PART 3: SUNSHINE, SAND, AND SOLACE
"Morning," Asuna waved half-heartedly as she took her seat at the breakfast table. The head of the table was empty. Lucifer was nowhere to be found. An awkward silence settled in as everyone avoided eye contact with her. Mammon and Asmo looked sour; Satan, Belphie, and Levi all looked downcast; Beel just sat there eating and looking distant. But she felt fine. She'd spent most of the night deciding that she wasn't going to chase him. The chance had passed, even if the feelings hadn't.
"Di-did you guys have fun last night?" She attempted to start a conversation. Some nodded, the rest just sat in silence. She took a look around the table watching them eat breakfast, the solemn atmosphere making it feel like there was a dark cloud sitting above the table.
"Wow, why is everyone so gloomy?" Solomon asked, entering the dining room with Simeon and Luke right behind him.
"Everyone's just tired from all the excitement last night," Asuna fielded, trying to sound more cheerful than she felt.
"We were hoping you guys would join us for a trip to the beach!" Luke announced excitedly.
"I think it would be great to relax for the day, and it's so beautiful outside," Simeon commented cheerfully, not taking his eyes off Asuna. She returned his warm smile before turning to the brothers and attempting to persuade them to join the trip. With a little moaning, some motivation from Simeon, and a little push from Asuna, they eventually all agreed and headed to the human world to enjoy the sunshine, sand, and waves.
As Asuna lay down to relax on a beach towel under their rented umbrella, she couldn't help but feel at ease with Simeon, Asmo, and Mammon all laying around her, watching the others taking a dip in the ocean.
"I love coming here," Simeon commented, sighing contentedly. "It's so full of life."
"Oh, Asuna, you just have to try this tan lotion! It's guaranteed to give your skin that golden touch!" Asmo purred.
"Tch, you're the only one who likes that stuff," Mammon dismissed.
"Now, now, let's not start fighting already! We just got here," Simeon said, beaming at them all. "We're here to relax, not bicker."
"I'll just use regular sunscreen, thanks," Asuna commented. "Simeon, could you get my back?"
"Absolutely love, here," he replied, rubbing the lotion in. She felt shocked and saddened when Simeon's hand touched her body, involuntarily picturing Lucifer doing it instead.
"Th-thanks," she replied swiftly, jumping up immediately after to run to the cool water, and as far away from her thoughts as possible.
Simeon couldn't help but feel guilty about the ordeal yesterday. He felt responsible for the sour outcome, and as he watched her dance around in the water, her frilly blue bikini accentuating her curves, thirsty looks on a lot of faces staring at her, he wanted nothing more in this moment than to make her happy.
Simeon turned to the two brothers. "What do you think Lucifer would want for his birthday?"
"Money," Mammon responded immediately. "Can't go wrong with that."
"He is notoriously tricky to buy for. Maybe a nice bottle of wine?" Asmo contemplated. "I don't think he's had human world wine before."
"No, I'm thinking something more personal," Simeon said, watching Beel lift and throw Asuna, making a big splash, her smile absolutely infectious, but her eyes still looking burdened.
"There's lots of tourist stores around here, maybe we should go shopping?" Asmo suggested gleefully.
"You know, that's not a bad idea," Simeon said, more to himself than the others.
"Beel, you have to let her catch her breath before you throw her again!" Belphie chuckled, as Asuna stood up, coughing and laughing.
"Sorry Asuna," Beel said, a small frown on his face. She went up to him and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Do it again," she smiled, jumping into his arms. Beel obliged, blushing.
"Simeon, come look at our sand castle," Luke yelled from the edge of the water. He and Levi were hard at work making a giant structure, Levi going off about how it was designed after some building in a game Simeon had never heard of.
"Impressive, keep it up!" Simeon encouraged. Another look at Asuna had her, Solomon, and Satan now sitting at the edge of the water, deep in conversation.
"So if we put these teeny pebblets into his closet, all his clothes will reek of rotten eggs. If he wears them enough, he'll start to smell like that too," Satan proposed.
"If you want to go for something a little more old-fashioned. I can hex him so everything smells like a garbage dump to him," Solomon contemplated.
"No one has ever successfully hexed Lucifer. The stink pellets are non-magical and easy to hide. He shouldn't suspect a thing."
"Getting into his room poses a problem with that one. He never allows anyone in there," Solomon pointed out, thinking for a moment. "Asuna could probably get inside. He can't resist a request from you," he smiled.
"He's resisted me many times before," she responded, hoping to hide how hurt she was feeling. Talking about Lucifer was bad enough; worse was that this conversation was making her realize she'd never again get those cute, romantic moments with him that she craved so much. She felt herself grab her legs and rest her chin on her knees, staring at the horizon, the sting of rejection finally settling in.
Satan went silent and put an arm around Asuna. "It sure is pretty here," Simeon said, taking a seat beside Satan.
"Want me to get you something to eat?" Solomon offered, silently wondering why everything felt so solemn all of a sudden.
