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Sand squishes between her toes, the soft, damp consistency perfect for her project. She already knows it will last there for the next week, sand always hiding in the nooks and crannies of her belongings. But this is the beach! She can't ask the sand to leave, or for it to be grass instead. You can't have a beach without sand, it would be plain ridiculous! So she ignores the future discomfort and focuses on her creation.
The floaties make it difficult to properly move her arms, but Mama had insisted she have them on at all times, afraid she could drown in the nearby water. Papa agreed, the crinkle of worry that laid in his eye everytime she was in the vicinity of something that could maybe be dangerous. In the end, he was also forced to wear a set by Mama. She keeps them on, even when she isn't swimming, even when they hinder her ability to play, because she doesn't want to worry Mama.
Misaki never wants to worry Mama.
She knows Mama struggles alot with remembering, Papa had told her when she was very young about Mama's condition. Constantly reassuring her that she loved Misaki more than anything, even if she could never remember. Told her that his Mama was just like her's, and that she could always talk to him about it if she was upset. But she had made it her mission to make it easier for Mama, to help her so that maybe one day, she'll remember her.
So the floaties stay on! And she powers through while building her sandcastle. She flips the pale over, gently patting the bottom then pulling it up, leaving behind a perfect mound. She grins, proud of her work.
"Misaki! Sunscreen!" Papa calls out, holding the bottle of SPF 50 up. She leaves her sandcastle behind, rushing to him.
Mama let's out a gasp, "Aww! Is that your little sister, Matsuda?!~" But Papa rolls his eyes, busy rubbing sunscreen on her back.
"No, now hush."
"No!?"
He let's her go, turning to Mama and explaining that she's not a random little girl, while Misaki rushes back to her sandcastle. But when she returns, she sees all her hard work in a messy pile of clumpy sand. She bends down, confused, running her hands through the damp sand. Looking around, she tries to see if someone destroyed it, the glares at the tide, daring it to confess. Tears threaten to spill, a whole days work ruined by an unknown culprit. Slumping over and devastated, she returns to her parents.
"-no, Dummy, you can't- Misaki?" Papa's worry crinkle returns, eyes scanning her body for visible injuries. She just pouts, wrapping her arms around his tacky Hawaiian shirt and buries her face into his chest. She feels his arms wrap around her, Mama's hand patting her head.
"My castle got ruined." She mumbles into Papa. "I wanna go home..."
Papa's chest moves suddenly, like he took a big intake of air and was about to respond, but Mama beats him to it.
"Castle? Like, a sandcastle castle? I love building sandcastles!" Misaki unburies her face and looks at her, noticing Mama reach out her hand, giving her a bright smile. "Come on! Let's build one together!~"
Misaki unwraps her arms, gently taking Mama's hand. She leads her back to the remains of her castle, watching as Mama begins to mould the sand. She bends down and starts to help, listening as Mama rambles about the best techniques of building sandcastles. Watching in awe as she begins to build the coolest sandcastle Misaki has ever seen.
They take turns watching over the castle while Papa drags them over to reapply sunscreen, careful to ensure another incident doesn't accure. They look for seashells and pretty rocks to decorate it, inventing imaginary characters who live there and what they do. They begin to build a sand city, making sure to include everything important building so their sand citizens can live their best lives!
But as it grows later into the day, the tide creeps closer, until eventually it takes her city, then her castle. Destroying all their hard work and fun. Misaki wants to cry again, she wants her fun back, wants to keep playing with Mama. She wipes away her tears, not wanting, never wanting to worry Mama.
But Mama just glares at the tide, before giving Misaki a big smile and leaning down, pointing at her sleeping Papa.
"Let's go burry him in sand!~"
She reaches out her hand again, and Misaki doesn't hesitate, grabbing her hand and following Mama. Her sandcastle might be gone, but as long as she can keep playing in the sand, she will always be happy.
And when Mama forgets, Misaki gets to tell the story all over again.