CHAPTER 8

The open sun.

The tranquil waters.

Oppais.

Shirtless guys.

When you think of the beach, every anime has at least one episode dedicated to fan service and that episode results in going to the beach.

If it took place in a harem, it'd be oppai heaven.

In a reverse harem, shirtless guys and cute scenes to fawn over.

In a comedy, romance, action, adventure, etc., there was always that awkward event and that perverted character.

But then again, I knew everyone had a soft spot for fan service, secretly or not (we all perverts inside, I know). Honestly though, it relieved the stress of the plot and added some humour into the mix of the anime; you were bound to like at least one or two of the scenes that came with them, depending on what type of person you were, of course.

Which was why this was pretty depressing.

"Beach?" I repeated after Saki called me on my cell. Summer vacation had just begun and she was talking to me eagerly about going to the beach.

"Please! Everyone else is coming!" she pleaded. I knew that if I was with her in person, she'd be pouting and clinging to my arm right about now.

Scratching the back of my head, I yawned. "No way. I don't want to," I said. I slightly regretted the words right when they left my mouth but I wasn't going to take them back no matter what.

It was every otaku's dream to live that wonderful beach experience but to most, definitely on that caliber, it never happened and probably never will.

Cue le tears, chibi-style.

Obviously, I hadn't lived the experience either. But the reason I was refusing this ultimately close chance of going to the beach was because of one main thing: I knew for a fact I wouldn't enjoy myself around those losers.

"Please! Just this once!"

"Going swimming with a bunch of people I have a hard time dealing with normally is something I'll pass on. Bye," I told her flatly and hung up without a second thought.

I sighed loudly and made my way to the living room. I flopped down onto my stomach on the couch and picked up the remote. I know, it was shocking. I watched TV. Usually I'd take the time to watch some anime to pass my summer days by but today was just way too hot to bundle myself up in my bed and go on my laptop.

When my eyes grazed the name of my favourite channel and show I frequently watched, I clicked it immediately.

"This show will continue next week due to the stars going on vacation!" a female stated with a microphone pointed to her mouth. She wore a bathing suit, and with it, it all clicked. "To the beach guys!" she cried.

She did a cannonball into some random pool and the screen went blank. Then, commercials began to play. Every channel I flipped to after that went on about the summer and the heat, so I groaned in frustration.

"People going on and on about the beach... Who the freak cares about that," I grumbled, putting a pillow over my ears. "If you want to see the beach scene so bad, just watch any anime out there and you'll find one!"

"Nee-san! Yui and I are heading out soon!" called my little brother, Yuki, from the other room.

"Heading out?" I repeated, perplexed. "Where?"

"To the beach of course! Everyone's going!" My little sister instead poked her head from the living room entrance and smiled. "You're always going to be a lazy bum, huh, Miyu-nee. You should make some friends already and have some fun."

"And become like you? No thanks. If I wanted people around me, I could just write myself an anime fanfic with me starring as the main character," I muttered in monotone. My eyes lit up. Wait, that actually wasn't a bad idea!

Yui pursed her lips. "Meanie!"

"Do you know where I put my towel, Yui?" Yuki asked from the other room.

Adhering to her twin's call, Yui stuck her tongue out at me before going to join him.

"It should be in the bathroom."

I rolled my eyes after her. My eyelids slowly shut as I fought back another yawn.

"I don't need to go to the beach... Being at home for the whole summer isn't all that bad... Especially with the new summer animes coming out soon..."

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When I opened my eyes, I was in some unfamiliar scenery. It was crazy, I know. I'd went to bed on the couch. In my house. But hear me out.

"Miyu-neesama..." Familiar blond hair filled my ray of vision and I stirred, taking this in.

I giggled and patted their head. "You're so cute Kagamine Len~! Be mine~! Hehe, this dream is wonderful~!"

"Dream?" said another voice and I found myself face to face with one of the annoying idiots from my club.

"Yo! I'm glad you're finally awake!" Yamamoto Saki smiled innocently.

I closed my eyes. "Ugh! I even dream about those idiots!" I whined.

"This isn't a dream, Hoshino!" Tamaki #2 stated with a laugh. "It was Saki's idea to come get you so we went over to your house and with permission from your little siblings, took you!"

"Huh?" I said, my eyelids opened once again. My heart was pounding hard, as if telling me I wasn't dreaming. Wait, maybe I wasn't...

"Yeah, you're a really heavy sleeper, huh?" Hinata chuckled.

"No kidding," Hiro snorted. "She didn't even wake up when we dropped her."

Dropped me...?

"It was priceless," Yuji snickered.

I took a moment to glance around at everyone in the car. The moving car.

Why was I in a car?

Wasn't I at home...?

Realization slowly settled in and I threw my body upwards, jaw dropping to the floor of the car.

"What the heck do you mean we're going to the beach? I was clearly staying at home!" I shouted at the top of my lungs to Saki.

"But... it'd be weird if I was the only girl that went so you had to come! Stop being so selfish!" she yelled back with a pout.

I fumed. Selfish? I was being selfish?

