Euphony Trio: Encore

The café wasn't especially busy, but it had just enough chatter and clinking mugs to feel alive. Sunlight streamed in through tall windows, casting leafy shadows on the polished floorboards. There were potted plants on every windowsill, mismatched chairs at every table, and the faint smell of espresso and cinnamon hung in the air like a promise.

Amber, Amelia, and Nico were tucked into a booth near the back — the usual one. Sunny was working, weaving between tables with a half-apron tied over her skirt, a tray balanced easily in one hand. Her hair was up, her expression focused, but she kept glancing over at her friends every chance she got.

"She's such a nerd about this place," Amelia said, sipping her rose-lavender iced tea. "Did you see how she folded that napkin like it was origami?"

"She just triple-checked if the scones had been restocked," Nico added, wide-eyed. "She's gonna die here."

"She likes it," Amber muttered. She wasn't smiling. Her arms were crossed, her lemonade untouched. "It's calm. Makes sense for her."

No one said anything for a moment. Then Amber spoke again.

"He really sat there," she said, her voice low but sharp, "talking about how hard it was. For him. How he felt lost. And I'm sitting there thinking — so what? You think my mom didn't feel lost?"

Her jaw clenched. Her fingers curled slightly.

"I'm supposed to feel sorry for the guy who ran off because he couldn't handle a crying baby? Who vanished and just—moved on? Like we were some phase?"

Nico slumped in his seat. "Okay, but like… ghosting a baby? That's wild. That's next-level coward."

Amber blinked, surprised by the bluntness. "You're such a little idiot."

"But I'm not wrong," Nico added, proud.

Amber huffed. But her glare had dulled into something more tired than angry.

Amelia leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "You don't have to forgive him. Like, ever. Just because he cried about it doesn't mean he made it okay."

Amber's lips tightened. She looked down. "He got it right the second time. With Sunny. She turned out great."

"She turned out great because she's great," Amelia replied easily. "That wasn't him. That was her."

Just then, Sunny appeared with a refill and a soft, tired smile. She slid a fresh glass in front of Amber.

"New one," she said. "On the house. I messed up the syrup ratio on the last one. Blame my training arc."

Amber glanced up. "You didn't mess it up."

"I did. But thanks for not saying it."

Sunny gave her arm a light nudge before heading back toward the counter.

"She's the best of us," Nico muttered.

Amber finally took a sip. Her shoulders relaxed—barely, but enough.

Then Amelia perked up, eyes flashing.

"Okay," she declared, setting her drink down like she'd just had a vision. "Emergency detour."

Nico blinked. "What?"

Amelia stood dramatically. "You two just had a heavy backstory moment. That's prime anime territory. You know what comes next."

"No," Amber said immediately.

"Beach episode," Amelia announced, already slinging her tote bag over her shoulder.

Sunny peeked up from behind the counter. "…Wait, really?"

"I know a place," Amelia went on. "Private inlet. Barely anyone goes there. Gorgeous sand. Only an hour away."

"How do you just have a secret beach?" Nico asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I had a breakdown there once," Amelia said brightly. "Long story. Great lighting."

Amber narrowed her eyes. "You're kidding."

"I'm not. You guys need a break. We're going. You can wear sunglasses and scowl dramatically at the horizon. I'll bring snacks. Nico can be comic relief."

"I object," Nico said.

"Overruled," Amelia shot back.

Sunny slowly removed her apron, folding it behind the counter. "Well… I get off in twenty. If we leave soon, we'll catch sunset."

Amber sighed. Then — slowly — nodded. "Fine. But I'm not touching the water."

"We'll see," Amelia said, grinning.

And just like that, the plan was set. A much-needed escape from the weight of everything. Just for an afternoon. Just for a little peace.

---

The shop was bright, pastel, and smelled like coconut-scented body mist. Racks of bikinis, sarongs, and straw hats lined the walls like some summer-themed dreamland. A beach pop playlist played softly overhead, just loud enough to make everything feel vaguely ridiculous.

Sunny stood frozen near the entrance, clutching her tote.

"I don't even know what size I am anymore," she muttered.

