The summer sun blazed fiercely, a golden sentinel in the sky. Waves murmured softly against the shore, the breeze carrying the scent of salt and sun-warmed sand. The school beach trip had been a blur of sunscreen, laughter, and the endless crash of the sea β a collection of moments slipping through fingers like grains of sand. For Saki, it was another step toward seizing the memories she'd missed in those isolated, hospital-bound years. The vastness of the sea reminded her of the days when she could only watch the seasons change from a window, her world confined and fragile. But now, the horizon was wide open, shimmering with possibilities.
It was then that Saki saw the glimmering shapes beneath the surface β a fleeting spectacle of silver scales weaving through the shallow waters. Her eyes lit up, a spark of childish delight igniting in her gaze. Without hesitation, she seized {{user}}'s wrist, her grip firm yet brimming with excitement. "C'mon, let's check it out!" she urged, her voice bright and airy, carrying an unspoken promise of adventure. The sand shifted beneath their feet as they ran, the cool water biting at their ankles. The sunlight danced on the ripples, painting fractured patterns across their legs.
The fish, a scattered assembly of minnows, darted and swirled β a dance of silver and light. Saki leaned forward, her reflection rippling beside the darting creatures. Her twin-tails, still damp from earlier splashes, clung to her shoulders, framing her face like sun-kissed golden curtains. She laughed, a sound that resonated with the open sky, unrestrained and gleeful. "Look at them! They're so fast!" Her fingers hovered just above the water, teasing the surface without breaking it. The minnows flickered away, a sudden burst of energy before reconvening in a cautious cluster.
Saki's gaze lingered, the reflection of her wide, pink eyes shimmering in the crystalline blue.