Crimson & Clover

The Beach is for Lovers...

The week before passed just like the summer's breeze that was currently blowing through the open windows of Jotaro's car. They were on their way to Morioh's port and beach so the teenagers could start their vacation. Josuke, Yukako and Koichi were left in the back seat after Okuyasu called "shotgun" on the passenger seat. Yukako would rather be riding in the trunk, maybe even on the roof. Either were better than being sandwiched in the middle of a love triangle.

Josuke avoided making too much contact with her besides letting their knees and shoulders occasionally brush. He mostly stared out his window, watching all the colorful houses as they whizzed passed them. Koichi laid his slightly clammy hand on Yukako's. He'd squeeze it when he saw pelicans flying over ocean, prompting her to look over too. Her eyes would sometimes let their gaze wander onto the rearview mirror where she could see Jotaro's.

Jotaro is always so serious... I wonder if he knows about... She looked at Josuke from the corner of her eye. Did you tell him, Josuke? When she looked back at the mirror, her eyes met Jotaro's causing her to tense up as she quickly looked down at the radio.

"We're here," Jotaro announced as he pulled into the driveway of the sunflower-colored beach house. The house sat on a busy road that separated itself from the beach. Around it were other happy pastel houses lining up the block. They all exited the car. Jotaro went to the trunk to get their bags and the cooler, when Okuyasu noticed a familiar red car in the driveway.

"Oi, Jotaro?" He called. The other three teenagers gathered on the lawn to get a better look at the house they would be staying in. "Whose car is that parked ahead of yours?" Josuke, Yukako and Koichi all broke their necks snapping their heads toward the driveway to see the parked car.

"You've got to be kidding me," Josuke mumbled. His eyes searched the windows of the house to see a figure already inside.

Jotaro shut the trunk of the car and stepped onto the grass as he set the bags down. "That's right. I forgot to tell you," he spoke casually as he adjusted his cap. "It came to my attention that it would be safer if I stayed in Morioh while the four of you went on your trip. So, I asked Rohan if he could stay with you in my place."

"Jotaro! What the hell?!" Josuke yelled as he stomped over to his nephew.

Koichi slumped a bit. While he felt somewhat relieved now that Rohan wouldn't be excluded, he now had an added distraction. Yukako feigned neutrality with a blank face.

Jotaro remained still and stared back at his uncle to say, "I told you you were not going alone." He jutted his hand into his coat pocket for his cigarettes, because the way this was going, he was going to need one. "Besides, Rohan seemed pretty excited to come. I'm not some shitty person who'd deprive someone of a good time."

Yukako looked on as Josuke argued with Jotaro while the latter remained adamant that Rohan had to watch them. She shifted her sights back onto the house. He could be seen through the window with his back turned. What's he doing in there anyway?

Rohan stood in the kitchen as he used the house's phone. "I got here twenty minutes ago," he spoke into the receiver. "Are they still on their way?"

"They actually just got there," Haruhi said on the other line. "Before you go, remember to keep an eye on them. Especially that snake Yamagishi," she hissed. "If you don't get the proof then it's all for nothing."

Rohan looked over his shoulder to see everyone in the front yard. "I know that already," he assured. He held his camera in front of him on the kitchen counter. "I'll talk to you tonight. Bye."

"Bye, bye," Haruhi said before hanging up. She felt quite pleased with herself. Thanks to Jotaro inviting Rohan, she would be able to have her agent on the inside! She continued on leisurely painting her toes in her living room back in Morioh. "What are you going to do now, Yamagishi?"