Chapter 4: Resort Vibes!

Passing through the hotel courtyard, a stretch of pure white sand and a blue, shimmering sea spread out before them.
The moment the entrance to the beach came into view, Yuka suddenly broke into a run.

“Misaki-saaaan! This spot’s free! Hurry, hurry!”

Wearing a hoodie and a straw hat, Yuka bounced as she waved both arms high in the air.
At that innocent sight, Misaki let out a small laugh and waved back.

Misaki was wearing a thin linen cardigan over a white short-sleeved shirt.
She had no intention whatsoever of tanning her skin, but she seemed to be prioritizing ease of movement.
Today’s purpose was, after all—simply to relax.

Under a huge blue-and-white parasol were two white beach chairs.
Between them sat a small, wood-grain table.

The moment they arrived, Yuka briskly pulled off her hoodie.

“Ta-daa! I bought a new swimsuit! How is it? Isn’t it cute? Show me yours too, Misaki-san!”

“Huh? I’m not wearing a swimsuit.”

“Whaaat!? That’s a scam!”
Yuka shouted, her face twisting as if she were about to topple over in exaggerated shock.

“I’m fine just relaxing here.”
Saying that, Misaki opened her bag and took out a chilled bottle of Japanese sake.
Its label was painted in a calm blue that evoked a snowy landscape.

“Ehh! Japanese sake!? In a place like this, shouldn’t we be drinking something more tropical? You know—like something with coconut!”

“I can relax better with this.”
As Misaki sat down in the chair, she set the sake she had taken out on the table, then opened another small wrapping.
Inside was a ceramic ochoko, tinged with a faint bluish hue.
“This one. I bought it for today.”

“Whoa! It’s pretty! …Ah—wait, could that be!”
“There’s one for you too.”
Misaki took out another ochoko of the same design and showed it to her.

“They match! Yay!”
Yuka threw both hands into the air, bouncing with joy.

“Want some?”
After pouring her own, Misaki tilted the bottle toward her.

“I do, I do!”
Yuka hopped onto the chair as well, raised her ochoko, and was all set.

“Cheers.”

Their voices overlapped, and with a cool breeze, the clink of their toast echoed along the shore.
“Wow, it goes down so easily! It’s all light and whoosh!”
“Right?”
Nodding to herself with a satisfied look, Misaki took a sip from her ochoko.

“It’s kind of… resort-y, you know?”
Smiling, she set her ochoko down on the table.
“Okay, I’m gonna go to swim!”

As Yuka sprang to her feet, Misaki frowned slightly and called out to her.
“You shouldn’t go into the ocean after drinking. What if you drown?”

Yuka stared at Misaki, her face going stiff in realization—

“…I wanted to swim! You should’ve told me sooner!”

While Yuka shouted in protest, Misaki was already chuckling to herself again.
The clear sake filling the ochoko had a hue that somehow resembled the blue sky.