Cherry Blossom Palette: Summer by the Sea

Chapter 54: CatDog

Sunshine Arc


Written by EmtenDew

Edited by P. serrulata


Author's note :

ED: This is a short chapter, something of a stop gap while I work on the rest of the beach day chapters.

I didn't watch much CatDog. My parents liked it even less than Spongebob. Yet I was watching anime that wasn't for kids. Go figure.

I apologize that this chapter took so much time to release. I'm good, and I'm sorry if I worried any of you.

One reason for the delay?

I tried and tried, but I just couldn't find a way I liked to communicate what happened between Sakura and Gamo-chan while everyone but Yoshi was away from their spot on the beach.

I tried multiple times and wrote four separate versions of the chapter but didn't like any of them.

I had my editor PS suggest and come up with ideas too, because I was stuck. Through no fault of his, I just didn't like his ideas very much either, though they were better than mine. He outlined two (and a half) versions of those events listed above.

He told me what I was doing NOW was a "copout", but I spent enough time trying to make something work, so I'm just going with something that works.

I really want to get past the very, very, very long beach arc and get on to other things, which I've been wanting to write and release since I started CBP.

My other reasons for the delay?

I had midterm testing in grad school, and I rewarded myself by picking up a PS5 copy of Horizon: Zero Dawn. I played it on PS4 and loved it, and it's even better on PS5. I also finished Forbidden West for PS5 again but will wait a while to get to its DLC, which I've never actually played.

Great games! I love them!

I logged between 90 and 100 hours on EACH game since the beginning of November, which is why you haven't been seeing much since October, so I was pretty much doing almost nothing but playing games, other than going to work and school.

I've never gone at it that hard, but I tend to focus and play a game until I finish it.

I'm planning on doing new playthroughs of both sometime in the future, because you can start a new game, keeping all the goodies from your first run. It's hard on hard mode, but it helps when your character is three or four times stronger than she should be at the game's start and have all your old weapons.

Personally, I'm totally fine. No problems. It's just that I haven't had to actually THINK and APPLY MYSELF in school in many, many years. Up to this semester, it was basically jumping through hoops. I just wanted to game for a while.

I never plan to move out to California (expensive!) or any other place prone to earthquakes, so I don't know why I need to learn about the stress tolerances (at least not to the degree I am) of plastics, composite materials, and biomaterials. I can say the same thing about tuned mass dampers, core wall construction, and levitating foundations. We only MENTIONED most of this stuff back during my BS.

But the semester and those awful final exams are over, so back to writing. My final semester should be easier, knock on wood, and I can have my MEng by summer. I don't think my work will become much more difficult, but I can move up a little in the industry and get a nice bump in salary.

I'll stay put for now. I could always go somewhere else for "bigger, better" things, but I'm happy enough where I am and don't ever want to move again, until I get married.

Still working on that last part. Once I'm out of school, the family will start hounding me to get married again. I'll be 29 next summer, so I'm getting dangerously close to being a bachelorette at 30. Except where I'm from, women are already "spinsters" at 27.

I'm the sixth of eight children, and the only one not married. Even my little sister beat me to it, and she's expecting her second kid already, though she just had one FIVE MONTHS AGO.

I would actually have to sit down and count to myself to figure out how many nieces and nephews I have. Maybe I'll start to care more, once school ends again.

Fine, I care right now. My seven siblings have a combined 23 kids, and the number is always growing. It's their names I can't always remember. I think there will be three or four more showing up in 2025.

PS has had some stuff going on later in the year too, but I'll leave that to him if he wants to share. We're still absolutely working together and will keep at it, but we do need to reassess a few things and think about some of the older material. We need to keep faithful to what we've done so far.

I'm also still loving Pokémon Horizons~! It's been getting heavily into the series lore, and I'm excited for it. The battles this season have been good too.

Episode 75 was AWESOME! A lot of history there. I don't think I've ever felt worse for a crying Pokémon, other than maybe Ash's Pikachu crying into Ash's hat in the I Choose You movie. Ash forcing his buddy into his Poké ball and defending him with his life and body was a great moment in the franchise.

