He almost didn’t notice the group approaching until the sound of hesitant footsteps broke through the rhythmic crash of the waves. Akio turned slightly, drink still in hand. A small group of girls—four, maybe five—were heading his way, half giggling, half trying to look casual. He recognized that kind of energy immediately.
“Excuse me,” one of them said, smiling a little too brightly. “Could you help us set up our umbrella?”
Akio glanced in the direction they gestured. Their spot wasn’t far, close enough that declining would look unnecessarily rude. He set his drink aside, tugged the towel from his shoulders, and nodded.
“Of course.”
The sand shifted under his feet as he walked over. The umbrella was large and unwieldy, but to him it felt light. He positioned it easily, pressing the pole into the sand with a few firm motions. With one smooth twist, the canopy bloomed open, casting a neat patch of shade. Satisfied, Akio brushed his hands off and turned back to the girls with a small, courteous smile.
They were watching him—too closely. One of them stepped forward, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Thanks! What’s your name?”
“Akio,” he said evenly. He could already see where this was going, and quietly braced himself.
“Wow,” another girl said, eyes bright. “You’re really fit. Do you work out?”
Being fit comes with the vigilante job, he thought dryly, taking care not to let the amusement show on his face.
“Not in the conventional sense, no,” he replied instead.
They giggled. He wasn’t sure what was funny about that answer, but he smiled politely anyway. The questions continued: what he did for a living (student), where he lived (not far), how old he was (22), if he came here often (rarely). He answered each one calmly, keeping his tone soft and even. It was easier that way.
Then one of them mentioned the Dawn Hound.
“Did you hear about his latest appearance? He stopped that heist near the port,” a girl said excitedly. “They say he’s super cool—like, mysterious but noble? I wonder what kind of person he really is.”
Another chimed in, “Yeah! What do you think, Akio? Think you know who he is?”
Akio gave them a flat, unreadable stare.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Of course I know him. He’s me.
“Not really my thing,” he said with a shrug, keeping his voice even. “I’m not that interested in vigilante stuff.”
That, apparently, only made things worse—or better, depending on perspective. Their eyes lit up even more. His detachment must’ve read as enigmatic rather than evasive.
The questions turned to teasing comments, light laughs, and playful remarks. He fielded them all with patient courtesy, smiling when appropriate but never inviting more. Eventually, one of them asked outright.
“So… are you single?”
“I’m not really interested in dating right now,” he said apologetically.
A chorus of mock disbelief followed.
“Oh, come on, really?”
“Not even a little?”
“You sure about that?”
He kept his tone gentle but firm. “Sorry.”
It wasn’t personal. None of it ever was. He’d long since learned that getting involved with anyone would only complicate things. Even now, maintaining a normal life alongside the Dawn Hound’s was a balancing act. A single misstep could unravel everything.
One little sister is already enough trouble, he thought. Adding romance on top of that? No thanks.
As if on cue, the sound of approaching footsteps drew his attention. Akio turned, spotting Aira striding across the sand toward him, the wakeboard tucked under one arm. Seawater trailed from her hair, dripping down the back of her swimsuit and marking a faint dark path in the pale sand. Her pale blue eyes flicked between him and the small group of girls gathered nearby, her expression hovering somewhere between confusion and suspicion.
When she reached him, she stopped at his side and tilted her head slightly.
“Akio, what are you doing?” she asked, in that half annoyed, half curious tone only younger siblings could manage.
He acknowledged her with a nod, perfectly calm. “They needed help setting up their umbrella,” he explained. “We were just chatting.”
Aira’s gaze shifted to the group, her expression skeptical as she sized them up. “Uh huh.”
The girls exchanged amused looks before one of them smiled politely. “Oh, hey! You must be his sister, right? You two look so alike!”
“Yeah, I’m his sister,” Aira confirmed, leaning slightly on her wakeboard. “What are you guys talking about?”
One of the girls laughed lightly. “We were just asking your brother for his number. He’s pretty cute.”
Aira blinked, then set the wakeboard down and crossed her arms with a skeptical tilt of her head. “Trust me, you don’t want his number. He’ll bore you to death with nerd talk. This guy’s such a weirdo.”
Akio raised a brow, his lips twitching. “I appreciate the vote of confidence.”
“You literally think math is fun,” Aira shot back.
“That’s because multivariable calculus—”
Aira smacked his arm before he could finish. “See what I mean?”
The girls burst out laughing. “You two are adorable,” one said with a grin. “Alright, we’ll stop bothering you. Catch you around~” She winked before the group finally drifted away down the beach, still giggling.
Akio exhaled quietly, glad for the return of quiet. He glanced at Aira beside him—still watching the retreating group with her arms crossed and a faint pout forming on her face.
“I can’t believe they were asking for your number,” she grumbled.
“I told them I wasn’t interested,” he said, amusement softening his voice.
“It’s not for your sake,” she retorted quickly, side eyeing him. “It’s theirs. If they knew how much of a nerd you were, they’d lose brain cells.” She paused then, glancing away for a moment, something unreadable flickering across her face.
Akio studied her quietly. She didn’t have to say it; he already knew the truth she wouldn’t admit aloud. The idea of him finding someone else, someone outside their little world, unsettled her more than she’d ever confess.
His expression softened. “Don’t worry,” he said gently. “I’m not planning on dating anytime soon. Especially not with the school term starting up again.”
Her shoulders eased, though her tone remained stubbornly defensive. “You better not.”
Then, with a sigh, she grabbed her board. “Anyway, I’m starving. Let’s go home. I’ve had enough fun for one day.”
Akio smiled faintly as he followed her across the sand, the last light brushing gold across the waves. The hum of the sea softened with distance, replaced by the quieter rhythm of footsteps heading home.
Yeah, I don't think romance suits me, he thought. No thanks.
─ ? NEXT CHAPTER POV ? ─
Akio
Oh yes, I’ll join the Discord server of my fave author, meet awesome people, and become super famous, right? Well, that was the idea ’til everything went sideways, and now my life is upside down and inside out.
Who can I trust? What is real? Is anyone on Discord actually a person? Or is it all just some whack game designed to drive me mad? I’ve got one friend who I sorta count on, but dare I confide in him my deepest, darkest fear: what if no one on Discord is actually real?
How far down the rabbit hole did I go in my quest for fame and fortune? There’s only one way to find out, so you know what to do. Yeah, click Read Here.
What to Expect:
- Female lead.
- Sapphic characters, no romance.
- An innocent, lovable gal with quick wit who gets in over her head on Discord.
- Comedy turned psychological thriller without violence or physical peril.
- Character driven. Found family. Slice-of-life moments.
- This stand-alone book is a spin-off from my series and is a Royal Road Write-A-Thon Participant for Fall 2025.