Alex left his workshop, holding Saeko's hand. Following closely behind them was Rory, who, over the past few hours, had gotten a better understanding of him and what kind of person he was. Although he hadn't revealed much, it was enough for her to form a general impression of his character and decide whether he was worth trusting. However, Rory felt not only respect for his actions but also an inexplicable attraction toward him.
She couldn't help but wonder what would happen if such power fell into someone else's hands. Most likely, its wielder would have long succumbed to temptation, becoming an arrogant bastard who thought himself above everyone.
And yet, despite having traveled through three different worlds, Alex remained himself—someone who didn't lose his head over his own power and continued to help others while acting cautiously to avoid causing even more problems. This filled her with genuine admiration. A small smile crept onto her lips as she watched his back.
At that moment, Alex received a response from the mana pulse he had sent to scout the island. Everything was calm—just regular wild animals that posed no threat. Nodding in satisfaction, he turned his gaze to his companions, who were fully prepared for a beach day.
Fortunately, they weren't immediately flaunting their swimsuits, having thrown light clothing over them. Even GIR, MIMI, Alice, and Stitch had dressed accordingly. GIR and Stitch, like real boys, opted for shorts and sunglasses, while Alice and MIMI wore cute children's swimsuits with sun hats. Rebecca, once again, embraced her "Hawaiian" style—short shorts and a long T-shirt.
"Rory, dear, maybe you should change as well?" Namiyo suggested with a kind smile.
Rory glanced at her. Normally, she found it irritating when people treated her like a child, but this time… it was different. Namiyo's gaze was full of genuine care, and despite being much younger, she simply didn't know any better. She wasn't trying to mock her or make fun of her age. On the contrary, she was showing sincere kindness. It was… nice. A faint smile flickered on the Apostle's face.
"I don't really have any clothes," Rory chuckled. "I think the Kraken digested my entire wardrobe, so this is all I've got left."
The girls laughed, happy that Rory wasn't dwelling on her recent hardships and could even joke about them. Alex also noticed how effortlessly she was blending into the group. However, at that moment, he felt Zhang Ya's hair tug at his shirt again, snapping him out of his thoughts. He let out a heavy sigh.
"Then just borrow one of Rebecca's swimsuits. You have similar body types, so I think her clothes will fit you," Saya suggested, pointing at her friend.
"What do you even know, Pinky?!" Rebecca snarled.
"I think she meant that both of you are short and flat-chested," Beatrix added with an innocent smile.
Rory barely flinched, her smile freezing in place. Meanwhile, Rebecca gritted her teeth in rage, glaring at Saya as if she were ready to devour her. However, unlike their first encounter at school, when Rebecca had threatened to shoot her, Saya wasn't afraid of her in the slightest anymore. The two girls butted heads, growling at each other like wild cats, while Rory watched with a small, amused smile.
Noticing her reaction, Alex placed his hand on her head, as if calming her down. He understood very well how sensitive girls were about their appearance. When he was in Orario, he had witnessed the endless bickering between Loki and Hestia countless times. And it was then that this war expanded, drawing Rebecca into it, who became the third side in the never-ending conflict after moving into Alex's house in Orario after Night City.
"Girls, enough," Yuriko intervened, habitually separating the rivals. "You've argued so many times already, aren't you tired of it? And Rebecca, please, give Rory your swimsuit. Don't make the girl wait."
Rebecca and Saya both snorted at each other and turned away. Rebecca walked to her bag, pulled out a swimsuit, and handed it to Rory. Rory looked around for a place to change, but Alex gestured toward his workshop.
"You can change there," he said.
Rory smirked, giving him a playful look.
"Don't you want to join me?"
"Go already. I need to change too, I'm not going to the beach in pants and shoes," Alex said without ceremony, gently pushing her toward the workshop.
He knew Rory's character well and wasn't about to play along with her little provocations. The girls, watching this, exchanged glances. For some reason, they all had the same thought: Rory really reminded them of a certain green-haired gremlin with the same mischievous nature.
