Chapter 36: — “Beach Chaos Chronicles: Part 1” — (Season 2 Episode 4)

The bus rumbled along the winding coastal road, the hum of the engine blending with the occasional crash of waves in the distance. Sunlight streamed through the windows, reflecting off the polished metal and bouncing onto the faces of the passengers inside. Mika sat near the middle of the bus, her legs tucked beneath her on the seat, while Sakura and Miyuki flitted around with energy, sharing their excitement about the beach.

“Look at this one!” Sakura held up a pastel pink bikini, dotted with tiny white seashells. “Doesn’t this just scream summer?”

Miyuki giggled, adjusting the straps of her own neon green swimsuit. “I know, right? But wait until you see mine! It’s got ruffles everywhere! I feel like a mermaid or something!”

Mika leaned closer, peering at both of their choices. She had already packed her own swimsuit, a simple navy blue set, but she couldn’t stop herself from squealing in delight at her friends’ enthusiasm.

“And… Akari?” Mika leaned slightly forward, tilting her head. “You… you brought a swimsuit too, right? You have to wear it when we get to the beach!”

Akari, sitting quietly near the window, stiffened. Her face flushed slightly, her ears tingling in embarrassment. “I… I did bring one,” she admitted softly, fiddling with the strap of her bag, “but I’m not planning to… put it on. It’s… embarrassing.”

Mika’s jaw dropped. “What?!” she shrieked, hands flying to her cheeks. “Embarrassing? Akari, it’s just a swimsuit! Everyone wears them at the beach! You can’t hide forever!”

Sakura and Miyuki leaned over, nodding vigorously. “Yeah, Akari! You’ll look amazing, I’m sure of it!”

Akari shook her head, glaring at them with a mix of stubbornness and mortification. “No. I’m a witch. Being almost naked in public, it’s… humiliating.”

Mika crossed her arms, pouting, and stamped a foot softly against the floor of the bus. “You’re impossible! I can’t believe this. We’re all going to the beach, and you’re just… hiding like that?”

“Listen,” Akari said, voice firm, though the faintest pink dusted her cheeks. “I… just don’t feel comfortable. It’s not about you three, it’s about me and… my… dignity.”

“Dignity?!” Mika groaned, letting her head flop onto the seatback. “Akari, come on! This is summer! Fun! Beaches! Sand! Waves! And… and bikinis!”

Sakura leaned closer to Akari, her eyes sparkling with mischievous determination. “I promise you won’t regret it. We’ll make sure you’re the cutest one on the beach.”

Miyuki nodded earnestly. “And I’ll take so many pictures! We’ll all have memories, Akari. You can’t hide forever!”

Akari groaned, pressing a hand to her face, but Mika wasn’t letting up. She leaned closer, poking her sister’s arm. “C’mon! You don’t even know how cute it is! Just try it! For me! For fun! For the beach!”

“I… I…” Akari stammered, flustered, her fingers fumbling at the straps of her bag. Her blush deepened, turning a bright, almost comical shade of crimson.

Mika leaned back dramatically, clenching her fists. “Fine. If you don’t take it, you’ll regret it forever. Forever!”

Sakura and Miyuki giggled, whispering between themselves, “We knew she’d give in eventually.”

Finally, Akari let out a long, resigned sigh. “Fine…” She reached into her bag and pulled out a neatly folded bikini, holding it up in front of her with shaking hands. “Happy now?”

Mika’s eyes went wide. She lunged forward, practically vibrating with excitement. “YESSSS!!!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, making the bus rattle slightly. Her voice echoed in the cramped space, drawing every eye on the bus toward them.

Passengers looked around in stunned silence, some leaning back in their seats, eyebrows raised, others shifting uncomfortably.

“MIKA! SHHH!” Riku shouted, turning crimson. “Stop screaming! Everyone’s looking!”

Mika froze mid-squeal, realizing she had caused a scene. Her face heated, eyes darting from the passengers to Riku. “I-I’m… sorry!” she stammered, bowing slightly.

