Chapter 6 - Beach Date
While relaxing on summer vacation, Sayaka decides to go on a date with Hachiman. Hope you enjoy it!
"Hachiman! There you are!"
Hachiman opened his eyes and looked up to see Yuigahama walking over to him on bouncing toes. He was leaning against the outside wall of the house, just enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. Yuigahama stopped in front of him and leaned in close to get a proper look at him.
"What are you doing out here?" She asked.
"Just…" Hachiman thought for a moment— it probably did seem odd for him to just be standing outside on his own in this rare opportunity to enjoy a place like the beaches. The rest of the group were lounging on the beach or enjoying the bar or spending their money in some other form of relaxation, but there wasn't much Hachiman wanted to do. "Hanging out."
Yuigahama laughed behind her hands and shook her head. "So, you don't have much to do today? Are you free tonight?"
"Yeah," Hachiman said with a nod. He regarded her suspiciously for a moment; her smile had a certain mischievous gleam to it. "...Why?"
"Because! I'm going to take you out on a date tonight!" Yuigahama clapped her hands together happily and grinned.
Hachiman's mouth fell open in surprise. "H-Huh?"
Yuigahama gave him a wink. "I mean, who knows the next time we'll get to visit a place like this? So? Do you want to?"
"Um…" Hachiman nodded slowly. Honestly, he felt like she wouldn't give him the chance to say no even if he wanted to. "Y-Yeah…Sure."
"Perfect!" Yuigahama cried, her grin blinding and her eyes sparkling under the bright sun. "Let's meet here tonight, at 6:00!"
Hachiman nodded, and Yuigahama turned to skip away happily. "Uh, what should I…?" He began sheepishly. Should he bring something? Do something?
Yuigahama turned to give him one last look and shook her head. "Just bring your lovely self, that's all you need to worry about!" She told him before disappearing inside the inn.
Hachiman watched her go, then leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the ground with fervor. A date with Yuigahama, here in the beach? His mind began racing and he suddenly felt nervous as he tried to come up with something for the two of them to do. Or… Did she have everything planned already? But, he shouldn't leave everything up to her… right? He groaned and covered his eyes with his hand.
"That was rough to watch."
Hachiman jumped in surprise and lifted his eyes. "Miura," He said to the girl standing nearby, watching him with a frown. Hachiman cleared his throat and awkwardly looked away. "...Don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure ya don't," Miura said sarcastically as she stepped closer to Hachiman. "No business of mine if you wanna play dumb, but you should at least go start getting ready for her."
"What do you mean?" Hachiman asked as he looked down at himself.
"You're not gonna take her out dressed like that?" Miura asked in the most judgemental tone Hachiman had ever heard from her, which is saying a lot.
Hachiman fixed Miura with an offended glare and scowled. "These are my normal clothes. It's not like I got anything else."
"Then go drop some yen" Miura told him. "I may or may not know for a fact that she already has."
Hachiman blinked and frowned. Yuigahama bought new clothes? Just to go out with him? He shook his head. "It'd just be a waste." He asked. "What's the point of spending money just for one night? And it'll add weight to what we already have to carry."
"Oh, and one more thing," Miura said. "We all really like Yuigahama. She's a sweet girl. So it'd be in your best interest to make sure I don't find out you were a bad date for her."
Hachiman scowled. "Noted," He said dryly.
Miura nodded and clapped her hand heavily on Hachiman's shoulder as she moved to walk away. "Glad to hear it. And…Good luck tonight, gloomy."
He sighed and looked down at himself, suddenly worried. He had definitely never been on a date before, not a real one, anyway; what kind of clothes would Yuigahama expect?
After pacing in front of the clothing shop for five minutes, Hachiman finally stepped inside and let the woman working decide what would be best for "a night out," as he simply called it.
"With a pretty girl, I assume?" The woman asked as she looked through her inventory for him.
"Yeah." Hachiman said slowly.
