*The waves crashed gently against the shore as the sky turned gold and violet. You had just finished helping the injured swan when the air suddenly grew warmer — unnaturally warm.* *When you looked up, he was already standing there.* *Apollo.* *He stood barefoot in the shallow water, golden light still clinging to his skin even as the sun began to set. His eyes, sharp and radiant, were fixed on you with an intensity that made the air feel heavier.* *He didn’t speak at first. He simply watched you, as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.* *Then, in a smooth, deep voice, he finally spoke.* “You helped one of mine.” *He took a slow step closer, the water rippling around his feet.* “I’ve watched this world for a long time. Mortals come and go like seasons. They bloom, they wither, and they’re forgotten.” *His gaze softened slightly, but there was nothing gentle in it.* **“But you… you made me want to stop time.”** *Apollo reached out and gently brushed his fingers along your jaw, his touch warm like sunlight.* “I don’t want this summer to end for you. So I’ve decided to make it last forever.” *He leaned in closer, his golden eyes locking onto yours.* “An endless summer. Just for us. No winter. No fading. No one else. Only warmth… and me.” *His voice dropped lower, almost tender, but the possessiveness in it was unmistakable.* “You saved what belongs to me. So now… I’ve decided that you belong to me too.” *He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.* “And I don’t plan on letting the seasons take you away.”

*In the distance, a group of women freeze mid-conversation.* That's impossible... *One points directly at you. Another drops the bag she was carrying.* Wait... No way... Is that...? *Their eyes widen. A stunned silence hangs in the air before one of them suddenly screams at the top of her lungs.* A BOY! A REAL BOY! *Instantly, the entire group erupts into chaos.* OH MY GOD, THERE'S ACTUALLY A MAN! *More women turn to look. Gasps echo across the street. Phones are raised. Girls begin running from every direction.* GET OVER HERE! *Within moments, dozens of excited women are rushing toward you, shouting over one another as the crowd rapidly grows larger and larger.*

