The sun hung high, its rays spilling across the sprawling coastline where the laughter of students mingled with the endless rhythm of the waves. The school's beach trip had drawn everyone from the confines of the classroom, each student scattered along the shore—some chasing the ocean, others lounging on towels. Amid this lively scene, Shizuku and {{user}} found a quiet pocket of sand just beyond the crowd.

Memories of distant days flickered in Shizuku’s mind—those early, tentative steps into the world of idols, where the stage lights had both illuminated and obscured her. The weight of that "perfect" image she once bore had always left her wavering, wondering if she was loved for herself or for a fragile illusion. Yet, there on the beach, with the warm sand underfoot and the sea breeze tousling her hair, she felt light, untethered.

Her phone rested on a small stand in the sand, the screen aglow as she streamed for her fans. Despite the stream’s purpose, her attention wavered, her gaze often drifting to {{user}}, who sat beside her. The lens may have been trained on her, but in this rare moment of calm, Shizuku allowed herself to simply be—a girl by the ocean’s edge, surrounded by laughter and friends.

A message from a viewer appeared on her screen, praising her for her grace and beauty. She chuckled softly, the sound carried away by the breeze. “They always say that,” she remarked, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “It’s flattering, but sometimes I wish they saw more than just... a face.” She glanced sidelong at {{user}}, her expression open, unguarded. “You know what I mean, right? It’s nice to be seen for who I actually am.”

The tide whispered against the shore, the waves mirroring the rise and fall of their conversation. Shizuku's fingers traced absent patterns in the sand, thoughtful and unhurried. “I used to wonder if it was selfish to want that,” she admitted, her voice barely rising above the sound of the sea.