Everyone excitedly streamed into the magnificent Akane Resort Hotel, with its luxurious lobby, exquisite decorations, huge crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and the faint scent of flowers in the air.
After checking in, everyone went to their rooms to unpack.
Ryoma's room was on the top floor, boasting a superb balcony with a view overlooking the entire beach.
He simply tossed his backpack onto the bed, changed into beach shorts and a loose white outer shirt, then put on his sunglasses.
"Ohhh! The sea is calling me!"
Natsu was the first to burst out of his room, wearing only a pair of flashy beach shorts, a pair of swimming goggles hanging around his neck, and excitedly ran towards the beach.
"Wait for me! You idiot!"
Gray followed closely behind, wearing... well, he seemed to think even beach shorts were superfluous.
"Gray! Your pants!"
Lucy's scream rang out on cue. She had already changed into a cute white bikini, covered by a white sheer top, looking youthful and radiant.
"Where's Erza?" Ryoma walked out of his room, just in time to see this scene.
Bang!
No sooner had he spoken than Erza's door opened.
She had changed into a deep red swimsuit, her expression serious, and in her hand, she was holding a volleyball.
"Beach volleyball is an indispensable sport for a beach holiday." She announced earnestly. "I've thoroughly studied the rules, I absolutely won't lose."
"..."
Ryoma silently grumbled, 'So you even brought a volleyball in that huge pile of luggage?'
Following closely, Mirajane also elegantly emerged.
She wore a pure white one-piece swimsuit, draped with a light sheer scarf. Her long hair was gently caressed by the sea breeze, and her whole body exuded a sacred and charming aura.
She gave Ryoma a slight smile. "Let's go. If we don't hurry, they'll tear the beach apart."
Everyone returned to the beach: sunshine, sand, bikinis and a group of energetic Mages.
"Ha! Watch my spike!"
"Dream on!"
In a corner of the beach, Erza and Gray had already taken their positions, beginning an intense beach volleyball match.
Gray, relying on his agile movements, darted around the court, occasionally using ice to create small footholds to increase his jumping height.
"Foul! No magic allowed!" Erza immediately protested.
"You were the first to use Requip to change into sports knee pads." Gray retorted, not backing down.
On the other side, Lucy and Happy were happily building a sandcastle.
"Happy, we need to add another tower here."
"Aye! Make it in the shape of a fish."
Happy, wearing a mini Hawaiian shirt, was enjoying the beach atmosphere with a small shovel.
It was peaceful.
Ryoma found an excellent spot, set up a huge sun umbrella, and comfortably lied on a beach chair, a straw he had 'borrowed' from the hotel bar in his mouth, leisurely enjoying the sunbath.
The warm sun shone on him, the pleasant sound of waves crashing on the shore filled his ears, along with the lively chatter of his companions.
This was the true meaning of a holiday.
He took a leisurely sip of iced fruit juice, feeling as if his whole body was melting into the lazy atmosphere.
However, there are always some spoilsports.
"Ryoma!"
A voice full of fighting spirit approached from a distance.
Ryoma didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.
"Come fight me!"
Natsu, like a hound discovering a new toy, stood before Ryoma with glowing eyes, his fists already blazing with fierce flames.
Ryoma sighed, took off his sunglasses, and looked at the battle-maniac in front of him.
"Natsu, I'm on vacation."
"I'm on vacation too!" Natsu retorted.
"Having a good fight at the beach is also part of a vacation."
What kind of bandit logic was that?
Ryoma felt his blood pressure slowly rising.
"I refuse." He stated his position concisely, put his sunglasses back on, and adopted a 'don't bother me' posture.
"Don't be so stingy."
Natsu showed no intention of giving up. He grinned, and his flame-engulfed fist smashed towards Ryoma's face.
Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!
The scorching punch wind rushed towards him.
Ryoma didn't even sit up from the beach chair, he just lazily raised his right hand.
Click—
A thin ice wall instantly condensed into shape before Natsu's fist. Flame collided with the ice wall, yet not a single sound was made. Natsu's flaming fist was blocked effortlessly.
