Ten minutes later, Momo ca out of the tent and gave Shichen an awkward smile. "Nana… might need a little ti to cool off."
"It's fine, I know," Shichen nodded.
"Don't worry, brother-in-law. He only saw Nana's top half. It's not a big deal. Really," Momo said, trying to console him.
"Isn't that exactly a big deal?" Yui couldn't help chiming in.
"It's fine, it's fine—only brother-in-law saw."
"Isn't that more reason it's a problem?"
"Big sis doesn't mind, right?"
"Mhm. As long as Nana doesn't stay mad at Shichen," Lala said blithely.
"I'll never understand you aliens…" Yui sighed, shaking her head.
"Hehe~ it's called 'keep it in the family,'" Momo said.
"That's… obviously not what that saying ans."
"Close enough! Isn't there a saying that sisters-in-law are basically family? Seeing your own butt is no biggie."
"…Maybe brush up on this planet's saying. And are you not noticing Nana actually cares?" Yui said, wryly.
"It's fine, fine. It was so sudden she got a little worked up. She'll be okay in a bit."
"Are you serious?" Yui stared at Momo.
"Of course. Trust , I know her best. Honestly, her being seen by brother-in-law? She's secretly happy. She's just embarrassed because we were there."
"…Do you have too high a tolerance for Shichen? Or is that normal on your planet?"
"Of course not—brother-in-law is special~" Momo glanced at Shichen, eyes crescenting.
"Hm?" Yui frowned. "Momo, you're not…," she began, then stopped.
"I'm not what?" Momo asked, all innocence.
"Nothing… forget it."
"Yui-senpai, you're so weird."
Yui pressed her lips together and held her tongue.
"I get you're worried about Nana—it's a small thing. She'll bounce back soon. Let's keep playing in the water."
"I'm good… I'd rather not repeat what just happened," Yui refused with a shake of the head.
It wasn't that she feared being seen—he'd already held her, after all. But losing her basics in front of everyone again? Mortifying.
"Ehhh~ We only just started! Don't quit over Nana's little hiccup. She's not that fragile."
"No, I just don't think I'm a good fit for your water wars."
With that, Yui headed for Frieren, settled on another lounger, and lifted a drink off the side table. The seawater had left her mouth salty and miserable; a cold sip now was bliss. She would bask, shut her eyes, and let the non-humans wage their gas without her. Why suffer?
"What do we do? Yui-senpai won't play," Momo turned back to Shichen.
"It's okay. I can still play," Lala chirped.
"Let's skip it. We'll go catch so food instead—make sothing good for Nana later."
"Brother-in-law, you're so nice to Nana," Momo said, a hint of jealousy in her tone.
"It was my fault," he said. Between the wave and the staring, he was basically culprit and accomplice both. Looking was looking—but you still had to own the mistake.
"How is that your fault? It's because Nana's too small—couldn't hold up her top," Momo pouted.
"…Isn't that a bit an?" Yui asked dryly.
"Just facts."
"Alright, alright—you're sisters. Cut her so slack." Shichen ruffled Momo's hair to soothe her. Wet hair was softer and slicker; the feel was even better now.
"Well… if brother-in-law says so," Momo huffed, play-acting reluctant.
"Heh. Don't think of it as for her. You're going to eat too. I'm the sa to both of you," Shichen said with a grin.
"True! Then can I go catch food with you?"
"No problem."
"Yay!"
" too! too!" Lala imdiately joined in.
"Big sis, don't you want to have a rematch with brother-in-law?" Momo suddenly asked.
"A match?"
"Yeah. The water ga's over, but you can compete to see who gathers more."
"That does sound fun! Shichen, let's compete!" Lala lit up.
"Sure," Shichen said mildly. He suspected Momo was trying to get Lala out of the way—but Lala wanted to spar, so he'd play along and see what the little sister had in mind.
"I'll go that way, you go that way—see you soon!"
Buoyant with energy, Lala arrowed rightward and dove.
"Brother-in-law, let's go too!" Momo's voice carried a thread of excitent.
"Right."
He wasn't worried about Lala's safety—only that she might drag back sothing terrifying. He and Momo swam the other way. One after the other, they dove and headed deeper.
Underwater was a dream of color—glass-clear sea, crisscrossing sunbeams, rippled sand and stone—woven together like a mirage. Perhaps the earlier commotion had spooked everything; nothing moved nearby. Shichen brought Momo deeper.
She swam half a body behind him, eyes fixed on him now. She didn't know much about n, but the shape of him made her want to cling close—press skin to skin and hold tight. Those sharp lines—abs, right? They looked so good on him. She'd heard n with abs were ideal; brother-in-law really was ideal.
But she didn't care that much about muscles. What she kept circling back to was his mouth. Last night's mory of teeth on her tail was too fresh to forget, a sweetness that sparked along her spine. She wanted him to bite her tail again—to feel that soul-leaping jolt.
"—Wah!"
Suddenly Shichen stopped. Momo yelped, too slow to brake, and bumped him. She lost a mouthful of air—nothing critical, but she'd need so soon.
He steadied her and pointed at a rock below.
She followed his finger. A blue-flecked big shrimp crouched there.
Little blue lobsters? she thought, the ones brother-in-law ntioned?
Just as she expected him to ease down and snatch it carefully, he rely flicked a finger. A cube of vacuum snapped into place around the shrimp.
Momo blinked wide—another glimpse of how amazing he was.
He nodded at her, caught her wrist, and swam on. Momo glanced back; the vacuum cube with the lobster floated after them. So she stopped watching it and looked at his hand on her wrist—she'd realized she didn't need to swim. He was towing her.
The water was cool, but warmth pulsed where he held her. Her heart started to beat faster. Heat blood under the cool, and she kept letting him tow her, gazing sidelong at his profile. Then the urge bubbled up.
Her free hand slid over and hugged his arm.
Softness pressed against him; he turned to look at her. Momo answered with a bright smile.
He blinked, gave a small nod, and kept leading her onward.
Relief loosened in her chest. Great—he didn't pull away! He probably thought this was a more convenient way to pull her along. That was fine—she just wanted to hold on. The solid line of his arm against her chest filled her with a warm, fizzy satisfaction. It wasn't enough—but it was the first step. Then she could find an excuse, the right mont, to turn and hug him properly. She wanted that feeling again—being held by him, head-on, like last night.
Shichen had no idea what Momo was planning; he just enjoyed himself—swimming with a cute girl clinging to his arm, the contact vivid. In better spirits, his luck seed better too: soon he found a nest of little blue lobsters, then an octopus. A school of fish swept by soon after. There was no way they could eat that many; he only took a few. The main course would be lobster.
He found himself wondering how Lala was doing—not worried for her safety, but that she might drag up sothing ridiculous. Hopefully nothing too extre.
"—Mmph!"
Suddenly Momo's face pinched with pain.
Bubbles spilled from her lips—oxygen running low.
He moved to teleport them up—but at that instant Momo flung both arms around him, leaned in—
—and kissed him.
~~~
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