Rebecca, noticing that they were looking at her, just rolled her eyes, not denying that similar thoughts had crossed her mind as well. In fact, she herself had been thinking about changing with Alex, and then… maybe something pleasant would keep them occupied for a little longer while the others had fun on the beach.
Ignoring the curious gazes, Alex pulled out a pair of beach shorts and the only Hawaiian shirt he had ever bought on Hawaii.
"It's surprising that your shirt got the zombie blood out," Koko commented, glancing at the item.
"Of course, my dear Namiyo worked hard on it. It's the last real Hawaiian shirt straight from Hawaii. You could say it's a rare collector's item," Alex replied with a smile, making a heart gesture toward Namiyo, which made her blush slightly.
"From this perspective, you're right. After all, Hawaii is probably now a resort for the undead, not for humans," Ada nodded, then lazily settled onto the couch, propping her cheeks up with her hands. "Now, Alex, come on, show us a nice performance. Don't keep us waiting."
As if on cue, the other girls also got comfortable, intending to watch him change. Miu, embarrassed, covered her face with her hands but still peeked through the cracks between her fingers. Alex's eye twitched—he clearly wasn't going to turn this into a show. Fortunately, GIR, MIMI, and Stitch displayed good judgment and covered Alice's eyes so the young girl wouldn't see anything.
Without ceremony, Alex took off his T-shirt and quickly put on the Hawaiian shirt, leaving it unbuttoned. Miu, Renka, and Shigure couldn't help but glance at the shirt—it was the same one Alex had worn when he came to their aid. While he was changing, the girls, annoyed at his speed, let out a quiet whistle, but he ignored it, quickly putting on earrings he hadn't worn in a long time and was ready.
At that moment, Rory came out of the workshop, wearing Alex's hoodie over her swimsuit, which was clearly too big for her.
"Now that everyone's ready, it's time to head down to the others. I think they're eagerly waiting for some rest," Rei said with a smile.
"Did we bring everything?" Shizuka asked, rummaging through her beach bag. "I don't want to burn in the sun."
Before heading out, the girls double-checked their things. The island was already within reach, but the aircraft carrier had been kept at a safe distance to avoid running aground. Alex knew that Koko had delicate skin that burned quickly under the sun, so he had already thought of a solution with a canopy, so the girls could sunbathe or rest in the shade.
When everyone was ready, Alex and the girls started to make their way down, where the rest of their group had already started gathering. The children were the most excited, eagerly waiting for the chance to swim in the ocean. As Alex and the girls approached, all eyes turned toward them.
Alex stepped up to the gangway, which hadn't been lowered yet, and as usual, he decided to give a speech.
"I see everyone's eager for some rest. I'm glad that, despite the apocalypse raging, we found time to spend this day with family and loved ones. For those who've been with us since the beginning, the journey has truly been tough: we've traveled thousands of kilometers, starting from Tokyo, faced dangers, and fought for our lives. Of course, sleeping in cramped cabins and being on a ship all the time hasn't been easy, but we had no choice. However, today we have the opportunity to relax. So let's enjoy this day to the fullest. Let's forget that the world is falling apart and remember the times when we could rest without worries. Let this day be special for each of us."
Finishing his speech, Alex smiled, and his words were met with joyful exclamations and applause.
Listening to Alex, everyone nodded in agreement, as he was right. As his speech came to an end, the tension in the air was replaced by cheerful laughter. The more experienced and older members once again confirmed that Alex knew how to lift people's spirits with just a word, making them forget their problems, even if only for a moment. The faces of those around him clearly showed that they were genuinely happy for this break.
Balalaika once again reconsidered her opinion of him and nodded, understanding why people followed him like a leader. Alex, pleased by the excitement of his team, approached the gangway and began to lower it, but immediately realized the problem: the shore was too far away to swim.