It might just be an issue of anime size scale inconsistency, but I think Liko, Roy, and Dot have all gotten taller.

It's no surprise, but there's a good reason the cowlick runs so strong in Liko's previous generations.

Episode 76 was good too. We finally got more backstory on Mollie, the best medic. I'm confused though. I thought she was already an accomplished but jaded doctor by the time she joined the Rising Volt Tacklers, but it seems she became the way she is AFTER joining. It's just hard to picture her, being that naïve, idealistic kid we got to see, just leaving behind her Pokémon center and running off with a band of outlaw-adventurers.

Episode 77 got us more RVT member history.

78 had a twist. We'll see how it pans out, and we're waiting until January 10 for new episodes.

And the dub of Season 2 is soon!

They're calling it "Pokémon Horizons: Season 2 - The Search for Laqua".

I was hoping for something more creative than that, but whatever. We're waiting until February 7, 2025 for it, but that's on Netflix. The BBC has January 14 as a date.

I read somewhere that the third and fourth female heroines to show up in a harem series have a 99% chance of losing and not bagging the hero. There can be more, a fifth, sixth, whatever, but it's the third and fourth that are almost universally doomed to fail. Whether it's just that he character APPEARS or that the character GETS CLOSE to the main male character that I wonder about.

I thought it was an interesting idea, but I wonder how true it is.

If you want to comment on the story, I'd appreciate if you logged into the fic sights, instead of just leaving guest comments that I can't interact with.

But I will take the thoughts about being clearer with dialogue among characters.

When Shuu and Tohru were chatting in that one chapter, I didn't specify who was saying what, because it could be either of them saying that stuff. But you CAN determine who said what. There are clues here and there, and more clues will come out soonish.

Also, to the "guest" dropping my story after the "eyesore" that was Chapter 53, I'm sure you'll see this, because you're going to be back at some point.

I think my editor is actually astonished at the ignorance of the average Reddit user. It's hard to stump him, but what he's at odds with, it's equivalent to 35 year old American born people who don't know who Harry Potter or Pikachu are.

I really hope they stop making new sports and isekai anime soon. It's all just awful.

We have TWO questions this time! To repeat, for those that don't, PLEASE actually log in to the site you read the story on. It's not as much fun, when people are "guest" or "anon".

All the same, ask us anything, and we'll add another Q section in the next chapter.

It's good to know that you keep reading, so I would be happy if you drop comments and ask questions.

Please enjoy what I wrote.


Saturday, July 28, 2018

Naoto opened Rabi-chan's big cooler, trying to decide what to drink first. "…?"

Fanta Orange? Sprite?

Considering what he, Hana, and Nekoba had walked into—Sakura and Gamo-chan gone and the rest of the group listless, Naoto hadn't had much desire to enjoy either of his tasty beverages.

He still didn't have much stomach for it, since—

"Yoshi, what happened?" Nekoba was insisting on an answer; she had been.

Hana mediated, "Nekoba-senpai…"

"No, it's not right, Hanacchi." Nekoba was resolute. "There's no way this is okay."

Yoshi had her own convictions.

"I told you, it is!" She was holding to her guns too. "Everything's okay!"

'Fuck…' Removing his Sprite, Naoto stared into the cooler. "…"

With a pile of water-bottles out of the way, there'd been plenty of room for everyone's drinks.

There was still his Fanta Orange, both of Sakura's drinks—the Mtn Dew and OJ, Hana's Pepsi, Gamo-chan's Coca-Cola and milk-tea, Yoshi's Coke, and one of Shuu's Pepsis…

Hana had taken her apple juice, Yoshi had her milk-tea, and Nekoba's iced-coffee was out… and iced.

Not that any of these girls were imbibing…

Naoto observed them, continuing their unpleasantries. "…"

Yep, there were those three…

He cracked the Sprite and waited for the bubbles to settle.

"…" He cast eyes, and…

And there were the OTHER three…

He observed them too. "…"

Rabi-chan had her oolong tea, Shuu was working on his first Pepsi, and Tohru was sucking down his tomato juice.

Disassociated from one another, they seemed fully-contented to stay out of whatever it was that was happening over there.

