Chapter 65: Is Huimei a landlubber?

The summer vacation was half over, and they were entering the latter half of mid-August.

Today, Ishikawa Yuka’s family was finally leaving for their family trip.

Taking advantage of Father’s Obon holiday, the trip was scheduled from early to mid-August.

It was a domestic trip, nothing too grand.

Her family didn’t always choose domestic destinations; this time, it was decided domestically because Mother had mentioned that “it’s time to use the villa.”

The Ishikawa family owned several villas both domestically and internationally; this time they were going to the one located in a famous domestic summer resort.

Going to the same place repeatedly could get boring, and since Mother said they should use that villa occasionally, they decided on that location.

Yuka had gone through a lot of hassle for this trip.

First, she had to adjust her Chika Association summer class schedule, compressing everything into the first half of the vacation.

Ordinary prep schools wouldn’t be able to make such adjustments, but since most students at the Chika Association were children of wealthy families, they had such flexibility.

Her Toraiwa Style training was also made more rigorous by Sensei to compensate for the interruption caused by the trip.

Combined with her poor condition at the beginning of the vacation, where the training results were subpar, Sensei included that part as well, turning it into a hellish mode.

Even she was surprised that she managed to endure it.

Although her initial laxity during the vacation was entirely due to that bastard Kurohara Masahira’s superfluous words… that had nothing to do with Sensei, so being scolded was deserved.

After rushing between prep classes and training, and desperately catching up on assignments, she finally welcomed the day of the family trip.

Since it was a domestic summer resort, transportation was very convenient.

Although this was her first family trip after her consciousness awakened, based on her memories from before she was six years old, she usually traveled during summer and winter vacations.

Long-distance travel could easily tire a small child, especially if going overseas.

Perhaps Mother had taken that into consideration when choosing a domestic location.

Unfortunately, her current self would not throw a tantrum because of long-distance travel.

“Look, we’re at the villa. Yuka might not remember, but you’ve been here before too.”

“I remember.”

It wasn’t her own personal memory, but “Lady Yuka” had indeed been here before.

She didn’t know if the original host had outstanding memory, or if she received all memories, even those the original host didn’t remember, when her consciousness transferred.

In any case, she did possess memories related to this place.

Whether they were pleasant memories was another matter…

“Welcome back. We have been waiting for you.”

“Mhm, bring us something to drink.”

Upon arriving at the villa, the advance staff of servants lined up to greet them.

Father gave a casual nod and sat down.

Because the servants had prepared in advance, everything in the villa was ready.

There would be no heat waves from the air conditioning just starting up when they walked in, and they could have cold drinks immediately.

This was indeed a luxurious lifestyle, but as a commoner in her past life, she always felt a certain sense of apprehension…

“Miss Yuka, please change your clothes.”

“Eh?”

Not only the advance staff but Emi, who had arrived with them in the same car, also urged her to change.

She completely didn’t understand why changing clothes was necessary.

“Your current clothes are for travel. Please change into something more suitable for activities here.”

Ugh… does a young lady have to be so particular even about this?

But indeed… from “Lady Yuka’s” memories, she was always asked to change clothes after long journeys.

Of course, there was the reason of travel dust; the travel environment was different from the destination environment, requiring adjustment.

From her perspective, changing clothes so frequently was wasteful and bothersome; she didn’t see the need for it at all…

But Mother was staring at her; refusing was impossible.

She had no choice but to follow Emi to the next room to change.

……

They had been here for several days now; although she couldn’t say she had nothing to do all day, the time was indeed much more leisurely than when she was at home.

The reason was simple: there were no prep classes and no training here!!!

When she was at home, she was either going to prep classes or training every day.

When there was school, she went after school; when there wasn’t, she started training in the morning.

All of that was gone here.

She was no longer constrained by time and could spend it as she pleased.

Logically, she should be happy, able to play to her heart’s content.

But she… how should she put it… couldn’t settle down.

Having been busy every day, she suddenly found herself at a loss for what to do when she gained freedom.

Moreover, she kept feeling like she should be training, making her uneasy.

This feeling of restlessness…

“Yuka, you look bored. How about getting some exercise for a change?”

“Brother?”

Did she look that idle?

Her brother took the initiative to speak to her.

And then…

……

“The water is cool.”

“Yes…”

She was now in the pool with her brother for no apparent reason.

She completely didn’t understand the situation.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand swimming in summer, but she couldn’t grasp this specific scenario.

Why travel all the way to a summer resort just to swim in a temperature-controlled indoor pool?

If she wanted to swim, couldn’t she do it near home, where there were plenty of options?

Why travel all the way to a summer resort and choose an indoor pool?

It wasn’t that she truly didn’t understand, but rather that she found it hard to accept.

Indeed, a family of Ishikawa’s status couldn’t possibly go to a public beach or swimming pool packed with people.

And swimming outdoors in the summer was hot and sunny.

So they chose a well-maintained indoor pool.

But still… to travel all the way to a rural summer resort… just to swim in the villa’s indoor pool?

She had been looking forward more to… jumping into a natural river, playing in the mountains, or swimming in the sea.

Although this summer resort wasn’t by the sea, there were surely rivers and lakes around, right?

Weren’t they surrounded by mountains?

Why not go play there?

“But Yuka, you’re amazing. Aren’t you tired after swimming for so long?”

“Eh? Um… not really…”

After all, she swam far more than this during training at the fitness club and with the Toraiwa Style.

This barely qualified as a warm-up.