"Take me back home! Now!"

"It's... sort of too late for that. We're already here," Hinata interjected, beckoning out the window. There were a bunch of people in swimsuits on the sandy beach as well as in the water and everyone in the car cheered.

"Finally! This was such a long ride!" Hiro grinned.

I fell to my knees in defeat, lower lip quivering. "I want to go home... I can't handle all these people..."

A hand collapsed onto my head, waking me up.

"Sorry, Miyu-neesama. I couldn't stop them."

I glanced upwards to see Tatsuya was the culprit, looking all cute and Kagamine Len-y as he always did, and I immediately frowned.

"Sure you couldn't," I drawled, rising back up to my feet. "I bet you even took a video of my misfortune."

Tatsuya's smile grew, and in a voice the others couldn't hear him with, he said, "Ah, was it that obvious? Did you possibly want to see it later?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. I should've known he'd come. Knowing the other doofuses in the club they most likely let him tag along happily.

It'd been a few days since the whole ring incident, and living up to what he said, Tatsuya did show up to the club frequently. I stayed as far away as I could from him while the others accepted him and easily fell into his manipulative ways. He even had his own brother wrapped around his finger as if he had no idea about his evil self (which just proves Wannabe's inadequacy). Sure I was glad the boy wasn't messing with me or my time anymore but just seeing how much this kid ordered them around with only a single look was a little distressing. Though, I guess whatever he did with them was none of my business.

Facing Tatsuya, I scowled. Then, seeing his unchanging smile, I got myself into a karate stance. "Don't even try me, boy. I will unleash my inner Shirahama Kenichi on you.

He deadpanned in response while I held up my arms, ready to be overtaken by my dou.

"I-I'm warning you!" I told him, trying my best not to falter. "I'm as deadly as the History's Strongest Disciple! I suggest you delete that video before I come at you!"

"Come at me?" he repeated blankly. "And who's 'History's Strongest Disciple?'"

I dramatically pretended to cough up blood. "That killer "I-have-no-idea-what-you're-talking-about" card always gets to me... How did you figure out my weakness?"

"Uh..."

"The strength of those unknown to the world of anime..." I murmured, clenching my chest. "My heart can never handle it..."

"Miyuki, Kazu Jr., hurry up!" Yuji suddenly called out. "What are you waiting around for?"

Tatsuya immediately masked his diabolical ulterior with his lovable 'innocence' and hurried up to him.

It was then I noticed that they were all already outside of the car and walking towards the beach. Almost immediately, Saki seized my arm and dragged me off. She forced me into a blue swimsuit that she brought with her along with a long black t-shirt on top, and I tied my hair into a high ponytail. On the other hand, Saki wore an orange two piece bikini and she yanked me out into the public.

When we came back, the boys were already in their swim trunks, animatedly talking by the looks of it.

"I swear it's a cat," we heard Hiro say once we arrived.

"What are you talking about? It's definitely a dog," Yuji refuted.

I took notice of the fact that all their gazes were glued to the ground, and at some sand sculpture by their feet.

"Dogs don't have whiskers," Hiro denied, sending a look Yuji's way.

"Cats don't have three ears," Yuji shot back.

"But they're pointy," Hiro said.

"Like I said, it's probably a fish," Hinata commented with a meek smile. "One of the points is the fin."

"Then the lines could be gills," Wannabe murmured. He turned his head to his little brother, a hand over his chin. "What do you think Tatsuya?"

"It looks like a bird to me." He pointed to the flaps. "See, these are the wings."

"Yeah, but—" Once again, they all got into another argument of who was right, who was wrong, and I watched this unfold in disbelief.

"Are they seriously arguing over a random sand sculpture?" I asked Saki with an arched brow.

She laughed. "It's not so bad, they've argued over couches and chairs before too."

"Of course they have," I muttered.

As if they finally realized we were there, the five boys turned our way.

"Oh, Hoshino, Saki!" Wannabe immediately cried out. "Come here and tell us what you think this is."

"I don't wanna," I whined. "Can I go lay down?"

"No way, Mi-chan!" Saki refuted from my right, latching herself onto me.

"It'll only take a second," Hiro agreed, beckoning me over.

Groaning, I shuffled over beside them and stared down at the ground. I blinked at the odd sculpture with vague features. It did look like a bird like Tatsuya had said with the wings, and a fish too because of the fin at the end which Hinata had pointed out. A dog...could be believable as well because of the eyes, and the points on top and two whiskers did resemble a cat as well...

My brows knitted together as I tilted my head to the side. What in the goddamn world was this?

"So even Hoshino couldn't place it," Hinata sighed.

"No wait," I stopped him before they all could get discouraged. My eyes widened. "That thing. It looks like that thing."

"What thing?" Yuji asked.

"Yeah, that thing!" I told them in eureka. "That Pokemon."

I honestly wasn't expecting them to comprehend the show, considering they didn't know a lot of things they should, but recognition did flash in their eyes.

"That fish thing," Hiro said, eyes lighting up.

"The red one," agreed Hinata.

