Chapter 13.3: Weekend Escape

Nearly twenty minutes passed.
Somehow...
The water fight had only become more chaotic.
Kenji had become Aiko's primary target.
Shadow somehow got dragged into every battle.
And Reina...
Had laughed more today than she had in months.
...
"I surrender!"
Kenji raised both hands dramatically.
"I'm defenseless!"
Aiko narrowed her eyes.
"...Liar."
"I swear!"
She immediately splashed him again.
"I KNEW IT!"
Kenji retaliated.
Within seconds...
Another water fight had begun.
...
Reina stood knee-deep in the water trying to catch her breath.
She brushed a few wet strands of blonde hair behind her ear.
"...They're impossible."
Shadow stood beside her.
"...Agreed."
For a while...
Neither of them joined the chaos.
Instead...
They watched their friends.
Aiko chased Kenji through the shallow water.
Kenji laughed so hard he nearly tripped over a wave.
Reina smiled.
"I'm really glad we came."
Shadow looked toward the ocean.
"...Me too."
She blinked.
"You actually admitted that."
"..."
"...I did."
She smiled.
"I'm remembering this forever."
Shadow immediately regretted saying it.
...
A loud splash interrupted them.
Cold seawater hit both of them.
They slowly turned.
Aiko stood several meters away.
Trying very hard not to laugh.
"...Oops."
"You did that on purpose."
"...Maybe."
Shadow calmly scooped up another handful of water.
Aiko's smile disappeared.
"...Shadow."
"...Don't."
Too late.
Splash!
"AHHH!"
Kenji burst into laughter.
"You deserved that!"
"You're supposed to be on my side!"
"I was."
"For two seconds."
Within moments...
The battle started again.
...
Nearly an hour later...
All four collapsed beneath a large beach umbrella.
Completely exhausted.
Kenji dropped onto the sand.
"I've seen heaven."
Aiko handed him a bottle of water.
"Drink before you become a raisin."
"...Thanks."
Reina quietly opened a bottle of water.
The sea breeze felt wonderful after running around all morning.
Shadow sat beside her.
His hair was still dripping wet.
...
...
Reina smiled.
"What?"
"...Nothing."
"You smiled again."
"...Did I?"
"Twice."
"..."
"...Maybe I like the beach."
Reina laughed softly.
"I knew it."
...
Around noon...
The smell of grilled seafood drifted across the beach.
Aiko's stomach growled loudly.
Everyone heard it.
She slowly looked away.
"...That wasn't me."
Kenji pointed at her.
"It absolutely was."
"It belonged to someone else."
"There are only four of us."
"...Details."
...
They found a small seaside restaurant overlooking the ocean.
Wooden tables.
Soft music.
Open windows.
The sound of waves mixed with quiet conversations.
Kenji stared at the menu.
"..."
"...How am I supposed to choose?"
Aiko leaned over.
"Order everything."
"The menu has forty-seven items."
"Exactly."
Shadow quietly closed his menu.
"I'll have curry."
Everyone looked at him.
"..."
"..."
"...At a seafood restaurant?"
Shadow blinked.
"...I like curry."
Reina laughed so hard she nearly dropped her drink.
"You really are something else."
...
Lunch lasted almost an hour.
Stories.
Terrible jokes from Kenji.
Aiko laughing at every single one.
Even Shadow spoke more than usual.
Without realizing it...
He had started enjoying conversations.
...
After lunch...
The group wandered along the shoreline.
They bought ice cream from a nearby stand.
Aiko somehow finished hers before everyone else had taken five bites.
Kenji stared.
"...How?"
"I have talent."
"That's not talent."
"It's dedication."
...
The afternoon slowly faded into evening.
Golden sunlight painted the ocean.
The water shimmered like liquid gold.
The beach became quieter.
Families began packing up.
Children waved goodbye to the ocean.
One little boy excitedly ran toward his father.
His father laughed before lifting him onto his shoulders.
The child cheered happily.
The family slowly walked away together.
...
Shadow quietly watched them disappear into the distance.
Reina noticed.
"What is it?"
Shadow kept his eyes on the family.
"They look happy."
Reina followed his gaze.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"...Yeah."
"They really do."
A cool breeze drifted between them.
For several moments...
Neither of them spoke.
Then Shadow quietly smiled.
"...I wonder what it's like."
Reina looked at him.
"What?"
He watched the little boy laughing on his father's shoulders.
"...To be a father someday."
Silence.
...
Reina froze.
Without realizing it...
A picture formed inside her mind.
A small house.
A child laughing.
Shadow standing nearby with that same calm expression.
...
Her heartbeat suddenly became louder.
Her cheeks slowly turned bright red.
Shadow noticed immediately.
"...You okay?"
Reina quickly looked toward the ocean.
"I-I'm fine."
"...Just..."
She laughed awkwardly.
"...Never mind."
Shadow tilted his head.
"...Okay."
He never realized...
What had just crossed her mind.
...
Far behind them...
A camera shutter clicked.
The photographer lowered his camera.
One photograph.
Then another.
The image on the screen showed four university friends.
Laughing.
Relaxing.
Living ordinary lives.
He quietly saved the pictures.
Before disappearing into the crowd once again.
...
Dark clouds slowly gathered far out at sea.
At first...
Nobody paid any attention.
Then...
A distant rumble echoed across the horizon.
Reina looked toward the sky.
"...Was that thunder?"
Another flash.
Much closer this time.
The wind suddenly became stronger.
Beach umbrellas shook violently.
People began looking upward.
A lifeguard shouted across the beach.
"Everyone! Please head inland!"
"A storm is approaching!"
Aiko blinked.
"...Already?"
Kenji frowned.
"The forecast said sunny all day."
As if answering him...
A single raindrop landed on his forehead.
Then another.
Then another.
Within seconds...
The peaceful beach disappeared beneath a curtain of heavy rain.
The four looked at each other.
Then burst into laughter.
"RUN!"
They grabbed their bags and sprinted toward the bus station.
None of them knew...
The storm was about to turn a perfect beach trip...
Into a night none of them would ever forget.