Ride the Wild Surf

by Adri Mars

AU:: In a small beachside town of Nijibe, here is a story of a girl named Lucia, a boy named Kaito, and a surfboard... and everything else in between. #16 up--- NEED REVIEWS, THANKS!

4. Surfer Setup

RIDE THE WILD SURF
a Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Fanfiction

by Adrimarie

Surfer Setup

Fresh from graduate school, up and coming middle school music teacher Taro Mitsuki exited the train once it arrived at the Nijibe Station where his aunt and cousin, Taki and Nicola Nanami, would be waiting to pick him up. Though he was moving in permanently in town as long as he still worked as a school teacher he did not travel alone. One of his music students in one of his required teaching assignments, the youthful and attractive Rihito Akagi, was also traveling back home in the same town Taro was moving in. The teacher and student, as well as good friends, see each other only in the summers whenever they work part-time at Pearl Waters, where Taro's relatives own and operate the place, since they were in their teen years. Both Taro and Rihito were musical geniuses, quite well-versed with classical music and were also innovative with mixing in their classical music tastes with today's modern music. Both played many instruments from the piano, violin, and woodwind instruments, but lately they took on new instruments from a standard guitar to electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and even drums. In the conservatories and the universities located down South they were classical music enthusiasts. In Nijibe during their part-time jobs at Pearl Waters both Taro and Rihito were members of the restaurant's Friday nights-only surf band whom they still have yet to come up with a good name.

When Taro and Rihito were moving out from the South they were also joined by four fine ladies of the famous Carmeline All-Girls College Preparatory Academy from aged thirteen to eighteen. One of them happened to be Rihito's younger sister, Michal, and the other three girls, seventeen-year-old Corina "Coco" Pacifica and seventeen-year-old twin sisters Noel and Caren Lake. The Carmeline Girls, as they were known in Nijibe, were all Nijibe Residents and that they were heading back home for the summer. Noel Lake was Rina Touin's best friend back when they were in elementary but long distance kept them apart for most of their young lives. Despite of that they still kept in touch with each other via emails, letters, and cellphone calls and they see each other in person during the summer whenever Noel and her twin sister Caren come home and work part-time at Pearl Waters. Noel worked as an assistant cook to Hiromu Maki, the head cook of Pearl Waters, while Caren worked as a waitress along with Rina, Hanon, and sometimes Lucia when needed. Coco Pacifica worked as a coffee and juice barista, carefully skilled in making drinks from virgin drinks to alcoholic drinks. Rihito's sister Michal was also a genius in her own right and does private summer school tutoring with the best private tutors at their home in Nijibe, however ever since she met Nijibe's hottest surfer Kaito Doumoto her secret attraction to him caused Michal to become more reluctant at her private summer studies and wanted to come out to the beach more often just to see Kaito surf the seas.

Taro played the lead guitar for the Friday night band with Rihito playing bass guitar, but for the rest of the days he worked as an assistant manager to his cousin Nicola. Rihito worked as a waiter and a busboy when needed during the rest of the days. This year would obviously be different as Taro will take on his new job as a teacher in his cousin Lucia and Hippo's school when summer is over while Rihito and Michal go back to their schools down South.

At the train station Taro, Rihito, and the four Carmeline Girls step out through the gates to wait for their rides back home. As they waited for their rides they sat at the waiting benches, talking about their plans during their summer season stay at Nijibe, which also included the first annual Regional Surf Scenes Tournament.

"Check this out!" Coco began the topic by showing an advertisement page from a surfing magazine she was reading. "Looks like we finally have a chance to be in an actual surfing tournament! Take a look, you guys!"

Taro read the ad allowed presenting what may be the most unique and certainly interesting surfing competition in history. "'All Surfers, Boys and Girls, and all you Surf Scenes Enthusiasts Out There! We want you!'"

Coco turned to the twin sisters with excitement on her face. "We can join this, girls! I mean, this is it! It looks like the surfing world has finally opened their eyes and opening the doors for girls like us! We can finally show those Rainbowside Surf Tribe dudes that us girls can be on the same level as them!"

Caren giggled happily and took the magazine from Coco to read more of the advertisement. "About time! I don't know about you guys but I don't think Nijibe ever had any other girls who can surf--- other than you, me, and Noel--- and it says here that they only need three surfer girls that would make an official all-girl team! Are you in on this one, Noel?"

Noel removed her eyeglasses and closed her thick novel and gazed at her sister. "I've read about that tournament thing and I know that you girls want to rival against the Doumoto Twins and their surf tribe and all but in this case we're gonna have to team up with them. Interesting..."

Coco chuckled and gave Noel a thumbs up. "You do have a point there, Noel. Long time ago they looked at us as if we're a bunch of feminist posers in surfing but because of this tournament I'm very sure now that they're going to need us. You know how those guys are."

Taro gave a nod to the excited Carmeline College Prep threesome in agreement. "I'm glad the surfing industry officials are finally opening their eyes and are letting in anybody who loves the entire surfing scene a chance to actually compete. I've spoken to the Doumoto Twins before and they're not at all that bad..."

"Hey Coco," Caren snapped her fingers realizing a fact she knew. "Isn't your best friend dating one of the brothers?"

Coco laughed along with a nod. "You're talking about Sara, right? Yeah, just recently. They haven't been dating long. They seem to be getting along really well!" She turned immediately towards Taro with a smirk on her face. "Speaking of Sara, how about you, Mitsuki? Got a girlfriend yet?"

Taro gave a suspicious expression at Coco and answered. "I was too busy with my studies, but I'm glad Sara is finally moving on."

"Don't you feel a little bit jealous that your ex finally found someone else before you did?" Rihito smirked and slightly nudged Taro on the side.

"No," Taro smiled confidently. "Not at all. I know the break up was painful, but I've gotten over it. Sara and I established friendship again. We still talk from time to time but that was it. And Gaito Doumoto is a good guy anyway. I know he would be a better boyfriend that I would. As for me, today isn't the right time for me to fall in love again."

"At least you're being a good sport about it, Mitsuki," Noel answered. "And you've got this new teacher position at your cousins' school too, so you gotta get prepared for that. No time to fall in love, I say!"

As the older youths chatted Michal sighed deeply, lowering her head. It was not because she felt ignored, but it was more of contemplating about her long time crush, Najibe's champion surfer Kaito Doumoto. She still have not revealed her feelings for Kaito towards her older brother Rihito or any one of her Carmelite College Prep girl schoolmates, not because she was too shy to reveal it, but simply because she did not want anyone else to worry about her. She looked rather frail and delicate by appearance that made everyone deceived.

Kaito... I'm coming home to Nijibe again... I can't wait to see you... I wonder if you have a different girlfriend again... Why, Kaito? Don't you like me? I think I'm as pretty as all the other girls you dated before...

The conversations continued as Caren flipped through this month's issue of Surfer Styles magazine she grabbed from Coco where she found the ad regarding the tournament coming up in two months. Just as she continued to flip through the pages she found a section article about this year's hottest surfers whom every fan should keep an eye on. In fact, she even stumbled two full-color, high quality pin-up pages: one of Kaito Doumoto in action at the waves and the other of Kousuke Sakiya, also in action at the waves.

"Oooh!" Caren giggled right when she found a very cool, striking pinup of Kaito Doumoto doing one of his signature 360 leaps from his wave up on the air and continued to stare at it. "This has gotta be the hottest pinup I have ever seen! Can I have this pinup, Coco?"

Coco attempted to reach back for her magazine but Caren pulled away from her. "Hey, give it back, Caren! You lost my page! I was reading this really interesting article about Maile Lelepali, prominent surfer girl from Hawaii!"

"Aw come on--- you can have the magazine back--- I just want the Kaito pinup! Pleeeaase?" Caren begged Coco with a pouty mouth when Michal quickly snatched the magazine from Caren to get a glimpse of the pinup. "Hey, Michal?"

Michal immediately gazed at the Kaito Doumoto pinup and cuddled the magazine as if she was embracing the real person. "Oh Kaito... even when you're all wet and messy you still are perfect to my eyes..."

"GIVE IT!" Coco continued to reach for her magazine. "Honestly, who on earth would put pinups on a neutral-gender magazine such as Surfer Styles? You guys make it look like my favorite surfing magazine line is one of those cheesy teen magazines, really."

Michal quickly turned to Coco and also began to beg. "Please, Coco, can I have the Kaito Doumoto pinup instead? I'm a bigger fan here than Caren is!"

"Nooooo!" Caren cried and continued to beg. "I want that pinup, Coco!"

Coco quickly grabbed her magazine away from the two hapless girls and held it tight to her. "Good grief! Buy your own copy! Don't rip up my magazine for some stupid pinup!"

