The silence in the room stretched on, everyone still processing what Sockoo had revealed. Hajime leaned against a desk, his usual smirk replaced with an unusually contemplative expression. Even Yosuke, who rarely spoke, let out a small sigh.

  That’s when Makoto suddenly slammed his hands on the table, startling everyone.

  “Alright, I’ve had it!”

  Everyone turned to him, confused.

  “Can we have one day without this heavy, soul-crushing tension?”“I’m serious! Every day it’s death, trauma, dark secrets… I’m ”

  Hajime raised an eyebrow, his usual smirk creeping back. “What are you suggesting, Makoto? Group therapy?”

  Makoto pointed a finger at Hajime, ignoring the sarcasm. “No! We’re going to the beach! All of us. Tomorrow!”

  The room went quiet again, this time from sheer disbelief.

  “The beach?”

  “Yes, the beach!”“Sunshine, waves, fun, and maybe—just maybe—we can all act like normal people for once!”

  Sockoo chuckled softly, her earlier somber mood lifting just a little. “Makoto, you’re ridiculous.”

  “Ridiculously brilliant, thank you,”“We’ll call it ‘Operation: No Sadness Allowed.’”

  Bondo crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. “And wrrrhat if someone decides to bring the drama to the beach?”

  Makoto turned to him, narrowing his eyes. “Then I’ll personally bury them in the sand until they chill out.”

  Hajime snorted, unable to hold back a laugh. “Alright, fine. I could use a day off from all this nonsense.”

  One by one, the others began to nod, a hint of excitement creeping into their expressions. Even Storyshift, standing quietly in the corner, tilted her head curiously at the mention of the beach.

  Makoto clapped his hands together, grinning ear to ear. “Perfect! Pack your swimsuits, people. We’re leaving at dawn!”

  As the group began to scatter, already murmuring about what to bring for the beach trip, Storyshift stayed where she was, tilting her head curiously. She reached out and tugged on Hajime's jacket sleeve.

  Hajime turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "What's up, Storyshift?"

  She looked up at him with her signature wide-eyed curiosity. "What's a... beach?"

  The room went silent again. Even Makoto, who had been in the middle of an enthusiastic explanation to Bondo about volleyball, froze mid-gesture.

  Hajime blinked. "You don't know what a beach is?"

  Storyshift shook her head. "Nope. Is it... a weapon? Or maybe a type of magic?"

  Makoto burst out laughing, nearly doubling over. "A weapon?! A beach?! Oh, this is rich!"

  Sockoo gently placed a hand on Storyshift's shoulder, her expression kind. "It's not a weapon, Storyshift. It's a place with lots of sand and water—like the ocean. People go there to relax, swim, or play."

  Storyshift blinked again, processing this new information. "Sand and water... relaxing?""Is that something you enjoy, young master?"

  Hajime scratched the back of his head, chuckling awkwardly. "Well, it's not exactly my usual idea of fun, but... yeah, it can be nice."

  Makoto wiped a tear from his eye, still grinning. "Oh, man. This trip just got ten times better. Storyshift’s first beach experience? We’ve gotta make it unforgettable!"

  Storyshift tilted her head again. "So, I should prepare for this... beach battle?"

  Hajime sighed, ruffling her hair with a smirk. "No battles this time, Storyshift. Just... trust me. You'll see."

  As the others laughed and teased, Hajime couldn't help but smile. For the first time in weeks, the heaviness in his chest felt a little lighter.

  At the mall, the group wandered through the bustling aisles, splitting up occasionally to gather their essentials. Hajime walked with Sockoo and Storyshift, who was still visibly puzzled about the entire concept of "swimsuits."

  "I don’t understand,""Why can’t I just swim in my usual clothes? Or better yet, why do I need clothes to swim at all?"

  Makoto, overhearing her, snorted in laughter from across the aisle. "Oh, this is going to be fun. Hajime, care to explain?"

  Hajime sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "It’s not just about swimming, Storyshift. It’s about comfort and... uh, modesty."

  Storyshift tilted her head. "Modesty? Is it a human thing?"

  Emily, who had been quietly browsing nearby, chimed in with a small smile. "Yes, it’s kind of a human thing. Swimsuits are made to let you move in water more easily while keeping you covered."

  Rizra rolled her eyes as she held up a plain black swimsuit. "Just pick something already, Storyshift. It’s not that complicated."

  Storyshift furrowed her brow in concentration, her eyes darting between the various options. Finally, she turned to Hajime. "Young master, what do you think I should wear?"

  Hajime turned red instantly, his gaze darting anywhere but the swimsuits. "Uh... I think you should just pick whatever you feel comfortable in!"

