The Beach Episode Part 2

The moment we stepped out of the car, the scent of the ocean washed over us, sunlight glinting off the waves.

Yuna froze on the spot. Not in fear, but in awe.

“...It’s beautiful.”

Her sundress fluttered softly in the wind, one hand resting on her belly as if she were sharing the view with someone else, someone very small.

My sister grinned, throwing her arms up.

“BEACH EPISODE FULL POWER!!!”

“Please stop narrating our lives… honestly, anime watchers would probably be annoyed by a little sister like you…” I muttered.

“No, they wouldn’t!... Right guys?” she replied with full confidence, looking into a non existing camera.

“That’s the 2nd time you did that today… I’m seriously considering booking you a doctor’s appointment, sis. Preferably with a psychiatrist.”

Yui just grinned and tapped her temple.

“It’s called 4th wall awareness. Look it up.”

Sakura laughed, brushing her hair behind her ear as she took in the view.

“It really is gorgeous. I almost forgot how nice this place is.” she said.

We walked toward the shore, the sound of the waves growing louder with every step. The beach wasn’t crowded. Families were spread out, some children building sandcastles, couples strolling around slowly along the waterline.

Yui suddenly stopped, snapped her fingers, and looked around dramatically.

“Okay, important announcement! Neither Yuna nor Sakura brought swimsuits.”

Yuna stiffened a little. Sakura just shrugged.

“And yet,” Yui continued, “this episode should at least have one girl in a swimsuit!”

Before I could say anything, she tore off her oversized shirt, revealing her swimsuit underneath, and sprinted toward the ocean.

“YUI…!”

Too late.

She ran straight into the waves, water splashing up around her legs.

“WITNESS ME!” she yelled. “THE TOKEN FAN SERVICE CHARACTER!”

“I’m never taking you anywhere ever again!” I shouted after her.

She waved from the water. “Worth it!”

Sakura shook her head, smiling. “She hasn’t changed at all.”

Yuna giggled quietly, but when she reached the edge of the sand, she hesitated.

She looked down at her sandals. Then at the water. Then back at her sandals again.

“I… um…” she murmured, trying to bend down, then stopping again, one hand automatically moving to her belly.

“You don’t have to go in. The water might be cold.” I said gently.

She shook her head. “No… I want to. It’s just…”

It took me a second to realize. There was nowhere for her to sit. She couldn’t take off her sandals like that.

“...Do you want me to take them off for you?” I asked.

Her eyes widened just a little. Then she nodded. “If… if that’s okay. The straps are… a bit annoying.”

I knelt infront of her. Sakura held her arm to keep her steady while I slowly loosened the straps. When the sandals finally came loose, the sand immediately stuck to her toes.

“Oh…”

Then she laughed.

A small, surprised laugh, like she didn’t expect the sensation.

“It feels… weird. I forgot how soft it is.”

She stood carefully, testing her balance, then took a cautious step forward as the water washed over her feet.

Yui splashed toward us, water dripping from her hair. “HEY! Why are you 3 still dry?”

“Some of us are appreciating the scenery.” Sakura replied calmly.

Yuna and Sakura only dipped their feet into the water, sundress lifted slightly, while I stepped in just far enough for the waves to reach my ankles.

And then…

“Ow–!”

I jerked back instinctively.

“Ren?” Yuna turned immediately. “What happened?”

I looked down.

A piece of shell, or coral, or maybe even glass.

Blood welled up against the water.

Yui pointed at me in horror. “This– This is illegal… Not on a special day like this…”

“It’s just a scratch.” I said quickly, though it stung more than that.

Sakura crouched beside me, already assessing it. “That’s bleeding more than ‘just a scratch’.”

Yui grabbed my arm. “Medical side quest. Lifeguard… NOW!”

“I can walk…” I said, even though that clearly wasn’t the case.

“Nope, the plot demands it.” she said calmly.

She practically dragged... no, supported me away, making sure I didn’t step on my bad foot as she waved over her shoulder.“DON’T MOVE! DON’T HAVE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT ME!”

—---------------------

When we came back, my foot was wrapped up neatly, and I was very explicitly told not to put full weight on it for atleast a day.

Yui supported me under one arm.

Sakura now walked on my other side. “You okay?”

“Yeah… though you probably have to drive us back now, Sakura.”

Yuna stood a little apart. She wasn’t looking at the water anymore. Her cheeks were pink, and she kept smoothing the fabric of her sundress like she wasn’t sure what to do with her hands.

When she finally noticed me watching, she startled slightly.

“Ah–” she stopped herself, then smiled.

It was a weird smile. Like she’d just been pulled out of a thought she wasn’t ready to share.

“Let’s collect seashells!” Yui suddenly announced, dropping me off in the sand. “We can pretend to be in one of those cute slice of life montages!”

She grabbed Yuna’s hand and pulled her gently along the shore.

Yuna laughed, stumbling a little. “A… montage?”

“Yes! Come on!”

Sakura followed them.

I just sat there in the sand and watched.

3 girls… laughing… wind in their hair.

Yui immediately dropped into a crouch, eyes scanning the ground like a treasure hunter.