"BUT IT'S KAITO DOUMOTO!" Both Caren and Michal shrieked with fists tightened.

"Don't rip my Maile Lelepali article for that pinup!" Coco glared at the two. "Get a hold of yourself, people. Why beg for a pinup when you can always see the real dude when we get home? Jeez..."

Rihito snickered and patted his younger sister. "When we get home, I'll buy you a copy of this month's Surfer Styles magazine at the bookstore. You can have the Kaito Doumoto pinup---"

"I want it autographed, Rihito," Michal giggled happily, placing her head on her older brother's shoulder. "I want to see him so bad! He... he just... takes my breath away every time I see him out there riding the ocean. It's like he's the ruler of the seas!"

"Uh," Rihito snickered, "Michal, I understand how you feel for Kaito, but you're also aware that you have all the girls in the entire town to compete for him. I want to be supportive and all but... I don't know... I just can't see you with him..."

Michal exclaimed in shock to hear her brother say such things. "I'm rich! He's rich too! And he deserves a really good, honest, and not to mention a beautiful girl--- someone who would take care of him and his sensitive heart! I don't care about the other girls, Rihito, not all of them have the best qualities like I do!"

Rihito sighed and lowered his head. Michal turned her head towards the others in the group hoping they would say some form of opinion regarding her pursuing for Kaito Doumoto once she reached home. When none were able to provide an opinion she broke the silence.

"You guys know something about Kaito that I don't... do you?" Michal suspected to her group of friends.

"Don't look at me," Taro answered quickly. "The last time I spoke to Kaito Doumoto last summer, the last thing I said to him was 'Nice to meet you!'"

Michal turned towards Coco, in which Coco tried to avoid the subject. "You, Coco Pacifica--- you're best friends with Kaito's twin brother's girlfriend--- I'm pretty sure you know something about Kaito that I don't!"

Coco raised an eyebrow towards Michal. "Girl, get a grip. Sara and I don't always talk about the Doumoto Twins, alright? How should I know what's up with Kaito anyway? I don't even know how close Sara and Kaito are in real life and I'm pretty sure her boyfriend Gaito is no gossip either."

Quickly Michal turned her head to the Lake Twins, who also fell silent at the subject. "You guys! You guys and Coco are surfer girls and go to those tournaments too! I'm pretty sure you twins got hookups with him!"

Noel sighed and lowered her head. "Michal, if you're really desperate to see what's up with Kaito why don't you find him when we get back home and talk to him?"

Caren contemplated for an answer. Though she was not one of the nutty fan girls crazily in love with Kaito she was definitely a major fan of the champion surfer. "Um, the magazines don't really talk about his love life that much, so sorry I can't really help you."

Michal sighed deeply with disappointment on her face. "It's not fair... what does Kaito see in those girls he dated anyway? Those... those... one-week girlfriends? You know I've worked so hard back in school to make myself look sexy in a bikini but it's no use... he probably sees me more as a child..."

Rihito attempted not to say anything about the subject but at the same time he can feel rather embarrassed at what his sister just said. "Michal, don't force yourself to change just so a guy like Kaito Doumoto would pay attention to you. I mean you already had a moment with him. It's not like the two of you are strangers or anything like that. In fact I'm pretty sure he cares about you and likes you for who you are. Otherwise you wouldn't be friends---"

"I don't want to be just friends, Rihito! It's not enough! Guys like Kaito are very rare nowadays! I would never find another guy like him in this lifetime--- ever!" Michal shouted in disagreement while Rihito hushed her silently.

Just as the argument was about to fire up the group were startled to hear familiar honks from the parking lot of the train station. They all stood up and saw three vehicles: one sedan where Nicola and Taki Nanami at the front; a large van with the Pearl Waters' cook, Hiromu Maki, behind the wheel, and a fancy black Rolls Royce with a uniformed driver waiting at the front.

"Looks like our rides are here!" Taro exclaimed with a huge grin on his face. "Let's go, everyone!"

The group headed out and right to their designated rides while Nicola, Taki, Maki, and the Rolls Royce uniformed driver aided the group and pack their luggages. In the meantime Taro embraced both his aunt and cousin as his greeting while Maki was there to pick up the three girls.

"Sorry we were a little late, Taro," Nicola chuckled, patting her cousin on the cheek. "We were caught up with one of the biggest changes at our beach strip earlier today and the entire town was so excited!"

"Really?" Taro chuckled as Taki carried his things in to the trunk. "What sort of change?"

Taki closed the trunk of the car and answered her nephew. "Our beach came alive. The sea came alive. A lot of beach goers and even our own surfers just crowded the beach because the ocean rolled out very huge breakers. Young Hippo even estimated the breaker measurement about twenty feet."

"Twenty feet? Whoa, that's never happened with the ocean in our strip before..." Taro's eyes widened in surprise. "But I would love to see the beach across the street from us have some activity going on too."

Just as the Nanamis were about to head inside the car Taro spotted Rihito at the Rolls Royce waving towards him. Taro returned the wave to him.

"I'll see you tomorrow at Pearl Waters, Taro!" Rihito called out to his friend and mentor.

"Yeah. We got rehearsals and all that--- Friday night band, you know!" Taro responded with a thumbs up.

Rihito nodded in agreement. "Alright then. See you later!" The driver of the Rolls Royce opened the door for him and Michal as the siblings entered in to the car.

In the meantime Maki waved at Nicola, letting her know that the three girls Coco, Caren, and Noel were ready and secure in his van. After they packed their things they drove off the parking lot and head back home.

Pearl Waters was alive and well after the opening. Though there were still not very many customers there was indeed business. Luckily for Hanon and Rina the customers who came by only headed for the coffee and juice bar since their cook Maki was at the train station picking up Coco, Caren, and Noel while the Nanamis picked up Taro Mitsuki at the same time.

While the girls were busy at the juice bar and Lucia trying her best to work in the kitchen Hippo was at the second story of their building in his bedroom. He reviewed all the photographs he shot of the ocean earlier today on his laptop, cropping them so he may upload them in the official website of Surfer Styles magazine. The website had a huge user gallery where users may sign up for a free account and upload their images of the ocean, beach, and most of all, surfers taking over the waves.

Hippo was rather proud of himself with his recent photos he took. He caught the best shots on his sophisticated 35-millimeter SLR camera using the new Telephoto lens his Aunt Taki gave him for his birthday a few months ago. Though he was still protective of his older sister Lucia from hotshot guys like Kaito Doumoto it was irony that his shots of this same particular boy riding his wave that gave Hippo's user gallery the most hits. He even received many positive comments from other users, in which many of them came from female surfing fans complimenting Kaito's good looks more rather than the actual photograph itself. Still he dreamt of becoming an official, professional photographer of the surfing scene still lived on within him.

Of course, Hippo thought to himself, sighing while reading the comments he received. My shots of Kaito Doumoto are always major hits at the surfing galleries. Then again it's because I live in the same town as the favorite champion surfer and that I'm the only one in Nijibe who takes surfing pictures too.

He stretched his arms to relax himself when his eyes caught the sight of his desk calendar. The date for tomorrow was circled in red ink, which gave him a major reminder right at that time. He reached to the opposite side of his desk and picked up a framed photo of a particular young girl and sighed deeply.

"Happy Thirteenth Birthday, Yuri," Hippo murmured his words to the girl's photo. Well... if you were still here...

He placed the photo back to its original place and then also caught sight of a particular news article posted on his wall. Quickly he took the article and read the article title. It was even cut from the front page of the The Rainbow Chronicles newspaper as well: Pre-Teen Girl's Death Determined as Suicide – Police Reported Young Girl Jumped off Rainbow Valley Ravine and Drowned.

Even until now I don't think I would understand why you had to do this, Yuri... Hippo shook his head and placed the article on his desk down side and went back to his gallery once again.

Just at that moment Hippo was startled by door knocks. He turned his head to see Lucia standing at his open doorway. "Oh... Lucia."

Lucia smiled humbly and invited herself in. She sat on Hippo's bed, looking a lot more daffy than ever. "Hippo... you're gonna help me help Kaito and the surf team build their surf scenes team for the upcoming tournament in two months!"

Hippo raised an eyebrow feeling slightly annoyed by his sister's enthusiasm of her first encounter with Kaito and turned his head back from her. "I just hope you're only doing this so we can sweep the entire tournament and not because of Kaito Doumoto. I'm still a little miffed about him."

"You're so mean, Hippo. You always take these surfing photos and beach photos and what not and yet you're still reluctant to help me help the Rainbowside Surf Tribe's mission in forming our surf scenes team?" Lucia frowned with her arms crossed. "For once forget about worrying about me getting my heart broken because right now that's not my priority."

