The girl that loves the beach and the boy that loves the ocean part 6

The sun leaked through the gruelling summer air like an oasis shrouded in sunlight. The air was stifling, hard to breathe even. This countered the beautiful breeze from the ocean, which sat adjacent to the grains of golden sand, overrun by the sun.

The two formed a perfect balance between hot and cold.

Futoshi gazed through the open window that looked out to the beach in front of them, and now stood in the luxury two-story beach house he dreaded to set foot into. The view was a picturesque painting, like a famous artist had gone and drawn all over the oceanic skyline. 

"What are you doing standing there? If you have time to stand, you have time to help us unpack!" 

A sharp tongue broke through his peace, taking him out of the daydream-like view he had been staring at.  

"Can a guy not get interrupted while gazing upon these luxuries?"

"What are you, a poet? help out!"  

Reina had stripped him of the peace that he had been experiencing, forcing him to help the group move their belongings into the beach house.

Futoshi hoisted up a few boxes that were placed by the car they had come in.

Ojino-senpai didn't even give me a chance to pack my toothbrush! She just waltzed up to my house with her two chauffeurs and hauled me to this place! Talk about taking advantage of privilege...

From what they knew, Rin had a rich background, the contents of which remained a secret to the majority.

Now carrying the boxes close to his chest, they all varied in weight. After what felt like a one-mile hike of box hauling, he finally made it back with the first set of boxes. 

He lowered himself, so he was levelled to the sand-kissed ground beneath him. 

From where the house was situated, it was often the case that the sand got blown back up the trail leading to the luxurious building. Due to this, when he got to the end of that long road, he dusted off all the sand that had encompassed his shoes.

Just then, Futoshi tapped his shoes together, signalling a large clump of sand to be dispelled from them. 

And this is why I hate sand!

If you wanted a comparison, it was like a spell in some RPG game. Within an instant of the tap, the shoes were now largely wearable. 

He steadfastly slipped them back on before descending down the trail once more.

"Hey, Futoshi, need some help?!" 

A hoarse voice clashed against the sound of the waves behind them. Turning, Futoshi gazed at the rather muscular figure peeking round the door frame. it was...

Haruto? I could use the help, sure, but I don't know how well he could handle such a long hike.

Futoshi had decided against accepting Haruto's bellowing call; chalk it up to arrogance or whatever, but when faced with such a challenge, he felt that it was his responsibility to get things done.

"Futoshi! The last set of boxes is down here! Are you gonna hurry up and get them? Or are you gonna keep playing hooky with Nakamura-kun?"

Reina shouted up to Futoshi, who had been standing at the top of the trail. Her words carried teasing, yet an annoyed intent.

This little- here I am helping out, and she still pins this on something like hooky. 

"Weren't you the one saying, 'if you have time for staring, you have time to help out'?" 

Futoshi shouted back at Reina, hoping she'd let it go. As soon as those words reached her, she dismissed them and turned back round. 

"Idiot." She whispered.

                                                                                    ***

The group had put their heads together and finished the dragged-out box hauling.  Now standing inside the house, Futoshi returned to the open window, which had now been slightly pushed ajar.

The cool summer breeze brushed past his skin; the feeling was comforting, like wrapping yourself in a cold blanket in the summer. It was a refreshing turn of events from being out in the sun-covered outdoors. 

Behind the house stood a plain of ground and gravel, which was often cited for having thin air, something Futoshi and the rest of them could attest to. 

Reina, who occupied the couch, located in the centre of the luxuries, sprawled her delicate figure so that it took it all.

"So hot... Hey Rin, got any ice? Any more of this, and I might seriously die." 

She placed a hand on her forehead, the sweat practically glued to her body.

Around this time in Japan, the weather is situated between sunny spells and spells of rain. It was one of those infuriating feelings. One moment you could be enjoying a youth-filled summer with friends, the next, rain hammers down to rain on your parade.

"Sakura-san, are you just gonna lie there all day? We need to get things ready for... Shuchin-kun." Haruto sat himself on the floor next to Reina, hoping she would move.

"Shuchin-kun? Oh, you mean Yamada-kun, what's there to prepare for? All we need to do is talk about how Hajime-san is going to confess." 

Reina brushed off the hint, with logic that had some merit. Despite how she looked, she wasn't called the 'honour student' for nothing.

Although this came with a caveat. She often said things bluntly, or things people would be too afraid to say. 

In the short time they had talked, Futoshi found that side of her oddly comforting. Even as much as they butted heads, it was like he could always rely on her to speak the truth. Something Futoshi had been grateful for. 

"Oh, and by the way, Haruto, call me Reina from now on. It's not like we're strangers, so calling me 'Sakura-san' still is pretty weird."

Reina shot a smile toward Haruto, one that encompassed all their time as the confession club. Even though this was only  their second confession, they had been through a lot up until this point,
something that Reina was undoubtedly grateful for, even if she didn't say the words. 

Haruto's eyes widened.

"Why? We hardly know-"

"That's just a lie, isn't it? You're one of us. Rin and that numbskull over there all call me Reina, so why can't you?" Her voice was indifferent, like she had already seen him as a part of the team.

Ever since he joined, Haruto had always stood on the sidelines, not really engaging in group discussions apart from the one-off joke or quippy one-liner. He felt it'd be better if he let the others go about their business while he just watched over them. 

That was until... one name change it all.

Yamada Shuchin.  

Ever since Aoi spoke of that name, he had put on airs; he knew in his heart he needed to apologise.

He'd set the record straight and built back up burnt bridges. 

Just then, a knock rang out throughout the villa. 

"Hey Rin, did you order food?!" 

Reina shouted to Rin, who was situated by the door, about to reveal who it was. With that, Reina swung the door open, revealing who was on the other end...

It was him.