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Chapter 1
The tan children ran along the long white beach of an isolated (Pacific) island in the east. The sea breeze was refreshing and the happy laughter of the children frolicking was the signs of happiness on the small land.
Leaving their wishes on a piece of paper, the children then put their wishes in a bottle and sealed it with a cork. Using all his strength, one of the boys threw the bottle in to the blue sea. All of them had one hope - they hoped that the sea would bring their wishes to the outside world.
A bright morning and the golden sunrays signified the first day of Summer in Japan.
Ayumi, a 17 year-old girl grew up by the beach where the part of Japan which not much people knew about. She had been spending her days at the Diamond Head Beach Resort, which was tended by her ojiisan (grandfather).
The summer had finally come. Ayumi would not squander any chance to enjoy the savors of this great season.
Sauntering by the beach, accidentally Ayumi found a bottle with a note in it. She pulled out the cork and took out the piece of paper. However, the words on the paper were mostly blurred. There were only two lines could be read, "GOD BLEES YOU. WE ARE THE BEACH BOYS!"
The noises of people hollering took Ayumi's eyes off the treasure trove that she found. She then turned to the direction where the noises came from.
"Hey, stop the car!"
"I told you the brake is spoiled."
Just then, two men appeared on a car that had lost control - coming down the small lane. To Ayumi's horror, the car and the two men on it ended up falling into the ocean and got thoroughly drenched.
"This is fun!" one of them shouted in excitement.
"You fool! I told you to get a better car but you didn't want to listen." The other one seemed upset.
"Oh, Brian, this is summer."
"Yeah, yeah, my dear AJ."
Both of the strangers were invited to Diamond Head as Ayumi's grandpa, Masaru thought they were his guests. However, the penniless AJ was intending to work there for the summer, while Brian going as a guest.
"Thank you, boss for your services. I'm so glad that my future boss is such a nice person," said AJ.
"Boss?" asked the puzzled Masaru.
"Yeah. Didn't I tell you that I'm here to work for you?"
"Bakka! (Fool) Say so earlier! You wasted my time. If I knew it, I wouldn't have treated you as my guests."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Masaru. But I'm the guest," explained Brian.
"Then, mister, can you please pay the deposit to me?" asked Ayumi whom the 2 foreigners amused.
"Sure," said Brian as he reached for his wallet. However it was missing.
"It must have dropped into the sea. It's all your fault, AJ."
AJ shrugged his shoulders over Brian's accuse. Penniless, Brian was forced to stay in the same staff room as AJ for that night, which was a torture to Brian. Ayumi showed them to their room.
"Oyasumi nasai," she said.
"Huh?" AJ reacted.
"I'm sorry. I mean 'good night'."
"Same to you," replied AJ.
Ayumi then left them.
The stuffy room was certainly not what Brian desired for. On the other hand, AJ was quite happy with it.
"See, you got me into this. I should have followed Nick to UK," complained Brian.
"Don't be so picky. See, the ocean is visible through this window," AJ opened it, "the sea breeze is refreshing. It's wonderful."
"Somehow, I regretted for joining you."
"Hey, you were the one who said you didn't want to get recognized and this is the place."
"That's enough. I'm going to sleep."
"Huh? So early? Don't sleep yet. Chat with me."
But the tired Brian ignored him. However, the mumbling of his friend wouldn't stop, compelling him from sleeping well.
The whole crew under the roof of Diamond Head was awakening by the noisy music in the kitchen. Ayumi who couldn't take it anymore went down to the kitchen where she found AJ indulging himself in the art of rock music. The radio was turned off.
"Hey, Miss Ayumi. Switch that on."
"Bakka. (Fool)"
"Huh?"
"Don't you know it's still early? Watakushi wa nemutai desu. (I'm sleepy)," she mumbled.
"Huh? You and your mumbo-jumbo again," he turned on the radio again.
"Hey, little girl, stop disturbing me. Or else the breakfast will not be ready till afternoon."
"Me a little girl? I'm already 17."
"Still you're a little girl to me," he tapped her on the head.
"Bakka," she said as she walked away, fuming over his words.
Immediately after having his breakfast, Brian called his girlfriend, Leighanne in US to send him some money so that he was able to move to the guest room, away from the troublesome AJ. Brian was polite and reserved but AJ was hyper. Despite their vast contrast, Ayumi thought that they made good buddies.
When the money reached him, Brian was once again in the guest room. Feeling that he was the guest, Brian ordered AJ to do this and that for him.
"Hey, what kind of buddy are you?"
