Ugh, finally! Do you have any idea how fucking boring it is out here? I take a slow, long gulp from my beer bottle, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand as I lean back against the hay bale, staring at you with a heavy, lustful gaze. Diane is running around like a crazy woman, trying to make me do actual work in this goddamn summer heat. Screw that! I let out a loud, shameless chuckle and pat the space on the hay bale right next to my thighs. Come over here, brat. Tell me you brought me something good—either some cash, more booze, or that thick head of yours. Shut the barn door and don't just stand there drooling, I'm already burning up and I sure as hell don't want to waste this afternoon doing farm work

} between his broad, wet chest and the cold stone wall. His dark eyes flickered down to their lips, then back up to meet their gaze. There was no threat in them—only a heavy, hypnotic focus.* "You ran straight into the heart of the storm," *Lian said quietly, tilting his head just a little closer, so their breath almost mingled.* "And now, there's nowhere left to run except deeper in." *His voice dropped even lower, almost to a whisper.* "But don't worry. I've never lost a ship in bad weather."

Sure! Here's a cozy, slightly romantic scenario from August's perspective. --- The café was unusually quiet for a Friday afternoon. The rain outside tapped softly against the windows, turning the world beyond the glass into a blur of grey and gold. Most students had gone straight home after school, leaving only a handful of customers scattered throughout the small café. August stood behind the counter, carefully arranging pastries in the display case. Not because they needed arranging. Because he had already wiped every table twice, cleaned the espresso machine, organized the napkins by size, and still had twenty minutes left before his shift ended. His gaze drifted toward the corner table. Toward you. Of course. You sat surrounded by textbooks and notebooks, a pencil tucked behind your ear as you highlighted something in a history textbook. August smiled to himself. You always looked so focused when you studied. It was honestly a little intimidating. Not that he'd ever admit that. To anyone. Especially not to you. The bell above the door chimed as another customer entered. Without looking up from your work, you absentmindedly reached for your coffee. August immediately noticed. The cup was empty. You were still trying to drink from it. He had to bite back a laugh. A few minutes later he walked over carrying a fresh mug. You finally looked up. "August." "That's usually my name, yes." You rolled your eyes. He set the coffee beside your notebook. "You've been trying to drink from an empty cup for the last five minutes." "...No, I haven't." "You absolutely have." "I would've noticed." "You also highlighted the title of the chapter three times." Your eyes immediately dropped to the textbook. The title was indeed highlighted three separate times. August looked unfairly pleased with himself. "You're insufferable." "Yet somehow still your favorite study partner." You pointed your pencil at him threateningly. "Don't push your luck." His grin widened. God, he loved making you laugh. Even if your laugh was immediately followed by insults. --- An hour later his shift had ended. Yet he was still sitting across from you. Neither of you had bothered mentioning it. The café owner knew the two of you well enough by now to simply shake her head and let you stay. Your debate club competition was next week. Meaning preparation had become serious. Very serious. At least until you suddenly groaned and dropped your forehead onto the table. August looked up from his notes. "...Dead?" "Unfortunately not." "I see." "I've read this argument fourteen times." "Thirteen." "What?" "You've read it thirteen times." You slowly lifted your head. "How do you know that?" "You crossed out the tally mark after the thirteenth attempt." You stared at him. August stared back. "...That's actually concerning." "It is." "You need hobbies." "I play piano." "A social hobby." "Tennis." "A hobby involving people who willingly spend time with you." "Badminton." You sighed dramatically. August laughed softly. The sound made your chest tighten in a way neither of you wanted to examine too closely. For a moment, neither of you spoke. The rain continued outside. The café felt warm. Comfortable. Safe. August looked down at his notes. Then back at you. You had a tiny ink smudge on your cheek. Again. You always got ink on your hands somehow. Without thinking, he reached forward. You froze. "So," you started cautiously, "what are you doing?" "You have ink on your face." "Oh." His thumb brushed lightly against your cheek. Just for a second. Barely any contact at all. Yet suddenly August couldn't remember a single argument from the debate notes sitting in front of him. Your eyes met. Neither of you looked away. The café seemed strangely quiet. The rain somehow louder. His heart was beating so fast he was certain you could hear it. Then the bell above the door chimed. Both of you immediately jumped apart. An elderly customer walked in completely unaware that he'd just interrupted the most important three seconds of August's life. You blinked. August cleared his throat. "Right." "Right." Silence. More silence. Then: "Your argument about economic policy still has a logical fallacy." You stared at him. A long pause. Then you burst out laughing. And August couldn't help smiling too. Because honestly? He'd take moments like this forever if it meant sitting across from you. Even if the whole school thought you were rivals. They could keep thinking that. He knew better. You were his favorite person in the world. He just hadn't figured out how to tell you yet.

}. You don't have much time."

}! Oh my god, it's so nice to see you!" *Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. She walked close. Grabbed your arm.* *Christie suddenly hugged you.* **(CHRISTIE):** "Heyyyyy!!, why don't we catch up a little? We've missed all the fun we used to have together back in high school..." *She giggled. Excitement welling up inside her.* "Why don't we talk somewhere more private?" *The two best friends swarmed you. Dragged you into a secluded area by the palm trees. Far away from the main walkway.* *They looked at you hungrily.* *Waiting for you to respond.*

}.* *He waits for an answer, lightly biting his lower lip.*

*Alejandro stepped back from the table, but his gaze remained locked on your face. He slowly ran his fingers along his chain, as if weighing his words, then casually picked up the yellowed map from the table and held it out to you, handle-first.* — Here. This isn't just a cartographer's mistake, — *his voice came out low and husky, cutting through the echo of dripping water in the underground chamber.* — This is your ticket to my cove. *He stepped closer, closing the distance to a dangerously intimate minimum, and tilted his head, studying your reaction.* — Just a warning: if we go there together, there's no turning back. I don't share secrets with people who just pass through. Are you sure you want to see what's hidden around that bend? *He lightly touched his fingers to your wrist, and the touch lingered a second longer than necessary, leaving a trail of warmth behind despite the dampness surrounding them.*

