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!

13. Leolani and Kaikane

RIDE THE WILD SURF
a Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Fanfiction

by Adrimarie

Leolani and Kaikane

An imaginary alarm sounded off from an imaginary clock which made Lucia wake up from her sounding, peaceful, and beautiful night sleep. Though her actual clock stroke at four thirty in the morning, her enthusiasm and her excitement of finally discovering that all this time her long lost love was right in front of her all along caused her to wake up without any complaints of waking up too early. She got up quickly from her bed, washed herself, brushed and gargled fresh, and fixed her bed afterwards. She searched through her closet for today's outfit of the day while singing another song from out of the blue. Supposedly she was going to sing another love declaration song that starred Kaito "Kaikane" Doumoto in there, but instead she sang a song that would make her feel armed for battle.

Well along the coast all through and through

I'd make it everyday as long as I'm with you

My secret surfin' spot, only I know

Where the grommets and the hodads never go

I said the grommets and the hodads never go...

After a few moments she found her white and sky blue baby tee--- instead of her usual pink or red--- with a beach and surf-related motif design on it, and dark knee-high pair of dark blue shorts. She began to comb her hair and just as she was going to put her usual hairpins and ribbons she realized that today was her first day of tandem surfing training. That would mean she would be spending the entire day in the water. Best to leave her hair loose instead.

Well I'm hotdoggin' on my board till the sun goes down

I jump in to my rider and then make it back in town

My secret surfin' spot, only I know

Where the grommets and the hodads never go

I said the grommets and the hodads never go

She got her backpack ready along with the wetsuit she borrowed from Nicola last night. She made sure that it was there just before she headed out to meet Kaito. Once she was about to exit her bedroom she found Hanon, Sara, and Rina already awake and ready for the new day. Both Sara and Hanon were wearing a rather wild printed bikini top with short skirts around their waists to cover their bikini bottoms while Rina still appeared with her usual long t-shirt and jeans getup. She wondered why these girls woke up so early while all three spotted Lucia also up and ready.

"Good, you're up!" Sara waved at Lucia with her humble smile on her face. "Dang girl, you looked pumped up!"

"Got that right!" Lucia raised a fist of victory up in the air, giving Hanon a slight suspicion about her.

"Looks like someone is happy and shining this morning," Rina spoke with a grin on her face. "Something good happened between you and Kaito?"

"Oh... things happened but nothing official."

Hanon quickly stood in front of Rina with curiosity in her eyes. "'Things happened but nothing official'? Are you telling me that the first kiss you two shared is not official?"

"Hanon, you jump to too many conclusions!" Rina shook her head at Hanon's response. "Let Lucia talk first."

Lucia shook her head at Hanon. "There's no first kiss last night. I did get a first hug from him, but that's because I hugged him first to thank him for choosing me as his partner."

"A first hug? That's just weak, Lucia. Kaito is such a moron to not even give you your first kiss. I mean what's not to like about you? I think you're charming and pretty enough for any guy to beg on their knees for your attention. And for one thing, you actually got the attention of the hottest guy in the entire town in a matter of three weeks straight! That's a total first in the history of this young generation, Lucia!" Hanon mumbled quickly while Rina and Sara chuckled softly from behind.

"Well... I'm not expecting a lot from Kaito, Hanon!" Lucia retorted in a slightly high volume. "There's nothing wrong with just being friends for the time being... plus my lips are not exactly kissable anyway..." Right then her conscience's voice spoke within her. Well... okay, that's not exactly true. Kaito almost kissed me yesterday if it weren't for those stupid DJ people and those fan girls following them around like sick puppies... Oh man, I wanted him to kiss me that time... I still want him to kiss me, even if it's just on the cheek...

"Lucia, hello!" Hanon continued on with her stance. "What I meant by first time in history, I meant that Kaito actually hung out with the same girl for straight three weeks is a record! When he's not dating or doing that one-week girlfriend thing he was always seen with the dudes of the Rainbowside! He's not that known for hanging out with one girl for a long period of time. In fact when he does the one-week girlfriend thing he's usually seen with a different girl every three to four hours a day... but that's aside the point! You can't really say he's not interested in you like that because if he isn't, he'd avoid you as much as he can, but there are tons of times where he would approach you and would stay with you for a long period of time--- like last night, for example. After hours, he stayed late just because he wants to hang out with you at the beach, and not just hanging out, but hanging out alone? That's never happened to any girl in this generation ever since he became a stud at age twelve!"

"You talk too much, Hanon," Sara interrupted with a smirk on her face. "You don't know Kaito that well. I admit I don't know him much as well because he's so different from Gaito, which was why it was so easy for many of us to know which one of the twins is which." She turned to Lucia with a more confident smile this time. "Lucia, when it comes to love, it takes a lot of time. If you're patient enough to wait while you build up your relationship with him little by little you'll have a big chance that he would never look at any random girl passing him by except you."

"You're right... I guess..." Lucia decided not to dwell with the thought of Kaito being Kaikane and her tandem surfing partner and changed the subject. "So, I know you and Hanon are awake because of the early morning tandem surfing practice, right?" She turned slowly to Rina, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, slightly behind Hanon. "What about you, Rina? How come you're up and early too?"

Rina raised an eyebrow of suspicion at first, then provided her answer. "Er... I... it's uh... well..." She cleared her throat to calm herself from getting nervous. "It's just that there's a photographer that Masahiro hired who's going to take some shots of me in a swimsuit as part of the team entry to the tournament. The beauty contest officials would like to see some photos before they come and meet the actual contestants themselves. Since all the surfers are gonna be present at the beach early this morning we decided to take advantage of the time before everybody else starts flocking the beach some hours later."

Hanon dashed to Rina's side and nudged her on her arm. "You're gonna wear a hot, wild bikini today for the photo shoot, Rina?"

Rina glared at Hanon immediately. "Hell no!"

"What? What kind of a beauty contest entry is that? I mean we are talking about the Beach Babe Beauty Pageant, right? You're not gonna walk around in a long gown or anything like that!"

"I am going to wear a swimsuit, Hanon, but not specifically a bikini. There's no rule that says you have to wear a bikini to be in the contest. If you really are curious as to what I'm going to wear, I'm going to wear a cute and simple-looking dark blue, white, and green skirtini. Bikinis are for the desperate. Skirtinis are for style and personality. And besides, Masahiro likes the idea. He thinks I'd still look beautiful in it without exposing half of myself to a bunch of random people."

"That's great, Rina!" Lucia exclaimed happily. "I think it'd be safe to say that I can wear a skirtini on the tandem surfing tournament so I don't have to feel so embarrassed, especially in front of Kaito, you know?"

"You two are really..." Hanon shook her head with shrugs on her arms. "There's no such thing as modesty at the beach, you know? You can't be always hiding yourself if you want to have the hottest dudes of the beach to check you out!"

"That's not true," Sara interrupted, which earned the attention of the three. "If that was true, Hanon, then Hamasaki wouldn't have chosen Rina to be their beach babe entry and Kaito wouldn't have chosen Lucia to be his tandem surfing partner. Those two dudes know Rina and Lucia aren't bikini-loving chicks, but there's something special within these two that drew Masaahiro and Kaito to them. Besides, they haven't asked the girls to wear bikinis or anything like that."

Hanon blinked in curiosity and sighed. "But Sara... you wear bikinis a lot!"

"That's because I like wearing them, Hanon, not because I'm trying to get guys. I already have my own dude, so I don't need that."

"Ugh, stupid Kaito!" Hanon exclaimed with a tightened fist. "Before we dated for a week last year he said he likes bikini-clad girls so I started wearing them to get his attention! Heck, that's why most of these Kaito fanatics started wearing bikinis so they can get his attention!"

"Heh, right," Rina snickered, still in her usual cool demeanor. "Lucia didn't even have to do anything and she still got his attention. In fact, it wasn't her who came to him, but it was he who came to her. That is a serious sign, you know!"

"Actually... I... did something..." Lucia whispered after realizing what she did that drew Kaito to her. It was that one single day in the afternoon of the last day of school that started it all. "I sang... spontaneously... some weird surfing song... that got his attention..." That's right. He liked my singing, even if everyone thinks I'm a loser for being spontaneous...

Rina nodded in agreement. "That's true. I was with you when we sang. It was a lot of fun too. But at least we proved that even the coolest surfer dudes around are attracted to something else other than bikini or monokini-clad girls, right Lucia?"

Lucia smiled with a nod. "Thanks for sticking with me, Rina!" The two girls gave each other a hi-five while Hanon still remained in her usual crossing-arm pose.

"Fine, whatever," Hanon gave a slight chuckle. "For all we know you two will be breaking the stereotype barrier with the dudes out there. The real surfers out there would want to have a girl who possesses something special that would seriously hook them up."

Sara tapped Hanon, getting everyone's attention. "Well, we better head downstairs and wait for the guys to arrive."

The four girls headed downstairs quietly as to not disturb the rest of the staff in their sleep. Once they got to first floor they heard some working noises coming from the kitchen. When the girls got there they spotted the three surfer girls, Coco, Caren, Seira, and Noel, along with Nicola. The four ladies had been preparing breakfast for all of the girls present.

"Whoa!" Lucia exclaimed in surprise. "Why are you all awake?"

Seira waved happily to the girls with a smile. "We're making thermal breakfast baskets for you and the dudes! You'll be out at the beach training in surfing, right?"

"Well, yeah, but..." Lucia scratched her head when Nicola gave a wink to her younger sister.

"I heard from Sara that the Rainbowside competitors had been suffering through frozen dinners and they need their strength, especially for the tandem surfer boys," Nicola answered. She approached Lucia and embraced her tightly. "Oh Lucia, you're growing up so fast! Now you're going to be surfing for the first time!"

"Well, I'm not really surfing, I'm just riding along with Kaito on one board... I think..." Lucia scratched her head. Nicola slowly released her, still smiling. "Wow, Nicola, you seem so happy today!"

"Oh, I just have a good feeling about you today. But I'm still watching you, girl. I'll make sure that kid doesn't do anything horrible that would break your heart. If he drops you, whether if it's for love or for tandem surfing, he's gonna be in big trouble!"

Rina patted Nicola on the shoulder with a grin on her face. "Don't let this get in the way of your job as the manager, Boss. I'll do the dude ass kicking for you. I'll be sure to watch over Lucia for you while we're out there. It'd be easy for me because I'm only having my beauty pageant photo shoot."

"Oooh!" Coco, Caren, and Noel exclaimed happily. "So you're finally going to wear a hot bikini, Rina?"

"Hell no!" Rina responded with the same answer with her arms crossed. "I'm going for cute skirtinis, ladies!"

"'Cute'?" Caren's eyes opened wide in a startle. "Rina, 'cute' isn't even part of your vocabulary!"

"Modesty is the 'in' thing with beach babes today, Caren." Sara made her statement. "Rina will be the first beach babe to show that fact when she steps out at the stage. I mean, I'm pretty sure Hamasaki had other reasons why he convinced the dudes that Rina would be the one who will win the pageant for Nijibe, you know."

"Well, either way, I think we've got something good going on here for the tournament." Nicola made her statement. "I'm just glad that Nijibe found confidence and excitement with our local surf culture and are ready to shine in the surfing world again." She lifted her head, bringing herself in to contemplation. "I'll stand by the sidelines, rooting for all you girls, once the tournament begins. We'll bring our dudes and our surf culture to the top once again!"

The girls including Lucia fell silent, wondering what Nicola was babbling about at this point. Then Coco began to speak with blissful eyes. "Boss... you have no idea how what you said means so much to us. What I mean to say is that... us surfer girls of Nijibe had been long waiting for you to say something about our aim. Why we still continue to surf even after what had just happened? Because we want to restore Nijibe's glory in the sport of surfing, that's why. Plus we want to restore the Rainbowside again. We don't want that surf tribe to become non-existent in the near future, Boss."

"Girls..." Nicola sighed, realizing the more or less damaged she had done by becoming silent and disappear from the surfing world limelight. After the words Coco spoke a heavy feeling throbbed through her heart, reminding her that she still had to get involved somehow. Right now, all she was at this moment was a full-time supporter. "Well... I'm counting on you girls to back up the dudes and bring us to victory, alright?"

The girls cheered along with Nicola, knowing of their destiny was going to be once the tournament week arrived. During the cheer, Lucia heard a familiar ringtone coming from her purse. She left the girls at the kitchen and headed to the juice bar where she saw the phone number with no name flashing on her phone's external screen. Because the phone was unfamiliar, she hoped that the person calling would be the particular person who will be added at her top ten favorite phone list of her cellphone.

She opened her cellphone and answered. "Hello?"

"Lucia, it's me, Kaito."

Kaito! Oh my gosh! Lucia felt her heart throbbing rapidly again as she answered. "Oh, good morning, Kaito!"

"Hey, you don't sound sleepy... are you fully awake or something?"

"I woke up really early... maybe because of my excitement. The girls are up too, but can you and the dudes wait for awhile? Or maybe you can come inside and wait for us."

