Iris smiled wide as she beheld the oceanside city that greeted her with arms wide open. She admired the white plaster walls of the sprawling buildings with red tiled roofs and paved streets with white stone. There was something about the city with its tall spires and alabaster sheen that amplified the sunlight above that drew her in. She was drawn to the horse carriages snaking through the winding roads and people in white robes chattering in a dialect she only half understood.

She adored the change in scenery as the group walked through the streets, passing various fountains and statues along the way made from ornate marble with delicate gold ornaments. Kids ran by playing with small wooden figures and wind blew gently through the buildings; just enough to keep a constant cool breeze in the heat of the coming summer.

Iris took a deep breath and took it all in. It reminded her of coming to Sentoraya for the first time; the exposure to an entirely different culture within her home country shook her. She couldn’t wait to get settled; the ocean, the bathhouse, the food, the relaxation. It called to her with an alluring melody. Iris turned towards Arylos with a smile and nearly laughed when she saw the Titan panting nearly like a dog in the heat.

“Oh stop being so dramatic,” she teased while patting Arylos’s shoulder.

“Why the hell did I agree to this?” Arylos growled while trying to keep his breath.

“Stop wearing black and you might actually get somewhere,” Iris persisted while pulling on the Titan’s black shirt. “All of this dark clothing can’t be good for you. Maybe we should find you a change of clothes.”

“I’ve actually wondered; do Titans get heat strokes?” Eir asked while trying to contain laughter.

Bellona laughed as a thought came to her. “I’ll do you one better; how does the Titan of fire not like the heat.”

“Shut it, you two,” Arylos growled as he looked away.

“I mean, they’re fair questions,” Iris cut in while running over to Arylos’s other side so he was still looking at her. “If you get sick in the heat, we might have to help you.”

“I wish I got sick and passed out,” Arylos commented while shaking his head. “No, instead I just sit here and sweat and suffer with no payoff for any of it. I hate it.”

“Okay, that does suck,” Bellona added as her laughter stopped. “It’s kind of like coughing and sneezing repeatedly but you’re not actually sick; suffering for no good reason.”

“Exactly,” Arylos growled.

“Alright, well, let’s go get some new clothes then,” Iris commented happily while looking around at the various buildings. “I think it’s time for some summer wear anyway.”

“Good idea Iris, but let’s be sure not to strain Arylos’s wallet,” Bellona added with a lighthearted chuckle.

“What strain? All I have to do is bat my eyes and he’ll buy whatever I want,” Iris added while giggling in an evil laugh.

“Both of you can eat my ass,” Arylos growled yet had a smile on his face. “You’re cool though Eir; you’re not like these two witches,” he told Eir while pointing at her.

Eir smiled and covered her face as a thought came to her. “But don’t you like it when they tease you like that?” she added while laughing as well.

Arylos stared at the valkyrie with a slack jaw and at a complete loss for words. It took him a while before he finally said anything. “Okay, you’re not on the cool people list anymore, you witch.”

“You didn’t say I was wrong though,” Eir said while continuing to laugh with the other women.

Arylos tried to growl and yet he could only laugh under his breath as he walked ahead of the group. “I agreed to a month of this. Maybe I am getting soft, that or I’m losing my mind.”

“Can’t lose what you never had,” Iris teased while following closely behind the Titan.

Arylos paused mid-step and turned around to Iris and pressed his finger against her forehead, all the while Iris’s smile got wider. “Listen here you little shit,” he growled with a smile. “I’m not saying you’re wrong, but that doesn’t mean you have to say it.”

“Now now, settle down you two,” Bellona added while patting Arylos’s shoulder.

Iris stuck her tongue out as Arylos turned away and the group continued walking down the street. As they walked, Bellona turned around to face Eir. “See what I mean?” she mouthed to the valkyrie while gesturing towards Arylos and Iris.

Eir laughed under her breath and nodded. Bellona was pretty much spot on about the two and this being one of many reminders of that truth. She could feel Bellona’s determination to get them together and get it over with already. It was all pretty simple; remind Arylos that he wants more from Iris and convince Iris to open up to him.

“On that note, why don’t we try that store there?” Bellona cut in while pointing to a rustic three story shop adorned with a variety of clothing and various goods on shelves out front. “We need new clothes, some beach supplies, and definitely some towels.”

Iris smiled and ran ahead to get a better look at the shop. She squinted as she read some of the signs. “‘Mizugi’,” she read the characters aloud, recognising the words but not what it meant. “What the heck is ‘mizugi’? Water clothing?”

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“Swimwear,” Arylos corrected as he stood next to her.

“Okay, first off, when did you learn to read Kaiyumian?” Iris asked while giving Arylos a shocked expression.

“Aren’t those characters the level that children know?” Arylos responded. “I have been trying to learn, you know.”

“Okay, fair, but what is swimwear?” Iris followed up.

“It’s specifically designed for swimming and public bathing,” Bellona responded while approaching the store and gesturing for Eir to follow her. “It’s water wicking, breathable, and comfortable in water. You can come shopping with us if you don’t know what to get.”

“Okay~!” Iris cheered as she followed the Templarians as the group walked into the store, assaulted by the chattering of various shoppers looking through the numerous racks of clothing, many of which were high up on walls. Iris gasped as she saw some sets with tasteful colours and pretty designs hanging on displays. Designs ranged from light summer dresses to skirts with frilled ends and bows; a variety of designs that could fit any style and personality. Iris couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed at the sheer number of options on offer.

