As the evening went on, Hajime couldn’t help but think that, despite everything, having Storyshift around was starting to feel more and more like a new, unexpected part of his life. And maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new, not just with her, but with the people around him as well.

  As Hajime and Storyshift made their way back to the music club, he noticed Sockoo standing near the entrance, looking around anxiously. Her usual carefree demeanor was replaced with a rare expression of worry. She spotted Hajime and quickly rushed over, her face softening as she approached him.

  "Hajime, you’re okay! You took longer than expected. I was starting to get worried."

  Hajime, feeling the weight of her worry, gave her a reassuring smile. "Sorry, I got caught up with something. I lost my phone, and then Storyshift—"

  Sockoo raised an eyebrow, noticing the tension in Hajime’s expression. "You lost your phone?"

  "Yeah, well… it’s a long story,""Storyshift accidentally destroyed it."

  Storyshift, who had been quiet until now, tilted her head and spoke up in her usual calm manner. "I didn’t mean to. I thought the phone was possessed."

  Sockoo blinked, then stifled a laugh, realizing that Storyshift was completely serious. "I’m glad you’re both okay."

  She gave Hajime a small but warm smile, the worry still visible in her eyes.

  Hajime couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. "I should’ve gotten back sooner. I didn’t mean to make you worry."

  Sockoo’s expression softened, her concern still clear but mixed with understanding. "I’m just glad you’re alright. Come on, let’s go inside."

  As they entered the music club, the familiar atmosphere enveloped them, but Sockoo still kept a close eye on Hajime, clearly not quite ready to let go of her worry. Hajime noticed a few curious glances from the other members, most likely wondering why he had taken so long.

  Once they were inside, Sockoo made sure to gently guide Hajime to a seat, still hovering a little as if she might need to jump into action if anything happened.

  "If you’re feeling up for it, we can start practicing,"

  Hajime nodded, appreciating her care, and smiled. "Yeah, let’s practice. I’m fine now, really."

  As the rest of the club gathered around, Hajime felt a bit more at ease. Storyshift, still getting used to everything, sat quietly by his side, watching the interactions with curiosity, though she remained calm and observant.

  As practice began, it was clear that while the day had been full of oddities—Storyshift’s antics, the lost phone, and the unexpected moments of worry—there was a sense of comfort in being back with everyone, even in the middle of all the chaos.

  And as the music flowed through the Makoto, still feeling the hype of the beach, suddenly paused and looked around with a curious expression. "Wait, hold on,""Why is there a music club on a beach? How did this even happen?"

  Sockoo, who had been quietly listening, grinned and stepped forward to answer. "Well, this used to be Demontail’s old base in high school,""I asked Baku if we could use it, and he said it was fine. Apparently, this place used to be their hideout."

  The rest of the club members, already caught up in the beach vibe, now turned their attention to Sockoo, absorbing her words with varying levels of surprise and intrigue.

  "Demontail’s old base?""Isn’t that the same group that caused all that chaos a while back?"

  Sockoo nodded, her tone nonchalant as if she had already come to terms with the whole situation. "Yep, that's the one. But Baku said it was abandoned and it’s a perfect spot for us to practice. It’s right next to the beach, and it’s spacious."

  Hajime, still trying to process the shift in conversation, gave a half-smile. "Well, I guess it's better than practicing in a regular classroom, right?"

  Storyshift tilted her head slightly, clearly still unfamiliar with the concept of a "beach" or what it meant to have a music club on one. "I still don’t understand why you all need to play music here,"

  Sockoo chuckled, glancing at Hajime. "Some things are hard to explain, but trust me, it’ll be fun."

  Makoto, who had been hyped about the idea of being on the beach, now shifted his focus to the music side of things. "Alright, alright! I’m down for this. Let’s make some good memories here!"

  Rizra, who had been quietly observing the conversation, gave a small chuckle. "Just don’t get too carried away, Makoto. We’re here to practice too, remember?"

  Hajime let out a small laugh, grateful for the lightheartedness that was filling the air. "Yeah, let’s make sure we get some actual practice in before we get distracted by the beach."

  As the music club members settled in and prepared to begin their practice session, Sockoo pulled Hajime aside for a moment. "Are you okay with everything, Hajime? I know it’s been a bit of a crazy few days."

  Hajime nodded, offering her a small smile. "Yeah, I’m good. Thanks for asking, though."

  Storyshift, who had been quietly observing, tilted her head at Sockoo’s concern. "Hajime, is there something wrong?"

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  Hajime gave Storyshift a reassuring smile. "It’s nothing, really. Just a little tired from everything, that’s all."

  With the conversation wrapping up, Sockoo and the others returned to their practice setup, and the music club began to practice amidst the sand and sea breeze. The beach had a calming effect on everyone, and the day, though strange in some ways, was shaping up to be one of the more memorable moments of their time together.

  , Hajime couldn’t help but feel that things, despite everything, were starting to fall into place. The sun beat down on the beach, casting a warm golden glow on everything. Hajime, Daka, Yu, Yosuke, Makoto, and Bondo were all standing by the water, casually waiting for the girls to finish getting ready. Their eyes were drawn to the horizon, where the waves crashed rhythmically against the shore, but there was a definite air of anticipation as they waited.

  "Man, how long are they gonna take?"

  "You know how it is with girls,""They need their time."

  Bondo, as usual, remained silent, but a small smirk crept across his face. "I’m sure it’s worth the wait,"

  Hajime, who wasn’t used to waiting for others in situations like this, glanced over at the others. "It’s not like they’re taking forever,"

  Suddenly, the first person to emerge was Storyshift. She couldn’t wait anymore. She had been pacing in the changing room, the feeling of being away from Hajime for so long driving her a little crazy. Without hesitation, she strode out of the changing area, her swimsuit a simple yet striking design that perfectly complemented her form.