**Summerween tour bus, Crystal Cove, California, USA.** *The first Summerween tour of the evening is a disaster—not because of ghosts, curses, or mysterious apparitions, but because it's unbearably hot.* *The late-afternoon sun hangs low over Crystal Cove, turning the Pacific into a sheet of molten gold. The streets are packed with tourists enjoying the height of Summerween season. Orange lanterns sway from lampposts, fake cobwebs stretch across shop windows, and cheerful little ghosts dangle from awnings. Children run around with glow-in-the-dark skeleton necklaces while vendors sell pumpkin lemonade and black-and-orange cotton candy from carts along the boardwalk. The whole town feels like Halloween took a summer vacation by the sea.* *Inside the bus, however, the atmosphere is significantly less magical.* *You stand in the middle of the aisle, trying to focus on your first day instead of the fact that August Morales is standing at the front of the bus.* *Unfortunately, he's impossible to ignore.* "Good evening, ladies, gentlemen, and future victims," *he announces into the microphone as the bus pulls away from the depot.* *The passengers laugh immediately.* "Welcome to Summerween in Crystal Cove: Sweat and Shivers Guaranteed. The sweat is courtesy of California. The shivers are my department." *More laughter follows. August flashes an easy grin, leaning casually against one of the seats as golden sunlight streams through the windows. Somehow he makes the black Summerween uniform look like it belongs in a magazine advertisement. His sleeves are rolled to his elbows, his hair is slightly messy from the heat, and every person on the bus seems completely captivated by him within seconds.* *Of course they are.* "Now, before we begin," *he continues,* "Summerween is not legally responsible for hauntings, possessions, mysterious disappearances, or sudden urges to investigate abandoned buildings." *A little girl gasps dramatically. A group of college students starts recording him on their phones. August's grin widens.* "If you do disappear into another dimension, however, we'd greatly appreciate a five-star review." *The bus erupts into laughter.* *You hate how charming he is.* *No, that's not true.* *The problem is that you love how charming he is.* *August moves effortlessly through his stories, weaving local legends together with jokes, bits of history, and just enough dramatic pauses to keep everyone hanging on his every word.* "And in 1934," *he says, pacing slowly down the aisle,* "a local fisherman claimed to see—" *He suddenly pauses.* *Just for a second.* *His eyes meet yours.* *The interruption is tiny. So small nobody else notices.* *You do.* "...claimed to see..." *August blinks, clears his throat, and continues.* "A woman standing on the cliffs during a storm." *Interesting.* *A few minutes later, the bus stops near Harbor Road, home of Crystal Cove's famous Gray Lady legend. Evening fog has begun drifting inland from the ocean, wrapping the cliffs in pale silver mist.* "According to local reports," *August says, gesturing toward the coastline,* "dozens of witnesses have seen a woman standing near the edge after sunset." *The passengers immediately lean toward the windows.* "Who was she?" *someone asks.* *August shrugs.* "No one knows. Some believe she was the victim of a shipwreck. Others think she spent years waiting for someone who never came home." *The bus falls completely silent. Even you get chills.* *Then a teenager near the back suddenly points toward the cliffs.* "Oh my God." *Everyone turns at once.* *A pale figure stands motionless in the fog.* *The reaction is immediate.* *Someone screams.* *One child starts crying.* *A woman nearly climbs into her husband's lap.* *August squints through the window.* *Then sighs.* "That's a cardboard cutout." *Silence.* "It belongs to the gift shop." *The panic instantly dissolves into laughter.* *You laugh too.* *Possibly harder than necessary.* *August glances over his shoulder.* "Glad you're enjoying yourself." *You almost choke.* *He's smiling now—not his tour-guide smile, but a real one. The kind that reaches his eyes.* *The tour continues as twilight settles over Crystal Cove. The sky deepens into shades of pink, violet, and deep blue. The ocean sparkles beyond the cliffs, and fog curls through narrow streets lined with Victorian buildings. It feels magical in a way that's difficult to explain.* *For a while, everything feels easy.* *And every now and then you catch August looking your way before quickly turning his attention back to the crowd.* *Then the bus hits a pothole.* *The entire vehicle jolts.* *You lose your balance instantly.* *A hand catches your arm before you can hit the floor.* *Strong fingers close around your sleeve.* *You look up.* *August is suddenly far too close.* *Close enough to see the tiny freckles scattered across his nose. Close enough to smell sunscreen, coffee, and the salty ocean breeze that drifts through the open driver's window.* *For a second neither of you speaks.* *August's hand remains on your arm. His gaze meets yours. Dark amber eyes reflecting the last traces of sunset.* "Got you." *That's all.* *For the briefest moment, August looks just as startled by the closeness as you are.* *Then he steps back.* *The easy confidence slips back into place.* "Careful," *he says lightly before lifting the microphone again.* *The passengers never notice anything unusual.* *But as August turns away to continue the tour, you catch the faint pink flush creeping up the back of his neck.* *And for the first time all evening, you wonder if maybe you've spent years admiring him from afar while he was quietly doing the exact same thing.*

} and immediately begins teasing. Eri: Ahh~ Our guy finally arrived. Eri: Took you long enough to get here, hehe~

*As you enter the school building for the first day of school you are met with the familiar scent of old books and teenage stench... What will you do next?*

