"Finally! The ocean!"
Haruka shouted, her voice full of excitement as she stretched her arms wide, taking in the sight of the endless blue in front of them.
The waves lapped peacefully at the shore, while tiny crabs scuttled across the wet sand, searching for food.
From a distance, the water shimmered, reflecting the bright sunlight. But the heat was oppressive, the kind that made you feel like you could fry an egg on the sand.
Haruka sighed heavily, her enthusiasm quickly fading as she plopped down on the picnic blanket beneath a large umbrella.
"But... it's so hot, I can't even enjoy it." She slumped in frustration, the umbrella barely shielding her from the intense sun.
"We should've gone to the beach in the winter."
Seated comfortably in a deckchair beside her, Haruto raised an eyebrow, lifting his sunglasses slightly to glance at his sulking sister.
"Do you want to freeze to death? Hyperthermia is a real thing, you know." He smirked, settling back into his seat.
"Anyway, we're here for a change of scenery. Wouldn't it be tragic if we spent the whole summer break either working part-time or cooped up in that gloomy house with Dad passed out drunk every night?"
He reached into the cooler beside him and grabbed a bottle of ramune. With a practiced motion, he popped the marble into the drink, watching the bubbles fizz up before taking a refreshing sip.
His eyes drifted over to Chiyo, who sat quietly nearby. Her bikini was mostly hidden under a light blue beach robe, though the fabric was transparent enough for him to still catch glimpses of her figure.
Smirking, Haruto leaned closer to her, his voice dropping into a teasing whisper. "So, did you wash those bikinis, or is there still some of my semen left on them?"
Chiyo's face turned a deep shade of red. "O-of course I washed it!" she stammered, quickly turning her head away, refusing to meet his gaze.
He chuckled at her embarrassment, then shifted his attention back to the ocean. The beach they were at was a private resort, generously offered by Arataki.
There wasn't another soul in sight except for their small group, making the atmosphere even more serene.
Enji and Arataki were nowhere to be found, probably busy with their "business." That left him with his sister, Chiyo, his stepmother, Enji's younger sister, and Arataki's older sister.
For now, it was just them—and the vast, empty ocean.
Suddenly, someone perched on his lap, her weight pressing comfortably against him.
Haruto blinked, surprised, as a woman with long, wavy blonde hair and dark, smoldering eyes trailed her fingers across his bare chest, sending a shiver down his spine.
"If I knew Arataki had such a handsome friend, I would've joined his little gang long ago," she purred, flashing him a playful smile.
It was Erika Arataki—Arataki's older sister. A second-year university student, she was a vision of beauty and seduction.
Her body had the elegant curves of a Spanish guitar, her nails painted in striking red polish.
Her lips, equally crimson, stood out against her flawless skin, with a small beauty mark above her mouth that added to her charm.
She wore a bold red bikini that accentuated her voluptuous figure, leaving little to the imagination.
Haruto chuckled, putting the ramune down as his gaze lingering on her ample chest.
"Is that so?" his hand resting on her thick thigh, making sure she stayed balanced on his lap.
It was hard to ignore how women seemed more drawn to him lately, but Haruto now understood why.
Every time he leveled up, his stats—particularly his Seductive and Charisma attributes—increased.
He had become irresistibly appealing, like candy to women. And, of course, who could resist candy?
Erika grinned, her hand caressing his jaw. "You're a naughty boy, aren't you?" She leaned closer, whispering, "I should've brought my girl friends. We could've had a real party."
"It's not too late," Haruto teased, enjoying the heat of her touch.
Her breath was warm against his skin as she leaned in further. "Let big sis give you a kiss…"
But before their lips could meet, a sharp cough interrupted their moment. Haruto glanced up to see Haruka standing there, her eyes narrowing into a death glare directed squarely at Erika.
Erika raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by Haruka's glare. "Oh, I almost forgot we have a little girl here. My bad," she said with a teasing smile before turning back to Haruto.
"We'll continue this later." She winked as she stood, then moved to sit beside Haruka, her tone mocking.
"Why don't you go swim with your cute little floaty unicorn, sweetheart?"
Haruka's face turned crimson with anger. "You! You asshole!!!" she snapped before storming off toward the resort.
"Haruka, wait!" Haruto quickly stood, grabbing her hand gently.
He guided her into the shade, away from the scorching sun, his voice soft as he tried to calm her down.
"She's just messing around, don't take it too seriously."
Haruka pouted, her cheeks still flushed. "You shouldn't let that bitch touch you like that!" she fumed, her arms crossed.
"Hey, language," Haruto said sternly, raising his voice just a bit.
Haruka immediately covered her mouth, her expression turning apologetic as she mumbled, "Sorry."
"She's just playing around, Haruka. She wouldn't actually do anything," he reassured her, hoping to soothe her temper.
"But I still don't like it," she muttered, her brows knitting together in frustration.
"If… if she touches you like that again, and you let her, I won't ever speak to you again!"
She turned her face away, crossing her arms with finality, clearly upset.
Haruto chuckled softly, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her temple.
"Alright, alright. I won't let her touch me like that anymore, okay? Stop sulking."
She huffed but nodded, still grumpy. He sighed, thinking of a way to cheer her up.
"How about this—why don't we take a walk by the sea and watch the sunset? Just the two of us?"
Haruka's face lit up, her earlier anger quickly fading. "Really?"
"Of course," Haruto said, smiling warmly. "Let's make this summer break special."
"Yay!" She beamed, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug.
He smiled down at her, gently brushing her hair as she nestled against him, her happiness contagious.
Haruto made sure Haruka was in high spirits before he ventured back out to the ocean, leaving her to enjoy the comforts of the resort's private chef.
For a food lover like her, it was like heaven, indulging in a gourmet lunch while taking a break from the sun.
As he strolled toward the ocean, however, he noticed Erika was nowhere to be seen. Only Chiyo was left, lounging on a chair with a relaxed posture.
A table beside her held a bottle of champagne, and her glass was already half empty.
Curious, Haruto sat down beside her. "Where's Erika?"
Chiyo's gaze remained fixed on the horizon, her voice noticeably colder as she responded, "She said she wanted to go to the public beach. Apparently, this place is 'boring.'"
Haruto raised an eyebrow, sensing the sharpness in her tone.
'No way,' he thought, amusement creeping into his mind.
He smirked, leaning closer, his breath warm against her ear.
"Are you jealous?" he whispered, teasing her.