The sun peeked through the swaying palms.
Jiwoon sat at the edge of the water, watching the tide pull in and out. His coat lay beside him, boots off, feet buried in the cool sand.
No missions. No voices.
Just the ocean.
Behind him, laughter rang out.
Kaelya and Vera were splashing each other in the shallows — soaked, barefoot, wild with sun. Neither wore armor. Neither looked like warriors.
Just girls. Just now.
Kaelya called out, "Hey, grim reaper! Gonna sit there all day?"
Jiwoon didn't respond.
Vera smirked. "He's meditating on how to properly brood."
Kaelya waded toward him, hands on hips. "Fine. If you won't come to the ocean…"
She scooped a handful of water and threw it at him.
Jiwoon blinked as it hit his face. Slowly turned.
"…Wrong move," he said, standing.
Kaelya squealed and ran. Vera laughed and splashed him too — only to be caught mid-dodge and dragged into the tide with him.
The three of them wrestled in the waves, clumsy and chaotic.
For once, Jiwoon didn't hold back his smile.
Later…
The sun was beginning to dip, casting gold across the sea. Jiwoon, shirt damp, sat on a beach towel while Vera combed her hair and Kaelya roasted a marshmallow over their tiny firepit.
Vera looked at Jiwoon, studying him. "You smiled today."
He looked at her, then away.
"I did?"
Kaelya chuckled. "Twice, actually. I counted."
Silence fell. Not awkward — just warm.
Jiwoon stared at the horizon. "If this was it… no missions, no system, no sins… would you stay?"
Vera's gaze softened. "With you?"
He nodded.
She didn't answer. But she reached out and took his hand.
Kaelya did too.
They sat like that until the fire went out.