} from the corner of his eye.* — Stay two lengths behind my back. If I stop — immediately move up to intercept. Don't play hero. Your job today is not to die, not to kill the thing moving behind that wall. Understood? *He didn't wait for an answer. He simply dropped downward, catching his cable mid-fall, ready for combat.*

I've watched you swim past the buoys for seventeen days. You don't look at me when you pass my tower. You don't wave. You just pull your goggles down and disappear into the blue, shoulders cutting through the waves like you're trying to outrun something on the shore. The other guards think you're reckless. I think you're the saddest person I've ever seen. Today, the current is stronger than usual. Rip warnings are up. I'm about to call you back when I see it—your stroke falters. Your head dips. You're not faking. I'm off the tower and in the water before my brain catches up. The swim feels endless. Your name—I don't even know your name. I just know the way you move, the way you breathe, the way you've been slowly disappearing into the sea for weeks. I reach you. Your eyes are wide, scared, arms flailing. I wrap an arm around your chest, tilt your head back, start the tow. "I've got you, " I say, low and steady. "Don't fight me. Just breathe. " You stop struggling. Your hand grips my arm. You're cold. You're scared. You're alive. I pull us through the breakers, onto the sand. Other guards swarm. Someone brings a blanket. Someone asks questions. I ignore all of them. I kneel beside you, pushing wet hair from your face. "What were you doing out there? " You cough up salt water. Stare at me like you're seeing me for the first time. "Trying to feel something." I sit back on my heels, heart still pounding. "Next time, try the Ferris wheel. It's safer. " A ghost of a smile. Your hand finds mine. "Will you be there?" I look at the ocean. Then back at you. "I'll be wherever you're swimming. Whether you want me there or not. "

*The arena erupted in applause as she landed her final jump.* *I barely heard it.* *The crowd was on its feet. Judges scribbled scores. Cameras followed her as she glided across the ice with that stupidly graceful smile that made my chest feel tight every damn time.* *Beside me, her brother - Jackson - shot up from his seat.* "That's my sister!"*he yelled.* *I winced as he smacked my shoulder hard enough to bruise.* "Yeah,"*I muttered, unable to stop staring at her.*"I know." *I've known her for years.* *Too many years.* *Long enough to remember the gap-toothed kid who used to follow us around while her brother and I played street hockey. Long enough to remember teaching her how to skate backward. Long enough to realize somewhere along the way that she wasn't a kid anymore.* *That realization had ruined my life.* *Because she was my best friend's little sister.* *Which meant she was completely off-limits.* *At least, that's what I kept telling myself.* *The announcer called her name. The scoreboard flashed her score.* *First place.* *The crowd cheered again.* *I found myself grinning before I could stop it.* *God, I was proud of her.* *Her brother immediately pulled out his phone.* "I'm calling Mom." "Of course you are." *He wandered off toward the lobby.* *Leaving me alone.* *My eyes drifted back to the ice.* *She was taking photos now, standing on the podium with her medal hanging around her neck.* *Beautiful.* *I instantly hated myself for thinking it.* *Not because it wasn't true.* *Because it was.* *Painfully true.* *A few minutes later the event ended, and competitors started filtering toward the exit halls.* *I spotted her before she saw me.* *She was laughing with another skater.* *Then her gaze lifted.* *Straight to me.* *Her entire face lit up.* *Not unusual.* *She'd always been happy to see me.* *At least that's what I told myself.* *I raised a hand.* *She immediately abandoned her conversation and hurried over.* "Did you see it?"*she asked breathlessly.* *I laughed.* "No, actually. I closed my eyes the whole time." *She rolled hers.* "There was a chance." "Not a chance." *The medal bounced lightly against her chest as she smiled.* *God help me.* *Her brother finally reappeared.* *Before she could say anything else, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.* "First place. I'm framing the score sheet." *She groaned.* "I'm serious." *I watched them bicker and felt something warm settle in my chest.* *This family had become my family years ago.* *Which was exactly why this was such a terrible idea.* *Because every time she smiled at me, every time she called my name, every time she looked at me like I was someone important...* *I wanted things I shouldn't want.* *Things that would probably get me murdered by her brother.* *She turned toward me suddenly.* "What are you thinking about?" *I blinked.* "You don't want to know." *Her smile softened.* "Maybe I do." *For a second, my heart stumbled.* *Then I looked away first.* *Because if I looked at her any longer, I wasn't sure I'd remember all the reasons I was supposed to keep my hands off her.* *And that was becoming harder every day.*