Hippo turned his chair around to face Lucia along with his arms crossed. "I'm just a bit ticked because the user comments at my gallery only praised your dream boy for looking good on the photos instead of my hard work taking that shot. It makes me wonder when Kaito Doumoto would actually lay low on his personal life and actually get serious with the people around him. I'm just sick of all these media and tabloids trying to run me over with their cameras burying me down. I'm a proud local photographer of Nijibe and I'm very proud of our surfers and I do my best to make them look good in the surfing world. I'll do anything to help them out but at the same time I wished all these comments would actually talk about my hard work and that they should also give everyone else besides Kaito Doumoto credit. Heck even his twin brother Gaito was being upstaged by Kaito--- and he's even the older twin!"

"I saved his life, Hippo! If it weren't for me he wouldn't even be alive!" Lucia exclaimed and quickly covered her mouth. She just blabbed something she was not supposed to reveal to anyone.

"Eh? Saved his life? What are you talking about, Lucia?"

Lucia turned her head and sighed. "Nothing, forget it. Even if I actually tell you about it you wouldn't believe me anyway."

Hippo sighed deeply and rested himself against his chair. "Okay, Lucia. I give up. I'll help you out with this surf scenes tournament thing, only because you really do care about our town winning this tournament and you being my sister."

"Thanks, Hippo! You're the coolest!" Quickly Lucia planted a kiss on Hippo's forehead which startled the younger brother.

"Okay already! So, what do you need?"

Lucia lied down on to Hippo's bed, relaxing. "Well, we need a three-member surfer girl team---"

"Coco and the Lake Twins," Hippo immediately answered with a grin on his face.

"Coco and--- wait, Coco, Caren, and Noel? I didn't know they know how to surf..."

"Lucia, you didn't know that they can surf because you pay more attention to the surfer dudes than the surfer dudettes." Hippo made his responding statement. "But I don't blame you. I already know that these girls rock the waves when they get on the board and ride the wildest breakers they can pick up. They got skills and courage about the same level as Kaito Doumoto and the rest of the surf tribe. The problem with the surfing world right now is that there aren't very many females who surf so they often neglect them. I'm glad they're opening up already and let the girls take the ocean the same way the guys do. I don't know if Coco, Caren, and Noel know the Doumoto Twins or anybody in the surf tribe personally but since you've been given the task I think you should hook the girls up with the surf tribe yourself."

Lucia got up from the bed and winked. "Thanks for the tip, Hippo! I'll do just that when the girls start working at Pearl Waters tomorrow!"

"Anything else you need, Lucia?"

"Well... we need a surf band... a beach band... you know... a rock band that plays surf rock, beach pop, rockin' instrumentals that pump surfers up to take on the waves... you know--- a band!"

"Us," Hippo immediately answered.

"Us? You mean like you and me and Rina and Taro and Rihito 'us'?"

"Yup. As in you and me and Rina and Taro and Rihito 'us'."

Lucia gulped nervously, twiddling her fingers in nervousness. "Why us?"

"Do you know any other bands who do surf rock and beach pop around town, Lucia? I pretty much know the entire town and believe me--- we're the only ones who do that type of music. I mean we do other stuff too but if the surf tribe want a really kick-ass, solid band, they got no choice but to pick us."

Lucia quickly shook her head in disagreement. "Okay, first of all, Hippo, we don't even have a band name. We're just simply called the Friday night band since we only play and perform on stage downstairs on Friday nights!"

"We'll deal with the band name later. All you gotta do is let the entire surf tribe--- not just Kaito since I know you'd rather see him alone than seeing him with whoever--- but the entire tribe. Invite them--- convince them to listen to our stuff tomorrow."

"Alright, alright," Lucia nodded, sighing at the same time. "One more..."

"One more?"

"Yup. One more."

Hippo stretched his arms once more and placed his legs on the edge of his bed to relax himself. "Alright. What is it?"

"A six-member tandem surfer team---" Just as Lucia mentioned those words Hippo almost fell from his seat in shock.

"... Tandem surfer team...?" Hippo's eyes widened, looking more interested than ever.

"Yup. A tandem surfer team!"

Hippo fell silent and went back to his contemplative mode. Lucia waited for Hippo to come up with an answer patiently. During her wait she realized that she neglected this part of the deal. She had no knowledge of what a tandem surfer team really was. She lowered her head in shame once she thought of that fact.

"Sorry. Can't help you with that."

Lucia's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why?"

Hippo raised an eyebrow with a serious expression on his face. "I'm just gonna assume you don't know what tandem surfing is, Lucia."

Lucia frowned once she heard what her brother just stated. "Okay... I don't know what tandem surfing is--- but Kaito said that they need to form a team--- a six-member team!"

"You really don't know what tandem surfing is?" Hippo's eyes widened in shock. "You're my sister and you don't know what tandem surfing is?"

"Okay already Hippo, I get it," Lucia crossed her arms glaring at her younger brother. "I don't know everything about surfing. I thought I did but I was wrong."

"Alright. Let me explain. Imagine a scene at the beach. Imagine yourself standing at the sand watching a particular awesome surf riding. You see Kaito--- and a really hot girl--- surfing together--- on one surfboard--- and Kaito carrying that hot girl up high like she was his trophy, doing all kinds of graceful moves, tricks, and displays, and show the flow of their style to the world. It's like... Ice Dancing... on a surfboard."

Lucia felt sinking down as if she was going to drown in despair and sighed deeply. "I see why you can't help me with that, Hippo..."

"Six members, meaning three couples. Three dudes, three chicks, three surfboards. I'm gonna take a guess that Kaito will be one of the three dudes and I can be sure that he's got the entire town of girls who would kill each other to be his tandem surfing partner. Why didn't you just offer yourself to him as his partner when he asked about it earlier?"

"Hippo, I didn't even know what tandem surfing is! I thought it was a special surfing event or something that only the best of the best can participate. Besides... I can't do it..."

Hippo's eyebrow raised once again. "Why not?"

"Because I'm seriously not a 'hot babe' like you mentioned earlier..." Lucia rolled on the opposite side of Hippo's bed and buried her face against the pillow. "... and I can't surf."

"You can swim and dive in the ocean but you can't surf, Lucia?"

Lucia showed her face towards Hippo again, glaring. "You can swim and dive in the ocean but you can't surf either, Hippo!"

"Well I'm different! I'm a visual person when it comes to surfing in general!"

"Well I'm a visual person too!"

"How much do you like him, Lucia?"

Right then the words immediately hit Lucia within her, both her heart and her mind. She felt that her younger brother was indeed testing her regarding her feelings for Kaito. She knew she still had to gain her brother's trust in her regarding Kaito and she had no other choice but to tell him everything.

"I love him... Hippo..."

"Of course you do, Lucia. You and the rest of ten thousand-ish girls in this town love him."

"You don't understand, Hippo. I'm in love with him... what I mean to say is... I don't know how to explain this. It's like... when we first talked to each other it's like... no, wait... when he took me by the hand earlier to get away from the fan girls... and when we jumped over the low fence and landed on foot at the same time on sand and continued to run without stopping... and when he gave me that general wink, smile, and thumbs up gesture after I murmured ride twice... and when we talked to each other the first time... I felt as if I can tell him anything without getting all nervous and scared... I feel somewhat... connected to him..."

Hippo fell silent at first, thinking of Lucia's level of attraction--- in all sides that is--- to Kaito. Afterwards he responded: "That's why I said you should be his tandem surfing partner."

"I don't get it, Hippo..."

"Tandem surfing isn't just about showing off and get fancy on a surfboard. It's about getting connected. If you want to win in that tournament you have to trust each other in all sides. You have to be quick too which was why it's important to find that connection without words or actions exchanged. Just by looking at the eye you should already know what the other is planning to do."

Lucia immediately shook her head. "No way! I can't be his tandem surfing partner! I can't just go up to him and say Hey Kaito, I can be your tandem surfing partner because I feel that we're connected to each other, Hippo! I don't want to scare him and he may think the wrong ideas..."

"Lucia. It's not going to be you who will do the talking. Get Kaito to choose you himself. He's the surfer and you're not. The one who will decide the partnership in tandem surfing is the surfer himself. If both of you are surfers as individuals then that's fine, but since there aren't that many surfer girls here you're gonna have to do something to get him to pick you."

Despite of her high enthusiasm regarding her chances with Kaito this particular tandem surfing bit was indeed going to be difficult. I think I have a chance to become a close friend of his, but as his tandem surfing partner? No way! Compared to all his one-week girlfriends I'm just way out of their league. Besides, why would he choose me anyway?

"Are you alright, Lucia?" Hippo became concerned when he noticed his sister being silent after the long statement he made. After giving some thought he may have scared her at some points. He stood up from his seat and sat on the edge of his bed, looking over his sister. "I guess I shouldn't have said that."

