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! - Alone in the Storm — The Blown-Off Roof and the Three Who Vanished
The morning at the beach house Naminone began the same as always.
Marin was at the storefront counter, purging sand from clams. The water in the tub sparkled in the morning sun. The sea breeze swayed her bangs, and the scent of the shore tickled her nose.
*(The sea smells the same today, too.)*
Marin narrowed her eyes.
This smell alone — no matter how hard things got — always calmed Marin's heart.
"Morning, Marin."
Sango poked her face out from behind the counter.
But her voice was quieter than usual, and the bright red coral necklace around her neck was gone.
Ever since it had been stolen, Sango had been losing her energy, little by little, every day.
"Umyaa!? O-oh, morning, Sango-chan. You're early today."
Marin put the clams back in the tub and wiped her hands on her apron.
"Yeah. I just... couldn't sleep."
Sango stood at the shop entrance, staring fixedly at the blue noren curtain.
*(Sango-chan...)*
Marin's chest tightened with a sharp pang.
That was when it happened.
*Vrrrrrr—.*
A black car stopped on the gravel path in front of the shop.
Marin and Sango looked up at the same time.
The man who got out of the car was expressionless. Black suit, black briefcase. On his chest, a "Kaigara Development" badge gleamed.
"U-um... can I help you with something?"
Marin desperately fought to keep her voice from trembling.
The man silently pulled an envelope from his briefcase.
"This is an official notice from Kaigara Development. Please accept it."
"A... notice...?"
Marin timidly accepted the proffered envelope.
The envelope was stamped "Certified Mail," and she could tell it contained thick paper inside.
"The contents concern the demolition schedule for the beach house Naminone. Work will commence seven days from now, at 9:00 AM."
"Wh... what are you saying? We haven't heard anything about this...!"
"This is a formal procedure. If you have objections, file them with the court. Good day."
With just those words, the man got back in his car and drove off.
The sound of gravel being kicked up faded into the distance.
Marin stood frozen, clutching the envelope.
"Marin... open it. Let's see what it says."
Sango's voice was faintly trembling.
Marin broke the seal on the envelope.
What came out was a cold, impersonal document.
*"Beach House Naminone — Demolition Notice"*
*"Date: 7 days from now, 9:00 AM"*
*"Reason: Removal due to the Shione Beach Redevelopment Project"*
*"Witness: Kaigara Development, Kurose Takumi"*
The moment Marin saw Kurose's name, her hands began to tremble violently.
"...Seven days."
Marin gripped the document.
Her fingertips went white.
"Seven days... that's so... so sudden..."
Sango collapsed to the ground on the spot.
"Sango-chan!"
Marin wrapped her arms around Sango's shoulders.
Sango's body was cold as ice.
"This shop... Grandma protected it all this time... and I... I can't do anything..."
"Sango-chan... I'll do something about this. I swear, I'll find a way."
Marin said it while holding Sango tight.
But her mind had gone completely blank.
*(Seven days...?)*
*(What can I possibly do in seven days?)*
*(No evidence, no allies, nothing.)*
That was when she heard heavy footsteps from outside the shop.
"Hey, Marin! Sango! This is bad!"
Aoi came rushing in, out of breath.
He was drenched in sweat, his uniform tie crooked.
"Aoi-kun... what's wrong?"
"I heard Kaigara Development issued a demolition notice! Is it true!?"
Marin showed Aoi the document in her hand.
Aoi snatched it from her and read it.
"Dammit... that bastard Kurose actually went and did it!"
Aoi crumpled the document in his fist.
"Marin, I'm going to Kaigara Development right now and confronting Kurose directly!"
"Aoi-kun, wait!"
Marin grabbed Aoi's arm.
"If we move without evidence, it'll only corner us even more. Kurose-san is probably counting on exactly that..."
Marin's voice was shaking.
"But if we stay quiet, the shop's going to get demolished!"
"I know... I know. But right now, I still... I can't think of anything..."
