The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

Even though I had seen it in the original game, the swimsuits in this world were far bolder than I anticipated.

Thinking about it, the classic bikinis often seen in anime are surprisingly rare in design. While they’re common at beaches, swimsuits themselves vary greatly in style. Some people don’t even bother with swimsuits and just enter the water in regular clothes before changing. Many swimsuits, particularly those covering most of the upper body, exist as well.

But of course, in this anime-style game world, every character around me seemed to be wearing swimsuits that revealed skin to some extent. There were some one-piece designs, but even those couldn’t be called modest.

---

We chose swimsuits for each other—though the two male characters, Jake and Leo, were naturally excluded.

That left me, Alice, Claire, Charlotte, Mia Crowfield, Sophia, Rena, and Roti. Since none of us had any say in the matter, our swimsuits inevitably ended up as daring designs.

“This... isn’t much different from the bunny costume incident!” Alice protested.

“At least no men will dare touch us,” I replied.

Letting go of my pride helped keep me from panicking like Alice. While the attention was annoying and embarrassing, most of the stares were closer to reverence than anything predatory. Unlike the bunny costume incident, there wasn’t that sticky, predatory gaze directed at me.

Was that a win? Who knows.

---

Alice and I picked classic bikinis for each other. Mine was black, while hers was sky blue. The color schemes were oddly similar to our bunny outfits, but we silently decided to let it slide.

Swept up in the mood, Charlotte and Claire ended up in bikinis as well. Claire’s swimsuit matched her hair, a deep blue, with far more fabric than mine. Unlike my tiny triangles held together by strings, her design looked like thick fabric tied into place. It gave the impression it might unravel, but it was securely fastened with strong internal ties. A swimsuit for nobles, after all, couldn’t be anything less than durable.

Charlotte’s swimsuit was white. While its coverage wasn’t much different from ours, she wore a translucent top over it, offering a bit of modesty. Of course, being translucent, it might seem even more suggestive to some.

Charlotte likely didn’t realize it, but that kind of fabric wasn’t waterproof in this era. Water-resistant fabrics relied on natural rubber pressed between cloth, so they couldn’t be transparent. Once she got in the water, the fabric would cling to her body like a second skin, making it seem as though she were wearing nothing at all.

In the original game, that’s exactly what happened.

---

“Are you, a princess, so insecure about your body?” Charlotte teased.

“What? You’re the one wearing a cover-up. Insecure much?” Alice shot back.

“This skin is sensitive to sunlight! I might get sunburned!”

“Oh, come on. It’s not that bad.”

Caught between our bickering, Charlotte had been teased into wearing her swimsuit. Half-reluctantly, she was now part of the group.

As for the others...

Sophia’s swimsuit was similar to Claire’s in design, a simple yet elegant purple that matched her hair. However, her trembling pupils betrayed her feelings. She was clearly comparing her figure to the others, particularly certain parts.

Don’t worry, Sophia. It’s us who are outliers. Yours is perfectly normal. Judging by the attention the others are getting, that much is obvious.

Standing near her, Rena, Roti, and Mia Crowfield added to the contrast.

---

Rena ended up wearing a swimsuit strikingly similar to mine. Though her face was slightly flushed, her confident demeanor made it feel less suggestive. Maybe it was because I unconsciously viewed her as younger than me.

Mia Crowfield chose a black one-piece. While her proportions couldn’t quite rival mine or Alice’s, her smaller frame made her stand out. The eyes drawn to her seemed to agree.

And then there was Roti.

Roti also wore a one-piece, but her swimsuit gave off a completely different vibe. Her tall, athletic frame made her look like a professional swimmer, especially with the white stripes running along the sides of her black swimsuit. Jake, of course, couldn’t take his eyes off her.

---

I glanced at Jake and Roti. Though I had orchestrated all this to see their interactions, the sight somehow made me feel... annoyed.

Damn it. I should’ve been a male character. Not that I’d had any choice in the matter.

Leo, meanwhile, looked utterly overwhelmed, unable to decide where to focus his eyes. I sighed, recalling what was about to happen.

---

Then came the ruckus.

Carolyn, deceived by Jennifer, had ended up in an outrageously daring bikini. The normally innocent and utterly clueless Carolyn now wore a swimsuit even skimpier than mine. Her face was bright red as she fidgeted, alternating between covering herself with her hands and letting them fall to her sides. Covering herself made it seem like she was completely naked, while leaving her hands down exposed the swimsuit for all to see.

In the original game, this was one of the most infamous scenes, contributing heavily to its 15+ rating.

I couldn’t help but think how lucky it was that the game’s graphics weren’t more realistic. Otherwise, things might have crossed the line.

---

Carolyn’s unintended spectacle served one purpose: diverting everyone’s attention away from us. Taking advantage of the moment, we quickly found a quiet corner of the beach and settled down.

“Phew.”

Alice let out a sigh of relief.

“At least no one’s crowding around us...” she muttered.

“Well, this area is part of the Lindborough estate,” Jake replied with a shrug.

---

“Alright!”

Claire exclaimed, brimming with excitement.

“Since we’re here, let’s enjoy the ocean! It’s my first time at the beach!”

Ah, that’s right. For nobles, getting to freely visit a beach wasn’t easy. Even without school, their schedules were packed with lessons.

“What about you, sis? Let’s go play in the water!” Claire tugged on my arm.

I almost stood up before a thought struck me: I can’t swim.

Wait—can Claire swim? Leo could in the original game, so it’s likely she can too.

“Hold on.”

Claire stopped, confused by my sudden tone.

“Shouldn’t we bring drinks first? It’s better to stay hydrated.”

Nice save. Besides, Alice can’t swim either. If I can stall, she’ll have to go in first. That’ll buy me some time.

“Oh, good point!” Claire agreed cheerfully.

---

“Then I’ll come with you,” Alice chimed in, standing up immediately.

Did she see through my plan? Or was she just as desperate to delay getting in the water? Either way, it looked like making Alice go first wouldn’t be so easy after all.