"What's… this about, Azusa-chan?" Hifumi's voice was soft, tentative.
"It's something… I can only tell you," Azusa replied, her words barely above a whisper.
"Something that important?" Hifumi's eyes widened slightly.
"…Yeah."
The beach had been scorching until noon, the sand so hot it was unbearable to touch with bare feet (though Mash and Tsurugi didn't seem to mind). Now, as the sun dipped lower, the heat had softened. The two girls sat side by side, knees tucked up in a huddle, their bare feet dipping into the cool seawater.
"Not getting between those two—that's a death sentence. I'll just keep watch," said Guardian 1, their voice low.
"Same here," echoed Guardian 2.
With Kivotos' top-tier guardians discreetly watching over them (unnoticed by the girls), Azusa and Hifumi could talk freely. After a few minutes of silence, Azusa spoke.
"When I was little… I read about the sea in a book. It made my heart race."
"Little… you mean…" Hifumi hesitated.
"Long before I came here. After training, I had a bit of free time, so I wandered the grounds… and found a book."
"The grounds… Arius, right?" Hifumi's voice was gentle, probing.
"It described vast oceans, glittering under the sun… beautiful swimsuits, and so much more. I was captivated. I thought, I have to share this with everyone! So I took the book back to where I was… but…"
"You… no, none of you need such things. Burn it."
"Listen well. I won't allow you children to dream. I won't allow you to find light, to hold hope, desire, or will. They're worthless. Meaningless. Empty."
"B-But—"
"Persistent, are you? Do you want to be punished again?"
"…!"
"I'll let it slide just this once. But there won't be a second time. If you bring such a book again… you know what happens."
"…Yes."
"Speak clearly."
"Y-Yes!"
"…Good."
"That day, I stopped looking for light. I gave up on ever seeing the sea."
Hifumi fell silent. She didn't know who Azusa was talking about, but the slight tremble in Azusa's voice told her enough. That person had stolen hope from Azusa—from Arius itself.
Crack. Mash's grip tightened, splintering the wood he was touching. Tsurugi, too, fought to keep her anger and murderous intent in check. Both were straining to keep the moment from shattering.
"But… when I came to Trinity and met you all—everything changed," Azusa continued.
"Because of the Remedial Class? Or Sensei's influence?" Hifumi asked.
"Yeah… but mostly because of you, Hifumi."
"Me!?" Hifumi's voice squeaked in surprise.
"That Momo Friends doll you gave me—it was so cute, I was smitten. And then you talked to me so much. You went on and on about Peroro-sama, making me laugh."
"You mean during the Peroro skit, right? I… I got a bit carried away…" Hifumi's cheeks flushed.
"When you shouted, 'I am Peroro!' I couldn't stop laughing." Azusa giggled softly.
"Forget that part!" Hifumi pleaded, mortified.
"No way… hehe, I can't…" Azusa's laughter bubbled up.
"Azusa-chaaan… haha!" Hifumi joined in, her embarrassment melting into giggles.
Their laughter rang out, pure and unguarded. This—this was why Azusa had found light again.
"Laughing like this… I never had that before. But because of all of you, I could laugh from the bottom of my heart. Thank you—truly."
"Y-You're welcome!" Hifumi stammered, beaming.
Azusa nodded softly. "But… why just tell me? Shouldn't you share this with the others? Especially Sensei?"
"…Well…" Azusa hesitated, her ears turning pink as she leaned closer to Hifumi. "It's… embarrassing…"
"—Ngh!" Hifumi clutched her chest, overwhelmed by the sheer adorableness. (Cuteness damage: 100!)
(Cuteness damage: 5000!) Mash thought, reeling.
"I don't know why, but… with you and Sensei, I needed… courage."
In other words, Azusa was experiencing the student equivalent of confessing to a crush—except it was gratitude. Koharu and Hanako were friends, comrades. But Hifumi was her best friend… and Mash? Her feelings for him were something else entirely.