"And all your dramatic speech went down the drain," R mockingly said with feigned hurt. "You really want us to swim? You're so cruel, Alex."
Alex narrowed his eyes and reached into his pocket, but after finding nothing, he simply smirked. However, the movement was enough to make R flinch and immediately hide behind the other guys. In turn, they burst into laughter.
"Come on, R," Alex smirked, pulling his hand out of his pocket and giving him an exaggerated middle finger.
The group erupted in laughter again, and R's face twisted in annoyance.
"Alright, ninja it is... Earth Element: Stone Bridge!" Alex said, forming hand seals.
The water bubbled, and from the depths, a massive stone bridge rose, connecting the aircraft carrier to the shore. Railings grew along the sides of the structure to prevent anyone from accidentally falling.
The kids' eyes lit up with excitement—at that moment, Alex looked like a comic book hero to them. He grinned and gave everyone a thumbs-up.
"Now, we've got a way to the shore. And since R is the smartest one in the group..." Alex slowly turned toward him, his smile widening even more.
At that moment, those who had known Alex long enough felt an unpleasant chill run down their spines. They already sensed that something would be said next that would make them uneasy.
"Now, everyone who's trained to use chakra will walk this path across the water," Alex declared with an innocent smile. "If you want to blame anyone for this—blame R and his big mouth."
"Alex, do we have to do this too?" Rei asked with exaggerated innocence, gazing at him with puppy eyes.
"Yes, Rei, you too. Saeko, Valmet, Beatrix, Miu, Renka, even Honoka, Alice, and Malka—everyone has to go through this test. It'll help you better feel and control your chakra."
The named girls sighed heavily, realizing they couldn't avoid it. They shot glares at R, who was already covered in a cold sweat.
Meanwhile, the newcomers, unfamiliar with chakra, began whispering in confusion, asking each other what was going on. Balalaika, intrigued by this, once again approached Yuriko to clarify the details.
Alice, Honoka, and Malka, eager students, immediately rushed up to Alex, wanting to know how to walk on water.
But before explaining the new technique to the girls, Alex took one more look at his team. The adults were already ready to tear R apart for not keeping his mouth shut once again.
"And now, for some extra motivation," Alex began with a sly grin, "the first person to reach the shore will get exclusive armor from me."
"And for the last one?" Shino asked warily.
"Oh, for them too, there will be exclusive armor..." Alex grinned.
"What's the catch?" Shino narrowed her eyes.
"Well, let's just say, the last one will get armor... in unicorn colors. With a horn on the helmet."
A hush fell over the crowd. Then came muffled chuckles, followed by a hum of discussions and indignation.
"So, if you don't want to become a walking embodiment of a mythical creature, you'd better hurry!" Alex smirked.
Then, turning to Alice, Honoka, and Malka, he added with a wide grin:
"And now… a brief course on 'How to Walk on Water for Dummies.'"
Upon hearing what kind of armor awaited the loser, everyone immediately realized they didn't want to end up in it. A fire of competition flared in the eyes of those who had trained with chakra. Alex just smiled wider, stepped onto the water, and began to explain the process of walking on the surface in detail. The others, grinning, headed toward the shore.
"Well, enjoy yourselves, youngsters, while we old-timers go sunbathe," Lehm smirked.
"I haven't relaxed like this in a while. How about a fishing trip?" Price suggested with a grin.
While the main group headed for the shore, several curious people decided to stay behind and watch what was happening. Among them were Hayato, Kensei, Lady Ma, Akisame, and Sasuke. Even Chun-Li, Cammy, Ryu, and Ken stopped to watch with interest from the side.
Alex first explained the basics of walking on water, demonstrating it by example. Then, he helped Alice, Malka, and Honoka—fortunately, the three young girls were very sharp and quickly grasped the concept. They had long trained to control their chakra and didn't waste time, preferring to turn their training into a game. Their competitive spirit helped them improve rapidly.