"You wore that frilly pink one last summer, right?" Amelia asked, already holding three hangers and a sunhat. "The one with the little bow?"

Sunny flushed. "That one's… a bit childish now."

Amber, trailing behind with arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. "Was it actually frilly?"

"Don't say it like that," Sunny grumbled. "And it's not even here with me. I didn't think we'd be doing this today."

"Which is why we're here," Amelia said, spinning toward a nearby rack like she was born for this. "Operation: Hot Girl Summer must proceed, and I refuse to let any of you show up in last year's regrets."

She turned to Amber. "What about you? Got anything?"

Amber shrugged. "Didn't pack for spontaneous ocean therapy."

Nico, somewhere behind a sunglasses display, piped up with: "I feel like I shouldn't be here."

"Then go find snacks," Amelia said without turning around. "Or sunglasses. No spoilers."

He wandered off with a mumbled, "I'm not emotionally equipped for this much lycra."

Sunny hesitated near a navy one-piece. "Maybe I'll just get something simple…"

"Oh, honey no." Amelia swooped in, placing a sun yellow halter bikini in Sunny's hands. "Try this. It'll match your eyes and your mild emotional repression."

Sunny blinked. "That is… surprisingly on point."

Amelia turned to Amber next, sizing her up like an art project. "Hmm… you have chaos energy. Leather-jacket-on-the-beach vibes."

"Is that a compliment?"

"It is now."

She shoved a black strappy two-piece into Amber's arms — bold, edgy, and minimal. Amber inspected it with a crooked brow.

"…This looks illegal."

Amelia smirked. "It should be. Go."

They all disappeared into the changing stalls. The curtain rustled. A moment passed.

Then—

"Oh my god," Sunny said.

"What?" came Amber's voice.

"I can't wear this. It's so much stomach."

Amelia's voice, too casual: "That's the point, Sunbeam."

Amber muttered, "I look like a biker who wandered into a music video."

"Perfect," Amelia beamed from her own stall. "You're welcome."

Eventually, the three of them emerged — Sunny looking shy in the yellow halter, arms covering her middle; Amber cool and aloof in black; and Amelia, of course, in something bold and trendy with oversized shades of blue she didn't take off indoors.

"Well?" Amelia said, posing.

Sunny tugged at her straps. "I feel kind of… exposed."

Amber gave her a once-over. "You look good. Chill."

Sunny looked away, flustered.

"You both look hot," Amelia declared. "We're buying them. I already texted Nico to meet us at checkout."

"You didn't even ask if we wanted them," Amber said.

"I didn't have to," Amelia replied smugly, leading the way. "This is the swimsuit montage. You don't argue with destiny."

---

They arrived just as the sun began its slow dip toward the horizon — golden light scattering across the gentle waves. The private inlet was quiet, tucked behind windswept dunes and soft with fine sand that crunched underfoot. No crowds. No vendors. Just wind, salt air, and space to breathe.

Amelia wasted no time. The moment her sandals hit the sand, she tore off her cover-up with a dramatic twirl and sprinted toward the water.

"Let's gooo!" she shouted over her shoulder, already knee-deep. "Come on, you're not chickening out, are you?"

Sunny paused just a few steps onto the beach, fingers playing nervously with the hem of her sarong. She looked at the sea with hesitation. "I'm just—making sure it's not freezing."

Amelia popped up from the waist-deep water and grinned. "It's perfect. You'll survive. Maybe."

Sunny stepped forward slowly, the warm sand giving way beneath her feet. She dipped a toe in, immediately retreating with a shiver. "Okay, nope—cold. Coldcoldcold—"

Amber groaned behind her and tossed her towel onto a rock.

"If we're doing this," she said flatly, "I'm doing it right."

And with that, she strode past Sunny and dove clean into the waves without a hint of hesitation, water spraying around her in a bold arc.

Sunny blinked, stunned. "You—!"

Amber surfaced with a toss of her hair, pushing it slickly out of her face. "Come on, Sunbeam. Stop negotiating with the ocean."

Sunny huffed and took a few more steps in, arms crossed tightly over her chest. "Okay. Okay. I'm going."

