Beach Chapter is Here!

After what felt like an eternity, I was finally discharged from the hospital.

"Ah, freedom at last," I exclaimed, stretching my limbs. "I definitely need a good shower. I smell like a walking pharmacy."

Just then, a sleek car pulled up beside me, the driver appeared to be Major Himeko who had a smile on me. "Hey there," she greeted with a smirk. "Hop in. We don't want to draw unnecessary attention."

"Major Himeko, is this your ride?"

"Heh, I wish. Now get in."

I opened the passenger door and settled into the seat, closing it behind me. "Is this a convertible or a cabriolet?"

"You know your cars," Himeko remarked as she started the engine and pulled away from the hospital. "Maybe you'll get to drive one someday."

"Someday?" I echoed, intrigued. "Are you implying something?"

Himeko chuckled. "Just saying you should enjoy your youth while you can. After all, you narrowly escaped being zombified or worse."

"But I'm fine, right?"

"You're lucky, that's what you are," she replied, her expression serious. "Don't take it for granted."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," I muttered, slightly annoyed.

"Shin, listen," Himeko said, her tone softening. "Having a Herrscher within you doesn't make you invincible. You still can't fully control the Herrscher of Blade, right?"

I nodded reluctantly. "Yeah, she's... a work in progress."

"Training, huh? Where do you even train?" Himeko asked, raising an eyebrow.

"In my dreams, mostly," I admitted sheepishly.

Himeko shook her head, a wry smile playing on her lips. "Well, that's unconventional, to say the least."

"Yeah, tell me about it," I sighed, sinking back into the seat.

"Miss Himeko, what's this ring on my finger? It's glowing red," I inquired, noticing the bright hue emitting from the band.

Himeko glanced at the ring as we paused at a red light. "Ah, that's the latest invention from Schicksal Arms R&D, the 'Moon Ring.' It's designed to convert Honkai Energy into General-Purpose Energy. Essentially, it absorbs your Honkai Energy and transforms it into a more versatile form, amplifying its effectiveness."

"So, it acts like a battery for Honkai Energy?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes," Himeko confirmed. "It helps regulate the accumulation of Honkai Energy within you by converting it into a safer and more usable form."

"That sounds incredibly useful."

"It is, but it also comes with risks," Himeko cautioned. "It's a powerful tool, but mishandling it could have serious consequences."

"I'll make sure to handle it with care," I assured her.

"Good. Just remember to stay vigilant," Himeko advised her tone firm. "Honkai Energy is unpredictable, and even with the Moon Ring, it's important to remain cautious."

"I understand."

As the green light illuminated the stoplight, Himeko gently pressed on the accelerator, and we resumed our ride.

"Miss Himeko, when are we going on vacation?"

"Huh? Oh, I guess we forgot to mention that we are going on vacation," Himeko replied casually.

"Really!?"

"Yes, we're actually on our way there now," she confirmed with a smirk.

"To where?"

"Beach."

"Beach, huh... I haven't been to a beach before. Wait, what about my swim trunks?"

"Don't worry about the small details, Bronya already packed some for you."

"Bronya... packed... for me?"

"Yeah, why? Is there a problem?"

"N-No, it's just unexpected," I stammered, trying to compose myself. 

And so, a few minutes later, we finally arrived at the beach, greeted by the sight of Kiana, Mei, and Bronya waiting for us.

"Shin! Congrats on getting out of the hospital!" Kiana exclaimed, her enthusiasm palpable.

"Thanks, Kiana."

"It must have been unpleasant at the hospital, huh..." Bronya remarked, her expression tinged with concern as she glanced at me.

"It definitely wasn't the most enjoyable experience."

"Major Himeko, Overseer Theresa is waiting for you," Mei informed Himeko, approaching her.

"Ah, I see. I'll go check on her. Well then, I'll leave you four youngins," Himeko said before walking away.

As Himeko departed, I turned to the three girls with a curious expression. "So, do we have our own cottage here?"

"Of course! We even have our own space to change," Kiana answered proudly.

Oh? Must be a nice cottage speaking from your expression.

"That's great. I could definitely use a shower. I smell like... hospital," I remarked, wrinkling my nose at the memory.

Bronya approached me and casually grabbed my arm, sniffing lightly. "You're right... Bronya recommends you to use more soap."

"I'll keep that in mind," I replied with a chuckle.

"Well then, follow me. I'll guide you to our cottage," Mei offered, leading the way with Kiana and Bronya trailing behind her.

As we walked along the small road, Mei pointed out various features of the area, eventually leading us to our cottage, a cozy retreat nestled just a short distance from the beach.

"Wow, it's really nice here," I remarked, taking in the serene surroundings.

"It's quite relaxing, and we even have our own kitchen," Mei added, gesturing toward the well-equipped space.

"By the way, Mei-senpai, thanks for bringing me food," I said gratefully, recalling the meals she had delivered during my hospital stay.

"You're welcome. I figured hospital food wouldn't be to your liking," Mei replied with a smile, her gaze warm and reassuring.

"Definitely not."

I'm so lucky to have Mei-senpai, cook for me. It felt like I used up all my luck in one go.

"Well then... you said you wanted to shower, correct?" Mei asked as she walked toward a door, gesturing towards it. "Here is the showers."