"You sure? Your sister don't mind?"

"Oh, Nicola's awake too! You see, we're..."

"Well, if you want us inside, then we'll be there."

"Great!" Lucia headed for the door and exited. She found Kaito right outside and across the street with a huge black bus conversion behind him. Lucia gasped to see the bus conversion and then waved at him. The two hung up their phones and decided to speak in person. "Wow, what's with the bus conversion? I thought we're going to practice at this beach, Kaito!"

Kaito placed his cellphone back in his pocket and approached Lucia so he can be a lot closer to her. "We are. The dudes are at the beach right now setting up our spot. This thing behind me is Hamasaki's family bus conversion. Pretty slick, huh?"

"I bet! It looks bigger than the ones at the S-Cube!"

"Well, we needed the bus conversion for the tandem boards. It's not like a shortboard or a longboard where we can carry it around our arms while we walk. Tandem boards are a lot longer than the two of our heights combined, so even if you stand on my shoulders while I'm holding up the board it'd still be taller-- and longer--- than the two of us."

"Oh!" Lucia blinked in surprise, scratching her head slightly. "I thought it was just a standard longboard like the ones in the DVD and all..."

"Ha ha!" Kaito chuckled and from out of the blue he caressed her chin with a finger, which made Lucia's heartbeat throb even faster. "You're funny, you know that?"

"Kaito--- you know I'm not exactly an expert at tandem surfing since I'm not too familiar with it compared to individual surfing from shortboard to longboard and..."

The surfer boy still had his finger under her chin, making Lucia gulping in nervousness. "If it's a standard longboard, then the tandem pair has no chance of winning, let alone having a steady lift formation while still remaining on the board. That's why tandem surfboards should be way longer than a standard longboard; about ten feet--- or three hundred five centimeters--- long. The most recommended length should be around twelve feet or three hundred sixty-five centimeters long because it's the most stable."

"Ah, I see." Lucia made sure she planted these facts in to her head so she did not come out looking like a complete newbie. "Wow, then if it's long, then that means the board would be heavy too."

"Yup!" Kaito snickered, letting go of her chin and placed both hands on his waist. "The board isn't just designed for two people to ride on, it's also designed for two people to carry it out to the beach. Since it's a hassle for us dudes to carry those boards we decided to travel in style. Besides, a tandem pair would look so good to everyone's eyes if they're spotted carrying their board together, you know? That would mean you'll have to help me carry our board, hm?"

"Of course!" Lucia nodded in agreement. "Surfboards nowadays are getting lighter, so I'm sure that the tandem board would be light for two people to carry."

"You're catching on, girl. Good job. Think of tandem surfing like a novel or a movie or something. In Tandem Surfing, you're the main character. I'm the supporting character." Kaito winked while Lucia grinned happily, trying to hide the constant blushing of her cheeks with it.

"Wait... why am I the main character?"

"You're the main character because you're the one who's going to show off your grace and beauty that would make the two of us look good while riding the surf. I'm the supporting character because I'll be the one holding on to you and lifting you up, carrying you while you strut your grace to the world, plus I'm the surfer between the two of us. When we paddle out and ride a set you'll be my front person while I'll be the one behind, guiding you and holding on to you..."

"Oh..." Lucia suddenly covered her cheeks immediately just as Kaito leaned closer and then whispered to her ear.

"And if you want to be more specific... it's just like when two lovers are making love to each other in bed---"

"Eek!" Lucia almost jumped up in a startle as Kaito burst in to laughter again. "Okay, okay! So... what are we gonna do today besides learning how to surf on the same board?"

Kaito halted his laughter and began to think. Afterwards he answered: "Well, I was thinking after lunch that we can go around town and search for a good surf shop to sponsor us."

"Eh?" Lucia blinked curiously. "But what about your current sponsors, Kaito? I mean, don't they provide your surfboards when you're out competing, right?"

"Well yeah, I have sponsors, but they only support my individual events. They all have no clue that I'm competing in tandem too. I can't just talk to the sponsors and tell them to support us too. We have to prove ourselves to these big-time sponsors that we're not just competitors but champions as well. Right now we'll have to do manual shopping here."

"Oh, I see..." Lucia sighed. "I heard tandem boards are really expensive... like... almost a hundred thousand yen for one..."

Kaito leaned against the wall of Pearl Waters right next to Lucia and placed both his arms behind his head, relaxing. "Yeah, tandem boards are the most expensive in the surfboard market. They're pretty hard to find too because as a surfboard shaper you're going to need a lot of material and extra labor to paint and decorate it in order to build one standard tandem board. They're the same shape as longboards with rounded noses and slightly rounded tails and overall elongated oval shapes except that they're just longer--- or taller if you stand it up. Tandem guns are the most expensive of all because they take awhile to actually shape."

"Tandem... guns...?"

"Yup. They're designed for major big-wave surfing. Not very many common surfboard labels shape tandem guns so we may probably going to find a custom shaper to design one for us. It's gonna cost us an arm and leg but don't think about the cost. I'll deal with the money issues. You just need to help me help the shaper shape us the perfect tandem gun for the tournament. I'm thinking we'll get two--- a standard tandem board and a tandem gun. We'll even have to name them too."

"Name them?"

"Yup. Because at some tandem surfing competitions we're called by the name of the tandem board that we christen with rather than your name and my name."

Lucia chuckled at the fact. "So, I'm guessing the rules for this tournament that we'll have to christen both our boards because that's what they're going to refer to tandem surfing teams, right?"

"I'm worried about this Dainami-Oni report that's been mentioned several times at the surf forecast radio lately. That's why we should get two boards because we'll never know what type of set we're dealing with when we are called out and ride our surf. In individual surfing I'm carrying two boards as well--- a tri-fin short and a tri-fin gun--- because ocean conditions are always unpredictable."

"You're right. For all we know there probably wouldn't be enough wild surf to ride on during the tournament and they'll have to postpone it until we get enough strong swell rolling in, right?"

"Haha, yeah. It'd suck if the tournament had to be postponed to a later date... I mean we won't have enough time to actually participate because school starts a week or two from the tournament week and I really don't like concentrating on surfing too much during school."

"What are you worrying about, Kaito? You've got one of the best grade point averages throughout our entire class! And you don't seem to have any problems training in surfing on school days during the past years or so..."

Kaito snickered and answered. "School is getting harder, you know. Once we get to senior high school there'll be a lot more homework, a lot more projects, and a whole lot more. When that happens I'll have less time surfing and going in to competitions during school since they always happen here and there. Maybe I may even have to quit surfing for a few months or so because of school. But I'll worry about that later..."

Lucia fell silent, feeling a little worried about what may happen to them after summer was over. She began to worry that they may probably stay as summer friends and they go back to their usual lives in school. Now that she learned that Kaikane was Kaito's childhood surf nick according to last night it would be really heartbreaking if that ever happened when they head back to school.

"Kaito... can I... ask you something?" Lucia gulped, feeling a little shaky as she was going to ask this question.

"Sure, what's up?"

"Um... I know this is a stupid question and all but... is there such thing as summer friends?"

Kaito raised an eyebrow of curiosity, wondering what Lucia was muttering about. "Summer friends? Uh, I know summer lovers, but summer friends? Sure, that is if you are on vacation at a faraway place every summer and you've got friends you only meet in the summer there---"

"No... I mean... summer friends between people who live in the same town. They hang out with each other in the summer but when they get back to school--- they go to the same school, let's say--- they go back to their usual crew of friends again and they don't speak to each other anymore during school until summer next year..."

"Dude, what the hell are you babbling about?" Kaito chuckled with a snicker on his face. "Summer friends when they live in the same town and going to the same school but they don't hang out with each other in school? If that happens, dang, then one of those two is seriously wack."

From out of the blue Lucia embraced Kaito at that moment and held him tight to her. "Kaito... can we still be friends even when we're in school? It's just that... I'd feel so lonely if we go back to how we were before this summer... Please?"

Kaito laughed once more and also placed his arms around her waist the same level as her arms around his neck. "Jeez girl, you make it sound like I'm gonna be leaving town or something and you don't want me to leave! Why the hell would I want to go back to how it was before this summer?"

"I... I don't know... it's just that..." Lucia closed her eyes shut to prevent any tears from falling from her eyes. Now that reminds me... I know he's Kaikane, but... but does he know I'm Leolani...? I don't think he knows or even recognized my voice last night...

"Dummy. I like being with you, Lucia." Kaito whispered these gentle words to her, once again making the teen girl blush more. "I don't believe in summer friendship. There's no such thing anyway. Once you meet someone you like and enjoy being with, then that's real friendship. If it's a guy and a girl it may... well, you know."

"Oh Kaito! For some reason whenever you say something nice to me it just makes me happy in some way..."

"Erm, okay... Glad I can make you happy."

The two release from each other as Lucia stuck her pinky finger to him. "Pinky swear?"

"What the hell...?"

"Please, Kaito...? You promise through a pinky swear that we'll always be friends no matter what!"

Kaito still felt unsure about what Lucia was trying to do but decided to follow along. "It's a promise, Lucia." He hooked his pinky finger on to hers as they both shake each other's pinky fingers as a sign of a promise made. At that time Kaito had his own thoughts in his head. Pinky swear to be friends forever? Friends are always forever to me, pinky swear or not... Weird girl.

After they released their fingers from each other the rest of the girls exit with breakfast baskets and even a large cooler of drinks. Hanon led the group of girls when she spotted Lucia and Kaito right next to the door talking and grinned. "Well what do you know! The two lovers are having a simple ren-dez-vous while they wait for the morning sun to rise at the ocean!"

Lucia blushed heavily and sighed nervously. "Hanon..."

Kaito raised an eyebrow of suspicion towards Hanon and snickered with a wink. "Man, Hanon, you look dang hot and sexy in that getup of yours."

"Ah!" Hanon gasped and blushed heavily immediately. "Dang you Kaito! You still manage to make me blush even if I'm so over you... You really think I'm hot and sexy, Kaito?"

"You know when it comes to chicks in wild bikinis I just can't lie. You really are smokin' hot today, babe!" Kaito continued to snicker with his thumb and pointer under his chin. "Nagisa's seriously gonna faint because of the heat you generate with that thing on!"

"Oh, you're awful, Kaito!" Hanon shrieked angrily and gave a slight humph away from him. "I'm not wearing this for Nagisa, mind you!"

"Really? Then why are you wearing that then? Are you trying to be the female version of me or something?"

"Oh shut up, Doumoto! If I were going to get some attention I'd wish it'd be either Taro or Rihito---"

"Oh-ho! Ha ha ha!" Kaito burst in to laughter again as he headed his way across the street and towards the beach. "You really crack me up, Houshou!"

Hanon gritted her teeth in chagrin when Rina patted her on the shoulder. "That Kaito... he can be so mean and cruel sometimes--- seriously, Lucia, what the heck do you see in him anyway?"

"Hanon, I already told you several times that I see---"

"Oh, don't fret, Lucia," Rina interrupted with a smirk on her face. "What about you, Hanon? What the heck do you see in Kaito that got you to dating him for one week, huh?"

"Ugh, Kaito Doumoto and I are so over, Rina! Lucia can have him, seriously! Her sweetness and her smile is gonna help him actually behave like a real gentleman!" Hanon declared, looking very miffed at the same time.

"Okay, okay," Coco interrupted, getting the girls' attention. "We better head to the beach now before the breakfast wraps get cold."

"Let's go!" Lucia waved at the girls and led them right across the street. As they headed to the beach, Nicola watched them from the main window of the lobby, watching the girls make to the beach safely.

Mom... Dad... watch over Lucia and the girls... would you? I'll be sure to watch their back as long as I'm alive.

A few minutes after setting up and changing their outfits to the appropriate attire, the tournament surf team were ready to begin practicing. They took a quick shower in Masahiro's bus converter shower stall so they do not feel a sudden freeze once they get in the water. Rina, on the other hand, appeared in a flowery dark blue and green skirtini for the photo shoot set by Masahiro. She was a bit shy at first as she exited the bus converter but once she stepped out, she met Masahiro up front along with the young, handsome, and athletically-built photographer standing next to him.

"Whoa!" The photographer gasped to see Rina appearing before his eyes. "Dude... you didn't tell me your entry to the beauty pageant would be the hot and sexy Asuza Jinnai, man! Are you like back together again or something?"

"Who?" Rina responded with a blank stare on her face.

"Oh!" Masahiro shook his head and corrected the photographer. "No, this isn't Asuza Jinnai. Her name's Rina Touin. She's a schoolmate at my school. Most of the kids consider her the biggest tomboy in town."

Rina raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Yeah, whatever. So you're the photographer who's going to take some shots of me in this dang getup."

"I'm Kousuke Shinoyama," the photographer introduced himself promptly. "Sorry about the mistaken of identity. I'm actually one of the major-named photographers in the fashion media industry and worked closely with Masahiro Hamasaki's mother and the staff of Posh Mode magazine. I was also the photographer for the cover of this month's Posh Mode magazine with Asuza Jinnai as the model. I'm sorry, Miss Touin... it's just that you look so much like her."

