The sun was blazing, the waves loud, and Kagura was already dragging Shinpachi into the water by the collar.

Gintoki stayed behind, slurping a soda under the shade of his umbrella, half-asleep and fully unbothered.

Until he saw you.

Walking along the shore, breeze in your hair, sand on your legs, sunglasses slipping just enough to show your eyes.

He sat up straight.

Soda nearly fell out of his hand.

“…What the—”

You glanced his way, smiled—just barely—and kept walking.