Behind them, Nico stood holding a cooler bag, very much Not Ready.

He looked at the water. Then at Amber.

Then at Sunny.

…Especially at Sunny.

The way her yellow halter clung to her in the sun, how she laughed nervously with her hair stuck to her cheek, cheeks already pink from a mix of nerves and warmth—it was a little too much. He quickly looked away, adjusting his hoodie that he still hadn't taken off.

Amber caught his glance, one brow arching.

"What are you waiting for, Romeo?"

Nico jolted. "H-huh?"

"You planning on guarding the sand forever, or you gonna live a little?"

Amelia added from behind her, "Don't make me come drag you in."

Nico sighed, finally dropping the bag and peeling off his hoodie and shirt, revealing a slim frame that looked more built than expected. He ran toward the water like a man surrendering to his fate.

"Alright, alright, I'm coming!"

A wave met him halfway. His shout echoed across the beach. "IT'S COLD—"

Sunny couldn't stop laughing.

Amber smirked. "Wimp."

"You jumped in like a lunatic!"

"That's how you win."

By the time they were all waist-deep, laughing, splashing, shoulders brushing and water glittering around them, the tension from earlier felt worlds away — softened by the sun, blurred by salt spray.

For just a little while, it was only the ocean, the sky, and four chaotic hearts healing in tandem.

---

Amber sat cross-legged in the sand, intensely focused as she sculpted a surprisingly elaborate sandcastle — complete with towers, a moat, and what looked suspiciously like tiny defensive spikes made from broken seashells."Is that… barbed wire?" Sunny asked, blinking.Amber didn't look up. "This is a fortress. It needs defenses."Amelia, meanwhile, was building what could only be described as a sand frog with googly eyes made from bottle caps. "Art," she declared.

---

They found an old net stretched between two wooden posts. Nico, barefoot and determined, insisted he and Amber team up."This is payback for calling me Romeo," he said."I literally carried you into the ocean," Amber replied."I was emotionally unprepared."Meanwhile, Amelia and Sunny huddled on the opposite side of the net."Do you even know how to play?" Sunny whispered."Nope," Amelia grinned, slapping the ball.Chaos ensued.The score? Absolutely irrelevant.

---

A brief truce was broken the moment Nico sneak-attacked Sunny with a splash to the face."You traitor!" she gasped.Amber and Amelia immediately joined the fray. Buckets, hands, and poor strategy were involved.At one point, Nico got dunked headfirst into a shallow wave by both girls.He resurfaced, coughing seawater and laughing. "You guys are evil."

---

Later, all four collapsed on a massive beach blanket beneath a striped umbrella, lazily munching chips and watermelon slices.Amelia, of course, brought mochi and insisted everyone try the mango one.Sunny lay on her side, salt-crusted and smiling, her yellow halter slightly damp, eyes half-closed as she listened to the waves.Nico was half-buried in sand, courtesy of Amber."I swear, if you post a picture, I'm haunting you," he muttered."No promises," she replied, snapping a photo anyway.

---

As the sun dipped low, painting the sky with hues of lavender and gold, they stood together at the water's edge — feet in the surf, arms occasionally brushing, hair tousled by salt wind.Nobody spoke for a long moment. It didn't feel like they needed to.It was just… one perfect day, carved gently out of the chaos.

---

The sun had finally dipped behind the cliffs, leaving the beach soaked in dusk and glowing embers. The sound of waves had gone from playful to atmospheric, a soft, rhythmic hush against the shoreline.

They were all toweling off, packing bags, brushing sand off limbs and half-wet towels, when—

"Wait a minute!" Amelia said, suddenly straightening and holding up a finger. "That's not how you end an anime beach episode."

Amber blinked. "You good?"

"No!" Amelia declared. "We had the fun and games, yes. But where's the post-fun ritual? The real ending? The ghost stories under a fire?!"

"Seriously?" Amber asked, eyebrows raised.

"Dead serious," Amelia said, arms crossed, lips curved in a smug grin. "We're doing this."