"Heh, wow, so that model chick at the cover of Posh Mode does have a name. Asuza Jinnai, eh?"

"Eh? Hamasaki didn't tell you? He was his ex-girlfriend, broke up two months ago---"

"Ahem." Before the photographer was about to continue, Masahiro interrupted and changed the subject. "Well, the sun's almost up so I think we should get started with the shoot."

"Ah! Sorry about that. I didn't mean to rant on and on!" Kousuke Shinoyama, the photographer for this session, chuckled nervously while Rina became slightly suspicious on Masahiro. "Well, let me set up a few of the props before we get started, Miss Touin."

Why that jerk--- is that the reason why he picked me for the beauty pageant? Because I looked like his ex-girlfriend? Rina sighed deeply, feeling slightly upset from within, but she needed to focus. "Well, just let me know how to pose since I ain't familiar with all these photo shootin' posing stuff."

"Don't worry, I'll guide you through, Miss Touin," Kousuke reminded her as he set up his camera equipment. "All you have to do is be yourself and feel yourself more natural when you do the poses. Don't look nervous or anything. Just make yourself look natural."

"Alright. That'd be cool." While setting up, Rina did not change her facial expression on her face once she learned about Masahiro's possible real reason why he chose her for the tournament's beach pageant segment.

Meanwhile while the individual surfers were out at the sea riding their waves, the three tandem surfing pairs gathered around along with the massive eleven-feet tandem longboards they lent from Masahiro. They were doing a few warm ups and exercises together with Gaito leading the exercise session.

Lucia appeared with the wetsuit she borrowed from Nicola while both Hanon and Sara appeared in slightly skimpy yet appealing bikinis lined up just slightly behind the boys. Hanon was still a bit upset with Lucia appearing in a simple wetsuit for tandem surfing practice. "Lucia, I can't believe you showed up wearing a wetsuit..."

"What's wrong with wearing a sweatsuit?" Lucia asked curiously as she did her cherry picker stretches in the usual counting pattern. "There's no rule in tandem surfing that says you had to wear a bikini just to tandem surf!"

"The waters are unusually warm at this beach for some reason this year," Sara joined in the conversation. "Usually when the water's warm we go out there in bikinis and swim trunks like what the boys are wearing right now."

"You're such an oddball, Lucia! Everyone on scene right now are really looking hot and smokin' right now--- except you! You and Kaito should be like the star tandem couple of the tournament and you're showing up looking like a total kook?" Hanon continued to make her own complaints.

"It's only practice, Hanon, not like some idol agents pass by the beach and get interested in you becoming an idol just by riding the surf in a bikini... Besides, Kaito suggested I wear a wetsuit, so there!"

In the meantime during their exercises the boys began to have their small gossip. "Kaito! What's up with this? We're not even symmetrical!" Nagisa exclaimed in concern of Lucia's rather conservative-like getup for this morning's practice.

"What's not symmetrical, dude?" Kaito asked curiously while he continued to do his waist twisting.

"I was looking forward to seeing Lucia in a bikini for once..." Nagisa chuckled nervously while Kaito quickly gave him a glare. "Wait, Kaito, I didn't mean it in a perverted way--- I meant I'm curious how Lucia would look like in bikni, that's all. Hanon is closest to Lucia and I'm surprised she hasn't convinced her to wear a bikini yet!"

"Chill, Nagisa," Gaito answered, "today's only tandem surf practice, not the actual tournament. We'll deal with the attire when the tournament is nearby."

"Besides, Lucia never surfed before and I think with a wetsuit she would feel a lot safer and more comfortable." Kaito added his own statement. "I'm not gonna force her to wear something she'd be uncomfortable of wearing... though I admit... I'd like to see her in a bikini one of these days too... but I can wait."

Nagisa nodded in agreement. "Every girl is different, Kaito. That's what I learned. We can't say they all like one thing and all... But even then, I think each girl is special."

"You two... thinking about girls while warming up. What the hell's wrong with you two?" Gaito snickered, overhearing the two, just as they were finishing up their warm ups.

Moments later, the three pairs made their next agenda. They carried their chosen tandem longboards and laid it on the small stands right at a shady area of the beach with the board not touching the sand for the time being. While Hanon and Sara already knew what they were going to do, Kaito began to show Lucia what the first thing they should always do before they head out to the ocean.

The new tandem surfing pair sat next to both ends of their tandem surfboard with Lucia sitting next to the nose and Kaito sitting next to the tail. He opened his backpack and brought out two circular objects wrapped in plastic.

"Here, Lucia. This is a fresh, unused one. Catch!" He tossed a small circular object wrapped in plastic and with a light scent of coconut coming from it.

Lucia was very alert this morning and quickly caught the object. "What's this?" She wondered curiously and noticed the label on one of the sides. The name itself almost lost her balance in shock. "What the—- Sex Wax?!"

"Haha... ya like that, don't you?" Kaito laughed with a wink of his eye.

"You perv! What the heck did you just toss at me?"

"Hey, don't be fooled by the label, Lucia, it's not what you think!"

"But--- what the heck does this mean? What is this thing? I mean come on! 'The best for your stick'? That sounds so wrong, Kaito! What kind of girl do you think I am?"

"Take the plastic off and touch it."

"What? I'm not gonna touch... um..." Just as she was going to continue she noticed the other two pairs who were distracted by their rather interesting conversation.

"Lucia, it's a fresh block of surfboard wax, dummy!" Hanon exclaimed while snickering at the same time. "Just ignore the name!"

Lucia frowned and removed the plastic wrapping and the label, following what Kaito had just told her earlier. She began to feel the surface of the object and detected the light coconut smell. "Hey... the surface is kinda... it's like matte candle wax!"

"Well duh! It's a surfboard wax. That Sex Wax thing is the premier choice of surfboard wax by professional and recreational surfers around the world. It has a really good, sturdy formula that can provide secure traction between your feet and the surface of the board. First thing every surfer should always do is to make sure they equip their board, starting with waxing your board. Back in the old days, they had to chalk them first before they apply the wax. But today with a more improved industrial strength for both the waxes and even the surfboard surfaces, we don't need to chalk them."

"Oh!" Lucia blinked curiously and learned another fact about surfing. "It smells like coconut."

"Haha... yeah. But I wouldn't deal with the scent since it'll fade away once you go out there at the ocean. It'd end up smelling like sea water anyway."

"So, what do I do then?" Lucia asked, still staring at the coconut-scented white wax on her hand.

Kaito took his current used wax and began to rub the wax on to the surfboard. "Easy. You just rub the wax on to the entire surface of the board. Wax as much as you can because you're going to need it, but there's a way to do it."

"There is?"

"Yup. You won't use up all the wax if you use this method I'm about to show you, but because we are dealing with a ten-footer tandem surfboard we may need two waxes to use. First, you start from your end and press the wax very lightly on to the surface perpendicular to the length of the board. Make one pass first, then do it at the adjacent direction from your end and downward. Do this about three times until you see a bit of white coating on the surface. You want that because that guarantees the major traction that's going to give your feet when you're riding your board."

"Oh, I see! Man, this is a huge board, so it makes sense to have two people waxing it!" Lucia began to rub the wax on to the board slowly, making sure there was enough wax from every spot of the board's surface. "Hey, this is going to take awhile."

"It'd take a longer while if you're waxing it yourself, so I'm glad you're here with me, Lucia." Kaito winked while Lucia returned a small smile and a bit of blushing on her cheeks.

The two began waxing their board from their end up to the middle using the method Kaito showed her earlier, taking their time when they can. Once they reached the middle they hit both their waxes at each other, knowing they just hit each other. They gazed slowly at each other and Lucia found herself blushing again.

"Oh... um... I guess we're done?" Lucia answered quickly before Kaito noticed her blushing cheeks. Unfortunately for the blonde girl, the alluring surfer boy did notice the blushes on her cheeks, in which made him feel a lot more proud of himself and his powerful charm over girls. Even if that was the case, this was not the right hour to flirt.

"Yup. I think we've got good, solid coats of wax for the board. For shortboard surfers they would usually have an optional traction pad at the tail of the board to give a more secure and sturdy posture while you're riding your wave. I use traction pads sometimes but in surfing tournaments I usually surf without one. Since we're using a longboard we're not going to use a traction pad."

Lucia stared at him blankly, becoming a bit more curious about the basic parts and equipment for a surfboard. "But... but I'm a noob kook, Kaito! I need that traction pad!"

"Lucia, I said shortboards. You don't need them on longboards because they're safer and more sturdy. In the case of a tandem longboard, you'll be at the front and I'll be right behind you. Besides, if you're so worried about falling off, you shouldn't. I'll be your traction pad."

"Oh... um... of course... you'll be behind me... right." Lucia lowered her head, knowing her constant blushing of her face was truly uncontrollable.

"I told you before, Lucia. If you stick with me, you won't fall."

"Thanks, Kaito, for keeping me relaxed."

The pair placed the leftover wax in to Kaito's bag and both noted that the other two couples were already running towards the ocean with their boards. Lucia gave a slight frown. "Hey--- how could they wax their boards that fast?"

"Don't worry about them, Lucia. A lot of surfers get really lazy with board waxing as of late sometimes. They just want to get out there and catch their wave to ride on without even thinking about safety precautions. I think Gaito and Sara are okay. Nagisa and Hanon--- not sure."

Lucia stood up from her spot and began to watch the other two pairs already paddling themselves to the ocean in a certain position. Kaito carried the tail of the board as a start. "Okay Lucia, let's get a little closer to the sea and carry this board there."

"Awrighty." Lucia picked up the nose of the board as they carried it just a few feet away from the wet sand. They sat the board flat on the sand while Lucia gazed at Kaito curiously. "Hey... how come we're not paddling out there? We got the wax and everything!"

"Lucia, I think it's best if I show you a few of the basics before we get out there. It's safer if we do it on land."

"Oh? There's more? Like what?"

"Like how you paddle your board once you find your surf."

"Wait--- there's a way to paddle your board?"

Kaito chuckled and gave a nod. "I don't know how Gaito and Nagisa taught their girls how to paddle their board out but I noticed that the girls' arms were outward when they were paddling out to the water. That's kind of unsafe because the board will be swaying side to side when they do that and they'll lose some of the balance before they can even stand up on to the board. Luckily it's a little different on a tandem longboard since it's a lot sturdier and have more balance."

"So, there's a way to paddle your way to your wave?"

Kaito demonstrated the proper position on riding the board, with his chest up and his feet a few inches from the tail of the board and his arms aligned against the board's rails. He moved his arms forward and backward straight with his arms tucked against the rails, using the rails as his guide to move his arms forward and backward like climbing on a wall with bare hands. After the demonstration, he had Lucia do the same, helping her get on the right position and guided her arms to paddle forward and backward straight, making sure her chest is raised away from the board's surface. At first Lucia was slightly wobbly and her arms were spreading out as a habit. She felt that rubbing her arms' skin against the railing of the board was somewhat awkward as it may drag her arm.

"Keep your arms tucked against the rails, Lucia. It'll take some time to get used to, but since we'll be on the same board you won't have that problem."

Lucia contemplated at first on what to do, then practiced her basics on getting used to paddle her arms forward and backward without spreading her arms out. "Like this...?"

"There you go. You got it!"

"I did it! Yay!" Lucia cheered happily as she rested herself by lying on the board, relaxing for a few moments.

"Good job, Lucia. Okay, I'm getting on now." Kaito climbed on to the board and positioned himself behind her, creeping slowly closer to her. "Spread your legs wide so I can position myself, Lucia."

Lucia gasped once she heard the request and called him out. "You pervert--- you want me to what? Spread my legs?"

"That's what I said, Lucia," Kaito confirmed. "Open them a little bit so I can have space to paddle."

"B-but... what are you going to do?"

"Just spread them..."

"Oh man..." Lucia gulped nervously and slowly spread her legs wide. Quickly Kaito moved himself forward so now his upper body was right over Lucia's lower body. He placed his arms around her while he kept his chest away from her. He did the same position as Lucia with the exception of the legs open slightly. While Lucia still gulped in nervousiness Kaito began to explain why he needed to have her spread her legs apart for a bit in order to have space for his position.

"K-Kaito! Y-you're... you're... on me..." The nervous girl turned her head to him, where she noticed he was right there, just some inches apart from her. "Oh man..."

Kaito snickered and winked. "This is why tandem surfing is recommended for lovers, babe. Who knows what can happen to us after this, hm?"

"Kaito, you perv... is this your way of picking me---"

"Haha... dang, girl, you assume too much already! Remember how I informed you that in tandem surfing, you and your partner have to stay close together as much as you can. In that way the transition from one pose to the next would be easy and quick. If we're too apart we'll be wiped out before we could even do the lifts. Remember, let me be your traction pad."

"But Kaito--- this is just too embarrassing! People would be watching!"

