War and Peace 3

Kaoru: ~... ♪

Yuzuru: Pardon me! It’s just about time to eat, so if you all wouldn’t mind returning to the hotel for a short time...

...Whoa—goodness. Anzu-san, what’s wrong?

You look frightened; did you see a shark, perhaps?

Kaoru: Damn, I’m out of time. Anzu-chan and I were alone for the first time in so long, so I was really trying to give it my all flirting with her.

But she was barely even responding to me... maybe because she just woke up so she was still out of it or something? But it just feels like I struck out.

I won’t give up, though. We’re totally gonna get to the next base during this trip ♪

Yuzuru: Umm. Kaoru-sama, Anzu-san seems a bit put off...

I would ask that you not do anything to frighten her. One ought to behave like a gentleman toward a lady.

Kaoru: Huh? But I can’t stand acting like that. It’s why I live the way I do in the first place!

Like, manners and etiquette and stuff is all about self-restraint. If I do that, I’ll end up letting all the cute girls out there pass me by, and I’ll never get them back. That’s just the worst, right?

That’s my philosophy, so I’m gonna go all out no matter how much she hates it ☆

Yuzuru: Sigh... in any case, you said that you were alone with Anzu-san. What did you mean by that, exactly? I thought Otogari-sama was with you.

Kaoru: Oh, yeah, Adonis went for a dive for whatever reason.

Apparently he grew up in a country without much of a coastline, so I guess it was something new for him... He doesn’t get so excited like this very often, really.

He’s got some serious lung capacity, though. He’ll take a huge breath, dive down, and then disappear for an eternity, feels like.

The first time I actually thought he was drowning, so I went to rescue him.

Yuzuru: Sigh... well, I suppose I’m happy to know that he’s enjoying the ocean.

But why not ask for equipment? If he had, we could have provided everything necessary for him.

I am certified for diving, as well, so I can teach a beginner how to do things.

...Oh, Anzu-san, you look interested. Fufu, shall I give you a lesson later? ♪

Kaoru: Hey, hey now! I’m a certified diver too!

We can go together, what do you say? I can dedicate all the treasures in the ocean to you ♪

Everything down there is so beautiful, I’m sure you’ll love it. And I want to share everything I love with you, Anzu-chan!

I swear I have zero ulterior motives, really really ♪

Yuzuru: (Fufu. Kaoru-sama, your eyes are sparkling. You must like the sea.)

(...Come to think of it, I believe his mother was a scientist who studied marine biology.)

(The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree... I am no different, having been born into a family of servants.)

(Really, it is the President and my Master who have broken the mold, since they decided to become idols despite being born into wealth and status.)

(To stray from the destiny laid out by their parents so as to forge their own path...)

(Such a journey must be arduous, yet surely a noble pursuit. I can’t help but envy them.)

(No. My joy lies in supporting those great people and offering what little assistance I can.)

(I am too inexperienced in this to speak so presumptuously about things...)

(But surely this much is self-evident, much like the beauty of the ocean.)