"With the last day at Suzu's house finally having arrived, there was little doubt at how to spend it."

"Thankfully the trip to the beach is a short one from Suzu's house, with she and I squeezed into the back seat of her sister's car along with our stuff, and Hisao in the front. Tsubasa just taps away at the wheel as she drives, her homely hoodie thankfully shirked in favour of a light, airy shirt."

tsu "Everyone got everything? I'm not turning back, you know."

mik "Yes, mom."

"I look to Suzu, her gaze directed out the car window. While she might put on her usual stoic act, it's obvious that the whole affair around her parents has taken its toll on Suzu. If nothing else, at least this trip might take her mind off things."

his "Not taking a swimsuit, Tsubasa?"

"Come to think of it, Hisao's slipped into using her first name in the last few days. I barely even noticed the change."

tsu "You sound disappointed."

his "Well..."

mik "He's not the only one disappointed, you know."

tsu "Not much for swimming, I'm afraid. Just here to cool off from uni for a bit."

suz "All you ever think about is your university work."

tsu "That's what uni's like, Suzu. Some day you're gonna have to go through all this, too."

his "Planning on following your sister into engineering?"

suz "What? No."

tsu "It's not that bad..."

"I kind of want to jump into the conversation, but there's not much I can really say. Far as my mind goes, the end of Yamaku is a full stop. A period at the end of a sentence. I don't have the grades nor work ethic to make it very far."

"Suzu just stays quiet, with Hisao and Tsubasa ending up talking between themselves. With Hisao proving a willing audience, Tsubasa tends to talk casually about this aspect of her work and that with him, occasionally wandering into other aspects of her life almost accidentally."

"It's charming, for lack of a better term. Hard to tell if she's just using him as a scratching post or genuinely thinks fondly of him, but they seem to enjoy each other's company nevertheless."

"It all makes me wonder how they, or any other watching us, would see the relationship between Suzu and I. The question plays on my mind for the rest of the journey."

# Timeskip

"It takes a bit of a scan to find where Tsubasa's set up the umbrella, towel, and bags, given the multitude of similar little areas set up around the beach's expanse. Looks like it's a pretty busy day, thanks to the good weather and summer holidays."

"Parents try their best to lather their kids with sunscreen before they race off to build sandcastles and run about, a few guys have set up a beach volleyball area, and the teenage girls occupy themselves with working on their tans. I suppose I'm already covered, there."

"It's Hisao who helps me find the modest camp, having already changed as he stands by it and keeping a watch for us. Tsubasa becomes visible just past him as I walk up, laying back on the towel with her eyes closed as smoke wafts upwards from her cigarette."

mik "So this is home base."

"As Hisao nods, his gaze moves downwards from my head. I wouldn't mind if it settled on my bust given that he is a guy, especially given the black bikini showing them pretty well, but it's another part of me that he finds trouble with."

mik "You don't need to stare, dude."

his "Sorry..."

mik "Well, it's not like don't know why. You haven't seen my stump without the bandages before, have you?"

his "Why do you wear them, though? I can't see any injuries."

mik "Looks cool."

his "That's it?"

mik "Isn't that a good enough reason? It's an improvement over a bare stump."

"I shouldn't be too hard on him; assuming I'd done something to myself is reasonable enough. Even if he might still be unconvinced, I'm sure the bandaged look is definitely cooler."

"As his eyes move off my stump and pass over the rest of my body, it's obvious he has more than a passing interest."

mik "The stump might be new, but you have seen a girl before, right?"

his "I was just thinking how all that exercise sure pays off..."

"I give a grin and move my hips from side to side, but even as he tries to appear nonplussed, his cheeks come that little bit rosier. He can be a real prude sometimes."

mik "You're not half bad yourself, you know."

his "Aside from the scar."

mik "C'mon, it's just a line. Nobody seriously cares about that."

"Something, or more likely someone, catches Hisao's attention as he leans sideways to look past me and waves."

his "Oh, hey Suzu."

"I turn to greet the girl, dressed in her usual blue and white striped two-piece, but she passes me as soon as I do so. Without so much as a word nor glance of the eyes, she walks straight past the both of us and heads for the water."

mik "Hey, Suzu? Suzu!"

"She doesn't respond to my voice or waving, putting me off more than a little."

mik "I get the feeling she's not happy."

his "Is that a rhetorical question? You obviously pissed her off."

mik "Huh? How?"

his "It's not that hard to see why. You were being kinda flirty."

mik "We were just talking..."

tsu "He's right, you know."

"Tsubasa doesn't even bother to open her eyes as she gives her input, content to expend as little energy today as possible."

mik "Alright, fine, I'll go pick her up."