When the girls confidently stood on the water, they laughed joyfully and ran toward the shore. Alex watched them, squinting, and reminded them:
"Be careful out there."
"Okay, big brother!" they responded cheerfully as they went farther away.
Alex just shook his head before repeating his explanation for the others, hinting that even the kids had managed the task. Then, he helped his girls get comfortable on the water and cast a glance at the rest:
"Now it's up to you. You're not kids… Or do you still need big brother Alex's help?" he asked innocently.
"To hell with you! I'll manage on my own," Shino muttered as she stepped forward first.
Alex smirked and stepped aside for her. Shino, though with difficulty, managed to stay afloat on the water. Throwing a provocative look at the others, she slowly but steadily made her way toward the shore.
When the others realized that their chance at Alex's exclusive armor was slipping away with every passing second, they wasted no time and rushed to the water.
Alex shot a glance at Takashi, making it clear that he wasn't joking about the unicorn armor and that he would look just spectacular in it in front of his future girlfriend. Takashi turned pale, breaking into a cold sweat, and quickened his pace—the prospect of ending up in the embarrassing suit definitely didn't appeal to him.
Leaving the others to entertain themselves, Alex made his way toward the Kraken, casually cutting the rope that held the sea monster and began pulling the giant creature toward the shore.
"Move aside," he said calmly, dragging the Kraken behind him.
Without much effort, Alex hauled the beast's carcass onto the shore. When the massive body of the sea monster lay on the land, everyone looked up, once again amazed by its size. Now, a new problem arose — how were they going to butcher it to prevent the meat from spoiling?
Although Brunhilda had anticipated this moment, she still underestimated the Kraken's size. When it came time to butcher the beast, the only obvious choice was Alex — because only he could easily carve the creature into convenient pieces.
"Darling, could you please help with this sea monster?" Brunhilda asked him with a light smile.
"No problem. Everyone, step back — in case a piece of flesh falls and crushes someone," Alex warned, shooing away the onlookers who were too close to the Kraken.
When Alex's voice rang out, everyone quickly moved further from the Kraken's body, afraid they might indeed be crushed by a piece of the sea creature's flesh. However, curiosity won out — everyone was eager to see how Alex would go about cutting the huge creature into manageable pieces.
Taking a combat stance as though drawing a blade, Alex froze, though there was no weapon in his hands. Suddenly, he made a sharp motion as if pulling a sword from its sheath, and a powerful gust of wind scattered sand in all directions. The onlookers immediately squinted to avoid the sandstorm. When they opened their eyes again, they were met with a stunning sight — the Kraken's body was neatly sliced into manageable pieces, as though along invisible lines.
"Damn, is there anything you can't do?" Revy, who had been standing nearby, asked in astonishment.
"There is," Alex answered with a carefree smile. "I can't keep myself together when I get bored."
Leaving everyone stunned by his skill, Alex turned to Brunhilda, waiting for her decision on how to prepare the meat. Various suggestions were heard: some proposed canning part of it, others suggested smoking it. Alex nodded, formed a few hand seals, and from the ground, a stone structure immediately rose, designed for smoking. Once he explained its purpose, everyone quickly understood that it would help preserve part of the catch.
Leaving the organization of the process to Brunhilda, Alex went to his girls, wishing to make their relaxation as comfortable as possible. Meanwhile, GIR, MIMI, and Stitch were already setting up the grill and helping prepare everything for the rest, before happily hopping off to Alice, Honoka, and Malka.
"My dear beloveds, I see you're already relaxing. But allow your husband to make your rest even more comfortable," Alex said with a smile.
"And how do you plan to do that, my husband?" Beatrice asked with interest.
"Heh, you'll see. I don't want any of you getting sunburned," Alex smirked.
He stomped his foot, and thick tree roots burst out of the sand, forming a spacious gazebo with benches and a table. Then, stomping his foot once more, Alex summoned a large canopy and comfortable wooden loungers. Now the girls could relax in the shade, no longer worrying about the scorching sun.