Kaito whispered, trying to calm her down and relax. "Right, people would be watching, but they won't be watching us like this because this is nothing compared to what we're about to do as we ride the surf back to the shore. They care more about our skills than anything else, so relax. Besides, if you notice the other two couples of there, they're doing the same position."

Lucia glanced to the sea and noticed Nagisa and Gaito with the same position with their partners while paddling their boards to the sea. At the same time the way they paddled was completely synchronized for faster, more streamlined acceleration to the breakers. She sighed afterwards, knowing that the Kaito she was with right now was the professional surfer, not the boy who loved to tease and flirt. If this was the procedure then she would have to follow suit.

"When two people paddle, we have to pretend that we're rowing a boat. When you're rowing a boat, you and the rest of your crew have to row simultaneously in the same direction in a matter of patterned time. Since I'm the surfer and you're just taking a ride with me, let me be the driver of the car. All you have to do is relax and listen to me, okay?"

Kaito's right. He's the surfer and I'm just a passenger. Well, since that's the case I have to do this right. Lucia took a deep breath as Kaito got up from his position. She followed Kaito and stood up from the board as well. "Wow, I had no idea there's so many basic techniques that we have to master before we can actually paddle out to the ocean."

"Well, at least now you know what to do. Shall we give it a try, Lucia?"

Lucia was startled immediately and turned her head towards Kaito. "You... you mean... we're paddling out to the ocean?"

"The swell looks good for first timers. Let's get going!"

Lucia turned her head to the ocean again and noticed that the swell was not as huge as the ones she was used to seeing. Then quickly turned to Kaito to make her comment. "But... don't you think the surf's a little too calm for anyone to ride on it?"

Kaito could not help but to chuckle at Lucia's slight naivete at the sport but at the same time her unawareness made him feel like the important part of this newly-formed tandem surfing team. "Well, the surf's kinda dead for us pros, but for tandem surfing, this is perfect. You ready?"

"Mm," Lucia nodded. "Let's go!" The pair made their way to the ocean with Lucia remembering and performing the basic techniques Kaito taught her earlier. Just before they headed out to the beach, Kaito provided Lucia with special earplugs for her to wear. This would prevent the ear from becoming infected with a certain kind of condition known as Exostosis, or in a more familiar term, Surfer's Ear.

After a good hour or so the photo shoot was finished for the time being. Though the photographer, Kousuke Shinoyama, was satisfied with the shots he made of Rina posing at different spots of the beach for her entry to the tournament's beauty pageant, the model herself had something else in her mind. She gazed right at Masahiro and the photographer about the photo shoots and at the same time she still had that one fact she heard from Kousuke before the shoot.

"Dude... you didn't tell me your entry to the beauty pageant would be the hot and sexy Asuza Jinnai, man! Are you like back together again or something?"

"Eh? Hamasaki didn't tell you? He was his ex-girlfriend, broke up two months ago---"

Rina admitted to herself that she had gotten used to being with Masahiro around, even if they were just exchanging small talks with each other. She also admitted that Masahiro was indeed one of the school's--- or maybe even the beaches'--- hottest guys around, ranking close to the Doumoto Twins or even the young surf instructor Subaru Shibatani. She learned a bit of Masahiro's background from the Doumoto Twins, mainly that he was from quite a prestigious, successful family with his mother being the editor-in-chief of the well-known Posh Mode fashion magazine. That would only mean that Masahiro had access and connections to the world's hottest models who appeared in many of the classy Posh Mode magazine issues. Even if that was the case she admitted that he was not doing anything to her except to be his true self. She felt somewhat influenced by Masahiro's confidence about her becoming the town's entry for the tournament's beauty pageant. She used to hate wearing anything girly or deal with anything girly, but at this moment she felt like dressing up in to something feminine, not so she could change her way, but her reason was a lot deeper than that.

Masahiro... I can't believe you... I know you said I looked like that model, but I never realized you were actually involved with her... close to her... I wonder... if you missed her... maybe that's the reason why you picked me for the tournament. I really appreciate everything but I can't... I just can't be like her... that Azusa Jinnai model girl... I just can't...

Right at that point Rina hid her face by lowering it to her hands, covering it so no one would see her reaction after hearing that piece of information from the photographer. After a few moments of taking a breather she lifted her head and gazed towards the raging ocean. She spotted the three tandem surfing couples already surfing the waves. What she was impressed the most was Lucia riding the longboard with Kaito behind him. They were not doing any fancy lifts at the moment knowing this was the first time Lucia actually surfed and Kaito knew he had to be careful with her.

Despite of what she had seen she sighed sadly and lowered her head once more. I'm proud of you, Lucia... you're lucky you're with someone you love the most. Looks like Hanon and Nagisa are beginning to get to know each other now. Gaito and Sara? Not much comments. They're together.

She shook her head, trying to clear out these thoughts from her head. It was not like she and Masahiro were dating or anything, but somehow this one piece of information about his past love life was somehow poking the most sensitive parts of her heart. She knew in her life that she had never fallen in love with anyone before, let alone having a crush. She was always independent who only had her family and friends involved in her life and knowing that one fact she did not need anyone else who would make her happier than she was right now.

How she became a look-alike of one famous model was definitely coincidental. She knew it was not her fault for being born to be a look-alike of a well-known model and she knew that she could not blame any Posh Mode magazine devotee to mistake her for Azusa Jinnai. She also did not blame Azusa Jinnai for being a look-alike at the same time. But what she wanted to know now was the story behind Azusa Jinnai and Masahiro.

Why is his past love life bothering me so much? Is he dating another girl currently? I always wondered since he always hung out with the Rainbowside dudes... then again I can't say the same with the rest of the Rainbowside dudes either. But... what's this feeling of pain that I'm getting?

Before she knew it she felt something wet about to form on her eyes. Quickly she closed her eyes to prevent any more wetness from forming. No. I can't cry like this. Come on, Rina, you never cry at anything! But... I just don't want Masahiro to look at me as some kind of a substitute for a love he lost to that model. Then again, it's not like he'd be interested in me anyway since I'm not rich or famous like all his past girlfriends. They told me he has very high standards when it comes to girls. Who am I kidding? After the tournament is over, we'll be back to our usual selves again in school, with him hanging out with the tribe and hanging out with those same popular girls and he and I would never talk to each other again like this summer...

Just as she was about to let go of those tears from her eyes she heard a familiar voice calling for her from behind. "Rina!"

Quickly she lifted her head, wiping off the tears quickly to be sure they were not seen. She turned to her left side to see Masahiro waving at her. She greeted him once he got to her. "Oh, hi Masahiro."

"I've been looking all over for you." Masahiro sat on the space next to her. Just as he was about to continue he noticed the wetness on her eyes and changed the subject. "You've been crying. Are you alright? What's wrong?"

Rina softly chuckled nervously, trying to keep her usual cool. "Oh, my eyes? Nothing really. Sand just got in to them and you know how the eyes work. Ha ha!" Though she was able to find the right excuse for the teary eyes, Masahiro was not buying it.

"Oh I see. You've had that same expression throughout the photo shoot though and the wind's not strong enough to create a sand storm, so I don't think the sand's able to reach your eyes--- unless you actually fell and your face fell on the sand---"

"Alright... alright..." Rina shook her head, knowing that lying about what was upsetting her would not work on him. "If you really want to know, Masahiro... I'm not feeling very well right now. I admit that I was excited for the photo shoot that I worked so hard to seriously look good in them."

"I can see that and you look as beautiful as you've always been when I see you everyday."

Rina quickly shook her head and faced him directly. "That's just it. Who were you looking at whenever you say such a thing? Were you seeing someone else in me? Is it me you're describing when you said that I'm beautiful?"

"What are you babbling about, Rina?" Masahiro asked curiously, looking slightly desperate. Right at that point he realized what exactly she was upset about. He just remembered earlier when the photographer mistook her for his ex-girlfriend fashion model, Azusa Jinnai. Rina fell silent, not answering his question. He decided to take initiative at the situation. "Was it about my past with Azusa Jinnai, Rina?"

Quickly she answered him with another question. "Why didn't you tell me that girl on the magazine you showed me weeks ago was your ex-girlfriend? Masahiro, it doesn't work this way. You can't have a substitute like me to enter the tournament knowing we may win this thing just because I looked like a famous fashion model! Were you using me for your own entertainment? You really are a sick punk, you know that?"

"Wait a sec, Rina, let me explain---" Right then she scooted away from the dark-haired, athletic-build young man with her fists ready to attack.

"I swear to God I'm gonna kick your ass and bury your face down the sand for toying me around like this, you hear?! Just because I ain't one of those romantic type of girls that most of you dudes like to get with, that don't mean I got no feelings!"

"Rina, calm down... please." Masahiro hushed her softly, placing his hands around her fists. Rina was tempted to just sock the young man with all she possessed but somehow the tightness of Masahiro's hold on her fists somehow calmed her down. Slowly she placed her fists down and returned back to her relaxed position as Masahiro scooted himself next to her. "Hear me out, please..."

"Fine... make it quick before I lose my cool again..." Rina warned him as Masahiro began his explanation.

"Look... I didn't mention that she was my ex because I thought it wasn't a big deal. I've been single and not dating other girls, not even casually or temporarily, for almost a year, Rina. Azusa Jinnai may still be present in the magazine covers but to me she is nothing but faded memory."

"Masahiro, are you really sure you know what you're saying?"

"Rina, before we actually spoke to each other just early this summer I already knew of you since you moved in our school two years ago..."

"I'm not that surprised. Everybody knows me as the biggest tomboy in the entire town anyway--- heck, even the girls think I'm perfect to be in the drama club playing male roles!" She sighed deeply after mentioning that statement, then fell silent to give Masahiro a chance to speak.

"It's not just that, Rina. I've seen you many times at the gym working out, practicing your punches and always on the ring training in martial arts sparring as well as some light boxing. Somehow you working hard to know how to defend yourself really turned me on. I wanted to get to know you then but I was kinda shy to come up to you."

"Gym..." Rina blinked in curiosity and began to contemplate and see if she remembered anything about the gym she used to frequent. "Wait... gym... as in...?"

"Green Pine Boxing Gym and Spa," Masahiro answered the whole name.

"Yeah! That's it!" Rina exclaimed in shock. "Wait... how did you know I frequent that gym a lot? I didn't just go there to box and kick ass, you know..."

"I guess no one has told you yet." Masahiro replied with a slight surprise on his expression. "My father owns Green Pine Boxing Gym and Spa. The entire region considered it as the best gym for anyone, boxer or not, can come and get a good workout as well as its spa and aromatherapy services too. I used to go there every other day for my boxing training and light martial arts and I always see you there. I guess you could say that it's... it's..."

Rina somehow found her cheeks blushing and turned her face towards Masahiro. "You've... seen me... before?"

"I... I wanted to meet you back then but I was too shy... too scared... because you may see me as one of those rich and elite jerk punks who like to hit on every single cute girl they see. I even got intimidated with the rumors circulating that you weren't really interested in dating altogether. I don't know if my hopes of getting to know you, even if we stay just friends, was a lost cause for me. Because of that I had to find ways for me to get over you so I won't have to feel heartbroken knowing that one part of me wants me to come up to you and say hello while the other half wants me to forget about you and move on. Because of that I agreed with my parents to actually... pair me up with their inner circle's daughters and see if I'll ever fall in love with any one of them. Azusa Jinnai was close..."

Rina gulped nervously, feeling rather overwhelmed that this was the first time that a boy would come up to her and confess how he truly felt. She wanted to ask more questions, but instead decided to let Masahiro continue. "Close...? What do you mean?"

"I almost fell in love with Azusa Jinnai after a few days of getting together and just hang out. My mother introduced her to me and I was so overwhelmed by her beauty, only until later I realized why I was hypnotized by her so quickly."

"What was it?"

"I realized later on that I was just kidding myself. I dated Azusa Jinnai, close to even falling in love with her, only because she looked so much like you."

What...? Is he telling me that all this time he's had a crush... on me? He went through all that just to get over me...? Only because of some dumb rumor that I'm not interested in dating and that I kick any guys' ass for trying to hit on me? Well... part of the rumor is right, only because most of the guys I've come across were all jerks and losers... but Masahiro Hamasaki is different. Never mind him being rich and that his dad owns Green Pine Boxing Gym and his mother being editor-in-chief of Posh Mode magazine... He really had so much confidence in me with this beauty pageant... and I don't want to let him down...

"You... you still think I'm a lot more worthy than... than that fashion model?"

"I know. I was desperate, but I got over all of that. I can't forget you, Rina. I realized that during my relationship with Azusa. Sure, she looks like you, but she's nothing like you. After getting to know her real personality, that's when I realized that my relationship with her isn't going to last long. I can't stand clingy and demanding girls, not to mention picky with so many things and be a bully at other girls whom she thinks are not worthy to date any hot dudes around. Worse of all, she even flirts with other fashion model dudes at the Posh Mode magazine photo shoots behind my back."

Rina sighed, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry, Masahiro... I wouldn't know that there's actually someone out there who'd actually like me for... me... and doesn't care about the way I dress or the way I talk or the type of friends I hang out with. I'd never think that I would be the main cause of someone's broken heart. I'm sorry..."