“And you’re not afraid even though you can’t touch the bottom? Your swimming style is also very unique.”

“It’s fine.”

What did “unique swimming style” mean… this was standard Suijutsu (water technique), an ancient swimming style?

It was just treading water.

During water training, she always wore a hard-to-swim kimono, carried weights that a first-grader shouldn’t be handling, and tread water continuously for hours, right?

Lately, they even added weights tied to her ankles?

It was exactly like a scene from a novel where yakuza members sink someone in a lake…

“If you swim so well, Yuka, how about we race?”

“That would be too disadvantageous for me.”

Long-distance endurance swimming and sprint swimming were two different things.

Suijutsu was essentially a technique developed for long-distance swimming with weights.

Although she practiced modern strokes like freestyle at the fitness club, her physique and muscle strength couldn’t keep up; she had long-distance endurance but couldn’t swim fast.

Judging from her observation just now, her brother’s swimming technique was quite good.

Even if she broke her personal record, she couldn’t catch up to him.

She might win in long-distance or endurance, but she had no chance in speed.

“How about we ask Emi to join us as well?”

That’s right… sorry Brother, but there wasn’t anything good about a man’s swimsuit.

An older maid in a swimsuit wasn’t appealing either.

She really wanted to see a young, pretty girl in a swimsuit.

“No… I’ll just…”

“Don’t be shy? Let’s play together.”

“Um…”

Emi, who usually listened to her to some extent, was exceptionally reserved today.

What on earth was wrong…

“Pfft, hehehe… Yuka… don’t be so pushy… hahahaha!”

Her brother laughed meaningfully.

Could it be…

“Could it be… that Emi can’t swim?”

“Puff! Hahaha! Saying that so directly is hurtful!”

“…..”

Her brother finally burst out laughing, while Emi puffed out her cheeks.

It seemed she really couldn’t swim.

She knew how to swim in her past life and couldn’t understand the feelings of a non-swimmer.

She only knew that swimming was a skill that anyone could learn with practice; there was nothing to worry about.

“Then it’s decided! Emi, let’s practice swimming together during this trip? You must learn before we go back!”

“No… I apologize, but even if it’s Miss Yuka’s order, I cannot comply with this one.”

Hmm… how stubborn…

Did she think not knowing how to swim was embarrassing?

But wouldn’t it be more problematic to never learn?

Even if she decided not to go to the beach or pool, she could accidentally fall into water.

She might fall into a river, or a cruise ship might sink.

Even if it didn’t sink, she might fall off the boat.

If that happened, it would be too late to regret not learning how to swim.

Well… honestly, she just wanted to see Emi in a swimsuit…

But she couldn’t force someone who was unwilling.

……

This was their last night at the villa.

Today, they were going to take all the servants to a fireworks display.

Barbecue during the day, fireworks at night.

The barbecue had ended, and night had fallen.

Soon, the fireworks would begin.

Life at the villa flew by.

Although they were here for many days, looking back, it passed by quickly.

She had initially felt restless because she had nothing to do… but it was indeed a pleasant trip.

Her parents were getting along well.

This couple truly had a good relationship.

Although it was unlikely they would have more siblings now…

Ah? But it wouldn’t be strange for her parents to have another child, given their age.

Mother was only in her late thirties… ah, she was glaring at me…

If I rephrase it to mid-thirties, she won’t glare. Does she have some kind of danger perception ability?

In any case, being in her thirties, having another child was perfectly possible.

Having one later might increase the risk of being an elderly mother, but now should be fine.

No siblings of Lady Yuka appeared in the game Love 100%, nor were they mentioned in the settings.

But since she had a brother, it wouldn’t be strange to have a younger sibling…

But she probably didn’t… right?

“Well then, let’s start the fireworks display. Miss Yuka, please use this one.”

“Thank you?”

Eh? Isn’t this a smoke bomb?

Why give me this suddenly?

And should this be given to a young lady?

“Um… Emi? Why are you giving me a smoke bomb…?”

Shouldn’t she give a young lady something cuter?

“You recognize it… Then please use this one…”

“Okay… wait, eh!?”

No, no… isn’t this a snake firework?

The selection is too strange! This isn’t right at all!

“Why a snake firework?”

“You recognize that too… well, I guess I have no choice. Then please use this one.”

“That’s strange! Isn’t this a sparkler? Isn’t that usually saved for last!?”

What was going on?

The fireworks Emi gave her were clearly wrong.

It was almost like a prank… Ah! Could it be…

“Emi… did you…”

“……”

She stared intently at Emi, who looked away slightly.

As expected…

“Are you holding a grudge because I tried to teach you how to swim in the pool earlier!?”

“……”

Ah… her expression was visibly stiff, her gaze shifted, and she was sweating coldly.

A random guess actually hit the mark.

I see… Emi minded not knowing how to swim and was holding a grudge against her for suggesting practice…

“Pfft.”

“!!!!”

“Hahaha! Ahahaha!”

“Miss Yuka, laughing like that is too much.”

She wasn’t laughing because Emi couldn’t swim.

But because the normally calm Emi actually cared about something like this and pulled a small prank, which made her very happy.

She felt that before this, the relationship was merely between a young lady and her personal maid.

Emi always maintained a distance and was considerate of her position.

Although a hired maid found it difficult to become close to her employer’s daughter, the young lady she served… that sense of distance always made her anxious.

But this time, Emi had overcome her considerations and pulled such a prank.

This made her very happy.

The family trip was fun… but the biggest gain was seeing this human side of Emi, perhaps.