"I-I just wanted to see if you were actually interested in the swimsuit!"
Her voice grew smaller and smaller as she lost her confidence.
"So," she finally couldn't help but ask in a small, aggrieved voice, "...does this swimsuit actually look good or not?"
"If I said it didn't," Imaizumi Keita suddenly countered, looking at her, "would you go buy a new one?"
"Eh?"
Yanami Anna instinctively thought of her nearly empty wallet and shook her head with a bitter expression.
"I... I don't have any spare money."
Then her eyes suddenly lit up, and an expectant smile appeared on her face.
She leaned in close to Imaizumi Keita, nudging his arm with her elbow in a slightly coquettish way, her eyes constantly darting toward him.
"But..."
"If Imaizumi-kun is willing to buy it for me, I wouldn't mind."
"I refuse."
Imaizumi Keita gave his answer without a second thought.
Seeing Yanami's face instantly drop, he sighed helplessly and explained:
"I don't have much money right now either. Let's talk about stuff like that after I've actually earned some."
Hearing this answer that sounded like both a brush-off and a promise, Yanami Anna puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction.
She leaned her body slightly, nudging Imaizumi Keita's arm with her elbow again, staring straight at him with a searching look in her eyes.
"I say, Imaizumi-kun," she said with a hint of intimacy, "were you being serious just now, or were you just brushing me off?"
Seeing her serious expression, Imaizumi Keita asked Yanami in confusion.
"Why are you suddenly so serious about this? Even if I don't buy one, that swimsuit is plenty good-looking. There's really no need to get a new one."
"That won't do!"
Yanami Anna immediately retorted, her tone somewhat urgent.
"It's not the same! Because... because I want to become a bit more charming too!"
As she said this, her voice unconsciously weakened.
"Before... didn't you say something about 8K and 4K... So, isn't it normal to want to wear a cuter swimsuit and make myself more attractive?"
Seeing her cute, aggrieved look, Imaizumi Keita couldn't help but laugh.
He reached out and naturally tucked a stray lock of hair that had fallen against her cheek behind her ear.
"I say, Yanami," he said softly, with a hint of helpless tenderness, "whether or not you're charming to me—didn't you find out when we kissed?"
"Eh?"
"Besides, your figure is already great, and that swimsuit suits you well. It highlights your best features perfectly."
He paused, and seeing Yanami's face turn bright red from the blunt compliment, his grin widened.
"You're not... actually thinking of yourself as one of those plain jane shoujo manga heroines who needs a 'victory swimsuit' to get the male lead's attention, are you?"
"Huh?! N-no, I'm not!"
Yanami Anna covered her burning cheeks, stubbornly retorting.
She knew Imaizumi Keita was complimenting her, but this teasing style of praise always left her unsure of how to respond.
Should she be shy?
Or should she first protest him calling her a "plain jane"?
After a brief internal struggle, instinct took over, and she quietly steered the conversation back to what she cared about most.
"Is that so... Is it really... okay?"
Her voice was tinged with uncertainty. "But... I always feel like my figure isn't as... as good as Karen's."
Imaizumi Keita shook his head and stated his opinion flatly: "Isn't it enough that someone likes it?"
"When it comes to things like figures, if you keep comparing yourself to those above you, there's no end to it. Even for Himiya Karen, there will always be someone with a better body. What matters is if there's someone who thinks you're good enough just as you are."
True.
If he likes it, isn't that enough?
What was there to compare anyway?
Whether it was Sousuke or anyone else, their opinions weren't that important anymore.
Having realized this, the knot in Yanami Anna's heart from her insecurity suddenly unraveled.
"Yeah."
She nodded, then boldly reached out and grasped Imaizumi Keita's hand resting on the bench, letting out a cheerful whistle.
"Humph~"
She swung their joined hands, a mischievous yet sweet smile on her face.
"Alright then, since you put it that way."
She leaned forward slightly, looking into his eyes with a sparkling gaze as she announced:
"If you really do earn money later and want to buy me a new swimsuit, Imaizumi-kun..."
"...I'll wear it."
After saying that, she playfully winked her right eye at him.
...
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