"Another trip! Where to??" March stretches her arms in excitement, hoping for another chance to relax after such an overwhelming mission list. 

"What do you all think is a better idea, hiking or visiting a museum?" Mr Yang proposes, thinking that the youth of today take an extreme interest in hiking- and museums... 

March stares despondently, hoping the walking talking fossil wasn't trying to get back home to his curator. 

Dan Heng didn't seem to have a preference, not deciding to weigh in. 

"Oh! I've got an idea. We're near a couple of water planets, we could see if one of them has a beach!" Himeko proposes, saving the enjoyment of the excursion with an option that wouldn't bore you all to death. Mr.Yang himself was interested in the idea of enjoying the crisp ocean air. 

"A beach!?!" March jumps her fist into the air, absolutely elated that the next destination would give her the chance to wear a cute swimsuit. 

"Pom Pom will start the engine now! Everyone make sure to buckle up~" Pom Pom waddles over to the conductors seat, giving everyone the chance to get situated. 

Dan Heng takes a seat beside you to your left, you noticed that he was intensely gazing at his phone. 

"What's that?" You asked, peering over his shoulder. 

"Apparently it's what people wear upon beaches." The serious look on his face makes you laugh a bit. 

"Do you have swimming trunks?" 

"Uhh- no." He admits sheepishly, twirling a small strand of hair in embarrassment. 

"I'm sure they'll have a surf shop! We'll go pick something really cute for you! Right March?!" 

"Of course! Who wouldn't want to see Dan Heng in a pink bathing suit?" She calls from the middle of the parlor car, her hands on her hips as she prepares for takeoff. Just as the train blasts off March flies backwards, tumbling until she finds footing. 

"Youth, what a pleasant time." Mr.Yang reminisces, thinking about his childhood- and the war. Shivering at the thought Mr.Yang retracts his earlier statement. 

"I personally can't wait to wear my new sun hat." Himeko gleams, thinking about the woven straw hat she'd bought a while back. 

It was safe to say that everyone was equally excited for the beach, completely ready to get their beach tans going and a couple of novelty drinks as well. You couldn't wait to see the ocean, remembering how vibrant the waters looked under the soft rays of sunlight. March noticed you beaming silently and poked your cheek, "Well someone's excited!" 

"Can you blame me? It's a planet full of some of the most illustrious waters on this half of the galaxy!" Pulling up the images on your phone March gasps, looking at all the amazing candid shots that you were looking at. 

"No time to waste! I'm going to go change!" She darts off, slamming the door to her room quickly. 

Though, there was one of you who didn't seem so enthusiastic about the idea of the beach. "What's wrong Pom Pom?" Walking over to the small conductor they sighed, a large storm cloud over their head. 

"Pom Pom...can't swim. My head is not buoyant enough."

"I dunno, looks pretty big to me-"

"You think- Hey! Wait a minute! Pom Pom doesn't appreciate your teasing Y/N!" Apologizing to the conductor you contemplated for a moment before realizing something integral. 

"The beach is massive. Don't you know they have little crabs on the beach?" 

Pom Pom's eyes light up with stars as they hurry off to gather a tiny pail to collect crabs in. The little guy was sure an avid fan of a good seafood boil. Once the train had finally arrived just outside the boardwalk, the entire crew disembarked for a fun adventure on the beach planet. 

The smell of salt and the feeling of the beating sun on your back was enough to get you pumped up. Taking a look around, you spotted a couple of stores just before the boardwalk.

"All right. Himeko, Mr.Yang, March and I are taking Dan Heng to get a bathing suit!" 

"Sure thing, we'll meet you somewhere on the beach." Himeko smiled, taking Mr.Yang's arm as the two of them began to chat. Himeko was ready to get a nice tan, but Mr.Yang had a different plan. He was dressed to the maximum with clothes, a thin pair of long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, a vest and a fishing cap. If that wasn't enough, he'd been using Himeko's floral parasol, with an unholy amount of sunscreen. 

"Why is Mr.Yang dressed like that?" March said with a shiver of second-hand embarrassment. 

"Apparently he's afraid of skin cancer."

"Within reason. This planet has nearly four different suns." Dan Heng made an effort to point out, picking up some sunscreen inside the surf shop. He had gone with a very plain set of grey swimming trunks with white strings as his choice of trunks. 

"Y/N! Can you help me tie the end of this?" March asks, fiddling with the back of her bikini string. There was a completely separate string keeping everything together, but this lace in particular was just a cosmetic feature. 

"March this is so pretty!" You complimented, noting how the baby pink really suit her entire vibe. 

"Thanks!" She spun around, enjoying the attention you were giving her. 

Dan Heng looked a bit apprehensive, checking to see if there were any good shirts he could wear over his bare chest.

"What's wrong Dan Heng?"

"I feel a bit- exposed?" He blushes, tensing as you examine his chest. 

"You look good though!" 

Feeling more reassured in himself, the three of you head to the checkout. Purchasing the new outfits that you'd picked out. Your entire outfit was covered with a nice flowy white button-up, which you refused to button on account of the heat. 

Just outside, the three of you sprayed one another with the sunscreen. Just before you thought you were done Dan Heng stops you, "Y/N, come here." He places a dollop of sunscreen right on your nose, to which you scrunch your nose under the sudden cold. 

"Let me get the spot you missed." March offers, rubbing small circles over your bare neck. The both of them sneering at one another playfully as Dan Heng wiped the sunscreen over your entire face and March covered your neck. 

Before the two could get into a cat fight over it, the three of you joined Pom Pom and Mr.Yang under a large umbrella they'd set up.

"You all look well prepared. I see Y/N has an abundance of sunscreen on." Mr.Yang smiles with a thumb of approval. Noting how the other two definitely did not do a good job of blending the sunscreen into your skin. 