  Sockoo smirked, leaning closer to Hajime. "Smooth, Hajime. Real smooth."

  Meanwhile, Daka strolled over with an armful of snacks and sunscreen. "Forget the swimsuits; I’m ready for the food part of this trip. Someone tell me they’ve got drinks covered."

  Makoto gave him a thumbs up, grinning. "Got it handled. But back to the more important matter—Storyshift’s education on swimwear."

  After much deliberation (and a lot of teasing from the group), Storyshift finally chose a simple blue swimsuit, which she decided matched her theme. She held it up triumphantly. "This will do. But I still don’t understand the necessity."

  Sockoo patted her on the shoulder with a chuckle. "You’ll get it when we’re at the beach."

  With everyone ready and their bags full of swimsuits, sunscreen, snacks, and other essentials, the group headed toward the checkout. Hajime trailed behind, his earlier blush still lingering as Makoto gave him a knowing grin. As the group gathered at the checkout counter, Hajime stood with Daka, Rizra, Makoto, and Emily, idly chatting while they finalized their purchases. Sockoo and Storyshift were headed toward the changing rooms when Sockoo realized Hajime wasn't following them.

  "Come on, Storyshift, let’s make sure your swimsuit fits,"

  But before Sockoo could take another step, Storyshift suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her gaze darted back toward Hajime, and without a word, she turned on her heel and bolted back to his side.

  "Hey, where are you going?"

  Storyshift skidded to a stop beside Hajime, gripping the edge of his jacket lightly but firmly. Hajime blinked, completely puzzled by her behavior.

  "Storyshift? What’s up?"

  Storyshift’s eyes darted nervously toward the others before settling on Hajime. She said softly, "I don’t want to leave your side, young master."

  Sockoo crossed her arms, her confusion deepening. "Why? We’re just going to try on swimsuits. He’s not going anywhere."

  Makoto, who had been watching the scene unfold, grinned slyly. "Wow, clingy much, Storyshift?"

  "I am not clingy,""I am merely fulfilling my duty to stay close and protect the young master."

  Hajime scratched his head, still perplexed. "Protect me? From what? We’re at a mall."

  Emily tried to stifle a laugh, while Rizra muttered, "She’s attached to him like glue. It’s kind of adorable, in a weird way."

  Sockoo sighed, shaking her head. "Alright, fine. Let’s all head to the changing rooms together then, if that makes you feel better."

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  "I would prefer that,"

  Hajime gave a sheepish smile to the rest of the group. "Guess I’m going to the changing rooms too. See you guys in a bit."

  As they walked away, Makoto leaned over to Daka, smirking. "Hajime’s got himself a loyal bodyguard. Wonder how long that’ll last before it gets exhausting."

  Daka chuckled, tossing his bag of snacks over his shoulder. "If anyone can handle it, it’s Hajime."

  As Sockoo and Storyshift entered the changing room, Storyshift glanced around curiously. She noticed that Hajime wasn’t following them and immediately tugged on Sockoo’s sleeve.

  "Why isn’t the young master coming in with us?"

  Storyshift asked, tilting her head in genuine confusion.

  Sockoo froze mid-step, her face flushing a deep red. "W-Wait, what?"

  "Hajime isn’t here,""If we’re checking the fit of these swimsuits, wouldn’t it make sense for him to come too? He’s part of the group."

  Sockoo blinked at her, struggling to keep her composure. "Storyshift... Hajime can’t come in here. This is the girls’ changing room."

  Storyshift furrowed her brows, still not understanding. "But why? He’s the young master. Shouldn’t he oversee these things to ensure they’re suitable?"

  Sockoo’s face grew even redder, and she put her hands up, shaking her head frantically. "No, no, no! That’s not how it works at all! Boys and girls have separate changing rooms for privacy."

  Storyshift’s confusion deepened, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she crossed her arms and muttered, "Strange human customs."

  Sockoo sighed, rubbing her temples. "Just try on the swimsuit, okay? I promise Hajime will approve once he sees it later."

  Storyshift hesitated for a moment before nodding reluctantly. "Very well. But I still don’t understand why he wouldn’t want to be involved in such an important matter."

  As Storyshift began changing, Sockoo couldn’t help but laugh nervously to herself. "This is going to be a long day."

  Hajime leaned against the wall outside the girls' changing room, his arms crossed, trying his best to appear nonchalant. However, the steady stream of glances and murmurs from passing girls was beginning to unnerve him.

  He noticed a group of them whispering and giggling, their eyes darting toward him.

  "Look at him, standing outside the girls' changing room like that."

  "He's kind of handsome, though... but also kind of suspicious!"