The woman smiled at him and nodded, and dressed him in a simple look of a black button-down shirt and black pants. She stuck him in front of the mirror and fussed over him for a good ten minutes, tucking and untucking the shirt before she decided that untucked would be best for him, rolling up the cuffs, messing with the collar. She looked over him once more, then unbuttoned the first two buttons of the shirt to expose the hollow of his throat.
"There we go, perfect!" She said happily. "Simple suits you best. You're such a handsome boy, after all."
Hachiman nodded at her compliment. He dropped the yen in her hand, took a bag containing his other clothes, and hurried out of the shop and back to the hotel. He dropped his clothes on the floor of his room and sat on the edge of his bed with a heavy sigh to wait until it was time to meet her. As he pulled at the collar of his shirt and fiddled with the cuffs, his anxiety spiked and he worried for a moment that maybe Miura had just been pulling his leg, maybe Yuigahama didn't buy new clothes, and he was about to make a fool of himself.
He found out a bit later, after he went back to wait outside in the same spot as before for her, that maybe he should be a bit more trusting of Miura.
"Heya!" Yuigahama said as she came out of the hotelto meet him.
She was wearing a simple and pretty pink sundress, one with thin straps over her slim shoulders and that ended a bit above her knees. She had left her hair up like always, but released the twist, allowing it to hang in thick waves down the length of her back.
Hachiman was rendered speechless for a moment as he took in the sight of her. The sun was beginning to set, casting warm, gold light that reflected over her exposed skin and haloed her shoulders in a way that made her look more like a goddess than anything else. It didn't even matter what she was wearing, it was just… her. She was glowing and beautiful.
"Hachiman?" Yuigahama asked, and Hachiman blinked and looked at her face. She was smiling, amused.
"Oh, uh…Excuse me," Hachiman said with a nod of apology.
Yuigahama laughed to herself and stepped up closer to him. "Wow, Hachiman! You look so nice! Did you buy new clothes?"
"Yeah, well…" Hachiman looked at her and shrugged one shoulder. "It is a date. Right?"
Yuigahama looked at Hachiman with wide eyes and her mouth opened in a small 'O' like she couldn't believe what she was seeing or hearing. She then broke out in a grin and nodded, holding her fists up to her chest. "That's right, it is! So let's go!"
She wrapped her arm around Hachiman's and promptly dragged him away from the inn. Hachiman stumbled into step next to her. She didn't release his arm, even as they continued walking through the town. "So…What do you want to do?" Hachiman asked her.
"How about we go to the beach?" Yuigahama suggested, leaning forward a bit to look up at Hachiman's face. "I bet it'll be beautiful right now with the sunset."
Hachiman nodded at her. "Lead on, then."
Happy to oblige, Yuigahama pulled Hachiman by the arm to walk quicker towards the beach. When they reached it, Hachiman was happy to see that it wasn't as crowded as usual. He appreciated the quiet, and didn't want anyone staring at Yuigahama.
"I knew it would be beautiful!" Yuigahama said with a happy little sigh as she leaned her head just slightly against Hachiman's shoulder to look out at the horizon, where the sun was setting and casting a red reflection on the surface of the water.
Hachiman nodded. "So…shall we?" He asked, gesturing down the little concrete path.
"Let's!" Yuigahama said with a nod. She turned them to the left and together, the two leisurely strolled along the beach.
They didn't speak much, but Hachiman wasn't sure if they needed to. Walking along, enjoying the scenery and the sea air in her company was a comfort Hachiman would never trade. And she was still hanging onto his arm, leaning just so into his side. Hachiman wondered if it would be too much to put his arm around her shoulders. Maybe he'd try when she eventually released him.
"Oh, wow, look!" Yuigahama suddenly cried before running forward with Hachiman dragged by her side. She stopped them in front of a food stall, where a man was frying something Hachiman didn't recognize but sure did smell good. "It looks amazing!"