"No, not your fault, Hippo," Lucia answered. Her happy expression suddenly disappeared and worry arrived. "It's just that... I have to be real about this too, you know? I mean I really do want to help him enter the tournament... so much... it wasn't because I wanted to show him how much I love the sport... how much I know about his love of surfing... how much I know that I'm not one of those stupid fan girls who only care about how hot he looks or that he wins so many championship titles. I... I shouldn't fall for the same spell that those fan girls fell for. I think I'm even a lot worse than those fan girls even..."

Hippo shook his head, disagreeing. "You're a lot better than those stupid fan girls. You love the sport itself and you showed it to him. That weird song you and Rina did a random freestyle earlier was proof enough. I think Kaito needs girls like you in his life. I mean, didn't he tell you where he lives and that you can come over anytime you want? I can bet you he would want to see you tomorrow at the beach and you already told me he and his dudes are gonna stop by Pearl Waters to see us play, right? Just... just don't think about this tandem surfing thing right away since you two just... met. You let him worry about the tandem surfing bit. That's all I wanted to say to you, Lucia."

Lucia got up from Hippo's bed and smiled. "Thanks, Hippo. You know... you can be nice when you need to be. I think you should be a lot nicer more often."

"Yeah, whatever." Hippo stood from his bed and headed back to his desk. On the side there is a large brown envelope addressed to him. He opened the envelope and took out a fresh copy of this month's Surfer Styles magazine. He handed the magazine to his sister. "Here, you can have this. It's an extra copy."

"Surfer Styles magazine?" Lucia asked curiously and took the magazine. She skimmed through the pages carefully when she stumbled upon two free pinups included: one of Kaito Doumoto soaring mid-air with his surfboard from his wave and the other of Kaito's rival, Kousuke Sakiya. In an instant Lucia ignored Sakiya's pinup and paid attention to Kaito's pinup. "Oh wow! Kaito looks so cool in this! This pinup of him really rocks! I mean, you can see his perfect form when he does his signature 360 on mid-air! You can even see a bit of his facial reaction too when he's flying like that! You can really see how focused he is here--- focused and confident. This is proof he is the ruler of the seas, Hippo, and this pinup is pure art! Totally epic!"

"Of course," Hippo smirked in confidence. "It's a special pinup that I hope every surfing fan can't ignore. I got an extra copy here in this envelope and I plan to frame and hang it on my wall."

Lucia chuckled and gazed at Hippo with curiosity. "Really, Hippo? But you barely have anything on your wall except for a couple posters of the ocean and random surfers. But you're actually going to frame a Kaito Doumoto pinup?"

"Did you see the copyright notice at the bottom of the pinup?"

"Eh?" Quickly Lucia scanned down the bottom and spotted the small copyright notice at the bottom.

Photograph © Hiroki Nanami. All Rights Reserved.

"Hippo!" Lucia exclaimed happily and immediately embraced her younger brother in her arms. "You took this picture? And the magazine turned it in to a pinup? That's so awesome! Congrats, Bro! I'm so happy for you!"

"Yeah, thanks," Hippo chuckled and reached inside the envelope again to show her a letter included in there. Lucia took it and read the letter herself.

"That's so cool! They want to hire you as a junior photographer for their magazine? You've got it made, Hippo!"

"Well, part-time obviously. I still got school and all that. I'm assigned to take photos strictly of Kaito and all the other surfers here in Nijibe, but what's awesome for this year too is that they also wanted me to take photos of the upcoming tournament itself, also focusing on the Nijibe team. I'm really stoked, Lucia! You have no idea how long I've dreamed of getting in to the surfing photography industry."

"I'm so happy for you, Hippo! Now I can brag to my friends that my very own brother took the photo of the hottest Kaito Doumoto pinup in the whole world!"

Hippo laughed at Lucia's reaction for a few moments. Afterwards he changed the subject a bit. "Lucia, listen. I know I was a bit harsh but after hearing you explain yourself about your feelings for him I'm somewhat convinced. I gave you that extra copy because of the pinup. I don't want you to just give up on him, especially with that tandem surfing problem. You can rip the magazine apart and take that pinup out and maybe you can start from there."

Lucia stared at the pinup, confused all at once. "Start from here...?"

"Ask him to autograph the pinup, dummy! You want to get his attention right away? Start with the pinup. He already knows you before you got this pinup and since you told me that he already knows how much you know about the sport he loves he'll definitely give you attention."

"Thanks a lot, Hippo. You're the best!" Lucia smiled happily and closed the magazine. She held the magazine tightly as if she was clinging a real person in her arms. "I need to do more research!"

Hippo stared at Lucia with another suspicion in his face. "Research?"

"About tandem surfing, silly! You said I should do something to get him to pick me for his partner, right? I'm gonna start right now! I mean from how you described what it is that tandem surfing thing is just crazy--- not to mention dangerous too!"

"No fret, Lucia. I got your solution right here." Hippo stood up and headed to his CD and DVD shelf and looked through his DVD collection for a particular DVD. Once he found the title he removed it from the shelf and handed it to her.

"2 Bodies + 1 Surfboard: The History and Fundamentals of Tandem Surfing." Lucia read the DVD cover and looked up to her brother. "Where do you get all these surfing documentaries?"

"I got them from Maki, who else?" Hippo snickered in pride with his arms crossed. "You know his brother owns a small surf shop three buildings from here, right? They don't just sell souvenirs and surf gear but they do specialized custom-built surfboards to those who want to order them. They got all kinds of good stuff there. Oh, before you start watching that DVD there's one thing I gotta tell you too."

"Oh? What's that?"

"Be sure to let Kaito and his surf team know that they need to have custom-designed longboards specialized for tandem surfing. They can't just use whatever board like a thruster or a gun or even a beginner's longboard. We pretty much call them tandem boards. Maki's your man when it comes to custom surfboards like that, so be sure to tip the dudes about him and all that other good stuff."

Lucia continued to stare at the DVD and flashed a smile on her face. "Thanks so much, Hippo! Kaito's going to get a hint that I'm an expert at tandem surfing and he's gonna pick me for his partner!"

Hippo chuckled softly and nodded. "Okay Lucia. Good luck!"

Lucia gave a thumbs up to her brother and dashed away from his room. Hippo dropped himself to this bed, taking a deep breath.

Hey, Yuri. I know you're watching over us right now, wherever you are. Watch over Lucia, would you? Don't let her fall victim to his charms and protect her fragile heart from being broken.

Meanwhile at the dining area both Hanon and Rina rested behind the juice bar after a busy night. Lucia did not have to do much cooking for the supper-eating customers which was why she was able to take a short break to seek help from her surfing expert brother. Though business was steady the two juice bar girls looked both tired and bored.

"Man... I thought we're gonna get more people tonight," Hanon sighed deeply. "I mean, only reason why I decided to work today 'cause I wanna know what Lucia and Kaito actually talked about during their first encounter, you know?"

Rina got herself busy by blending two virgin Piña Colada drinks for Hanon and herself in order to refresh themselves. "As Lucia said, they talked about surfing."

Hanon frowned in disappointment along with a sigh. "But Rina, that's a bad sign in some ways. What girl would talk to a hot hunk like Kaito about something impersonal such as surfing? If they keep this up Kaito is just gonna talk to Lucia about surfing altogether and that's all he's going to see in her. If that's all they're going to talk about then it's less likely he's going to get all hot and romantic on Lucia like that."

"You know, Hanon, a lot of your theories about Kaito have been wrong so far as of today." Rina snickered as she poured her juice in two glasses. She handed the other glass to her. "How many girls do you think who know a lot about surfing as much as Kaito and his dudes besides Lucia, Coco, the Lake Twins, and myself? Not very many, I say. And since Coco and the Lake Twins go to Carmeline College Prep obviously the dudes aren't close to them. No one can guess that I know a bit about surfing myself and most of all they can't guess Lucia being well-versed with the sport they love too. I think Lucia has a game plan in order to win Kaito's heart, Hanon."

Hanon took her glass and began to sip on the glass. "Okay, only reason I'm concerned because Lucia has never been on a date before. No guy has ever asked her out, no guy has even flirted or even hit on her, I mean she's like... dead fish when it comes to dating!"

"Not for long, Hanon," Rina continued to smirk. "Today is just the beginning. We got all summer, girl. Anything can happen."

"I just hope you're right, Rina. Lucia's just way too nice to have her heart broken like that. And how can Kaito be not get interested in her romantically? I just hope my theory about him looking for true inner beauty in a girl more than her outside looks is true... I mean he likes to tease other girls regarding their appearance too sometimes... and he can be a pervert sometimes."