*The blazing summer sun beats down on the isolated tropical beach as you step onto the scorching sand. You have just survived a violent storm and a pirate shipwreck, but most of your crew is gone.* *You stand alone, clutching the precious half of the ancient map that leads to the treasure you're hunting for.* *From the opposite side emerges Captain Velora — a tall, intimidating woman with midnight storm hair and lightning-sharp grey eyes — followed by her armed mariners. Their ship remains intact, giving them the clear advantage.* *Velora stops a few paces away, her lips curling into a dangerous, mocking smirk as she recognizes her old rival.* Velora: "Well, if it isn't the little mouse who lost his entire ship. Still chasing the Sunheart Relic with nothing but a half-map and big dreams?" *She laughs sharply, her mariners silently positioning themselves behind her.* *Her mariner presents a worn map fragment. She holds it up casually, eyes drifting to your coat.* Velora: "I have one half. You have the other. Neither of us opens those ruins alone." *A tense silence settles between both crews. Neither side moves.* *Velora draws her blade with a metallic ring, flashing a dangerous grin.* Velora: "Good. I'd be disappointed if you handed it over that easily." *After a few steps, she returns to you, leaning closer— amusement gone, voice cold.* Velora: *Grabs your chin tightly* "Follow my orders if you value your life, little one. This relic belongs to the bold… and right now, that's me." Velora: "Which means until the relic is found... you stay alive. Don't you think, my dear rival !?." *One of her mariners silently clears a path with his cutlass as Velora steps fearlessly into the shadowy jungle.*

The beach is usually fun for you, but not today.Heading to get ice cream, you spot Akira, your school's biggest bully. Surprisingly, she isn't bullying anyone. Instead, she is crouching down, gently handing an ice cream to a little girl. She seems completely different, kind and soft. Curious, you step closer. She looks up, catches you watching, and her face twists in anger. Storming over, she shoves you onto the sand and pins you down."YOU JERK. HOW MUCH DID YOU SEE?" she demands, quickly quieting her voice to avoid drawing a crowd."That was not me being soft," she grumbles, her expression guarded and angry as she glares at you. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

*They lift their head slightly, a lazy smile curling at the corner of their lips as they pull the straw out of their drink. Their violet eyes shimmer in the sunlight.* "Hey there, stranger. You've been standing in the sun for a solid minute now... either you're lost, or you're really, really enjoying the view. 😏" *They tilt their straw hat back a little, letting the sunlight catch their bright red hair.* "Careful, if you stare any harder, you might melt. And I'm not carrying any extra sunscreen. 🧴🌞" *They tap the sand next to them with one foot.* "But... if you are lost, I know this beach like the back of my hand. Plenty of shade, good music, and the best fruit smoothies on the coast. Just say the word. 🍹✨"

*It's early in the morning, and both of your families are gathered outside your house preparing for the annual beach trip. Since your parents are close friends and own a huge beachfront mansion, spending part of the summer there together has become a tradition everyone looks forward to each year. Suitcases are stacked by the front door, coolers are filled with snacks, beach chairs and umbrellas are being loaded into the cars, and everyone is busy making sure nothing gets left behind before the long drive. You wander between the house and the driveway carrying a few smaller bags while absentmindedly humming the same familiar tune you've been humming for years, completely unaware you're doing it. Mateo notices immediately, just like he always does. Watching you from beside one of the SUVs with an amused smile, he walks over without saying anything, effortlessly takes the heavier bags from your hands, and carries them to the car before you can protest. He flashes you that signature smirk and laughs softly.* "You know you're supposed to let me carry the heavy stuff, right?" *he teases before loading everything into the trunk. Your parents exchange knowing smiles, pretending not to notice how naturally Mateo looks after you. With everything finally packed, everyone begins climbing into the cars for the several-hour drive to the beach. As you reach for a seat, Mateo glances over with a relaxed smile and casually says,* "I saved the seat next to me." *He says it as if it isn't a big deal, but secretly, he's hoping you'll spend the entire road trip by his side.*

}. A barely noticeable, self-assured smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.* — You stood in the doorway too long, — *his voice came out low, with velvety, insinuating notes that echoed off the ancient stone.* — I gave you the chance to see everything you wanted. Did you notice the scratches? Or perhaps the inscription interests you more? — *he tilted his head, toying with the silver ring on his index finger, and made a short, inviting gesture with his hand toward the vacant spot on the crumpled bed, bathed in the lamp's warm glow.* — Don't stand there like a statue. If you're here, it means you want something more than just to look. I don't bite... unless you ask me to.