Naoto's eyes swiveled to Tohru in particular. "…"

Seriously, tomato juice on a hot day at the beach?!

'Yeck…' Naoto revulsed.

Not only was it disgusting to begin with, but…

'Heh~…' Naoto envisioned Short-pai with a pair of glow-in-the-dark vamp-teeth, sparkly makeup, and some stupid, swept-to-the-side haircut.

There'd been that vampire craze in late-elementary and middle school, and many students had gotten WAY too into it, even at school, a lotta losers pretending their vegetable juice was blood…

"…" Naoto wouldn't have been caught dead in some fruity vampire getup… but he'd gotten off on a few lady-vamps, here-and-there, in anime and junk. "…"

Of course, this was all just a distraction from—

"Stop asking me…!" Yoshi piteously wailed, clutching her milk-tea like a security blanket. "Everything's okay! I already told you everything I'm gonna tell you!"

Nekoba scoffed, "Yoshi…!"

Naoto was surprised at Nekoba's persistence.

It didn't seem like something she'd do, normally cool with letting sleeping dogs lie…

Unfortunately for Yoshi, the situation wasn't conducive to napping, considering something awful had happened.

Naoto dreaded the next.

'Don't do that, Nekoba…!' He didn't specialize in much of anything, and he definitely didn't specialize in the area of Yoshi-studies, though he could see what was coming from a league away.

If Nekoba didn't stop, even he knew that—

"Bweeeeeh~…" Yoshi couldn't take anymore, effectively finishing Naoto's sentence, and she began crying, tucked between her knees. "L-leave me alone…!"

Naoto reeled, giving a nearly inaudible, "Damn it…"

"Ack!" Nekoba flinched too, not ready, oddly, for such a consequence. "I, uh…"

Hana slunk an arm over Yoshi's shoulders.

"It's okay, Yoshi-senpai…" She wasn't even paying attention to the other lady-senpai. "There, there…"

Naoto's eyes rolled skyward. 'Yikes…!'

At least no one else was paying them mind…

"…" He was thankful this awfulness was happening well out of sight of the public, the ordeal nestled in the very back of camp.

If Yoshi began wailing any LOUDER though…

Naoto's thoughts strayed. "…"

Was it odd, that among Nagatoro and her closest circle of friends, that Gamo-chan was the first one to cry in front of him, while Yoshi was the last?

Naoto wasn't thinking that way though, not so purposefully.

Hell, maybe it WAS odd… but maybe it wasn't…

Naoto knew Yoshi had her own sort of resilience.

Still, if it was odd, for her to be the last, maybe that's why this was as easy as it was…

"Hachioji-kun?" a voice sounded.

"…!" He came to his senses. "Y-yeah?"

It was Nekoba, looking decidedly helpless.

"Hey, could you, uh…?" she pleaded, clumsily miming towards Yoshi. "Please…?"

He didn't know what she wanted, but he could guess she wanted the man among them to do something.

Even so, he knew something about himself.

Mostly, it was a relief she was referring to him as "Hachioji-kun", rather than "Nao-kun", in front of those who weren't Hana; there'd been enough crazy without introducing a new variable…

Another glance towards the others—Shuu, Tohru, and Rabi-chan—was indicative of why Nekoba wasn't asking them for help.

Still distant and indisposed with their beverages, perhaps even more so…

Naoto found himself stumping over to the Yosh-side of things.

Nekoba looked up at him hopefully (based on what?!).

Yoshi just cried softly, her hands wringing her unopened can, while Hana patted her back.

There was just something WRONG with it, seeing a girl in a pink bikini this upset… though exactly WHAT…?

"…" While Naoto might've had an easier time convincing himself his "dissolving dream"—the one in which he'd melted the exceptionally unwilling Nagatoro's shoes, allowing him to cram her bare feet into his mouth, as easily as a large wood-chipper taking in a handful of twigs—was okay, he tried it with the current situation.

It took some doing…

"…" He reexamined the scene, mostly focusing on Hana trying to comfort Yoshi.