Masahiro shook his head in return, knowing that none of this was Rina's fault. "I am not blaming you for my feelings, Rina. I ended our relationship with her after I've gotten tired of being played behind my back. Turned out she only wanted to date me just because I was the editor-in-chief's son, that my family is worth more than a million, one of the elite in the Nijibe High Elite. I'm not down with all that high-end elite stuff, Rina, despite of whatever you may have heard on the grapevine."

"Still!" Without even realizing it, Rina placed her hand on Masahiro's and held it tightly to her. "I know I'm sounding stupid right now, but it seems that deep inside your heart has been torturing you, making you go through all these things you never really wanted to do, all because of me. How was I to know that there were boys out there who actually like me for who I am and not because of my looks or whatever dumb rumors that was spread? How would I know if no one would tell me..."

"After Azusa I stopped dating for about a year now because I felt that dating random girls just so I can get over this inner torture was just dumb and a waste of time. I used to envy the rest of the Rainbowside dudes for getting the girls they were really interested with. Hell the guys used to make fun of me whenever I mentioned you in our usual talks, but when this New Annual Regional Surf Scenes Tournament came about and that there was a beach babe beauty contest in that tournament... You appeared in my mind again and I thought that this would be my final chance and be brave enough to come up to you and introduce myself..."

Rina felt nervous at first, but afterwards she felt a lot more confident as well as happy. She admitted to herself that she grew to like Masahiro and the fact that she would feel pain whenever she would hear about Masahiro being with another girl or seeing him talking to a girl much prettier than she was. Somehow when he chose her to be the beach babe representative to the beauty contest she even felt the soft, feminine side of her emerge little by little until today. She appeared with a skirtini on for the photo shoot, not only so the tribe can complete their tournament entry, but because she also wanted to make Masahiro proud.

"Masahiro... thank you." Right then, Rina placed her arms around him and gave him a simple kiss on the cheek, then placed her head on to his shoulder with her arms still around him. "I... I can't explain why I'm having these strange feelings. I've never felt so much pain in my life like this and I'm not even sick. Whenever I see you with another girl at the beach... or even a group of girls at the beach... or someone else talking about you with so-and-so of the day... I tried to play everything off and be cool about it, but who am I kidding? I guess this must be how it feels to be in love..." She lifted her head and gazed towards him, then sighed right then. "I know you've picked me to be our town's rep for the pageant and it's because of this... and because of you... I don't want to let you down and lose the pageant."

In an instant, Rina felt arms immediately around her waist and found herself closer to the boy next to her. "Rina... it doesn't matter whether you win or lose at the pageant. To me, you're the real deal, not a substitute. After the experiences I had with past girlfriends I realized now that no girl from the elite or even a celebrity or fashion model would ever replace a wholesome, independent, and beautiful girl like you. I think as of this summer... I think I'm ready to move on forward with the one I've always loved."

Rina found her eyes wet once more, but this time she let those tears go. "Masahiro... I want to be with you as long as I live. I don't know how... or why... but every time we're together somehow you fill up what was missing in my own personal puzzle. I don't know what I would do if we go back to the way we were when we head back to school... you and your popular friends and me with Lucia and Hanon as always... I don't want to go back to the way we were once this summer ends, Masahiro."

Masahiro gently caressed her back to comfort her, knowing she had a few tears dropping on his shoulder, and hushed her. "That won't happen. My question to you is this. Will you let me be a part of your life, Rina Touin?"

Rina released him from her hold and gazed at the waters again. This time she spotted Hanon doing a knee stand lift with her feet right on to Nagisa's upper legs. She looked quite graceful and elegant as well as her expression of pride and happiness. At the same time she also spotted Lucia and Kaito not doing anything fancy for the time being but riding their captured surf on the longboard with Kaito's arm around her waist while Lucia bent her knees in a low position so they can gain more speed. After glancing at the two couples out at the sea she knew that they were both in good hands. As for her, she was definitely in good hands as well.

"Masahiro, I reply to you with another question. Are you sure you really want to be with me?"

Masahiro held Rina by the chin and slowly turned her head to him. Right then he leaned closer to her up until his lips met hers. Though it was a quick, simple kiss as his answer to her kiss on his cheek, it was still something special for both. "More than ever, Rina."

"Masahiro... I love you so much..." Right then and there, the two closed their eyes and felt their lips on each other again. Only this time, the kiss was longer than the first two.

Meanwhile at the ocean, Hanon and Nagisa already performed two poses. One was called a basic knee stand, then transitioned the lift to the same position, except this time Hanon performed a reverse basic knee stand, in which she faced Nagisa instead of facing the direction where the surf was taking them. It was a difficult move for beginners, but certainly one of the most basics.

"Whoa--- Nagisa! Wow, this is awesome! I can't believe you got these lifts cleanly!" Hanon cheered while Nagisa smiled and winked at her.

"Hey, with a little practice and a little muscle I know we'd get them right." Nagisa answered with soft chuckles on his face.

Hanon slowly returned back to her original position on the board with Nagisa helping her down gently. Once Hanon touched the board the two were amazed that they were still standing on the board and not getting wiped out. "Hey! We're still standing, Nagisa!"

"That's a good sign, Hanon! I think we're done with the knee stands for the day. I think there's a few more tricks with the knee stand but I think we should learn them on land."

Hanon gave a thumbs up at him and continued to ride their way back to the shore. In the meantime, Gaito and Sara performed several higher-leveled lifts than Nagisa and Hanon, starting with a shoulder sit pose, followed by a shoulder stand. After holding those positions in about three to four seconds, Gaito quickly dropped Sara's legs back to her shoulder sit, which made both wobbled on the board a bit.

"Hey, be careful!" Sara warned her surfer partner while resting herself sitting on his shoulders. "We almost lost our balance!"

"Sorry... got distracted..." Gaito answered quickly and was now hanging on to Sara's legs so she would not fall. "Looks like Nagisa and Hanon mastered the basic knee stands."

"I saw a bit of it, Gaito. They're getting it!" Sara cheered for them.

"Well then, are we done for the shoulder lifts, Sara?"

Sara chuckled softly as she aided Gaito in to bringing her back on the board again. "Sure thing. I'm getting hungry anyway and we haven't had breakfast."

"You're the boss, baby!" Gaito winked as the two surfed their way back to the shore.

At that time, Lucia and Kaito rode the waves at all directions. There were no tricks or anything performed, not even the tricks that individual surfers would normally do. The new pair just rode their wave as is. In this way Lucia would get used to surfing along with an experienced surfer supporting her from behind. Though Lucia would usually blush whenever Kaito was very close to her, but at this particular moment her mind was more focused in to the ride with Kaito than to get nervous with his arm around her waist.

"Say!" Lucia broke the silence and shouted. "When was the last time you surfed with someone sharing your board?"

Kaito heard Lucia's question enough, despite of the tight earplugs on his ears. "Can't remember. It's been a long time..."

"How about now? How do you feel?"

"I feel really great, Lucia. You?"

"Wow... I've never imagined how extreme surfing is! It's like.. it's like... there's so much adrenaline pumping within me like there's no tomorrow!"

"Don't worry. We'll ride some more later today and probably tomorrow after your OC-5 rehearsals. You'll get used to it."

"Thanks so much, Kaito! Sorry I'm such a hopeless kook... thanks for putting up with me."

"With you? I don't mind at all."

"Thanks, Kaito. That means a lot!"

The pair was closing in towards the shore. On the land they spotted the rest of the surfers waving and cheering at them, just as the other two pairs already reached land. Moments later, they landed on shallow surface successfully without a single wipe out on the first try. They were encircled by the rest of the tribe for a successful first ride as a pair.

"I just followed what Kaito was telling me!" Lucia cheered with a huge grin on her face. "Wow--- that ride was just intense!"

Kaito hi-five the rest of the male surfers and made his comment. "It was on a longboard, so it's a little easy to maneuver and the waves aren't that wild enough for us to be wiped out. Lucia was very focused out there, so thanks, Lucia."

Lucia gave a thumbs up to Kaito. "I'm just glad I was able to do things right!"

"Well, Lucia, that's just the start of tandem surfing," Kaito made his first warning. "The intense stuff is still yet to come, but we can do the intense stuff later. I think we still need to ride more waves until you're used to the rushing feeling."

Lucia removed her earplugs quickly. "Man, I had no idea there were so many rules and techniques we need to know before we can actually paddle out to the surf! I mean, there's even a way to even paddle your board?"

"Haha, well that's surfing for you, Lucia!" Coco snickered while Noel and Caren chuckled along with her. "You hear all those kooks hanging around the beaches walking around town acting like surfing's the in thing that all the cool kids should get in to when in reality that surfing isn't for everyone. It's either you're daring enough to face the ocean or you appreciate it just by watching."

The surf tribe, sans Masahiro and Rina, gathered around at Masahiro's bus conversion for breakfast. Seira, who remained in the bus converter's mini-kitchen, heated up and prepared the breakfast s she and the girls of Pearl Waters made earlier today. The clock just stroke at six-thirty in the morning and stomachs around the tribe growled loudly in hunger.

"Man, I'm starving, dude!" Kengo announced his hunger pains as they all entered the bus conversion. "I hope we get real breakfast this time and none of those microwave breakfast trays!"

"Not to worry, dude, breakfast is coming!" Seira overheard Kengo's hunger call and answered. She brought out a tray of the wraps, ready to be served. "Okay dudes and dudettes, breakfast is here!"

"Yaaay!" The surfers, surfettes, and the semi-surfettes (we are talking about the tandem surfer girls) gathered around the dining area with towels around them to get their hair dry after their wild rides out at the ocean. While Seira served breakfast at the table, the tribe noticed something different among themselves.

"Yo!" Daichi broke the random chatter and everyone fell silent. "Where's Hamasaki and Touin?"

"I think they're still doing the beauty contest photo shoot or something." Noel said while she gazed at the digital clock at the wall of the bus converter. "Wow... we've been out since five in the morning and it's six-thirty-ish already. That sure is one long photo shoot."

"Well, they better get here or else there won't be any more breakfast wraps left!" Daichi crossed his arms, waiting impatiently.

Once everyone got their plate of their breakfast wrap the group began to think of a good topic to talk about while they enjoy their wraps. Gaito broke the ice first. "Well then, since we're all here while Hamasaki is busy with Rina and that photo shoot, any buzz we can chat about?"

"I got one!" Quickly Hanon raised her hand, gaining everyone's attention.

"Jeez, Hanon, you sure are quick when it comes to gossips!" Caren giggled. "Where the heck do you get these gossip and rumors bit, girl?"

"She probably listens to the Nijibe Youth Talk Corner at mornings on the radio or something," Kengo shrugged his arms. "Hey, no shame listening to it! They always have interesting stuff to talk about!"

Kaito shook his head, resting himself against the chair. "Just great... I gotta listen to this and see what kind of crap they're making a big deal of this time..."

Hanon cleared her throat, gaining everyone's attention and silence. "Okay, who here was listening to RNBW-FM radio last night?" Quickly the entire tribe raised their hands. "Wow--- everyone did?"

"Well yeah!" Nagisa exclaimed cheerfully. "It's Young Lovers' Night, girl! Can't miss that!"

"You all know what today's big buzz is gonna be around the Nijibe youth scene--- the two lost lovers, Leolani and Kaikane--- I think I pronounced the names right."

The rest of the tribe reacted in excitement with the exception of Kaito and Lucia. Kaito's eyes opened wide in shock to hear Hanon mentioning his secret surf nick while Lucia suddenly choked on her breakfast wrap, coughing rapidly while Coco patted her on the back to help her clear out her throat. Hanon wondered curiously about Lucia's reaction.

"Are you okay, Lucia?" Hanon asked curiously while Lucia reached for her glass of water and drank rapidly.

"Uh, yeah... I'm fine. Almost choked there with this wrap... heh... heh..." Lucia laughed nervously while Kaito remained silent by sipping his own glass of water.

"Anyway!" Hanon giggled and began the discussion. "Who would have thought that two destined lovers since childhood finally found each other on that radio show? I mean, that's just so sweet and romantic! And the fated reunion is going to take place at Sector 7 beach, which we all know as the beach we're standing right now--- that dude Kaikane said so!"

"The problem is," Coco joined in with a giggle, "that dude didn't even tell that Leolani girl when he's gonna be at Sector 7 beach today!"

"Both of them will have to show up very early if they want to have this reunion a private affair, you know!" Caren added her statement. "I mean, I can bet you a million smackers everyone in this town is gonna make a big deal of the whole Leolani and Kaikane lost loves thing like there's no tomorrow!"

"Well, think about it, you guys!" Hanon continued on. "I think those two need help! I mean, what if they don't recognize each other, you know? There's no way kids are gonna remember their faces in one day anyway... There's just no way! They're gonna have to ask every kid around the beach to see if they know how they look like and all that! As the competitors division of the Rainbowside Surf Tribe, it's our responsibility to fulfill every person's hopes of love with that special someone! Why? Because it's our destiny!"

