Chapter 36
“Vacation on the Beach (2)”
(Kai and Lutia’s Summer Break Arc, Part 5)
The afternoon sea shimmered beneath the sunlight, its waves gently rolling onto the shore.
The splash battle between Kai, Lutia, and her two brothers had finally ended, leaving laughter echoing across the sand.
“Haah… I’m done for. My arms won’t move anymore.”
Kai lay sprawled on the beach, catching his breath, when Lutia stood up, holding her float ring.
“Kai, I’m not done playing yet! Let’s go a little farther out to sea this time!”
“Whoa, whoa, milady, goin’ too far out’s dangerous.”
“It’ll be fine! I’m quite a good swimmer, you know?”
Her brothers chuckled. “Our sister’s always loved playing in the sea since she was little.”
(Why do I get the feelin’ this is gonna end badly…)
And sure enough—
Lutia had drifted farther out than she meant to.
At first, she wore a confident smile, but a sudden large wave struck, knocking her out of her float ring.
“Ah!”
“Milady!”
Kai’s heart jolted.
Lutia flailed desperately, trying to stay afloat, but the waves kept pulling her under.
“Brother! Lutia—!”
“Sir Cross!”
Before their shouts even reached him, Kai was already diving into the sea.
He cut through the cold water with all his strength, reaching out and grabbing Lutia’s arm.
Pulling her close, he held her tight and swam with all his might toward the shore.
“Hang in there! Breathe, ya hear me!”
Her body was light, but the fear of her slipping away felt unbearably heavy.
He finally broke through the waves and reached the beach, laying her gently onto the sand.
“Milady! Are you all right!?”
Lutia coughed violently, then slowly opened her eyes.
“Cough, cough… K-Kai…”
Her wet eyelashes clung together, her cheeks flushed, and her lips trembled faintly.
“Jeez… if ya’d stopped breathin’, I would’ve had to give ya mouth-to-mouth…”
“…That would’ve been fine with me.”
“HUH!? Did you just casually drop a bomb like that!?”
Lutia’s face turned bright red, but she smiled softly.
“Because… if it were my husband doing it, I wouldn’t mind.”
“Stop with the ‘dutiful wife’ act already!!”
Her brothers rushed over, relief flooding their faces.
“Sir Cross, that was an excellent rescue.”
“Truly. A man worthy of entrusting our sister to.”
“Stop talkin’ like it’s already decided!”
Lutia cut them off, flustered.
“Enough already! Please… just let me rest for a while.”
She leaned gently against Kai’s chest and closed her eyes.
◆◇◆
As evening fell, the two sat side by side by the campfire after coming up from the sea.
The rhythmic sound of the waves filled their ears as the orange sky slowly deepened into indigo.
“…Sorry, milady. I should’ve stopped you properly.”
“No… if you hadn’t come after me, I wouldn’t be here now—sitting beside you like this.”
Lutia lowered her head slightly, her cheeks glowing in the firelight.
“I was scared… but when you held me, I felt so safe. It was as if—”
“As if?”
“As if I were really being protected by my husband.”
Kai scratched his head, staring into the sparks.
“…You know, every word that comes outta your mouth is way too heavy for my heart.”
As stars began to twinkle above, Lutia gently rested her head on Kai’s shoulder, listening to the sound of the waves.
“Kai… when summer break ends… will you still stay by my side?”
“…As your teacher.”
“As your teacher—and as your wife.”
“That last part ain’t necessary!”
Their laughter and voices melted softly into the night sea.
