Karukaya POV

The breeze blew my bangs backward and made my shirt flutter lightly. The sun reflected off the ocean's surface and made the already beautiful view truly breathtaking but that wasn't what I was focused on. I was focused on the small Shino shrine at the edge of the cliff.

It has been three days since the battle of Miyako-jima. Three days since my sister and Aoi-san were killed. We honored them right here, on this hill overlooking the ocean. The entire fleet was here including taskforce Lightning and taskforce ten. No one said anything until at the end when Ise-sama offered a prayer for them. After that everyone slowly left until me, Yuzuki-san and Sanae-chan were the only ones remaining.

I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Yuzuki-san and onee-san walking up the trail to the shrine. Onee-san smiled at me and I smiled back. She walked up beside me and Yuzuki-san did the same. We stood there in silence for five minutes before we turned and headed back down the trail.

"Karukaya-san I'm... I'm sorry."

"Yuzuki-

"No. I need to say it. I was with Fuyo-san when she died. I didn't spot that abyssal until it was too late, if I had just seen it a few seconds earlier she would still be alive," Yuzuki-san bowed her head.

"There was nothing you could have done."

"But-

"No. I was in that storm. I know how difficult it was to spot anything. There was nothing you could do." I stepped up and hugged her. She stiffened but after a few seconds, she returned it.

"Come on. Let's head back."

We made it back to the base after a few minutes of walking. On our way to the cafeteria, we ran into Asagiri-san and Shirakumo-san.

"A day at the beach?"

"Yeah. I wanted to do it ever since we were first stationed here."

"Alright, I'll go."

"Yes," she did a fist pump and Asagiri-san laughed much to Shirakumo-san's embarrassment.

"Asagiri-san," she wined.

"I'm sorry," she said still chuckling, "You're just so cute," she rubbed Shirakumo-san's hair and she jerked away.

"I am not!"

"Yes, you are."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"Aren't!

"Are!"

"Aren't!

"Are!"

"Aren't!

"Aren't"

"Are! Wait, what!?"

"HA! I wondered if that would work."

"You little-"

"Wait, wait!"

Shirakumo-san tackled Asagiri-san and started tickling her. "Ha-hehehe- stop it hehehehehe, hahahahaha! Stooooooop I can't breathe!"

Shirakumo-san stood up with a smile. "Learned your listen?"

Asagiri-san was still trying to catch her breath. "N-nope. You're s-still super cute!"

Shirakumo-san gasped in shock, "Why you!"

She rolled away from her attack and quickly hid behind me. "Protect me Karukaya-san!"

I stuck my chest out, "If you want Asagiri-san you're going to have to get through me!"

"WAH! Karukaya-san, Sanae-san, Yuzuki-san. How long have you been standing there?"

"We heard it all and for the record, you are very cute."

She pouted and crossed her arms, "I am not. Oh! You want to go to the beach with us!?"

"A day at the beach, when?"

"On the eighth."

"The eighth. What do you say girls? How's a day at the beach sound?"

"Sounds good to me! I just need a bathing suit," Yuzuki-san answered.

"The beach sounds wonderful. I'm in," I answered.

"Well, it's decided. We're going to the beach tomorrow."

"Perfect! I wonder who else would like to go?"

Grrrrr!

Her face flushed pink as her stomach made its displeasure known.

Yuzuki-san giggled, "Well, you can invite them after we eat breakfast."

"Do you know what they have on the menu?"

"No idea." Asagiri-san walked ahead and we followed her making idle conversation as we walked. As we approached the cafeteria we started to hear dozens of voices all combined into one. We pushed the door open and the noise rose in volume.

"Well, this place filled up quick."

"You sound surprised."

"It doesn't matter how many times I see it, always surprises me how quickly it'll fill up."

"Come on, let's get our food and see if we can find a seat."

We sat down next to Asakaze-san, Harukaze-san, and Yunagi-san.

"So, you three doing anything tomorrow?"

"I'm not doing anything partially interesting," Asakaze-san answered.

"I'm heading to Uruma tomorrow but after that, I don't have anything planned," Harukaze-san answered.

"I'm going to read a new book I just got," Yunagi-san said.

"Do you want to go to the beach with us?"

"The beach? Sure. Better than just standing around here all day."

"Sounds good to me. I'll just get a bathing suit while I'm in Uruma."

"Reading a book while at the beach on a sunny day, sounds perfect."

"Yes! Eight of us spending a day at the beach, It'll be perfect!"

"Harukaze-san can I go with you to Uruma? I need a bathing suit."

Her eyes lit up, "Sure! I can help you pick one out!"

My sister leaned over and whispered, "I think Yuzuki-san just made a big mistake." I giggled and she smiled.

Yuzuki POV

The next day Harukaze-san and I headed to Uruma to get what we needed. It's smaller than Naha, the capital city, but there are still so many people! A few times I was worried I would get swept away in the sea of people! Of course, when I saw Harukaze-san just pushing past people I remembered I am a Mutsuki-class destroyer and I am far stronger than I look. Pushing through the crowd became very easy after that. With that embarrassing moment behind me, I entered a clothing store with Harukaze-san.

I have no idea why she wanted me to buy my bathing suit here specifically. We passed three different stores on our way to this one. We could have already been back at the base or at the beach but no she was determined to get me to buy my bathing suit here and after ten minutes of arguing with her I just gave up. Hopefully, this place is worth the extra time we spent.

We entered the store and it looked just like every single clothes store we had passed expect their selection is larger. There are several people in the store looking through the various options they have on display.

