Chapter 142: Beach House Breakdown

The beach house is… rustic. That is the polite term. "Actively crumbling into the sea" might be more accurate. It is old, creaky, smells faintly of mildew and regret, and the promised "ocean view" is mostly obscured by overgrown weeds. The lack of phone signal and Wi-Fi is tragically accurate. We are completely cut off.

"Isn't it charming?" Rina asks, beaming as she surveys the dilapidated porch.

"It has… character," Haruka allows, trying very hard to hide her disgust.

Kenji is already exploring like an overexcited puppy. "Look! A rusty anchor! And a possibly haunted well!"

Miki just sighs and starts checking the structural integrity of the floorboards. Hana looks like she wants to cry. I just feel a profound sense of doom.

The weekend begins. Rina and Haruka immediately implement their "Keep Rui Occupied and Away From All Thoughts of Aiwa" strategy. It is relentless.

Morning: Mandatory beach walk. Rina insists on holding my hand ("To keep from stumbling on the uneven sand!"). Haruka insists on walking on my other side, engaging me in a deep philosophical discussion about the existential angst of seagulls.

Afternoon: Mandatory group activity – attempting to assemble a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle of Mount Fuji that is missing approximately 300 pieces. Rina keeps "accidentally" brushing her leg against mine under the table. Haruka keeps "helpfully" pointing out puzzle pieces, her fingers lingering near mine. Kenji keeps trying to eat the puzzle pieces.

Evening: Mandatory "team dinner." Rina and Haruka engage in a passive-aggressive cook-off, each trying to prepare my favorite dish, resulting in a bizarre fusion meal of mapo tofu and carbonara that tastes surprisingly… okay? But the tension is unbearable.

Throughout it all, I am acutely aware of Aiwa's absence. My phone is a useless brick. I cannot text her. I cannot check her LUNA updates. I am completely cut off from my one source of relative sanity. The isolation only amplifies my confusing feelings, my guilt over the lie, my worry about what Rina and Haruka are planning.

By the second day, cracks are starting to appear in everyone's composure. Kenji is bored and has started trying to teach the local crabs interpretive dance. Miki has calculated that the house's structural decay rate suggests a 73% chance of collapse within the next 48 hours. Hana has stress-baked three batches of slightly burnt cookies.

Rina and Haruka's relentless focus on me is starting to fray their own nerves. They are running out of ways to subtly compete for my attention.

The breaking point comes during a mandatory "Group Bonding Bonfire" on the beach. We are sitting around a smoky fire, attempting to roast marshmallows. Rina is practically sitting in my lap, trying to feed me a perfectly toasted marshmallow. Haruka is sitting elegantly on my other side, offering me a curated selection of artisanal chocolates she somehow smuggled in.

"Onii-chan, say 'ahh'," Rina coos, waving the marshmallow near my face.

"Rui-kun, dark chocolate pairs better with the salty air," Haruka advises coolly.

I am trapped between a sticky marshmallow and expensive chocolate, the smoke from the fire stinging my eyes, the sound of the waves mocking my misery. And I just… snap.

"ENOUGH!" I yell, standing up abruptly, sending Rina sprawling slightly in the sand. "I cannot do this anymore! This is not team building! This is a hostage situation with better snacks! I am surrounded by lunatics! I need space!"

I turn and stalk off down the dark beach, ignoring their surprised calls behind me. I just need to be alone. I need to think. I need to figure out what is real and what is just part of this insane, complicated game. The sound of the waves is the only thing that makes sense right now. The chaos, however, is never far behind.