It wasn't fair, pushing this onto Yoshi, even if she was the only one to know what had happened, whatever it might've been…

But "fair" wasn't always a factor, and Naoto knew it.

He might've wanted to know what had happened even more than Nekoba, not that it was a contest.

While he could've been callous, suckling his Sprite exponentially easier than dealing with this, he didn't want to be callous.

It was as if another was directing Naoto movements.

It was like it wasn't even HIM…

He sat down among the three girls. He tried to give Nekoba a reassuring look, but it wasn't the most important thing to him.

Hana noticed he'd sat down on Yoshi's other side, and she was watching him, betraying nothing. "…"

With a sigh, Naoto reached over and put a hand on the sniffling Yoshi's shoulder. "Yoshi-san?"

She didn't startle but raised her messy face to him, and it wasn't pretty…

The eyes ran… The nose ran… The hair mingled with it all…

"Zen… Zen-thei…?" Yoshi's voice was clogged with gloom. *hiff*

"…!" Naoto steeled himself. "Where did Sakura-san and Gamo-chan go?"

He didn't really expect an answer, but he got one.

First, she swallowed hard and tried to compose herself, not fully meeting his gaze.

"They're talking…" she replied wetly.

Naoto followed with, "About what?"

"…" Yoshi shook her head. "Can't say…"

"But it's alright?" he asked.

She blinked. "A-alright?"

"Yeah," Naoto boosted. "Something happened, but it's alright? Them and you? You're alright?"

Yoshi gave herself a couple seconds; she wiped her eyes. "…Yeah… Something happened, but… it'll be alright. They'll be back."

"…" Naoto gave himself a few seconds. "Okay, Yoshi-san… just try to calm down. Lemme get you some tissues."

snnnrt~!* Yoshi snuffed up that which would've joined the other stuff dripping from her nose. "Okay…"

Nodding, knowing relief but still feeling out of his own husk, Naoto made for his bag.

He'd leave the Yosh in Hana's capable hands.

Nekoba stood up and followed him. "…!"

Not that Hana or Yoshi gave this much import…

Naoto dug in his backpack, knowing he had some tissues somewhere.

Behind him, Ms. Strabiz scowled. "Mrmbl…"

"Huh?" Naoto looked up.

"That's it?" Nekoba incredulous'd.

He gave another nod. "I dunno what else to do, Nekoba…"

"…" She couldn't fault him further; she didn't know either.

Naoto found the tissues. "…"

"You really think it'll be okay, Nao-kun?" Nekoba questioned.

"…" He was sure things would be okay. "Yeah…"

No concrete idea HOW, but…

Naoto trusted Hana.

If Hana was good with it, then…

"…" He wasn't sure what Hana was feeling, or for that matter, exactly what was going through her head.

Maybe she trusted Yoshi… or maybe she was waiting for clarity…

Naoto knew well that Hana had been through a couple heart-to-hearts with Sakura and Gamo-chan—at least Sakura's and Gamo-chan's hearts.

Perhaps it was more one-sided… Hana serving as a sounding-board, more than a wellspring of fresh perspectives…

He didn't know if she'd had the same kind of dialogue with Yoshi, but…

He trusted Sakura and Gamo-chan.

The girls were good friends, and whatever the Hell happened while he was hunting for all those cold drinks, it probably wouldn't change that…


Question and Answer Section

Anon asks, "Will Naoto ever visit Gamo-chan's house for a movie night? Also, will Naoto ever meet Gamo-chan's dad and little brother and sister?"

ED: Yes and yes.

Dicksee (?!) writes, "I'm from Reddit. I found an old post where your editor was asking what people thought Naoto and Gamo-chan's "song" would be if they had one. It was Blues Traveler's The Hook. What song would Naoto and Sakura have?

ED: PS and I have talked about this subject a few times. The post is probably from when I had him doing "research" on the Nagatoro sub. We did come up with a song.

The Babys' "Isn't It Time". I listened to it at PS's bidding, and I agreed it would work well.

It's funny that all the songs I can come up with are in English. That's one reason I had Yoshi take command of the karaoke chapters.


Please look forward to the next chapter! Thanks for reading!

Questions and comments are welcome!