The raft drifted gently into the docking bay, nudging against the rubber bumpers on either side. A staff member in a creepy mask reached out and helped us onto the wooden platform.

Unlike the guy at the start who’d been dancing around like a weirdo, this attendant at the ending was eerily silent the whole time. No polite banter, no forced friendliness—just that unsettling tribal mask that made him look more like a cannibal than a park employee.

Now I fully understood why Tangerine had flat-out refused to ride again. The “surprise” was the unexpected cliffside waterfall drop. If I’d known about that in advance, there’s no way I would’ve gotten on the raft in the first place.

Rinka, though, seemed very pleased with this little “thrill ride.” As we stepped out of the dock, he gave a satisfied nod like a critic after a good film. “Not bad. That was a pretty fun river course.”

“Fun? It was terrifying!”

“Watching the colour drain from your beautiful face—that was the best part!”

Is this description even supposed to be used for a guy?

The dock’s exit was right by the men’s changing room. The rafting route had looped around the water park in a wonky circle and brought us back to the artificial beach where we’d originally gathered. There weren’t any attractions in this area, so it was pretty dark—like a real beach at night.

“No sign of anyone here. Don’t tell me Liuliu went off to play too?”

The lounge chair area was completely deserted. None of our friends had returned, and even Yan Liuzhuan and Brother Feng Wu—who were supposed to have stayed back—were gone.

It wasn’t even five yet, and normally Haitang would’ve been waiting here by now. She could be a bit smug sometimes, but she was never late.

“Did they go back without us?!”

The idea shocked even me, though on second thought, it didn’t seem likely. The swimsuit contest wasn’t over yet. If it were Zhao Zhao, there’s no way he’d just walk away from that.

Rinka shook his head too. “Liuliu would never just leave me behind.”

True. Even if that little devil Haitang had it in her to sell me out, Tangerine would never abandon her precious onii-chan. Probably.

“I’ll message them. Let’s head over to the stage and look for Zhao Zhao.”

Look for Zhao Zhao... that’s a tongue twister.

I’d wanted to call, but the stage speakers were blaring too loud. I hesitated, then decided to text Tangerine instead.

Thankfully, when she turned from a cat into a human, she’d been gifted a “language and literacy pack” by Notebook-sama, so she was fully literate.

[No one’s at the lounge area. Where are you?] [Swimsuit contest stage.]

The “typing…” indicator blinked for ages, only to deliver that short message. Her typing was still painfully slow.

But why had she gone to the swimsuit contest of all places? Was she bored waiting alone and went to find Zhao Zhao? No way. She would never hang out with him one-on-one.

While I was lost in speculation, a second message popped up.

[Everyone’s here. Sister Qiaojue made the finals.]

Short, to the point. So they’d all gone to watch the show.

From where I stood, I could just barely make out Bei Qiaojue on stage. She was standing behind the host, arms crossed, tossing flirtatious winks and blowing kisses—naturally, all aimed at the cute girls in the audience.

Sure, she was just a girl starting high school, but Qiaojue really did have what it took to make it to the swimsuit contest finals. Today, she happened to be wearing a black bikini, which really showed off her athletic build. Her only “flaw” was her relatively modest bust.

Breasts are important, sure—but they’re not everything. Her toned muscles had their own appeal, and besides, she still had room to grow.
There were even more people around the stage now. The park wasn’t crowded due to the soft opening, but it looked like half of the crowd in Aqua World had gathered here.

I vaguely recalled the contest was down to the quarterfinals before Rinka and I started the lazy river ride. It had been more than half an hour—surely they’d reached the finals by now?

I mean, it’s a beauty contest. Isn’t it just about who looks best? If it’s decided by audience vote, why all these quarterfinals, semis, and a grand finale? What’s the judging standard, exactly?

Just then, the host’s voice boomed through the speakers.

“Contestant No. 13, Miss Lei Meow Meow, has eliminated her own sister and now stands on the stage. As a newly debuted idol, she will face our dashing Miss Bei Qiaojue in the final round! The outcome will be decided by you, the audience...!”

Her words left me stunned.

Onstage, Lei Meow Meow—sporting a straw hat—walked up next to Qiaojue, waving cheerfully to the crowd like she was about to perform at a concert rather than competing in a swimsuit contest.

Never mind the fact that she’d said earlier she was going to karaoke—why was Lei Meow Meow suddenly here? And more baffling, how had she eliminated Tian Xi? In terms of raw physical appeal, Tian Xi was practically top of the food chain.

Did Tian Xi step aside to boost Lei Meow Meow’s chances?

Because everyone was in swimwear, the crowd stayed loosely spaced to avoid unnecessary contact—very courteous.

Rinka and I wandered around the throng like headless chickens until we finally found Haitang’s crew near the center. Yang Qi and Xiao Cangyu were there too, and even Yan Liuzhuan and Brother Feng Wu had shown up, though they hung further back.

“Ah, Commander, you’re here? Here’s your drink—and one for your crossdressing friend too.”

Haitang handed us two bright yellow juices, probably loaded with food coloring. I was too thirsty to care and took a big gulp... blech.

“Whoa, that’s sour. But thanks.”

“Thanks, little Haitang,” Rinka also thanked her.

