kscans

Chapter 149 - The Secret of the Small-Winged Folk and a Water Bird Frolicking at the Water's Edge

Claire fluttered the small wings on her back.

"This is the 'good morning' flutter. And next is the 'good night' flutter."

She fluttered her wings again.

"...I see..."

I couldn't tell the difference at all, but I nodded anyway.

Her expression had clearly softened. She must have been on edge until now. That tension was probably what made her seem so mature. Now she looked innocent, even a little childish.

We were on the ferry heading to the north side of the river. Claire was supposed to help at the shop in the afternoon, but the moment Mercedes saw our faces, he immediately gave her the day off. So we decided to go watch Famu and the others practice swimming. The sun had passed its zenith and was starting to dip, but would they still be practicing?

"Alright, what about the flutter I'm doing now?"

Claire fluttered her wings. It seemed a little faster than before, but also slower. And it had a subtle rhythm, or maybe it didn't.

"The 'furious' flutter."

"Close. This is the 'a little bit angry' flutter."

She said I was close, but I had no idea what was close about it. Of course, it was a wild guess. All the flutters she'd shown me so far looked exactly the same.

The small-winged folk were no different from humans, except for the tiny wings on their backs. What's more, they couldn't fly, and the wings only seemed to extend their gliding time during a jump by a negligible amount. So the topic of what her wings were for came up. She told me that the small-winged folk could converse with each other by moving their wings.

Right now, a 'flutter language' class was being held just for me. But I couldn't pick up on the subtle nuances hidden within the flutters. It was like when Hyakka, who's from Kansai, would try to have a conversation with me using only the word "Nanya"—I had absolutely no clue what she meant.

"I used to talk with my mother a lot using our wings. But my father and Mercedes didn't approve."

Even if they didn't mean it to be, it could be perceived as having a secret conversation. Also, she was taught that for those who understood, a casual gesture could unintentionally reveal information they wanted to keep secret. Because of that, she stopped fluttering.

Claire fluttered her wings sadly.

"That one's the 'a little bit sad' flutter, right?"

"Ah, that's correct! You've gotten so good at telling them apart in such a short time!"

"Nah, I just read it from your expression."

"W-well then, since we're about to reach the shore, here's the final question."

Claire brought her clenched fists up to her mouth like a boxer's guard. Then, she squeezed her eyes shut and fluttered more intensely than ever before.

After she was done, she blushed and sent me a strong, pleading gaze.

"...I don't know, but I can tell you're desperately trying to convey something."

"I-is that so... I'm a little disappointed, but also a little relieved..."

Claire drooped and fluttered her wings. This was the 'a little bit sad' flutter. I've learned it now.

After arriving on the north bank, we walked along the path that followed the sandy beach. This road led to Longhorn Street, and then to the Longhorn Trail. In the distance, I could see a tower that looked like a giant pair of bull's horns. It was a strange sight no matter how many times I saw it.

But our destination today was this beach, and Famu and the others should be here somewhere. The people on the beach were either relaxing on sheets spread on the sand or casually bathing near the shore. And weaving through the gaps between them were men on the prowl, trying to pick up girls.

We found Famu and the others right away. They were a little further out, seriously practicing their swimming. They were the only ones doing so.

We went down to the beach and approached the water's edge.

Mizuki was teaching, and her students were Famu, Myra, Cecily, and Aira. The members outside of Levante were Avea, Fang, Beers, Doris, and also Reeni. Was she teaching that many people all by herself?

"I already know how to swim, you know."

A voice called out from behind me. I turned to see Shizuka. She stood with her hands on her hips, puffing out her chest proudly.

She was wearing a white bikini. Her chest size was a good match for Claire's, but hers was just a little bigger. I could tell.

"You had a swimsuit?"

"Nope, Famu-chan bought it for me."

I was surprised they even sold swimsuits, but then I remembered Avea wore bikini armor. Some pervert among the past transfer students must have popularized it. A deep sense of gratitude for the efforts of my predecessors washed over me.

"D-don't be mooching off someone younger than you!"

I poked Shizuka's forehead with my fingertip.

"It's fine, isn't it? She said her money is Mash's money anyway!"

"..."

Well, since I got to see her in a swimsuit, I guess I'll let it slide. I took out my phone to take a picture, and she responded with an innocent peace sign, saying, "Yay!"

"Why aren't you helping Mizuki?"

"Ehh, because it's tiring and super annoying! Besides, I want to scope out if there are any cute guys around."

Was this woman really going to cruise for men wearing a swimsuit bought with my money?