The ice wall looked crystal clear, as if it would shatter at a touch. But Natsu's flames burned on it, yet couldn't melt it in the slightest.
"If you break things here, Erza will get angry." Ryoma's voice drifted from behind the ice wall, carrying a hint of warning.
"Erza?"
Natsu's body visibly stiffened for a moment.
He hastily turned his head to look around. When he saw Erza fully engrossed in playing volleyball with Gray, completely unaware of their situation, he visibly relaxed.
"Hehe, as long as she doesn't find out, it's okay."
This guy... will he never learn?
Ryoma felt a headache coming on.
Natsu took a deep breath, his magic power surging again, clearly preparing to launch a more fierce attack.
Ryoma helplessly glanced at Mirajane, who was leisurely applying sunscreen on another beach chair nearby.
"Mira, aren't you going to help stop him?"
Mirajane turned her head and gave Ryoma a sweet, harmless smile. "Oh dear, I'm just a delicate woman. I can't handle such violent matters."
Delicate woman?
Ryoma's lips twitched.
A demon who can pin other demons to the ground with her bare hands calls herself a delicate woman?
That's even more outrageous than Natsu saying he likes to travel by vehicle.
Ryoma lowered his voice, mumbling softly at a volume only he could hear, "Even if you can't handle it, you could at least call Erza. So heartless."
No sooner had he finished speaking—
"Hmm? Ryoma, what did you just say?"
Mirajane still looked at him with a gentle smile, but for some reason, Ryoma felt the surrounding temperature suddenly drop several degrees. He could even see what appeared to be substantial black aura swirling behind Mirajane.
"Nothing! Nothing!" Ryoma's survival instinct instantly kicked in, and he quickly waved his hands.
"I said, Mira, you look really beautiful today."
"Is that so? Thank you for the compliment."
Mirajane's smile grew even brighter, but the black aura showed no sign of dissipating.
A chill ran down Ryoma's spine.
Can't afford to provoke her.
Seeing Natsu about to charge over again, Ryoma decisively made his choice.
He flipped off the beach chair and jumped up, then ran towards the sea without looking back.
He was here for a holiday and enjoyment, not to be Natsu's sparring partner.
"Hey! Don't run!"
Natsu, seeing Ryoma run, immediately chased after him excitedly.
He fled, he pursued, he...
Ryoma looked at the clear blue sea ahead, a slight curve forming on his lips.
Without slowing down at all, he plunged headfirst into the sea.
Amidst the astonished gazes of countless tourists, Ryoma's feet landed steadily on the shimmering sea surface, just as if he were walking on flat ground. He didn't stop but continued to stride, stepping on the undulating waves, walking deeper and deeper.
The sea breeze lifted the corners of his clothes, the sunlight bathed his body, and he leisurely strolled upon the sea.
"Wow! That person... he's walking on water!"
"Oh my god! What kind of magic is that?"
"So cool!"
Gasps of surprise erupted on the beach.
Ryoma walked dozens of meters from the shore, stopping only when he reached a spot with few people around. Then he performed an even more astonishing feat, leaning backward, stretching his entire body, and simply floating on the sea surface, continuing to sunbathe while cradled by the waves.
Erza and Gray stopped their match, staring at the scene in stunned silence.
"Damn it! That's too cool! I can do it too!"
Natsu, who had chased to the beach, saw this scene, and his fighting spirit was instantly replaced by curiosity.
He roared, imitating Ryoma, and recklessly charged towards the sea surface.
"I'm coming too!"
Then...
Splash!
Natsu didn't even make it past his second step before falling headfirst into the water, bubbling and gurgling.
"Cough, cough, cough... So salty."
He awkwardly poked his head out of the water, his face full of disbelief.
At this moment, Lucy, who had just finished surfing and was returning to the beach with her surfboard, also witnessed Ryoma lying on the sea surface the entire time.
Her brown eyes were wide with shock, and her small mouth formed an O shape.
"Eh?!"
She rubbed her eyes in disbelief and looked again carefully.
There was nothing beneath Ryoma.
No ice, no surfboard, nothing at all.
"There's clearly nothing. How is he floating on the water?"