After cleaning the sand from the front of Sajuna's socks, Akira coughed lightly to hide the shame and awkwardness in his heart.
Putting on a serious face while working was truly exhausting.
He felt like he might lose his composure at any moment.
However, seeing Sajuna's touched expression filled him with a sense of satisfaction, making him feel incredibly motivated.
Although what Sajuna had asked him to do wasn't something he was reluctant about...
After dealing with the fine sand, it was time to help Sajuna take off her knee-high socks. Akira's gaze drifted upward, catching sight of the neat pleated skirt below Sajuna's slender waist, followed by the absolute territory revealed between the hem of her skirt and the top of her knee-high socks.
The school-issued knee-high socks had two white bands at the top, allowing them to cling tightly to the skin and preventing them from slipping down during daily activities.
Akira reached out, grabbing the edge of the sock slightly pressed into Sajuna's soft skin. He then slid his fingers inside to create a gap, placed his other hand in as well, grasped the sock's edge with both hands, and gently pulled the knee-high sock down along Sajuna's smooth skin.
After taking off the knee-high sock from her left leg, Akira felt more confident and proceeded to remove the other sock with greater familiarity.
Placing the two removed socks side by side, Akira gave them a gentle tug, trying to shake off the sand.
After repeating this a couple of times, Akira estimated it was good enough. He folded the socks and placed them on top of her shoes. The sea breeze wasn't very strong, so there was no need to worry about the socks being blown away.
"Aki-Kun, don't you think I seem quite different right now?"
Sajuna suddenly said.
Akira thought about it and felt that since he had seen Sajuna today, her emotions had been constantly changing.
But what was clear was that ever since arriving at the beach, Sajuna had become much more lively, making it obvious to anyone how happy she was deep down.
"It feels like Sajuna is very happy right now."
Akira replied.
"Because I came to a beach I've never been to before, and I came with Aki-Kun."
Sajuna turned around, looking at Akira in front of her. She brought her legs together, hugged her knees, and quietly began to share her thoughts with him.
"Because coming to the beach with someone you love is inherently a romantic thing, especially when there aren't many people around."
"In such an environment, a girl can lean on her boyfriend's shoulder, hold onto his sturdy arm, her nose filled with his familiar scent. Turning her head, she can see the smile that makes her heart flutter, gazing at the deep blue sea and sky in the distance. They share a knowing look, and the sweetness in their eyes is an affirmation of the beautiful scenery around them, the merging sea and sky."
Sajuna gently brushed back her hair, and suddenly she seemed more mature and sentimental.
"If, in such a moment, the two could interlace their fingers, waiting slowly for the sun to set, the deep red sunset gently rippling on the sea's surface, and sharing their feelings amidst such scenery, that would be the best."
"Before, I always relied on Aki-Kun too much. I felt I wasn't expressing my feelings directly enough, so I changed the way I interact with Aki-Kun."
"Do you like me like this, Aki-Kun?"
Sajuna wore a nervous expression, her eyes unconsciously darting around a bit, her toes wiggling, as if still trying to keep her expression calm.
Even though she had said it, she still seemed to have little secrets in her heart.
Akira looked at Sajuna across from him. A sea breeze blew past, lifting Sajuna's smooth, long hair, seemingly trying to slowly veil her face.
The scattered, flying strands blocked Sajuna's vision, brushing against her long eyelashes and making her blink uncontrollably.
Just as Sajuna was about to fix her hair, she felt a dark figure suddenly appear in her line of sight, gathering the hair in front of her eyes.
Akira extended his right hand, slowly smoothing Sajuna's disheveled hair, then gently stroked her smooth cheek.
"I really like it."
Unable to contain her joy, Sajuna happily wrapped her arms around Akira's arm, wiggling her body and letting out a few coquettish hums from her nose, then leaned her whole body into Akira's embrace.
"While I like Sajuna in any form, doesn't acting like this tire you out?"
"It's not really tiring either."
Leaning in Akira's embrace, Sajuna watched the calm sea in the distance, where a few seagulls occasionally flew by, seemingly carrying small fish in their beaks, emitting pleasant sounds.
"Because I'm with Aki-Kun. I get a constant supply of happy energy."
"Besides, as a coser, I hate people who don't take their roles seriously."
"So, as Aki-Kun's girlfriend, I have to seriously play the role of a girlfriend well too."
"So, are you looking forward to it, Aki-Kun?"
Sajuna looked up at Akira's profile. Having said all this, Aki-Kun should understand, right?
"I'm looking forward to it."
Akira's heart pounded wildly as he looked at the shy and adorable Sajuna in his arms.
The girl's eyes were gentle. She raised her alluring brows, her gaze soft as she looked at the boy she liked, describing how she wanted him to enjoy all the beautiful things.
This only made Akira feel the increasingly intense charm emanating from Sajuna. The youthful bloom of a girl, blossoming in the river of time, seemed within his reach. Was he truly worthy of such a girl?
Akira found the answer in his heart, then revealed a gentle smile. Looking at Sajuna's slightly upturned lips, he slowly guided her to turn around.
On the tranquil beach, Sajuna sat in Akira's embrace, her body carrying a faint, natural fragrance. The breeze brushed through the fine hairs on the girl's forehead, veiling her slightly flushed cheeks.
Akira adjusted his position slightly, naturally wrapping his arm around Sajuna's shoulder. His focused and profound gaze fixed on the lovely girl before him, forcing her to close her eyes to escape the heat in the boy's eyes.
Before Sajuna could let go of the restraint in her heart, Akira lowered his head and kissed her moist, crimson lips.
Sajuna felt the weather at this moment was so damp and clinging. The cool sea breeze blew past, stirring a restlessness within her heart. She gently fanned her cheeks, trying to dispel the warmth on them.
Looking at the boy opposite her, she felt that the reason for her immense happiness here on the beach ultimately came down to the bond between them.
It had little to do with the surroundings at all.