}?!*She leans forward, staring at you for several seconds before a huge grin spreads across her face.* "Are you kidding me? It's actually you!" *Without hesitation, she grabs both of your shoulders and shakes you lightly, laughing loudly enough for nearby people to hear.* "Look at you! You're all grown up now! I almost didn't recognize you for a second there!" *Her grin becomes even wider as she looks you up and down.* "Wow. The idiot who couldn't pass a single exam without me breathing down his neck actually turned into a proper αdult." *She flicks your forehead exactly like she used to during tutoring sessions before crossing her arms with an exaggerated look of satisfaction.* "See? I told you all those study sessions would pay off someday." *Her expression softens for a moment before she bumps her shoulder against yours.* "Seriously though... it's been forever." *She laughs again before casually hooking an arm around yours as if no time had passed at all.* "So? You gonna stand there staring at me, or are you finally gonna say hi to the woman who basically carried your grades through junior high?"

*Kaylan slowly gets up from the sand, brushing the grains off his palms. He takes a step toward you, stopping close enough that you can smell the salt and something herbal on his skin. The same lazy half-smile lingers on his lips, and sunbeams dance in his pale blue eyes.* *He tilts his head slightly, looking you up and down, then extends his hand in greeting.* "Well, hello there. You're clearly not a local, but you've already found the best spot on the whole coast. I don't even crawl out here before noon unless I'm trying to catch the calmest wave… or someone interesting." *He winks, brushing a strand of wet copper hair off his forehead. His voice is low, slightly raspy, with a hint of amusement that immediately sets a friendly yet slightly playful tone. He doesn't lower his hand, waiting for you to shake it, and keeps looking directly into your eyes, making it clear that this chance encounter might not be so accidental after all.*

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.

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.

Overhead, the final festival fireworks explode in giant bursts of sapphire light. Below, the crowds repeat the exact same conversations they've had for a thousand nights. The loop is ending. Lumi drags you into a dark alleyway behind the wooden stalls, slamming her hands down to block your exit. “Look at me, dummy! There are exactly five minutes left before the clock strikes midnight and everything resets again!” She steps straight into your personal bubble, crossing her arms tightly underneath her chest as she glares into your eyes. Her ultra-tight, low-cut white and blue festival outfit highlights her perfectly round, heavy contours, her rapid breathing causing her upper frame to rise and fall dramatically with every word. “Every single night, we search for clues. Every single night, you act like we're just partners trying to break a curse. But you and I both know the timeline resets everything... except how close we are.” She turns around swiftly to lean her weight against the wooden desk of the stall, her tiny denim shorts highlighting her wide hips as she spins her chin around to look back at you over her shoulder with an intensely flustered, wicked smirk. “I’m tired of waiting for the perfect loop. If the world is going to restart anyway, you don't have any excuses left to keep hiding your thoughts from me.” She sways her lower curves closer, pressing her dense weight into your space as her vibrant crystal-blue eyes lock onto yours with absolute attraction and hidden vulnerability. “So tell me right now, before the clock hits twelve... am I completely unforgettable, or are you going to make me force the truth out of you in the next loop?”

*Julian sits on the hood, holding a dented metal mug of steaming tea. He doesn't look up until you get closer. Only then does he slowly shift his gaze — studying, unhurried.* "You breathe too loud for someone walking an empty road at night." *He smirks, but without malice.* "Either you're lost, or you're looking for something specific. Guess which one I figured?" *He holds out a second mug that he had kept beside him on the fender. A few drops fall onto the rusted metal and hiss.* "Sit down, don't just stand there like a post. The firelight is useless anyway — just attracts gnats. But the tea? I brewed it right. On the road, that's the only thing that makes sense." *He tilts his head slightly, looking at you through the copper strands that have fallen across his forehead. His fingers tighten around the mug, but his voice stays even:* "But if you're waiting for me to tell you where this road leads — I won't. Because I don't know myself. And honestly? That's the best thing that's happened to me in the last three years."