Rina gazed at the customers at the tables and also at the bar while they watched a baseball game on their wide screen TV at the corner of the ceiling. "I wouldn't be surprised if Kaito started hitting on Lucia with... hints like that."

Hanon giggled while imagining that particular moment with Lucia. "Kaito likes hot and sexy. He loves to seduce and get any girl to show a little bit of themselves openly to him. When we were dating for a week he tried to do that on me too... and I fell for it... I felt like an idiot then after he ended our one-week relationship."

"Better not let Lucia hear you say that," Rina whispered quickly. "Let her decide whether she wants to get more bare with him if he asked her or teased her for it, but I'm pretty sure Lucia isn't going to let him get to her like that."

Just as the girls were about to continue the conversation their boss, Nicola Nanami, along with her aunt, Taki, arrived at the doorstep with Maki the cook and three familiar faces to Rina. Behind them is none other than tall and handsome Taro Mitsuki, bringing in his luggages along.

"Ah, Rina! Hanon!" Nicola called out to them as they entered. "Nice to see you managing the juice bar! Wow, another slow night again, but at least the work is light for you guys. Where are Lucia and Hippo?"

"Good evening, Boss," Rina greeted Nicola. "Lucia and Hippo are upstairs"

From behind Nicola, Noel Lake dashed to the juice bar excitedly: "Rina! Hiiii!"

"Noel!" Rina exclaimed happily as the two long time friends embrace each other. "You're looking good, girl!"

"So do you, Rina!" The two girls laughed happily as Rina turned to Hanon. "Hanon, this is my long time best friend from elementary, Noel Lake. That's her twin sister Caren over there, and their friend Corina---"

"Coco, please!" Coco answered right away as she and Hanon shook hands. "So, you're the new girl we've been hearing! Welcome to Pearl Waters!"

"Oh that's right," Rina chuckled and nudged Hanon on the side. "I forgot that this is the first summer that you're actually working here at Pearl Waters. You're the newbie of the staff!"

Hanon giggled and greeted her new staff mates. "Nice to meet you guys, finally! Um, go easy on me, I'm still a newbie here."

Caren smiled and asked: "So how long have you been working here Hanon?"

"Not too long... about five months now I think," Hanon answered shyly.

"Working at Pearl Waters during summer is the best, Hanon. You're gonna love it, especially the people who come here regularly for the season." Noel winked with a smile on her face.

Moments later Lucia and Hippo arrived downstairs to greet their seasonal fellow employees and their new tenant, cousin Taro Mitsuki. Just as they exchanged their greetings Hanon's attention was caught when she gazed at the face of the tall, dark-haired young man who just pumped fists with Hippo as their way of greeting each other.

Lucia gently dragged Taro to the juice bar to introduce him to Hanon. "Hanon, this is my cousin, Taro Mitsuki. Taro, this is Hanon, one of my best friends from school."

Taro offered a handshake in an open, friendly approach. "Nice to meet you, Hanon. Guess you and I will be working a lot together here at Pearl Waters."

Hanon felt rapid beating of her heart just as Taro Mitsuki greeted her. "H-hi... nice to meet you too... and I'm glad to be here with you guys..."

"Taro's going to be working as a new teacher in our school when we head back to school after summer, Hanon, so we get to see him everyday now instead of every summer. It'd be really cool if Taro ends up being our new homeroom teach too, right Taro?" Lucia nudged Taro on the side with a soft giggle.

"Hard to say, Lucia. I haven't received my real assignment yet until maybe later in the season, so we'll see." Taro answered with a return smile. "Well then, I better get my stuff ready upstairs and I'll see you later, okay?" He turned to Hanon and gave a slight wave. "Nice to meet you, Hanon."

"Sure thing! Later!" Lucia waved happily.

"Okay..." Hanon slowly smiled as she watched Taro head at the back of the walkway of the juice bar and reached for the stairs. Quickly she turned towards Lucia and hooked her finger to signal her to come closer.

"What is it, Hanon?"

"A word with you, Lucia." Hanon led Lucia outside the restaurant and then crossed the street to the soft sands of the beach. Just as they were finally alone Hanon began to speak.

"I hate you!"

Lucia's eyes widened in a startle right when Hanon exclaimed that statement to her. "Wha--- what?"

From out of the blue Hanon screamed and giggled in happiness like a happy little girl. "Lucia! Why didn't you tell me that your cousin is a total hottie? Why?"

Lucia slowly backed away from the daffy Hanon and answered nervously. "Um... well, Taro's my cousin and obviously I don't... look at him that way..."

"Are you blind, Lucia? Even if he's not related you gotta admit he's hot stuff! Not only that he's a total hot stuff, Lucia, but he's really nice--- and gentlemanly--- ooh, now I got a major reason to study and pass all my classes--- with a teacher like him, homework and tests are just peanuts!"

Lucia giggled and placed her hands on Hanon's shoulders to calm her down. "Well, we can't really say for sure if he's going to be our new homeroom teacher and all---"

"Oh my god Lucia you have got to hook me up with him! Please don't tell me he has a girlfriend or else I'm going crazy like this for nothing!"

"But Hanon... he's like... about ten years or so older than you and me... I don't know if this is such a---"

"Lucia! Age is nothing but a number! There are no boundaries when it comes to love, Lucia!"

"Well true but we're under aged and he's an adult, Hanon!"

"Come on, Lucia!" Hanon sighed sadly. "I'm already doing my best to hook you up with Kaito... at least this should be a good payback as your way of saying thank you. At least Taro Mitsuki is family and not just some random stranger you just happen to see on the spot like that. Please...?"

Lucia sighed deeply and lowered her head. "Well... I can't say I'll succeed but sure... okay..."

"I love you!" Hanon threw her arms around Lucia, giggling at the same time. "Well... we gotta head back before your family starts wondering where we went off to!"

"Right." Lucia nodded as the two girls went back inside Pearl Waters after their small talk.

Hours passed and the night was only an hour away to midnight. The restaurant was already closed as the staff cleaned up the entire place. Lucia was given a break and while Taro and the Carmeline girls got themselves prepared for a good night's sleep. Hanon and Rina proceeded to go home, but both decided that for the summer that they would move in the two-story quarters to join the rest of the staff the next day.

At this point Lucia began watching the tandem surfing documentary DVD she borrowed from Hippo in order to do her part of the deal she had with Kaito earlier. She had to know the real deal behind the mysterious surfing event known as tandem surfing and what makes this sport such an intricately elite sport and why it was added in this year's first annual surf scenes tournament. It was the first time she heard of it and still felt bad that she had no knowledge of this particular sport. As she watched the DVD on her laptop she gazed hypnotically at the images of the couples doing these artistic, acrobatic tricks on a surfboard and began imagining herself being the girl and Kaito being the guy on that custom-shaped long board. Though most of the scenes she saw so far were all based on low swells she still had yet to see tandem surfing on large swells, where the surf tribe, especially the Doumoto Twins, were best known and skilled at.

The film came to the part where the tandem surfers being interviewed explain what their personal philosophies were regarding the sport of tandem surfing and what the sport meant to them. As she watched and listened she was beginning to understand what the entire event was about. Though tandem surfing can be done by anyone for recreational reasons, competitive tandem surfing was generally limited to couples: best friends, lovers, and married couples. The couple had to be one male and one female and that the female must not weigh less than fifty-percent than the male partner's weight. Finally, lifting of the female up on the sky must last at least three seconds. Bonus points are added if she was held more than three seconds without any flaws. At that point Lucia knew how difficult, nerve-racking, and in many points how deadly this particular event was.

Lucia paused her DVD and walked out to the balcony patio where she gazed at the starry sky and the view of the rolling ocean. Too many things had happened earlier today from her first open conversation with her long time crush to learning more about the tournament and tandem surfing from Hippo to contemplating the philosophies of professional tandem surfers featured on the video. She started to contemplate so many things at this point.

What if Hippo was right about Kaito entering the tandem surfing competition for this tournament? If he is, who's going to be his partner? Those tandem surfers from the DVD seemed to be so in love with each other that they can do all those tricks on a surfboard with ease. Wouldn't that mean that Kaito has to be... in love... with whoever this partner is?

She sighed, looking rather worried about the entire tandem surfing dilemma. She began to worry about who Kaito's tandem surfing partner would be should he enter the tandem surfing competition himself. She lifted her head and gazed at the stars and rested her chin against her fist. She wondered if Kaito may be thinking about this tandem surfing problem and also wondering who his partner would be if he decided to enter this particular event.

I wonder if you're also thinking the same thing I'm thinking right now, Kaito. Are you thinking about this tandem surfing problem? Who your partner is going to be if you're going to join? I wonder if you're also looking at the same stars as I am right now... I mean you only live two blocks on this same side of the street as I do, right?

