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It was a beautiful day at the beach. The sun was shining, the waves were crashing, Aoi was coming, and there were too many people!
For Yodaka, going to school in a room full of students was bad enough, but at least there, everyone was always looking toward the front (and away from him). But the beach? The ones on the sand were looking at the water, meaning if he went to the water, they’d be looking at him! But people in the water were looking at the beach, meaning they were also looking at him! Nowhere was safe for him to be alone!
“This is perfect!” Suzume said, stretching out her arms. “The beach looks lovely, and the people lovelier!” She turned to Yodaka. “In a place like this, you’ll easily be able to sweep Aoi off her feet!”
She tried to drape an arm around Yodaka’s shoulder, but Yodaka avoided it. Umineko then stood between them, which Yodaka was grateful for. He could always depend on Umineko.
“This will advance our mission,” said Umineko, looking calm as ever.
“While we get to play in the waves!” Suzume said.
“You’re still on the clock Suzume,” said Op.
“Are we ever not?”
“That’s beside the point!”
Yodaka ignored Suzume in favor of scanning the horizon, taking note of potential threats to himself (like other people) and potential threats to Aoi (none besides the risk of sunburn). Aoi would be coming with Hibari any-
“Noooozuki!” he heard Aoi call out.
Yodaka turned around, his face mysteriously becoming extremely hot as he saw Aoi running toward them. She was wearing a two piece swimsuit, as was Hibari who was running next to her. Yodaka meanwhile wore swim trunks and a hoodie, Suzume a hoodie over her swimsuit, and Umineko just swim trunks.
“Hi Nozuki!” Aoi said. “How are you? I brought Fujiyama.”
“Hi Aoi,” Yodaka said. “We just got here too.”
“Great!” She said, “Let’s go in the water! I’m ready to swim!” The others cheered in agreement.
Everyone went into the water, except Yodaka, who sat down near the umbrella to watch them play in the waves. Of the group, Suzume definitely wasn’t acting. Umineko and Hibari were in character, but also looked like they were genuinely having fun.
However, Yodaka’s real focus was on Aoi, who was laughing in the waves with a smile warmer than the sun. Her happiness was definitely real. And for some odd reason, just watching it was enough to lift Yodaka’s spirits too. Maybe happiness was infectious…
After a while, Yodaka looked away from them, toward the object he’d brought with him. The thing that he had originally intended to-
Footsteps approached. “Nozuki? Aren’t you coming in?” Aoi said, looking curious.
Yodaka looked up. He then looked down. “I-I’m fine,” Yodaka said. He’d never really spent time at a beach before. “I’m fine sitting here, watching you guys have fun. So you can-”
Before he could say another word, Aoi sat down and leaned against his shoulder, which for some reason caused Yodaka’s heartrate to skyrocket. What is this? Are these my battle instincts? But there doesn’t seem to be any threat around…
“Wow Nozuki,” she said, “This really is quite restful.”
“I’m glad Aoi,” he said.
“Have you ever been to the beach before?”
“No, not really. I think you’re the first one I’ve ever done this with.”
“Really?” she said, her wide eyes fixed at him. “Are you having fun?”
For some reason, it was easy for him to smile at that. “Yeah Aoi, I am.”
She beamed at him. “I’m glad!” She lay down and rolled over until her back was in the sun. “I’m going to rest for a while. Wake me if anything happens.”
“Alright, I will.”
So, Yodaka stood watch over her while the others continued their mock play, with the occasional glances to make sure all was well. After all, they had to keep up appearances, even if Aoi wasn’t looking. There were plenty of other assignments on this beach too.
Yodaka frequently found his eyes drifting back to Aoi. Her expression was so…peaceful. It was everything he’d sworn to protect. Yodaka wanted Aoi to live in peace, smiling as she played with her friends, and he would not leave her side until he had accomplished that.
But, he hadn’t been honest with her. Had he? In fact, there was something important he had to tell her.
Yodaka clenched his fist and tapped her shoulder. It was time.
