Plip-plip—plip-plip…
Snow-white feet stepped along the shore, flicking up sapphire spray that glittered in the sun.
In swimsuits, Momo and the others were a dazzling sweep of white against blue sky, white clouds, and the bright sea—impossible to miss.
"So cool~"
"It's the ocean!"
"This is this planet's sea?"
"Brother-in-law, come on!"
"Coming."
Shichen glanced once at Frieren—already one with the lounge chair—and decided to leave her be.
He waded in. The chill hugged his feet, then crept up his calves, through his body, into his heart. September heat still pressed down, and the sea's cool drove it off in a rush.
The water deepened. Once it reached his knees, he'd reached the girls.
"Brother-in-law! Heh~" Momo splashed him, impish.
"Oh, you're asking for it—take this!" Shichen splashed back.
Sploosh!
Caught off guard, Momo took a faceful. Pearly droplets beaded the rosy fairness of her skin.
"Eek—cold! Brother-in-law, so mean~" she pouted, every inch the delicate little miss.
"You started it," he shot back, shameless.
"Ugh… the little bit I splashed is nothing like that," Momo protested.
"Fine, fine, I'll apologize—what the—?!"
"Take this!"
SPLASH!
Just as he was about to apologize, Momo snuck in another volley with both hands cupped, drenching him head-to-toe.
"Heehee~ Tricked you, brother-in-law~" Momo crowed, backing away and waggling her head.
"All right then—if you're gonna play dirty, I won't go easy."
"Hmph~ I'm not scared. I've got backup."
"Backup?"
"Big sis! Yui! Nana!"
"On my way~" Lala swam over in long strokes.
"Count me in!" Yui was hyped.
"Are we… really doing this?" Nana hesitated.
"It's fine—we're frail maidens. Many versus one is totally fair. Brother-in-law, you won't mind, right? Or are you scared?" Momo taunted, smiling.
"Scared? Nice try. Whatever—one versus four it is." He sounded absolutely confident.
"You said it!"
"Shichen, heads up!" Lala immediately cupped and hurled water his way.
She'd been itching to join ever since she watched Momo and him.
Rrroooar—
The surface surged, and a wall of water reared toward Shichen. He twitched an eyebrow—Lala's strength was way over the line. This wasn't splashing; it was making a wave.
Maybe he'd gotten cocky.
Momo and the others froze. This wasn't a water fight; strangers would think it was a blood feud. The wave rose two meters high, shadow rolling over him; the shallows dropped a notch around their thighs.
Shichen had no desire to be body-slammed; he dove aside, knifed under, and arrowed away.
"He's gonna be okay, right?" Momo couldn't see him—only the wavering wall. Worry crept in.
"Well…" Yui began.
"Big sis and he… aren't they in love?" Nana asked, unsure.
"Don't worry," Lala said, all smiles. "Shichen's really strong. He'll be fine."
"He'll be fine, sure… but what about us in a minute?" Yui said.
"We're done for!" Nana blanched, suddenly getting it.
Unlike big sis, they weren't powerhouses. If Shichen and Lala started throwing divine-level moves, they'd be collateral damage.
"I—I don't think brother-in-law would splash innocent bystanders…" Momo said, not quite convincing herself.
"Would he now?" a teasing voice sounded behind them.
They spun around. At some point, Shichen had surfaced behind them.
"W-When did you get over there?" Yui blurted.
"Just swam. You think I'd stand there like an idiot?" he said. "Though, yeah, that was kind of fast."
"See? Told you—he's fine." Lala chirped.
"Sure. I'm fine," Shichen smiled, eyes turning dangerous, "but you three? Not necessarily."
"B-Brother-in-law… Lala's the one who splashed you. You're not going to take it out on us—"
"Aren't you all on the same team?" He dipped a hand into the sea, still smiling. "Anyway…"
"Watch out!"
Rrrrmmm—!
A heavy rumble rolled out as the surface began to heave, one swell after another racing toward them.
"Ooh, cool!" Lala clapped.
"Now is not the time!" Nana snapped.
"Run!"
"Brother-in-law—!"
They barely got the words out before the wave swallowed them. Then—silence. The combers kept rolling, tumbling shoreward.
Only one person bobbed unbothered: Yami, reclining in a donut float, letting the swells rock her while she soaked up sea and sun. A one-against-many brawl sounded fun—and favored the one—but she knew he wasn't the losing type. In the end they'd get the short end; he might even tease them into public embarrassment. Hard pass. She'd lounge solo.
The sea soon calmed. No bodies washed ashore—just empty water.
Sploosh!
"Pft—almost swallowed seawater," Lala popped up first, not even moved from where she'd been. Pink hair sleeked down her back, sun glinting off the water. Droplets traced the rosy white of her skin, streaming here to there, pattering back to the surface—provocative in spite of itself.
Most compelling, naturally, was the generous curve of her chest—the bright white swell, the cleft holding a little pool—inviting a drink.
"Pwah— brother-in-law, so mean~" Momo surfaced, spitting brine. Her bobbed pink hair plastered to her cheeks; with that pout she looked helpless, protective instincts tugged.
"Ugh… thought I'd die. So salty!" Yui came up next, tongue out in misery. Her long black hair clung to the flawless white of her back; the bead-bright water begged to be licked away.
"This is suffering…"
Last up was Nana. She came up back-to-them, twin tails intact, back a jade-smooth plane.
"I think I'm sitting out your 'battles' from now on…" she said, turning—and froze.
"E-eh? Nana, you—?!" Momo stared, wide-eyed.
"Wha—?!" Yui yelped.
"What?" Nana frowned, not getting it.
"My, my—Nana, how bold," Lala giggled.
"Bold? What do you mean?"
"Nana," Momo covered her mouth, smiling, "maybe look… down."
"Down?"
Nana glanced down. As usual—nothing in the way; she could see straight to the clear water. The sea mirrored nothing—her face, pink hair—and two budding cherry-petal tips—wait.
She blinked. Then it hit.
Her top was gone.
Her gaze jumped ahead. Not far away, her bikini top floated open like a startled eye, bobbing in the water—blatantly conspicuous.
She snapped her eyes to her hips. Thank goodness—the bottoms still hung on.
"Nana?" Momo prompted, seeing her stuck in silence.
"…," she heard Momo and remembered—everyone was here.
Which meant—everyone was looking at her.
Heat exploded across her, apple-red, neck to ears to toes. Her head creaked around toward Shichen.
Of course—he was staring.
Eyes tilted just a bit down.
Where he was looking didn't need guessing.
Shameless! Barefaced!
Shame surged head-to-toe. One thought blared across her mind:
He saw me!
With nothing covering me!
By this newly met brother-in-law!
This philandering turnip of a brother-in-law!
How was she supposed to live?!
"NOOOO—!" Brain blotting white, Nana clapped both arms over her chest and squatted under the surface, completely submerged.
Her scream rang across the entire little island.