  "Do you think he's one of those handsome perverts?"

  Hajime’s face turned a bright shade of red. "What are they even talking about?"

  A particularly bold girl walked by and gave him a cheeky smirk. "Waiting for your girlfriend, huh?"

  Hajime’s blush deepened, and he adjusted his ponytail nervously. "This is so embarrassing,"

  Just then, Makoto walked by, carrying a bag of snacks, and immediately burst out laughing. "Oh man, Hajime, what are you doing loitering here? You look like you're guarding the door! No wonder the girls are staring."

  Hajime glared at him. "I’m just waiting for Sockoo and Storyshift. Don’t make it weird."

  Makoto grinned mischievously. "Too late. You’re already the handsome pervert in everyone’s eyes."

  Before Hajime could retort, the door opened slightly, and Sockoo peeked out. "Hajime, why are you standing so close to the door? Everyone’s staring!"

  Hajime sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I wasn’t trying to! Just hurry up already, okay?"

  Storyshift's voice came from inside. "Young master, is everything alright? Are these strange human females bothering you?"

  Hajime groaned inwardly, wishing he could disappear into thin air as the girls nearby giggled even louder. "This day just keeps getting worse,"

  Before Hajime could process anything, the door to the changing room swung open with alarming speed, and Storyshift bolted out into the mall, completely naked.

  "Young master! Are these humans troubling you? I will protect you!"

  Hajime's face went from flushed to crimson in an instant. "What the—STORYSHIFT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

  Sockoo dashed out of the changing room like lightning, wrapping her arms around Storyshift and dragging her back inside with impressive force. "ARE YOU CRAZY?!""What were you thinking? You can't just run out there like that!"

  Storyshift blinked innocently. "But the young master was distressed! I had to ensure his safety!"

  Sockoo slapped her forehead. "He's distressed now because of People are going to think we're lunatics! Just stay put and keep your swimsuit on, alright?"

  Inside the changing room, Sockoo was frantically throwing her jacket over Storyshift. Meanwhile, outside, Hajime buried his face in his hands, muttering, "Why is this my life?"

  Makoto, who had been laughing uncontrollably through the entire scene, managed to catch his breath. "Dude, you’ve got the weirdest entourage ever. First, you're a 'handsome pervert,' and now your sword’s streaking in public. This is comedy gold!"

  Hajime glared at him. "You’re not helping, Makoto."

  Trying to distract himself from the chaos, Hajime glanced around. "Wait a second, where are Daka, Rizra, and Emily?"

  Makoto shrugged, still snickering. "I think Daka said something about grabbing more snacks. Rizra's probably keeping him in line, and Emily went off to look for sunscreen."

  Hajime sighed. "Great. They're off having a normal time while I’m stuck with "

  Just as he said that, Sockoo peeked out of the changing room again, looking frazzled. "Can you at least keep an eye on Storyshift for five seconds without her breaking societal norms?!"

  Hajime groaned. "Why do I feel like this beach trip is going to be a disaster?"

  Storyshift stepped out of the changing room wearing her swimsuit—a sleek, dark blue one-piece with faint silver patterns that shimmered like flames. She looked around with a curious expression, as if unsure whether her attire was appropriate.

  Makoto froze for a moment, his jaw dropping. "Whoa, Storyshift, you clean up ni—""I mean, "

  Before anyone could react, Rizra appeared behind Makoto with a cold, predatory glare. "Makoto,""I you were being a creep."

  Without waiting for a response, she delivered a swift punch to the back of his head, sending him to the floor.

  Makoto groaned, clutching his head. "Why does this always happen to me?!"

  Meanwhile, Storyshift turned to Hajime, tilting her head. "Young master, what do you think? Does this outfit suffice?"

  Hajime, still flustered from the earlier chaos, managed to give a weak smile. "Y-Yeah, it looks good. It suits you."

  Storyshift's face lit up, her black and blue eyes sparkling. "Thank you, young master!"

  Sockoo stepped forward, trying to rein in the chaos. "Alright, let’s get changed back and head home."

  Storyshift nodded but, without hesitation, began reaching for the straps of her swimsuit, ready to strip right there.

  "WHOA! NO!"

  "Hajime doesn’t need to see "

  Rizra barked, shooting a pointed glare at Storyshift.

  "What’s the matter?""Why are humans so sensitive about removing clothing? It's impractical."

  Sockoo let out an exasperated sigh, dragging Storyshift back into the changing room. "We'll explain For now, just—keep it on until you're inside!"

  Hajime, now free from Rizra’s grip, rubbed his temples. "Why does it feel like this day keeps getting weirder?"

