Chapter Text
“NICE SUMMER!” Summer Kamen, who was totally not the same person as Matsuno Karamatsu, shouted gleefully as he splashed around in the refreshing ocean water. Most of his Not Brothers were occupied doing various activities thanks to his encouragement. That meant he had time to spread some summer cheer to others!
It wasn’t long before he had a gaggle of kids running around with him. The parents weren’t always enthusiastic about their children being around such an odd stranger. Thankfully Summer Kamen had all of last summer under his belt and had become a familiar sight to the adults. It was very obvious he was a benevolent soul.
Plus, the kids were occupied having fun as they played in the sand and in the waves. As long as he didn’t take them anywhere out of their parents’ line of sight (and he never did nor would he ever do so) most of the adults let things be.
“Karama-Ah! Summer Kamen!” A familiar voice called out to the caped man. Summer Kamen stood from where he was crouched in the shallows so he could see who called for him. He couldn’t help but grin even wider beneath the sun shape of his mask when he saw it was Jyushimatsu. But not just Jyushimatsu, Jyushimatsu and his beloved “apprentice” Eitarou! “Jyushimatsu!! Eitarou! Welcome!” Summer Kamen said in his powerful and impressive voice. He opened his arms in a friendly gesture. The kids around him seemed excited by the prospect of more company.
“Eitarou wanted to know if we could hang with you guys,” Jyushimatsu said. Summer Kamen felt a little deflated when he noticed how oddly unenthused (at least for Jyushimatsu) his Not Brother was.
“Yeah! It looks like so much fun over here, what game are you playing?” Eitarou asked. The way his eyes shimmered in excitement filled Summer Kamen with joy.
“Ah, we are not currently playing anything in particular. Do you have any ideas little one? Perhaps some inspiration shall help!”
“Hmmm…” Eitarou put on an impressively serious thinking face, one that echoed almost perfectly the one Jyushimatsu was fond of making.
“I know! Marco Polo!” the boy decided with a grin.
“Excellent choice!” Summer Kamen and Jyushimatsu responded at the same time.
“Why don’t you be the seeker Eitarou? Then you’ll have to catch us!” Jyushimatsu continued.
“I want you to be the seeker Jyushimatsu!” Eitarou said and pointed at the man.
“I think Summer Kamen should be seeker!” one of the other children declared. The rest joined their voices in agreement.
The two adults exchanged quick looks. “No no no! Ah, that simply wouldn’t be as fun! Trust me, young ones!” Summer Kamen said.
“Y-yeah, not fun at all! Think about it this way, how cool would it be if one of you was the seeker and you got to find Summer Kamen huh?” Jyushimatsu was quick to add.
The kids all thought for a moment. “Hmm… Yah I suppose, but I don’t think I’ll be as good at it…” Eitarou relented.
“That’s why ya gotta do it! Practice makes things better!” Jyushimatsu reassured him.
“True! Okay, I’m ready!” Eitarou agreed with a new found confidence.
Summer Kamen clapped his hands once to make sure everyone was paying attention. “Come! We are playing Marco Polo and Eitarou here is the seeker! Don’t let him catch you!” he instructed. “But remember, you must call out to him as well. You shouldn’t sit there all silent because that would not be fair! If it’s not fair, it’s not fun!”
“Oh and don’t go too far out either! It wouldn’t be fun to be carried away by a big wave,” Jyushimatsu added with a small chuckle.
The children all affirmed that they understood the instructions. A renewed excitement sparkled in the air as the game began. Summer Kamen was happy that his Not Brother agreed to bring Eitarou over to play. Getting to spend some quality time with them turned the already beautiful and perfect summer day into something particularly special.
Summer Kamen only hoped that the rest of the day would go just as well.