"S-Sorry! I don't mean Koharu and Hanako are less important! You're all my precious friends, it's just…"
"It's okay, I get it!" Hifumi said quickly. "So… Sensei's a friend too, right?"
"No… Sensei's more like… family?" Azusa tilted her head.
(Huh?) Hifumi blinked.
(WHAT!?!) Mash's mind short-circuited.
"Family?" Hifumi echoed.
"Yeah. He's important, but… it's like he wraps you up in warmth. Like a father?"
(Father… me?) Mash's thoughts spiraled.
(Sensei! Get a grip! If you're the father, then I'm—NGH!?!) Tsurugi's brain blue-screened.
"No, not quite… I got it! Sensei's like a big brother."
"Big brother… yeah, I can see that," Hifumi nodded.
"Right?"
"It's like he's protecting us, watching over us… it feels safe."
"Exactly. Safer than anything in the world."
The two girls giggled, their voices bright and carefree. Tsurugi, watching her juniors bond, felt a surge of warmth. This is youth, she thought, tearing up. Meanwhile, Mash…
"I'm… their big brother?" he muttered, dazed.
"Sensei!?" Hifumi yelped.
He was utterly lost.
Time flew by, and night fell. The starry sky glittered above, the sea sparkling below. Exhausted from a day of relentless fun, their bodies were spent, but their hearts were full.
"No regrets… right?" Mash said, grinning.
"Sensei?" Hifumi tilted her head.
"There's one last thing we haven't done. The ultimate summer experience."
"We've done everything…" Tsurugi frowned. "There's more?"
"Oh, there's definitely more. Something huge."
Mash produced a box brimming with firework shells and held one up.
"Fireworks!?" Hifumi gasped.
"Where'd you get those!?" Tsurugi demanded.
"A friend gave me some prototypes. Said they're perfect for summer."
"Fireworks… I haven't seen them before. This is so exciting! ✨" Azusa's eyes sparkled.
"You got permission, right?" Hifumi asked warily.
"Of course!" Mash grinned. "Let's do this."
He lit the fuse and hurled the firework skyward. A whistle pierced the air, and then—
BOOM!
A dazzling burst of rainbow colors lit up the sky. Everyone stared, mesmerized.
"What firepower… this is a firework!" Tsurugi marveled.
"Wow…" Hifumi breathed.
"Amazing, Sensei… truly amazing!" Koharu exclaimed.
"They're beautiful," Hanako murmured.
"So sparkly… I love it," Azusa whispered.
"Let's keep 'em coming!" Mash declared, tossing more fireworks into the sky. Each one exploded into a kaleidoscope of colors, leaving Hifumi and the others entranced.
"…Next year, I want to come back," Azusa said softly.
"Absolutely, let's do it!" Hifumi beamed. "And we'll bring everyone next time!"
"Definitely. It's a promise," Azusa nodded.
"A vow," Hanako added.
"Let's swear on it," Koharu chimed in.
"This… this is youth. This is friendship… sniff…" Tsurugi wiped her eyes.
After the fireworks, the group returned to their tank, utterly spent. The others leaned against Tsurugi, fast asleep. Mash gently draped a towel over them.
"There we go," he said softly, then hoisted the entire tank onto his shoulders and carried it home.
Days later, Tsurugi's room was filled with photos—each one a priceless memory, a treasure of that unforgettable summer.
Summer Sky Wishes with Mash—Complete.
Next Time: Festival.
Muscles… ninjas… martial arts… Gai-sensei? My brain's stuck on this—help!
Reader Reactions
Brother: "So cute, I love them! My list of faves keeps growing! ♡"
Sister: "Some of them are total chaos, but I love it! ♡"
Kaiser
Brother: "Smash, crush, boil, destroy!"
Sister: "Don't show that face to the students!!!"
Beatrice
Both: "÷〆々88÷×68÷:6々=〆〆€＊〆〆=÷€!!!!" (Unimaginable torrent of curses)
I kinda regret asking… that was intense.
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