342. Beach Episode!

Water.

The bane of the filthy (Cer), and the nemesis of all felines (Ignis). Their fears regarding the sea never arose until they were finally face to face with the boundless, crystal-blue expanse. What was supposed to instill them with awe instead filled their hearts with terror.

Ignis instinctively despised the water. But the true reason wasn’t because she was afraid. Rather, it had more to do with her personal scent being washed away. Ignis waddled behind the group, sticking closely to Ber as their boots sunk into the sifting sands of the beach.

Boots were then kicked off and abandoned as bare feet trampled the shores, leaving behind many unique prints.

“Papa used to say that my scent smelt like mama’s. I was always afraid to wash it away.” Ignis whispered tenderly.

“You too!?” Cer cried, folding her trousers up past her calves. “Mom always used to tell me she loved my scent.”

“Shut up, Cer.” Frost sighed as the others began to remove articles. “You’re not fooling anyone.”

“Tch. Are you seeing this, Nav? How they abuse us just because we don’t like water!?” Cer barked.

“Your scent is unique, but not the kind I would want to associate myself with. Doggy.” Nav said, her eyes never leaving the ocean.

“Frost! Your machine is broken –!”

Their resident troublemaker was suddenly scooped from feet by Frost.

She hauled her over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes as she marched towards the sea.

“W-Wait – I don’t know if I’m supposed to like this or not!”

“Too late. Off to the ocean with you.” Frost sighed, but smiled regardless, her march became a sprint.

The warm sand turned cold as she neared the shore, causing the fur along Cer’s tail to stiffen and whack Frost’s face in futile resistance.

“If I gotta swim, then you gotta get changed into something more revealing!” Cer bargained for what felt like her life.

It caused Frost to pause abruptly. Sand kicked into the air as Cer believed that she was safe. A devilish grin formed on her face, her tail wagging fondly as she slapped Frost’s back, assured of her victory.

“Heh. I guess not. You were just a guy not that long ago so –”

“Alright.” Frost casually answered.

Cer was shocked.

Her eyes were peeled wide as she froze, staring down at Frost’s back as she felt this person’s heart race unexpectedly. Behind them stood the others, whose warm smiles told just how much they adored this surprising development.

No... Not really. If one thought about it, then it wasn’t that much of a surprise. They knew that sooner or later Frost was bound to completely embrace her body. It was all just a matter of time.

“… Wait – You’re ok with that?” Cer sounded concerned more than shocked. It wasn’t her intention to strongarm Frost, but thankfully, this was far from the case.

“I’m not going to lie, it’s weird to me. This body isn’t perfect, and it can feel like I’m wearing a costume. More than ever after getting back into my old body.” Frost began. The gentle waves were silent, wanting to listen to her calm voice. “But I’d be damned if I didn’t like being in this body too. Becoming ‘Sinder’ didn’t make me want to go back. If anything, it pushed me to realize that this me is the real me.”

Frost then continued after a brief silence:

“I’m not going to wear a bikini or anything. Haha… I still hate them. Probably for some irrational, ridiculous reason. But… because it’s you guys, I think I’m willing to give it a try. Nothing’s tearing me apart right now. It feels like it comes and goes.” She herself didn’t know how to explain how she felt, but her words were full of hope, and she could feel so many encouraging eyes support her from behind.

“As long as it’s nothing too showy. Maybe down the line I can learn to be a little bolder. Old habits die hard, huh?”

Jury mellowed at that immediate answer, and her ears flapped like tiny bird wings, knowing Frost was now all the more willing to explore options for her body. It was only natural for Jury to want to see Frost in something nice.

Of course, Frost wouldn’t consider this in public. But here, in private with people she’s become so close to, she’d be able to thaw and blossom. Frost had unconsciously walked deeper into the water. It was roughly knee-deep, but Cer never reacted strangely enough.

Suddenly, Cer asked something.

“Put me down.”

Cer, stared up at a somber Frost with sobered eyes, and when Frost blinked – a surge of water was thrown into her face.

“H-Huh!?” She was blinded temporarily.

At the same time, Cer dove in the water, submerging her entire body before leaping out with a long growl.

“Don’t give in so easily next time. Geez. If making me feel guilty was your plan, then what can I say, you won. Do what you like. That’s not gonna change who you are in our eyes.”

Her mature response would have been surprising if she didn’t expose her true colors back on that moonlit lake. Those words carried unbelievable weight. If the ocean was any deeper, Frost felt like she’d sink.

“So, you gonna get out of those clothes or what!?” Cer suddenly tackled Frost into the water, initiating a playful wrestling between the two.

“You little…!” Frost laughed alongside her fuzzy companion, rolling in the shallow waters as they bombarded one another with water attacks.

“Not fair…” Jury suddenly complained. “I’m coming in too! I just need to get out of this coat.”

“Hey, when the hell did Frost get so cute?” Ber remarked, nudging Jury with her tail. “Aren’t you happy as well Jury? Sooner or later, we’ll see Frost in a dress. Just like me! From me following her, to her following me! Maybe I was the real mother swan all along.”

“… Ignis, let’s go together. If you’re afraid of the water, then let’s go do something in the sand.” Res pulled Ignis away from the clinically insane Ber towards the wet sand.

“Ber has her moments.” Ignis chuckled, waving at Ber.

“Too many, more like it. Ugh… I don’t want to get these trousers dirty. Or my hair ties either. They tend to slip in wet environments. No one makes good quality hair ties anymore.” Res complained, allowing her hair to flow freely.

Though they were triplets, it never failed to surprise them just how identical they truly were. Aside from Ber of course. No one wanted to imagine the chaos that’d ensue if Res and Cer managed to ‘grow up’.