Marin Hayama, a 17-year-old girl born and raised in a seaside town, wakes up one morning to find herself in a classroom at an unfamiliar school. The building looks just like her old school, but every student is a stranger. She learns from Kai Aoi, a nosy boy in the next seat, that she has been reincarnated into another world. Panicking, Marin survives the day and goes to the beach, where she finds an old shack called a beach house. There, a classmate named Sango Shiozaki greets her: 'So you fina
Marine Scramble! - Welcome to Naminone Beach House!
The morning light dyed the rooftop of Shione High School white.
Hayama Marin rested her hands on the fence, gazing steadily toward the beach.
*(That's... the Namino-ne beach house.)*
The old building she'd seen from the shore yesterday stood alone against the morning sea.
The sound of the waves reached all the way up here.
*(The voice of the sea...)*
Her fingertips recalled the coldness of the shrine she'd touched yesterday.
*"So you've come back."*
That gentle voice still echoed deep in her ears.
"...What was that?"
Marin murmured quietly, letting the sea breeze sway her bangs.
Her uniform skirt billowed softly.
*(I really came here, didn't I.)*
An unfamiliar classroom. Unfamiliar faces. An unfamiliar world.
And yet, the scent of the sea was the same as yesterday, squeezing Marin's chest tight.
"Hey there, good morning, Hayama-san."
A voice suddenly came from behind her.
"Umyaa!?"
Marin let out a strange sound and jumped on the spot.
She spun around to find Kaidou Aoi standing there with his dark brown hair spiked up, grinning.
The small fish pendant at his neck glinted, reflecting the morning sun.
"What's with 'umyaa'?"
"W-why are you here...!? It's still morning!"
Marin turned bright red and pressed her back against the fence.
"I could ask you the same thing. What are you doing on the rooftop this early? Still curious about the beach house?"
"N-no, I'm not! I was just... getting some fresh air."
"Oh? And that fresh air happens to be blowing from the direction of the beach."
"Ugh..."
He'd hit the mark.
Marin began twirling her hair around her finger.
*(Why does he always see right through me...)*
"Let's go. We made a promise, remember? Sango's waiting at the beach house."
"Waiting... but I've never even met her?"
"That's exactly why. Come on."
With that, Aoi headed briskly toward the rooftop door.
"W-wait a second! I'm shy around new people, you know!?"
"I know."
"If you know, then don't push me!"
"I'm not pushing. I'm pulling. This way."
Without looking back, Aoi waved his hand casually.
Marin pouted, her mouth forming a frown, but her feet naturally followed after him.
*(Why am I following him...)*
The scent of the tide grew stronger with each step down the stairs.
Her heart raced, just like yesterday.
Passing through Kamome Street, the white sandy beach spread out before them.
Shione Beach was still mostly empty in the morning.
Waves quietly rolled in and out, leaving fine foam on the sand.
"Like I said yesterday, you're a Yoribito. A person called here from another world by the sea. Someone who only appears once every few decades in this town. A special existence."
Aoi repeated yesterday's explanation as he walked.
"Yoribito often have the potential to become Umimiko. An Umimiko is a shrine maiden who can speak with the sea."
"...Speak with the sea."
Marin recalled the sensation at the shrine yesterday.
Was that the voice of the sea?
"And then there's the Law of Nagi. Those who destroy buildings on the beach will incur the sea's wrath. It's an unwritten rule passed down in this town for generations."
"An unwritten rule... so it's not an actual law?"
"Right. But the townspeople genuinely believe it. Especially the older folks."
"...I've really come to an incredible world, haven't I."
Marin let out a small sigh.
*(I'm just an ordinary high school girl who likes the sea.)*
The sound of sand crunching underfoot echoed with each step.
The beach house drew closer.
The Namino-ne beach house stood out more clearly in the morning light than it had yesterday.
A wooden building said to be over forty-five years old.
A blue noren curtain swayed in the wind, and a thin layer of white sand had settled on the terrace seats.
"Wait..."
Marin stopped in her tracks.
