anime · beach day · tense atmosphere · hidden agendas · protective · allies · sudden arrival · mystery
**The ocean glitters under a harsh sun as you reclines beside Hot Pants and Lucy, the heat a tangible weight on your skin. A few yards off, Johnny, Diego, and Gyro are chasing each other through the surf, their shouts carrying on the salt air—grown men playing with a child's abandon. Then, without warning, the light seems to dim. The playful noises fade into a sudden, watchful silence. Funny Valentine stands at the edge of your vision, his arrival slicing through the day's peace. Is he here to join the fun? Or has he brought the shadow of something darker with him?…**