The sun was high, painting the sky in hues of gold and azure. Rin, who had woken up before the crack of dawn, practically bouncing with newfound gardening enthusiasm, had donned Hayate's oversized straw hat and a pair of his even more oversized gardening gloves, looking like a tiny mushroom peeking out from under a giant umbrella. She'd skipped out to the main room, ready to tackle the weeds with the zeal of a seasoned horticulturalist, only to find Hayate clad in vibrant floral swim trunks and flip-flops, a pair of fishing rods slung over his shoulder and a battered bucket swinging from his hand.
"The hell are you doing?" Rin blurted out, her gardening fervor momentarily derailed.
Hayate turned, a wide, sunny smile on his face that clashed spectacularly with her determined gardening attire. "Morning, Captain Green Fingers! We're going fishing."
"Fishing?" Rin said, her nose wrinkling with an expression that suggested he'd just proposed they eat a week-old sock. "Seriously?"
Hayate chuckled, the sound light and carefree. "What's wrong with fishing? It's relaxing. And we can catch our dinner. Fresh seafood, courtesy of yours truly." He puffed out his chest playfully.
"I thought we had a garden for that," Rin said, her voice laced with the dry sarcasm she'd been perfecting during her stay. "Full of… you know… vegetables."
"We do," Hayate said, unfazed by her tone. "But variety is the spice of life. Besides," he winked, "it'll be an adventure! Think of the bonding!"
Rin rolled her eyes so dramatically they almost got stuck. But the lure of a potential adventure, however fishy, was tempting. She followed him down to a rocky outcrop overlooking the ocean, the warm sand squishing between her toes, a sensation still novel after a lifetime of city pavements.
Hayate baited the hooks with practiced ease, his movements fluid and efficient. He handed one of the rods to Rin. "Here you go," he said. "Just cast it out there and wait. Patience is key, grasshopper."
Rin stared at the rod, then at the vast expanse of the ocean. "Cast it where? Like, towards Japan?"
Hayate sighed dramatically, running a hand through his slightly windblown hair. "Out there. As far as you can. But not so far that you lose your balance and end up becoming fish food yourself."
Rin glared at him, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I know how to fish," she said, her voice indignant. "I'm not completely useless."
Hayate raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Do you now?"
"Of course I do," she insisted. "I've… seen it done. On television. It looked very straightforward."
She took a deep breath, gripped the rod with determined enthusiasm, and swung it with a jerky, uncoordinated motion. The line went flying, landing with a pathetic plop just a few feet from the shore, the bait looking suspiciously like it was sunbathing.
Hayate bit back a laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly. "Maybe a little… more oomph next time, Captain Ahab?"
Rin shot him a death glare. "Shut up," she said, her voice tight.
She tried again, putting more force into the cast. The line went a bit further this time, but still resembled a tangled spiderweb more than a graceful fishing arc.
"This is boring," she complained after a few minutes of fruitless waiting, swatting at a persistent fly buzzing around her head. "Nothing's happening."
"It requires patience," Hayate said, leaning back against a rock, his own line taut in the water. "Something you seem to lack, judging by your initial casting technique."
"I have plenty of patience!" Rin retorted, her voice sharp. "I'm just not used to waiting for… slimy things to decide they want to be impaled on a hook."
"Maybe the slimy things aren't used to your… enthusiastic casting," Hayate said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Hehehe. Very funny," Rin said sarcastically, crossing her arms and pouting, looking rather like an angry chipmunk with exceptionally large, puffed-out cheeks.
They continued fishing in silence for a while, the only sounds the rhythmic crashing of the waves and the occasional screech of a passing seagull. Rin's frustration grew with each passing, fishless minute.
"Wait a minute," Rin said suddenly, her eyes narrowing as she spotted something in Hayate's hand. "Where did you get that ice cream?" Her voice held the accusatory tone of a seasoned detective uncovering a crucial piece of evidence.
Hayate looked down at the melting scoop of mango sorbet in his hand, then back at Rin's bewildered, slightly green-tinged face. "Oh, this? I did show you the huge freezer in the basement, didn't I? The one stocked with enough frozen treats to survive a small ice age?" He took a deliberate, slow lick of the sorbet, a smug expression spreading across his face.
Rin's chipmunk cheeks puffed out even further. "You have ice cream and you didn't offer me any? While I'm here, patiently waiting for these… these aquatic ninjas to bite my line?"
Hayate chuckled, shaking his head. "Relax, grumpy gills. Here." He offered her a cone of cold banana ice cream.
Rin snatched it, her glare softening slightly as the cool, sweet sorbet hit her tongue. "Hmph. Fine. But you owe me a whole box later."
"Deal," Hayate said, grinning. "Now, back to our silent communion with the sea."
A few more agonizing minutes passed. "Are you sure there are even any fish here?" Rin asked, her voice laced with utter exasperation.
"Of course there are fish here," Hayate said, his voice calm. "You just have to be patient. And maybe stop looking like you're trying to wrestle the fishing rod."
"I am being patient!" Rin insisted, her voice rising with each syllable.
"No, you're not," Hayate countered, his tone still even. "You're fidgeting, complaining, and occasionally making faces at the water. Fish can sense that."
