Chapter 18: Beach Day & Jealous Hearts

The train ride to the beach was loud enough to drown out Ren’s heartbeat, but not enough to distract him from one simple fact:

He was about to see Yuki in a swimsuit again.

He tried to stay calm. He tried to convince himself it would be fine. He tried to tell himself he was an adult inside, more mature than his teenage body.

He failed at all three.

The moment they stepped onto the sand, the class scattered to change. Ren wiped sweat from his palms and told himself not to overthink it.

Then Yuki walked out of the changing area.

She wore a modest swimsuit—simple colors, nothing flashy. The kind that covered more than it revealed.

Ren still forgot how to breathe for a second.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “What? Is something wrong?”

“No,” he said quickly. “Just… making sure nobody tripped behind you.”

“That makes no sense.”

“Yeah. I know.”

Before the air could get any more awkward, Sena stepped out next.

Her swimsuit was the opposite of modest—bright, stylish, and chosen to grab attention. She walked straight to Ren with a smile.

“Ren, can you help me put on sunscreen? It’s hard to reach my back.”

Ren froze.

Yuki’s eye twitched.

And before Sena could lock her arm around him, Yuki stepped forward, sliding right between them like it was instinct.

“Sunscreen’s over there,” Yuki said. “Ask one of your friends.”

Sena blinked, thrown off for a moment. “Oh… I didn’t realize you two were—”

“We’re not,” Ren cut in.

Yuki looked away.

Sena kept smiling, but the edge of it softened into something tight. She walked off without another word.

Mina, watching from a distance, whispered, “Oh, Yuki’s down bad.”

Haru snorted. “Told you.”

---

It turned out Ren didn’t escape the sunscreen situation.

Yuki handed him a bottle. “Your back’s already turning red.”

He groaned. “Seriously?”

“Turn around.”

He did.

Her hands were gentle. Too gentle. Ren had to focus on the waves to keep his heartbeat normal.

“Done,” she said softly.

He turned around—and realized she hadn’t applied any to herself.

“…You missed a spot,” he said, pointing to her shoulder.

“Where?”

He hesitated. “There.”

“Ren, just say it.”

So he did.

She handed him the bottle again without looking at him. “Fine. Your turn.”

Their hands brushed.

They both pretended not to notice.

---

A sudden summer rain rolled in while everyone was playing volleyball.

People scattered toward shaded areas. Ren ended up stuck under a large beach umbrella… with Yuki right behind him.

They stared at the downpour.

“This is awkward,” Yuki whispered.

“Yeah.”

“You’re too close.”

“You’re the one who followed me.”

“I wasn’t following you.”

“You definitely were.”

“…Shut up.”

But neither stepped away.

Their shoulders were almost touching when Haru called from across the beach, “Hey! Lovebirds! Need help?”

Yuki threw sand at him. It didn’t reach, but the intention was clear.

--

Once the rain cleared, the class rushed back to the water.

Ren and Yuki ended up side by side in a half-accidental, half-forced race.

Mina counted down.

Haru filmed.

Sena watched like she wanted someone to trip.

“Ready—go!”

Yuki shot ahead immediately.

Ren tried to catch up.

He couldn’t.

By the time he reached the buoy, she’d already touched it and raised her fist in victory.

“I win,” she said. “Again.”

Ren wiped water from his eyes. “You didn’t have to sprint like you were escaping from your taxes.”

“Maybe train your stamina.”

“I’ll take that personally.”

“You should.”

She smirked, and he felt warm all over again.

--

Haru had been watching Mina all afternoon. Not creepily—just… carefully.

Which was why he noticed when a tall guy from Class 3-B sauntered up to her.

“Hey, Hasegawa. Wanna grab shaved ice? Just the two of us?”

Mina blinked. “Oh, uh—”

She didn’t get to finish.

Haru stepped in, placing himself between them. “She’s with me.”

The guy stared. “She is?”

Mina stared too. “I am?”

Haru nodded, stone-faced. “Yes.”

The guy raised his hands. “Alright, alright. My bad.” He walked off.

Mina repeated, “I am?!”

Haru turned to her, went scarlet, then tried to recover with terrible confidence. “I mean—not officially. But you know. You’re with me.”

She stared at him.

Then she whacked him on the head with her beach hat.

“You don’t get to say things like that without warning!”

“Ow! I was protecting you!”

“Warn me next time!”

Haru rubbed his head. “So… you’re not mad?”

Mina looked away.

“…That’s not the word I’d use.”

Her cheeks didn’t cool down for a long time after that.

--

Back in her room, Mina sat on her futon brushing her hair, but her mind replayed the same moment.

She’s with me.

Her chest warmed in a way she didn’t expect.

“Haru is an idiot,” she murmured.

But she smiled.

And for the first time, the thought of him saying it again didn’t scare her.

It made her feel… relieved.