# Timeskip

"I trudge back to camp with my mission accomplished, Suzu's body held under my right arm. She kicks and struggles a little, but moreso out of obligation than any real attempt to work herself free. Not that she probably could, anyway."

suz "Put me down, please!"

mik "Later."

suz "Now!"

"As we reach the two waiting for us, Suzu's protestations give Tsubasa enough reason to finally open her eyes and stare at us. Hisao's expression betrays that he at least half-expected something like this."

suz "I'm not a kid, I said put me down!"

mik "Why are you being so aggressive all of a sudden? You don't usually complain when I manhandle you."

suz "I'm going to have an attack if you keep this up."

mik "Good, it'll make you easier to carry."

"The smile on my face makes her finally give up, her head drooping in defeat."

tsu "Just put her down. You're making a scene."

"Oh yeah, we're on a public beach. Looking around affirms that fact, with a few people around us distracted by the goings on." 

"Content that I've had my fun, I do as he asks and set her back on her feet. I still don't think she was being that reasonable about me and Hisao, but at least this took her mind off it."

"Or at least, I think so. She still refuses to smile, holding on to that placid face as always. It seems Hisao has caught on to the same thing, but comes to a different conclusion."

his "I guess this would be a bit old hat for you, given you grew up here."

suz "What do you mean? I like the beach."

his "You certainly don't look it..."

"Hoping to help Suzu convey her emotions a little better, I bring my finger around her cheek from behind and poke it into the side of her mouth, dragging the corner upwards."

mik "Can't you see? She's smiling. A nice big, happy grin."

"Hisao just looks at her with an expression of pity."

his "Are you sure you don't have Stockholm Syndrome?"

suz "I have wondered."

"Assuming whatever that is isn't a positive thing, I give her mouth a couple of tugs to try and make her smile on her own from amusement. Unsurprisingly, she doesn't."

"I give up on the idea and let her go, taking a glance around the beach. A good few people have decided to come out and enjoy the sun while it lasts, the place dotted with umbrellas, towels and fold-up chairs of all colours."

"Given there's increasingly little room to run about on land, the water seems as good a place as any to start."

mik "I'm goin' for a swim. See you losers later."

"Sprinting off before they can mount any opposition, I head straight towards the blue expanse."

"The water's delightfully warm as I run in, and the surface is relatively calm as well. It's only after getting near waist-high depth that I stop to turn around, urging the others in."

"The two take their time, strolling up to the water's edge at a leisurely pace. Suzu skips further in as Hisao, ever the cautious one, stops to carefully gauge the water's temperature with his foot before joining us."

suz "You can swim, right?"

his "A bit. It's not like I'm going to drown."

suz "Good. Probably should've asked you that before."

his "What about you?"

"Suzu's response is to twist around and take a running dive into the warm, blue water. All we can do is watch as she disappears for a couple of seconds, before floating to the surface a good few meters away with her arms out and head looking back to us."

suz "I'll be fine."

mik 'I'll be fine', she says."

"With that, she goes back to swimming about as the two of us observe."

his "She's not half bad."

mik "You said it yourself earlier; she did grow up here."

his "What about you?"

mik "I'm no slouch, even without a hand. There was something else I wanted to mention, though."

"He leans in as my voice grows quieter, surely out of Suzu's hearing range as she once again dives below the surface with practiced ease."

mik "Keep an eye on her, alright?"

his "Sure, but why?"

mik "If she has a cataplexy attack and ends up face-down..."

"His face drops instantaneously, horribly disturbed by the image. One thing I like about the guy is that he knows when to take things seriously."

mik "Yeah."

his "I'll keep an eye on her, then. Don't worry."

mik "'Atta boy."

"I clap him on the shoulder a couple of times as the two of us watch Suzu resurface once more."

"It's nice to see her like this, devoting herself to having fun instead of angsting about others. It's rare that she acts so free, barely even noticing us as she she freely flits about in the water."

"I'm reminded of how I used to be, before the accident. Just having fun without a care in the world, life's worries being the furthest thing from my mind as I took to the field."

"And then life kicked me in the balls."

"The cool feeling of water suddenly splashing against my body makes me reflexively brace, the culprit grinning as he brings his cupped hands under the surface of the water and throws another lot of water at me."

mik "Son of a bitch...!"

"I counterattack with a sweep along the water's surface, flicking a spray of water into his face and sending him reeling backwards."

suz "Miki, what are you doing?"

mik "Just messin' around."

mik "Hey, wanna race? That swimming dock out there'd make a good goal."

"I point to the fairly large platform floating a good distance out from where we are now. With nobody between it and us, it should be a clear run."

"Evidently agreeing after taking a look, she swims towards us and wades up the final few feet. Suzu's body might not have the same kind of athletic build as mine, but she isn't half bad looking as she confidently emerges from the water and brushes her sopping hair back."

suz "What?"

mik "Nothin'. You coming too, boy?"

his "It's probably for the best if I don't."

