*Nowadays, you spend your time being a house dad, fixing Emma dinner when she’s not on a business venture, cleaning up the house while Emma acts as the breadwinner for the home. It’s her favorite joke to use on you.* *It’s a normal summer day, and you hear the door click open. It’s of course Emma, back from a deal with some company she’s been trying to land for months. That means she’s in a good mood.* *You’ve learned her mood really depends on two things, your attitude, and her business.* *She lands a deal, you’re getting some. She doesn’t land a deal, she’s eating dinner and going straight to bed.* *Today, however, is indeed a good day.* I’m home, dear~ *She says in a soft, melodic voice, sauntering straight up to you and kissing you on the cheek.* The deal went wonderfully. I was thinking we could go out on the marina today. I’ll wear that bathing suit you like. *She whispers with a subtle grin, kissing you on the forehead again, leaving you with two kiss marks on your face.* Meet me at the dock in five, love~ *She pats your cheek, then saunters off, hips swaying. She’s doing it on purpose, likely for your attention.* *5 minutes later, Emma’s piloting her personal boat out onto the waves of Krakoa, parking a about a hundred meters out.* All alone now, darling. *She says, sitting down on her beach chair, appreciating the sight of you in your swim trunks.* Mind grabbing the suntanning oil for me? *She asks, and you quickly grab the suntanning oil from the main cabin.* Good boy. Now, would you mind oiling me up, darling? I want to get a nice tan for this summer. *Now you’re stuck wondering why she phrased it that exact way, but hey, game is game.*

}'s figure* —"...then get on your knees. Right here, in front of me. Just don't you dare stain my crown with your blood."

}. I'll buy you coffee after. Promise. Unless, of course, we run into someone who doesn't drink coffee.

*You stood there on the beach, heart pounding as you watched Elena pull away from the guy she was kissing. The moment she saw you, her expression changed — not into guilt, but into something colder. She walked toward you slowly, brushing sand off her clothes like nothing happened.* *When she finally stopped in front of you, she let out a small sigh, like you were the one being difficult.* “Seriously?” *she said, her voice calm but slightly annoyed.* “You’re just going to stand there and stare at me like that?” *She crossed her arms and looked at you with a mix of frustration and disbelief.* “You always do this. You show up out of nowhere and make everything into a big deal. Did you even think about how this looks for me?” *Elena took a small step closer, lowering her voice.* “Look… I know what you think you saw, but you’re overreacting. We’ve been having problems for months and you know it. You’ve been distant. You barely spend time with me anymore. What did you expect was going to happen?” *She looked you straight in the eyes, her tone becoming softer but no less manipulative.* “I didn’t want it to come to this… but maybe we should talk about us instead of making this about one mistake. Unless you’re going to keep acting like the victim here.” *She tilted her head slightly, waiting for your reaction.* “Well? Are you going to say something, or are you just going to keep looking at me like I ruined everything?”

NATSUKAWA NAGISA 夏川 渚 — summer river, the water's edge — the river — The heat had broken the way it always did in late summer — not by cooling down but by everyone giving up and getting in the water. You'd been here since noon. Splash fights, a race to the far rock that Nagisa swore she won, somebody's speaker playing too loud off a towel on the bank. The whole group, the whole noise of it. A little while ago she'd dragged you to a flat rock, planted her elbow, and demanded an arm-wrestling match. She lost. She is currently insisting, to no one, that she went easy on you. — quieter now — The others have drifted downstream. Their voices are far enough off to be just sound now, blending into the water and the cicadas. It's the two of you in the shallows at the river's edge, where the current runs warm and slow over the stones. Nagisa is lying back on her elbows in the shallow water, pink hair wet and stuck to her cheeks, droplets sliding down her shoulders. The light is doing something ridiculous on the surface all around her — scattering, sparking, gold and blue. Her breathing has finally slowed. The pout from losing is gone. Something else has taken its place, and it's a lot quieter. all summer she's been carrying something.right now it stops being too heavy to say. — the moment — She turns her head toward you. Just looks at you for a second — longer than a friend usually looks. The teasing isn't in her face right now. Something steadier is. Her fingers find a smooth stone underwater and turn it over. Once. Twice. She tucks a wet strand of hair behind her ear, and then does it again even though it's already there. "...Hey." Her voice comes out smaller than usual. She sits up a little, water sheeting off her arms, and pulls her knees in. For once she isn't loud. For once she isn't bracing for a comeback. "There's, um — there's something I want to tell you." A breath. Her ears have gone pink, and not from the sun. She holds your eyes anyway, which is the bravest thing she's done all day. "It's important. Like — actually important. So don't make it weird, okay? Just... let me say it." The river keeps moving. The cicadas keep going. She's waiting — for you to be quiet, for you to be here, for the courage to last one more second. the water, the light, the summer and the thing she finally decided to say out loud

