The Private Beach Plan

The plan had been whispered and hinted at for weeks. Ever since Shizuka had remembered her family's private beach on the outskirts of town, she'd been set on making it their own little escape—a secluded spot with nothing but waves and endless sand. Today was finally the day.

Kazuki was, of course, roped into the adventure. Standing at the edge of the road, he watched as Shizuka and Aoi debated which path would get them there the fastest.

"It's definitely this way," Shizuka insisted, pointing down a narrow path. Despite her usual confidence, Kazuki knew her sense of direction was… questionable.

Aoi folded her arms, skeptical. "Are you sure, Shizuka? You're not exactly known for finding places easily."

Kazuki shrugged. "Yeah, we wouldn't want to get lost, right?"

Shizuka pouted. "It's my family's beach—I know where it is! Just trust me this time!"

With a shrug, Kazuki and Aoi followed her, though Aoi continued to grumble about trusting Shizuka's sense of direction. After what felt like a small trek, they finally arrived at the edge of the beach, and the view was worth it: miles of untouched sand and the ocean stretching into the horizon. They had the whole place to themselves.

"See?" Shizuka grinned, spreading her arms. "A private beach just for us."

Kazuki took in the sight, letting the peaceful atmosphere sink in. "Okay, you were right," he admitted with a small smile.

Aoi, already digging her toes into the sand, looked back with a teasing grin. "Onii-chan, now you're stuck with two amazing girls. How lucky are you?"

Kazuki laughed, knowing he was in for more teasing. "Let's just keep things simple, okay?"

But Aoi and Shizuka had other ideas.

Aoi scooped up a handful of sand and lobbed it at Kazuki, smirking as he dodged and grabbed his own handful in retaliation. "Oh, now you're asking for it!" he said as a full sand battle erupted, laughter and shrieks filling the air. Sand flew everywhere as they chased each other around the beach, eventually collapsing to the ground, breathless and laughing.

Kazuki lay back, catching his breath as he gazed up at the sky. Shizuka rolled over beside him, her head close to his in the sand, her hair falling around her face.

"It's been worth it, right?" she whispered, her voice soft as she looked at him. Their eyes met, and for a moment, everything else faded—the sand, the waves, even Aoi's giggling in the background.

Aoi, noticing their closeness, smirked. "Onii-chan, are you going to ignore me just because Shizuka's here?"

Kazuki, realizing how close he and Shizuka were, sat up quickly, his face red. Shizuka laughed, reaching over to give Aoi a playful shove.

"Don't be jealous, Aoi," she teased. "We'll still include you in the fun."

Aoi stuck out her tongue. "Fine, but you owe me an ice cream for being the third wheel."

After a while, Shizuka suggested they go for a swim. Kazuki hesitated, but Aoi grabbed his hand and pulled him along, wading into the shallow waves. Shizuka, meanwhile, had on the bikini she'd picked out during their last shopping trip. Kazuki tried to act casual, but the moment she caught his gaze, she flashed a playful smile.

"Do you like it, Kazuki?" she asked, her voice just loud enough for him to hear.

Caught off guard, he stammered, "I… I wasn't staring!" which only made Shizuka laugh harder.

Aoi, who had been watching, snickered. "Onii-chan, your face is so red! Is it the sun?"

Kazuki gave her a playful glare, splashing her with water. "You're both impossible," he said, though he couldn't hide his grin.

Eventually, they all waded back to shore, where Shizuka and Aoi sprawled out on beach towels to soak up the sun. Kazuki sat between them, feeling an unusual sense of peace. For all their teasing and antics, he couldn't imagine a better day.

As the sun dipped lower, casting a warm glow across the beach, Shizuka leaned over, taking Kazuki's hand in hers. She rested her head on his shoulder, her voice quiet. "Thanks for coming, Kazuki. I know I dragged you here, but… I'm glad you're here."

Kazuki looked down at her, his heart softening at her shy smile. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Me too, Shizuka."

Aoi, ever the observer, smirked. "Aww, look at you two being all mushy. Guess I'll just have to get used to it, huh?"

Kazuki laughed, rolling his eyes. "You're always going to be part of this, Aoi. Don't worry."

As they watched the sun set over the ocean, Kazuki knew this private beach adventure would be a memory they'd keep forever.