“Oho. OHOO. Look at this one!” she held up a shell triumphantly. “This is at least B-rank!”

“That’s literally broken.” I said.

“FLAWED, not broken!” she corrected. “When something isn’t perfect, it adds character!”

Wow, this gremlin said something decent for once.

Yuna glanced back at me once.

Her eyes softened.

“This one! This one is perfect for you, Yuna!” Yui held up a small pink shell.

“For me…? Why?”

“Because it’s cute and round like–”

“DON’T finish that sentence!” I snapped.

“...your face.” she smirked.

I sighed.

Yuna giggled.

Yuna sat down carefully in the sand, reaching for another shell, Yui immediately declaring it legendary.

—-------------------------

A little later, nature called… demanding a return on all that lemonade I had.

“Hey, Yui… can you help me get to the restroom?” I said quietly.

She didn’t even look back. “Me and Yuna are in the middle of an important debate. This shell might be cursed!”

“It’s literally just a shell…”

“Sakura! YOU’RE UP!” Yui yelled.

Sakura immediately stepped in beside me, supporting my weight without comment.

----------------

On the way back from the public restroom, Sakura suddenly spoke to me:

“Are you sure you two aren’t together?”

“W.. What?! No. Of course not.”

“Really?” she asked flatly.

“Yes! Why would you even…”

“Because… you look at her like she’s fragile glass you’re trying to keep from shattering. And she looks at you like you’re the only place she feels safe.”

I opened my mouth. Closed it. Opened it again…

Nothing came out.

“Ren.” Sakura continued, voice calm. “The way you talk to her, the way you help her… that’s not normal neighbor behaviour. Honestly, it’s more like how a husband acts.”

For a moment I couldn't form a single thought.

“I’m just helping because she needs it.” I managed. “She’s pregnant and alone. Anyone would do the same.”

“No.” she whispered. “They wouldn’t.”

I didn’t like the tight, unfamiliar feeling in my chest.

Before I could respond, Yuna and Yui came into view again.

“Onii-chaaan!!” YUNA FOUND A PERFECT SHELL FOR YOU!!!!”

Sakura smiled faintly and patted my arm.

“Think about it.”

—---------------------------

We stayed until the sun dipped low, painting the sky in gold and soft pink.

Yuna shifted beside me.

“I… shouldn’t stay much longer.” she said.

“Because you’re tired?”

She hesitated. “...Partly.”

That pause… Probably something about her job.

I didn’t push.

“That’s okay. We can head back.” I said, the others agreeing.

She looked relieved. “Thank you.”

We returned to the car.

My sister was already planning “Beach Episode 2”.

Suddenly, Sakura turned toward Yuna.

“Let’s do this again sometime. Maybe just the two of us.” she said warmly.

“Just us?...” Yuna blinked.

Yui immediately pouted. “HEY. What about me?”

Yuna and Sakura burst out laughing, almost in sync.

I watched them. A small bond was forming between them.

One that felt important… especially for Yuna.

—---------------

POV —> Yuna

When Ren and Yui left to treat his foot, the beach suddenly felt way quieter, though that was probably just because Yui wasn’t around anymore.

Sakura sat beside me.

“So… I’ve been thinking.” she said.

“About… what?”

“You and Ren.”

I suddenly felt my heart race.

“Oh… W–we’re not…”

She raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” I said quickly.

She looked at me suspiciously for a few seconds, waiting for me to keep going.

“...Well. I mean. I do like him, but not… not like that. Probably.”

She still waited.

And suddenly everything spilled out.

“W-what do you want to hear?” I asked shyly “I mean… yeah, I like being around him. He makes me feel safe. No one’s ever treated me like that before. And when he’s close I get scared… but it’s a good scared. And when he smiles my heart feels… weird. In a nice way.”

My face burned like I’ve never experienced it before.

She stared at me, then smiled.

“Aha. There it is.”

“W...what?”

“The truth.”

I covered my face. “I sound stupid.”

“No. You sound like someone who is falling in love.” she said gently.

My breath caught.

Then she looked away, her expression softening into something I couldn’t read.

“You know… when I saw him again after all those years, I wondered if maybe he could be someone for me. He’s handsome, he has money… and he was always a good guy.”

I stiffened.

“But…” she continued, smiling sadly. “... after seeing you two together at dinner… and today… I realized something.”

She placed a hand on my shoulder.

“I can’t… and don’t want to compete with that.”

Relief washed over me... followed immediately by guilt. I hadn’t meant to stand in anyone’s way. And yet… I couldn’t deny how much I wanted things to stay like this.

“But…” I managed

“No buts. Just listen.”

Her voice softened even more.

“I don’t know how I can help… but if you ever need anything, advice, support, anything at all, tell me. I’ll be your ally!”

My eyes widened.

“R…Really?”

She nodded.

“Really. So don’t be scared, okay? You’re not alone in this.”

I smiled… a small, fragile smile that felt like something... new. Something I’ve only ever shown to Ren.

“...Thank you.”

She squeezed my shoulder lightly.

“Anytime.”