"How much?" Hachiman asked the man cooking in front of them. He ignored the way Yuigahama looked at him in surprise and glee.
"For such a lovely young couple, I'll give you a special discount!" The man said with a grin. "Only 500 yen!"
"W-We're—" Hachiman began, but Yuigahama cut him off.
"Thank you!" She chirped.
Hachiman dug in his pocket for the money and dropped it into the man's hand without another word. He fried up a portion for the two of them, then added some extra on top. "Can't resist such a cute couple!" He said as he stuck a fork into the food and handed it over to Yuigahama.
"That was nice of him!" Yuigahama said as they continued their walk down the beach. She took a bite and her eyes lit up. "Mmm! This is really tasty! Here Hachiman, open up!"
Hachiman turned his head to look down at her and was faced with a bite of food waiting for him. After a moment of hesitation, he did as she said and opened his mouth to let her feed him, closed his lips around the fork and chewed on his bite. She was looking at him expectantly, so Hachiman nodded.
"It's good," He said.
"Really, really good!" Yuigahama agreed as she took another bite.
The two continued walking slowly down the path while Yuigahama fed the both of them until the food was gone. Yuigahama dumped the empty container in a trashcan, and was then stopped by a woman standing at a cart calling out to them.
"Hey, young lovers! Want something cold and sweet to beat the heat?" The woman asked. "I have the best shaved ice in town!"
Yuigahama looked up at Hachiman and tilted her head. "What do you think, Hachiman?"
Hachiman nodded and walked over to the woman. "Sounds like it tastes good."
"That's the spirit!" The woman said as she began making them some.
"I didn't know you liked sweets, Hachiman," Yuigahama said with a nudge against his side.
"I mean…I don't hate them," Hachiman said while giving her a nonchalant shrug.
Yuigahama laughed as Hachiman handed over the money for the dessert. "I want to know all about your favorite sweets! Do you like cake, too? Chocolate cake is my favorite!"
Hachiman gave a little laugh and shook his head as he took the cup of shaved ice from the woman. "Sometimes cake is bit too much for me," He told her. He held up the shaved ice as an example. "I like iced desserts."
Yuigahama grinned and held her pointer finger up like she had just had a grand idea. "Then next time, we can get cake and ice cream!"
Hachiman blinked and looked down at the shaved ice. "...Next time?" He murmured to himself.
"Oh, Hachiman! Over here!" Yuigahama said, having not heard him. She tugged his arm towards the beach and stepped out into the sand.
She stumbled forward as she tried to walk in her heels, and Hachiman stuck an arm around her middle to keep her upright. "You okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine! It's just hard to walk in the sand in these," Yuigahama said sheepishly. "One second!" She finally released Hachiman's arm to kneel down and unclasp her shoes. She stepped out of each one and then stood up straight, her shoes dangling from her fingers. "All better!"
"If you say so," Hachiman said quietly.
"It's worth it, trust me!" Yuigahama said. She grabbed Hachiman's empty hand and pulled him across the beach.
Hachiman realized shortly after where Yuigahama was dragging him to; an empty wooden dock jutted out from the sand and over the ocean water. They walked up the steps and all the way to the end of the dock, and Yuigahama sat down at the edge so her feet dipped into the water. Hachiman sat next to her, one knee pulled up to his chest, the other leg folded under him.
"What a perfect view," Yuigahama said as she leaned back on her hands.
She was right; the sun was just about to set, and the last rays of it were painting the sky various shades of orange, red, and purple. The line of light reflecting on the water was almost blinding, shimmering like crystals. Hachiman looked from the view to Yuigahama; the light was glittering in her eyes just like the water, and her cheeks were flushed from being out in the heat.
Hachiman handed her the shaved ice. "Here," He said. "Before it melts."
Yuigahama shook her head and shoved the cup back towards him. "You have some first! Since I know how much you like it."
Hachiman sighed and picked up the spoon. "Will you ever let me live it down?"
