Part 1
The sun gleamed on the horizon as the group walked along the coastal path.
In the distance, the sound of the ocean blended with the lively murmur of a bustling city. The warm breeze carried a salty, refreshing scent.
—There it is. Port Jade —announced Thalindra at the front, walking confidently. Her ears twitched slightly, betraying her excitement.
The group paused to take in the view of the city before them. The buildings, made of stone and sturdy wood, were clearly designed to withstand the coastal climate. Ornate rooftops rose beside flags of various guilds.
—It's more charming than I imagined —commented Yuna, observing the streets full of dwarves, humans, and demi-humans.
—It's beautiful, but... why does everything look so practical? —asked Melodía, eyeing a decorative fountain with spinning gears.
—That's how we dwarves are —Thalindra replied with a satisfied smile—. Function first, then beauty. Every stone and gear has a purpose.
Kizuna fluttered excitedly.
—Kizu, look at those huge ships! And all the hanging fish!
—Those are ships? —Yuna tilted her head—. It's my first time seeing one.
—Seriously? —Haruto asked, surprised—. You've never seen a sailboat?
—I've never left the forest —Yuna admitted with a gentle smile—. They look amazing.
Haruto smiled at her excitement, but when he noticed Kizuna closely inspecting a sailboat, he frowned.
—I get that everything's new for Yuna, but you don't look surprised… more like fascinated by the details.
Kizuna let out her trademark giggle.
—Because I share your memories, Kizu. Olivia and I know what you know.
Haruto fell into thought. Though Olivia and Kizuna had different personalities, it was easy to forget they were both part of him. A useful... yet strange connection.
—Such lovely crafts! —Melodía exclaimed, admiring shell and gemstone pendants.
—Simple, but charming —Thalindra added, inspecting a bracelet.
The dwarf vendor beamed with pride.
—Did I hear Sister Thalindra say "lovely"? —Simmone chimed in with her usual neutral tone.
Thalindra froze. Her ears drooped slightly, and a faint blush colored her cheeks.
—No... I just said that, for something not forged with a hammer, it looks decent —she muttered, crossing her arms.
—Thalindra's getting soft! —Kizuna laughed.
—Don't say nonsense! —she snapped, turning away while the dwarf behind the stall smiled even wider.
Amused, Melodía bought necklaces for her friends, and the group continued walking.
—How about we try some local food and then hit the beach? —Yuna suggested, her smile radiant with excitement.
Everyone nodded without hesitation and followed her through the lively streets of Port Jade.
Along the way, they passed a more modest building than the others—the Adventurer's Guild. Though not very imposing, a large quest board on the front caught their attention. Several posters showed wanted faces, most of them stamped with "Pirate."
—Interesting... —Haruto murmured, making a mental note before moving on.
Soon, they arrived at an open-air diner by the sea. The salty breeze brushed their faces, and the sound of waves offered a break from the city's noise.
—Welcome to The Last Wave. What would you like to try today? —greeted a blond human with sun-kissed skin and a vibrant smile.
—What do you recommend? —Yuna asked kindly—. It's our first time in the city.
—If you're looking for something refreshing, I suggest our fruit drinks. We use fresh fruits from Mythara. Here's the menu —he said, handing it over with enthusiasm.
Haruto took it and muttered, surprised:
—They have smoothies here too?
The young man chuckled after hearing his comment.
—Ah, sorry! I'm Kai. Nice to meet you all.
—Nice to meet you, Kai —Yuna replied with a warm nod and a smile.
—Take your time. My partner Naia and I will take care of you —he added, gesturing to a young woman behind the counter who moved with the same relaxed grace.
Kai stepped away, letting them browse the menu. Melodía studied each option with the same sparkle in her eye she had when analyzing a formal gown.
—I want to try them all, but I don't want to get full on just juice —she said, thoughtful.
—I've already decided. I'm going with the mixed fruit one —Haruto said, closing his menu.
—I'll take the strawberry —Simmone added in her ever-neutral tone.
—Me too! Strawberry, strawberry! —Kizuna shouted, raising her hand like she was in class.
—I'll have this one: strawberry, watermelon, grape, and berry —Yuna said, pointing at her choice with a bright smile.
—The banana and pineapple one sounds delicious —commented Thalindra, nodding confidently.
—I'll go with Haruto's mixed fruit —Melodía added, finally closing her menu.
Once everyone had made their choice, Melodía signaled, and Kai returned.
—Ready to order?
Everyone repeated their picks, and Kai jotted them down with practiced ease.