"Harukaze-san, why did we come here specifically?"

"I already told you, this is the best clothing store in Uruma!"

"Are you're sure that's not just advertising?"

"I'm sure. Come on I'll show you."

I sighed and followed her through the store. Some of the people we passed gave us strange looks but we ignored them. We headed to the back of the store and then she stopped.

"The bathing suits are down that way."

"Where are you going?"

"I just need to get a few things. I won't be gone long." She walked down the aisle and disappeared around the corner. I shrugged and continued on. I looked over the bathing suits on display and picked out a couple that I liked and started to try them on. Eventually, I settled on a cherry red one piece. I nodded to myself and put my original clothes back on. I stepped out of the changing room and looked for Harukaze-san but I couldn't find her.

"Its been thirty minutes where is she?"

I looked around the store for ten minutes but I still couldn't find her.

"Maybe she's waiting at the entrance?"

"Yuzuki-san!" I turned and saw her walking towards me with a bathing suit in her hand.

"Where have you been? I've been looking for you for the last ten minutes."

"Oh, I had to decide between two bathing suits I really liked."

"It took you forty minutes to chose one?"

"You shouldn't be complaining, forty minutes is good for me. Usually it takes over an hour."

"...Remind me never to go clothes shopping with you. Can we go now?"

"Yeah, we just have to pay for these and then it's off to the beach!"

With the suits paid for we left the store and headed for the beach. I'm still confused as to why she wanted to shop here specifically but, oh well.

An hour later we arrived at the beach. We changed into our bathing suits and this was the first time that I saw the one Harukaze-san had picked. She wore a two-piece bathing suit with a red top and a white bottom. She spun around, "What do you think?"

I smiled, "Looks good."

"Thanks. Yours looks good as well. Come on, we need to find a spot."

We searched the beach for a few minutes before we settled on a spot. We laid our towels down, set up our umbrella, put on sunscreen, and laid down.

"This is lovely."

"Yeah, when are the other girls going to be here?"

"They should be here in a few minutes. I'm going for a swim, want to join me?

"Maybe in a minute." She nodded and headed toward the ocean. I closed my eyes and laid in the sun for a few minutes. The distant sound of people talking drew my attention. I looked down the beach and saw Karukaya-san, Shirakumo-san, Yunagi-san, Asakaze-san, Sanae-san, and Asagiri-san heading our way. They had a net and a volleyball with them.

"Hey! Harukaze-san!"

"Yes!?"

I nodded my head toward them and she rushed out of the ocean, "Oh, they're on! Hey! Set that up!"

"Come over here and help us!"

We set it up quickly and decided on a two vs two. Harukaze-san and I formed one team while Karukaya-san and Sanae-san formed the second team. Asagiri-san would be the referee while Yunagi-san, Shirakumo-san, and Asakaze-san would be the fans.

"The first team to three points wins! Match startssssssss NOW!"

Harukaze-san tossed the ball up and hit it. She sent it far back left and Sanae-san hit it back over the net to me. I hit it back and Karukaya-san hit it back to our side. This went on for a few minutes until Sanae-san hit the ball hard. Harukaze-san missed it and I dived forward to try and hit it but I missed as well. It hit the sand right in front of me and through sand in my face.

"Point to Karukaya-san and Sanae-san!"

I narrowed my eyes, tossed the ball up, and slammed it. Karukaya-san tried to block it but missed and the ball crashed into the beach kicking up a shower of sand.

"Scores are tied!"

"Oh, you're going to play like that are you!?"

"You started it!"

"And now we're going to finish it!"

"Finally! I was getting bored over here!"

I tossed the ball up and slammed it. It sailed over Karukaya-san but her sister hit it back. Harukaze-san hit it back to them and they hit it back to us. I punted the ball to Harukaze-san and she hit it hard. Sanae-san dived forward and hit it to Karukaya-san and she hit it to the far left corner. I jumped and barley stopped it from hitting the ground but I just hit it straight up. I jumped up and hit it straight to Sanae-san. She bumped it to Karukaya-san and she slammed it straight down. Harukaze-san stopped it but hit it backwards. I rushed forward, jumped, and slammed it over the net. It crashed into the beach kicking up a shower of sand and bounced to Sanae-san.

Asagiri-san whistled, "Point to Harukaze-san and Yuzuki-san!"

We didn't say anything. Sanae-san tossed the ball up and hit it. Harukaze-san blocked it and hit it back over but Karukaya-san spiked the ball. I dived forward and hit it over the net but only just. Karukaya-san hit the ball back to her sister and she hit it back toward us. I hit it back to Harukaze-san and she spiked it trying to end the game. Karukaya-san hit it to her sister and she hit the ball toward the far right corner.

"Scores are tied! Matchpoint-"

"GIVE ME BACK MY BOOK!"

"HEEEEEEEEEELP!"

We looked over and saw Yunagi-san chasing Asakaze-san who had her book secured in her arms.

"Why did you take her book!?"

"I didn't think she would react like this! HELP ME!"

"GIVE IT BACK!"

"SHE'S CRAZY! HELP ME!"

We watched as Yunagi-san chased Asakaze-san down the beach.

"Sooooooooo are we going to help her or finish the game?"

"Finish the game," we all answered.

"Okay. Matchpoint!"

I tossed the ball up and hit it. Sanae-san hit it back... and Harukaze-san spiked it giving us the win. We stared at each other surprised at how abrupt the game had ended.

Karukaya-san smiled, "Best two out of three?"

"You're on!"