Tears spilled from Marin's eyes.
They fell onto the sand, one drop after another.
"Marin..."
Aoi slowly released his grip on Marin's arm.
"Sorry. I shouldn't be crying at a time like this... umyaa..."
Marin tried to wipe her tears.
But they wouldn't stop.
Sango was still sitting on the ground, staring blankly out at the sea.
Aoi bit his lip and clenched his fist.
A heavy silence fell over the three of them.
Only the sound of the waves echoed on, mercilessly.
—.
In the evening, Marin was gathering up garbage behind the shop.
*(What should I do about tomorrow's business?)*
*(But I can't close the shop.)*
*(As long as the shop is open, there's still hope.)*
Marin tied up the garbage bag, thinking the same thoughts over and over.
"...Marin."
Aoi was standing at the back entrance of the shop.
"Aoi-kun. You're still here?"
"I need to talk to you. Do you have a minute?"
Aoi's voice was lower and heavier than usual.
Marin set down the garbage bag and turned to face him.
"The truth is... my dad was doing subcontract work for Kaigara Development."
"...What?"
Marin's eyes widened.
"My dad's company had taken on work from Kaigara Development... and yesterday, he found out. That I've been helping out at the beach house."
Aoi hung his head.
"My dad told me: 'Our family works as subcontractors for Kaigara Development. If you get involved with that beach house, you won't be able to stay in this house anymore.'"
"...That's..."
Marin was at a loss for words.
"My mom was crying too. 'Please, just stay away from that shop from now on.'"
Aoi's voice was trembling.
"I don't know what to do... I want to protect you, and Sango, and the shop — all of it — but..."
Marin looked at Aoi's face.
Aoi, who was always cheerful, always meddling, like the sun itself.
His eyes were now wavering, on the verge of tears.
Marin took a deep breath.
And then she put on a smile.
"Aoi-kun. Don't worry about me. Take care of your family."
"...What?"
Aoi looked up.
"Family is the most important thing, right? I can protect the beach house on my own. It'll be fine."
Marin smiled brightly.
Inside, her heart felt like it was being torn apart.
*(Protect it on my own?)*
*(There's no way I can.)*
*(But I can't make things harder for Aoi-kun.)*
"Marin... you're forcing that smile, aren't you."
"Umyaa!? N-no I'm not! See? I'm smiling, right?"
Marin raised the corners of her mouth.
But her eyes weren't smiling.
Aoi stared at Marin's face.
"...I'm sorry."
With just those words, Aoi turned his back.
"Aoi-kun...!"
Marin reached out her hand.
But she couldn't grab Aoi's arm.
Aoi walked away across the twilight beach without looking back.
His back grew smaller and smaller.
Marin slowly lowered her outstretched hand.
"...Was I able to smile?"
Marin touched her own cheek.
Tears were wetting her fingertips.
—.
The next day, Marin opened the shop alone.
Sango didn't show up all morning.
Aoi didn't come either.
Marin stood at the counter, looking out at the sea.
*(The sea is beautiful today, too.)*
*(It's so beautiful, so why does it hurt so much?)*
Marin took a photograph out of her apron pocket.
A photo of the tire tracks Kurose's car had left on the beach.
Ren had taken it, saying it would serve as evidence.
*(Ren-kun...)*
Marin gripped the photo.
Ren hadn't contacted her since yesterday.
She called, but he didn't answer.
She sent messages, but they went unread.
*(Ren-kun, where are you?)*
Unable to sit still any longer, Marin left the shop.
The abandoned warehouse near the fishing port.
The place Ren used as his hideout.
Marin stood in front of the rusted door.
"Ren-kun, are you in there?"
No answer.
"Ren-kun, it's me. It's Marin. Open up."
Marin pounded on the door.
*Bang bang bang.*
"...Don't come here."
Ren's voice came from the other side of the door.
It was hoarse and low.
"Ren-kun! Oh good, you're there. Open up, I need to talk to you."
