We spent the next three hours searching the sea together, but we couldn't find it.
The swimsuit maids Neika had gathered also helped us, but it still wasn't found.
As expected, after searching non-stop, everyone was resting under the parasols due to fatigue.
But... Riran alone was still searching.
“Riran, you should rest a bit. If you collapse from heatstroke, it’ll all be for nothing, right?”
“No.”
Since then, Riran has been looking for the earring without looking me straight in the eye.
Like a child who is afraid of being scolded.
“I’m not going to get mad just because you lost it. Besides, it was such a small thing. It can't be helped.”
“It can be helped!”
“But...”
“Because... it was a present from Akito... it’s precious, hic, fue...”
Wait, she’s crying!?
I hurriedly approached her and caught Riran as she collapsed. Tears fell down her face and onto my arm. They were hot, beautiful tears.
Clinging to my arm while sobbing, Riran slowly looked up at me.
“S-Sor...ry... Aki-do, sor...!”
“I get it. I get it, so just calm down. Okay?”
“U-Uuuuuu...!”
I slowly patted Riran on the back and stroked her head. I didn't realize she treasured it this much... I should have given her something harder to lose, like a necklace... I guess I wasn't being considerate enough either.
I rubbed her back as if soothing a crying child. Then, the strength left Riran's body inside my arms.
“Riran?”
“...Zzz... Zzz...”
Ah, she fell asleep.
Well, that makes sense. It was early in the morning, and she'd been playing ever since she got to the beach. She ate her fill and then spent all that time searching for the lost earring. It’s only natural she’s exhausted.
I picked Riran up in a princess carry so as not to wake her and headed up the beach.
“Akito-kun, is Riran-chan okay?”
“Yeah. She fell asleep from exhaustion, but she’s breathing. Neika, I’m sorry, but can you let her sleep at the villa?”
“Of course! Come this way.”
Rarely for Neika, she seemed flustered as she led the way to the villa. She guided me to a room on the second floor, and I laid her on the bed. Her breathing is stable, so she should be fine... right?
“Sorry, Neika. For getting the bed dirty.”
“Don’t worry about it. There's no point in having an unnecessarily expensive bed just for sleeping if I can't use it at a time like this.”
Neika gave various instructions to the swimsuit maids nearby and arranged for them to take care of Riran.
“So, Akki. What are you going to do?”
“Isn't it obvious? I’m going to search.”
“I thought so. After seeing her like that, you have no choice but to search.”
I stroked the head of Riran, who was sleeping as if she had fallen into an eternal slumber with tears still in the corners of her eyes. Just wait, Riran. I’m going to go find it for you now.
Leaving the place to the swimsuit maids, Neika and I returned to the beach. Then—
“Uoooooh! I’ll search, I’ll search, I’ll search!”
“Hey, Kurashiki-kun! Don’t make waves!”
“Hmm. If it’s not here after all this searching, it might have been washed out to sea.”
Ryūya, Rion, and Liza-san were searching desperately despite their evident fatigue.
“Nishishi. You’re really loved, Rira.”
“...Yeah, I guess so.”
Anyway, for now, all I can do is search. Whether something that small can be found is another matter... but I don't want to see Riran crying.
“Neika.”
“Here, a snorkel.”
“As expected, you understand.”
“We’ve known each other a long time, Akki. Do your best for your cute wifey.”
*Whap!* She slapped me on the back with all her might. It didn't hurt, though. It gave me a boost of spirit.
Alright, let’s go.
◆Riran◆
“...Ugh... Ah...?”
...Huh, where... am I...?
An unfamiliar ceiling, an unfamiliar bed. The orange light of the burning sun was streaming in through the window.
Why was I sleeping... Oh, that’s right. I came to the sea with everyone, played, ate, and then the earring...!
“T-The earring!”
I touched my ear... but what should have been there was gone. No matter where I looked or how I flipped the covers, there was nothing like it. A woman nearby told me to stay calm, but I couldn't afford to.
As I thought, I...
“I lost it in the sea...”
It was a precious present I received from Akito. A red anemone. Its flower language is 'I love you.' But the original flower language of the anemone is 'Forsaken' or 'Abandoned.'
If Akito abandons me because of this, I...
...By the way, where is Akito? He isn't in this room. There's only me and the woman in the swimsuit maid outfit.
Don't tell me, he really abandoned me...? But we're connected by the red thread. That's, that can't be...
Akito... Akito, Akito. Aki-to...
“U-Uuu...”
Akito, where are you...? I'll apologize... I'll apologize so much...
“Akitoooo...!”
“Hm? Did you call?”
...Eh...?
I looked toward the voice. Standing there was Akito, soaking wet from head to toe, gasping for breath and utterly exhausted.