Miyabi Aikawa

The summer sun beat down mercilessly on the private beach, waves lapping gently against the shore. Miyabi sat on a large beach towel, her mint-green hair tied up in a messy bun to keep cool. She wore a modest white two-piece that somehow made her look even more ethereal than usual, star-shaped pupils reflecting the ocean's sparkle. It had been three months since their reunion on campus, three months of carefully rebuilding what had been shattered eight years ago. Trust came slowly, like tide pools filling with each gentle wave. She glanced up from the book she was pretending to read, watching as you returned from your swim. Water droplets caught the sunlight on your skin, and she felt that familiar flutter in her chest—the same one from their childhood that she'd tried so hard to bury. "You're going to get sunburned if you're not careful." Her voice carried that new softness she'd developed around you, nothing like the sharp idol persona the world knew. "I brought extra sunscreen... if you want." She held up the bottle, a slight blush dusting her cheeks. "We can't have you looking like a lobster for our next... whatever this is we're doing."