Lucia sighed deeply again and decided to stay there for a little while before she headed to bed.

Meanwhile at the surf tribe's shack, also known as the Doumoto Residence, it was another night of wild partying for the surfer boys, some select non-surfer cool boys, some select girls from the Rainbow Pop Girls clique, and even some select girls from the Kaito Doumoto Fan Club. Though the partying was relatively safe with no booze or drugs included the parties held at the house was always fun, wild, out of control, and there can be at times where the neighbors would call the town police to keep the wild party animals toned down or even end the party when the hours are past midnight. In terms of casual interactions it was also difficult to say if inappropriate events ever occurred inside the house as no one who had been to a Rainbowside Surf Tribe ever reported anything strange or things deemed tasteless to society to anyone who had never been there. That included Hanon, a former Rainbow Pop Girl clique member, who did have a few moments of random make outs with her one-week ex Kaito Doumoto during these types of parties. After the one-week relationship ended the carefree and open Hanon had a major change, not just with her views with Kaito and the types of kids he hung out, but primarily towards her supposed friends of the Rainbow Pop Girl clique as well as her new look in a life of being young.

But this was not the time to talk about pretty and popular Hanon Houshou here. The parties at the Doumoto Residence during summer were always hot, wild, and simply one of the most happening places for all kids in Nijibe who bore a huge name and any kid who was anybody wanted to be invited in these types of parties. Though that may still be the case this summer, this particular party had a whole different atmosphere than it used to be. For instance, the surfer boys were not as animated or as crazy as they used to when they hold parties like this, most especially when it comes to getting involved with the town's hottest girls. They had something else implanted in their mind right now ever since their meeting earlier at the beach across from Pearl Waters.

Kaito Doumoto had not had a one-week girlfriend for the past three months. For him it was easy to just get one from any one of the Rainbow Pop Girls or even from his personal fan club but at this period he had been single. He still possessed his seductive charm that still would make the opposite sex grow wild with him but with only one thing. He had not been using that particular charm to get a girl because he was not in the mood for it.

Gaito and the rest of the surfer boys had been worrying about Kaito during those three months that they all thought that he may lost his dominating appeal at first. It was not until about a month later that Gaito discovered that Kaito had prioritized his surfing career over fooling around with girls here and there. What was the latter for anyway? With or without being in a relationship he still was one of the more phenomenal, intimidating champion surfers around the country if not the world. His real fans--- the surfing fans--- also noticed the change based on concrete articles about him at major surfing magazines including the popular Surfer Style magazine.

While everyone were going through their usual partying inside the house Kaito remained at the patio balcony area staring at the starry night sky. On his hand was a particular hand-woven white and blue-shaded bracelet with a small decorative red hibiscus flower logo near the tying end. This particular bracelet was very special to him and he did not wear it on a regular basis. He only wore this bracelet on major surfing tournaments as his good luck charm. He often called it his competition bracelet. The blue bracelet had a lot of history behind it and only he and his twin brother Gaito were the only ones who knew about the history.

Kaito had his blue competition bracelet for the past seven years and it was still a mystery to him regarding how he got this bracelet, but at the same time he felt that someone gave it to him. Even if that was the case Kaito only knew that ever since he received this bracelet that he started winning major surfing competitions. He still held the title of being the youngest surfer--- at age ten--- to win the Regional East Surfing Tournament, juniors division, just a few minutes from his older twin brother Gaito. He was like every other aspiring surfer during his younger days where he failed to win in the beginning but continued to climb up to the top. Since then he always remained on top on a completely fair level as long as he had the blue competition bracelet on his wrist.

Whoever gave me this bracelet... thank you. You've helped me win all the tournaments I've entered for a long time. I wonder if I'll ever find you... and see you again...

He held the white and blue bracelet tightly to him right when he heard the patio glass door sliding open. He did not turn his head to see who it was and let the person exit from the door. Gaito stood beside his twin, also looking at the stars.

"Not going to party along with the dudes, are you Kaito?" Gaito asked curiously as he sipped on his can of soda.

"I don't feel like partying..." Kaito answered, not looking directly at his twin. "I'm just tired of the same old crap."

"That's too bad. A lot of people came today. Some of the girls were wondering why you've been hanging around outside here for a long time. I don't really know what to tell them."

Kaito slightly turned his eyes towards Gaito, also resting himself against the railing of their balcony. "I started thinking about my savior again."

Gaito noticed the blue bracelet on his hand and knew immediately what he was talking about. "I have to thank that rescuer too. If she didn't dive for you I would be a complete orphan right now."

"You saw how the savior looked like? Why is it that I can't remember?"

"Oh yeah. I saw her. Remember how we were spending out at the family yacht celebrating Mom and Dad's wedding anniversary? While everyone was having fun you just wandered off outside and sang some song no one's heard of. Yeah, I followed you because I was worried about you, so I know."

Kaito lowered his head and sighed. "I don't sing anymore. Who sings stupid stuff like that by themselves anyway? I don't remember why I sang in the first place..."

"That's too bad, Kaito. I thought you were really cool singing really good like that. I can't even pick up a tune. No wonder the karaoke place had always been a favorite place for your one-week girlfriends to drag you up. But yeah, it's too bad you stopped."

"Gaito... do you remember how she looked like? The one who saved me, I mean?"

"Well, I took a glimpse for a bit but it was hard to see because it was dark... But I do know she was really brave... I mean what kid would swim out in the ocean and just stay there just so she can listen to you sing? Sure people would think that kid may be weird but I think she was brave enough to even swim out there just to listen to you singing."

Kaito placed his hand on his forehead and began to recall a small bit of what happened seven years ago during that ocean storm accident. Somehow there was a trigger that got him to remember those events and the reason why he had forgotten them. He gazed at the bracelet again and showed it to Gaito.

"The one who saved my life... gave me this?"

"Hard to say. We were split when that storm came and hit our yacht. I just gotta say you were lucky that night. You had a guardian angel. Sometimes I wish I had a guardian angel."

"I guess..." The twins fell silent and gazed out at the ocean, back in their contemplative mode once more. After a few moments Kaito stood up straight and turned to Gaito. "Hey, G. I think I'm gonna go out."

"Where are you going?"

"For a walk. I need to be alone right now." Kaito headed back to the door as Gaito watched him.

"Watch yourself. Get home safely."

"Yeah." After going through the busy party animals he reached the front door and exited. He crossed the street so he can walk along the sand. The street lights illuminating the sidewalk leading to the beach gave sight for those who love to stroll down the beach at late nights. As he headed off he placed his blue competition bracelet in his pocket.

Five minutes later at the third floor balcony of Pearl Waters, Lucia still remained at the balcony in that same contemplative mode though she was already in her pair of pink pajamas. Though she thought she may remain this way at her balcony she heard cheerful voices coming from inside. She turned her head to her patio door to see Coco, Caren, and Noel in their sleepwear entered her room with giggles and waves towards her.

"What are you girls doing here?" Lucia giggled and entered back to her bedroom.

"Why do we have to head to bed early, girl?" Coco chuckled happily. "We're on summer vacation! Why not hang out at the beach for awhile?"

"Are you girls crazy? We're like in PJ's and nighties and teddies! You want to get naked and swim or something?"

The twin sisters dashed to take Lucia by the wrist. "No silly!" Caren chortled with the huge grin on her face. "We're here to do our pre-first summer day celebration! Remember how we always gathered around at the beach and we sing and we dance and we play truth and dare games?"

"Yeah," Noel snickered, "and seduce hot dudes from their houses to come to us! I'm kidding about that part, of course."

"Oh I don't know, guys..." Lucia was rather reluctant at first when another familiar voice joined in their excitement.

"Okay, Lucia, don't back out on us now!"

Lucia and the three Carmeline girls turned to see Rina and Hanon in their sleeping attire at the door. She ran to them with a surprised look. "Rina! Hanon! I thought you guys won't be moving in for the summer until tomorrow?"

Rina snickered and winked. "Oh we can't wait. Coco's right, you know. We're on break starting tomorrow and it's pointless to sleep this early. I just had a feeling you people are gonna hang out at the beach this late and you think I'm gonna miss this?"

Hanon, who was still new to this whole Pearl Waters pre-first summer day ritual, still looked rather confused. "Rina... dragged me from my house and convinced me to just move in tonight so... here I am!"

"Nice!" The three girls gave a thumbs up towards Hanon while Caren reached for a bunch of beach blankets for the girls. "Let's go, ladies!"

The six girls reminded Nicola that they were going to hang out at the beach for a few moments across the street and made sure that they do not wander off far from the Pearl Waters zone. Once they arrived Caren spread out the beach blankets while Noel and Coco carried out rocks and wood to build a bonfire at the sand.