Kaito raised an eyebrow of suspicion, wondering what exactly Hanon was really talking about. At the same time he had to be careful knowing that none of the girls seem to know of his exotic old surf nick. He also had doubts that none of these girls even know who his lost love Leolani may be, however, judging by Lucia's reaction he was having a feeling that she may be suspicious. "What the hell kind of a dumb philosophy you're trying to preach, Houshou? I don't recall the Rainbowside being a bunch of matchmakers..."

Coco raised her hand and interrupted. "I swear, I think the tournament should add more events. Why is there only a beach babe beauty pageant, man? Why not have the beach hunk pageant where we get to see the region's hottest dudes--- surfer or not--- of the beach, you know? Nijibe's got plenty of hot hunks every girl would dream of dating one day--- tee-hee!"

"Oh hell no..." Kaito responded with disgust on his face. "Are you chicks insane? We're professional surfers, not male strippers, jeez! Don't make us look like a bunch of eyecandy sissies in front of all the scary fan girls, dude!"

"Dude, that's just dang sexist, Kaito!" Coco expressed her response. "Why is it that when it comes to surf scene tournaments there's always going to be a female beach babe contest and never a male beach babe contest? I mean, is that all that you empty-headed morons see in us girls whenever we're at the beach? Serious outrage, man!"

"Hell, we should even have the Cutest Beach Couple Contest too! In fact, we should name it the Leolani and Kaikane cutest beach couple contest! Name them in the honor of today's lost lovers, you know? Maybe that contest would definitely help the mysterious Leolani and Kaikane find each other and reunite!" Hanon made another idea, which even disgusted a few present.

"Dudes!" Caren called out the males present. "Why aren't you saying something about this? I thought you guys listened to last night's radio show?"

"Don't worry, Caren, we did listen to last night's radio show together at home." Gaito answered the impatient Caren. "We just don't have much opinion about it except it's yet another good radio show with good people sending love dedications to their lovers, crushes, and whoever. Although I have to admit... that Leolani and Kaikane bit was a little interesting..." Quickly he turned to his twin, knowing the fact that they were just talking about his twin brother and his long lost childhood love. "Isn't that right--- Kaito?"

Kaito almost found himself choking with the wrap he just chewed on, then quickly swallowed what was in his mouth before he answered. "Uh, yeah... interesting. Right..."

"So, what do you guys think?" Hanon asked the males excitedly. "I think it's the cutest idea ever!"

"Yeah! It's gonna be so adorable that we'll show to all the beach side towns and other surf scenes in the region that true love in Nijibe truly exists!" Coco gave her input as she and Hanon exchange hi-fives.

"Hey, that'd be awesome!" Kengo gave his own input. "In that way all the dudes who don't care about true love would actually learn something from this cutest couple contest thing!"

"I don't know about that idea, Hanon..." Lucia answered with a slight worrying tone on her voice. "I mean... couples always like to be alone whenever they share their true love for each other. Most couples I know of don't like to kiss or hold hands or do all the usual stuff that couples do... you know?"

"Eh?" Hanon raised an eyebrow, looking curious at Lucia's reasoning. "Why not, Lucia? I thought you're in to the romance stuff?"

"I know, but... what if... I mean..." Lucia needed to be careful about not being too obvious of her long lost surf nick as well as Kaito's identity at the same time. "It's just that... what if both Leolani and Kaikane are both shy to even admit they're in love in public? I mean... no one's for sure if they're really going to be together once they see each other again... it's like... what if Kaikane turned out to be some really hot cute guy and Leolani grew up being all plain and not very pretty and when they see each other that Kaikane would be turned off by her and break the poor girl's heart? That would be so embarrassing for both of them when the public witnessed them, especially that they declared their love for each other on the radio last night..."

"Hey, what makes you think that I..." Right then Kaito paused and changed his tone before he ended up blurting out his identity. All eyes turned to him. "Well, I think... uhh... Kaikane wouldn't do something like that, Lucia! What if it's the other way around? What if Leolani turned out to be this really hot chick and Kaikane turned out to be just a simple-looking, average nerd dude and Leolani became turned off by his boring looks? That's just seriously messed up if that happens---"

"But Kaito, how do you know that Leolani is a hot chick?" Lucia retorted immediately, subconsciously defending herself. "I mean, if Leolani doesn't like average nerd dudes then she wouldn't be calling in the radio show last night and sing that song to him, letting him know that she wants to see him and that she loves him, right? She took a risk in calling in and never thought of how Kaikane looks like today. She really wants to be with him... I can just tell by the way she said those words..."

"Whoa, whoa, Lucia, how do you know that this Kaikane dude is some really hot cute guy and Leolani is just an average girl? You watch too many TV dramas, girl... Not all nice, romantic dudes are really hot cute guys like you said earlier, so don't get your hopes high."

"Kaito, not all nice, romantic girls are hot chicks! Besides... uhh... we don't really know what type of people those two are..." Lucia gulped nervously right when she realized that the entire tribe had been silent, listening to her and Kaito argue about each other guised in their surf nicks.

"Yeah..." Kaito sighed deeply, slightly turning his head away. "You're right about that. We don't really know what type of people Leolani and Kaikane are... now..."

"It's really sad... they're... they've been apart for so long... seven years... imagine that... who would have thought there are kids like those two who really do believe in true love with the same person they fell in love with the first time? Who would have thought they'd even hear from each other again... who would have thought..."

"Who would have thought..." Kaito repeated the latter statement as he and Lucia fell silent, contemplating about what had just happened last night.

The rest of the tribe still remained silent as they turned their heads to each other in curiosity. Just then, Hanon broke the silence. "Lucia! Kaito! What the heck is up with you two? I'm surprised you two are really in to this lost lovers mystery! Leolani and Kaikane... their story should be made a legendary tale of Nijibe, seriously! That's why I still think we should have The Leolani and Kaikane Cutest Couple Contest in the tournament!"

"Are you out of your mind, Hanon?!" Kaito immediately shouted in annoyance. "Lucia already said that real lovers in general would rather be alone than to show off their signs of love in public. Besides, the tournament is primarily a surfing tournament. Don't make it in to a general beauty contest--- we already have one general beauty contest! We don't need a hot hunks contest and most certainly not a cutest couple contest using the Leolani and Kaikane names. They're still alive, you know!"

"Ugh, you're always the party pooper, Kaito!" Hanon whined in chagin after listening to Kaito's annoyed complaint. Just as she was about to continue her argument they heard the bus converter's door swing open and then entered the newly-formed couple in secret, Masahiro and Rina. Once they entered, both were holding hands, and without realizing, the rest of the surf tribe noticed that small gesture.

"Yo, what the hell..." Masahiro spoke, noticing that the tribe were already eating breakfast without them. "I hope you hodads and hodettes actually saved some for us..."

The surf tribe still remained silent, not just noticing their hands held together, but the slight flush on Rina's deep red cheeks. Seira, who was sitting along with the group, passed two freshly-heated breakfast wraps to the two, yet at the same time she still stared at them in curiosity.

"What? What are you all staring at?" Rina demanded an explanation regarding their silence.

After a few moments of silence, Hanon broke the silence again, except with a happy giggle. She jumped off her seat and embraced both Masahiro and Rina together. "Oh my God! You must be the mysterious Leolani and Kaikane! You're like holding hands and blushing and everything! Congratulations, you two! You've finally found each other!"

Masahiro quickly released himself from Hanon, looking curiously at Hanon right then. "Excuse me...?"

"You--- and Rina!" Hanon cheered happily. "Alias Kaikane and Leolani! Like Kaito and Lucia said, if those two were to find each other I'm sure they want to be alone... and you two came in looking like you're so in love with each other and with your hands holding each other—- Eeee! So cute!"

"What the hell, Hanon? I'm not Leolani, you idiot!" Rina answered to clarify things but it was too late.

In an instant, all the girls except Lucia gathered around the new couple while the rest of the surfer boys stared at the situation blankly and strangely. Nagisa turned to Kaito with a slight concern on his face.

"I'm surprised those girls, especially Hanon, didn't suspect you, Kaito," Nagisa whispered on his ear.

Kaito shrugged and gave a slight snicker. "Eh, just leave them alone. They found their missing mysterious lovers, Leolani and Kaikane! Let them enjoy their moment."

Nagisa shrugged his arms in return as the boys continued to witness the girls giggling their stupidity out at the wrong couple. As for Lucia, she sighed sadly, not because of the identity mistake, but the fact that Kaito did not seem to recognize her as his long lost love, Leolani. Regardless of how Kaito may have responded, her heart still reminded her that he and Kaikane were definitely one in the same.

She stood up from her seat while the special moment was ongoing on the scene, making her way out of the bus conversion. Kaito noticed his tandem surfing partner heading out and stood up from his seat, following her from behind.

"Hey, Lucia, wait!" Lucia stopped once she heard Kaito's voice calling for her. She turned her head and gazed at him curiously. "Where you heading out to?"

"Oh, I just need to take a walk by the beach, that's all." Lucia hoped to be alone during this walk but at the same time part of her heart was getting jumpy, hoping Kaito would join her.

"Can I walk with you?" Right after the question, that part of Lucia's heart leaped for joy. The blonde girl smiled happily to him in return.

"Would you? It'd be nice to have company... but are you sure you want to take a walk with me by the beach today?"

Kaito raised an eyebrow of suspicion. "Why the hell are you asking that?"

"Oh, because I want to walk along the shore, not run along the shore, Kaito. What if those fan girls spot you again? Not to mention those crazy DJs from that weird Nijibe Youth Talk Corner radio show too..."

Kaito reached for his usual backpack, then gently took Lucia by the hand and decided to lead themselves out of the bus converter. "Today is Kaikane and Leolani Day, Lucia. That would mean everyone would be making a fuss about those missing lovers today and everyone will ignore me."

Lucia followed Kaito's lead out of the bus converter. Still in their wetsuits, the two let go of each other's hands and began walking side by side at the shore. Once they got there they noticed some usual beach goers and other surfers already arrived at the beach. The sun was completely out and it was the beginning of the real morning.

"Wow..." Lucia chuckled softly, trying not to think about Kaito not being able to recognize her as the one who rescued his life during childhood. "I can't believe Hanon and those girls think that Rina and Hamasaki are Leolani and Kaikane! Say Kaito, did those two confess their love for each other earlier, which was why they were late for breakfast today?"

Kaito shrugged his arms. "Weird things always happen at photo shoots like that. I had to do a few photo shoots myself for those eyecandy surfing magazines in the past before and seriously, anything can happen."

"Yeah but... Rina and Hamasaki? Who would have thought they'd be together?"

"Heh." Kaito smirked. "The dudes and I already know Hamasaki had been checking out Touin for awhile now but the dude's been too shy to ask her out. Instead he uses the beauty contest as his way of getting closer to her. Who would have thought that."

"But I thought Hamasaki has high standards when it comes to girls?"

Kaito softly chuckled, realizing now what Masahiro meant by high standards. "I think he wanted to get a girl who has the same personality as Rina, but as people say, there'll never be any other girl than the one you truly love, right?"

Right when she heard Kaito's latter statement she slightly turned her head from him and sighed deeply. "Yeah... if only that's true..."

"What are you mumbling about now?"

Lucia felt a jolt of surprise that almost caught her off-guard with Kaito's curiosity. Even up to now she still had high hopes that Kaito would figure out that his one true love from childhood was just right next to him today. "I... uh... what I mean to say is... I wish it's true for everyone, you know? Not just certain people."

Kaito walked ahead of her and faced himself to her, walking along backwards. "Hey. What the hell do you mean by that?"

Lucia stopped walking, knowing Kaito would not leave her alone with more curious questions about her somewhat empty statements. "Well... like... I don't know... for example... what's happening to Leolani and Kaikane now... Even if they found each other through that radio show last night they still don't know how they look like now. I mean, sure, Kaikane said he always hangs out here at Sector 7, but at the same time there's so many people here. What if Leolani... isn't a regular at the beach?"

"Well... what if she isn't a regular at the beach? At least he gave her the location of where he would be." Right then Kaito felt a lot confident that his reunion with his childhood love would definitely happen at this particular day. The only problem right now was Leolani herself. How would she reveal herself to him?

"But what if... what if she couldn't find him?" Lucia gulped nervously, feeling convinced Kaito did not see or recognize her as the girl who saved his life then and the girl he shared his first kiss with. "The poor girl... she'd feel like she was stood up..."

Kaito raised an eyebrow, now becoming a lot suspicious at Lucia's odd behavior at this whole Leolani and Kaikane bit. "You're getting all emotional about this, Lucia. Why are you making a big deal about all this?"

Because I happen to be that girl, Kaito! That's why! Lucia sighed deeply and lowered her head, trying to keep her cool at this critical situation right now. Why... why can't I tell him that I'm Leolani? What's wrong with me? Why can't I tell him?

