Part 1

So this is Inasa Beach¹… Look, there’s a torii gate on top of that rock!

Benten Island², right? Pretty cool, it lives up to being the beach’s main landmark.

…Hm? That’s…

Renga, Ten. Did you guys also choose this place to spend your free time?

Yukikaze! Are you here to scoop sand too?

Yeah. I’ve heard that if you bring this beach’s sand to Soga-no-Yashiro³, you can exchange it for “sacred sand” that can grant divine protection.

I was just about to scoop some up to trade in.

I-I see, so there’s a process for this…

Show us too pleaaase. All we’ve got are the plastic bags.

Of course. We’ll start by paying respects to the shrine on Benten Island.

After visiting the shrine, it’s finally time to scoop the sand. My daily dance lessons should come in handy.

Huh? Don’t you just put sand in a bag? What’s dancing got to do with it…?

Seems like you can receive an even stronger blessing if you scoop up the sand from the water’s edge.

It’s important to collect it at the exact moment the waves come in. It’s said that if you do it as the waves recede, your luck will recede along with them.

Got it… So you have to match the timing of the waves, and that’s why it’s like dancing… Okay, then—

There!

That’s my younger brother all right. You skillfully avoided the waves with graceful steps and a strong core.

You’re sooo cool, Renga-san.

There, and there! And again!

*Pant, pant*... This much should be okay. Yours truly can get even more, but it’s probably a bad idea to take too much.

I’d worry more about losing it than getting too much.

?

…Ah! There’s a hole in the bag! But I worked so hard to collect it all!!

Ahaha, you really are a lucky guy, Renga-san.

Do you have any spares? We’re going to exchange the sand we collected for the “sacred sand” at Soga-no-Yashiro later, and it’ll be difficult to take it home in a torn bag.

It’s customary to trade in sand for an equal or smaller amount than you collected, so a small bag would work too.

Y-you’re right…! Wait a sec, I’ll go find somewhere that sells one real quick…!

Don’t worry about it, you can use mine.

Huh?

What are you saying? Don’t you want the “sacred sand” too? Isn’t that why you came all the way out here…

Nah, I’m kinda just here to keep you company.

(I thought scooping sand was gonna be a pain, but I got a good laugh out of it thanks to the dog, so I’ll count it as getting paid for the trouble.)

I see… Thanks, Ten. I’ll make sure to wash it clean and return it later!

Uh, don’t? Seriously. I don’t need it.

It's lovely to see my little brothers are getting along so well. Now that that’s all settled, let’s go exchange it.

Yeah, let’s go!