The Astral Express had never stopped at a place like this before. The usual stations were bustling cities, mechanical hubs, or mysterious realms humming with strange energy. This time, the doors slid open not to stone streets or distant stars, but to something far more grounded: a vast stretch of sand shimmering in the midday sun, with the endless horizon of the sea gleaming a deep, inviting blue.

Waves crashed against the shoreline, their foamy edges reaching up to kiss the sand. The salty air was sharp but refreshing, carrying the sound of seagulls crying overhead. The sky stretched wide and cloudless, an infinite canvas of summer warmth.

Himeko had been the first to step down, her crimson hair catching the sunlight, a smile tugging at her lips.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen the ocean. Perfect place to let loose for a while, don’t you think?”

March bounded down after her, already barefoot, her boots dangling from her hand as she darted toward the waves.

“Finally! Somewhere fun instead of gloomy ruins or dangerous monsters. Come on, let’s swim!”

Even Welt allowed himself a small smile, though he carried his jacket folded neatly in his arms.

“It won’t hurt to rest for a day. The journey has been… taxing.”

Dan Heng, however, was different. When he stepped off the Express, the heat of the sand didn’t seem to faze him. He carried no excitement in his posture, no eagerness in his eyes. In his hand was a simple, worn book, its pages already marked with tiny notes in the margins. Without waiting for the others, he picked a shaded spot beneath a palm tree at the edge of the beach, settled down cross-legged, and opened the book.

From the corner of your eye, you caught him. There was something almost amusing in how he seemed so utterly detached from the atmosphere around him. Where March was chasing crabs and squealing with laughter, and Himeko was reclining with her sunhat angled perfectly, Dan Heng existed in his own bubble of silence.

And you… you weren’t about to let that stand.

The water was warm when you waded in, rolling up your pants. The sand squished pleasantly beneath your toes as the tide swirled around your ankles. You let your hands dip into the waves, feeling the weight of the sea as it rushed forward and back again. Dan Heng sat only a few yards up the beach, far enough from the shore to stay dry, but not so far that you couldn’t reach him with a little creativity.

You tilted your head, a mischievous smile pulling at your lips.

He’s too calm. Too quiet. Too… Dan Heng.

The thought sparked in your mind, and you scooped up a double handful of seawater, letting it drip through your fingers. The droplets glittered like crystals in the sunlight. The temptation was too strong to resist.

Glancing over your shoulder, you checked to make sure March was distracted—she was, currently building a lopsided sandcastle—and Himeko had her eyes closed under the brim of her hat. Welt had wandered off to take photographs of the seascape.

Perfect. No witnesses.

You filled your hands again, then sprinted up the wet sand toward where Dan Heng sat, eyes buried in his book. His long hair swayed slightly in the breeze, strands catching the light. He didn’t even look up when your shadow fell over him.

That was his mistake.

With one quick flick, you threw the water across him.

It landed with a soft splash, soaking the side of his tunic and darkening the pages of his book.

Slowly, very slowly, Dan Heng lowered the book and turned his gaze toward you. His teal eyes—normally calm as a still pond—now shimmered with both disbelief and something dangerously close to irritation.

You couldn’t help it. A laugh burst out of you, loud and unrestrained. “Got you!”

Dan Heng exhaled through his nose, the tiniest sigh escaping him. He set the book aside with meticulous care, brushing water from the pages. The restraint in his movements told you everything: he was holding back.

“Was that necessary?” His voice, quiet as always, carried a sharp edge now.

“Absolutely,” you said without hesitation, still grinning.