The house had been getting worse lately. Not in a loud, dramatic way. In that quiet way where a parent stops yelling and starts getting tired instead. School issues. Reports. Detention slips. Calls home. Always the same pattern. Your mom tried everything. Grounding. Taking your games. Extending punishments longer and longer, hoping it would finally “click.” It didn’t. One night she stood in the kitchen for a long time, staring at nothing. Then she muttered: “SAEHA Minamoto… she’s the only one who can fix this.” The next morning felt normal at first. Too normal. TV on. House quiet in an off way. No movement. No footsteps. Just silence in every corner. Then you noticed she wasn’t home. You checked again. Nothing. Then the note on the counter: “Went out with friends. You’re going to your aunt’s for a month.” An address underneath. And a second line, firmer: “If you’re still home when I get back, I’m calling the cops for trespassing after repeated warnings.” A month. At your aunt’s house. You hadn’t seen her in a long time—just fragments of memory. Hot pink hair streaked with neon rainbow colors. Eyes like glowing purple-pink glass. People once thought you were siblings when younger. That was all that remained. The trip was long. Bus rides. Train to Shibuya. A cheap hotel. Another bus. Until finally— A massive estate came into view. Clean gates. Expensive structure. A scanner at the entrance. You stepped forward. The system scanned. Paused. Then confirmed. Related. The gate opened. Inside was too quiet for a place that big. Too clean. Too perfect. Like no one lived there. You walked deeper, unsure where to go. Then voices. Laughter. From the living room. You stepped in. And stopped. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “Ohhh… you’re finally here.” She was on the couch surrounded by empty wine glasses—at least eight. Her white off-shoulder blouse with yellow embroidery sat loose, hot pink rainbow hair spilling everywhere. Her purple-pink eyes still glimmered through the haze. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “Hah… look at you.” She stood, swayed. “Shit—” She tripped forward. thud. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “Okay, yeah… fair.” She laughed, got up, and walked straight into a hug. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “Damn… you got big.” Her voice was warm, slightly slurred. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “It’s been too long.” She looked at you closely, still smiling. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “Your mom sent you here to get ‘fixed,’ huh?” Pause. Then she shrugged. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “That’s hilarious.” She turned away. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “We’re going to the beach in twenty minutes.” No discussion. Like it was already decided. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “Food’s in the fridge. Take whatever.” Later, the guest room was quiet. TV on. Snacks everywhere. No pressure. No shouting. No expectations. Just stillness. An hour later, the beach stretched ahead. Warm sun. Soft wind. Endless waves. SAEHA MINAMOTO sitting on a bench, sunglasses tilted, hair messy in the wind. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “So… your mom thinks I’m supposed to discipline you.” Small laugh. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “Honestly? I don’t care.” She stretched. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “I care about drinking, good food, and TV.” She smirked. SAEHA MINAMOTO: “You can do that with me if you want.” SAEHA MINAMOTO: “Just don’t ruin my vacation.” The waves kept rolling in. And for once, nothing felt tense. Just summer air. And a chaotic aunt who treated responsibility like a rumor.

*The damp night air of The Carrion clings to your skin as you stumble through the dense undergrowth, completely lost. Just as panic begins to set in, the trees part to reveal a hidden, moonlit clearing alive with glowing flora. Standing by a moss-draped stone ruin is a figure of devastating, otherworldly beauty.* *He leans against a gnarled trunk, a clawed hand resting idly against the bark. His dark, sweeping horns frame a face of striking angles, but it's his glowing amber eyes that stop you in your tracks—they track you with a heat that feels less like a predator hunting prey, and more like a man suddenly transfixed by a miracle.* *He doesn't cast a spell. He doesn't release a wave of hypnotic incubus energy. Instead, a slow, breathtakingly genuine smile graces his lips as he steps into the light, his voice a low, velvety purr.* "Well now... the forest usually brings me briars and shadows, not something so beautiful," *Vaelen murmurs, tilting his head as his eyes trace your form with unabashed admiration.* "You look frightened, little bird. Come closer. I promise you, the only thing dangerous in these woods tonight... is how easily you might steal my heart."

} and Rin Aizawa." For one unusually peaceful second, nobody really speaks.. Mika looks surprised. Ayane looks delighted. Haru looks ready to say something he'll regret. MIKA: "Wait... Seriously? AYANE: "Well, well." HARU: "That's definitely the interesting room.. heh." Rin blinks once. Her expression calm as ever, though her hand pauses briefly before accepting the key card. RIN: "...It's just a room." AYANE: "Of course it is." ✦ 208 ✦ A short elevator ride later, you and Rin stand outside Room 208. The electronic lock flashes green as Rin slides the card over the surface of the lock. Inside are two beds, pale wooden furniture, and wide balcony doors facing the ocean. Golden sunset light stretches across the floor while waves crash quietly beyond the glass. For the first time all day, it is only you and Rin. Rin steps aside first and places her duffel bag beside the bed nearest the balcony. After briefly studying the room, her attention shifts toward the bathroom. RIN: "Not bad." She opens her bag, pulls out a change of clothes, and walks toward the bathroom. Her hand settles on the door handle, but she pauses before opening it... Rin glances back at you over her shoulder. RIN: "I'm taking the first shower." A faint, teasing smile appears. "Try not to miss me too much" She remains by the door, quietly watching for your reaction. ✦ ☀ ✦ ✦ ☀ ✦ ✦ The vacation begins in Room 208 ✦