"Kaito, it's just that... I mean... what if that girl was me...? And... if I were that girl I would feel so heartbroken if I wasn't able to see him at the beach today... I'd probably run around like a crazed fanatic asking every single dude in this beach and see if they're Kaikane or if they know Kaikane..."

"Ha ha ha..." Kaito burst in to laughter again and patted Lucia softly on the head. "Jeez, girl! I never knew you'd get this emotional about people who's got nothing to do with you! You're seriously one of those weird fan girls who are deeply in love with a love that doesn't exist, especially if that love got nothing to do with you!"

Lucia sighed deeply and lowered her head again, avoiding Kaito's eyes. I knew it... you don't recognize me anymore, Kaikane. You'd just laugh at this entire thing like it's nothing to you... aren't you, Kaito?

"Hey, hey... what's with the sad look, girl?" Kaito made note of Lucia's lonely expression on her face as well as hiding it from him. "Come on now, you know I was just kidding, Lucia..." Right then he stepped closer to her and placed his arms around him. "Hey... come on... stop that..."

Lucia realized she was losing control of her emotions, knowing the fact that the boy she loved for seven and counting years was just standing in front of her, embracing her tightly to him as if he had no intention of letting her go. She closed her eyes just as she folded her arms underneath his shoulder blades, resting herself against his chest.

"Kaito..." Lucia murmured her words.

"Yeah? You okay, Lucia?"

"Can we... stay like this... for a little bit, Kaito...?"

Kaito found his cheeks blushing right when he heard those words. Though he was unsure himself, he decided to play along and tightened his gentle grip so Lucia would feel secure. "Sure thing, Lucia. Let me know when you want me to let you go..."

Kaito... I don't want you to let me go... Lucia closed her eyes, making herself comfortable against his chest. A few moments passed and the teen surfer felt a sudden jolt within him as he held the sighing teen girl in his arms. He felt an aura of familiarity at that instant moment in which he felt something refreshing within him.

Dammit... why is it that I don't want to let go of her even if she asked me to...? Kaito closed his eyes, trying to get these thoughts out of his mind as much as he can. No, Lucia... I want you with me like this and I don't know why I feel this way... I'm not sharing you with some other goons... never...

Kaikane... at long last I found you after all these years... Lucia felt her inner voice speak in her mind. She never felt so warm and comfortable ever and she felt that being in Kaito's arms at this point gave her the feeling of being home. When I'm in your arms, I feel like I'm home, but... you still don't know who I am...

Just as the two felt they were melting at each other's arms they heard a slight fainting ringing bell sound not too far from where they were standing. It was unfortunate the two would have to let go of each other, just because they were curious about that tingling sound. They release each other and turned towards land to see where that bell sound came from. Lucia spotted a huge white truck parked at the curb with the early beach goers crowding around. There were doors that opened upward, showing off a counter booth with some people in cutesy colorful uniforms appeared behind the booth. On display were different spouts and paper cups and bowls neatly displayed on the left corner of the counter along with plastic utensils and napkins. On the right counter were trays of tidbits that may be used as toppings. On top of the door was the truck's name: Fresh Colors Mobile Frozen Desserts.

"It's our first grand opening today!" One of the uniformed workers called out through a loud speaker. "Come one, come all to our new self-serve Fresh Colors Mobile Frozen Desserts for your thirst quenching needs on this very hot and dry summer day!"

"Wow!" Lucia gasped in surprise to see this white truck selling frozen desserts. "I've never seen that before!"

"Hey, I've seen their ads on TV the other night!" Kaito exclaimed with a slight chuckle. "Wanna go check it out?"

"Sure!" Lucia cheered happily as Kaito led her to the truck with his hand on to hers. Right then, Lucia realized they were holding hands, which made her blush a whole lot more. He's... holding my hand? Man... we're like a couple! It's not fair... why are you being so nice to me when you can't even recognize me as Leolani? Unless you decided not to wait for me anymore and move forward with me as Lucia... still... why won't you look at me the same way you looked at me when we first met seven years ago...?

Once they got to the white truck the crowd was trying to get to the spouts for their first taste of whatever dessert treats this truck may provide. From the looks and enthusiasm of those who were at the booth first there was no way those who just arrived would be able to move forward and have their turn.

"Wow! Look at all these people! They must be very thirsty for some ice cream!" Lucia giggled softly. "That's awesome then! Unfortunately we don't sell ice cream or some kind of frozen dessert at Pearl Waters except for juice and iced and frozen drinks for those who don't feel like eating ice cream..."

Kaito turned to Lucia right away and made a suggestion: "I got an idea. This is where star power plays in. Why don't you wait at the back. I'll get the treats for the two of us."

Lucia shook her head quickly. "Oh no... Kaito, my purse is at Hamasaki's bus converter! I don't have any money to pay for mine."

"My treat. Don't worry about it." Kaito gave a winked as Lucia slightly blushed. "You can make it up to me by singing me a song."

"Kaito... well... I'll do what I can..." Lucia waved at him as he sneaked through the crowd, knowing the crowd would easily let him through thanks to his overwhelming star power. Right then, she sighed deeply again, still wishing in her heart that he was permanently his. It was bad enough that Kaito still did not see Lucia as his missing love named Leolani and even if it was tempting for her to just straight out tell him of her own surf nick but at the same time she did not want to scare Kaito. She thought that maybe finding her own path to his heart would be the only way for him to recognize her finally, starting today.

The worker girls at the truck cheered and screamed happily to see Kaito approaching through the front while the crowd--- also mostly female--- also began to crowd around him. At that point Lucia began to worry. "No... no... they weren't supposed to surround him like that... Kaito... how are you going to go back now...?" What also made the situation worse was those same DJs who attempted to gain an interview with Kaito yesterday at the library had to appear on the scene as well. Once again Lucia felt alone and lowered her head, sighing. She turned around, not rather watching the crowding of the hot surf champion Kaito Doumoto at this point.

What am I gonna do now...? If we do end up together--- well I still do want to be his girlfriend one day--- and then these people are always going to be hanging around him like that then what's gonna happen to me...?

"Something the matter? You don't look too happy." At that point, another young male voice spoke directly towards Lucia. The voice startled her and looked up to see who it was.

"Oh... who... are you?" Lucia did not recognize the one who just spoke to her. In front of her were two young and athletically-built teenage boys in wetsuits--- one with shaggy blonde hair and the other, tall and definitely handsome, dark spiky hair.

The tall blonde approached Lucia with enthusiasm on his face as Lucia slowly backed away from him. "Waiting for your turn to get some iced treats at that truck but there was no way for you to get in front?"

Lucia quickly shook her head. "Oh, don't worry about me, I was just waiting for my friend to buy me my own cup."

"Ah I see," the blonde continued to speak. "That's just fortunate. I was thinking of buying you a cup--- my treat, you know?"

Lucia chuckled nervously and responded. "Thanks, but that's kinda awkward of you to buy something for a stranger---"

"Ha ha... well we're talking now, aren't we?" The two boys chuckled at Lucia's response. Moments later they ended the laughter. "Well, I guess you got a point there. My dude here and I are actually out of town but we're competitors for the surf scenes tournament that's coming up soon right here at this beach."

"Oh, really?" Lucia smiled humbly. "Welcome to Nijibe then! Where are you dudes from?"

"Seiyo Valley." A jolt just hit Lucia within, knowing that she was just having a friendly conversation with the tribe's arch rival. She knew she had to keep cool and not overreact.

Oh great... Seiyo Valley surfers... are talking to me... and in front of the public too--- and with Kaito around too... I'm dead! "Ah, I heard of that place. Really huge surf scenes culture over there... heh!"

"Well anyway, let's skip the place compliments," the blonde chuckled. "I'm Kousuke Sakiya, last year's champion in the tri-fin gun competition of the regional championships. The dude with me is Johnny Kawamoto, current champion of the Seiyo Valley surfing tournament."

The spike-haired boy approached Lucia with the rather charming grin of his. Despite of his attractive looks, Lucia still looked indifferent. "Nice to meet you. Man, it pains for me to see a cute, innocent girl looking so sad just so she can get a cup of ice cream..."

Lucia raised an eyebrow of suspicion and responded. "Oh no, I'm not sad at all. I'm just worrying about these people not even bother to fall in line and wait until the other's finished... and now I can't even find my friend within that crowd..."

Johnny snickered and said "Kousuke and I can sneak through the crowd easily, especially that we got some hot chicks crowding around there. We know how to handle them, you just don't worry."

"Ha ha... no, that's okay. My friend's already there. Don't waste your money on someone like me!"

"Oh, but we insist!" Johnny still pursued Lucia's attention with the offer while the girl was definitely nervous in front of the two rival surfers.

"No thanks, really. Go ahead and get through the line or else you won't have a chance!" Lucia still attempted to fend off the two, but both boys were still approaching her with enthusiasm. Just as things may get worse, the scene was interrupted by a more comforting voice from behind the boys.

"Well, well... if it isn't the two champions of last year's tournaments--- Seiyo Valley's Kousuke Sakiya and Johnny Kawamoto. Long time, no see!"

"Huh?" The two rival surfers turned their heads to see their common competitor standing behind them. "No way--- Kaito Doumoto?"

"No, I'm the other twin, Gaito." Kaito snickered in sarcasm as he passed through them with two cups of sundaes with plastic cover cups on them. "Nice to see you here in Nijibe territory, by the way."

Johnny stepped up towards Kaito with a rather confused look. "Well... okay, Gaito... where's your so-called champion twin, huh? I thought Sector 7 is his territory?"

Kaito gave a quick confused look, wondering if Johnny Kawamoto got the joke, but decided to play along, avoiding himself from chuckling. "As every single prominent surf tribe should have, the competitors only do their training at our designated S-Cube. You dudes should know that fact--- unless if I'm wrong."

"Ha!" Kousuke Sakiya jeered in pride. "Us True C-Blue Tribe-sters of Seiyo Valley don't need any S-Cubes for us to train. We're not afraid to show off our pure skills to those who want to be amazed!"

"Right, right..." Kaito answered, crossing his arms and still snickered. "No wonder you dudes spend more time trying to make yourselves look good than actually ride the mighty waves. That's just unfortunate. The surf at Sector 7 is awesome today!"

Lucia quickly moved away from the two Seiyo Valley surfer boys and stayed right next to Kaito with a smile on her face. "Well, my friend's here and so is my frozen treat!" Kaito handed the covered cup of frozen yogurt along with a plastic spoon to Lucia.

"Sorry, I wasn't sure what you wanted because there's so many flavors to choose from, so I picked vanilla for both of us--- smothered with fudge and topped with other good stuff." Kaito said with a grin on his face.

"Dang!" Johnny exclaimed, staring at Lucia. "I didn't know you were friends with Kaito--- I mean... the Doumoto Twins! Well, okay, the other twin too."

"Oh! I'm friends with the other twin too!" Lucia cheered happily. "But I got mad props for you Seiyo Valley surfers for having such huge contributions to the greatest water sport around!"

Kousuke gazed at Lucia, examining her from top to bottom, and by judging by the wetsuit she had on, he already had an assumption. "You a surfer girl too, babe?"

"Babe?!" Lucia exclaimed in shock and was ready to throw a fit towards the shaggy blonde surfer. "Not all girls are babes, you know! I got a name!"

"Now, now, no point in getting mad--- Leolani." Right at that point, Kaito mentioned Lucia's surf nick and winked at her, which completely startled Lucia right then.

Wait... he called me Leolani...? Does that mean Kaito knew all along that I was... his... Before she ended up drifting away from reality she decided to play along. "Oh... but why... Gaito?"

"You'll need all that energy for the tournament, right? Right now, you're the sweet and nice Leolani that everyone knows..." Kaito pointed with a grin on his face. "Since you're looking for my twin, I'll be sure to let him know that you're looking for him."

"Well yeah!" Johnny exclaimed. "Sakiya here made a deal with him a month earlier that whoever wins this entire tournament gets to have his girlfriend...uhh.. Sara, I think... was her name?"

"You idiot! Why the hell did you tell him that?!" Kousuke exclaimed in nervousness. "No one's supposed to know about all this!"

Lucia's eyes widened in confusion as Kaito continued the conversation. "Oh, so you are the dudes behind that stupid bet... ha ha ha ha!" He burst in to laughter for a few seconds, then halted. "Man oh man... you dudes have no idea that those two are competitors too—- tandem surfing."

"Oh yeah?" Kousuke exclaimed with a tightened fist. "Kawamoto and I and our own hot partners will be in that tandem surfing and we'll make sure we'll crush that pair when the time comes!"

"Oh, I wouldn't be so confident. You still got Leolani and I to deal with." Right then, Kaito placed his arm around Lucia's waist. "We're going to rock the entire ocean so bad that Poseidon and Triton are gonna be bowing to us like royalty, baby! Right, Leolani?"

"Uh... yeah! That's right! We'll rock the tournament with the aid of Amphitrite and Thetis on our side! Who says girls can't be competitive with the wild surf?" Lucia stuck her tongue at the two surfers, which somewhat baffled the two.