The bus driver, a tall man with thick glasses and a no-nonsense expression, narrowed his eyes in their direction. “One more scream like that, and I’m kicking you all off the bus,” he said, voice firm.

Riku immediately straightened up, bowing slightly toward the driver. “I-I’m really sorry about that. It won’t happen again,” he said, voice calm but sincere, glancing nervously at Mika, who was biting her lip in embarrassment.

Mika froze for a moment, then whispered, “I-I’m sorry too…”

Riku rubbed the back of his neck, muttering under his breath, “Now I have to tip this guy to not think I’m spoiling them because of Mika…” He glanced at Kenji, who simply shrugged with a small, amused grin.

Kenji leaned back in his seat, smirking at the chaos. “I’d rather watch the show,” he muttered softly.

Akari’s cheeks were still crimson as she carefully folded the bikini back into her bag. “I… I’ll wear it… when we get there,” she admitted quietly, avoiding eye contact.

Mika bounced slightly in her seat, clapping her hands together. “Yes! I can’t wait! I can’t wait to see you in it!”

Sakura leaned over to Akari, whispering with a teasing grin, “You’re going to be the star of the beach, you know that, right?”

Akari groaned, burying her face in her hands. “I… I don’t want to be,” she mumbled, though the faintest smirk betrayed her embarrassment.

Miyuki whispered excitedly, “It’s okay! We’ll make it fun! You’ll love it!”

Meanwhile, Mika continued whispering to Riku beside her, her energy barely contained. “Do you see this? My sister’s finally giving in! I knew she would! Isn’t this amazing?”

Riku muttered under his breath, still slightly red from embarrassment. “Yeah… amazing…” He tried to focus on the road ahead, pretending not to notice every passing glare from the other passengers.

The bus hummed along, the scenery outside gradually changing to blue skies and sparkling water. Mika could barely sit still, glancing repeatedly at Akari’s bag.

“You’re lucky I’m not bursting out of my seat,” Mika whispered. “I’m literally about to scream again. But I’ll wait. Just… wait until the beach.”

Akari shot her a warning glare, though her blush didn’t fade. “Don’t… even think about it,” she muttered.

Riku rubbed his temples. “You’re lucky this bus ride is almost over. I don’t know if I can take any more… chaos.”

Kenji chuckled quietly, leaning back. “Relax, it’s just Mika. You’ve dealt with worse, haven’t you?”

Riku gave him a sidelong glance. “Yeah… I guess.” He turned his attention back to the window, silently willing the bus to move faster.

The ride continued, Mika bouncing in her seat every time the bus hit a bump, while Sakura and Miyuki whispered excitedly about the games they’d play and the snacks they’d bring. Akari stayed quiet, hugging her bag with the bikini inside, trying to calm the racing of her heart and the heat of embarrassment.

Finally, as the bus slowed near the beach entrance, Mika clutched Riku’s arm, her excitement barely containable. “We’re here! We’re finally here!”

Riku took a deep breath, glancing at the sprawling sand and waves ahead. “Okay… deep breaths. Just a normal day at the beach… nothing weird happening… hopefully.”

Mika squealed quietly, pressing her face into his arm. “I CAN’T WAIT!”

Kenji shook his head, smiling faintly. “This is going to be… interesting,” he murmured.

The bus driver opened the doors, and the group spilled onto the warm sand, the salty air filling their lungs. Mika immediately darted forward, arms raised in celebration. Sakura and Miyuki trailed after her, laughing and joking, while Akari followed more cautiously, her bag tightly clutched to her chest.

Riku let out a long sigh, watching Mika’s antics with a small smile. “Well… here we go,” he muttered to himself, gripping his hands behind his back, trying to brace for whatever chaos Mika would unleash next.

The moment their feet touched the sand, Mika practically launched herself forward, kicking up tiny clouds of golden grains. “THE BEACH! FINALLY!” she shouted, arms flailing as she ran toward the shoreline.

