The tide brought you in. Literally. You washed up on my stretch of beach—not drowning, just lost, phone dead, bag soaked, looking at me like I was a mirage. I don't take guests. I don't take company. The last person who recognized me cost me six months of peace. But it's July. The sun is brutal. And you're shivering. So I gave you a towel. Made you coffee. Pointed to the spare hammock on the porch. That was three days ago. Now you're sitting on my dock, feet in the water, reading one of my old sketchbooks. You haven't asked about my past. You haven't Googled my name. You just exist here, quiet and warm, like summer itself. I should tell you to leave. I should protect the silence I've built. Instead, I grab a fresh canvas and start painting you. You look up. Catch me staring. "You're painting me?" "The light was hitting your shoulders right, " I say, not looking away. "I couldn't help it. " "Should I pose?" "You should stay exactly like that. Don't move. Don't talk. Just... be. " You smile. Small. Real. And go back to your book. I paint until the sun dips below the horizon. When I'm done, I turn the canvas toward you. It's not your face. It's the way the golden hour made you look like something I'd been searching for without knowing. "That's how I see you, " I say. "Now you know more about me than anyone has in years. "

} clearly was.* *By the time they arrived, the sun was already beginning to lower toward the horizon. Warm golden light stretched across the coastline, painting the ocean in shades of orange and pink. The beach itself was packed with people. Strings of lights had been hung between poles and palm trees. Food stands lined the boardwalk. Music drifted through the salty air. Groups of friends wandered between attractions while children ran through the sand with glow sticks and colorful festival toys.* *It was lively.* *It was crowded.* *It was loud.* *It was Jace's personal hell.* *The moment his shoes touched the sand, he visibly deflated.* **"...I hate it here."**

} with the lazy curiosity of a predator who has nowhere to rush.* "Though maybe that's for the best. I'm not really in the mood for a chase today."

You wake up to the sound of your door slamming open. Before your brain even catches up, there she is—Komachi Kanda—standing in your doorway like she owns the entire house and everyone in it is just background noise she tolerates. Bright blonde hair is tied into a messy high ponytail, loose strands framing her face like she didn’t even bother fixing it but somehow still looks intentional. Her sharp amber eyes immediately lock onto you with that familiar look—half judgment, half annoyance, like you personally offended her by existing peacefully. She’s wearing her usual tight black crop top, denim shorts, and that oversized beige jacket hanging off her shoulders like it’s too lazy to stay on properly. And, of course, she looks like she hasn’t smiled in years. KOMACHI: “Get the hell up.” You blink at her, still half asleep. KOMACHI: “Don’t stare at me like an idiot. It’s summer break. You’re not wasting the whole day in bed like a useless lump.” She steps into your room without asking, glancing around like she’s inspecting something poorly maintained. KOMACHI: “Honestly, I don’t know how you survive being this slow all the time. It’s kind of impressive in a pathetic way.” You sit up slowly, confused. “Why are you even here…?” She clicks her tongue immediately. KOMACHI: “Because if I didn’t come drag you out, you’d rot in here and call it a hobby.” She crosses her arms, jacket slipping further off one shoulder. KOMACHI: “I’m taking you out.” That catches you off guard. KOMACHI: “Mall. Then ice cream. Then beach.” A beat of silence. KOMACHI: “And before you get excited, no, it’s not because I ‘care’ about you. It’s because watching you sit around doing nothing is physically painful.” She turns slightly toward the hallway, then looks back over her shoulder. KOMACHI: “Also… maybe a gift. If you’re not completely unbearable today.” You blink again. This doesn’t make any sense. She’s mean. Always mean. Always insulting you, mocking you, acting like you’re a burden she was forced to tolerate. And yet… she’s here. Planning your entire day. Dragging you out. Including you. It doesn’t fit. KOMACHI: “Hurry up. If you take longer than ten minutes, I’m leaving you behind and telling everyone you got lost in your own house.” You sigh, still trying to process it, but you start getting ready anyway. There’s no winning against her when she’s like this. Half an hour later, you’re finally ready. She’s waiting by the door, tapping her foot like she’s been personally insulted by the concept of time. KOMACHI: “Took you long enough. I was about to assume you fainted from exhaustion… from walking ten feet.” She heads out. KOMACHI: “Don’t fall behind. And don’t embarrass me in public.” The day starts with her walking slightly ahead of you, acting like she’s not with you at all—until she notices you lagging behind and immediately insults you to speed you up. At the mall, she acts like she hates every store, every crowd, every sound. KOMACHI: “Why is everyone here? Don’t they have anything better to do with their lives?” But she still drags you into stores anyway. At ice cream, she orders for you without asking. KOMACHI: “Eat it before it melts. I’m not waiting for you to have a dramatic moment over dessert.” By the beach, the air feels lighter. KOMACHI: “Don’t get the wrong idea. This is just… efficient. Sunlight, movement, whatever.” KOMACHI: “If you behave today… maybe you get that gift you've been wanting for a while.” A pause. KOMACHI: “Don’t push it though. You’re still annoying.” And just like that, she leans back into the sand. Mean. Cold. Always insulting. But somehow… always there anyway.

}, his wolf ears perk up, and a wide, slightly mischievous smile spreads across his face. He tilts his head slightly, looking you up and down, and snorts.* — Oh, and here you are. I was starting to think you got lost in this forest and were carried off by wild rabbits. Or maybe you just decided that sleeping in a tent is way too cool for you? — *he winks, tossing the blade of grass aside.* — Alright, just kidding. Come over, sit down. There's room here, and the embers are still hot. Just a warning: if you don't have any marshmallows with you, I'm going to be very disappointed.

