Party on the Beach rarely ever stops. But the biggest celebrations always occur when Hatter heads out to clear another game, and this day is one of them.
Sina doesn't understand why he already leaves the Beach even though it's just noon, but it's not unusual he does that. Maybe he wants to take another joyride through Tokyo – he has some pretty women with him at least. Maybe he has his own ways to prepare for the game and needs some distance and peace from the Beach? She wouldn't blame him at all.
Almost everyone from the Beach has gathered at the garages to celebrate Hatter's departure. They cheer and dance around the car, try to touch the Number 1 while the car slowly makes its way through the masses, but not without making way too much noise. Hatter himself is waving and cheering at the people around him, throwing kisses and other ribald gestures at his fans.
This is top-level blatancy, and Sina can't help but snort at the people acting like he's a god while she watches from a distance.
"Don't like to celebrate?" Chishiya appears behind her, in Kuina's company. Sina has seen them on the roof not long ago, together with one of the newbies, Arisu. The fact that they both were there to meet with him can only mean that he is part of their plan somehow, and she wonders if he is "the right one for this", whatever "this" is.
While she has nothing against Arisu so far, it still bothers Sina that Chishiya seems to trust him more than her, even though she's been way longer part of the Beach. But she has to accept that there are things she won't understand, and she still has her small victories.
Sina waits for Chishiya to step up next to her and then links arms with him. He doesn't even say something as she does that, not even as she leans her head against his shoulder while giving a wink to Kuina, who is grinning at her with big eyes.
"Nah… I don't see a reason why. They treat Hatter like a god, but he is no different than any of us. It's not…" Sina shifts a bit to find the most comfortable position. One of the Beachs "medics" who had worked as a nurse before had warned her that the pain of your injuries would get worse first before receding, and this might be the worst day. At least the swelling is slowly ceasing while the rainbow on her skin changes its colors day by day. "Sure, we owe Hatter the Beach. This place is great in many ways, but I still don't think that qualifies him to be praised like this."
"Hatter is in fact the salvation for many of those people. It would be a catastrophe for them if he died tonight." Chishiya doesn't seem to worry about that too much though, as there is the unreadable smirk he usually has.
"It would be bad if he died. I don't think the Beach would remain the same safe place anymore." Sina's eyes wander to Niragi, who is leaning against the wall of the garage and watches Hatter's car leave the hotel grounds. The grimace he throws at the Number 1 doesn't exactly look friendly. Niragi only looks up to Aguni, and he certainly wouldn't mind him being the next leader. The guys from the militia are creeps, and it's already difficult to keep them in line even with Hatter alive.
"What's the difference between Hatter dying in a game or leaving the Borderlands as soon as all cards are gathered? The Beach will change, no matter what. And not to the better."
She sighs and just enjoys the closeness to Chishiya for a moment while the party slowly moves back to the pools. The soft hoodie that smells so much like him, and the warmth of his body while he is so close to her – Sina wishes he'd be always at her side no matter what.
"At least you'll be here for a little while longer before you'll become Number 1."
Chishiya tenses a little, and she wouldn't even have noticed if she hadn't touched him in that moment. He doesn't give her an answer, and Sina looks up to him in surprise. But his eyes don't meet hers, and something doesn't feel right, but she can't tell what it is.
She knows it's no use to ask him, and Kuina speaks up anyway. "I don't know about you two, but now that Hatter's party is over, I could use something to eat."
That sounds like a good idea, and Sina loosens her grip around Chishiya's arm a bit so they both can walk properly. He still doesn't say a word, and while they head towards the dining room, Sina wonder if there's anything she can do to find out what's wrong.
Is it because she mentioned him becoming Number 1 sooner or later? Maybe it's not soon enough for him? Or is he afraid the rules will change once Hatter is gone?
I don't care about some plastic numbers. Sina suddenly remembers the conversation they've had at the pools and wonders what exactly he meant with that.
She hesitantly whispers his name, and Chishiya looks down to her, but there's no smirk or mocking comment this time. Sina smiles at him, hoping to make things better with that. But before she can talk about it, Kuina has started to complain about just how much she misses real fast food.
"I'd die for a double cheeseburger! With extra cheese and onions. And some fries. The more fat, the better."
"Blech! Kuina!" Her musing makes Sina laugh, and her stomach rumbles as they get closer to the kitchen of the Beach.
"What? You probably have never eaten a proper burger if you think like that. You look rather like one of those persons who would order a salad inside a restaurant."
Kuina shakes her head. "I honestly don't get it. Why would people order a salad when they're already going out for dinner? You don't walk into a bar and ask for a water bottle either!"
Sina misses going to a restaurant. The Beach provides enough food for everybody, but most of it is can food that has been upgraded with the bit of fresh food available in the Borderlands. And it has been a long time since she's had a proper meal worthy of a restaurant.
"Oi, Chishiya!" Kuina gives him a punch into his shoulder, encouraging him to join the conversation. "What did you eat before this? You don't look like someone who can cook."
"Why? Just because I'm a man?"
"Kuina is right", Sina has to admit, "you don't seem to be someone worthy the title of a cook."
"I can do cup ramen", Chishiya returns with a shrug.
"Everyone can make cup ramen."
Kuina gabbles about that coworker of hers who was not even able to pour some cooking water into a cup while they grab something edible, and in the end, Sina finds herself back in Chishiya's room.
Despite the weird moment they had before, sitting, eating and talking together on one bed feels so lighthearted that it'd be easy to forget where they were, even though it's still Kuina and Sina doing most of the talking.
It is fun to watch Kuina when she gets too excited about something, as she will wildly move her arms around while trying to explain why this is bad or person x is an idiot. Soon, night is falling, and Sina slowly gets tired, more than once startling from a sudden doze. Sometimes when she opens her eyes with a start, she see Chishiya's eyes resting on her as if he has been watching her doze.
"Chishiya? Can I sleep in your bed tonight?" She wonders what would happen if she actually fell asleep here. Would he wake her up or would he just allow her to sleep?
"No."
"Why not? I want to." Sina snuggles deeper into the blanket and grins at him, and Kuina throws a pillow at her while Chishiya just rolls his eyes.
"And I said no."
"What if I told you that I had bedbugs in my room?"
"Then I'd tell you that there are plenty of unused rooms left in the Beach."
"And if every other room was infested except yours?"
Kuina squeaks and shakes herself. "Eww! Then I want to sleep here too!"
"We both now it has nothing to do with bugs."
Sina laughs and throws the pillow back to Kuina as she suppresses a yawn. "Aww, alright. But one day, Chishiya. One day. There's still plenty of time left to try." There's nothing she couldn't achieve with her stubbornness so far, and one day she'll sleep in his bed. And maybe braid his hair.
But it just doesn't feel right that Chishiya gives her no answer. Something is off, Sina can feel it. She just can't grasp what it is exactly. It might just be her tired brain overreacting, but it still worries her. And she doesn't like that at all.
