Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
A warm sea breeze brushed against their faces, slipping into their sleeves and trouser legs.
Kento Nanami spread his arms slightly, squinting as he took in the moment. His pale blond hair gleamed under the sunlight. He walked along the shore, his feet sinking into the damp sand, grains filling the gaps between his toes.
He inhaled deeply, the salty scent of the ocean hitting his nose and making him sneeze.
"Nanami!"
"Nanami-senpai!"
Yu Haibara and Takuma Ino came running over, both dressed in swim trunks.
Nanami glanced at them. "You two came as well?"
"Of course! Shion-senpai gave us a three-month vacation!"
"Three whole months, we can finally relax properly!"
Nanami allowed a small smile. "Then let us enjoy it."
Haibara and Ino suddenly froze.
"No way… Nanami actually smiled!"
"And it was not one of those stiff ones!"
"Impossible. I must be seeing things."
"Yeah, this has to be a hallucination. With Shion-senpai's personality, there is no way he would give us three months off."
Nanami: "..."
"Keep talking nonsense and I will send you both back to Jujutsu High."
They immediately laughed awkwardly, pretending nothing had happened.
"Nanami, let's go surfing!"
Haibara lifted a surfboard excitedly. After a brief pause, Nanami followed.
Work hours were over. This was a vacation.
He decided to let go and try things he never had before.
Surfing, fishing, sailing. By evening, the three walked along the beach, satisfied. Tourists gathered around bonfires nearby, singing and dancing.
"This is amazing," Haibara said sincerely.
"Yeah," Nanami replied, stretching slightly, feeling more relaxed than usual.
Ino stepped closer. "You look happy, so why are you not smiling more, Nanami-senpai?"
Nanami: "..."
What do you expect when you keep forcing it?
"Hey, Nanami, if you keep that serious face, you will never get a girlfriend."
"...Shion told me something similar."
"See, I knew it!"
"No, I just think both of you are equally incomprehensible."
They continued chatting as they approached a seaside bar.
"This place looks interesting. Should we have a drink?"
They walked in, only to stop in unison.
"Ui Ui?"
The young boy stood on a stool behind the counter, expertly mixing a drink.
"Huh? Nanami-senpai? You are here too?"
Ui Ui looked genuinely surprised.
Mei Mei stepped out from the back, equally surprised to see them.
"Mei Mei-senpai? You own this place?"
She flipped her hair casually. "Of course. I have several businesses in Kuala Lumpur."
She gestured toward them with a smile. "Since we ran into each other, drinks are on me."
"Pick whatever you like."
Haibara's eyes lit up. "Really?"
He immediately reached for a bottle of red wine, only for Mei Mei to snatch it away.
"Not that one. That costs three million yen."
"..."
"Then this one?"
"Not that either. Seven million yen."
"Uh… then…"
Mei Mei stood protectively in front of the expensive bottles, watching him like a hawk.
"..."
In the end, she raised her glass with a bright smile. "Cheers!"
Haibara stared at his drink, clearly dissatisfied. "Seriously? We ended up with the cheapest beer anyway."