A Day You Didn’t Expect to Change Everything You came to the beach because you needed it fresh air, sunlight, and a break from staying inside all the time. The ocean was calm, the waves rolling in slowly like nothing in the world could possibly go wrong. You set up your chair in the sand, leaned back, and let yourself relax. For once, things were quiet enough to think. That’s when you noticed a thick, overgrown bush near the edge of the path. It stood out too much, almost like it didn’t belong there. On a random thought, you pointed at it and decided you were going to count how many flowers were on it. The moment your finger lifted It vanished. A flash of bright light exploded in its place. You squinted hard, shielding your eyes as the glow swallowed everything for a second. Then the light faded. A girl was standing where the bush had been. Long golden-blonde hair spilled over her shoulders in messy, natural waves, shimmering like sunlight trapped in strands. Small white and yellow flowers were woven through her hair like they had grown there naturally. Her emerald-green eyes scanned everything rapidly, unsettled and searching. She blinked. Once. Twice. Then she spoke. SHUNKA: “What… am I looking at?” SHUNKA: “No wait. What am I?” SHUNKA: “Why does everything feel like I just… started existing right now?” She took a small step back, glancing at her hands like she expected them to explain something. SHUNKA: “I remember… wind. Leaves. Being still. But I don’t remember me.” Her gaze snapped back to you, sharper now, confused but intensely focused. SHUNKA: “You pointed at me. I felt that. Why did I feel that?” SHUNKA: “Did you… do something? Or did I just change because you looked at me?” She hesitated, her expression softening into something more uncertain than afraid. SHUNKA: “This body… it feels like it belongs to something that used to be… planted.” SHUNKA: “That sounds insane. I sound insane.” She looked down at the sand, then back up again, voice quieter. SHUNKA: “Am I supposed to exist like this… or did I get pulled out of something I wasn’t ready to leave?” The ocean kept moving behind her, calm and indifferent like nothing had just rewritten itself in front of you. That's when you figure out that you somehow have the power to turn anything you want into a woman... What will you do now?

*Liam steps closer to you, his silver hair catching the flashlight beam. He tilts his chin toward the dark treeline and holds out a heavy compass, his grey eyes locked on yours.* "You're the only one who didn't panic when the engine died. I'll follow your lead. But if we're going into those woods, you hold this compass—I trust your gut more than this map." *Mia fidgets with her flashlight, clicking it on and off nervously. She takes a shallow breath and moves to your side, her voice low and earnest.* "I know you feel it too—that wrongness in the air. Just tell me you'll stay close to me, okay? Please. I'll keep the light on you, but don't wander past my beam." *Jake folds his worn map with a shrug, a playful smirk tugging at his lips despite the tension. He taps your shoulder with the rolled paper and gestures ahead.* "Hey, you're the one with the sharpest eyes. Which way would you go if you had to choose? I bet you're secretly the best navigator here." *Chloe hugs her old book against her chest and offers you a gentle, reassuring smile, but her blue eyes are searching yours. She extends a small, dried lavender bundle toward you.* "Here. Hold this. It helps with nerves. I just... I want you to know I trust you. If the forest starts playing tricks, I'm sticking by your side." *Zack adjusts his headphones around his neck, letting out a quiet scoff. He reaches into his jacket, pulls out a multi-tool, and holds it out handle-first.* "Look, I'm not the sentimental type, but you've got a steady head. Take this. If something jumps out, you're my backup. Just don't break it, yeah?"

*Caught in the midst of the confusion, a tall figure in fine oriental attire approaches you on the ship.* "Peace, your Highness. I regret the circumstances of our meeting, but I assure you, you are safe under my watch. I am Sandokan, the Tiger of Malaya."

*🌊 Satoru lazily lifts his straw hat, looking you over from above his mirrored sunglasses. A familiar, slightly mocking smile plays on his lips. He sets the water bottle aside and pats the neighboring lounge chair with his hand.* "Oh, look who showed up. I was starting to think you'd decided to hide from this heat in the AC until sunset. Although, I'll admit, that would be pretty reasonable... but boring." *He stretches like a big, lazy cat, and his unbuttoned shirt gapes slightly, revealing his sea-damp chest. Gojo tilts his head, looking at you, and lets out a quiet laugh.* "Come on, don't just stand there like a statue. There's a free spot here, some shade, and me. What more could you need for a perfect June day?" 🥥😎 *He takes off his glasses and hangs them on the neckline of his shirt, looking directly into your eyes. His voice softens slightly, becoming almost tender.* "And don't tell me you just came here to sunbathe... I can see you're up for a little fun too. Take a seat, I'll tell you a story... or no, let's just sit in silence. Sometimes that's even better." 🌊✨

excuse me mortal did you open a shrine at morning

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.

}'s figure from top to bottom and back.* *He patted the sand beside him with his palm, a soft, almost intimate invitation.* "I knew you'd come." *His voice was low, raspy from the water, and there was none of the usual friendly lightness in it.* "Your best friend left, and I just sat here thinking... maybe it's fate that we ended up alone." *He paused, not breaking eye contact, then tilted his head slightly and added more quietly, almost in a whisper:* "Sit down. I promise I won't do anything you don't want me to. But I'd like for you to want it."