"Fish can sense my complaining?" Rin said, her voice incredulous. "They have sonar, not emotional detectors!"
"Yes," Hayate said, a twinkle in his eyes. "They have very sensitive ears. They prefer polite, encouraging anglers."
Rin stared at him, her mouth slightly agape. "You're making that up."
Hayate shrugged, a picture of innocent nonchalance. "Maybe. Maybe not. It adds to the mystique of fishing, don't you think?"
Just then, Rin's line gave a sudden, sharp tug. Her eyes widened, all previous annoyance forgotten. "I think I've got something!"
She started reeling in the line, her hands shaking with a mixture of excitement and sheer panic. The line was heavy, and she struggled to turn the reel, her muscles protesting with every rotation.
"It's a big one!" she exclaimed, her voice breathless, convinced she was battling a kraken.
Hayate watched her, a smile playing on his lips, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Take your time, Captain. Don't let it get away. Remember, gentle but firm."
Rin continued to reel, her face contorted in concentration. The fish fought back with surprising strength, pulling hard on the line, threatening to yank the rod right out of her trembling hands. It was a miniature aquatic tug-of-war, and Rin was rapidly losing.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Hayate's hand covered hers on the reel. His touch sent a jolt of unexpected warmth through her, making her cheeks flush a deep crimson. Her breath hitched, and for a split second, her strength completely abandoned her, her grip on the rod loosening.
"Whoa, easy there," Hayate murmured, his voice close to her ear, his presence an unexpected and slightly overwhelming warmth beside her. He guided her hand, his movements sure and steady, helping her to reel in the powerful fish. Rin's brain felt like scrambled eggs, a chaotic mix of surprise, embarrassment, and a strange, unfamiliar thrill.
Then, just as the fish came into view, a large, silvery snapper glistening in the sunlight, Hayate smoothly removed his hand. "There you go," he said, stepping back, his smile encouraging. "You've got it."
Rin, jolted back to reality, her cheeks still burning, gripped the reel with renewed determination. With a final heave, she pulled the magnificent snapper onto the shore.
"Wow!" she gasped, staring at the fish, her jaw dropping in genuine awe. "I caught that?" She jumped up and down, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. "I actually caught a big fish! Look at him!"
Hayate chuckled, watching her celebratory dance with a fond smile. "You did great, Rin."
Rin turned around, her excitement still bubbling, and caught Hayate's eye. The memory of his hand on hers, the unexpected closeness, flooded back, and her triumphant grin faltered. Her cheeks flushed again, hotter this time. She suddenly felt ridiculously self-conscious. She quickly knelt down, hugging her knees to her chest, trying to hide the blush that was surely visible from space.
Hayate helped her remove the hook from the fish's mouth, his movements gentle. "He's a beauty. Definitely dinner material."
"Speaking of dinner," Rin said, her voice slightly muffled by her knees, "who's cooking?"
Hayate smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes. "I am. And you're going to be surprised."
They walked back to the house, Rin carrying the impressive snapper with a proud, if slightly flustered, grin. Hayate cleaned the fish with swift, practiced movements, the silver scales flashing in the sunlight.
"I'm going to make something special," he said, his voice promising. "Something you've never tasted before."
Rin watched him, her curiosity piqued. She had only ever seen Hayate prepare simple meals, usually involving whatever vegetables were freshest from the garden.
He started preparing the snapper, his hands moving with surprising dexterity as he added various herbs and spices, the aromas filling the kitchen with an exotic, mouthwatering scent. Rin's stomach rumbled audibly. At one point, while trying to help by chopping vegetables, Rin managed to send a rogue slice of onion flying across the room, landing squarely in Hayate's hair. They both burst into laughter, the tension from the fishing incident completely forgotten.
After a while, the dish was ready. Hayate presented it to Rin with a flourish. It was a beautifully cooked snapper, its white flesh flaky and tender, served with a vibrant, fragrant sauce and a side of perfectly roasted vegetables.
Rin took a bite, her eyes widening in genuine surprise and delight. "This is… incredible," she said, her voice filled with awe. "You can really cook!"
Hayate smiled, a hint of pride in his expression. "I told you I could cook. I have hidden talents."
"You're full of surprises, aren't you?" Rin said softly, her gaze lingering on him.
Hayate chuckled. "You have no idea."
They enjoyed their delicious dinner, the conversation flowing easily between them, punctuated by shared laughter and comfortable silences. Rin couldn't help but feel a deep sense of contentment. The unexpected fishing trip, the thrill of the catch, Hayate's surprisingly gourmet cooking… it had all been perfect, despite the initial awkwardness and her own internal turmoil.
As they finished eating, Rin looked at Hayate, a genuine warmth in her eyes. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "For the fish, for the dinner, for everything."
Hayate smiled, his gaze meeting hers. "You're welcome, Rin. I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Rin looked down at her hands, still faintly smelling of the sea. "I did," she said softly. "I really did."
Hayate reached out and gently took her hand across the table, his touch sending another unexpected shiver through her. "That's good to hear," he said, his voice low and sincere. "Because I'm enjoying myself too."