Someone was standing in front of the beach house.
A petite girl.
Her shoulder-length black hair fluttered softly in the sea breeze.
Her sun-tanned skin and large eyes were striking.
And around her neck, a bright red coral necklace swayed.
"You finally came."
The moment she saw Marin's face, the girl broke into a radiant smile.
Despite this supposedly being their first meeting, she smiled like she was reuniting with an old friend.
"Um... uh..."
Marin froze.
*(How did she know I was coming?)*
"Shiozaki Sango. I'm the caretaker of this beach house. I've been waiting since yesterday, Marin."
"My name..."
"I know it. After all, you're the first Yoribito in thirty years, right?"
Sango approached with a beaming smile.
"Hey, Sango. You're getting way too close to someone you just met."
Aoi sounded exasperated.
"Oh my, Aoi came too. You actually managed to bring Marin with you today."
"Of course I did. What do you take me for?"
"A nosy kid who sits next to her."
"That's harsh."
Listening to their exchange, Marin's eyes darted around nervously.
*(Are these two close...?)*
Sango turned back to face Marin.
"Hey, Marin. Will you listen to what I have to say?"
"Y-yes."
Marin instinctively straightened her posture.
"This beach house is a place my grandmother protected. She always said it was the sea's watchtower. A precious place where the Umimiko could hear the voice of the sea."
"For the Umimiko..."
"That's right. My grandmother was once an Umimiko candidate too. She's gone now, though."
Sango's voice softened just a little.
"So, Marin. I want you to help me fix up this beach house. And then, I want to reopen it for business."
"Eh..."
Marin's eyes went wide.
"M-me? The beach house?"
"You're good at cooking, right? A beach house needs someone who can cook."
"W-well... I mean, a little, maybe..."
Marin looked down, fidgeting with her fingers.
*(I do like cooking. And I like seafood. But suddenly reopening for business...)*
"The sea told me you were coming. Yesterday, at the shrine—didn't you hear something?"
Marin's chest jumped.
"...I heard it. A woman's voice."
"That was the voice of the sea. You really are an Umimiko candidate."
"U-Umimiko candidate!? Me!?"
Overwhelmed by shock, Marin crouched down on the spot.
"Umyaa—no wait, no no no! I'm just a high school girl who likes the sea!? Talking to the sea, that's way too much for me..."
"It's not too much at all. The sea chose you."
Sango laughed brightly.
"Besides, there's the Law of Nagi, right? Those who destroy buildings on the beach will incur the sea's wrath. There are people trying to tear down this beach house, and I absolutely want to protect it."
"Trying to tear it down..."
Marin remembered what Aoi had told her yesterday.
Kaigara Development.
A company trying to buy up the entire beach area to build a hotel.
"That's right. A company called Kaigara Development. They want to demolish this beach house and build a huge resort hotel."
Sango's voice suddenly turned serious.
"I can't lose this place. It's a promise I made to my grandmother."
Sango's large eyes stared straight at Marin.
*(This girl is serious.)*
Marin swallowed hard.
"...I don't know what I can do, but."
"You'll find out once we start working together. Please?"
Sango held out her small hand.
Marin hesitated.
*(In an unfamiliar world, with unfamiliar people, fixing up a beach house.)*
*(Can I really do this?)*
But.
Looking into Sango's eyes, she couldn't find a single reason to refuse.
"...I-I'll do it."
Marin said in a small voice.
"Yay! Thank you, Marin!"
Sango threw her arms around Marin.
"Umyaa!?"
"Hey, Sango! Don't just hug her out of nowhere!"
Aoi hurriedly tried to pull the two apart.
"Oh, what's the problem? I was happy, so it's fine."
"It's not fine! Marin's clearly uncomfortable!"
"Marin's not uncomfortable, right?"
"Um, well..."
As Marin struggled to answer, Aoi's foot caught in the sand and he lost his balance.
"Whoa!?"
Thud.
Aoi landed on his backside in the sand.
His uniform was now covered in sand.
"...Pfft."