"No, thank you," she choked out. She had to clear her throat to stop the tears that threatened to appear. She could hear them talking but she wasn't taking in a word, her mind uneasy as she tried to hold it in. "Bathroom," she mumbled, when she could stall it no longer.
"What's got her so down?" Solomon asked, sounding more curious than concerned.
"She got dumped by my pinhead brother," Satan scowled. Simeon watched as her quick steps turned into a run, Mammon and Asmo's heads watching after her.
"That's not necessarily true," Simeon defended gently.
"He abandoned her at the end of the night. I'd say that's close enough," Satan said, shaking his head and gazing moodily at the bathrooms.
"Maybe we could somehow get him to join us here?" Solomon suggested.
Satan shook his head. "I messaged Diavolo about that already. He said Lucifer refuses to leave the RAD student council room. Claims he's too busy with work."
"What Asuna needs is a day so full of discovery that she forgets all about her problems," Solomon proposed.
"I don't think distractions are going to be enough. Could you and your brothers do me a favour, Satan?" Simeon asked.
"If it's for Asuna, it shouldn't be a problem," he responded cautiously.
"Good. Asmo suggested a shopping trip and I'd like to indulge him. While we're out, I need all you boys to be cheerful and on your best behaviour. Asuna needs your infectious laughter and loving support today. I know you and your brothers can do it," Simeon concluded, beaming.
"What do you have up your sleeve," Satan asked cautiously.
"You'll see," Simeon responded mysteriously. He sat in silence, watching the bathrooms as Satan gathered up his brothers and told them about the plan.
"Asuna, come get a group photo!" Asmo waved as she exited the bathroom. She appeared to be alright, returning the wave and smiling. But Simeon could see a slight puffiness to her eyes and a red flush on her cheeks.
Asmo handed a stranger his D.D.D., then snuggled right up beside Asuna, the rest of the group standing around them.
"Hope you don't mind standing hip to hip," Asmo teased. She nudged him in the arm and he retaliated by putting his arm tightly around her shoulder, both of them giggling like schoolgirls.
"Say cheese," the stranger said. The word reverberated around the group followed by a snap on Asmo's D.D.D.
"Perfect!" Asmo squealed, thanking the stranger for his help.
"We were thinking about looking at the tourist stands they have," Simeon said zealously. "Coming?" he asked Asuna, holding out his hand for her. She hesitantly accepted, allowing Simeon's gentle touch to lead her forward.
"Oooh, these would look so cute on you!" Asmo sang, putting some purple star-shaped sunglasses on Asuna's face and taking a photo. "You look gorgeous!"
"Woooooah Asuna, look, they have Ruri-chan pins!" Levi exclaimed excitedly, pointing to a display case full of anime memorabilia.
"Wow, this beach blanket is so soft. I should get us one," Belphie said eagerly. "Asuna, come feel it, it's like a cloud!"
"Hey, how much for the gold heart earrings, there?" Mammon asked the shopkeeper. "They'd look great with your bathing suit, Asuna."
"Mammon, people don't usually wear earrings when swimming," Belphie commented.
"These are amazing! You said they were called soft pretzels? I'll take 20 please," Beel requested, the guy at the pretzel stand asking if he was serious, jumping right to work at Beel's nod. He handed one to Asuna and proceeded to eat the other 19 on his own, Asuna giggling at his appetite.
"You'd look cute in these," Satan said, putting a pair of fluffy pink cat ears on her head. Asuna felt silly trying them on as Asmo took another photo.
"Look, they have a jacket that matches my robe," Solomon commented. "Come try it on, it looks to be about your size."
"Matching outfits, how stylish," Asmo's lyrical voice affirmed as she put it on. She was starting to feel embarrassed at all the attention, and a little suspicious at how different everyone was from this morning. Maybe a trip was what they all needed; after all, she was starting to feel better too.
"You guys don't need to buy all this for me," she blushed, putting everything back. As she handed the earrings back to the shopkeep, a silver necklace caught her eye. She stared at the charm, a bright red gem with some black accents on the pendant. It reminded her of Lucifer's eyes. Suddenly, Lucifer's hand came to rest on her shoulder, but the voice that spoke wasn't his.
"I'm sure he'd love it," Simeon said in a low whisper. "It is his birthday, it might make a good gift."
She rubbed her neck, unsure what to do, lost in thought at the prospect of giving Lucifer a gift. But before she could decide whether or not to buy it, the shopkeeper had pulled it out of the case, wrapped it, and handed it to Simeon. "We'll just lie and say it's from you," he winked.
"Angels aren't supposed to lie," she chuckled as he handed her the bag.
"We won't tell him the whole truth. Just that you spotted it and wanted him to have it," Simeon laughed. He had done the impossible. He had lit the spark of hope inside her once more; no matter how weak it seemed to be, at least it was there. And as they all headed back to the Devildom, Asuna couldn't hide the warm smile that lay on her lips.