"So… we're changing into swimsuits, right?" Nana asked, torn.
"You can always just not get in the water," Momo reminded her.
"How could I not? We came all the way out here…"
"Then why ask? Relax—brother-in-law won't even look at you. With what you've got, there's zero appeal," Momo quipped mercilessly.
"I'm not that small! At least! At least compared to…" Nana's gaze swept the circle—past Yami—and finally stopped on Frieren.
"…Sorry I'm so small," Frieren muttered, pouting, voice faint.
"Uh—I didn't mean it like that. I mean, being small has its perks… like your shoulders don't get sore," Nana hurried to explain, stepping up to her.
"No thanks. I'd rather have sore shoulders," Frieren shook her head.
B-but people like small ones too, right? You don't have to worry," Nana was almost about to hug her. At last—a comrade in arms. Misery loves company.
Yami might be small too, but her whole frame is petite—she just looks delicately proportioned. Not like Nana and Frieren—flat flat flat. And she knew Yami could transform bigger or smaller. With a power like that, she doesn't count as a comrade!
"Small… liked…" Frieren glanced at Shichen. He was the one who liked it.
"Eh? D-don't tell me he—?" Nana noticed the look and squeaked.
"Yes. He really likes small," Frieren nodded.
"B-but Sis is… pretty big…"
"He likes big and small."
"Th—"
"Quit talking nonsense." Shichen walked over and flicked Frieren lightly on the head.
"Mmph~ I'm just telling the truth," Frieren said, lips pushed out in grievance.
"Do I 'like big and small'? I like you, and thus love all that comes with you—ever heard the phrase 'love me, love my dog'?"
"I nearly believed you… You were kneading with such enthusiasm—mmph~"
"What was that?" Shichen pinched Frieren's smooth cheeks and tugged outward, grinning without smiling.
"Mm… I didn't say anything," she surrendered instantly, mumbling.
"That's better." He released her and rubbed her cheek with his palm.
"'Love me, love my dog'…" Nana echoed under her breath.
"Nana, don't stress about yourself," Shichen said, gentle. "If someone likes you, they'll like all of you. No need to fixate on this. Small can be adorable, too."
"Wh—!" Nana slapped her hands over her chest, face flaming.
"Wait, don't get the wrong idea."
"You two-timing turnip!" Nana refused to hear it, spun around, and ran.
"…," Shichen sighed and shook his head. Quite the difference between the two little sisters.
"Brother-in-law, forget Nana—I want to change and get in the sea," Momo said, taking both his hands and turning on the charm.
"Okay," he nodded, raising his hand. From the Gates of Babylon, swimsuits spilled forth.
He had every size and style—never a worry about fit. He kept wardrobes to match every girl at home—underthings, swimsuits, you name it—covering every possible measurement.
"Swimsuits? So many? Where did those come from? And what's with the golden ripples?" Momo asked, wide-eyed.
Everyone looked over—some calm, some curious, some wary.
"Think of it as a bottomless bag. If I think of it, I can pull it out," Shichen explained.
"Wow! That's your power too? Amazing!" Starry-eyed Momo chirped.
"All right, grab a suit. Don't like the color, swap it. Lala, you pick first."
"Ehh~ fine."
Lala grumpily selected a white set, then—no hesitation at all—stripped right then and there and started changing, entirely unbothered.
"Sis, you…?"
"Lala!" Kotegawa Yui scolded, not knowing where to look.
"What's the big deal~? There's no one else here," Lala said, lifting a leg and—yes—facing Shichen head-on.
Shichen stared straight into the abyss—no, the shallow.
"Big sis is bold~" Momo clenched a fist, eyes full of awe.
"Don't you dare learn her bad habits," Shichen warned.
"Mm, I'll listen to brother-in-law." Momo chose a pink set.
Shichen produced a tent so she could change inside.
Seeing the tent, Kotegawa Yui and Nana stopped hesitating and came to pick theirs. Nana chose a red-and-white stripe; Yui went for black with ruffles.
For Yami, no need—her outfit could transform, pure black as always.
Frieren's, Shichen chose himself: very little fabric, three tiny triangles, also white.
Frieren didn't dare refuse; if she did, she feared it'd become… band-aid tier. She trusted Shichen at least wouldn't make her go nude. Everything else? He'd pick whatever was most embarrassing—because there were "no outsiders."
"Shichen~ I'm heading to the water first~" Lala wagged her tail and sprinted for the sea.
"I'll check the grove," Yami said.
Shichen didn't fuss. Not only the island but the surrounding waters lay under his barrier—no dangerous marine life would show. And even if they did—say a shark—that was one Lala-punch problem. The island's trees housed nothing threatening; this was a tiny speck in mid-ocean after all.
Of everyone here, only Yui lacked defensive means; Shichen would remove danger for her sake. He really should give her some protection—best would be to turn her into a vampire kin through a light bite—then she'd have a vampire's abilities. He'd find the right moment; their relationship allowed it now.
While the girls changed, he pulled more supplies: loungers, parasols, grill, spices… all set—except food. Food would be fresher caught: this island had rich waters—little lobsters, octopus, you name it. No king crab, but he could fetch those farther off. The little lobsters were mostly for the girls to chase, then eat.
As he finished setting up, the girls stepped out in swimsuits.
First was Momo.
"Brother-in-law!"
She trotted up, did a full twirl, generously showing the look off, cheeks faintly pink. "Well…?"
He looked her over. The pink suit seemed tailored to her—perfect fit. Skin, like Lala's, was milk-white with a rosy glow, youthful and lovely; her chest had real shape, the north hemisphere bright, belly flat with a neat navel. Legs not long, but proportionate—thighs with a bit of plush youth. Brimming with life.
"Gorgeous," he said.
"Really?" Momo's smile blossomed.
"Really. You're making my heart skip."
"Great!" She almost flung herself into his arms.
"Um…"
Nana shuffled out of the tent, Yui alongside her.
The striped suit on Nana's fair, rosy skin made her look petite and sweet; though flat, her delicate lines compensated, and with her shy face and evasive eyes, it was impossibly endearing. Yui's white skin against the black suit radiated composure and allure; and with that long, straight black hair—she was the very definition of quiet temptation.
"You two are so cute," Shichen said.
"C-cute… thank you," Nana murmured, not even managing a tsundere deflection.
"Am I just cute?" Yui was dissatisfied with the word choice.
"You're beautiful," Shichen amended, smiling.
"Good," Yui nodded.
"Yaaay—loungers and umbrellas! I'm saved!" Frieren burst out of her tent, sprinted straight to a lounger, and promptly flopped into maximum idle mode.
Shichen gave her one glance and let her be. Even if her triangles were the most "suggestive," her petite frame made her look like an elementary schooler—there wasn't much to evaluate.
"Brother-in-law, let's go in the sea?" Momo tugged his hand.
"Let's."
~~~
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