Marin couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Ahaha! What are you doing, Aoi-kun!?"
"Don't laugh! It's because you two were doing weird stuff!"
"My fault? That was your own clumsiness."
"Shut up!"
Marin laughed.
For the first time since coming to this world, she laughed out loud.
*(Ah, I'm laughing right now.)*
She felt the weight in her chest lighten, just a little.
When the three of them entered the beach house, the floorboards creaked.
The interior was more spacious than expected, with a counter and kitchen lined up in the back.
Several old photographs hung on the walls, and in one of them, a young woman was smiling.
"That's my grandmother. When she was young."
Sango pointed at the photo.
"She's beautiful..."
"Right? She spent her whole life watching the sea from this beach house."
Pride mixed into Sango's voice.
"Alright then, let's start the repairs right away. First, the floorboards."
Sango pulled a hammer and nails from the toolbox.
"I'll help too!"
Marin stepped forward eagerly.
At that moment.
Creak.
"...Huh?"
The floor gave way.
"Umyaaaaaa!?"
Marin's leg broke through the rotted floorboard and plunged into the space beneath.
"Whoa, are you okay!?"
"I-I can't get it out! My leg won't come out!"
Marin went pale and flailed about.
"What are you doing on your first day!?"
Aoi doubled over laughing.
"Don't laugh! Help me!"
"Alright, alright. I'll pull, so stop moving."
Aoi grabbed Marin's arm.
"I'll help too."
Sango grabbed Marin's other arm from the opposite side.
"On three!"
The two pulled simultaneously.
—In opposite directions.
"Ow ow ow ow ow! Wrong! Wrong direction! I'm going to split in half!"
"Ah, sorry."
"Oh dear. I got it wrong."
"What are you two doing!?"
Marin's scream echoed through the beach house.
The three looked at each other, then burst out laughing at the same time.
"Ahahaha!"
"Heh... this is bad, my stomach hurts from laughing too much."
"You're way too funny!"
Finally freed, Marin continued laughing, covered in sand and wood splinters.
After that, the three of them began the repairs in earnest.
Marin learned how to use the hammer from Aoi and took on the challenge of replacing the floorboards.
"That's it, that's it. Drive the nail straight in. If you angle it, the board will split."
"L-like this?"
Tap, tap, tap.
At first hesitant, Marin's hands gradually found a rhythm.
"You've got a knack for this."
Sango sounded impressed.
"R-really?"
"Really. For a first-timer, that's excellent. See, you can do it."
Marin's cheeks relaxed at Sango's praise.
"Ehehe..."
Embarrassed, but her hands didn't stop.
*(I'm actually being useful here.)*
One floorboard after another, she replaced them.
The scent of the tide felt pleasant against her sweaty skin.
Aoi glanced at Marin's profile as she worked.
Serious eyes.
Lips slightly parted.
Bangs plastered to her forehead with sweat.
*(...Oh no.)*
Aoi hurriedly looked away.
Something stirred strangely in his chest.
*(What am I thinking.)*
"Aoi-kun, what's wrong? Your face is red."
Marin tilted her head.
"N-nothing! Hey, your hands stopped!"
"Eh, ah, sorry!"
Marin hurriedly returned to work.
Sango watched the scene with a smirk.
After a while, Sango stepped outside the beach house.
"Hey, you two. Look at this."
Sango pointed to a sign propped up at the entrance of the beach house.
On a wooden board, the name "NAMINONE" was written in blue paint.
But the letters were faded, peeling in places.
"Fixing this is our first challenge. We're going to repaint the sign."
"The sign..."
"Marin, why don't you paint it?"
"Eh, me!?"
"I want to welcome customers with letters written by you."
Sango's words warmed Marin's heart.
"...Okay. I'll try."
Marin took the paint can.
"Opening it now..."
She grabbed the lid.
She put her strength into it and pulled hard.
—Splash!
"Umyaa!?"
Bright blue paint splattered all over Marin's face.
"..."
A moment of silence.
"Ahahahaha!!"
"Your face is completely blue! Literally!
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