("Whoa, there's a huge chunk of jade just lying there.")
That silly thought pops into Misago's head. What she sees is "Hisui"—a person, not an actual gemstone—but his name also means "jade" in Japanese. So the joke is that it looks like a giant piece of jade is just lying on the beach… but it's actually the guy named Hisui, completely wiped out and lying defenseless in the sand.
Misago can't help but feel tempted—she jokes internally about picking him up and taking him home, then wrestles with her own naughty thoughts, laughing to herself.
("This is the kind of workout I'm talking about, right?")
Her inner monologue continues, full of cheeky imagination. She finds Hisui's slightly low stamina and innocent vibe incredibly cute.
From a little distance away, Misago's older sister Hachikuma is keeping an eye on the surroundings, warding off onlookers while they're out here looking for actual jade stones. But to Misago, no matter how pretty or valuable the stones are, none can compare to her Hisui.
After all, in just a few days, Hisui's presence has brought in a flood of reservations and stirred up a lot of money. He has no idea how much value he's generating—both directly and indirectly. The inn they're staying at is already projecting massive profits just from hosting him.
It's wild how the place used to be almost empty, and now it's thriving—all thanks to just one charming guest.
("It's gotta be because it's that Hisui,") she thinks.
He's kind, open, good with people… and maybe a bit too easygoing when it comes to "intimate matters." Honestly, he feels too good to be true—like someone straight out of a fantasy.
She wonders if there's any real way to repay someone like that.
As she reflects on it, her thoughts drift to how people with certain "traits" are valued in the world—some shockingly so. It's an underground thing, but still.
That's all behind her now, though. At this moment, she feels like one of the happiest people around.
She grins, already looking forward to spending time with Hisui again that night.
Back in the present, she spots a promising jade stone, sprints over, picks it up, and holds it to the sunlight. It's a small piece—only about the size of a fingertip—but the color is good. Probably great for jewelry or an accessory.
In her peripheral vision, she sees Hisui stumbling over some quartz and fox stones, while Hachikuma goes to explain things to him. Even from a distance, it's obvious he's picking up all the wrong rocks. But Misago finds his cluelessness totally adorable.
The whole outing feels kind of like a date. She smiles, thinking it might be time to call it a day—Hisui's legs look like they're barely holding up.