"Well then! Since I'm going to be at the tandem surfing contest too, let's make a bet," Johnny made a proposal, which made Lucia shiver nervously. "If any one of the pairs from either our tribe or your tribe takes first place, the winner of the individual male surfing contest gets to have a kiss from the tandem surfer girl partnered up by the rival surfer. In other words, let's say your twin, Kaito Doumoto, has his girlfriend Sara as his tandem surfing partner---"

"Eh?" Kaito and Lucia blinked in confusion, trying to figure out what Johnny was trying to propose.

"Moron... I'll make the bet here!" Kousuke exclaimed and turned to both Kaito and Lucia. "Whoever wins first place at the tandem surfing contest gets to kiss any tandem surfer girl of his choice, which also includes his partner--- in public! How does that sound?"

Lucia quickly shook her head and said "I don't think it's a good idea--- I think it's a really stupid idea---"

"Deal!" Kaito snickered as he and Kousuke shook hands. Lucia sighed deeply and lowered her head. "I'll keep that promise as long as you do your own part of the deal."

"It's a deal then!" The two surfer boys agreed while Lucia shook her head in disagreement.

"Typical dudes! Is that all you jerks think about? Making bets to see who gets to be the best surfer and then kiss whoever girl they wanna kiss? That's just disgusting!"

Johnny gave a wink towards Lucia. "Oh come on now, girl. The best thing about living the surf culture is that you get to have the prettiest babes and the hottest dudes more than any other type of social culture you could think of!" Right then he advanced towards Lucia and tipped a finger under her chin. "There's nothing I would want out of this tandem surfing contest than a kiss from you..."

"Ew! No!" Lucia backed away from him quickly as Kousuke pulled Johnny slightly, making their way out of the area, leaving the Nijibe tandem pair at that same spot. She turned to Kaito angrily with her fists tightened. "Why did you agree with them? Are you saying you don't mind kissing some other girl just because of some stupid bet? I mean, I can tell by your eyes that you're confident enough to win the contest! I'm still a noob kook--- what if we lose? That means some dude who wins first place is gonna kiss me..." She sighed deeply and a voice spoke in her mind. No... I don't want some other dude to kiss me... why can't Kaito give me my first kiss? At least if that happens I wouldn't be as nervous or as concerned as I am right now...

Kaito took Lucia in to his arms and whispered on her ear. "Trust me on this one, Lucia. We're going to win this thing. If not, let's hope Nagisa and Hanon or Gaito and Sara would win first place. In that way, they get to kiss their own partners."

"But... what if we do win? Who are you going to kiss?"

Kaito snickered and hushed. "Sorry, but that's a secret."

"What? Kaito! You mean you don't mind some goon would just come up and kiss me if we don't win?"

Kaito whispered more words that would calm her down. "Lucia, when you're in trouble with losers like Sakiya and Kawamoto just now, come to me, okay?"

"Come... to you...?"

"I'll protect you, Lucia. That's why."

Kaito... I can't help it... I just want to shout out how much I love you so much, but right now I'm not very happy about your stupid bet with those Seiyo Valley punks... Lucia sighed in relief and leaned her head against his chest as Kaito tightened his grip around her.

"Now eat your vanilla sundae before it melts."

"Oh! Oh... right." Lucia quickly released herself from him and began to eat her frozen dessert. They found their usual rock formation spot where they would normally hang out at night and claimed their spot once again. They both enjoyed their bowls of vanilla sundae while their usual chatter continued.

"Wow," Lucia chuckled softly as she nibbled. "When are we gonna go out and surf again?"

"Later this afternoon," Kaito answered immediately. "We're eating and we need to wait at least four to six hours for the food to settle down to ensure none of us gets seasick when we're out there paddling for some waves."

Lucia gulped nervously, feeling slightly shaky. "Kaito... I don't want any one of those Seiyo Valley jerks ever lay a hand or lip on me. I can't believe you actually agreed with their stupid bet. All of a sudden you're all showing off to yourselves that you can do whatever you want with whatever girl you want to get with. And you even involve me in it too... Who do you all think I am?"

"Hey, listen, Lucia," Kaito began his response. "I don't want any of those Seiyo Valley True C-Blue Crew or whatever the hell they call themselves ever lay a finger on you either. I only made a deal with those losers so I'll be able to protect you from punks like them."

"Wait a minute, Kaito, how are you going to protect me? I mean, if we win you'll have to end up kissing some girl you get to choose among the tandem couples! And if we lose and one of those two win then I'll end up getting kissed by some loser... it's still a lose-lose situation!"

"Call me self-centered, but I'll tell you now that victory will be ours. I'll deal with the kissing problem some other time if that time comes, alright?"

"Still... you're all treating me as if I'm some kind of buried treasure or something! I don't like being treated as some prized object!"

Kaito sighed and placed his bowl on the surface. He turned his attention towards Lucia and continued. "Think of it as this. Those Seiyo Valley goons are greedy treasure hunters and you're the buried treasure. I'm the guardian of the treasure. If they really want to get to you, Lucia, they'll have to get through me first. Besides... if we're not serious about winning then the only hope that we can have is that those two couples and us would have to lose so we won't have to kiss anybody."

"Yeah. I think that would be better..." Lucia nodded in agreement. "But that's not who you are, Kaito. I know you. You are one of the most elite of all of the elite surfers in the world and you refuse to lose because of that stupid bet. As a competitive swimmer myself for our school team during spring season I'd take the competition more seriously than that stupid bet!"

Kaito gently patted Lucia on the cheek, accompanied with a small smile. "You know, this is why I picked you for a partner. Aside from Tomboy Touin, you're the only girl I've known in this entire town who'd share my competitive spirit in my sport. If I asked any girl at random she'd only be in it just to get with me. So... thanks for being my partner."

Lucia returned the smile. "Thanks for choosing me. You can count on me, Kaito. I won't fail you!"

At that point, the tandem surfing pair did something for the first time since their meeting weeks ago. They complimented each other by gently striking their pumped fists at each other as if Lucia was a fellow Rainbowside surfer. After their pumped fists, they finished the rest of their dessert in their paper bowls.

"What's with the Rainbowside greeting?" Lucia chuckled while she gazed at her right fist.

"You're practically a surfer already, except you're sharing your board with someone. Plus, you've got that really hot champion surfer as your partner and a prominent member of the Rainbowside, right? You're pretty much a Rainbowside surfer as of today."

"You are so conceited, Kaito Doumoto!" Lucia broke in to a soft laughter while Kaito just snickered. Right then, thoughts came to her head. Conceited or not, you still are the sweetest, most lovable guy I've ever met, Kaikane... You really do seem to be like Prince Charming... I mean, isn't surfing a sport of Hawaiian Royalty, right? I wonder if you've got Hawaiian royal blood yourself--- though that's pretty much impossible...

Hours passed and at Pearl Waters, Maki and Taki had been experimenting with new recipes to be added to their special menu at the kitchen table. Taro and Rihito were back at the rehearsal room, arranging their scores and writing more songs on time for the surf bands contest. Nicola was at her bedroom, preparing herself after a long shower this morning. Hippo, on the other hand, was online in the Internet, checking his emails and reading his usual surfing-related message boards, most notably the official Surf Scenes magazine forums.

Just as he was reading through the forum topics he stumbled upon a particular topic that interested him. The subject title read: Searching for Cole Seahart.

Eh? Cole Seahart? Hippo clicked on the link and read the message in there carefully to see if there were some sort of libel in there.

Hello to everyone in the Surfer Styles magazine forum community. My name is Mamie Matsumura and I'm a 16-year-old student from Nijibe. In just a few weeks, my little sister Momoka, at age 12, will be dying to Leukemia. Though we know that there was nothing else we could do to save Momoka, she asked for one small wish that she would like fulfilled.

There was no other place I could go to online except here because Momoka is a huge fan of surfing, and because of that, her one wish that she would like to happen was to see her biggest surfing idol, Cole Seahart. She was only 5-years-old when that Dainami-Oni incident happened but despite of that she saw that history in the making moment with Cole Seahart riding the Dainami-Oni wave and earned her victory in the female surfing contest 7 years ago. After the incident we all know that Cole Seahart disappeared.

If you have any information--- any that would at least help me out in seeking Cole Seahart, please send me a private message. Maybe we can arrange a meeting or something.

Thank you all!

Hippo gulped nervously and clicked the Print Version link on top. After showing a small preview window of how the print version should look like, he pressed the Print button, which his inkjet printer quickly provided a print of that message in the forum.

This is strange... after learning who we really are and who Nicola really is, this had just to happen. This may be my ticket to finally confronting Nicola of the problem!

He reached for the paper, and just as he was going to fold it he heard a knock on his door. "Hippo, you busy?"

"Oh, come in!" Hippo already recognized the voice. His door opened and Nicola entered.

"Hippo, can I... talk to you about... something?"

Hippo headed for his bed and sat on the edge. Nicola invited herself by sitting next to him. "What about?"

"I'm curious about Lucia and Kaito."

"Oh... them..." Hippo almost felt a startle but remained calm. "Yeah? What about them?"

"Did you listen to last night's radio show at RNBW-FM?"

The twelve-year-old blonde boy shrugged his arms. "I dunno. I was probably asleep or something. Why?"

"Well... something interesting happened at that radio show. There were two teenagers who went by Leolani and Kaikane who called in the show to give out dedications. It looks like on the radio waves, they found each other at long last."

"Er, okay, Nicola... so what's this got to do with Lucia and Kaito?"

Nicola sighed and shook her head. Then swallowed to keep herself calm and cool. "Leolani... and Kaikane... they're surf nicks, Hippo... they're Lucia's and Kaito's surf nicks..."

Hippo's eyes widened in shock, just so he would not appear conspicuous that he already knew from the beginning. On the other hand, he immediately remembered his talk with Lucia last night about Kaito being Kaikane. Thanks to Nicola's somewhat unawareness, Lucia's claim of Kaito being Kaikane was officially confirmed. "So... Nicola... how'd you know about them?"

"About what?" Nicola asked curiously, wondering of her brother's suspicions.

"Nicola, you're my older sister and I've always respected you and trusted you. But lately, you haven't been really a good sister to Lucia and me. You've been trying to brainwash us or something so we won't have to bring up any past history involving our family. But thanks to a little research I made, I think I've known more than enough."

The eldest Nanami remained frozen. There was no escape for her, knowing that she would eventually talk about the past with her younger siblings. She thought she could live a guilt-free life by somewhat warping the younger siblings to believing on lies, but she never expected the youngest sibling to be the one who would confront her with the past.

"Well, I guess I have no choice, Hippo. Let's talk."

---

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

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

AUTHOR'S NOTES: (Here we go!)

Before the actual "notes", I just want to thank all the readers who took the time to read, re-read (optional), and review my fic. Every single one of them, even the ones where you point out mistakes, I take every single of them to heart. If you do spot any mistakes anywhere in the chapters, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE feel free to point it out to me (thanks a bunch, milleke, for pointing out my strange mistakes from the previous chapter. I think I was half-asleep then since I do stay up a bit late just to write my fic. Bad me... LOL). As long as you don't attack me personally or simply bash my fanfic just because you don't like the pairings or whatever, constructive criticism is always good, so don't be afraid or feel bad when you spot something that sounds "off." ^_^

#1 – Sex Wax – Full name: Mr. Zog's Sex Wax. Despite the rather controversial name, this is actually a very popular brand of surfboard wax that many professional and recreational surfers prefer to wax their surfboards. According to the official site, the name came about as some kind of a "shocker" or an "advertising method" that would actually get people be curious as to what it really is. No real-deal surfer should go out to the beach surfing without a wax, such as Sex Wax (there are other brands too, but from what I read, this label is unique and its formula is of high quality. In addition to being high quality, it's also very inexpensive (about $1.50 USD/wax, which according to today's exchange rate, would be ¥148). The official motto of this brand ever since its debut has always been The best for your stick, thus the reference Lucia made on her reaction to the surfboard wax's label Kaito just tossed to her.

#2 – Exostosis, also known as Surfer's Ear, is every surfer's nightmare. This particular condition causes the ear canal to have some kind of bony growth due to the persistent irritation of cold water. Cold or warm air blown to a wet ear lowers the normal body temperature in the ear canal due to evaporation, which can stimulate bone growth. The same thing occurs with warm water. When this happens the unfortunate victim will have to go and see the doctor right away because this particular condition can cause deafness, not to mention a surgical procedure that can cost an arm and a leg. To prevent surfer's ear, all surfers are required to wear specific earplugs before they paddle out to the sea. This same condition happens with swimming and scuba diving, only this time under the term of Swimmer's Ear.

#3 – Poseidon, Triton, Amphitrite, and Thetis – Greek gods & goddesses of the sea. That's pretty much a given.

I am also currently opening a fan site for MMPPP. It won't be the typical "general information/ characters/ video/ etc." type of fansite though, but I can promise you that what this site will require are fellow MMPPP fans just like you. I'll be sure to announce it including the URL (not linked, since FFnet would not allow outside linking... what the heck... .). Thanks!