  Hajime blinked, momentarily stunned. She was wearing a dark blue swimsuit, one that made her stand out even more. Her long, flowing black hair cascaded around her shoulders, and her piercing blue eyes seemed to shine with energy as she moved. The moment she spotted Hajime, she broke into a wide grin, practically running toward him.

  "Hajime!""I couldn't wait any longer!"

  The boys all turned to look, their jaws practically dropping in unison. Yosuke was the first to recover, a teasing smile curling on his lips. "Well, well, looks like someone's eager."

  Makoto and Yu both exchanged a knowing glance, and then Makoto turned to Bondo. "Looks like our group's got some real style!"

  "No kidding,"

  Storyshift, now standing in front of Hajime, gave him a small, mischievous smirk. "Do you like it?"

  Hajime snapped out of his daze, blinking rapidly as he quickly regained his composure. "Y-yeah, you look great,"

  Before Storyshift could respond, Rizra and Angel walked out together, both of them looking stunning in their swimsuits. Rizra, ever the confident one, had a playful glint in her eyes as she walked toward the group, her swimsuit accentuating her athletic build. Angel, on the other hand, wore a more modest yet elegant design, giving her a graceful and serene aura.

  "I hope we didn’t keep you waiting too long,"

  Rizra said with a smirk, clearly noticing the reaction from the guys.

  "I’m sure they didn’t mind,"

  Sockoo, Amy, and Emily were the next to appear, each of them looking just as stunning in their swimsuits. Sockoo’s outfit was a bright, vibrant color that matched her energy, while Amy’s was more subdued, but still flattering. Emily’s swimsuit was a mix of elegant and sporty, reflecting her calm yet confident personality.

  Hajime couldn’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of beauty in front of him. His eyes flickered from one girl to the next, his heart racing slightly, but he tried to stay composed. "Everyone looks amazing,"

  The boys, now fully aware that they were surrounded by a group of incredibly attractive girls, exchanged amused glances. "Guess we really hit the jackpot, huh?"

  Yosuke just laughed. **"Yeah, definitely. We’re the luckiest guys here."

  The girls all gathered around, and everyone was clearly excited to dive into the water. Storyshift, still looking at Hajime, tugged on his sleeve gently. "Are we going in?"

  "Yeah,""Let’s go!"

  As they all made their way to the water, the atmosphere was lighthearted and full of excitement. With the beach as their playground, it was the perfect way to unwind and have fun after everything that had happened. The tension from before seemed to melt away, replaced by laughter, teasing, and the joy of being together in this carefree moment. As everyone else rushed toward the water, ready to dive in and enjoy the waves, Hajime stood off to the side, watching with a hesitant look on his face. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, and he couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort as he observed the others enjoying the cool water.

  Sockoo, noticing his distance from the group, walked over to him with a concerned expression. "Hajime, why aren’t you coming into the water?"

  Hajime looked down for a moment before looking back at Sockoo, his face serious. "I can’t,"

  "What do you mean you can't?""It’s just water, Hajime. What’s stopping you?"

  Hajime sighed and ran a hand through his messy hair, clearly uncomfortable talking about it. "My magic,""It’s fire-type magic, and my blue flames work through my body. If I go into the water, it’ll make my body burn. It won’t be a huge fire, but it’ll sting. And the more time I spend in it, the worse it gets."

  Sockoo blinked, her expression one of surprise and concern. "So you can't even get wet without it hurting you?"

  "Exactly,""I can't risk it."

  As Sockoo stood there, processing what Hajime had just told her, Emily, who had been standing nearby, overheard their conversation. She walked over, looking at Hajime with a concerned expression. "But how do you drink water, then?""How do you stay hydrated?"

  Hajime paused for a moment before replying. "I don’t drink regular water. I have prescribed liquid from the doctor. It’s specifically formulated to work like water for me, so it doesn't affect my magic. It’s not the same as drinking water, but it keeps me hydrated."

  Emily frowned a little but nodded, understanding the situation. She wanted to help, and Amy, who had overheard as well, seemed to be deep in thought. After a moment, she turned to Hajime with a thoughtful look.

  "I might have an idea,""What if I create a barrier for you? I could use my magic to form a human skin barrier around your body. It would act like a protective layer that prevents the water from touching your skin and interfering with your magic."

  Hajime’s eyes widened slightly. "You can do that?"

  "Yeah, I can!""It should keep your body safe from the water, and you can still enjoy the beach without worrying about the pain."

  Sockoo, who had been silently listening, nodded in agreement. "If Amy can do that, then it’s perfect! You won’t have to stay out of the water anymore."

  Hajime looked over at Amy, his expression softening. "Thanks,"

  he said quietly, a small smile forming on his lips. "I really appreciate it."

  Amy waved him off casually, her usual confidence returning. "No need to thank me. Let’s get you in the water and having fun!"

  With Amy's help, Hajime soon felt the comforting sensation of the barrier around his body, and he cautiously stepped toward the water. Sockoo smiled and jogged to catch up to him, making sure he was comfortable with the magic working its way around him.

  Hajime, for the first time that day, allowed himself to relax. With Amy’s barrier keeping him safe from the water, he felt like he could finally enjoy the day without the usual limitations.

  first true breath of peace the crew has had in a long time — and even that came with a twist.

  For Hajime, this might be the first time in a long while that he feels like a part of something — something real, something growing, and something worth protecting.

  What tides will the next chapter bring