Riku groaned and jogged after her, hands behind his back, muttering, “Fun for her… terrifying for me…”

Sakura and Miyuki strolled behind, giggling and brushing sand off their feet. “This is nice,” Miyuki said, twirling her fingers through the grains. “No crowds, just us.”

Sakura grinned. “Yeah… finally peaceful… or as peaceful as Mika lets it be.”

Mika turned back, waving frantically at Akari. “SEE?! SEE?! THIS IS AMAZING! You have to try it!”

Akari’s face flushed a deep red as she hugged her beach bag closer. “Mika… lower your voice! Nobody needs to see this… or hear it!”

Riku pinched the bridge of his nose. “I swear… why do I always get dragged into this chaos?”

Mika ignored him entirely, bouncing in place. “Come on, Akari! You can’t just stand there looking like a tomato!”

Akari huffed, her arms crossed. “I brought a swimsuit, yes. But… I’m a witch. I don’t feel comfortable wearing this…”

Mika pouted, stomping her foot in exaggerated frustration. “Come on! It’s just us! There’s no one else!”

Sakura and Miyuki joined the pleading. “Seriously, Akari, just put it on! It’ll be fun!”

Akari hesitated, fiddling with the straps of her beach bag. “I… fine. But only because you won’t stop bugging me…” She quickly slipped into the blush-colored bikini, trying to cover herself as best she could. Her cheeks burned bright red as she adjusted the straps nervously.

Mika’s squeal echoed across the sand. “YESS! SHE DID IT! SHE LOOKS AMAZING!” She jumped up and down, nearly falling over.

Riku groaned, muttering under his breath, “I swear… she’s going to give me a heart attack…”

Kenji, lounging nearby under an umbrella with his sunglasses on, quietly called over to Riku. “I think she’s more excited than anyone I’ve ever seen…”

Riku glanced at him, exasperated. “You don’t say…”

Meanwhile, Mika had zero intentions of letting Akari rest. She grabbed a beach ball and tossed it toward her sister, who flinched and caught it clumsily. “H-Hey! Don’t hit me like that!”

“Relax! It’s just a game!” Mika laughed, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Akari’s eyes darted toward Riku, silently pleading for him to intervene. “Can… can you stop her?”

Riku shrugged, trying not to smile. “I’m not interfering. You brought this on yourself.”

Mika ignored them both entirely and ran toward the water, dragging Sakura and Miyuki along. “Race you to the waves!”

Riku followed cautiously, muttering, “I didn’t sign up for this…”

Once near the water, Mika jumped into the shallow waves, splashing around and laughing. “This is the BEST! I’ve waited all week for this!”

Akari stepped in carefully, the cold water lapping at her legs. “Ugh… so cold…”

Riku watched, gripping the water-worn sand between his fingers, his heart pounding a little at seeing Mika so happy. A small smile tugged at his lips.

Kenji, still under the umbrella, muttered softly to Riku, “You know… Akari’s really cute when she’s embarrassed like that.”

Riku froze, eyes widening slightly, then muttered, “W-what did you just say?”

Kenji smirked subtly, muttering so only Riku could hear, “Nothing important.”

Riku blinked, unsure whether to scold him or ignore it. He glanced back at Akari, who was trying to ignore the waves and Mika’s antics, her cheeks still bright red.

Mika noticed Riku hesitating and waved at him. “C’mon! Don’t be a wimp!”

Riku sighed, adjusting his glasses. “Fine, fine…” he muttered, stepping into the water, trying to maintain dignity.

Mika squealed again in triumph. “YES! YOU’RE IN! NOW WE’RE A TEAM!”

Akari, still at the edge, muttered quietly to herself, “This… is going to be a very long day…”

The waves crashed gently around them, and despite all the chaos, Riku found himself laughing softly at Mika’s excitement. For once, the world felt a little lighter, just sand, sea, and the small, chaotic group of friends he somehow found himself caring for so much.

The sun was high now, casting sparkling reflections across the water. Mika grabbed a plastic bucket from the bag she had stuffed full of random beach items and sprinted toward the sand. “SANDCASTLE TIME!”

