Teaching the Oracle
Since we finally had some time to spare, Luna and I went to enjoy the beach.
Haha! Now this is Flora! Blue seas, sandy beaches, and swimming in the ocean!
Mmm...Yep. This is exactly what summer's all about!
Hehe. Now it's finally starting to feel like a proper summer vacation.
Strictly speaking, we're here for training.
Ahaha! Don't sweat the small stuff.
Well then. Better late than never, let's make the most of the beach!
Let's see... Beach umbrella, lounge chair... taken care of.
Beach towels, sunscreen, a floatie, a tumbler for our drinks...
Oh, and these sunglasses are for you, Captain! I figured they'd look great on you!
Let's see, what else...
Luna began laying out what seemed like an endless supply of items from her large bag.
You bought all this...?
Didn't you have to borrow money just to buy lunch a few days ago...?
Ha... Ahaha! I hit it big at the casino the other day!
I mean... You can't really enjoy the beach without all this stuff...!
So I decided to go all in... and somehow it worked!
Guess I just got... lucky.
...Really?
Hey! That look says you don't believe me at all!
Nothing about what I said sounded suspicious, right?
Her explanation contains two contradiction.
Ugh...
C-Come on! I do win once in a while!
Th-That's...! Ugh...
Okay, okay! I'll tell you the truth!
Well... I don't know if you know this, but around casinos...
...There are these handy little places called "pawn shops."
What exactly did you pawn...?
Uh... Well, since I was going to spend all my time in a swimsuit here anyway...
...So I pawned the clothes I was wearing.
It's fine! I was going to get them back soon anyway!
I've got a request coming up soon. Once I finish it, I'll have more than enough to get them back!
See? No problem at all!
It's nothing but problems...!
Seriously, "crawl back"? What kind of person do you think I am...?
Uh, a hopeless gambling addict...?
Waaah! I like casinos, sure, but I'm NOT addicted!
Really...?
...Well, I go every day, but still!
Reaaaally...?
...I'm only a little less lucky than most people, that's all!
A "little less"?
Ahh! Anyway!
Since we're here in Flora, I just wanted to spend a day at the beach with you.
That's why I skipped the casino and went shopping instead.
Besides, I didn't really want to come asking you for money again...
Luna grumbled with a pout.
Her way of going about it may have been misguided, but perhaps I'd been too quick to misjudge her intentions.
Mm... Now that's quite the heartfelt thing to say.
Ahaha! But I can't do that!
Once you've decided to have fun, you've got to make it the best day ever!
Today never comes around again!
What if something goes wrong?
Well... I'll let future me worry about it!
It'll all work out somehow! Don't worry.
Worst case, I'll stake my fate on one big game and win it all back!
Don't throw your fate on the line so easily...!
Don't worry! There's no way I won't win this time!
I've been on a losing streak, so I'm due for a win!
I'll just be glad if you don't end up losing the swimsuit you're wearing.
Haha! You really do worry about everything.
If you spend all your time worrying about what might happen later, you might end up regretting it.
At the end of it all, the present is all you have.
Crouching beneath the beach umbrella's shade, Luna quietly stared at a small pit in the sand.
A red crab carefully poked its head out of the sandy pit.
After checking its surroundings, it began scrambling up the side of the pit.
No matter how hard you struggle... some hills just aren't meant to be climbed.
Nothing's more pointless than struggling against something that's already been decided.
Despite its efforts, the crab failed to escape the pit and tumbled back down.
Luna playfully flicked a little sand, sprinkling grains over the crab's head.
So forget all the overthinking for now.
Today, we're making the most of summer in Flora until we're completely worn out!
But...
Just as I was trying to find the words to challenge Luna's cynical remark...
The slope of the sand pit crumbled without warning.
The crab took its chance, darted out of the pit and scurried beneath Luna's hips.
What...?!
Eek?! Wh-What is it?! There's something on my butt...?!
A crab...? Wait, it's the one from the sand pit?!
It got me! It pinched my butt!
Startled, Luna jumped to her feet with the bright red crab still clinging to her butt.
Ow, that hurts! Oww...!
Where is it?! Get off me...!
Captain...! A little help here...!
Luna frantically shook her hips, but the crab didn't seem to have any intention of letting go.
I guess all that struggling paid off.
Wh-what are you talking about?
OUCH!
It's pinching even harder now?!
The sand slope caved in because it kept struggling.
You never know what'll happen until you see it through.
O-Okay! I was wrong!
I'll take back what I said! Everything...!
You're going to have to speak up.
Gyaaaaah?!
Waaaah... Get it off me...!
WHY'S IT DOING THIS TO ME?!
Captain! Captainnnnn! Hurry! Please, get this thing off me!
All right. Just stay still for a second...!
Quit sticking your butt in my face...!!