—Anything to eat with that? —he asked.
—Something light would be nice —Melodía replied with elegance.
—Perfect. Fresh seafood. I'll be right back.
Soon, Kai returned with a tray of colorful smoothies. Then another tray with perfectly prepared seafood.
—Enjoy. If you need anything, I'll be at the counter —he said with a smile, leaving the trays.
Each of them tried their drink, and their expressions lit up instantly.
—Is this magic? It's a hundred times better than a blender —Haruto muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
—Blender? Another one of your weird words? —Yuna asked, raising an eyebrow.
—It's a machine from my world that mixes things. Like this, but without magic —Haruto explained, lifting his glass.
Kai, who happened to be passing by, paused when he heard him.
—Blender? Isn't that one of those toys made by the Satori company? —he asked curiously—. Sorry for eavesdropping, I just found that interesting.
—No worries. But… how do you guys mix fruit this well?
—Easy: with magic —Kai said with a shrug—. Though really, it's all Naia's talent.
He turned toward the counter and called out:
—Naia, love, could you come here a second?
A young woman with blue hair approached. She walked with poise and calm, but what stood out most was her tail—a sleek fin, much like a dolphin's.
—Good day. I'm Naia. A pleasure to serve you. How can I help?
—These guests are blown away by your smoothies. They say they're delicious and want to know how you make them with magic —Kai said with a grin.
Naia gave a soft laugh.
—Thank you for the compliment, but it's actually simpler than it looks —she said, extending a hand.
A small whirlpool of water began to spin gracefully in her palm.
—Dolphin demi-humans are born with a natural affinity for water. We can manipulate currents, and with a small water vortex like this and a few magic slicing techniques, I blend the fruit to make the drinks.
Everyone stared at her in admiration, spontaneous compliments slipping out.
—Sorry if we bothered you —Haruto said, bowing his head slightly.
—No worries, you're not the first curious ones —Naia replied kindly—. But the real star is Kai. His cooking is what draws people in.
Haruto looked at the two of them. The way they moved in harmony, like every motion was perfectly rehearsed, made him sigh. There was something so natural in their connection—it stirred a faint pang of envy in him.
He wished he'd had something like that back in Japan...
He turned his gaze to the girls. The group was laughing, sharing seafood and smoothies, enjoying the moment with ease.
It was a warm scene.
Comforting.
Still, the memory of a pale-haired girl eating ice cream beside him lingered in his mind.
—I wonder what she's doing now... —he murmured, lost in thought.
—Want some strawberry? —Simmone asked, calmly offering her cup—. It helps lift my mood.
Her tone was still neutral, but Haruto sensed the concern behind her words.
He gave a faint smile and gently patted her head.
—Thanks, Simo. I'll take some. Want to try this mixed fruit one?
The girl nodded. They quietly shared their drinks, exchanging flavors.
A small moment, but enough to loosen the knot inside Haruto's chest.
After a while—and plenty of laughter from the group—he stood up.
—I'm gonna walk for a bit. Need to clear my head. I'll meet you later at Paradise Beach, okay?
—Want me to come with you? —Yuna asked gently.
—I'm good. Besides, I need lighter clothes. This outfit's cooking me —he said with a tired smile, tugging at his shirt and long pants.
And that's without the new coat, he thought dryly.
With Kizuna floating at his side, he waved goodbye to the group and headed toward the market district. As he browsed the shops, a familiar voice broke through his thoughts.
Olivia appeared beside him, materializing with her usual robotic elegance, while Kizuna greeted her joyfully.
—Information! That shop fits your style —she declared, pointing to one with a wooden sign above the door.
—Good morning, Olivia. You're unusually active today —Haruto said with a smile.
—Response! How offensive, Master. I never rest. I'm constantly collecting data and monitoring system activity.
—That's right, Kizu. Olivia's always awake—it just shows on her face sometimes —Kizuna added with a grin.
With exaggerated tears in her eyes, Olivia hugged her floating sister.
—Comment: Thank you, sister. Someone understands the suffering of a hardworking AI. Sniff, sniff.
Haruto raised both hands in mock surrender.
—Alright, alright. Thanks for all your hard work, Olivia.
—At least he knows how to show appreciation, Kizu! —Kizuna laughed.
Haruto chuckled softly, watching the two. He stepped into the shop with a lighter heart.
Sometimes, just having them nearby was enough to feel okay again.
But for now, it was time to focus on the essentials:
Finding something more comfortable...
And getting ready for the beach.