  Rizra gave him a sly grin. "Oh, you think

  is weird? Wait until you see Daka and Emily."

  Hajime raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

  With a smug look, Rizra led Hajime to another section of the store. There, they found Daka standing awkwardly in front of Emily, who was carefully examining a rack of swimsuits. Emily was fidgeting, her face a shade of pink as she kept glancing at Daka for input.

  Daka scratched the back of his head, looking visibly uncomfortable. "Uh, I think this one looks... good?"

  Emily quickly picked it up, her blush deepening. "You really think so? I mean, it’s not too much, right? Or—maybe it’s not enough?"

  Rizra leaned closer to Hajime, smirking. "See? She’s picking based on preference. She’s so nervous, but it’s obvious she wants to impress him."

  Hajime blinked, then sighed. "Daka’s completely oblivious, isn’t he?"

  Rizra chuckled. "Oh, absolutely. But it’s fun to watch."

  At that moment, Emily turned and caught sight of Hajime and Rizra. Her eyes widened, and she hurriedly hid the swimsuit behind her back. "W-What are you guys doing here?!"

  Rizra grinned wider. "Nothing much, just witnessing the blossoming of young love."

  Emily groaned, her face turning even redder. "RIZRA!"

  The group finally stepped out of the mall, each carrying several shopping bags filled with swimsuits, snacks, and other essentials for their upcoming beach trip. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in warm hues of orange and pink as they walked along the bustling streets.

  Hajime trudged behind the group, his shoulders slumped under the weight of multiple bags. His face was a mix of exhaustion and quiet resignation. "Why did I have to carry stuff?"

  he muttered, barely loud enough for anyone to hear.

  Storyshift, walking beside him with a single small bag in her hand, tilted her head curiously. "Young master, are you unwell? You appear fatigued."

  Hajime shot her a tired glance. "You think? I’ve been carrying bags for hours while you’ve just been... standing around."

  Storyshift’s expression softened, and she gently reached for one of the bags Hajime was holding. "Allow me to assist you."

  Before she could take the bag, Rizra appeared, balancing her own load with ease. "Nope, Storyshift. He’s got this,""Consider it training, Mr. Semi-Immortal."

  "Training?!""I don’t remember signing up for this."

  Makoto, with a mischievous grin, walked ahead, swinging a single bag like it weighed nothing. "C’mon, Hajime, it’s not

  bad. You’re supposed to be the strongest here, right? Gotta live up to the title!"

  "Makoto,""you’ve been slacking off all day. You didn’t even carry your own stuff."

  Makoto shrugged. "What can I say? I have a talent for delegation."

  Sockoo sighed, adjusting the bags in her hands. "Makoto, you’re lucky Rizra didn’t flatten you earlier for all your nonsense. Hajime, don’t let him get under your skin."

  Emily, walking alongside Daka, gave Hajime a sympathetic look. "You’ve done more than enough, Hajime. Here, let me take a bag."

  Before Hajime could respond, Daka stepped in, taking a few bags from Hajime. "Yeah, don’t overdo it, Hajime. You’ll need your energy for tomorrow."

  Hajime let out a small sigh of relief. "Thanks, Daka. At least someone here gets it."

  Makoto laughed. "Oh, c’mon, we’re all in this together! Besides, think of it as bonding time."

  Rizra raised an eyebrow. "Bonding? Sure. I’ll bond your face with the pavement if you keep running your mouth."

  The group burst into laughter, even Hajime managing a faint smile despite his exhaustion.

  As they reached Hajime’s house, he dropped the bags near the entrance and collapsed onto the porch steps with a heavy sigh. "Finally... home..."

  Storyshift knelt beside him, her eyes filled with concern. "Young master, perhaps you require rest. Shall I carry you inside?"

  Hajime waved her off weakly. "No, no... I just need a minute."

  Sockoo shook her head with a small smile. "Alright, everyone. Let’s get everything inside and leave Hajime alone for a bit. He’s had a rough day."

  As the others began to carry the bags into the house, Storyshift lingered by Hajime’s side. She gave him a small, almost shy smile. "You did well today, young master. I’m proud of you."

  Hajime blinked, surprised by her words, then chuckled softly. "Thanks, Storyshift. That... actually helps."

  She nodded, then followed the others inside, leaving Hajime alone for a brief moment of peace.

  As Hajime and Storyshift waited for the others at the bus stop, the evening air was cool, and the streetlights began to flicker on, casting soft light across the quiet street. Hajime leaned against the bus stop pole, rubbing his eyes as he tried to shake off the exhaustion from the busy day of shopping and walking. Storyshift stood beside him, her head slightly tilted as she observed the world around her with curiosity.