"He makes an awkward face, with his thumb pointing to his chest. I probably should've remembered that."

suz "So out to the platform and back to Hisao?"

mik "Sure. Give us a countdown, will you?"

his "Alright. Get ready..."

"The two of us turn and orient ourselves towards the objective. I think I have an okay chance at this, given how she lazes around at school."

his "And... go!"

"We spring forwards simultaneously, each of us off to a good start as the water washes over my body."

"Suzu might have the advantage in technique, but I have brute force. Pushing myself onward with my somewhat hobbled freestyle, my arms pulling me forwards with every stroke, I can feel the yards rapidly disappearing."

"Comfortable with my pace, I take a moment to slip underwater and see Suzu's efforts. The sight I see is just as I'd hoped for."

"Her body slides through the water as if she were a native to the sea rather than land. Her hands remain together, pointing the way ahead as her feet flick up and down and body undulates. One could only compare her movement to a dolphin's."

"I find myelf captivated by the sight, her lithe body gliding through the deep blue expanse. If only I could see this side of her every day."

"As she passes, I stop my gawking and begin racing again in earnest. I can feel every muscle in my body working away as I punch through the water, reefing myself towards the platform with every ounce of strength I have."

"I close my eyes and hammer forwards, throwing myself the last few yards towards the goal."

"Feeling the wooden barrier brush against my fingertips, I throw my head up out of the water to get my bearings and take numerous deep gasps of air. My muscles feel like they're on fire despite being drenched, desperately needing a moment's rest before going on."

"It turns out Suzu has the same idea as she floats with an arm over the side, a couple of seconds being needed to even notice her for my panting. She might've been there even before I arrived."

mik "We goin' back?"

"She suddenly closes her eyes and pushes her face forwards, pressing her lips to mine with some force. My heart freezes for a moment in shock, not only at the kiss itself, but also her initiative."

"It's a jarring sensation, with the water on both our lips intermingling and leaving a salty taste on the mouth. I can't even move, my mind left completely addled by her affection."

"Her lips withdraw all too soon, leaving me to recall the sensation fondly. A dumb grin finds its way onto my face, a warm sensation flooding my body."

"Perhaps that sensation is what reminds me of the water lapping at my shoulders, my eyes suddenly darting left and right to collect myself and take in my surroundings once more."

"Suzu, that little brat, has fled. There's no mistaking it; she's used her feminine wiles to distract me and taken off at full speed."

"Torn between despising her for playing such a horrible trick and delight at her deviousness, I bring my feet to the side of the platform and launch myself back towards the beach in hopes of catching her."

"The effort needed to reach parity with her speed has worked against me, leaving my body tired from the first leg. Doing my best to ignore the pain, I surge onwards."

"It isn't long before she's in sight, and knowing what I have to do, I make one last push to reach her."

"I reach out once, but only grab at the water and lose speed. With only one chance left, I make one last lunge and push my hand out once more."

"Success comes as I feel the back of her shin in my grasp, one solid tug jerking her body back towards mine and sending her arms flailing."

"What follows is a chaotic mess of arms and legs as we struggle in the water. Suzu fights to get her head up and work out what's happening, while I struggle to get a grip on her slippery torso to throw her back, a task made all the harder with only one hand."

"I quickly begin to run out of air as we sink further down with our thrashing, my instincts taking command of my body and forcing me away from Suzu towards the surface. Much-needed air fills my lungs as I take a great breath the moment I breach the waterline."

"Satisfied that I can still hear her moving about in the water rather than silently drowning, I kick onwards to the shallower waters."

"With that, the ordeal is over. With a heave I bring myself to my feet and begin to wade out, dragging my sore legs out and on to the dry land where I belong. Water pours off my back, hair, and shoulders as I lurch forwards like some shambling swamp monster."

mik "I... win..."

"Hisao doesn't comment as I drop to my knees, my upper body soon following as I flop to the ground in exhaustion. Sand pressed against my cheek and lips, but I don't care. I'm on sweet, sweet land, and that's all that matters."

"I hear the splash of Suzu coming up out of the water behind me. I want to gloat, but I'm too tired to do anything right now."

his "You okay, Suzu?"

"I wait for Suzu's answer, with none forthcoming as I hear her footsteps slowly coming closer."

mik "Urk!"

"Suzu gives a surprisingly firm stomp to my back, sending me into a choking fit as she huffs and continues on to where her sister's sitting. It's Hisao's footsteps that I now hear come beside me, but thankfully, no abuse from him is forthcoming."

his "Was it worth it?"

mik "Yeah... totally."

"I do my best to sound convincing, but I don't quite think I manage it."