"Add three more," came a familiar voice from behind Alex.
Turning his head, he saw Chiquita, Chun-Li, and Cammy in swimsuits. Shrugging, Alex repeated the process without question, creating the additional spots.
"And if you catch some fresh fish from the ocean, I'm sure you'll get something special tonight," Ada added with a sly smile, winking at Alex.
His gaze unconsciously slid over Ada in her red bikini, and he couldn't help but appreciate her figure. Whatever he thought, the offer sounded incredibly tempting. Besides, he had already planned to do some fishing so the girls could enjoy seafood delicacies.
"Since when do you sell yourself for food? You usually set such high prices that a few people have tried to kill you," Koko huffed, giving Ada a teasing look.
"None of your business, Koko. And don't tell me you wouldn't want to try some fresh fish or seafood," Ada rolled her eyes.
"I wouldn't say no," Shizuka lazily stretched, drawing it out. "Alex, can you try catching lobsters? Or shrimp? Better yet, crabs... mmm..." she added, giving him a puppy-eyed look.
"Eh, I can't promise anything, but I'll try to see what's out there," Alex smirked, glancing at the other girls. "And you, beauties, what would you like? Since it's going this way, I'm ready to spoil you all."
The girls perked up and began throwing Alex requests as if he were a waiter capable of getting them anything they desired. Alex sighed, listening to their wishes, but as he'd said earlier, he didn't promise anything. However, he'd try to find something in the ocean near the island. Once they finished with their requests, he wanted to take GIR, MIMI, and Stitch to catch some seafood, but the trio had already run off to play with the children.
Realizing he would have to go alone, Alex watched as the girls began preparing everything they needed for his return. Even the Valkyries in his spiritual space wanted seafood, and he promised to send them part of the catch.
Before heading off to fish, he approached Alice and the other children.
"I see you're already having fun," he said, getting their attention.
"Where are you going, big brother?" Alice asked, grabbing Alex's hand and starting to swing it.
"I'm going to catch our dinner. And I decided to make you a little gift since water parks are unavailable right now," he replied, ruffling Alice's hair.
"Are you going to use your chakra again, big brother?" Honoka asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling.
The children looked at Alex as though he were a hero from their favorite morning shows. He simply smiled and asked them to step aside for a bit.
Stomping his foot on the ground, Alex made the tree roots rise from the sand, forming a water slide that smoothly led into the sea. Now the children could happily slide down without worrying about safety.
"Don't fight! Everyone will get a turn. Share with each other and don't argue over small things," he said, watching their reaction.
The little ones eagerly nodded, not wanting to upset Alex. He then addressed the mischievous trio.
"GIR, MIMI, Stitch, make sure no one gets hurt."
The trio nodded in agreement, accepting the task with complete seriousness. Satisfied, Alex said his goodbyes to the children and headed into the water, using mana pulses one after another to search for sea creatures.
When he reached the right spot, he submerged into the water and, using mana, began to keep sea creatures close to him as he continued his search. At one point, he caught himself thinking that he should have brought a regular fishing net instead of hauling the catch by force. Shrugging, he simply created a regular net using magic and started placing the catch into it.
Spending an entire hour fishing, he filled the net to the brim—after all, there were plenty of mouths to feed, and he suspected the freeloaders would want to join in as well. Satisfied with the results, Alex headed toward the surface, dragging the full catch behind him.
As soon as he surfaced and stood on the water, he heard the cheerful cries of the children from afar. However, his smile faltered when the sound of an explosion reached the shore.
Alex turned his gaze and saw GIR, MIMI, and Stitch using the bombs he had made to create waves and surf on them. His eye twitched slightly. Sighing, he decided to enter a state of inner calm and simply ignore their antics.
Reaching the shore—and ignoring yet another explosion—Alex lifted the bag to avoid dragging it through the sand and getting the catch dirty. Looking around, he saw that the girls had already prepared everything and were now just enjoying their time. Some were reading books, others were sunbathing, and some were chatting animatedly with each other.