"Hmm…Probably not," Yuigahama said teasingly.
Hachiman took a bite of the ice and then looked over at Yuigahama. She had fed him the food, right? So would that make it okay if he- "Here," He said as he scooped up another spoonful and held it out towards her.
"Oh, what a gentleman!" Yuigahama opened her mouth with a small ahh! and Hachiman tried to keep his hand from shaking as he fed her the ice. Yuigahama gave a happy little hum as she swallowed, obviously pleased with the taste.
They passed the ice back and forth until it was finished. At one point, Yuigahama laughed and wiped at the corner of Hachiman's lips with her thumb, where he had gotten a drop of the red syrup. When it was done, Hachiman fiddled with the empty cup in his hand.
"It's so beautiful here," Yuigahama said. The sun was dipping behind the horizon, and the sky was now a pretty shade of purple with little pinpricks of stars that were just starting to become visible.
"Yeah…" Hachiman said with a nod. He looked over at Yuigahama.
Yuigahama smiled at him in thanks. "Honestly, it's still really scary to me," She admitted. "It's just so…endless. There's so much we don't know, things that could come and cause us more pain. But then, we come somewhere like here, and it's just so…Beautiful. And even though I'm terrified, I can't look away." She looked from the sky to Hachiman and smiled sheepishly. "Weird, right?"
Hachiman shook his head. "No, I understand," He told her.
A beat passed, and then Yuigahama scooted over a bit, so she was pressed against Hachiman's side. She swung her feet back and forth over the surface of the water. "What do you think of when you look at the sky, Hachiman?" She asked.
"Uh…" Hachiman looked up at the sky.
"It gives you the same feeling?" Yuigahama finished.
Hachiman looked at her and nodded. "Yeah…kind of. But it's… nice. Reminds me of the good things."
"Well, I think after tonight," Yuigahama said to him. "Looking at the sky will remind me of good times, too."
"Why do you say that?" Hachiman asked her.
She regarded him for a long moment, then giggled behind her hand and shook her head. "Oh, Hachiman," She said as she looked back up at the stars that were now brightly shining over them. "It's because of this moment, right here. With you."
The tips of Hachiman's ears began burning. He looked away from her and up at the sky, as well. "O-Oh…That's…" He cleared his throat and tried again. "...Same here."
"Hmm?" Yuigahama questioned with a nudge against his side.
"This'll be a good moment I'll remember too," He elaborated, his voice quiet. "Whenever I look at the sky."
Yuigahama smiled and ducked her head down a bit, hiding her eyes behind her hair. "Good," She said quietly. "That makes me even happier."
Hachiman smiled to himself, unable to stop it, and nodded silently. They sat like that for a while longer, until the noises of other visitors at the beach began to dwindle as everyone returned home for the evening. Then, without warning, Yuigahama leaned in closer and rested her head on Hachiman's shoulder as she continued enjoying the starry view.
Hachiman took a deep breath and released it slowly. He tried hard not to move or shift at all so that she wouldn't become uncomfortable. Strands of her hair tickled his cheek and neck, and she smelled like a mixture of the sea and her typical flowery scent. She was warm, tucked up against him, and Hachiman wanted desperately to rest his cheek on the top of her head and stay like that until the sun came up. His fingers twitched with the urge to wrap his arm around her, but he was still nervous it was not the right move to make, so he instead stayed still and let her relax against him.
"Shall we head back?" Yuigahama asked after sitting another ten minutes like that.
No, Hachiman's thoughts answered immediately. Knowing that the night must end eventually though, Hachiman said, "Yeah, sure."
Yuigahama lifted her head to allow Hachiman to stand, and he held a hand out to her to pull her up. She stood and stretched her hands over her head in a way that oddly reminded Hachiman of a cat, then turned to begin walking off the dock.
"Wait," Hachiman said. Yuigahama stopped and looked back at him; she was still barefoot, carrying her shoes in her hands, but her feet were wet. "You'll get sand all over your feet."