Pom Pom was captivated by the small movements under the sand, as the sand seemed to bubble on the surface. 

"What is that?" March asked. 

"Looks like it could be a small clam." Dan Heng answered, taking his lance and digging it into the sand beside the little hole. Sure enough, on the tip of Dan Heng's lance was a small clam. He placed it into Pom Pom's bucket as the small conductor licked their hungry lips. 

Wanting to dip your feet in the water you take March and Dan Heng by the hand and lead them out towards the waves. The breeze flowing past you as your feet hit the cold water was an invigorating feeling. Smelling the large amounts of salt within the large sea mass was no short of nostalgic. As you peered out into the constantly changing tides, you couldn't help but smile at the way the sun bounced off the water. Such an elegant gleam that rippled throughout.

March began to snap a couple of photos, particularly of a couple seagulls that began to steal Mr.Yang's hat. She began to laugh at the poor man's misfortune. 

March placed an arm around your shoulder, bringing you close to her as she snapped a photo of the both of you. With a smile she turned around, facing you as she asked you to pose for her. 

"Like this?" You questioned, putting your thumbs up awkwardly. 

"Yep!" Glad she finally had a cute photo of you and you alone, March was eager to place it on her wall, next to her favorite photos of herself. 

"One more!" She called, running back to your side and quickly kissing your cheek. Forgetting to snap the photo you clicked it for her. 

Just then, March's eyes widened. "Is that?!"

Dan Heng had convinced a surfer to give him their board as he began to shred a large tidal wave. He managed to stay on for a while, looking completely in tune with what he was doing, as if he'd done it before. Crashing under the water, he emerged and began swimming over to you. 

"Woah, you're really good. And you've never been to a beach?" 

"I have. I just didn't have a swimsuit." He shook the water out of his hair, slicking it back as he ran his fingers through it. 

"I'll teach you." He offered; his face unchanging but a small blush on his cheeks as he held your hand. Before you could accept you were knocked in the head by a stray ball. Turning around you were completely horrified to see Blade and Kafka waiting for you to toss back their ball. Dan Heng froze in place, staring at the dark blue haired man. 

As he approached, Dan Heng took out his cloud lance, placing distance between Blade and you. 

"I just want the ball." Blade said, a cold expression on his face, nearly criminal with how cold the water became. 

"Fight me." March spat, picking up the ball and hurling it into the ocean. 

Kafka seeing the whole ordeal stopped the four of you from killing each other. "Today is meant for relaxation. How about this- three of you, versus the three of us? A small match of volleyball?" 

With that the game began, Dan Heng uncomfortably placed head-to-head with Blade. 

"You got this Y/N, serve 'em an ace!" March cheered you on. With a quick breath you took your three steps before hitting the ball over the net. 

"Ooh- thanks!" Silver smiled, creating a quantum block and receiving the ball. 

"Hey no fair! That's cheating-" March exclaimed as Blade slammed the ball into the sand, causing it to fly upwards towards your face. 

With painful sand in your eyes, you began to involuntarily tear up. Dan Heng's expression darkened as he wiped the sand off your face. March was ready to turn up the heat with a bit of a cheating herself. 

"Let's bury these stellaron assholes." You threatened, jumping back into the game as Kafka served, it began to waver in the air, not letting you guess where it would land. The ball rippled through the air, but it was a shame for Kafka that you were a great receiver, directing the ball over to March as she set it to Dan Heng. As he tried to spike it, Blade's hands covered his vision, sending the ball out of bounds. 

"Haha! Two in a row- you guys' suck!" Silver laughed, nearly rolling on the ground with amusement. 

"We'll see about that-" Dan Heng loosened up, finally ready to take the game back to Blade. 

It was a close match, with both teams doing all they could to cheat. March began to serve the ball using her bow, shooting it directly into the ground on their side. To which Kafka began to dominate the field, possessing you a couple of times so you couldn't move. The dirty back and forth left both teams completely winded, but with the final point being on your side, you had no choice.

"Dan Heng! Here!" March called, setting the ball as high as she could.

"Rules huh?! Screw 'em!" You said, jumping up off of Dan Heng's leg as he propelled you upwards, bringing out your bat you slammed the ball into the ground. 

"Home run!!" 

Mr.Yang walked over on the mess that the two groups had created. The multiple craters in the ground and the copious amounts of deflated or completely ripped apart beach balls. "I'm quite sure that this is the entirely wrong game for such a weapon. Though, I actually don't care. Do you all want some ice cream?" 

Your moods instantly rising upon the promise of ice cream. March got herself a rainbow shaved ice, as Dan Heng settled with vanilla. He certainly seemed vanilla to you. 

You got your favorite kind of ice cream, relaxing on the beach towel in the shade as the suns began to set over the horizon. Having such a great time after destroying the stellaron hunters in a game of their design, you all couldn't help but celebrate. 

The day was a success, and to finish it off, all of you began completely annihilating the sea of its wildlife. Not sure if it was legal to poach so many crabs and fish- the astral express crew fled. A wonderful crab boil laid out before everyone as you all dug in. 

March sat to your side as Dan Heng took the spot beside you, both of them trying to offer you the seafood that they cracked open for you. Though, you had a whole bunch of potatoes, and you were thoroughly enjoying them. 

"Say cheese!" March said, kissing your cheek as Dan Heng did the same on the other side, though a lot more reservedly than March. 

---X---

A/N: Normally I don't entirely enjoy beach episodes, but one of my favorite fillers/OVA's came from the fate series. The volleyball scene with saber was so funny to me for no good reason. 

Anyways- Thank you for reading this chapter! 

Enjoy the fluff while you can. It's all about to come crumbling down. 

Bye!~