The next day...
"Aww, now this is what I call bliss!" Rin shouted as he took a few sips of his mango mimosa while lying comfortably on an outdoor lounge chair.
Bare chested with Nike shorts on enjoying the refreshing yet chilly breeze as the sun stood majestically in the sky, brightening up the mood and coating the earth in a sea of gold.
"You can say that again!" Ethan exclaimed with a smile as he leaned on the wall, wearing an unbuttoned gray shirt, a white tee underneath it, matching shorts, and white slides.
A casual fit that paired well with the black shades he had on that hid his perverted gaze as he sneakily appreciated… I mean observed the women all around them, who seemed to have bodies crafted by the hands of Michelangelo.
"But as they say, 'all good things must come to an end,' and ours is quickly approaching, so, I would try and make the most of it. Instead of watching from the distance like a weirdo," Maze whispered into Ethan's ear as she appeared behind scaring the poor fella as he quickly turned around.
Nearly stumbling backward as he realized it was Maze, who had not matured one bit since her birthday, since which sensible person sneaks up on someone and whispers in their ear?
"And who are you to tell me what to do?!" Ethan shouted as he pointed at Maze.
"Well, well mister last time I checked, I at least had the confidence to shoot my shot at my man," she replied with a giggle as she winked at a nearby pool server.
"Tsk, as if when you are doing the same thing as me," Ethan said with an eye roll as he did not believe for a second Maze acquired the courage to approach her "man". As he lay on the empty lounge chair next to Rin.
"Oh, well sorry to burst your bubble but are you, my father?! Like come on Ethan it isn't that serious, buddy." Maze asked with confusion as she could not see what Ethan was trying to imply. Since for one he was not and will never be her father or someone eligible to speak to her with that tone and two he is just mad because some random snatched his shorty.
"I'm not, but if I was your man, you wouldn't even be allowed to leave your room looking like that," Ethan replied with a frown as he could see the stares Maze was getting from the opposite gender and even some of the ladies.
Yet, the lady of the hour acted oblivious to it, as if she were not aware she was wearing an all-black ring-linked halter triangle bikini with a cover-up. That teased the male gaze as she showed just enough to arouse the evil flame within them.
"Fortunately, you're not..." Maze muttered with relief before directing her attention to Rin, "So how about you Mister Nonchalant, how many ladies have you walked down since we got here?" she asked with mischief as she twirled her hair.
"Huh? You talking to me?" Rin asked with a smile as he pointed at himself with surprise.
"Of course, who else would I be talking to except you, dummy," Maze blinked in disbelief as she sighed, "Sometimes I truly wonder just how you are so strong yet so stupid at the same time, like make it make sense!"
"To be honest, I don't know either," Rin shrugged, "But I'm sure someone out there knows the answer to your burning question, Maze," Rin said sarcastically as he sat up and finished the rest of his mimosa.
Before getting up and doing a couple of stretches, "Hey Ethan, do you think today might be the day we get to meet that mysterious friend of Niko's?"
"Maybe but I wouldn't count on it as we're supposed to be leaving today and in a couple of hours to be exact," Ethan said as he took out his phone and showed him the message, they received this morning from Niko:
// Good morning students, so considering the current situation, I believe it would be better if we returned to school. So, at around 12:30 p.m., all students must be within the resort or downstairs in the lobby to await further orders. But until then you all have free rein, however, do watch the time and try not to cause any problems for me. Also, I would recommend you stay within a mile radius of the resort, any further and I cannot guarantee your safety. So, good luck and do not do anything stupid. //
"Damn, I almost forgot about that, but surely, we will meet him one day as any friend of Niko Rodriguez must be someone unique or at least exceptionally talented," Rin commented before walking away to get a refill.
2 minutes later…
"So, Maze do you think Rin was successful in rescuing Billy?" Ethan asked as he glanced at Maze once Rin left.
"Probably but I wouldn't speak upon it as I'm still confused why they would even target him."
"Sigh... but surely he would tell us if we asked right?"
"Maybe, but that's only if it isn't something that could potentially kill us as some secrets can't be easily spoken. Or else you attract the ire of a certain entity or worse death," Maze said as she remembered a rumor swirling around the house about Rin's awakening.
Which claimed that whenever an elder spoke about it, they would mysteriously disappear and later be found dead in their room.
"W... w-what are you trying to say, Maze?" Ethan stuttered as he raised his voice, "As there's no way Billy could be hiding some groundbreaking secret, that if word got out the whole world want to kill him?"
"I wouldn't say all that now, Ethan, but it's a possibility considering you, yourself should understand what that would signify," Maze said mysteriously as she walked away, the moment she saw Rin returning with a refilled glass and some food.
'Hopefully, we are not as I could not even begin to fathom what Billy had to go through to reach this point as most Divine Beast Clans have gone extinct by now and the ones that remain can barely even function nowadays.' Ethan thought as he closed his eyes and sighed just remembering how vastly different things are to their once glorious past as he took this moment to calm down.
Allowing himself to breathe for once, without having to worry if today would be his last, or if he would ever be able to see his father, mother, and siblings again.
"Hey, is everything alright, Ethan?" Rin asked with worry as he could see his friend seemed to be fighting the urge to cry.
"Yeah, man I just need a moment," Ethan muttered softly, "Sorry."
"It's cool take all the time you need, pal as we won't be leaving anytime soon."
***
Ring! Ring! Ring!
"Just what is it now?!" Jessica growled as she was forced to wake up from her beauty sleep by her phone's stupid alarm that read 12:30 p.m., the time she was supposed to...
"NOOOOOO!!! Just how could I have!!!! Didn't I..." Jessica screamed like a banshee as she jumped out of her bed and rushed to get ready.
Disregarding the message just beneath it that read, 'In 15 minutes we will be leaving so to all my heavy sleepers, I will try and wake up once it hits 12:45 p.m. or else, all students will be forcefully teleported to the meadow. Regardless of how you may look, smell, and feel, so until then enjoy your last moments in Hawaii.'