Hold me like the river Jordan;

[jitensha]

[ it's strange to be back here again. Not that Makoto found being near the ocean to be a particularly odd thing, but it's been a year, and so much has changed since then. They hadn't been as well known back then. They could run down the beach or leap into the ocean or get hit on without fear of being overly crowded (though the latter was mostly Miki). For the time being, staying in the ocean had kept recognition to a minimum, and the other idols had split up to stay low and relax in their own different ways.

In Makoto's case, the ocean was still the place to be, and she's happily trotting towards it after some additional time spent on dry land (mainly keeping the twins from burying the Producer completely). Is she expecting company?

No, but at least she's open to it. ]

Comments

[jitensha]

No, this one's kind of red... oh, wait!

[ and with a triumphant noise, she scoops a shell free from the sand and holds it up for his inspection. ]

How about this one?

[makotoned]

[And he splashes closer to inspect it before sighing.]

Oh, it's too much bigger, see?

[He holds up his shell for inspection too.]

Let's keep looking.

[jitensha]

So something smaller... [ it's her turn to sigh, before she turns her attention back to the waves with renewed focus. ] Okay, got it! One small cream shell, coming up!!

[ she might be having too much fun with this, considering she's pouncing every time she sees something promising. ]

[makotoned]

[Well, so long as she's having fun, he finds that he's having quite a lot of fun too. He searches eagerly for a shell to match the one in his hand, or perhaps another that his siblings will like...

It's tough, but it's a little fun to splash around the waves like this with Makoto.]

[jitensha]

[ the sun's just beginning to tinge everything red when Makoto lets out a whoop of victory, now somewhere up to her ankles but with a shell brandished over her head. ]

Found it!

[makotoned]

[...!!

He hurries over to her side, splashing on through, and blinks when he sees it, knowing that she has found The One.]

It's perfect! They'll definitely enjoy these, and more importantly, they can't fight over them.

Good job, Makoto-chan!

[jitensha]

Thanks! [ and she couldn't be smiling any more happily about... seashells.

Okay, maybe it's not about the seashells. But she'd had fun. ]

I'm just glad we could get them before it got too dark.

[makotoned]

[Makoto is just nodding easily, glancing out towards the setting sun.]

It was really good timing. It would've been a shame to miss the sunset because we were so concentrated on seashells.

[And it really is pretty, so...]

[jitensha]

Yeah... [ her agreement is a little softer, her gaze distant as she looks out across the ocean. Had it really only been a year since she and the others had stood here, awed by how amazingly large the sun was? There's a warm tranquility settling over her now, like a light blanket. ]

It's really beautiful, isn't it?

[makotoned]

[He blinks to see her so calm and quiet, but ends up simply smiling and nodding. He can understand where this is coming from, in a way--the sunset really is calming and beautiful.]

It is. I'm glad we were able to catch it out here.

[It even makes the ocean look beautiful, and that's really something else.]

[jitensha]

Same here-- ah, hey!

[ and she's shading her eyes with a hand, peering into the horizon. ] Your friend's not still swimming out there, is he? It's going to get dark pretty soon...

[1/2]

[makotoned]

[. . .]

[2/2]

[makotoned]

[Leave it to Haru to ruin any almost semi-romantic moments in Makoto's life.

But as soon as he realizes, he turns and looks and.

Yep. Someone's still splashing over there.]

Haru...!

[he takes a step that way automatically, before turning and looking at Makoto and smiling apologetically.]

I'd better go drag him out of there, or he'll never leave.

[jitensha]

[ she's already grinning and making good-natured shooing motions at him. ]

I have the same problem with Hibiki at the zoo-- go get 'em!

[makotoned]

[He just gives her a sheepish, but grateful smile, nodding and pausing just a moment longer.]

Thanks for showing me the beach, Makoto-chan! I had a great time.

[And then he turns and splashes away to go drag his ridiculous friend out of the ocean.]

[jitensha]

... Me too, Makoto-kun.

[ even though he won't hear her.

But it's about time to rejoin the other idols, so off she goes. ]