Riku groaned, hands still in the shallow waves. “I didn’t know this was part of the plan…”

Sakura and Miyuki immediately joined in, digging and patting sand. “We’re going to build the biggest one ever!” Sakura declared, eyes shining.

Akari hesitated a little behind them, arms crossed, looking mildly embarrassed but curious. “Do… we really have to do this?”

Mika shot her a grin. “Of course! You have to participate or you’re disqualified!”

Riku muttered under his breath, “I can’t believe I’m competing in sandcastles… at my age…”

Kenji, still under his umbrella, raised an eyebrow at Riku. “You don’t look like a sandcastle kind of guy.”

“I’m… not,” Riku admitted, kneeling reluctantly.

Mika shoved him forward. “Then you’re up for the moat! Dig it deep!”

Grumbling, Riku knelt and began digging with his hands, sand slipping through his fingers. Mika and the others worked furiously, building towers, walls, and trenches, occasionally flicking sand at each other.

“Hey! Watch it!” Riku exclaimed as a rogue splash of sand hit his shoulder.

“Oops! Too late!” Mika teased, laughing as she splashed a little more.

Akari rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips. “Why am I helping you idiots again?”

Mika bounced over, grinning. “Because you want to see us win, obviously!”

Riku finally leaned back on his heels, surveying their half-finished fortress. “It’s… actually kind of impressive.”

Sakura gasped. “Riku said something nice! This is historic!”

Miyuki elbowed her. “Don’t get too excited…”

Kenji finally stood and stretched. “You know… if you want, I could help build a defensive tower. I’ve got experience from… a previous battle.”

Riku blinked at him. “What kind of battle are you talking about?”

Kenji smirked. “Sand battles. I’ve mastered the art.”

Before Riku could protest, Kenji grabbed a handful of sand and lightly flicked it at him. “You’re under attack!”

Riku yelped, jumping back. “I said I wasn’t ready!”

Mika doubled over laughing. “YES! ATTACK HIM MORE!”

Akari groaned, trying not to laugh herself, while simultaneously scooping water from the shallow waves to drench the sand towers.

Soon enough, the small group degenerated into a full-on sand fight. Mika launched sand at Riku, who dodged but tripped, landing in a shallow pool of water. “M-Mika! This isn’t fair!”

“You’re in the moat now! You signed up for this!” she shouted gleefully, flicking water at him.

Kenji chuckled quietly, muttering to himself, “I never thought sand could be this fun…”

Akari, however, wasn’t safe from the chaos. Sakura snuck behind her and flicked a small amount of sand. “Tag! You’re it!”

Akari spun, nearly losing her balance. “STOP! This is childish!”

Mika clapped her hands, shouting, “No! It’s perfect! Everyone gets involved!”

By now, the sandcastle looked like a war zone. Water, sand, and laughter filled the air. Riku was soaked, hair plastered to his forehead, and Kenji’s sunglasses had a layer of sand on them.

Finally, they collapsed in the sand, panting and laughing, the castle a crumbled mess around them. Mika flopped next to Riku, nudging him. “See? I told you this would be fun!”

Riku, wiping sand from his face, gave a small smile. “Yeah… I guess it is… when you survive.”

Akari leaned back, arms behind her, watching them all. “I can’t believe I’m enjoying this…”

Kenji glanced at Akari for a second, then muttered under his breath, “Yeah… she’s… cute when she’s relaxed.”

Riku, catching the tone, shot him a sharp glance. “What was that?”

Kenji shrugged casually, pretending nothing happened.

Mika didn’t notice any of it, too busy laughing at Riku’s soaked state. “We need to do more games! Water fights! Beach volleyball! Sand sieges!”

Riku groaned, but a small smile still lingered. “Fine… but next time, I pick the game.”

Mika pouted dramatically. “No fair! I’m the fun captain!”

Sakura and Miyuki laughed, exchanging glances. “This is going to be a long day…”