Yuuki waded out of the shallows, shaking his head with a smile. Ever since their arrival on the beach, Kotoko had remained huddled under the umbrella with his mother. Well, that was going to have to change!
He eased onto the blanket, ignoring the fact that she almost cringed away from him. "Mom," he said, "didn't you say that you wanted matching earrings for that new sundress you bought earlier?" At his mother's nod, he added, "I thought I saw some in that shop over there."
"Really!" Mrs. Irie's face brightened as if a spotlight had been aimed at her. "Kotoko-chan! Let's go check it out."
"Nah," Yuuki drawled, clamping a hand on Kotoko's wrist, "I'm going to try to convince Kotoko to go in the water. Take Dad with you."
"Oh, yes, you've been keeping me company today, haven't you?" His mother suddenly looked alarmed. "And here I've been chatting non-stop and not letting you play! Go now! Papa, come on!"
Mr. Irie made a resigned expression and rose out of his beach chair. Once the parents were out of earshot, Yuuki turned to Kotoko. "Why have you turned into a hermit?"
Kotoko tugged on her hand to no avail then admitted, "I don't know how to act in front of your parents when we're hardly wearing any clothes."
Yuuki sputtered with laughter at her embarrassment. "What the—? This isn't our first beach trip together. I've seen you in a swimsuit before, and with all my competitions, you've certainly seen me. Besides, we're dating now."
Kotoko looked behind them then hissed, "But they don't know that yet."
He rolled his eyes. "Just act like you did before we started going out."
"I can't remember how!" she wailed.
"Oh, for the love of—!" Yuuki hauled her to her feet and ignored her squeal of protest when he pulled the hoodie over her head. He picked up her oversized swim ring and dragged her to the water.
"But our things!" she cried.
"They'll be just fine. Besides," he glanced over his shoulder, Mom and Dad are already on their way back." He added with a wicked grin, "That shop doesn't sell jewelry. Come in willingly or I'll carry you."
"Tch!" Kotoko grabbed the ring from his arm and stomp-splashed into the water.
He followed close behind, enjoying the view, then dragged her beyond the preschoolers in the shallows until the buoyant float bobbed gently with the waves. Leaning forward in the ring, she rested her chin on her folded arms and pouted, "What if I didn't want to go in the water?"
He laid one arm over the ring. "Complaining again?" he teased as his other arm disappeared under water.
"No!" She tried to shove him back and only succeeded in falling through the the middle, bobbing back up after a second.
He wiped water off her forehead. "People should be more careful when they're in over their head."
She glared at him. "I never should have let you know I was ticklish!"
"Oh, I would have found out eventually," he said, leaning closer.
Kotoko sputtered, "Your parents can see us here!"
"Okay, okay," he grumbled. He rotated her slightly until her back was to the shore then bent down. "Your lips taste salty, shorty," he said, rubbing his nose to hers.
"So do yours," she whispered back, then blinked and stared at him as if mesmerized. When had that familiar face become so dear to her? "I think the fresh air worked, just like Satomi said."
"What does that mean?" asked Yuuki.
"Never mind." She looked over her shoulder. "Are you sure they can't see us?"
"Positiv—!" Yuuki's happiness at discovering that his feelings were returned was mitigated by the fact that he lost his footing when she impetuously grabbed him around the neck. "Don't drown me, woman!"
Still afloat with the ring, Kotoko smiled at him, "Then I'd just pull you out of the water again."
Adjusting the blanket, Mrs. Irie complained, "I don't know why that son of yours sent us off on a wild goose chase! I didn't see any earrings there."
"Neither did I, my dear," Mr. Irie agreed, tilting his hat down over his eyes. He wished that his friend Aihara had been able to accompany them this year and make the trip more bearable.
"Well, while those two are away, we can decide how we're going to get our schedules in sync!" She sent the conversation in an entirely new direction. "Every time you have a young man over for dinner, Kotoko-chan has other plans! This is very frustrating for me," she fretted.
"Dear, have you ever noticed that frequently Yuuki doesn't join us for dinner on those evenings?"
"Why are you bringing him up, Papa? I need you to focus! It's Kotoko-chan I'm concerned about now!"
"Of course, Mama, of course. I don't know what came over me," he soothed her while watching the waves roll in. It's her own fault for being too vain to wear glasses, he sighed, else she would have quite an eyeful. Come to think of it, maybe it is a good thing that Ai-chan isn't here!
Kotoko lay on her bed sleeplessly watching the ceiling. A slight vibration and the shock of light from her cell phone startled her.
"RU awake?" A text from Yuuki! She typed quickly. "Yes." After a moment, she had to stifle a yelp when the reply read, "Coming in".
No, no! she thought. Not here! Mr. and Mrs. Irie were just in the next room. What in the world was he thinking?
She waved her hands in frantic negative signals when he slowly and silently opened her door. Closing it behind him, he placed a finger over his lips then walked to the bed and sat down on the edge.
"Don't worry," he breathed. "I can predict what you're thinking. I just want to hold you for a little bit."
Kotoko closed her eyes and took a deep breath before scooting over. He quickly crawled under the covers and pulled her to him. Her face, which had been hidden in his chest, raised when she felt his whole body shaking in laughter.
"Did you really think that I'd try something with Mom within earshot?" he whispered in her ear. "She'd be cracking open the door, video camera in hand."
"Yeah," Kotoko giggled quietly. "I should have remembered that you were smarter than that."
"That's right." He kissed the top of her head. "Kotoko?" he asked after a moment.
"Mmm?" she murmured as she shifted position slightly.
"Tell Mom that you have other plans on your birthday."
"But she always enjoys making such a fuss!" she protested. "I couldn't—"
He squeezed her. "I want to celebrate with you."
She ducked her head and tugged his collar. "But what about Obasama's party?"
"I'd prefer a private party of our own," he whispered seductively. His mouth moved from her ear and began nipping down her neck to her collarbone.
"Ack!" she squeaked out loud then clamped both hands over her mouth and stared at him wide-eyed. Through the thin walls they heard Mrs. Irie say sleepily, "Papa, roll over, you're snoring again."
Yuuki buried his face on her chest, shoulders shaking with laughter. Finally he levered himself up into a seated position, Running his thumb over her bottom lip, he said, "Birthday, Kotoko. You and me. Alone."
She nodded and he departed as quietly as he had entered.
