The manta ray glided down through the clouds and landed softly on the sand. Warm air rolled across the shore, carrying the sound of crashing waves. For the first time, the subjects stepped out into sunlight.
"Boys and girls," Hojo announced, smiling faintly, "welcome to the beach."
The children hesitated at first, shielding their eyes from the brightness, then slowly began to scatter across the sand. Some laughed. Others ran toward the water. It was the first time in years any of them had seen the open sky.
Guards stood at a distance, watchful but relaxed. Aura and Hojo supervised nearby—Aura reclined on a chair, sunbathing, while Hojo helped the staff set up tents and a campfire.
Aura wore a dark bikini, her long hair tied back. Some of the guards stared a little too long, though she didn't seem to care. Hojo, in his casual shirt and shorts, ignored them all, focused on the work.
Rin stood near Aura's side until she was told she could go play. She nodded silently and joined Jin, who was already in the water, splashing and laughing.
A little further up the beach, Sona sat beneath a palm tree, watching the others. Her gaze lingered on Hide, who stood at the edge of the shore, the waves washing over his feet.
Hide closed his eyes, breathing in the salt air. For the first time, he felt calm.
Sona approached quietly."Beautiful, isn't it?" she said softly.
Hide smiled, eyes still closed. "Yeah… it really is."
Sona stood beside him, closing her eyes as well. For a moment, the two of them simply listened—to the wind, to the waves, to the rare silence that wasn't filled with screams.
Then a splash hit them both.
"Well, would you look at that," Jin called, grinning. "You two look like lovers!"
Sona's face turned red instantly. "I-It's not like that!" she said, turning away.
Hide's face flushed too. "We were just… enjoying the view."
Jin laughed. "Sure you were. Stop standing around and come have fun! We won't get another chance like this."
He ran back into the water, Rin following him. Hide hesitated, then stepped into the surf. The waves lapped around his legs as Sona joined him. She smiled shyly, then dove into the water, splashing him.
Hide looked around—the others were laughing and playing, but he caught whispers and glances from a few who still feared him. Their eyes lingered on his left eye, the one marked by the God's Eyes.
He looked away and floated on his back, staring up at the vast sky.
Sona swam closer. "Hide-kun, are you okay? You seem distant."
"I'm fine," he said quietly. "It's just… the others are afraid of me. Because of my eye. They think I'm a monster."
"Don't let them get to you," she said. "You're not a monster. Not to me. I'm not afraid of you, Hide, I'm—"
She stopped herself, her cheeks bright red.
Hide looked at her, puzzled but thankful. "Thank you, Sona."
As the sun began to set, the camp came alive with light.Hojo and the guards handed out food—mashed potatoes, bread, and soup. The boys gathered near Hojo's campfire while the girls sat near Aura.
Hide sat beside Jin, the orange glow of the fire flickering in their eyes. Jin tore into his food happily, while Hide ate quietly.
"Jin," Hide said after a while, "I'm sorry about the experiment. I almost got us both killed."
Jin looked up, smiling. "Why are you apologizing? You saved both our lives. We're friends, Hide. That's what matters."
Hide smiled faintly. "Friends, huh…"
"Oh, and by the way," Jin added with a grin, "I think Sona has feelings for you. You should talk to her."
Hide raised an eyebrow. "And what about you and Rin?"
Jin's face went red. "We're just—uh—friends. Good friends."
Hide laughed quietly, and Jin joined in. The two of them sat by the fire, the stars beginning to shimmer above them, their laughter mingling with the sound of the waves.
Night fell.
The camp grew still as the other subjects drifted to sleep inside their tents. Only the guards, Aura, and Hojo remained awake. The fire crackled softly under the starry sky.
Hide couldn't sleep. He left his tent and wandered toward the shore. The sand was cool beneath his feet, the night air calm and heavy with the scent of the ocean.
He saw Sona standing by the water, looking up at the stars.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked, stepping beside her.
"I wanted to see the night sky," she said. "I heard there might be shooting stars tonight."
"Shooting stars, huh?" Hide said, looking up with her. "They say if you see one, you can make a wish… and it might come true."
The two stood together in silence, their reflections shimmering on the water's edge.
Then they began to walk—slowly, side by side along the shoreline. Sona followed behind, her bare feet fitting neatly into the footprints Hide left in the sand.
Hide stopped suddenly. Sona almost bumped into him. When she looked up, their faces were only inches apart.
"Sona," Hide said softly, "can you keep a secret?"
She nodded.
Hide leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips.Her eyes widened, her cheeks turning red. Above them, a shooting star streaked across the sky, its light shimmering over the waves.
Hide stepped back and smiled at her. "Goodnight, Sona."
Before she could respond, he turned and ran back toward camp.Sona stood there for a long time, touching her lips and looking at the sky.
"I guess," she whispered, smiling faintly, "the wish really did come true."
That night was a moment they would both remember—brief, fragile, and unforgettable.