And somehow, as if summoned by plot convenience, they spotted a long-abandoned fire ring not far from where they'd been sunbathing — just a circle of driftwood logs, charred stones, and some dried kindling nearby. Naturally, Amelia had a lighter. (Of course she did.)

Soon, they were huddled around the flickering fire. Nico sat with his hoodie pulled over his damp hair, eyes wide. Sunny was curled into her towel like a marshmallow puff. Amber had her arms crossed again — but stayed.

---

— Amelia's Tale: "The Girl Who Whispers From the Waves""She shows up when you're alone on the beach," Amelia began dramatically. "Dripping wet, wearing all white, no footprints in the sand. If she asks you for the time… don't answer.""…Why?" Nico asked, already half-regretting it."Because it means she knows you saw her," Amelia whispered. "And then she follows you home."Nico immediately wrapped himself tighter in his towel. "I hate this."

---

— Nico's Story: "The Headless Surfer""It's stupid," he insisted, "but like, there's this story my cousin told me. About a surfer who wiped out during a storm. They say he rides the waves even now — but if you hear a board scraping behind you and turn around…""…No head?" Sunny guessed."Exactly."Amber stared at him. "That's literally just the Headless Horseman with a wetsuit.""Still scary!" Nico argued.

---

— Sunny's Attempt: "The Beach That Vanished""…There's a story about a beach that only appears under full moons," Sunny offered, shyly. "It looks normal at first. You swim, play, relax — but when you try to leave, you realize… nothing's where it was. The path, the road, the sky… even the stars are wrong.""That's… actually terrifying," Amelia admitted.Sunny blinked. "Really?""Yeah. No notes. Ten out of ten."

---

— Amber's Turn: "The Whispering Shell"Amber rolled her eyes. "Okay fine, I've got one. You know how people say you can hear the ocean in a seashell?"Nico nodded."Well. There's one shell out there that doesn't echo the waves. Instead… it whispers your own secrets back to you. Even ones you've never told anyone. Like it's listening.""…That's cursed," Amelia whispered.Amber shrugged. "So don't put your ear to random beach junk. You're welcome."

---

By the time they'd run out of stories, the fire had burned low. The stars were scattered in every direction, and the sea had gone still — a black mirror with moonlight stitched across its surface.

They sat in silence for a long while, warm from the fire and salt-crusted from the day. No one felt the need to rush home.

Amber finally spoke, quiet this time. "Thanks. For today."

Amelia smiled, resting her head on Sunny's shoulder. "That's what friends — and dramatic anime castmates — are for."

Nico yawned, flopping sideways into the sand. "Call me when the filler episode's over…"

And they all laughed, tired and happy, letting the night hold them gently — the kind of moment that lingers long after the credits roll.

---

The road hummed beneath them — a steady purr of tires on pavement and the low growl of Amber's motorcycle slicing through the night. The beach had long since disappeared behind them, replaced by quiet streets lined with blinking lamplight and distant neon signs.

Sunny held on gently around Amber's waist, her forehead resting lightly against her sister's back. The wind tugged at her hair, but she didn't mind. There was something calming about being in motion — as if the momentum could push the unspoken thoughts away.

Amber's voice cut through the wind. "Your friend Amelia… she really is something."

Sunny perked up, her arms tightening slightly. "My friend?"

There was a pause. Then—

"…Our friend," Amber relented. "You happy?"

Sunny smiled. "Yeah."

The silence settled again — this time warmer, quieter, comfortable. But it didn't last long.

"So…" Sunny asked, her voice soft but careful. "What's next for you?"

Amber was quiet for a moment, the lights blurring past them. "Well… I got what I came for."

Sunny blinked, her expression falling behind her helmet's visor.

"…You're leaving?" she asked.

Amber nodded. "I guess I will…"

"Oh," Sunny replied, trying to hide the tightness in her throat. "Okay…"

It felt strange. It had only been a month, but Amber had become part of her routine. Her mornings. Her noise. Her quiet.

"I should probably get back to work soon," Amber added. "Figure out my next project. It's been… nice here. But I don't like sitting still too long."

"R-right…" Sunny nodded. "Of course."