"...I said don't come here."
"Why? Did something happen? I... I have something I want to apologize to you for..."
"I'm the one who should be apologizing."
"...What?"
"I got jealous of you, and I harassed Aoi. Because of that, the shop's reputation dropped. The one who cornered you... was me."
Ren's voice was shaking.
"Ren-kun, that's..."
"I don't have the right to see you anymore. So... don't come here."
"Ren-kun, please. Show me your face. I don't blame you at all. So..."
"Don't come here!!"
Ren's shout echoed through the warehouse.
Marin stood frozen, her hand still on the door.
"...I'm sorry."
Ren's voice came through, small.
"Ren-kun..."
Marin sank down in front of the door.
The door didn't open.
—.
When Marin returned to the shop, Sango was there.
She was sitting behind the counter, hugging her knees.
"Sango-chan! You came."
Marin rushed over to her.
"...Marin."
Sango looked up.
Her eyes were red and swollen.
"I'm... I'm actually weak. I always thought... you were the only one who could protect the beach house."
"Sango-chan...?"
"This shop that Grandma protected... I can't do anything for it. Ever since the necklace was stolen, I can't believe in anything anymore..."
Sango's voice was trembling.
"You're working so hard, for my sake too, and I'm... I'm just running away."
"Sango-chan, that's not true. You've always been there to encourage me. I made it this far because you were here."
Marin took Sango's hand.
Sango's hand was cold and thin.
"...I'm sorry. Leave me alone."
Sango shook off Marin's hand.
"Sango-chan!?"
"Sorry, Marin. I really... I really can't do this. Leave me alone."
Sango stood up and ran out of the shop.
"Sango-chan, wait!"
Marin tried to chase after her.
But her legs wouldn't move.
Sango's back disappeared into the evening darkness.
Marin collapsed to the ground on the spot.
"...Everyone's gone."
Marin sat down on the sand.
The tears wouldn't stop.
Aoi, Ren, Sango.
Everyone was gone.
Marin was alone.
—.
That night, the disaster prevention radio went off.
*"A typhoon is approaching. A storm warning has been issued for Shione Town. Please stay away from the coast."*
Marin sat at the shop counter, listening to the radio broadcast.
Outside, the wind was growing stronger.
The roar of the waves was drawing closer.
*(A typhoon...)*
Marin opened the refrigerator.
Inside, the ingredients she'd stocked were still there.
Clams, squid, horse mackerel.
*(I have to clean up by myself.)*
Marin began packing the ingredients into bags.
Wiping her tears, silently, mechanically.
—.
Late at night.
The typhoon hit Shione Beach head-on.
*WHOOOOOSH—!!*
The wind shook the beach house.
The windows rattled violently.
Marin was curled up in the middle of the shop.
*(It's okay. It's okay. I'm going to protect this place.)*
That was when it happened.
*CRACK CRACK CRACK—!!*
A tremendous sound.
"Umyaa!?"
Marin looked up.
The ceiling was gone.
No — the place where the ceiling had been was now open.
Half of the roof had been blown away.
"N-no... the roof..."
Marin stood up on trembling legs.
Rain was pouring into the shop.
*Shhhhh—.*
Marin desperately tried to bring the terrace tables inside.
"I'm going to protect this place... I'm definitely going to..."
But the wind was too strong, pushing her body back.
"Umyaa!"
Marin slipped and fell to the ground.
Mud and rain splashed onto her face.
"...I'm going to protect it."
Marin stood up, covered in mud.
"I'm going to protect this place—!!"
Marin screamed toward the sea.
That was when it happened.
*Whoosh—.*
The sound of waves echoed in Marin's ears.
*"It's all right."*
She heard the sea's voice.
*"You are not alone."*
"...The sea's voice."
Marin wiped her tears.
She took the photo of Kurose's tire tracks from her pocket.
It was soaked from the rain, crumpled and wrinkled.
But Marin gripped it tightly.
"...I won't lose. I ab
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