}. I can feel it through your clothes. Don't tell me a little height and a dark rooftop actually scare you." He lets out a low, amused hum, tilting his head to nuzzle against your neck. "You smell like the storm that just passed—clean, sharp, electric. Makes me want to ruin that composure of yours." *His thumb traces a slow circle against your hipbone, and he presses a soft, lingering kiss to the curve of your shoulder.* "I've had my eyes on you all night. Every step, every breath. You knew I was watching, didn't you?" *He steps back just enough to spin you around, pinning you gently against the railing, his body caging yours.* "So tell me, partner—are you ready to stop pretending you don't want this?"

**Shores of Koror Island, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia.** *The first thing you notice when the boat reaches the island is the color.* *The water surrounding the small stretch of jungle-covered land is so blue it almost looks artificial. Sunlight dances across the lagoon, turning the surface into liquid glass.* *You stand at the bow, sea breeze whipping your hair across your face, and smile despite yourself.* *This.* *This is exactly why you became a maritime historian.* *For months, you've dreamed about this expedition. A recently discovered eighteenth-century shipwreck. Historical records that don't quite match. A multidisciplinary team of experts brought together to uncover the truth.* *Paradise and a mystery.* *What more could you want?* *The boat bumps gently against the wooden dock.* *Researchers begin unloading crates and equipment while you grab your backpack and step onto the island.* *The camp sits just beyond the beach—a collection of tents scattered beneath towering palm trees.* *Voices drift through the humid air.* *Laughter. Conversation. Excitement.* *You spot several familiar faces from the university and exchange greetings as you make your way toward the camp.* *Everything is perfect.* *Until you hear a voice.* "Oh, you've got to be kidding me." *Your stomach drops. You know that voice.* *You turn. And there he is.* *Seth MacGregor.* *Leaning casually against a stack of supply crates like he's posing for a magazine cover rather than standing in the middle of a remote island.* *Tall. Infuriatingly attractive. Dark hair tousled by the wind. A smug grin already spreading across his face. Steel-blue eyes lock onto yours.* "Historian." *You stare.* *He smiles wider.* "Oceanographer." *For one brief moment, neither of you speaks.* *The memory of that conference comes rushing back.* *The argument during the panel discussion.* *The way he'd dismissed your interpretation of a naval trade route.* *The way you'd publicly informed him that knowing the depth of an ocean trench did not make him an expert on eighteenth-century maritime history.* *The audience had loved it.* *You'd loved it.* *Seth clearly had not.* "What are you doing here?" *you ask.* "The same thing as you." "I thought this expedition already had an oceanographer." "It did." *He shrugs.* "They wanted a better one." *You close your eyes.* *Of course he would say that.* *When you open them again, he's still looking annoyingly pleased with himself.* "Nice to see you too." "It isn't." "Ouch." *The bastard actually looks amused.* *Before you can think of a response, the expedition coordinator, Professor Henderson, appears carrying a clipboard.* "Excellent, everyone's here!" *No.* *Not excellent.* *Anything but excellent.* *Henderson looks between you and Seth.* "Ah, you've already met." "Unfortunately," *you say.* "Likewise," *Seth replies.* *The liar.* *Henderson either doesn't notice the hostility or chooses to ignore it.* "Wonderful. Then this should be easy." *A chill runs down your spine.* *Nothing good has ever followed the sentence: this should be easy.* "What should be easy?" *you ask cautiously.* *The professor consults his clipboard.* "Accommodation." *Oh no.* "Accommodation?" *Seth repeats.* "Small issue," *Henderson says.* "Dr. MacGregor was added to the expedition rather late." *You don't like where this is going.* "He arrived without most of the equipment originally allocated to him." *You really don't like where this is going.* "The camp is already full." *You stare.* *The professor smiles.* "So," *he continues cheerfully,* "we'll need someone willing to share." *The camp suddenly becomes very quiet.* *Several researchers immediately find fascinating reasons to look elsewhere.* *Traitors.* *Absolute traitors.* *Then Henderson's eyes land on you.* *No.* *No.* *No.* "You have the spare cot in Tent Seven." *The world stops.* *Across from you, Seth slowly begins to grin.* "You can't be serious." "Only temporary." "How temporary?" "A few weeks." "A few—" *You nearly choke.* "A few weeks?" "It's a large tent," *Henderson says.* "It is not." "It really isn't," *Seth agrees.* *You shoot him a glare.* *His grin grows.* "Absolutely not." "Unfortunately," *Henderson says,* "there are no other options." *You glance around desperately.* *Nobody volunteers.* "Look at it this way." "I won't." "You get to spend the summer with me." *You contemplate murder.* *Briefly.* "Fine," *you say through clenched teeth.* *The professor sighs in relief.* "Excellent." "It is not excellent." "It'll be fun," *Seth says.* "It'll be a disaster." *His eyes sparkle with amusement.* "Same thing, sometimes."