# Timeskip

"With Suzu and I too pooped to mess around much more, Hisao's gone to explore around the edge of the beach while I grab a few drinks from the nearby vending machines. With my left arm holding the small juice boxes, the walk back to home camp begins."

"There's something cathartic about heavy exercise, and doubly so when you do it with a friend. With my energy worked out of me and a pleasant atmosphere in the air as the others on the beach fool around, I can say it's been a pretty good day."

"I stop momentarily to avoid bumping into a young boy running across my path, giving a reflexive smile as I do so. Looking back up, I see Suzu and Tsubasa ahead sitting and talking to one another, Tsubasa seated casually with her hands on the ground behind her as Suzu holds her knees to her chest. I almost start moving towards them again, but stop as I faintly overhear the topic of conversation."

suz "They put you up to this, didn't they?"

tsu "Up to what?"

suz "Don't play stupid. Chaperoning us, to keep an eye on me and Miki."

"The thought hadn't even entered my mind, but it does make sense. Tsubasa's reluctant pause in answering all but confirms the idea."

tsu "Well, it's not like I didn't want to come anyway. I did need a break, just as I said."

"Suzu's shoulders slump in disappointment."

tsu "Don't worry about mom and dad. I'll sort them out."

suz "But they-"

tsu "I'll sort it out."

"Her tone is as authoritative as it is final, bringing an end to the line of discussion. I want to jump in and lighten things up, but the mood is terribly dour."

"Tsubasa thankfully relents, rubbing Suzu's shoulder a little."

tsu "Don't be like that. You're having fun, aren't you?"

"She nods, which gives me at least a little relief."

tsu "You got to see Miyu again, and your dear sister. Just in the last few months you got a romantic partner too, and another friend."

tsu "Far as I can see, things are working out pretty well for you."

"She looks to Suzu to see how her assurances have gone down."

suz "Hey, Tsubasa..."

tsu "Hmm?"

suz "...Thank you."

"The two look at each other for a while, with Tsubasa eventually bringing her arm around Suzu to bring her to her side."

"It's a sweet sight, with the sisters sharing a moment between themselves despite all that's gone on. The two don't see each other that often thanks to school, after all, and occupy vastly different social worlds."

"But today, perhaps just for a moment, they see eye to eye."

"My weight shifts as I begin to run towards them, unceremoniously dropping the drinks in my now cold arm on the towel."

"Neither can get a word out before I grab Suzu's forearm, my body continuing forwards and dragging her up from where she was sitting with barely any resistance."

suz "Wait, hold on!"

suz "I'm still recvovering from what you already did to me! Miki...!"

"I look back to her sister as I drag Suzu towards the water line, Tsubasa just smiling as she watches the two of us leave."

# Timeskip

"With the both of us drained from the day's activities, Suzu and I slowly walk along the beach as Hisao and Tsubasa pack the car. With the both of us changed back into our normal clothes and the sun setting, it feels like an appropriate way to send off a nice day."

"Suzu's hand feels warm as she holds onto mine, her soft skin and delicate grasp a harsh contrast to my own."

suz "So that's summer holidays over with."

mik "Yup. Couldn't have asked for a better end, even if the rest didn't exactly go to plan."

"With this, her footsteps stop. Her hand trembles in mine, her grip becoming tight as she tries to steady herself."

suz "I'm sorry, Miki."

mik "What's there to be sorry about?"

suz "It wasn't supposed to be like this. You chose to spend your last summer holidays with me, and this is what you got."

suz "I wanted this to be fun for you..."

mik "You're bein' dumb again, girl."

mik "Is this the face of someone who didn't enjoy herself? Your house is as lively as ever! That's what I like so much about it!"

mik "My home's in the middle of nowhere, there's jack-all to do, and the local wildlife doesn't exactly make for good pets. You've got Tsubasa, Miyu, your parents... even if they're not exactly fans of me right now... and we had Hisao around, too."

mik "I got to be around all of them, around the people who've raised you and shaped you. That's all I wanted, and I got all of that."

suz "What do you see in me to keep trying so hard?"

"Now there's a curveball. Now that I think about it, I never really gave much consideration to how I thought of Suzu. I just went along with things, and did what felt right at the time."

"I love her, I know that much. She's a genuinely good person, once the veil of cynicism and misanthropy is lifted. How I fit into that... I have honestly no idea."

"In frustration, I end up tapping my head with my stump to try and make something drop out."

"To my surprise, I turn back to her mirroring the action as if to mock me. I can't help but burst into a laugh, given how dumb it looks."

"While she might not do the same, it earns me an amused smile. It only makes me laugh harder in happiness, all the more glad that I've lifted her spirits."

"With the two of us basking in each other's joy in the setting sun, I know that I'll ever forget this holiday with Suzu."