"It kinda had an oval face and had its mouth open all the time," Yuji agreed.

"So it's not a dog?" Wannabe frowned.

"This sculpture looks like one," Tatsuya, being the kiss-up he was, assured him, "The one who made this sculpture probably wasn't very good at it."

"But what was it called again?" Saki asked.

"It's karp-something," I responded.

We all stared really hard at it one last time then sighed in defeat.

"I can't remember," Hiro confessed.

"Same," agreed Hinata.

"Oh, whatever," Yuji said. "We all know what it is anyway."

"True." Saki smiled. She nudged me in the ribs. "Mi-chan always gets stuff like this!"

I scowled at her in response. "Touch me one more time—"

"Anyways, we've wasted enough time! Let's have fun!" Wannabe declared to cut me off.

Everyone excluding Yuji and I cheered. Even Hiro, which was definitely rare.

Apparently, Yuji didn't come to the beach to swim so after we all scattered from the sculpture, he just took a seat on his towel on the sand pulled out his phone to use. I still decided to do something with them though. Not by my own will, of course. Saki was continuously clinging onto me because she didn't want me to escape.

"Let's play a match! The loser has to buy drinks!" Saki challenged us all to beach volleyball and everyone reluctantly agreed (me because I was provoked, as usual). It was Saki, Tatsuya, and Wannabe against Hinata, Hiro, and I.

"I'll start!" Saki declared as soon as she served the ball, confidence slipping through with her actions.

Though, as we waited for the ball to come to our side, eyes aimed at the sky, it took a while for us to realize that the ball had actually flown straight into the net. Hiro, at that, burst into laughter, gripping his stomach in hysteria.

"H-hey!" Saki stammered, completely and utterly embarrassed.

"Pass me the ball!" I called over and she hesitated.

"Just give it. It's our serve," I seethed before she could say something stupid like "it isn't easy, y'know," because hell, obviously I knew that it wasn't.

With a sigh, Saki tossed it my way. Gripping it firmly, I scanned over the net where Wannabe and Tatusya stood, nonchalant and uncaring, which immediately gave me the notice that they didn't expect much from me. And opposite to that, Hiro and Hinata had their defences up, ready to run around the mini court because they were assured I would drop it. I couldn't help but snort at that as I got ready to serve it. Before I could though, Hinata hurried up from behind me.

"Wait, Hoshino," he ordered.

I looked up at him, narrowing my eyes. "What?"

"Let's let Hiro serve," he told me, slipping the ball from my fingers.

I glanced to my left where the said male stood. I then looked back at Hinata incredulously. "Are you kidding me? How is he supposed to serve the ball when he's that short?"

"Hey!" Hiro exclaimed angrily.

"Hi," I deadpanned, attempting to snatch the ball back from Hinata though my fingers missed. I glared at him.

"You can do all the receiving or everything else if you want," Hinata responded, nervous from my hostility. "Just, leave the boring stuff to us."

I perked at the idea and folded my arms. "Fine. Boring stuff goes to you then."

Hinata tossed Hiro the ball and I sent him a quick look.

"You better not mess up," I told him.

"Yeah right," Hiro said, an unexpected smirk curving up the corners of his lips.

We got ourselves ready once again, and as much as I didn't want to admit it, Hiro served it amazingly. Probably better than I could've, actually, as irking as that was. Though, Saki's team easily kept it off the ground and it went into a smooth, back and forth pace.

Between their team and Hiro and Hinata, I mean. Although they said I could do whatever I wanted, it seemed as if they were trying to not let me touch it. Even if it came in my direction, one of them would run to take it for me. That, or I'd be too slow to react.

After a while of all this belittling, I decided to do something against them. The ball shot up into the air, courtesy of Hinata, and this time I shoved Hiro aside—face-planting him in the sand in the process—to hit it myself. I leapt into the air and slapped it down hard. Almost instantly, the ball was sent hurtling right over the net and exactly to a open spot within the court, giving Saki, Wannabe and Tatusya no time to react whatsoever.

"Wow," Tatsuya murmured, eyes on the ball in complete and utter awe. Actually, everyone was staring at it with their jaws slack.

Even I couldn't even stop gaping at what I'd just done.

I could not believe I just spiked that.

I hit that spike like a volleyball boss!

"Damn right! I hit that spike like Hinata!" I hollered, whipping my fists in the air and dancing in a way that would make the characters in Tenjou Tenge proud.

Everything was silent and once I calmed down, I looked at all of them to see they were staring me me weird, their eyes travelling between a bewildered Hinata and me.

I blinked once realization settled in. "...Oh no, not that one."

The awkward silence immediately dissipated at my words. Somebody clearing their throat forced the tension of the game to heighten once again.

"We won't lose!" Wannabe cried, grabbing the volleyball and returning a strong smack back. Once it hit the sand, barely escaping the line, my eyebrows rose. I didn't know he was athletic.

Well, either way, I wasn't going to admit defeat either.

I've watched Haikyuu!! Pshh, I knew volleyball way more than these losers did.

Watch me beat them in a way that would make the Karasuno team members proud.