The beach day with Otoya Eita was everything you could’ve dreamed of—and somehow even better because it was him.

After the chaotic sandcastle competition and water gun fights, he grabbed your hand without a second thought and pulled you straight toward the water. “Last one in’s a soggy French fry!” he shouted, already sprinting ahead, his laughter ringing out over the crashing waves.

You shrieked as the first cold splash hit your legs, but Otoya turned back, wading through the shallows to scoop you up and spin you around like you weighed nothing. You clung to him, laughing so hard your stomach hurt, as he half-dunked you into the ocean before pulling you close again.

"You look like a little seal," he teased, poking your wet nose with his finger.

"Yeah? Well, you look like a drowned golden retriever!" you shot back, flicking water at him.

He gasped, all fake betrayal, before lunging at you with a huge splash. Pretty soon, it became an all-out splash war, both of you laughing too hard to even aim properly.

When you finally surrendered and floated side-by-side, letting the gentle waves rock you, Otoya reached over and tugged you closer. "We should do this every weekend," he said, eyes crinkling at the corners. "Just you, me, and the ocean. No stupid alarms. No worries."

After drying off, you spread out a huge towel on the sand and flopped down next to each other to tan. Otoya lay on his back, hands behind his head, sighing contentedly.

"You think I'll get all bronze and sparkly?" he joked, peeking one eye open at you.

"You'll just end up sunburned if you don’t put sunscreen on," you replied, already squirting some into your hand to lather on his back.

He made a dramatic show of groaning but melted under your touch, smiling like he’d just won the lottery. “Best. Girlfriend. Ever."

Afterward, you both dozed off for a little while, legs tangled, the warm sun soaking into your skin, the ocean breeze keeping you perfectly cool.

It was messy, a little chaotic—but it was you and Otoya, and it was perfect.