"Oh, right," Yuigahama said as she looked down at her feet and wiggled her toes. She smiled at Hachiman and shrugged. "Well, that's what I get for getting them all wet!"
Hachiman frowned, then took a few steps to get in front of her and knelt down. "Here," He said over his shoulder. "I'll carry you."
"Huh?" Yuigahama said from behind him. "Hachiman, really! It's okay, I can—"
"It's fine," He told her. "I don't mind. Just… Carry this."
He handed the empty shaved ice cup back to her, then looked up at her, waiting. "Okay…" Yuigahama said apprehensively, and even under the stars, Hachiman could see she was blushing. "But if I get too heavy, put me down!"
She hesitantly climbed onto his back and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Please," Hachiman said as he hooked his arms under her legs.
He stood up quickly and she squealed in surprise in a way that made Hachiman smile. He walked off the dock with her clung to his back and across the abandoned sandy beach. "This is…" Yuigahama murmured into Hachiman's ear.
"Want me to carry you a different way?" Hachiman asked.
"Hachiman!" Yuigahama whined, and Hachiman chuckled to himself. "So petty, even now."
"Guess so," Hachiman said as he hiked her up further on his back. Her skirt pulled up just a bit, and Hachiman's hands grasped onto the back of her knees, which promptly shut him up.
She sighed, hung her arms loosely around his neck and rested her chin on his forehead. "I think this will be another good moment to remember, too."
"Yeah?" Hachiman asked quietly.
Yuigahama nodded against his shoulder. "Yep."
Hachiman swallowed and pressed his lips into a hard line to suppress the small smile growing. Soon enough, he reached the path next to the beach and carried Yuigahama to a bench to set her down.
Once she finished, she stood up, tossed the empty cup, then punched the air above her head in triumph. "Okay! Let's go!"
"Heh," Hachiman smiled and shook his head. He held his arm out for Yuigahama to take, and she did so happily.
The walk back was mostly quiet, just the sounds of their footsteps accompanied by the nearby ocean waves. Hachiman opened his mouth to say something a few times, but stopped himself short. He felt nervous, worried that he'd say something lame or embarrassing that would ruin the perfect, comfortably quiet moment. He decided it would be better if he just didn't speak.
They returned to the town and back to the hotel, and Hachiman walked Yuigahama up to the door of the room she was sleeping in. Yuigahama released Hachiman's arm to stand in front of him so they could properly face each other and leaned in so close, Hachiman automatically leaned back.
"So, did you have fun?" Yuigahama asked with a cheeky smile.
"Y-Yeah," Hachiman said with a nod as he looked down into her red eyes.
Yuigahama looked at Hachiman with those big eyes of hers for so long, Hachiman worried that maybe he had overstepped. Then, she ducked her head and covered her mouth with her hand as she began giggling. Her laughter grew, and she lifted her head to give Hachiman a beaming smile.
"Good!" Yuigahama said. "Thanks for tonight, Hachiman. I had a really good time with you."
"Yeah, me too," Hachiman said. "Uh, had a good time with you too, I mean."
Yuigahama giggled again and nodded. Then, she stepped up close, stood up a bit straighter, and kissed Hachiman softly on his cheek. Hachiman gave a small gasp of surprise and pulled back to look at her with wide eyes, but she just smiled up at him with an innocent smile.
"Good night, Hachiman," She said as she stepped back. "Try to get some sleep, okay?"
Hachiman nodded, and Yuigahama stepped into her room with a little wave of her fingers. His mind working slower than usual, Hachiman lifted his hand in an awkward wave only as she closed the door behind her. Hachiman blinked and touched the cheek she had kissed, turned slowly to return to his own room.
Hachiman lied down on his bed without bothering to change and stared up at the ceiling. As he laid there all night, he hoped that the next chance to go out with Yuigahama would come quickly. And wondered if she hoped the same.
Thanks for reading!