Still, it was true that while Claire and I were embracing, they were being made to practice seriously under Mizuki. They had some serious stamina.

Further out, Reeni was waving at us. She was inside a ring that looked like a floatie. Shizuka waved back in response. Famu noticed us too and started heading our way.

I thought she was walking, but it seemed she was swimming. The water in front of her face was bubbling and rippling. It looked like she was doing the doggy paddle. I wondered if the swimming style passed down among the dog-eared race was real. Following her, Mizuki and the others also came back to the beach.

Once on the sand, Famu shook her body, flicking water from her ears and tail.

"Did you see? I've finally mastered the doggy paddle! Now I can come and save you if you're drowning, Master!"

She was wearing a tank top bikini. It was, as expected, light blue. Just how much did she love that color?

"I see. Did Mizuki teach you?"

"No, she's been practicing by herself the whole time. If you leave her alone, she just starts drowning on her own. Famu won't listen to a word I say!"

Mizuki said as she dried her wet body. She was wearing a competitive swimsuit. She was the only one radiating an aura of serious business.

My gaze shifted. Avea was in her usual red bikini, Cecily in black, Doris in a yellow bikini, and Myra and Aira were wearing matching purple swimsuits with pareos. I took out my phone and started a photo shoot.

"It was really tough, so you better watch their practice too, Mash."

At Mizuki's request, I ended up taking charge of half the group. However, it seemed no one wanted to learn from me. If anything, I was the one who wanted Mizuki to teach me, so it was natural that everyone else felt the same.

As I was thinking that, Famu came over to my side. And Reeni, clutching her floatie, came over as well.

"Are you sure?"

I asked Reeni, and she nodded with a 'kokuri'.

"What Mizuki says is difficult. It's too much for Reeni."

"Alright, then this is the junior division. Cecily, you're over here too."

"Who are you calling a junior?!"

Cecily came over, angry but compliant. Following her, Aira came over as well.

"You're completely in the adult division. If anyone's coming, it should be Doris. You go learn from Mizuki."

"Don't judge us by our chest size!"

Cecily protested, but unlike Aira, it was clear to everyone that she belonged in the junior division.

"Alright. Then let's teach these members and have a competition later to see whose teaching method was better,"

Mizuki said, suggesting something ominous.

"Hold on, you were on the swim team, right? There's no way I can win against an active professional."

"It's fine. I taught them all the basics this morning while you were gone. Everyone can at least swim now."

"Wait, wait! There's one with a doggy paddle and another with a floatie here, what's that about?! And Avea already knew how to swim, didn't she?!"

As I protested, Avea, Fang, and Beers lined up next to Mizuki. Behind them, Doris was fidgeting nervously.

"Stop making excuses! You're just scared of losing, aren't you?"

said Avea.

"That's not very manly. Accept the challenge fair and square!"

said Fang.

"Yeah, yeah!"

said Beers. I was annoyed by Beers's goon-like instigation, but what was impossible was impossible.

"Fang, Beers. I thought you guys were my friends. Why are you trying to start a fight?"

"Shut up, you've got all these women flocking around you! Do you have any idea how I feel, going to Longhorn Street every single night since that day?!"

"Beers..."

"In the end, you've got Shizuka with you, and you've even gotten a bunny-eared girl!"

At his words, Reeni hid behind Shizuka, feeling pressured.

"You wanted to do it with Shizuka? But she's got Ko-kun, you know."

"And you! Who's more important, me, who you called a friend, or some Ko-kun you've never even met?!"

"...You have a point."

I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, but his argument seemed to make sense. Maybe the thought of not wanting to hand Shizuka over to another man was twisting my thinking.

"Hey, Shizuka, are you willing to switch from Ko-kun to Beer—gobo!"

Cecily elbowed me.

"That's not important right now, is it? And don't forget you took her in for Ko-kun's sake!"

As I rubbed the spot where she'd elbowed me, Famu lined up next to me. I had a bad feeling.

"There is no way Master would lose to Mizuki! We accept this challenge!"

"Got it. Then the match is in two hours. The loser has to call the winner with '-sama' until tomorrow,"

Mizuki replied to the out-of-control Famu. Hearing that, Aira walked over to Mizuki's side.

"Aira, are you betraying me?"

"I want Mash and Cecily to call me Aira-sama."

"Gnnn..."

As we ground our teeth, Myra came over to our side.

"Hey, you're the head of the adult division, aren't you?"

"...Actually, I was thinking I'd rather learn from you, Mash."

The swimming showdown was already descending into chaos.