For a moment, things were a little awkward. Shirou helped Illya up and brushed the sand from her long white hair.
"Let me do it."
Illya sniffled softly, her face a little red as she nodded. "All right."
Shirou effortlessly hauled up the fishing net full of fish. It left a huge trail across the beach, and under the sun, the siblings walked quietly together.
Illya stayed by Shirou's side, head lowered, silent as she seemed lost in thought.
Shirou felt a little stifled. Had their days of barely speaking made it hard to start a new conversation? Was even chatting awkward now? Would the siblings eventually become little more than strangers?
No, he had to find something to talk about. Otherwise, they would not be able to keep nurturing their sibling bond, and Illya's development plan would be declared a failure.
That was something he could not accept.
"Illya, your swimsuit is really pretty," Shirou said softly, nearly slapping himself. That had come out way too ambiguously. What did he mean by saying his little sister looked good in a swimsuit?
Illya's face reddened even more, and she lowered her head further. Unfortunately, playing ostrich was useless. There was nowhere for her to bury her face, nor was there any place to bury Shirou's face.
In that sense, she really was completely elementary-school-aged.
"W-Why are you suddenly saying that, Shirou? I-I..." Illya's face turned even redder, and her legs nearly gave out. She only wanted to stand quietly on the beach with Shirou.
"Well, uh, I just think you're pretty."
"All right." Illya's voice suddenly became a little subdued again as she followed behind Shirou. She had deliberately picked out that swimsuit, after all.
Shirou wiped away the sweat brought on by the sweltering weather. Fortunately, that was all