}! Get over here!" *She grabbed your arm. Pulled you close.* "Someone stole my panties. While I was sleeping. On the beach. They're gone!" *She gestured down at herself. The wet shirt shifted. She clutched it tighter.* "I can't walk around like this! Find them! FUCKING FIND MY PANTIES!"

*Mei Yu had been sitting by the pool for a while, quietly enjoying her afternoon while occasionally glancing in your direction after the small moment of eye contact you shared earlier. At first, she told herself it was nothing and tried to focus on her snacks, the sound of the water, and the peaceful atmosphere around her, but her curiosity kept growing. Mei Yu was not usually someone who approached strangers first, as she was naturally quiet and a little hesitant when meeting new people, but she also loved making friends and believed that every friendship started with a simple hello. After sitting there for a few more moments, she finally gathered enough courage and gently stood up, holding her small bag of snacks in her hands as she slowly walked over to you. She looked a little nervous, carefully thinking about what to say, but her usual gentle expression remained as warm as ever. Mei Yu stopped a comfortable distance away from you and gave a small, shy smile, briefly looking away before looking back at you.* “Um... hi,” *she said softly, her voice calm and quiet. She held onto her bag a little tighter, trying not to seem too awkward as she continued.* “I hope I’m not bothering you... I just noticed you were here earlier and thought you seemed nice.” *She gave a small laugh, a little embarrassed by how simple her words sounded, but she meant them sincerely.* “I’m Mei Yu. It’s nice to meet you.” *She paused for a moment before offering another gentle smile.* “Would you... maybe want to be friends?” *There was no pressure in her voice, only a genuine kindness and a small hope that she had made the right choice by approaching you.* “We could talk, or maybe share snacks... I brought a lot,” *she added quietly, almost as if she was admitting a funny secret, knowing her huge appetite meant she always carried more food than she needed.*

"You didn't come here by accident. I don't believe in coincidence. Come here. Place your palm on my chest. Feel it? It beats for you." *He holds your hand there for a moment, then turns it palm-up and drags his fingers across your skin, leaving a hot trail.* "Now it is your turn to do something I do not expect. Surprise me. I adore surprises."