fell across my face.
"Should I give you a massage?"
"Well, it's not necessary."
Before I could finish my sentence, Lisha's fingers pushed aside my hair and grasped my head. Her fingertips, cooled by the air conditioning, felt pleasant on my overheated head.
What's she up to?
"Oh, you're quite tense. How's the strength?"
"I'm... I'm fine."
I couldn't stop Lisha from massaging me; she seemed to be enjoying it unusually.
She had been massaging me when I had muscle pain in the past, but recently, it seemed like she found it enjoyable, studying it through videos and television. She had probably learned various terms like "massage therapist" or "hairdresser" from there.
Lisha had a surprising amount of strength for a woman, or maybe it was more accurate to say that people from Asteris, in general, had higher physical abilities than Earthlings. Lisha, who had been raised with phrases like "Butterflies, flowers," in the church, was likely due to genetic factors. Thanks to this, her massages were genuinely enjoyable.
"...What are you doing, Senpai?"
While pondering these thoughts and enjoying Lisha's massage, a chilling voice pierced through along with a frosty gaze.
Hinata, who had been brewing tea with the teapot, was now looking down at me. In her hand, she held a teacup that probably contained hot tea. I wonder what it is; I have a bad feeling about this.
"No, wait, Hinata. This is not at all a lascivious feeling; rather, having such thoughts while watching this wholesome massage is... Wait, calm down, Hinata. That teacup looks thin and hot, right? Calm down, pleaaseeeee!"
My desperate defense was in vain, and the teacup, filled with hot tea, was placed on my forehead. Gradually, the heat began to spread, but seriously, this tea was scalding!
"Oh, Yuusuke-san, I saw it in a video! Warming up improves blood circulation!"
Hold on, Lisha, please stop the massage for a moment. It's shaking, it's shaking. The tea is spilling a bit... noooooo!
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