Not for everyone

When people say the weather gets hotter in summer, they mean it’s actually boiling hot. Or at least, that day was especially unbearable. The illusion of the blue fake sky above was shivering by the heat, and so the air above the sand; but where the water met his feet, the refreshing sensation of cold waves was calming his stress.

With that weather he wasn’t able to work as usual. Not only the dough was harder to work with, but he felt exhausted in the middle of the journey, and took the frightening decision of taking the day off. Of course, Dan could not close the shop alone and leave Shibani behind, so right now they were there… sitting together in the sand. Well, Shibani got a new happy place by the beach, building a pile of towels instead of his improvised bed at Dan’s Dango. The albino was deep sleeping under the umbrella’s comfy shade, next to the man that was watching his dreams.

Despite the heat, the breeze was calming, bringing the echoes of the voices of other succubuns enjoying the beach. Laughs, chatting, shoutings of joy from a group of volleyball players and some swimmers pushing each other to higher waves. Delightful, but a little annoying for Dan, who was looking for a quiet view of the sea and got instead a lot of people playing around and getting louder every minute. Of course he didn’t blame them, but it wasn’t the exact relaxation he expected. In some way, sitting there looking at the crowd made him feel lonelier and out of place, but trying to go and join them wasn’t an option. Maybe he should just go back to the shop, put on the fan and wait for the temperatures to drop…

A little yawn took him out of his thoughts. Shibani. Close to forgetting about him. His gaze went from the group of players to the back of his companion, hugging the bag where they kept their sunscreen and some untouched snacks as a pillow. His red eyes opened slowly and took a lazy look at the buff man, blinking once, twice, before letting another yawn out, a longer one. Took some seconds for him to incorporate on his knees, arching his back to stretch his body after a sweet dream.

— I’m sorry… Did I wake you up?

The sloth bun shook his head. Just a little.— No, no, I just… —yawn.— I think the heat doesn't let me sleep as well as I wish…

Not a lie, really. His body seemed a little sweaty and his eyes were more tired than usual. A long sigh escaped from Dan’s lips.

— Even you can’t rest on a day like this, huh? That 's impressive. And worrying.

— Maybe… but, also… I think maybe you deserve me to be awake —again, another yawn. A little tear showed in his eye, then cleaned it with his own hand— with you if you’re just gonna sit in silence, with that lonely look in your eyes.

— It’s not lonely.

— Depressing, then…

A soft smile was drawn on Shibani’s face, provoking the same response on Dan’s. The silence invaded the air around them, even when they could still hear the group of players arguing. Was that serving valid or not? Don’t really care, let them figure it out by themselves.

— I’m just thinking.

— About…? If I’m allowed to know…

— Nothing special. Just… everyone is here playing and enjoying and I, all I can think about is the shop, to be honest. Maybe I’m becoming a little… Well… How do I say this…?

— Workaholic. That’s, at least… how I would call you.

Silence, again, until a new sigh ran out Dan’s lips.

— Yes. Workaholic. I can’t remember the last time I took a short vacation or something similar, and if I try to think about it, I’m also not sure what I could do in my free time if I even get some —Dan frowned, as if the topic was causing him a headache—. I’m not that good at starting conversations, nor even at playing or exploring. Don’t really have a show I like to watch or another hobby. I can’t just tie you up every day to entertain myself.

— Surely you could —a soft laugh came from the other one—. But I got that feeling…

— You? Who is always enjoying free time at the pillows, resting without any worries?

— Yes, me. Everyone has doubts sometimes… myself included of course.

The smaller succubun laid down at the towels again, slightly looking at the cavern’s ceiling lost in the blue shining. Tilted his head a little, in Dan’s direction, to appreciate the cloudy tattoos showing on his leg under the loose clothes. Took some seconds until his eyes climbed to his again, and continued talking.

— Some days I tell myself that it’s time to… try something different, to have a taste of a new emotion… that’s how I ended up leaving my comfort at your gifted hands —with that phrase, Shibani stroke one of the knots of the thin rope tying his figure around the swimsuit, and the taller man took a deep breath—. But…

The pause grew bigger, until it was broken by Dan’s voice.

— …But?

— But most of the time, at the end… There's nothing bad about doing again what I already enjoy. So I go back to rest… so you can prepare your cakes while vacationing.

Not really the kind of response Dan expected. Shibani closed his eyes again, with that sweet smile decorating his face. A little annoyed, being honest, Dan waited some extra seconds, maybe expecting another idea, but nothing came out. That was all.

— Preparing cakes again, doesn’t it turn my vacations into plain working again?

— Not really, because you’ll be doing it for yourself, ‘cuz you love your dangos… don’t you?

— Well, that’s true, but…

— You don’t have to force yourself to do… what others consider “relaxing” or “fitting”. Just do what you like, only because you like it, without pressure… and if you’re bored, then… you can always come and rest with me on the pile.

They looked at each other with some kind of complicity in their eyes, just for a few seconds. And the growing tension between them, that maybe would lead the duo to a quiet place, was suddenly broken with a loud “WATCH OUT” and a ball hit the umbrella and closed it around Dan’s head. Some laughs, including Shibani’s, echoed inside that sturdy fabric prison while the succubun was trying to free himself.

Enough. If some day he takes vacations, he would spend them at home cooking and pounding mochi.

— I really hate the beach.