"Thank you, Mei-senpai," I replied gratefully.

"Oh, and..." Mei called out loudly, "Bronya-chan? Where's Shin's belongings?"

There was silence in response.

"Huh? Did Kiana-chan and Bronya-chan go out? I didn't hear them."

"What are you talking about? I'm here," Kiana's voice came from downstairs as she descended the stairs. "If you're talking about Bronya... She should be in her room playing games?"

"Ahh, right... Bronya-chan did bring her controller and games," Mei sighed. "Oh well... Would you mind picking up Shin's belongings so he could shower?"

"Aye Aye~" Kiana responded cheerfully, retracing her steps up the stairs to the rooms.

After a few minutes, Kiana tossed a duffel bag, and I caught it.

"Thank you, Kiana," I said, noticing that the bag felt heavier than expected.

"It's kinda heavy for some reason... You should check what's inside," Kiana suggested.

"Hm... Eh? Later, I'm more concerned about getting rid of this hospital smell," I chuckled nervously.

"Haha~ You're right... I can smell the medicine on you," Mei chuckled along. "Well then, enjoy your shower~"

"Thank you, Mei-senpai."

After opening the door to the showers, I headed inside, unzipping the duffel bag to inspect its contents. To my surprise, alongside my clothes, I found a neatly folded towel, a bottle of shampoo, and even a game disc tucked among my belongings.

"Why is there a game disc here?"

Ah, right, it must be Bronya's doing.

Shrugging it off, I grabbed the towel and proceeded to enjoy a refreshing shower. Moments later, feeling rejuvenated, I emerged from the bathroom, the scent of shampoo lingering in the air. After drying myself off and changing into my fresh clothes, I grabbed the duffel bag and made my way upstairs, hoping to find my room.

Upon reaching what I hoped was my room, I placed the duffel bag on the bed and noticed the game disc. "I should return this to Bronya," I muttered to myself.

With that in mind, I exited my room and approached Bronya's door, knocking lightly before calling out, "Bronya, I have the game disc that you left in my bag. I'm coming in, okay?"

"Shin... Wait... The Bronya is still-" Bronya's voice trailed off, but it was too late.

Opening the door, I was met with a sight that caused my eyes to widen in surprise. Bronya stood before me, in the midst of changing into her swimsuit.

"Bronya... Uhm..."

"Shin..."

Her usually composed demeanor seemed slightly flustered, and I noticed a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she adjusted her swimsuit.

"That swimsuit... looks good on you," I managed to say, feeling a bit flustered myself.

"Th-thank you, Shin," Bronya replied, her voice soft and her blush deepening.

Awkwardness hung in the air for a moment before I hastily continued, "I'll just leave the game disc here for you. Sorry for intruding."

Placing the game disc on a nearby surface, I made a quick exit from the room, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and relief wash over me. As I closed the door behind me, my cheeks burned with a blush of my own, and I couldn't help but replay the unexpected encounter in my mind.

What was that just now!? 

Just then Kiana and Mei stepped out of their respective rooms, they turned to me with cheerful expressions.

"Oh? Shin? Done showering, I see?" Mei remarked with a smile, her eyes glancing over at me.

"Huh? Shin? You won't swim at the beach?" Kiana chimed in, her voice filled with curiosity.

Caught off guard by their sudden appearance and their attire, my eyes widened in surprise as I took in their swimsuits.

Mei wore a one-piece swimsuit with a fluttering skirt, exuding elegance and grace, while Kiana opted for a two-piece swimsuit, showcasing her youthful energy and confidence.

"You two look very pretty..."

"Thank you... Shin," Mei replied softly, her cheeks tinged with a hint of pink as she glanced down shyly, conveying her gratitude.

"You're welcome, Mei," I responded warmly, reciprocating her appreciation with a smile.

As Kiana slowly walked towards me and grabbed my arm, I couldn't help but notice her proximity, feeling the warmth of her chest against my arm. Her smirk hinted at mischief as she proposed her idea.

"By the way, Shin. Let's do a one-on-one."

"Huh? One on one? What's with the sudden challenge?"

Context, please? This is getting suspicious for some reason.

"Oh, you know," Kiana explained with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "I really want to see your athletic skills."

"Eh? But I just recovered from my injuries."

"It's just volleyball!"

Oh... What was I thinking?

"Shin, you shouldn't stay in one spot, you know? We're on vacation after all," Mei chimed in, offering her perspective.

"I see, that's true, Mei-senpai," I acknowledged, considering her point.

Kiana's expression turned blank as she remarked, "Wow, so you'll listen to Mei-senpai but not me? How rude!"

"If that's the case, let me join in too," Bronya interjected, pulling me closer to her side. "Also, Subject Kiana is too close to him. You'll infect him with more idiocy," she added.

"Oh, that's good timing then! We can have a two-on-two match," Mei chimed in, her eyes bright with excitement.

"You're right!" Kiana agreed enthusiastically, nodding in agreement with Mei.

"Shall we head outside now then?" Mei suggested.

"Yeah!" we all exclaimed in unison.

And so, we made our way outside to the volleyball section, ready to embark on our two-on-two battle.

"By the way, the loser gets ordered by the winner!" Kiana declared with a smirk, adding a competitive edge to our "friendly" game.

...WAIT WHAT!?