Chapter 38

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"You need to get yourself out more, as well, you need some sun, you've been cooped up for a while…"

It was almost like pulling teeth with him. Everyone had opted to go to the beach for some fun, however, Toshi wasn't in the mood to go. His appearance was the main cause of his refusal, since, after all, he was rather large now and didn't quite wish to let the world see him in such a state.

Syrax however refused to leave without him and was determined to get him to go. "You need some sun, not just for yourself either. You know sunshine is needed…"

"I'll go the lake here then…"

"Toshi…" she pouted.

"May I?"

She paused and peered over to see Chusi. She just so happened to be coming by to gather everyone up. "You think you can convince him?" Syrax asked.

She smiled rather proudly. "Did you forget whom I'm married to?" she asked with a coy grin. "Please, if I can convince him, I am sure I can convince Toshi" she said adamantly. "If you don't mind leaving for a moment…"

Syrax was taken aback but nodded. She stepped out of the house and waited with the brothers and her sisters. "Toshi doesn't want to go huh?" asked Junpei. "He does realize he has it easier than me right? I got to use jujutsu to cover these bad boys!" he said and pointed to his sides. "Then again… I can now hide these my melding them to my body…"

"I know this is a lot to ask of him, but at the same time he can't stay cooped up. He doesn't look bad at all!" she protested.

"It's the comfort level," Sho explained. "I can understand where he is coming from, we don't exactly have beach bodies…"

"It doesn't matter," she protested. "If you want to spend some time at the beach you should. It's not like he's going in a speedo!"

The brothers chuckled at that, she was about to speak again when Chusi came out… and Toshi followed wearing gear for the beach! "Toshi?" she whispered.

He sighed and appeared rather defeated. "I… don't wish to stay too long." He said gently.

But some time, was good enough for her!

#

'How… how did she do it?' Toshi kept asking himself that, even when they had set up their site, he couldn't figure out how Chusi convinced him to go!

In fact, their conversation was an odd one. The moment Syrax left, Chusi turned to him and smiled warmly… and yet, there was something off about the smile. "You don't want to join us?" she asked innocently enough.

"I… am not comfortable with people looking at me like this." He said bluntly. "Chusi, I don't look like this, as well, when one goes to a beach they should at least be able to…" he paused as he noticed her look changed.

She glared at him. "Are you suggesting that not just ANYONE should be going to a beach to cool off on a hot summer's day?" she asked.

"What? I didn't say…"

"So you have to LOOK a certain way to be able to go to a beach that is for EVERYONE?" she asked again in a stern tone.

He found the more he tried to explain his reasoning, the more she made him feel that it wasn't a good enough reason, also that he was being rather foolish to think his looks matter for the beach.

He sighed with defeat after a few minutes. He peered at her and shook his head to it all. "No wonder Sukuna and Gojo are kept in line right now…"

She bore a rather proud grin. "Damn right," she said. "Go get ready, we'll leave when you are."

Which bring him to the beach here and now.

Thanks to the slime suit his sisters in law made for him, Toshi was able to wear appropriate beach wear. His upper body was exposed for some sun and yet looking about, the beach wasn't that busy today thankfully.

"Hey, Toshi!"

He peered over to see Suiryu smiling a proud grin. "Glad you could join us, I didn't think you would be a stick in the mud…"

He sighed. "Chusi made me come… considering I had no argument or reason to refuse not to. I'm… more self conscious about what I look like more than anything…"

Suiryu peered him over. "Despite the fact you're fluffy when it's beyond your control, you shouldn't have the right to do anything fun?" he asked curiously.

Toshi paused.

"Well… if you put it like that."

"Fuck man, I've been in a similar situation with Nobara! You know I actually stored her in my second stomach for a few months, if I didn't she would have froze to death."

That… took him aback.

"Really?"

"Ask Uba when you see him next time, he can vouch and he has pictures." Suiryu muttered but it came out more like a growl near the end of his sentence.

It brought a smile to Toshi's face. "Still… I can already feel some people staring at me oddly…" he said offhandedly.

Suiryu's smirk returned. "The humans will stare, but everyone else who isn't… is watching your back." He said offhandedly and left.

He wanted to ask what he meant by that, but Suiryu was already in the water, taking a swim.

Toshi sighed aloud as he lounge back and began to soak in some sun. The heat actually felt rather nice on his body, he has felt a little cold recently. But the sun today, was perfect.

There was a backrest behind him, allowing Toshi to rest on a slight angle and allow him to move about a little. If he were completely on his back, he would have no way of sitting himself up.

"Oshi… Oshi…" he smirked to the little voice calling out to him. On his right he saw Ryoto approach him. Armed with a beach towel and a blanket, he stared at him.

"Hi Ryoto, is it your naptime already?" he asked with a smile on his face.

Ryoto said nothing as he came a little closer, he started to set himself up, ready to take his nap. This child is methodical when it comes to this, if the conditions aren't right for him, he won't nap.

Which means it would be hell later for Chusi and Sukuna.

Toshi didn't mind though. Ryoto was rather cute for a kid… well… Sukuna's kid. But there was so much light in his eyes, he did have a Tooru look to him as well.

Ryoto was fearless as he climbed up the slightly elevated side, he worked his way up to Toshi's chest where he placed down his beach towel. Then, assuming the position, he got comfortable and placed the blanket over top of himself. No matter the weather or temperature, he always sleeps with a blanket!

But, to be safe than sorry, Toshi was able to adjust the beach umbrella he had to cover Ryoto. He can't get burned for taking a nap on the beach now can he?

Toshi himself got comfortable once more, but, since his hearing has gotten so much better, he could listen in on a rather odd and very pathetic conversation going on between some bodybuilders and Suiryu…