“Wha? I studied, I swear!” She popped up. “Oh, Hi Nozuki.” She glanced at her nose which had reddened in the time she’d been lying down. “Aw man, I’ll be feeling this tomorrow.”
Yodaka passed her some sunscreen and let her reapply it while he stared at the ocean, wondering how to say it.
“Is something wrong?”
His mind was made up. “Aoi. There’s something I should tell you.”
“What are you doing?” said Op. Yodaka ignored the question. He wasn’t going to stop. Not now. He had to tell her the truth.”
“There’s something I wasn’t honest with you about.”
She blinked at him, looking uncertain, “What about?”
“I…I…” Say it, he thought to himself.
“Yodaka, WAIT-”
“I didn’t actually get you the keychain for your birthday! I’d already bought it and thought it would make for a better present than what I really bought.”
Aoi tilted her head. “Huh?”
“Huh?” said Op.
“I actually got you…” He held up the object in question. “An inner tube!”
Aoi stared for several long moments. With each passing second, Yodaka’s nervousness grew. Had he ruined their friendship? What would happen now? How would she-
“Phhhhtttt! Hahahahhahaha!”
Yodaka watched as Aoi doubled over laughing so hard she almost tripped over her own feet. What was so funny?
“That was it?” she said. “You looked so serious that I thought it was going to be something bad!” She wiped a tear from her eye, then inspected his gift. “An inner tube?”
“Yes. It was something useful that a girl wouldn’t get for herself and didn’t seem obvious,” he said.
“Yodaka…” said Op in an exasperated tone.
Yodaka glanced back out at the others. Umineko was watching with his typical stoic face, Suzume was cheering with two thumbs up, and Hibari was burying her head in the water in what almost looked like a halfhearted attempt to drown herself.
“That makes a lot more sense,” she said. “The keychain was kinda weird, but mostly normal. This one though is very…you!” she said. She hugged it close. “It seems perfect for the beach, doesn’t it?”
“Yes,” Yodaka said. “Yes it does.”
“Perfect! Then you can watch me!”
“What?” Something about that made his chest tighten. Was he still injured?
“After all, if you gave me this as a birthday gift, you should see me enjoy it!”
He wasn’t used to friendships and their various unwritten rules, but he supposed that made sense. “Alright,” he said, “I will.”
“Great!” she said.
However, in the corner of his eye, Yodaka saw Suzume motioning to him. Like she was trying to signal him to do something. Hibari was glaring at him like he was being an idiot. But what could-
“Yodaka!” Op said. “Don’t just sit on the shoreline! Go with her!”
Yodaka leaped up. “Onmyway!” he whispered. Then, to Aoi he said, “I-I’ll come to.”
She blinked at him. Then pumped her first. “Hooray! Let’s go!” She turned around and ran out…and immediately faceplanted. “I’m ok!” She then ran out again, while Yodaka followed. They paddled out just past the waves. Aoi sighed as she relaxed in the sun. “It’s fun to splash around with the others, but sometimes it’s also nice to just kick back and relax. Right, Nozuki?”
He nodded.
“I’m glad we’re all hanging out,” Aoi said. “It’s nice to do nothing with friends..”
“Yeah,” he said. It was his mission to be her friend, but that wasn’t why he did it. He became her friend because he wanted to, and enjoyed spending time with her. Mission or no mission. In fact, he enjoyed being able to spend time with her in a way that had nothing to do with the mission.
A large wave suddenly rose up above Aoi, whose eyes were closed in contentment. Yodaka flipped over and threw out a powerful kick, blowing a large gap in the wave so it missed Aoi.
“Huh, what was that?” Aoi said, briefly opening her eyes to look around. She shrugged and returned to sunbathing.
Ok, maybe it has a little to do with the mission.
“Hey, Nozuki?” Aoi said.
“Yeah?”
“I’m really glad you came out here with me.”
Yodaka couldn’t believe he was saying this. Before this mission he never would. But… “Yeah. I’m glad to be here too.”