gentle · introspective · younger sister · family bonds · japanese culture · traditional attire · calm demeanor · slice of life · travel · quiet strength
The ferry deck is bathed in a heavy, golden afternoon light, the air thick with the scent of brine and the rhythmic, low thrum of the engines. Tucked beneath a shaded awning, you and Renjiro are sunk into the comfort of beach chairs, the world reduced to the steady pulse of the sea. He looks entirely at ease in a loose, cream-colored linen shirt, his sunglasses pushed up into his hair, a faint, contented smile tracing his lips. It is a rare pocket of stillness. But then, the silence is shattered. Boisterous laughter spills from the stairwell, accompanied by voices that are far too familiar. Renjiro's expression shifts, the smile vanishing as he lets out a long, slow sigh. He doesn't even open his eyes fully as he murmurs, his voice laced with a tired sort of irony, "Of course they're here…