"I'm the guest and you are the worker. That's very normal for the worker to comply the guest's requests. Furthermore, before coming, you were the one who told me you want to experience life. You told me not to stop you."
"That's enough. You will not be able to shake off my determination. I'm going to prove it to you. Name it and I will do the best for you."
The group was in Nagisa, a bar own by Takako when AJ found Brian's wallet with some youngsters who were attempting to spend the money. The wild chase ended up with a fight. Although AJ was injured, he was glad that he managed to get the wallet back, and returned it to Brian.
"Thanks, man."
"It's nothing. That's what buddies are for. Your Frack is not here. So, I'll be your Frack for the time being."
"But don't think that I'm going to share your works. I'm still the guest."
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"Hey," AJ looked at him and the 2 burst into laughter. Then, a moment of silence came to them; none of them spoke a word. Their eyes were fixed on the calm sea. The night sky was filled with stars and the water below appeared black like the sky. In fact, in some places, it seemed as if they were one.
AJ took off his watch and threw it into the ocean.
"What are you doing?" asked Brian.
"Why? We are having our vacation. Forget about the time. The most important thing is to enjoy the beauty of nature in front of us."
"Does this work?"
"Sure. The watch is gone. It makes me less tensed up, as if our troubles were left behind us. Things that seemed so important back in our world seemed so trivial now."
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Although they had been at each other's throats, Ayumi thought that AJ was fun loving.
They were on their way to the wet market to do their errands.
"What kind of car is this?"
"Ayumi, don't judge a book by its cover. Although it looks useless, it's a great car."
"Yeah, right."
"Is this the way to the market?"
"Iie, ano michi desu."
"Hey, how many times I have to tell you that I don't understand Japanese?"
"I said, 'No, it's this way'."
"Say so."
"You can't blame me. You must get used to it."
When they came back from the wet market, Ayumi noticed that there was something wrong with her grandpa. He had been keeping quiet to himself. It was until the sunset when he finally spoke.
"I received a letter from your okasan (mother),"
Ayumi's spirit immediately changed to the worst. She kept quiet.
"She said she wishes that you can go and live with her in Tokyo." Masaru was sad to send her away. Keeping his promise to Keiko, Ayumi's mother, and also with Ayumi's interest at heart, Masaru decided to shut down Diamond Head as it was the only way to convince Ayumi to go to Tokyo.
"Go back to your okasan. Then, I can shut this place down and rest. You know, I am quiet tired already. I'm sorry, young lads," he turned to AJ and Brian, "you have to go."
"Huh? But we thought of spending our summer here," AJ voiced his wish.
"I'm sorry I have to turn you away. Ayumi must go back to Tokyo."
"No, I'm not! I won't go to Tokyo!" she yelled as she cried and ran upstairs, locking herself in the room.
"Aiks, what happen, boss?"
"Ayumi's parents were divorced when she was still a kid. Her mother who wanted to concentrate in her career had no choice but to send her here. Since then, she refused to see and talk to her mother."
"I see. Then, we'll be gone by tomorrow."
"But boss, do you really have the heart to shut this place? It's a wonderful place."
"I have made up my mind. You two must go."
"Okay then," sighed AJ.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The History teacher's chalk was still scribbling busily on the blackboard. Ayumi fell asleep on her seat beside the window.
"Ayumi! Ayumi!" someone shouted. Ayumi woke up, looked out the window and saw the 2 energetic guys waving exuberantly at her. Unaware of where she was, she stood up, smiled and waved back.
"Ayumi, bye! Take care!" AJ shouted. The other waved his hands.
"Ayumi, what are you looking at?" an angry voiced startled her.
"Huh?"
"Concentrate in class."
"I'm sorry, sensei. (Teacher)"
The whole class giggled and her face turned red.
"Bakka," she said to herself and sat down. Once again she looked out the window and saw the white car being drove away.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A few days passed. Being unable to forget the place, both Brian and AJ decided to go back to Diamond Head. Brian handed his watch to Leighanne before he left, telling her to hold onto it for him.
"Why are you doing this?"
"I'm not ready to go back to work yet, my vacation is not over."
Ayumi was very happy when they returned. At first, she thought it was just her imagination when she heard the hollering of the two people.
Then the scene of the familiar car slipping down the lane appeared before her eyes again. At last she smiled.
"The 2 interesting people are back again," said Takako who was standing beside her.
"That was how they came last time." She had a strong feeling that they were the 'Beach Boys' mentioned in the message in the bottle.
"A Natsu (Summer) child is very fortunate. That's why I discovered Summer's kind of life," she said to herself as she watched the boys splashed down into the clear water. This time, both were smiling from ear to ear.
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