The morning sun began to rise, illuminating Yalong Beach with warm golden light. Charlie had just finished preparing his spot when Aishia approached with a bottle of sunscreen in hand.
"Charlie. Can you apply sunscreen on my back?" Her voice was soft, like the sound of gentle waves. She tilted her head slightly, her expression innocent.
Charlie raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled. "Aishia? You're a Spirit. Your skin won't tan or burn just from sunbathing. It's not necessary."
Aishia touched her straw hat, her eyes looking at him seriously. "Indeed, physically, I don't need protection from ultraviolet rays. But, letting a man apply sunscreen to a woman at the beach is basic common sense that humans do in the Modern Earth, right?"
"It's a social routine and a form of care. I want to try this human social routine."
The cuteness in her innocence, combined with the argument referencing "basic common sense" of humans, left Charlie silent for a moment. He realized that for Aishia, the action was part of her effort to understand and fully participate in human culture.
Charlie sighed, but a small smile spread across his lips.
"Alright, alright. I'll help you."
He took the sunscreen bottle he had just pulled from the cooler box. Aishia turned around, revealing her smooth and radiant back. The top of her halter neck bikini had tie straps.
Charlie didn't act like a protagonist who would get nervous interacting with a woman in such an intimate situation. He approached and calmly untied the bikini straps at Aishia's neck. The swimsuit loosened slightly, revealing a bit more of her back and shoulders, but still covered the front.
Pouring a bit of the cool sunscreen liquid into his palm, Charlie began applying the cream. Aishia's skin felt incredibly soft, like pure silk. He moved his hands across her entire back, ensuring every inch of skin was evenly coated.
"Ah~"
"Aishia, you're deliberately moaning, aren't you?"
Aishia turned her body slightly, looking back over her shoulder. Her face was still innocent.
"No, Charlie. It was a reflex. The sunscreen feels cold, and your warm touch on the cool skin was startling."
Charlie just shook his head with a faint smile, not fully believing the explanation but deciding not to press the issue.
"Yeah, yeah, temperature stimulation effect. Done."
As he was about to wipe his hands with a towel, he suddenly felt a gentle tug on his swim trunks.
"Onii-chan! Me too!"
It was Est. Her small face showed a slight pout, feeling left out.
"I don't want to be excluded! Do it for me too."
Charlie sighed again, this time interspersed with a small laugh. "Alright, Est. Show me your back."
Est immediately turned around, letting her white hair fall aside. Charlie repeated the process. He untied the small straps on Est's swimsuit dress, applied the cool sunscreen, and felt the softness of the girl's skin.
"..."
While the scene that usually only appeared in anime or light novels unfolded, Kei stood nearby, observing with a flush on her face.
Kei was a girl who had never been in a romantic relationship, let alone interacted intimately with the opposite sex. Seeing Charlie casually touching Aishia and Est's smooth backs, and the reflexive (or intentional) moans that escaped, made her heart race. She didn't dare act so boldly and ask for the same treatment.
"I... I'll apply the sunscreen myself."
So, Kei grabbed another bottle of sunscreen and applied it herself to her shoulders, arms, and legs. However, when she tried to apply the cream to her back, her movements became awkward.
Charlie finished helping Est and turned around, seeing Kei struggling to reach her own back.
"Want me to help, Kei? You won't be able to reach the middle of your back properly."
"N-no, it's not necessary, Charlie-san! I... I can do it myself!"
Kei jolted, rejecting Charlie's offer while blushing in embarrassment.
As she saw Charlie about to apply sunscreen to his own body, Kei mustered her courage.
"C-Charlie-san, let me help you."
"It's not necessary, Kei. I can do it myself."
"Besides, you've helped me so much already. Let me repay the favor a little."
Kei insisted, her tone returning to stubborn and determined, just like when she begged to join the journey.
Seeing the burning resolve in her eyes, Charlie smiled gently and gave in.
"Alright, alright. Don't ruin the vacation with arguments. But this is just the back, got it? I don't want to trouble you further."
"Of course!"
With sparkling eyes, Kei poured sunscreen into her palm, then pressed it against Charlie's back.
The touch of her warm and smooth skin on Charlie's tense and cool muscles from the sea breeze sent an unexpected sensation up Kei's arms.
(Oh my gosh! I never imagined Charlie's body would be this hard. His muscles... so clearly defined. Every time I move my hands, I can feel the perfect curves and contours. Like a living ancient Greek statue!)
(How can someone have a body like this? This... this is impressive.)
Kei continued applying the sunscreen with circular motions, trying to hide her fascination. But she couldn't help admiring how solid Charlie's back was, how every muscle seemed perfectly sculpted as if carved by a master sculptor.
The flush on her face deepened. She touched the middle of Charlie's back, just above his waist. Her respect turned into warm admiration, almost like worship.
"What's wrong?" Charlie asked, feeling Kei had been applying the sunscreen in the same spot for too long.
"Ah! Sorry!" Kei jolted and continued quickly, her face beet red. "I... I was just making sure everything is covered well."
Charlie smiled slightly. "Take it easy, no need to rush."
"I-it's done, Charlie-san." Kei said, her voice slightly choked.
Charlie turned around, seeing Kei's somewhat dazed expression and sparkling eyes.
"Thank you, Kei. I feel fresher now."
He noticed the oddity in Kei's expression but assumed it was embarrassment from touching a man.
"You're welcome, Charlie-san. I'm glad I could help." Kei managed to reply, taking a deep breath to calm her racing heartbeat.
After the sunscreen session ended, they began enjoying the beach.
"Alright, since there are four of us, let's split into two teams. Charlie versus Aishia, and Est versus Kei. How about that?" Charlie suggested.
"That's not fair! Est-chan and Aishia-san are Spirits! Their speed is way higher than mine!" Kei protested, crossing her arms.
"Ah, you're right." Charlie nodded. "Of course, we won't use supernatural powers. Just human physical strength and speed. Just regular volleyball and coordination. How's that?"
Aishia and Est agreed. For them, playing with human limitations was an interesting challenge.
They started playing. Charlie tossed aside his jacket and t-shirt and joined at the edge of the imaginary net line.
At first, Kei was very awkward. She often hit the ball wrong or hit it too hard. But Charlie always encouraged her.
"Good, Kei! A bit higher! Remember, volleyball is about teamwork!"
Paired with Charlie, Kei began to find her rhythm.
With his reach and physical strength, Charlie covered Kei's shortcomings and returned most of the balls that were about to fall. The two became a dynamic team.
On the other side, Aishia and Est, even using their physical bodies, showed perfect coordination. The petite Est agilely jumped for a spike toward Charlie's side, while Aishia used flawless body coordination for smooth passes.
Laughter and joyful shouts filled the quiet beach.
"Charlie, don't cheat. You're using Six Eyes to track the ball, aren't you?!" Aishia quickly noticed Charlie's cheating.
"Of course not! My reflexes as a Level 6 are clearly at play here!" Charlie retorted while jumping high, spiking the ball Aishia tossed.
They continued playing, interspersed with short swims in the clear seawater, and breaks enjoying snacks and cold drinks from the cooler box.
As the sun began shifting west, Kei and Aishia decided to try building a large sandcastle. Est found it too slow and used a bit of her magic to harden the sand into intricate and fantastical shapes, making Charlie shake his head at her cheating.
Until dusk arrived, the atmosphere at Yalong Bay felt peaceful and happy, as if the world out there, with its monsters and portals, never existed.
This was a much-needed break, a recharge of energy before Charlie had to face the harsh reality of vast China again. That night, he was sure, he wouldn't have an NTR nightmare.