Growing up surrounded by his mother and two sisters, Shoyo never felt shy. Now, his focus was on swimming. He guided Jennie through the basics of breathing and floating, gradually familiarizing her with the movement of water.
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Because it was her first time being in front of a boy while wearing only a bra and shorts, Jennie's movements were a bit awkward due to shyness. However, the sensation of being accompanied by water quickly overshadowed that shyness. In no time, she learned to float by kicking her legs.
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"As expected, you have talent. Now, I'll teach you how to swim with your hands and feet working together. Watch me." Shoyo demonstrated as he spoke, circling around her in the water. Jennie mimicked his actions, though she swallowed a few mouthfuls of seawater. But soon enough, she was handling it with ease, swimming on her own. She truly was a natural.
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The two continued practicing in the water, playfully chasing each other. By afternoon, they were tired and rested on the shore. Shoyo expertly built a fire, using his clothes as a makeshift dryer. They sat around the fire, chatting and watching the sea.
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"How did you discover this place?"
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"Three years ago, I had a fight with my mom outside the city because we were attacked by Skullbreakers. So, I ran away from home and stumbled upon the entrance to this secret passage while wandering near the city walls. I pushed aside the bushes and found the entrance. I sneaked in when no one was looking around. I never expected to find a whole new world at the end. Since then, this has been my secret hideout, and no one has been here. Looking back, I realize I was quite reckless. What if there were monsters waiting at the other end of the passage? Or what if I got swept away by the waves while swimming? At that moment, maybe I thought disappearing like that would make no one remember me."
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Jennie didn't expect Shoyo to have such a sentimental side. "Don't be like that. Aren't you living well now?"
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"That's true. To commemorate that day, I specially made a necklace to wear..." Jennie looked at his neck and noticed that the seashell pendant was missing. She remembered he wore it during celebrations and trips.
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Shoyo also knew she wanted to ask. "I gave it to Rachel." The answer almost slipped out, but he held it back due to embarrassment. "I lost it."
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"Oh... That's a shame."
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"On your first visit, I'll make something similar for you. It's simple." Shoyo carefully searched the beach for a while, picked a suitable-sized seashell, drilled a small hole in it with a pointed stone, and then threaded it with seaweed and young tree roots. "Let me hang it for you."
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Shoyo stood behind Jennie, took off her coat, and lightly tied the pendant around her neck. Now Jennie was only wearing a thin top. At such a close distance, he could see that her shoulders and back were fair and smooth, like fresh milk. However, beneath this calm surface of milk was a thin layer of pale red film.
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"Huh? What's this?"
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Shoyo looked at the scars on her back, and as he moved to the other side, he found similar scars that connected in a straight line, as if something had pierced through her body.
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While observing, Shoyo pondered why a girl would have such blemishes. "Have you seen enough?" He hadn't noticed that the scars were right below Jennie's collarbone, quite impolite to gaze at in such a way. Shoyo hastily backed away, unsure where to direct his gaze.
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Jennie knew he wanted to ask, and while the scar was a big regret for herself as well, she hadn't initially planned to bring it up. But since he shared this secret hideout with her, she felt she should also share a secret with him.
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"I got this scar when I was a child, and I've forgotten how it happened. But my grandmother cared for me a lot and often comforted me about it. Strangely enough, my mother didn't like it."
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"What about your dad?"
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"I don't have a dad."
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"Me neither, but we're both doing fine." Shoyo saw that they both shared the same situation of growing up without a father. However, he was curious why Jennie's mother treated her so poorly.
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"I used to think my mom never wanted me and only reluctantly had me because my grandmother persuaded her to. That's what I thought. But you know, when I think about it now, I'm luckier than her. With my three sisters, it's like I have three mothers."
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"Let's talk about something else and not dwell on the past. What do you think exists on the other side of the sea?" Shoyo quickly changed the subject to prevent Jennie from sinking into sadness.
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This question piqued Jennie's interest. "There might be storms and monsters at sea. Many exploration teams were sent out, and none of them returned. That's what all the records say."
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"Do you really think so? In the vast ocean, how could there be only us four cities left? I believe there are other humans beyond the sea because..." Shoyo pointed at an object floating in the water. It was being carried by the waves, eventually washing ashore.
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"See, there's evidence again."
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