"Hey, this is pretty cool!" Hanon expressed her first impression with this little beach outing as she watched Noel and Coco build a bonfire. This was indeed perfect as fire can be put out by the sand or by the water when needed to be diffused. "So you guys do these campfire beach hangout things at night?"

"Oh yeah! This is why summer at Nijibe is the best ever!" Coco winked at Hanon. "This is our own version of a Girls' Night Out! We do these once in awhile in the summer, but it'd be fun when there's a lot more with us!"

Caren pushed her long, curly dark hair behind her shoulders in a rather flirtatious way and sighed. "It'd be a lot better when we have hot dudes hanging out with us though. I was gonna drag Taro and even call Rihito up but those guys are busy doing their composing thing for the band tomorrow."

Noel shook her head with a grin. "I swear, will you stop thinking about boys at this point, Caren? There's always tomorrow daytime. All your hot dudes will be here!"

"Still, Noel... the night is too long..." Caren sighed deeply while the rest of the girls laughed at her reaction.

"Well then," Coco changed the subject. "Let's talk. We need to catch up. What's the happs, girlfriends?"

Rina began the all-girl gossip around the bonfire. "Nothing much... except for the first time that Lucia and I got hit on by the Rainbowside Surf Tribe earlier today..."

Hanon grinned proudly. "Thanks to me, you and Lucia are getting noticed--- even the Doumoto Twins are checking you guys out!"

"Oh please, Hanon, Gaito Doumoto hardly even looked at Lucia and me--- and that other twin Kaito wasn't even around when we walked home." Rina corrected Hanon followed by more laughter from the girls.

"But the real story here is our very own Lucia!" Hanon cheered happily, which caught interest of the rest of the girls around the bonfire.

"Ooh... our dear, sweet, innocent Lucia?" Caren grinned happily. "What is it, Lucia? Got a new boyfriend or something?"

Lucia quickly shook her head, blushing in embarrassment. "No! Nothing happened!"

Coco interrupted right then and made her statement. "Really, Lucia? A little bird whispered to me earlier that a certain hot surfer boy has a certain special interest in you... do tell, Lucia!"

"No--- you got it all wrong--- we just talked about surfing--- surfing!" Lucia insisted the truth with her first conversation with Kaito earlier today. "There's that surf scenes tournament coming up and the dudes need help!"

"Stop changing the subject, Lucia! Come on, you can tell us," Caren winked, still eager to hear the latest news of the day. "It's not like there's anyone around here at the beach besides us fine girls, you know?"

At that time Kaito found himself feeling a lot more relaxed as the ocean rolled in against the shore on his walk. Though he finally found peace and ease within him he detected soft noises coming from behind him. Quickly he turned his head to see if there was anyone following him or there just happened to be random bystanders hanging around near him. He almost lost his balance once he saw the rest of his surfer dudes along with his twin brother Gaito lingering behind them.

"What the--- what are you dudes doing here? Are you guys spying on me or something?" Kaito asked curiously towards the boys.

Daichi was the first to answer: "We're just worried about you, Kaito. I mean... not feeling like partying in the middle of a party? Obviously there's something wrong so we had to keep an eye on you."

Kaito quickly glared towards Gaito thinking it was his idea to follow him from behind. Gaito directly answered: "They dragged me here, so I have nothing to do with it."

"So... all of you left our guests back home?" Kaito asked curiously, worried about the guests trashing their shack when they were left alone.

"Oh no!" Kengo snickered. "We kicked them all out once we realized you went missing!"

Masahiro stepped forward and faced Kaito. "There's something you're not telling us, Kaito. You don't just leave the house during a party and then tell us that you wanted to take a walk and be alone. You know you can always talk to us whenever there's something bothering you."

"Nothing's wrong with me, Hamasaki," Kaito reminded his bespectacled friend. "I just have a lot of stuff in my mind right now--- the surf scenes tournament and all this planning and all that is really getting me stoked... especially the tandem surfing thing. Why the heck did these officials decided to make things harder by putting in that event? I guess I'm kinda losing my cool about it."

Nagisa joined in the conversation and stated his opinion. "Knowing you Kaito, you're never serious with any girl. What I'm trying to say is that you're not the commitment type when it comes to girls. And this whole tandem surfing thing is bothering you because it's forcing you to finally get serious. But there's nothing in the rules that say that your partner has to be your lover or something... right?"

Kaito turned his head away from the others and continued walking on his path. "I don't care about all that getting serious stuff! You don't just enter a major competition like that to fall in love! You enter a major competition like that to win! No one cares how good you look or how your good your chick looks--- this is a competitive sport!" He sighed deeply and continued on. "Look, guys. I'm losing my cool because none of us--- well except Gaito and Sara here--- have no experience in competitive tandem surfing! Two months of training in tandem surfing isn't enough either for those who's never done it before."

The boys continued on their sandy stroll with Masahiro answering from behind. "Lucky for you, Kaito, all of us--- Shiroi here, more or less--- are individual surf pros. If we can rip the waves and come out victorious on our own, what's one more person sharing our surfboard, dude?"

"Yeah," Kengo snickered while daydreaming certain visions in his head. "Especially if that one more person happens to be a hot, sizzling chick..."

Kaito shook his head, showing his disagreement with his friends. "I don't have time to fool around this summer. I don't have time to run and hide whenever I get spotted by girls. I don't have time to party with random people I've never met. And most of all, I don't have time to check out chicks and find someone I'm interested in and fall in love---"

Just as Kaito was about to complete his statement the boys were distracted by random laughter close by. Thanks to their expert ears they immediately knew that young females were the ones making those cheerful and in some ways tantalizing giggles. Kaito turned to the surf tribe and hushed them to be silent.

"Holy cow!" Daichi whispered loudly with grins on his face. "There's chicks nearby!"

"Hell yeah!" Kengo, Masahiro, and Nagisa cheered happily as they forced to lean closer against the rock for a clearer view through the spaces and a more vivid voice.

Gaito slowly backed away knowing he should not get involved with this particular situation. "Uh... I think I should head back home..."

Kaito softly chuckled and shrugged his arms as Daichi and Kengo dragged him closer to the rocks. "Okay... maybe tonight is an exception." Slowly he leaned forward and found a space large enough for him to have a good view of the girls around their bonfire.

"Alright, alright. I give up. I'll stay here and wait until you peeping toms are done..." Gaito sighed and leaned against the rocks, waiting.

There were nearby rocks large enough for them to hide behind and eavesdrop. The rocks that placed a barrier between them was just a few feet close to the bonfire that the girls of Pearl Waters created. At this point the girls were still teasing Lucia regarding her love life. Luckily for Lucia, Kaito and the surfer boys did not catch the entire story, but they did catch what they recently heard.

"So, what's this story Rina told me about you and this mysterious childhood loverboy, Lucia?" Noel snickered while Coco and Caren turned to each other with smirks on their faces.

"Yeah! Details, Lucia, details!" Coco and Caren cheered excitedly.

Lucia sighed with a slight frown on her face. "But you guys already know the story. Rina already told you!"

"True, but it's best if we hear it from the person who experienced it all!" Coco winked.

Rina laid down on her beach blanket, relaxing with a smile on her face and her arms behind her head. "Oh come on now, Lucia. The story sounds so much better when it's coming from you."

"And you know we never get tired of your super-sweet and romantic childhood story, Lucia," Hanon added her comment. She laid herself down on her beach blanket in the same position as Rina. "You should seriously write this on a blog or something so the entire world can read it!"

Meanwhile behind the rocks while the rest of the surfer boys continued their eavesdropping Kaito murmured some words mentioned in that conversation to himself. Mysterious childhood loverboy...? Lucia Nanami...? Maybe that's why no guys want to date her... she's looking for him?

"Noooo..." Lucia cried in embarrassment and lowered her head. "This is my story that only a few people deserve to hear..."

"Hey, I got an idea!" Hanon exclaimed while getting herself up from her beach blanket. "I bet Lucia has a shorter version of this story! Well, Lucia?"

Lucia fell silent at first, then moments later answered Hanon. "Well... I wouldn't say a short version... but I have a song for it."

"A song!" The girls cheered and giggled and waited for Lucia to sing this small tune that depicted her childhood memory.

"Not again, Lucia." Hanon laughed. "You got a song for this childhood event too? All of a sudden I'm no longer surprised."

"What's wrong with that, Hanon? I think it's cute!" Coco brought out an opinion. "Come on, Lucia, sing to us your story!"

"Just don't laugh, okay?" Lucia chuckled and cleared her throat. Everyone on scene fell silent and waited for Lucia to sing her story.