They’d chatted over barbecue earlier, so they were on pretty friendly terms now.

“Don’t thank me—Yang Qi bought them for everyone. Thank her.”

I turned to the girl with the braided pigtails. She waved it off with a smile.

I asked, “So what’s the update on the situation? How did Tian Xi even get knocked out by Lei Meow Meow?”

Just hearing Tian Xi’s name made Tangerine puff out her cheeks in protest. “Onii-chan, are you still thinking about that thieving cat? Don’t be blinded by boobs!”

“Blinded? C’mon, Tian Xi and I are just friends… She just didn’t know I was a guy, so she got a little too friendly, that’s all.”

“If boobs are all you care about, well—I’ve got some too!”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Hmph! Boobs are just decorative. People at the top don’t understand that.”

Flat-chested Haitang clenched her fist in indignation.

“That’s why you’re still clueless, Commander.”

She crossed her legs, bounced one elegantly, and hugged her chest as she analyzed the situation.

“Sure, that big-boobed girl looked great in her white one-piece, but Meow Meow’s appeal isn’t just about looks or body. Her presence, that confidence—when she’s onstage, it’s like the spotlight follows her. Can’t you feel it? The whole stage revolves around her.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Since when did Haitang become a Meow Meow stan after a single game of volleyball? Still, I was glad to see their friendship growing.

She wasn’t wrong, though. I’d seen Meow Meow’s stage presence firsthand at Lose Moonlit. She had a natural charisma—a magnetic pull. That kind of quality? That’s leadership.

No wonder Lei Laohu had over a dozen loyal followers within a month—it wasn’t just money.

“By the way… what are you sitting on?”

It was too dark to make out clearly, but among the smooth sand, only Haitang had something to sit on. Kinda odd.

There was even her wooden sword sticking out of it. I reached over and pulled it free—and a splash of blood came with it. I yelped and dropped the sword.

“Oh, that? That’s Zhao Zhao.”

Looking closer, it really was a guy with a swollen, bruised face—like a human punching bag. The wooden sword had been stabbed right through his swim trunks, wedged in his butt. When I yanked it out, it drew blood.

Haitang had been sitting on Zhao Zhao’s back, which was stuck in a humiliating “orz” pose.

“...Is he even alive?”

“Relax, I used the back of the sword.” That again. Is there really a difference between the blade and the back with a wooden sword?

“This guy was acting like a h̲o̲r̲n̲y orangutan down by the stage—completely indecent. So I handled him before security could get here.”

She sighed regretfully. “Shame though. I really liked that sword.”

Could you maybe feel sorry for your childhood friend first?!

After Meow Meow waved to the audience, Qiaojue pulled a deep red rose seemingly out of thin air and handed it to her.

—“Beautiful lady, would you do me the honor of dining with me after the show?”

The magic trick was so smooth and stylish, I had to assume she’d practiced it on plenty of pretty girls.

Though I had to wonder… where was she hiding that rose?

You’d think Meow Meow, who used to be a guy, wouldn’t fall for that kind of move—but she accepted the rose with a dazzling smile, holding it delicately between her fingers. “Sure!”

Seriously? Just like that?!

“She can do magic too? That’s amazing!” Rinka exclaimed, impressed.

“Of course! She’s my chief intelligence agent—sometimes she also needs to moonlights as a phantom thief~”

What kind of student council is this?

“If it’s Qiaojue she’s up against, that violent girl might not win. Sis Qiaojue’s aura is pretty intense too.”

Thanks to that whole incident where Meow Meow punched me, Tangerine still held a grudge against her.

But she had a point in that too, Qiaojue’s charisma was also hard to ignore. She had the kind of sociability that won over everyone—boys and girls alike. Add to that a well-trained, athletic figure… It's not going to be an easy battle for Meow Meow.

“How exactly is this contest being judged?”

“Probably just a way to stretch the program. The organizers split it into rounds—random groupings, and then each round is decided by votes from the judges and the audience. Two in, one out.”

So Meow Meow must’ve drawn Tian Xi in the semifinals?

“This format’s slower, but it gives each contestant more stage time—more chances for the audience to get a feel for them. If it was just a single vote at the start, the big-boobed girl would’ve won hands down. Men are shallow creatures, after all.”

Shallow creatures, huh?

I glanced down at the motionless Zhao Zhao and nodded. “Can’t argue with that.”

“Onii-chan’s totally fallen for that thieving cat,” Tangerine muttered bitterly.

Lei Meow Meow’s charming voice rang out over the loudspeakers.

“Now it’s time for the finale, here comes a heartfelt gift just for you—a true showstopper! I’m performing my never-before-heard debut single ‘Restart’! Live and a cappella~ Be sure to show me some love~!!”

With a dramatic flourish, she whipped off her straw hat, and her sleek blonde hair cascaded down like a golden waterfall. Radiating confidence, she instantly drew every eye in the crowd.

Stage fright? That word doesn’t even exist in her vocabulary.

Even though all the attention was on Meow Meow, my eyes drifted to the audience—where I spotted Uncle Lei Luo and Tian Xi frantically snapping photos around the stage. The speed at which they were working could put even the fastest Western paparazzi to shame.

Ah, I see now… They’re using this swimsuit contest as a publicity stunt to stir up some buzz, huh?