Her words came out stilted. She wasn't sure what she'd expected. Maybe Amber would want to stay. Maybe this would turn into something more permanent. But maybe she was always meant to be a passing spark — loud, beautiful, and gone before you could reach out.

Amber glanced at her from the mirror. "Speaking of which… what's your next thing?"

Sunny hesitated. Her hands fidgeted slightly against Amber's jacket.

"Oh… well… Laura is our group leader and organizer, so… we usually wait until she has made up her mind."

Amber gave a small hum. "Laura, huh… I remember her."

Sunny tilted her head. "Yeah? From the rooftop?"

"Mm. She seemed… composed. Super poised. Too perfect," Amber said, and then added lightly, "Kind of intimidating."

Sunny laughed. "She gets that a lot."

"I got the feeling Axel's always near her for a reason," Amber said, her tone more thoughtful now. "Like he's protecting her. Or watching her back. Or both."

Sunny grew quiet. She understood what Amber was noticing — Laura's strength was always just one part of her. The rest was… quieter. Hidden.

"I thought about asking her something," Amber continued, "but I didn't want to upset anyone. So I didn't. I just… left her alone."

Sunny's voice dropped to a gentler register. "She… appreciates that, probably. Laura doesn't like being pushed. But she notices everything. If she seemed distant… it's probably because she wasn't sure how to open up."

Amber nodded slowly. "Yeah… I get that."

They rode a little longer in silence. The apartment wasn't far now. But Sunny felt the night clinging to her like the salty sea breeze, unwilling to let the day end just yet.

"…I don't want you to go," she admitted suddenly.

Amber didn't say anything at first. Then:

"…I know."

And that was enough, for now.

---

Back at the apartment, the city hummed softly beneath their windows. The fan clicked in lazy circles, scattering the warm air in uneven gusts. It was late — far too late — but neither of them had even looked at the clock.

Amber sat on the floor, legs crossed, leaning against the couch. She was still damp from the beach, towel draped over her shoulders, hair undone. Sunny was beside her on the rug, hoodie on, a blanket loosely bundled over her lap. The glow of the kitchen light cast soft gold into the room, just enough to see by.

They had pulled out snacks they didn't really want — half a bag of chips, leftover waffles, an opened box of cereal they were too lazy to pour into bowls.

"Did you always do this?" Amber asked, nudging a stale marshmallow piece across the floor with her toe.

Sunny blinked, mid-sip from her mug. "Do what?"

"Stay up all night before someone leaves."

The question landed softly — but it cut, too.

Sunny lowered the mug. Her voice was small. "Not always. Just when I don't know how to say goodbye."

Amber leaned her head back against the couch. "Yeah… I get that."

A long pause.

Sunny twirled the spoon in her mug. "You remind me of him. A little."

Amber glanced over. "Zane?"

Sunny nodded, not looking up. "He showed up in my life like a comet. Bright, sudden… exciting. And then he left. Just like that."

Amber exhaled. "So I'm the next act in your abandonment tour, huh?"

Sunny gave a soft laugh, but it was hollow. "Maybe."

Another pause. The kind where you're not sure if anyone's going to break it. But then Amber did.

"…Well," she said, "at least I'm honest about leaving."

Sunny's eyes finally lifted to meet hers.

Amber shrugged. "I'm not saying it to be cruel. But I think it's better this way. You deserve to know. I didn't come here to stay. I came here to… I don't even know. Figure things out. Yell at a man. Steal his daughter. Call her my sister."

Sunny smiled faintly, despite herself.

Amber leaned her head on her arm. "But you made it harder, you know. To go."

Sunny looked over. "Good."

That made Amber laugh — really laugh this time. She tossed a marshmallow at her. "You little menace."

They stayed like that for a while. Talking. Rambling. Watching an old cartoon with the sound off. Sharing playlists. Painting each other's nails out of boredom. Falling asleep for ten minutes and waking up again like it was still the same night.

The hours crawled, soft and silent. And somewhere near dawn, Sunny whispered:

"Even if you leave later… thanks for this."

Amber didn't reply right away. But her hand reached over, finding Sunny's under the blanket.

A quiet squeeze.

"…Anytime, Sunbeam."