Chapter Text
The sun is high in the sky, creating a bright light over the beach. It is the kind of weather in which you can’t help but be outside. There are hordes of people sat on the beach, sat on blankets and deck chairs. The sea is busy too, people scattered across the calm waves like flower petals on a pond.
There is a sense of comfort in staying on the beach, he realises. Here he can watch his friends from afar as they splash about in the ocean. He can’t help but smile as he watches his brother splash some water over Takeru. A small part of him tells himself that it is okay. It's better to be on the outside like this - this way he isn't being a nuisance to anyone else. It's his own fault that he can't swim after all.
"Aren’t you starting to feel a bit hot?" His attention is put back forth towards the other members of his party. Unlike everyone else in his friendship group, Yusaku was the only one to stay behind. He was sitting next to him, his eyes glued onto the laptop screen in front of him. "If you want to go for a swim you can.”
"Oh no, I'm fine." Jin lies. Truthfully. "It's nicer sitting on the beach "
Yusaku stares at him them, examining him carefully. He does that a lot, Jin realises - quietly examining others before speaking.
“I guess if you enjoy this heat, then I guess it is.” Murmurs Yusaku, before looking back to his screen. “I was starting to think of going swimming as well at some point.”
"To be honest…" He hesitates, unsure of why he is saying all this. He doesn’t know Yusaku that well yet somehow finds that he can admit his secret so easily. "I'm not that good at swimming."
Jin expects a reaction of shock. Most people are, asking how exactly he missed something so simple and when he explains that he was a rather sickly child growing up, he often gets a look of sympathy - something he does not want.
"I see." Hums Yusaku, looking back out towards the sea. His friendship group have now moved towards batting a ball around the ocean, moving to a more shallow part of the sea. "Although they don't seem to be doing as much swimming."
He's right, Jin realises. If he really wanted to he could join in with the others. It is only his fear that stops him, he realises.
"I guess so." His voice is a low mutter. "But I guess I'm more worried about what would happen if the waves were to crash onto me."
"They won't." Points out Yusaku, raising a finger towards the ocean. "It's a rather low tide. You could do it."
You could do it.
It feels weird hearing that phrase. Ever so often, he was so used to hearing from his parents and brother that he shouldn't do this. It's dangerous for him and his health - and that worry is still there.
"Your right, I could."
"Then why don't you?" His words act as an encouragement. "We could go up together.”
We could go together.
Jin isn’t used to this. While his friends are all rather kind, they all seem to have accepted his reluctance of the water. Even his brother had stopped encouraging to try and enter it. It
"I guess I will then." His voice shakes as he begins to stand, before reassuring himself. "You’re not going to take that laptop with you to the ocean are you?”
“Of course not.” There is the faintest of smiles on Yusaku’s face as he stands up. He brushes the sand off his swimming trunks, before shutting the laptop down and standing up. “I’m not that engrossed into my work to take it into the ocean.”
“Are you sure?” Jin lightly teases as they begin to walk towards the ocean, weaving through the people in front of him. Just as they reach the waves, Jin stops.
“Thank you, Yusaku.”
“It’s no problem.”