She didn't repeat that sentence.
He simply reached out and tucked a strand of hair that had slipped down behind Bai You's ear.
"... It looks good," she said.
"But it looks better without it."
"Wo! Ya! Ni! Sha!"
Bai You glared at her, but her glare was completely powerless.
Varesa smiled and took a step back.
"Go change," she said. "Don't wear it for too long, you'll get sweaty and dirty before we even get to the beach."
Bai You hummed in agreement.
She turned and went into the fitting room.
Before the curtain was drawn, Varesa noticed that her ears were still red.
On the other side.
Columbina came out of the fitting room.
She stood at the doorway for a moment, as if waiting for someone's reaction.
Sandrone was standing outside; she had been looking down at her shoes.
Hearing the curtain rustle, she looked up.
Then her gaze stopped.
When Columbina put on the light blue swimsuit, she quickly looked away.
Move it to the clothes rack next to it.
She twirled around, and the hem of her skirt—no, the slight hem of her swimsuit—swayed slightly. "What about this one?"
"Hmm..." Sandrone said, "This one."
Her gaze drifted over again, landing on Columbina's shoulder.
It quickly drifted away again.
"Have you tried on this brown one?"
"No."
"Why don't you give it a try?"
"No need."
Why?
Sandrone remained silent.
She had already taken the brown swimsuit and headed towards the cashier.
They walked very fast.
Odette was the last one to come out.
She was wearing that white dress, and she twirled around.
" Odette... yours are beautiful too, "Varesa said.
Varesa stood at the door of the fitting room, holding the pink swimsuit that Bai You had taken off.
Sandrone had already paid the bill. He stood at the door, but his eyes kept drifting towards Columbina.
When I came out of the store after paying the bill, the sun was already setting, and golden light was slanting across the stone pavement.
Bai You clutched the bag containing the pink swimsuit tightly to her chest, while Varesa took her free hand and slowed their pace.
Sandrone walked at the very back.
She carried the bag containing her brown swimsuit in her left hand and Columbina's light blue swimsuit in her right.
Columbina was about to take it, but she dodged it, saying, "I'm not tired."
Columbina just smiled and didn't argue anymore.
As she reached the street corner, Varesa suddenly stopped.
Bai You followed her gaze and saw a small cart parked on the street corner with a large parasol on its roof.
A wooden sign hung under the umbrella, reading " Mondstadt Ice Cream".
A row of ice cream scoops was neatly arranged in the glass display case—strawberry, vanilla, chocolate—the various colors dazzling in the setting sun.
"I'll go buy it," Varesa said.
"I'll go too—" Odette had just raised her hand.
"You guys stay here, I'll go." Varesa had already walked over.
She stood in front of the cart for a while and said a few words to the owner.
The owner smiled as he scooped up the balls, filled the cones, and sprinkled on the toppings.
Five minutes later, Varesa returned—holding three ice cream cones in each hand, stacked together like a small pile of colorful towers.
"Here." She handed the top one to Bai You.
It's made of strawberries. A pink ball with a strawberry on top and a mint leaf stuck in it.
Bai You took it, and looked at Varesa, whose hands were covered in ice cream, and paused for a moment.
"Six." Varesa handed the other one to Odette.
He then turned back and handed one to each of Columbina and Sandrone, "One for each of you."
Odette took it and took a big bite, mumbling, " Varesa, how did you know I wanted this flavor?--"
Columbina licked her vanilla-flavored drink little by little, her eyes curving into crescents.
The one from Sandrone was chocolate; she held it without touching it, just cradling it.
Varesa had two left—she had just bought six, one for each person, and she had taken two for herself.
"Why did you buy two?" Bai You asked.
"I like to eat it." Varesa took a bite of the mint-flavored one in her left hand.
After taking a bite, I squinted my eyes, as if the cool taste had completely healed me.
"I've loved ice cream since I was little. It used to be my absolute favorite food, but now it's just one of my absolute favorites."
Bai You looked at her.
Varesa's eyes crinkle when she eats.
Bai You had never seen anyone look so happy while eating ice cream.
Seeing Varesa's expression, Bai You wondered what could be better than ice cream. Had Varesa recently discovered something delicious?
But I haven't seen her this happy when eating other things lately, so I asked her curiously:
"Varesa, what's better than ice cream these days?"
"Of course it's... a delicious food with white hair, a tender face, and a soft body!"
Bai You didn't react for a moment, "This food is so strange, what is it?"
"It's so close, yet so far away! My Little Bai You tastes so much better than ice cream!"
"Wo! Ya! Ni! Sha!"
"Is it good?" Varesa looked down at her.
Bai You took a bite of her strawberry. It was cool, sweet, and had a hint of milky flavor. She nodded.
"It's delicious."
"Then eat more." Varesa handed over the chocolate-flavored one from her right hand, "Try this."
Bai You took a bite out of her hand.
Chocolate flavor, bittersweet.
How about it?
"... It's also delicious."
"Do you want to change it?"
"No...!" Bai You hugged her strawberry-shaped pastry closer to her chest. "I'll eat this one."
Varesa laughed. She walked along, biting one in each hand.
Odette and Columbina watched from the side, secretly smiling without saying a word.
They walked for about half an hour.
Bai You slowed down, and Varesa stopped when she saw her.
Tired?
"... A little..." Bai You took a breath, "How much further?"
"Almost there." Varesa glanced back at the person behind her— Odette's expression remained indifferent.
Sandrone remained calm, while Columbina continued to look around, seemingly not tired at all.
"How about I carry you on my back?" Varesa squatted down.
"No need."
"But it's not up to you."
Varesa stood up and steadily supported her knees.
Bai You buried her face in the crook of her neck, her breath warm against her ear.
Is it heavy?
"Not heavy."
"I ate quite a lot today."
"That's not heavy."
Bai You smiled, her arm around Varesa's neck.
Odette watched this scene from behind, then looked at her empty hands and sighed.
She had anticipated this outcome, but she hadn't expected it to be worse, and she regretted coming with them.
Columbina walked in the middle, Sandrone walked past her without saying a word, but slowed his pace a little—as if waiting for her.
When they reached a point where they could hear the sound of the tide, Bai You woke up on Varesa's back.
She was still half asleep, but as soon as she smelled the salty, damp scent, she immediately opened her eyes.
"... Have we arrived?"
"Hmm." Varesa put her down.
Bai You steadied herself and looked up.
Her breathing paused for a moment.
The sea was right in front of her.
It wasn't that distant, blurry blue. It was a real, boundless sea, stretching from their feet all the way to the horizon.
The wind blew in from the sea, carrying the scent of salt, and felt cool and refreshing on my face.
Bai You stood there, motionless.
Varesa walked over to her.
Do you like it?