Chapter 22 Beach Day!
Saki's POV

Once Ichika and I returned from spending two days at a seaside school, we met up with Airi and Ena at a café.

"Fellow members of Youthful/Friends", I started. "Today officially marks the start of Summer vacation! It will be the first time in a while that I won't have to spend it stuck in the hospital, so I'm going to do as many fun things during the Summer as I can!"

"What were you thinking about doing, Saki", Ichika asked.

"Well", I started. "What better way to kick off Summer vacation than a trip to the beach?!"

"A trip to the beach sounds fun", Airi stated.

"It does", Ena agreed. "I'm in."

"Me too", Airi replied.

"Me three", Ichika added.

"That settles it then", I exclaimed happily. "Youthful/Friends will be having their beach episode!"

A Couple of Days Later

The day of our trip to the beach had arrived. Once we all got ready in my room, we headed to the living room. When we got there, we found Tsukasa…along with the rest of his group?!

"Ah", he started. "I see that you are all already to go!"

"Akito", Airi said in confusion.

"What are you doing here", Ena asked. "Better yet, what are you all doing here?!"

"And why are you dressed like you're all going to the beach as well", Airi asked.

"That's because Tsukasa-Senpai requested that we all come to the beach with you", Toya revealed.

"Huh", I said in shock. "How come you did that, Onii-Chan?"

"Saki, the beach is the type of place where guys try to hit of cute girls", Tsukasa stated.

"You know, he does have a point", Airi stated.

"Exactly, Momoi-San", Tsukasa started. "After thinking about it, I came up with a solution! If we all go with you to the beach, then that should put off any guys from hitting on you!"

"That's actually a pretty good plan", Airi stated.

"That's sweet, Onii-Chan", I stated. "Okay then! Let's all go to the beach together!"

"Excellent", Tsukasa said, before pointing in front of him. "Youthful/Friends and Fantasia SQUAD, let our beach episode commence!"

...

We had arrived at the beach, which made me very happy.

"I haven't been to the beach since I got stuck in the hospital", I said, before taking a deep breath. "I forgot what the ocean breeze smelt like!"

"Let's not just stand here and look at it", Tsukasa started. "Let's head down and find a spot to set up our stuff!"

"Right", I said. "Let's go!"

With this, we began walking to the beach.

"We can carry some of the stuff too", Airi suggested, since Fantasia SQUAD was carrying all of our stuff.

"Absolutely not", Tsukasa stated. "It would be ungentlemanly of us to let you ladies carry the stuff!"

"You hear that, Akito", Ena asked. "It's ungentlemanly to let a lady carry stuff, so don't whine next time you carry my bags while I'm shopping!"

"Whatever", Akito said under his breath.

Then, we found a spot, and began setting our stuff up.

"Alright", I started. "Now that's everything's set up, let's head into the water!"

"Not so fast, Saki", Tsukasa started. "Before you go into the water, you need to put on sunscreen!"

"Onii-Chan", I whined.

"No whining, young lady", Tsukasa instructed. "We don't want you to get burned, now do we?"

"Oh, okay", I said, before putting on sunscreen. "Okay! Now we can go into the water!"

With this, I grabbed onto Ichika's hand.

"Let's go, Ichi-Chan", I exclaimed excitedly.

Then, Ichika and I ran to the water. Airi and Ena followed after us.

"Ichi-Chan, take this!"

After I said this, I splashed Ichika with water.

"Saki", she said as she covered her face.

"Take that, Saki", Airi said before splashing me as well.

"Airi-Senpai", I said as I got hit.

"Take that, Airi", Ena said before splashing her with water.

"Counter attack", Airi said, before splashing Ena back.

"Hey", Ena said. "Watch the hair!"

"If you're so worried about your hair, then why are you even in the water", Akito asked as he joined us with the rest of his group.

"Because you can take some great pics from in the water", Ena said, before holding up her phone.

"Is it a good idea to have your phone out here, Ena-San", Toya asked. "What if it gets wet?"

"Don't worry, Toya", Ena reassured him. "My phone is water proof."

"Oh", Toya said. "That's good."

"Hey Ena", Airi called out to her. "Check out this banana floatie! Wanna ride it together with me?"

"Sure", Ena replied, before giving Akito her phone. "Akito, take some pictures of us. You'd better get a good angle!"

"Yeah, yeah", Akito said as he took Ena's phone from her.

"Saki", Tsukasa started, before holding something up. "If you want to go deeper into the water, make sure to put this floaty on!"

"Okay, Onii-Chan", Saki said.

Then, she put the floaty around herself, before grabbing onto my and Tsukasa's hands.

"Let's go", she exclaimed, before pulling us deeper into the water.

After we played in the water for a bit, we went back to land and all got some ice cream.

"What should we do now", Rui asked once we were done eating our ice cream.

"Why don't we build a sandcastle", I suggested excitedly.

"A sand castle", Ena asked. "Doesn't that seem kind of childish?"

"But it'll be super fun", I stated.

"Well…okay", Ena said. "But if we're going to build a sandcastle, let me give you guys some pointers on how to build it."

Ichika's POV

With Ena's artistic guidance, we ended up building a unique looking sandcastle.

Once we were done, we all decided to relax under our sun umbrellas.

Airi and Ena were sunbathing, Akito was listening to music, Toya was reading a book, Rui was tinkering with a device, and Saki…fell asleep with her head on her brother's lap.

"Saki really tired herself out", Tsukasa pointed out.

"We did do a lot of things today", I pointed out.

Tsukasa nodded, before looking at Saki with a gentle smile on his face.

"You know, it makes me happy to see Saki having so much fun. I hated seeing her stuck alone in that hospital. I'm glad that she's now able to go out and do all the things that she wants to."

After Tsukasa said this, I looked at Saki, and smiled at her.

"Yeah. So am I."

...

The sun was now beginning to set, and we were packing up our things

"Wow", Ena said in awe. "The sunset over the beach looks so beautiful. I should take a picture and try redrawing it later."

"Saki, did you enjoy your day at the beach", Tsukasa asked.

"I did", Saki replied happily. "I can't wait to do a bunch of other fun things during Summer vacation!"