When they noticed Alex with the catch, they smiled, impressed by his haul.
"My man is such a champ, he really worked hard," Rika said with a seductive smile. "Do you want a reward for your efforts?"
"I wouldn't say no," Alex smirked. "After all, it took quite a bit of work to get all these tasty treats for you. I think I've earned a small reward."
Rika grinned, skillfully got off the lounge chair, and without wasting time, quickly kissed Alex on the lips. The other girls also didn't hold back and, smiling, followed her example, rewarding Alex with a kiss for his efforts. Even shy Miya, blushing, gathered the courage and kissed him again. Chun-Li, Cammy, and Chikita also joined in on the impromptu "rewarding."
Alex just smirked and headed to the table, laying the entire haul of sea creatures on it. Now, they had to be prepared before starting the cooking. Fortunately, some of the girls decided to help him. Kiriko, Namiyo, and Miya volunteered to handle the preparation.
"Girls, could you find some firewood or chop it if it's not too much trouble?" Alex asked, looking at the others.
"No problem, we'll take care of it," Saya nodded.
She took Saeko, Reiya, and Beatrix with her to gather firewood. Valmet and Chikita followed them for additional support. The others didn't want to sit idle either and took on smaller tasks, except for the trio of lazy ones—Ada, Koko, and Rebecca—who only pretended to work.
"Do you need any more help? I don't want to just sit around and eat for free," Cammy asked, sitting next to Alex.
"Break the poor crab's legs if you don't mind it. But it's actually really tasty," Alex smirked, handing her a crab.
"He's right! Crabs are delicious! If you feel bad for it, give it to me, I know how to break their legs," Shizuka said with a smile.
"Are they really that tasty?" Rory asked, sitting down on the other side of Alex.
"When it's cooked, you can try it yourself. I caught a lot, so there will be plenty to choose from," he said, handing her another crab.
Rory looked at the live crab, then glanced at Alex, observing his actions. Quickly figuring out what to do, she tried to mimic him, but misjudged the force and ended up ripping the crab in half. A wide smile spread across her face, and Alex just smirked, watching her.
Meanwhile, the girls returned with the firewood and started a fire to begin cooking. Grilling was the best way to cook—food turned out much tastier that way. Once everything was prepared, Alex and his helpers started the cooking process.
Shigure, like a cat, was circling around him, glancing at the fish. Alex placed a hand on her head, unable to stop smiling.
"Hang in there a little longer, your fish will be ready soon," he said, stroking her hair.
Shigure looked up at him, nodded, but didn't plan to move away. Alex smirked and turned his gaze toward the other part of the beach, where the other guys were doing their best to impress their girls by showing off their hunting skills. He mentally wished them good luck and returned to cooking.
The girls, meanwhile, had already brought out alcohol and were enjoying their rest, clearly not planning to do anything else.
"I see everything is in top shape here," a familiar voice said.
Alex looked up and saw Balalaika approaching.
"Sophia, take a seat," Yuriko said with a smile.
"Then I won't be shy. You don't mind, Sasha?" Balalaika asked, looking at Alex.
Alex waved his hand, signaling that he didn't mind, especially since the girls were also okay with it. After all, he had caught everything with the idea that new faces might join them.
"Then we'll join you too, since Revy burned all the fish I caught," Dutch said, approaching the table with Revy and Benny.
"Burned? It just got a little crispy!" Revy retorted irritably.
"Go ahead and sit down," Alex waved his hand. "Just bring your own alcohol, the girls definitely won't share."
"No problem," Dutch laughed, sitting at the edge of the table.
Revy plopped down next to Rebecca, and for some reason, both of them instantly felt they would become friends. Benny sat next to Dutch, so as not to disturb the others. After a while, Nathan, Ryu, and Ken—the trio of hopeless cooks who had managed to ruin everything they touched—joined them. Alex sighed wearily and, without much thought, created another table so there would be enough space for everyone. Fortunately, the guys didn't come empty-handed.