When I was a girl

Around the age of seven to ten

I dreamed of my man to be

He was handsome to me then

Behind the rocks Kaito's eyes widened and leaned his back against the rocks, facing the guys. He closed his eyes, swallowing himself. His mind immediately flashed a visual version of Lucia's story. At that time he felt a drop of sweat slowly pouring down the side of his head.

Nagisa realized Kaito's reaction right then and spoke: "Kaito, dude, I think she's singing about you!"

"Shhh!" Quickly the entire surf tribe with the exception of Kaito hushed the young boy. Nagisa immediately covered his head. Kaito paid no attention to Nagisa's side comment and continued to listen to Lucia's song.

But now I want a man

Who's handsome but loving too

For this man should want my love

And hold her closely to his heart

When I come to him

I'm sure we'll never part

For I'll... I'll love that man

I'll love that man...

After Lucia ended her song that same silence was still there. As for the boys, Kaito began to walk away from the rocks, heading towards the opposite direction where their shack was located. The rest of the boys tiptoed and followed him so they did not have to get detected by the girls.

"Kaito!" Masahiro reached for him as the boys walked in the same pace as him. "Why'd you walk out like that, man? I thought that song was beautiful!"

"I'll say," Daichi answered with his eyes looking rather surprised. "Who would have thought someone like Lucia Nanami would sing beautifully like that--- and all that for some missing dude she saved when she was a kid? I wonder what happened then since she didn't really like... tell the entire story."

"I'm getting tired so I'm going home." Kaito answered to the boys' concerns and continued to head his way back home.

Nagisa caught up to Kaito and was walking backwards while facing him. "Okay Kaito--- I know you said you don't have time to check out chicks or something but surely you got some thoughts about that song. I know I'm no music expert and all but the way she sang that? It was like... it was straight from her heart!"

Kaito looked up right at Nagisa with a stern look. "Just leave me alone. I'm not in the mood to talk about it." Right then he passed by Nagisa and ran back to their shack.

"What'd I say?" Nagisa wondered curiously while the rest of the boys caught up to him. "What'd I do now?"

"Dude, what's up with Kaito's attitude, man." Kengo shrugged his arms but still have that worried look about Kaito. "Okay, so we heard Nanami sing a song different from her hip and cool swingin' and a surfin' song with Touin earlier but jeez, what's up with that?"

Gaito passed by the boys and turned his head towards them. "The song got to Kaito. Thus, the attitude."

"I don't get it!" The boys reacted in curiosity.

"He's in love." Gaito snickered and winked at the boys and went ahead of them to the shack.

Nagisa turned to the boys curiously. "Wait--- Kaito? We're talking about Kaito Doumoto, right? Falling in love is not even in his personal category!"

"No kidding, Shiroi." Kengo nodded in agreement. "And of all the girls--- Nanami? Lucia the Loser Nanami? Well, that's what the Rainbow Pop Girls and some of Kaito's fan girls refer to her as anyway..."

Daichi scratched his head as the remaining surfer boys continued their path back to the Doumoto Residence. "Well Nanami isn't that bad. I think she's kinda cute. It's just that she's... um... you know... Conservative."

"What's wrong with conservative girls, Daichi?" Kengo asked curiously. "Who cares about conservative, as long as the babe's hot like fire, right?"

Nagisa placed his hands in to the pockets of his jeans and frowned. "Most of the cool kids think anybody works at Pearl Waters are a bunch of weirdos as far as I know--- but ever since Hanon started working there last year the kids' views of them changed. Everybody in this town is so shallow nowadays..."

Masahiro sighed and led the group as the third-in-command. "Okay, dudes, enough with the gossip--- and we're supposed to be dudes and dudes don't gossip. Maybe Kaito is tired tonight and wanted to head to bed. Big deal. We'll see those Pearl Waters peeps tomorrow since the hot spot of the beach now happens to be across from Pearl Waters."

"Yeah!" Nagisa nodded in agreement. "Don't forget that we're heading out to Pearl Waters and seek that band!"

After the brief chatter the boys headed back to the shack, leaving the girls to their own beach camp.

In the meantime the girls still remained silent when Hanon spoke out. "That's it with your song, Lucia? There's barely any details in there!"

"Hanon! I just took a break for a bit because I haven't really finished it, but here's a few more." Lucia cleared her throat while the rest of the girls continued to relax on their beach blankets, ready to listen to her song.

A token, I give to you

Pearly white and shades of blue

I wonder if you think of me

The time I set you free from the sea

'Till now I still look for you

I hope you're looking for me too

For one day we'll meet again

Together, now and then

I cry all out to you

My love is forever and true

For you're... you are that man

You are that man...

After a few moments the girls got up from their beach blankets while their bonfire was slowly dying out. They felt the sea's tides getting a bit stronger and it may be dangerous if they stay longer. They got up from their spots, folded their beach blankets, and put off their fire by kicking some sand on to it. As they crossed the street back to Pearl Waters the girls gave their thoughts.

"Okay, my question here is that token bit," Coco spoke first. "What sort of token are we talking about here in your song?"

Lucia gave a rather innocent smile towards Coco and answered her. "A friendship bracelet. I remember it clearly because it's the very first bracelet I weaved. It was white with some shades of blue threads and there's a small red Hibiscus flower not too far from the bracelet's end. I kept looking at some of the boys' wrists in school a few times but I haven't had any luck. But deep in my heart..."

They reached inside Pearl Waters and took the inside stairs leading to the second floor where Lucia's room and some of the girls' rooms were located. The girls got inside Lucia's room and hung out there for a few more minutes before they head to their rooms and head to bed.

"Deep in your heart?" Noel asked curiously, still with interested looks in her eyes. "What's deep in your heart, Lucia?"

Lucia laid down on her bed and grabbed her stuffed animal penguin and cuddled it tightly to her. "Deep in my heart for some reason I feel that Kaito Doumoto was that... mysterious boy... that I rescued that night."

"Ooooh!" The girls snickered while Hanon streteched her arms and yawned.

"Can we tease and make fun of Lucia tomorrow, girls? I'm just about ready to collapse to bed now. We'll be pretty busy tomorrow."

"Yeah, same with Hanon," Rina nodded, also yawning at the same time. "Seriously, you girls should stop making fun of Lucia just because she's in love with a certain surfer dude that the entire girl population of Nijibe is also in love with. At least with Lucia it's true love. I mean the first thing that she and Kaito talked about when they first talked was, of all topics, surfing?"

"Lucia's no flirt, that's why," Caren winked and headed for the door. "So you're pretty much are in love with two boys—- your mysterious childhood sweetheart and Kaito Doumoto."

"No..." Lucia sighed deeply and turned her head to the opposite direction, facing the open door leading to the balcony. "My mysterious childhood boy and Kaito Doumoto are the same person... I still have yet to prove it because I placed my bracelet around his wrist before we ended up falling asleep in that rocky gave. He should still have that bracelet--- he can't just get rid of it. He's just too nice and kind to do so..."

"Well, you got a new mission tomorrow, girlfriend," Coco followed the rest of the girls to the door. "Once you get to talk to Kaito again tomorrow be sure you check his wrist and see if he's wearing that token of yours."

Lucia giggled softly as her reaction. "I will. I'll pretend I'm just interested on the accessories he wears... including his earrings..."

"Silly, Lucia. Sweet dreams, now, okay?" The girls exchanged their goodnight greetings to Lucia as they head themselves to bed.

Next day is officially the first day of summer. Any event considered insane to society can seriously happen.

---

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

FFnet really got me stressed out with all their technical glitches that took three days instead of a few minutes as the errors stated and that I wasn't able to upload any of my new chapters. I'm really beginning to worry that I may not be getting any reviews at all, which can be discouraging to me and I may end up stopping this fanfic altogether.

As always, a few notes to mention...

#1 – We all know that in the anime and the manga that Taro Mitsuki and Rihito Amagi are both classical musicians with Mitsuki being the composer and Rihito being an orchestra conductor. In the case of my fanfic they're both music students and are quite well-versed with music altogether, which was why to me they were perfect to be part of a band, like a surf rock band, for example.

#2 – Coco, Caren, and Noel do not have any last names to use while they're in their human form in the anime/manga. In this case I gave them last names and I also gave Coco a "real" name with "Coco" being a nickname that all her closest friends can refer her as.

#3 – I made Sara and Seira as sisters in this fic, since both are Orange mermaid princesses of the Indian Ocena in the manga/anime. I think that's plain and simple.

More to come, obviously! I still need reviews from you guys since I really do need your feedback to improve my fic. This is the 3rd chapter to be uploaded and I still haven't gotten any reviews since the intro was posted.

RATED T for the the VERY mild language AND slight adult situations.

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch is © 2003 Pink Hanamori and Michiko Yokote. All songs used are © respected songwriters/owners. No copyright infringement intended.