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THE SETTING SUN PAINTED THE SKY
with hues of orange and pink, casting a warm glow over the sandy shore. The day they arrived, they couldn't just stay inside a single room for the whole day, so going out to the beach was the best decision. But Sae couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of loneliness. The beach looked beautiful in the evening, and he updated his Instagram story, but an inexplicable emptiness dampened his enjoyment.
"Where is she...?" He mumbled, getting up from the sun lounger, his gaze darting in every direction, searching for his manager, who seemed to be nowhere in sight. With a heavy sigh, he walked along the sandy beach, his steps filled with a mix of restlessness and longing. He attempted to give Y/N a call, only to realize that her phone was with him.
The device ringing in his shorts pocket made him take it out and glance at the caller ID, 'Brat,' which elicited a soft scoff from his lips as he declined the incoming call. It was against his principles to snoop through someone's phone, but he found himself unable to tear his eyes away from the lock screen wallpaper—a picture of her, taken during their time in Paris.
As the waves crashed against the shore, Sae's mind swirled with a whirlwind of emotions. He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of longing, as if he had become accustomed to having her by his side, or perhaps he had developed a fondness for her during their time in the city of love.
"Ah, fuck," he muttered, slipping both phones back into his pocket and turning his gaze towards the shore. The wind caressed his face, offering a fleeting sense of peace, a temporary escape from his confusing thoughts. However, his attention came to a halt as if time itself had frozen when he caught sight of a familiar figure—Y/N, running along the shore, dressed in a flowing white A-line dress, being chased by a group of playful kids armed with water guns.
Amidst the crowd on the beach, he could hear only her laughter, and his eyes were fixated on her alone. In that moment, he realized the fluttering in his heart, a sensation beyond his control—an unfamiliar feeling that tugged at his soul.
He couldn't resist the magnetic pull any longer. With each step, the distance between them seemed to diminish. The soft sand beneath his feet became a path leading him closer to her. Y/N's eyes met his as he neared, a mischievous glint dancing within them. She paused, still clutching the water bucket, as if anticipating his next move.
But before he could utter a word, he was drenched with water in a matter of seconds, the splash shattering his thoughts into droplets. Frustration escaped his lips in a sigh, and he ran his fingers through his hair, styling it, while glaring at his manager, who stood before him, giggling.
"Is he your friend?" one of the kids asked, pointing at Sae. Y/N nodded in response, a mischievous smile on her face. "Shoot your water guns at him!" she declared, and the three kids aimed their weapons at him, causing him to take a step back. "You have now entered our territory, and you shall face the consequences!" they declared, gleefully unleashing a barrage of water upon him. Sae playfully shielded himself from the deluge, finding joy in the innocent chaos, but it wasn't long before one of the kids recognized the man standing before them.
"Are you... ITOSHI SAE?!" the child exclaimed, his voice piercing the surrounding silence, drawing the attention of nearby beachgoers. "Oh! You're right! It is him!" chimed in another child, and soon the realization spread. "Can I get an autograph? Your recent match was so awesome! I didn't even dare to blink, fearing I would miss your incredible moments!"
Y/N quickly noticed the growing crowd of people surrounding Sae, and from the look on his face, she could tell he wasn't in the mood to provide fan service to the entire beach. She reached out and held his hand, her touch pulling his gaze towards her.
"You're good at running, right?" she asked passing a mischievous wink at him. His eyebrows shot up as his curiosity piqued and without wasting a moment, she took off running, pulling him along with her. The kids protested her sudden departure, and the crowd attempted to follow, but their speed was no joke. Soon, they left the pursuers behind, their figures dwindling in the distance.
Hand in hand, Sae and Y/N ran along the shoreline, their fingers tightly intertwined. The clamor of the crowd gradually faded into the background as they slowed their pace, their breaths coming in short bursts. They walked together along the water's edge, feeling the cool water lapping gently at their feet, sending a soothing sensation through their bodies.
Sae glanced at their connected hands, a soft smile tugging at his lips, as he stole glances at her. A weight lifted from his heart, replaced by a lightness he hadn't felt in a long time. Breaking the comfortable silence, Y/N spoke up between breaths with her gaze meeting his.
"You know," she began, her voice filled with warmth, "you can always refuse to do something if you don't want to."
He paused for a moment, considering her words, before responding with a hint of vulnerability, "Yeah... but I was going to refuse."
A playful grin spread across her face, her eyes shining with understanding. "Oh no! You stiffened up over there. It was written all over your face."
He tried to protest, but her teasing tone made it difficult to hide his true feelings. "No, I wasn't... If you hadn't started running, I would've said something. But..."
Her gentle laughter interjected, cutting through the tension. "Hm?"
"Thank you," he said.
Those simple words were enough to make her smile, and this time, her response lacked the usual teasing. "It's alright. I'm your manager, after all. It's my duty to make you feel safe."
As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over the beach, they found themselves drawn to a secluded spot. Even though there was no one around, their hands remained connected and they remained that was subconsciously but Y/N soon let go of his hand and walked closer to the shoreline leaving him looking at his hand and already missing her touch.
Sae followed Y/N's lead and approached the shoreline, his eyes fixed on her graceful figure. The cool water lapped gently at their feet, sending a soothing sensation through their bodies. Y/N turned her gaze towards the horizon, her face bathed in the soft golden light. The gentle breeze tousled her hair, creating a mesmerizing effect as it danced around her and he couldn't help but be captivated by her presence.
"Y/N-" he began, but his words were interrupted by the rumbling in their stomachs. She whined playfully, rubbing her tummy, and he chuckled, taking her hand in his. "Let's go have dinner then!" he suggested, and together they walked back to the resort, hand in hand. As they strolled, Y/N realized that even though holding hands wasn't necessary at that moment ... she didn't want to let go.
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