And so, as everyone began to settle in, Kensei, without a shred of guilt, sat down at the table and said:
"Since you're my son-in-law, you're obligated to treat me to food. If you're dating my daughter, as a member of our Ma family, you must respect your elders."
"Then I'll join in too," Kasper interrupted, boldly taking a seat. "We're practically family already. All that's left is for you and my sister to have kids and give me some nephews."
In that instant, something flew into his head, thrown by Koko, who had decided to silence her annoying brother this way. Kasper rubbed his bump in annoyance but, knowing his sister's temperament, refrained from arguing.
All eyes turned to Kensei, then to Renka, whose eyes seemed ready to burst into flames, as though she was about to burn her father to a crisp. Meanwhile, Miu waved at her grandfather, suggesting he just sit and wait for the food.
Unlike Kensei, Hayato wasn't so shameless. He silently took his seat and, with a satisfied smile, watched as Alex and Miu cooked together like a real family. At one point, he even nodded, clearly approving of what he saw.
"Dad, should I call Mom?" Renka asked irritably, narrowing her eyes.
"Why jump to that?" Kensei grumbled. "He's your future husband, which means I'm his future father-in-law! I have every right to demand food from him!"
Without looking up from his cooking, Alex calmly flipped the fish and said.
"Old man, if I were you, I'd start running. Even without looking, I know you're in big trouble."
Kensei didn't immediately understand what Alex meant, nor did the others at first. But the answer quickly became clear—the enraged Lady Ma appeared on the horizon. Her heavy footsteps echoed across the beach, growing louder with each passing moment, heralding an inevitable punishment.
Everyone collectively turned their gaze to her imposing figure, then back to Kensei, offering him smirks. Some even felt a bit of pity for him… but just a little. After all, he was quite the shameless old man.
Sensing something was wrong, Kensei slowly turned his head and met the gaze of his wife, whose eyes were stormy. In that instant, his face paled.
"Alex, darling, please forgive my husband," Lady Ma said to Alex with a kind smile. "We won't distract you, enjoy your meal. I'll feed this old man so well that he'll never again feel the need to go around begging for food from others. I've been working hard, cooking, and instead of appreciating my care, he goes begging from his son-in-law! Have you lost all shame, Kensei?"
Her voice was soft, but it carried a steel edge.
"Dear, he's my future son-in-law, nothing will happen if he shares some food," Kensei tried to justify himself, offering a weak smile.
Alex, nonchalantly flipping the fish, added in the most innocent tone.
"Lady Ma, perhaps your husband has been away from home so long that he's forgotten the taste of your food? Now he prefers dinners prepared by other girls."
Kensei immediately turned ashen, and muffled chuckles were heard around the group. Everyone understood that Alex had just masterfully avenged his shamelessness.
Realizing he had only one option left, Kensei bolted, kicking up a cloud of sand behind him.
"Alex, wait! I'll get back at you!" he shouted as he disappeared into the distance.
"Dad, you'd better hurry up! Mom is already catching up!" Renka shouted with a cheerful laugh.
Kensei turned to look back in horror and saw that his wife was almost on his heels. He tried to pick up speed, but it was too late—Lady Ma easily caught up with him and slammed her fist into his face.
Kensei collapsed into the sand, realizing he couldn't escape anymore.
The whole group burst into loud laughter as they watched Lady Ma, with the help of her sons, tie him to a tree and force-feed him homemade food. Alex smirked and continued cooking, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
As evening settled in, the beach remained lively—some were singing by the campfire, others simply relaxed, enjoying time with friends or lovers. As Alex had suspected, a number of freeloaders had snuck into their group, drawn by the free food. Eventually, all of it turned into a noisy party full of alcohol and fun.
Everyone entertained themselves as best they could until, exhausted, they collapsed onto the sand with content smiles.
To be continued...
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