She approached one of the other racks and took the hanger off the rack and examined a swimsuit that made Iris blush. The yellow colour with pink accents was certainly adorable to her, but she was shocked at how little covering there was. She held it against her body and realised that it was practically underwear; barely covering her chest and her waist. Iris pictured herself wearing the revealing suit and her face ran red as she realised that the suit would leave practically nothing to the imagination. The thudding of familiar footsteps nearby shook Iris from her embarrassed trance as she looked at the swimsuit once more.

“H-Hey Arylos,” she called out in an embarrassed voice. “Is the beach private or something? T-This is a little…revealing.”

Arylos glanced at Iris and the swimsuit a couple of times as she put the swimsuit back on the rack and he slowly put the pieces together. “The lack of coverage is to let more of the water touch your skin,” he explained in a deadpan logical voice.

“I-I know, but I’m not wearing that around people…am I?” Iris continued while continuing to turn red.

Arylos concluded that he knew exactly what was going on. “Come with me,” he instructed while taking Iris’s arm and pulling her to the side and outside the side door of the store and back out in the street. He pulled her a little down the street before pointing off to the southern horizon and Iris felt in awe as she saw the ocean. A grand azure body that stretched out to the horizon and met with the land at a sandy coast with crowds walking along the sandy shores. It was beautiful for Iris to behold; no mountains or forests, only the cerulean ocean.

“That there is Minaumi, the southern ocean,” Arylos explained to an awestruck Iris. “And that shore there is the beach we’ll be going to.”

Iris took the sight in and could hardly contain her excitement to see this up close. She wondered what it would be like to talk on the sand and wanted nothing more than to run through the streets like a giddy girl and meet the ocean head on. She saw the crowds on the beach and she wanted to walk through them and relax.

The crowds.

A startling thought hit Iris; the beach that they would be going to has a lot of people there. A crowd of people awaited Iris and she felt her face turn red again and a lump form in her throat. She could do little but cover her mouth and her cheeks as she realised what Arylos was really trying to tell her.

She would have to wear that revealing clothing amongst those crowds of people.

Iris squealed to herself as she could feel Arylos looking at her with a big and goofy smile that only added to her raging emotions; a face that was punchable and yet she was too in love with to do so. She hated his smile, his guts, but it just confused her on the inside.

“Awe, is the little girl too nervous to go play?” Arylos asked in a mocking and cooing voice.

“I hate you,” she grumbled while turning away, hoping to lessen Arylos’s effect on her.

“No you don’t,” Arylos responded immediately while keeping his grin wide, causing Iris to squirm and turn her back entirely to the Titan. “Come on, the others are waiting; I’m sure they’ll help you pick something you’ll be comfortable with.”

“Eh? You’re not helping me?” Iris asked.

“Why would I? I know nothing about womanly fashion,” Arylos responded while walking back into the store. “Not to mention I need to find something that isn’t black, which is going to be a struggle for me.”

Iris had a sparkle in her eye as an idea came to her. “I know! Why not let us–”

“No,” Arylos immediately responded in a cold voice, crushing Iris’s dreams.

“Why no~t?!” Iris complained as she tried to keep her broken heart intact.

“I’m not about to be a dress-up doll for a couple of girls,” Arylos responded with a scoff. “I do still have my pride as a Titan left for me.”

“Pride in being a big idiot more like,” Iris grumbled under her breath.

“I heard that,” Arylos responded with a smirk.

“You were supposed to, you big idiot!” Iris squealed.

Arylos couldn’t help but laugh as he turned away from Iris as the duo went back to the store. “I’ll be on this side looking for something. Go meet back up with your friends. Once we’re done here, we’ll head to another store to get things for the beach and head back to the cottage, alright?”

“Alright,” Iris nodded while regaining a smile on her face. As she watched Arylos walk away and disappear into the racks of clothing, she felt an odd pull inside her; an anxiety that she now had to contend with. She had practically never worn something revealing in public and now that was about to change, but would doing so gain Arylos’s interest in her? Questions swam through Iris’s mind as she went back to another rack and aimlessly looked through the swimwear on offer.

As Iris browsed, Bellona caught eye of the moping girl and with a smile began to sneak towards her. She slowly moved forward and once Iris was within reach, she gently reached her hand out and rested it on her head, ready to mock Arylos’s headpats he routinely gives Iris. Yet as soon as Bellona’s hand made contact, a painful jolt of energy shot up Bellona’s arm, causing her to pull back her arm as the muscles convulsed from the energy before finally loosening up.

“Uh-uh! No touchy! Nope!” Iris hollered while turning toward Bellona with her hands raised like she was about to fight the Templarian.

“Hell was that for?” Bellona groaned while holding onto her sore arm.

“Headpats are off limits to you!” Iris answered while squaring up against Bellona. “Do that again and I’ll whoop your ass into next week!”

“Uh, I’m pretty sure I would win,” Bellona said while laughing sarcastically.

“Wanna bet?” Iris responded.

Bellona shook her head with a sigh as she turned to the side. “Come on, Eir and I have some things picked out we want to try. Do you have any ideas?”

Iris finally lowered her hands and rubbed her arms. “No, I really don’t know what I even want.”

“Then let us help!” Bellona quickly answered. “Swimsuits are nothing new to us so we’ll pick something out for you!”

Iris lowered her head as she tried to get her shyness under control. “Alright,” she finally admitted while partly afraid of what the two women would pick out for her.