Part 1
Touma walked down the stairs that led to the southern beach of Tenryu, one of the most remote and peaceful areas of the island.
He wore more relaxed clothes and carried several bags filled with things.
"How about we go to the south beach Saturday afternoon and relax while watching the stars at night? What do you say?"
Those had been Hina's words.
After the battle against the Juggernaut, resting at the beach didn't seem like a bad idea. Especially for Akari… and Doctor Weiss's recommendation.
"Looks like tonight will be clear…" he murmured.
"That is correct, Touma-sama. The sky will be ideal for observing Jupiter or the Orion Belt," Ellie reported from his glasses.
"The temperature will be pleasant, and there are no reports of otaku shark attacks."
Touma blinked.
"Otaku what…?"
"Hey, Touma!"
Jake's voice interrupted his thoughts.
The young American carried a portable cooler, and his outfit was much more relaxed than Touma's. He was even wearing an unbuttoned blue and red shirt.
"Jake, you got here early."
"Yeah. I had to buy the drinks, so I figured I'd come straight here."
Touma looked at the cooler he was carrying and couldn't help but imagine it was filled with liquids labeled as nuclear hazards. After all, Jake was a fan of weird drinks.
"Is there anything in there that isn't a risk?"
"Life's a risk, man."
Touma sighed.
"That's not the answer I was expecting."
"What a surprise… style and common sense are two things Americans don't have."
Shizuki's voice made both of them turn.
And there she was.
Wearing an elegant white dress and a wide-brimmed hat, as impeccable as ever. At her side, her assistant carried several bags.
"Look, it's the ice princess. Didn't think you knew where the beach was," Jake commented playfully.
She simply ignored him.
"Shizuki, it's good to see you. You look radiant as always."
"Thank you."
She nodded calmly, maintaining her usual composure.
Though, deep down, she was very happy about the compliment… she was just trying to hold it in.
"Do you already know where we're going to sit?"
Touma pointed to a spot on the beach.
"I was thinking about—"
"Oh, you're already here. I told you to walk faster, Mirai!"
"S-sorry…" the girl murmured, lowering her head.
The three of them turned to look at them.
Mirai wore a pastel pink dress, she looked like a doll.
Meanwhile, Hina… well, she's Hina. She was dressed quite casually, with shorts and a light blue T-shirt.
"What a surprise… the monkey didn't dress in silk," Shizuki commented, looking at Hina.
"Who are you calling a monkey, you stone-faced albino?"
Shizuki's expression hardened slightly.
"Right… I forgot that in addition to your obvious lack of elegance, you also lack manners."
The two of them seemed to be throwing sparks with their gaze.
"What a beautiful dress, Mirai," Touma said.
"Yeah, you look very radiant. You definitely bring color to the beach," Jake added.
"T-thank you… I like this dress," she replied shyly.
"Touma-sama, I am certain that if world peace had a human form… it would look like Mirai."
Even Ellie seemed impressed.
"Well, we're all here. Now we're just missing the main star," Hina announced enthusiastically.
At that moment, as if she had been waiting for her cue…
Akari made a big leap from the top of an elevated area and landed hard on the sand.
"Heroin landing!"
But as soon as her knee touched the ground, her body trembled.
"…Ah."
And the next second, she began rolling across the sand, clutching her knee.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch…! That hurts…!"
Her companions watched her in complete silence.
…
"Incredible," Jake murmured. "Didn't even last five seconds."
Meanwhile, her family came down another nearby set of stairs.
"Daughter! I told you not to jump! The doctor was clear, you must not strain yourself!" her mother scolded her.
Behind her, Akari's imposing father, her brother, and the guy no one knew who he was approached carrying bags, coolers, and some chairs.
"Akari!" Touma greeted from a distance.
She walked over and struck a confident pose.
"How's it going, guys? The Tsubasa family is here!" she announced dramatically.
Her father, her mother, and her brother had an intimidating aura, almost like a yakuza family… while Tanaka just looked like an extra.
While everyone greeted Akari, her mother, Aira, approached Touma.
"So I finally get to meet you in person… thank you for saving my daughter," she said, bowing slightly.
"It was nothing, Mrs. Yamada. I just did what anyone would've done to help a friend."
She shook her head gently.
"I don't think so. The normal thing in that situation would have been to run away."
"But you, the blond, and the albino faced that thing against all odds… to help my daughter," she added, looking at Jake and Shizuki.
Touma scratched his cheek, a bit uncomfortable.
"I promised Akari I would always be with her. At that moment, I just acted without thinking… and everyone wants to protect her, no matter how strong she is."
In the distance, Akari kept greeting the others with a radiant smile.
Mrs. Yamada stepped a little closer, standing beside him.
"Thank you for being Akari's friends. She was always rejected because of her strength…"
She paused briefly.
"But since she's been with you, I see her very happy. She doesn't seem to be pretending anymore like before."
"This time… it feels real."
After saying that, she walked away to greet the others.
Touma knew all of that was true.
Before meeting Akari, the rumors about her weren't good.
"She beats her opponents mercilessly."
"She looks like a man… she's not feminine at all."
"She's a monster."
But seeing her now, smiling alongside everyone…
He understood that no one had bothered to get to know her for who she really was.
"Touma, Touma! Let's sit over here! This spot has a beautiful view!"
Akari's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
The group began setting their things down on the sand.
Touma smiled, watching the last rays of the sun disappear over the horizon.
"I'm coming!"