-In 2023, not all parents hold their children to traditional standards for love and marriage, but modern lifestyles are still not always accepted. Especially not when your younger sibling is getting married first and your parents are practically jum...
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The next morning after breakfast, the three of you volunteer to take part in a community beach cleaning as part of your vacation. Besides, the second Faye heard the words 'beach cleaning' come out of Kotonoha's mouth, she was immediately hooked. "It's good karma!" she said to convince the two of you. And when you both agreed, she was over the moon/
When you arrive at the check-in counter, you're forced to sign your name on some emailing list so you can get a garbage bag to empty your trash into. Though you really don't need more email notifications on your phone, you agree and move on.
A few volunteers pass you their claws and hand their bags of trash to the check-out counter. And then, the three of you are finally on your way.
"Let's go," Faye smiles at the two of you as she picks up her claw and clenches it open and shut it a few times to make it look as though it's talking.
"I used to have one of these as a kid," Kotonoha smiles at you. "It was basically a shark's head on a stick. But, it kept me entertained."
"I guess this is the adult version," you smile back. The two of you then tap the ends of your claws together and follow behind Faye.
As you walk down the strip of beach, your head mindlessly wanders to thoughts of last night. You still can't believe you spent hours upon hours with that guy. It felt great and puts a smile on your face, but at the same time, you feel an odd sensation in your stomach. As though you're missing something. And though you're pretty sure you know what it is, you attempt to keep your thoughts from shifting in that direction.
"Hey," Faye then approaches you on your right as she picks up an empty water bottle with her claw. "How're you doing? You've been quiet all morning. Are you okay?"
"Hungover as fuck," you grumble. "My head is killing me right now. It's throbbing like-"
"Like your pussy was last night when I found you dry-humping that guy," Kotonoha grins as she comes up on your left. "What did you say his name was again? Oh, that's right, Adam."
You and Kotonoha turn your heads to face Faye so quickly you could almost hear both your necks cracking in rhythm.
"What?" she gasps, her mouth becoming dry at what Kotonoha's said. "That's not funny."
"Not trying to be," Kotonoha shrugs. "That was his name. Y/N was macking on him all night apparently."
"Fuck you, Noha," Faye states in a voice blisteringly cold before she walks off.
"What the fuck?" Kotonoha scoffs as she holds out her arms. "What crawled up her ass? It's not like she owns every guy named Adam."
"The joke wasn't as funny as it was last night," you shake your head. "Shit, I'm going to go apologize."
"Really?" Kotonoha shakes her head. "What the hell did I do? Why am I the bad guy?"
"Check yourself, Noha. You sound like my fucking mom right now," you shrug before running off to catch up with Faye.
"Hey," you call out to her as you rush to her side. "Faye, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out like that. I wasn't trying to make you feel-"
"You didn't make me feel anything, Y/N. I'm not mad at you. I just don't get Noha sometimes. She's so hot and cold. I don't know what her problem is. It's like she wants to be a good friend and help me but then, I don't know, she tries to make me feel shitty for having an ex or something like that. When's the last time she's even got with someone, huh? Can't remember the last time I've seen her kiss a guy at the club..."
"Well, uh," you begin, not really sure what to say. Has Kotonoha really not come out to Faye yet? You thought it was obvious since high school, but apparently not to Faye. "I think she's just waiting for the right person."
"But does that give her any right to make me feel shitty for breaking up with someone who treated me like crap? I mean, for god's sake, she was so on board with me breaking up with him before I went and did it! What changed?" she continues to ramble as she picks up trash along the way.
"I think that I'm not the person to ask. You should really talk to Noha," you hum.
"Yeah, you're right," she sighs. "I just don't know what to say."
"What you said to me. She appreciates the sincerity even if she does get mad or anything. It's better than dancing around it or pretending like nothing's wrong," you advise.
"Yeah," she hums again, this time looking in the direction where Kotonoha is picking up trash and quietly cursing to herself as she nearly steps in a pile of literal dogshit. She then laughs to herself before smiling up at you. "Thanks, Y/N. I'm really glad you gave me some good advice."
"Of course. Anytime you need me I'll be here," you smile.
"So tell me, was his name really Adam?" she chuckles as she nudges your side.
"Unfortunately. I didn't even process it until Noha found me. It was like he put me under some kind of spell," you laugh.
"Be glad he didn't rufie you. I read somewhere about how people put a small pill under their tongue and then when they kiss you, they slip it into your mouth without you even realizing it. Then you swallow it and you're fucked," she nods firmly.
"Yeah, well, I don't think it was that... But I'll have to keep that in mind next time I kiss guys named Adam," you tease.
"Please don't. For my sake. I also heard that all guys with A names have chodes. Like, smaller than small," she explains to you.
"Glad you saved me from that then," you smile.
"You're welcome. Just maybe save the kissing for the wedding. You know, when you go out with Sawamura's friend," she reminds you.
"I dunno, Faye. It's either going to be great to have someone to talk to or he's going to completely ignore me and I'll be bored the whole time."
"I wish you could sit with us," she sighs as she wraps her arm around yours, giving up on the trash.
"Trust me, I wish that, too. The last thing I need is my mother asking embarrassing questions to the poor guy," you groan.
"What do you think is wrong with him?" she then asks, taking you by surprise.
"What do you mean?"
"Like, he doesn't have a date, right? So why do you think that is? I mean, he's never met you so it's not like you're his first choice, no offense," she shrugs.
"I don't know," you shake your head as you ponder the thought. "I haven't really thought of it before. I don't even know his name."
"He should be interesting at least," Faye then tries to comfort you. "I mean, your brother's other friends are."
"That's the understatement of the century," you smile to yourself. "But I don't want to talk about them. We've still got some time left on our vacation. Let's go get Noha and return this trash so someone else can collect the money for our hard work."
