After playing in the sea for a while, Mine Ork-chan and Ji Ness-kun joined us. And so began a delightful time where various races mingled.
Karen, mother, and I took on the role of guardians, while the children began to play.
What were they doing, you ask? It was a sort of makeshift beach volleyball.
「Over there, Mint!」
「Whoa! …ei!」
「S-so high… Ah, Chocola-chan!」
「Bark!」
「Shokora, amazing! High Jump!」
The ball was something mother had brought back along with her swimsuit. Rather than being filled with air, it was shaped like a hollow leather sphere—probably reminiscent of ancient kemari. The little ones—two dragon hatchlings, Mint, and Chocola—were tossing it to each other.
…Since everyone was using physical strengthening, the speed and altitude were far from endearing.
「Wow, it went quite far! Now it’s my turn…」
Guided by Chocola’s nose, Ji Ness-kun leaped toward the ball that had been propelled ten or so meters high. In mid-air, he caught up with it and declared:
「Prepare to catch it… Here goes!」
Using his tail, he delivered a powerful attack, turning the ball into a meteor.
「Uuuu…」
And then, our very own Mint dashed forward.
With incredible speed, she bent her legs like a spring, aiming for the ball plummeting vertically.
「…Yaah!」
She rebounded the ball with a frog-like headbutt.
An energy almost impossible for an ordinary person to generate pierced the sky in an almost perfectly vertical trajectory.
「Hehe!」
「Ah!」
「Oh…」
「Bark…」
The ball became as tiny as a grain of rice, and you could almost hear the sound effect: twinkle.
—Wait, where is this ball going to land?
I stood up, anticipating the trajectory. It probably won’t reach the sea, but it seems to be heading beyond the sandy beach and toward the rocky area.
「Be right back.」
With a wry smile, I dashed forward.
I ran past everyone, climbed further beyond the gap in the beach, hopped up the sheer rock face, and used the top as a platform to leap even higher. Catching the slowly descending ball mid-air, I kicked off the cliff again and landed back on the sandy shore.
「…Whoa! Sui, coooolllll!!」
Mint exclaimed, her eyes shining, as she bounded over.
「Boing! It boinged!」
Mint demonstrated, arms wide open, and I handed her the ball.
「Your header was impressive, Mint.」
「Hey, niichan, don’t you realize it yourself? I was surprised too—such altitude!」
「Yeah…! Even we don’t know if we can jump that high.」
「R-really…?」
I had worried that the ball might roll somewhere unreachable on the rocky terrain, but now that I thought about it, I’d jumped with quite some determination.
「But I think Chocola could do that too, right?」
「Bark, bark!」
Chocola wagged his tail vigorously, cheeks puffing out, and panted.
「Still, if the ball falls into the sea, we won’t be able to retrieve it. How about something else next? Oh, I know… how about playing in the sand?」
「Sand? How do we play?」
「Don’t Ji Ness-kun know?」
The two little dragon children tilted their heads in response.
「Alright, let’s do it together.」
Playing in the sand—it had been a while for me too.
I recalled childhood beach outings.
「Ah, Chocola, remember that? When we made tunnels?」
「Bark!」
「You were still small enough to fit through back then… but this time, who knows?」
「Bark, bark!」
「Yeah, let’s build something big enough for you to fit through, Chocola!」
「Bark!」
※※※
From there, mother and Karen joined in, and a sand play competition commenced.
「Ugh… It’s tricky! When I use my hands, it collapses…」
「Hmm. It’s challenging. But magic is prohibited. Let’s dig diligently.」
「Ugh, I’ll do my best!」
「Look, Mint, here’s more sand. If we run out, there’s plenty more.」
「I can produce water, so… if I sprinkle water on the sand, it’ll harden.」
「Thanks, Ji Ness-kun, Mine Ork-chan! Alright, let’s create another tunnel!」
「Mint, wait a moment? Do you know why the tunnels collapse? Mine Ork-chan gave us a hint earlier.」
「Um… because the sand is weak?」
「Exactly. So before making the tunnel, let’s build a sturdy sand mound like a little hill.」
「Got it!」
「It’s amazing! A mountain that big has formed.」
「Bark!」
「But after it’s done, Chocola, it’s your responsibility. Be careful not to collapse it when you crawl through.」
「Bark…」
Eventually, the sand mound reached about as high as my seated head. We continued digging it out slowly from both the front and back.
「Once you’ve dug, pat the ceiling firmly.」
「Like this?」
「Yes, exactly! Well done!」
While supporting Mint from behind, Karen assisted. I continued excavating sand from the opposite side.
Soon, my hand plunged into the tunnel, and Mint’s fingertips touched mine—
「Ah, it’s open!」
「Yay! Now let’s make it wider!」
With a serious expression, Mint expanded the tunnel even further. Karen watched nervously.
Mine Ork-chan and Ji Ness-kun wondered, ‘Can we crawl through too?’. Their eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Holding Chocola, mother watched over the scene. And Chocola, completely absorbed in the task, forgot to wag his tail.
As I observed this scene, unexpectedly, my chest tightened—a feeling reminiscent of the past.
—Back when I was an elementary school student. I think it was third grade.
After summer vacation, back in the classroom.
I overheard a classmate’s story from a distance: ‘My whole family went to the beach.’ They chattered excitedly about going to the sea with parents, siblings, and grandparents—everyone together, having fun and playing various games.
As I listened to their conversation, I couldn’t join in.
That year, I had gone to the beach with father and Chocola. It was incredibly enjoyable—a cherished memory even now. Swimming, clam digging, playing in the sand, and eating yakisoba at the beach house—I remember everything vividly.
Despite his busy work schedule, father made time for us. I’m grateful that he worked hard to ensure I didn’t feel lonely.
But—no, precisely because of that—
The difference between my happy memories and theirs bothered me. Their stories involved more characters than mine did, and that somehow stung.
Even though I love father and Chocola dearly. Even though we went to the beach together, just like them.
Yet, I found myself envious of their experiences, and I couldn’t forgive myself for feeling that way.
That summer marked the last time I told my father, ‘I want to go to the beach.’—-
「……mother」
「What’s wrong, Sui-kun?」
The large tunnel was complete, and everyone rejoiced with excitement. The little dragon hatchlings hesitantly folded their wings and crawled inside. Chocola, determined, cautiously stuck his head in.
Mother, upon being addressed, tilted her head slightly, then looked at my face—
Without asking anything, she sat beside me, gently stroking my head.
I surrendered to her touch and quietly confessed:
「Long ago, I played in the sand at the beach with father.」
「I see.」
「It was fun. …Incredibly fun.」
「Yes.」
「It was just as enjoyable as now. Really.」
「I know.」
Mother gazed into the distance, her expression kind, and said:
「Your father understands too. So don’t worry.」
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