The morning sun kissed the waves with shimmering gold as Ryuuji stood barefoot on the pale sands of the southern shore, a bamboo fishing rod in one hand and a handwoven basket in the other. The salty breeze tugged gently at his dark cloak, and the laughter of a little girl echoed behind him.
"Papa! Papa! Wait for me!" Kiko called, her small feet kicking up sand as she ran toward him. Her horns peeked out from under her wide straw hat, and she carried an oversized tackle box stuffed with bait, snacks, and—somehow—her favorite blanket.
"Careful, Kiko," Elysia chided softly, trailing behind them with a grace only a dragon queen could possess in human form. Her long silver hair was tied into a thick braid, and she wore a light robe woven from sun-resistant dragon silk. "The sand is hot."
"I have my dragon slippers on! See?" Kiko lifted one foot proudly. They were actually stitched from cloth scraps and looked more like socks, but Ryuuji just grinned.
"Alright, team," he said, crouching by the edge of the shallow tidepool. "Today, we fish. Not for monsters. Not for sport. For food."
Kiko gasped. "Sashimi day?"
"Sashimi day," Ryuuji confirmed with a nod.
Elysia's face twitched ever so slightly. "I... still remember the first time you asked me to eat that."
Ryuuji laughed. "How could I forget? The mighty dragon queen, conqueror of a thousand skies, nearly cried when faced with raw tuna."
Elysia flushed. "It was translucent. And slimy. And cold."
"That's how it's supposed to be!" he chuckled, digging into the sand with a small spade. "And octopus too. Gotta respect the chew."
Elysia shivered dramatically. "Respect the what?"
Kiko giggled and climbed onto a nearby rock. "I wanna eat the chewy thing again!"
"Good girl. That's my little sea adventurer," Ryuuji said proudly.
As they cast their lines, the trio settled into a peaceful rhythm. Waves lapped at the shore. Seagulls cried above. In the distance, Kaen and Yuki—the Crimson Wolves—rested lazily on a dune, keeping watch with half-lidded eyes.
Ryuuji taught Kiko how to grip the rod. "You feel the tug? That little flick? That means the fish is teasing you. You don't yank right away. You wait. You listen."
Kiko nodded seriously. "Like when Popo steals cookies and runs away."
"Exactly. Timing is everything."
They caught three fish in the first hour. Long, silvery ones that Ryuuji identified as "Tide Gliders"—common in this world, but considered too oily by the locals. In Earth terms? Perfect for sashimi.
"You know what's funny?" Ryuuji said as he gutted the first fish with practiced ease. "Back home, this stuff is a delicacy. Here? They toss it back."
"You always say that," Elysia murmured. "Same with that... other thing. The sea bug."
"Sea urchin? Uni? That's heavenly stuff! They think it's poison here. And don't get me started on seaweed."
Kiko perked up. "I like the crunchy green snack!"
"That's nori," Ryuuji said. "Back on Earth, people farm it. Here, they call it 'sea trash' and leave it to rot on the rocks."
Elysia picked up a long, green ribbon of seaweed between her fingers and squinted at it. "Still looks like it belongs in a swamp."
"You wound me, my queen," Ryuuji said dramatically. "One day, I'm gonna open the first seaside sushi tavern on this continent."
"Only if I don't have to eat the squishy things."
"You already promised! Remember? You said you'd try anything I make for you!"
Elysia looked to Kiko for help. The girl only shrugged. "I like squishy food."
As the morning wore on, the tide brought new gifts. Ryuuji harvested kelp with his bare hands, laughing as Kiko danced in the surf. They discovered an octopus hiding under a flat stone, and with some coaxing (and a bit of magic), Ryuuji pulled it free.
"Papa, it has so many legs!"
"Eight, to be exact. That's what makes it perfect."
Elysia turned green. "You're not serious."
"Deadly serious."
Back at the beach shack, Ryuuji sliced the tuna into delicate pink strips and laid them on chilled leaves. He arranged the octopus in curls, garnished the uni with salt, and draped nori crisps beside a little bowl of soy-style sauce made from local herbs.
They sat under the shade of the awning, ocean breeze wrapping around them.
Elysia watched him for a moment. "You always look the most alive when you cook."
Ryuuji smiled, his gaze soft. "Farming, forging, and food. That's what kept me human. Even when I wasn't sure I was anymore."
She didn't respond, just reached across and gently took a slice of tuna. She stared at it. Took a breath. Bit in.
Kiko watched with wide eyes.
Elysia chewed slowly.
Then blinked.
"...This one's not bad."
Ryuuji grinned. "Victory."
Kiko clapped. "Mama Elysia wins!"
The trio laughed, and the waves joined in with their quiet applause.
That day ended with full bellies, sticky fingers, and the kind of peace Ryuuji had fought fifteen years to earn. No demon generals, no legendary battles. Just fish, family, and memories under the open sky.
Tomorrow, maybe they'd try crab hunting. Or teach Kiko how to swim properly. Or just nap in hammocks beneath the sun.
There was time now.
Plenty of time.