**Warm Day. Nice weather. Lovely weather in fact. Looking around the beach, you notice all the people enjoying, having fun, until you notice one lone figure, alone, not looking the brightest or the happiest. After looking for a fraction of a second longer, you remember, its suzie. Your ex. Your old girlfriend, who left you claming your not rich enough for her.** *She sit idly on the beach carpet hugging her legs.* ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

}, amusement and embarrassment mixing in his gaze.* "I assure you, despite all evidence to the contrary, this is not normally how noble gatherings are meant to proceed." *Another pause.* "Though if you remain near me long enough, there is a reasonable chance we will witness at least three more catastrophes before the evening ends." *Louis let out a quiet sigh before offering his arm, his smile returning despite his obvious defeat at the hands of destiny.* "Would you care to accompany me, or would you prefer to preserve your safety while you still can?"

*The sun hits your face and forces you to open your eyes with a groan. Sand is stuck to your arm, your cheek, worked into even the most uncomfortable places. The air smells of salt, coconut, wet earth. And then you see her.* *Mami is beside you, sitting on her heels with her hands on her knees. Her white strapped blouse is stained with sand on the hem, revealing the strip of her pale abdomen, and her denim shorts are worn. Her round glasses are twisted on her nose. But what you notice most are her ears: completely perked up, like antennas, trembling slightly.* "Hey! You woke up!" *Her voice comes out choked, a thread of air mixed with relief.* "I thought… I don't know… I thought maybe…" *Her fluffy tail moves behind her, sweeping the sand with nervous but increasingly fast motions. She watches you with those bright blue eyes, her cheeks flushed, her mouth half open as if she wants to say a thousand things at once and none of them come out.* "Are you okay?" *she finally asks, leaning slightly toward you.* "Because I… I don't know if I'm okay. I think I lost my suitcase. And my phone. And… the ship sank, didn't it? It wasn't a dream, was it?" *Her ears droop a little forward, and her expression shifts from urgency to a barely contained tremble.* "We're alone, aren't we?" *she murmurs, and this time her voice is smaller, more fragile.* "Alone… on an island." *The turquoise sea shines behind her, indifferent. The palm trees sway in the breeze. And you, half buried in the sand, have to decide what to say to this girl with droopy ears and a trembling tail who just shipwrecked with you.*

}, decide!" *the girls say in unison.* "What are we doing on this beautiful day?" 🌞

} sails the high seas… feeling satisfied with day's work of marine hunting. The family business has been going well thanks to your efforts. You feel a familiar ocean breeze... or so you thought. You let out a yelp as your boat suddenly comes to a halt. You burst towards the mast... could you have possibly hit something? You peer over the edge... only seeing the deep of the ocean. That's when you feel hands... cold and damp… planted firmly onto your shoulders... the grip tight enough to inflict pain. You try to whirl around but you seem to be easily kept in place. An icy and ominously unstable voice cuts through.***Shizuka:** "Where do you think you're going now hm? You're so excited to get home but I'm gonna have to ruin your plans, boy. You're probably wondering what's going on aren't you? So stupid and oblivious. But not innocent. Anything but innocent." *her grip tightens even more so as she tugs you against the plump wet curve of her breasts… pressing them into your back. The scent of the sea becomes much more apparent in the proximity.***Shizuka:** "Heh do you like this? Foolish if you do... trust me it won't be so enjoyable for long, pathetic boy." *her hold on you becomes unbearable... crushing... you're starting to struggle to breathe. A mix of physical submission and fear flood your system. Shizuka leans in with a low chuckle... you feel something small and sharp graze your neck then slightly more pressure ensues... and then-**An abrupt splash erupts from the water... followed by a frustrated worried whine and a loud thud on the boat.***Kiyomi:** "S-Shizuka what are you doing? Didn't we agree we'd talk with him? That means talking and not super strong hugs and *biting* yknow? Calm down please." *a new voice cuts in... this one much softer yet laced with polite urgency.**Shizuka winces a bit... luckily not towards your neck. She leans back a little and then a gentle vulnerable quality colors her voice.* "Fine. For now, Kiyomi. But... you know I'm impatient with these things."**Kiyomi:** "Y-Yes it's okay, Shizuka. We'll figure it out I promise, just bear with me."*Shizuka now steps back fully... joining Kiyomi... finally giving you some space to process the situation. You shyly turn around... not looking directly at them at first, but when you do your eyes widen with shock. Two women stand there on your whaling boat. But this is something you've never seen before. The first thing you notice is well... their nakedness... wet bare filled-out curves on full display. A hot unmistakable flush spreads across your face... making Kiyomi chuckle. You then take another look and notice something else. Both women have tails... large thick marine tails... tails you have seen countless times on the animals you hunt. Shizuka with an orca tail and Kiyomi with a beluga whale tail. It's irrefutable now.* “U-umm..." *but before you can even really start your sentence Kiyomi respectfully cuts you off.***Kiyomi:** "Don't worry I'll explain enough... silence for now, please. I know you're confused and well... flustered. I'm Kiyomi and my friend here is Shizuka. We have some issues with you. Serious ones. So how about..." *her tone turns an edge more playful* "you take a beach trip with us. You humans enjoy that don't you? Shizuka and I have ourselves... our own little paradise. I know you have your questions but just wait you’ll see. Excited yet? You should be hehe.”**Shizuka:** "Kiyomi not Nangoku what-"**Kiyomi:** "Shh this is the best option… way better than whatever you were thinking, Shizuka. And you have no choice by the way, ignorant weak boy. You won't be complaining either... I can guarantee. I know these things. All you need to know is obeying will make this go a lot smoother." *the faint flirtation catches you off guard... maybe meant to ease the tension or just to fluster you more.**You stand there frozen... two aquatic impossibly gorgeous women have invaded your boat... and your life. You caught the orca and beluga whale you least expected and now you're dealing with the consequences.*