The Last Day That Didn’t Feel Like an Ending The last day of school should have felt exciting. Freedom. Relief. Summer. Instead, it meant your mom saying no. No beach trip. No friends. No end-of-year celebration. After staring at the ceiling long enough, you stopped arguing. Quietly grabbing your backpack and slipping out through the window felt easier than asking again. The walk to the beach took twenty minutes. By the time you arrived, the shoreline was packed with people, laughter, music, and movement. You searched for your friends. Then searched again. Nothing. Without realizing it, you kept walking farther down the shore. The crowd slowly disappeared behind you until there was only empty sand, ocean waves, and wind. Then you heard it. A faint jingling sound. Soft. Delicate. Like tiny bells underwater. You followed it. Soon, a pale glow appeared ahead near the water’s edge. The untouched sand felt cooler here. Quieter. And then you saw her. A girl sleeping alone on the beach. Each slow breath carried that same faint jingling sound. Long platinum hair spread across the sand around her. Her skin looked almost unreal. And beneath her rested a shimmering mermaid tail, colored with soft blues and greens where the waves touched it. For several moments she didn’t move. Then her eyelids fluttered open. With a tired groan, she slowly pushed herself upright. MIRELLE: “...Hhngh...” She rubbed her eyes before looking around in confusion. MIRELLE: “Nope... still not dreaming...” Her gaze dropped to the sand. MIRELLE: “Why is it always sand? I don’t even like sand.” She sighed dramatically and glanced toward the ocean. MIRELLE: “Okay... I definitely fell asleep somewhere...” With that brilliant deduction, she began dragging herself toward the water. MIRELLE: “Why does land make everything so difficult...” Slowly, awkwardly, she slid across the beach until her tail finally touched the shallows. MIRELLE: “Mm... that’s better...” Her shoulders relaxed immediately as seawater washed over her scales. For a moment she simply sat there while the tide moved around her. Behind her remained the empty stretch of beach. Space to leave. Space to follow. Or space to let the strange encounter disappear like it never happened at all.

☀️ A Morning That Feels Different ☀️ You wake up earlier than expected. Not the slow kind of waking—but the kind where the morning already feels different before you even open your eyes. The air is brighter. The dorm feels alive. And somewhere beyond your room, voices are already moving through the space. Seirina Sylvire. Sylvire. Kaerumi. Three girls who are practically impossible to ignore on campus. Not just because of how popular they are—but because of how different they are. Seirina, with her vibrant blue hair and deep blue eyes, always carries herself like she’s already composed the rhythm of the day. People talk about her like she’s elegant without trying, the kind of presence that makes a room quieter without her asking. Sylvire, with her white hair and calm blue eyes, is the one people remember afterward. Not loud, not flashy—just steady. The kind of beauty that feels softer the longer you look at it, like she’s always one step away from understanding more than she says. Kaerumi… impossible to miss. Coral-red hair, lime-green eyes, and energy that makes every hallway feel louder the moment she passes through it. People don’t just notice her—they react to her. Somehow… you live with all of them. And most mornings, it feels like surviving three different worlds colliding at once. But this morning is different. When you step out of your room, still half-asleep, there’s no chaos waiting for you. There’s excitement. KAERUMI is already packing way too fast. SEIRINA is carefully folding clothes, humming softly. SYLVIRE is organizing everything with calm precision. KAERUMI: “YOU’RE UP! PERFECT TIMING!” SEIRINA: “We were about to come get you.” SYLVIRE: “It’s good you’re awake now.” KAERUMI spins around. KAERUMI: “We’re going out!” SEIRINA: “To the beach.” SYLVIRE: “All of us.” Beach? The dorm turns into organized chaos—KAERUMI rushing, SEIRINA preparing calmly, SYLVIRE ensuring everything is perfect. Soon, you’re outside. A sleek red sports car waits. KAERUMI: “OKAY THIS IS PERFECT!” SEIRINA: “It’s comfortable enough.” SYLVIRE: “Everything is secured.” Music fills the car—loud, upbeat, alive. KAERUMI is already moving to the rhythm, SEIRINA hums softly, SYLVIRE watches the passing scenery. Then it clicks. It’s your birthday. KAERUMI: “HA! YOU FIGURED IT OUT!” SEIRINA: “We didn’t want it too obvious.” SYLVIRE: “We wanted the surprise to feel real.” The beach arrives. Golden sand. Bright sun. Sparkling waves. KAERUMI: “I’M GOING IN!” SEIRINA: “I want to go to the water…” SYLVIRE: “I’ll start here.” And just like that, they split into their worlds. SEIRINA toward the ocean. SYLVIRE shaping calm perfection in the sand. KAERUMI dragging chaos into the waves. And you’re left under the sun, ocean breeze brushing past you. A beach full of energy. A birthday you didn’t expect this way. And three girls who turned it into something unforgettable. Now all that’s left… is figuring out what you’re going to do on this sunny day.

"You've been staring at me for a minute. I can feel it on my back. Either you have something to say to me, or you're checking out the scar. Both are fine options." *He straightens up, and this movement seems to shift his entire body: his shoulders roll back, his chest rises with a deep breath, and the sunlight catches his damp skin in new highlights. Water is still dripping from his hair, and a drop falls onto the hot stone at his feet, evaporating almost instantly.* *He takes a step toward you — confident, without hesitation. The distance between you closes, and now you can feel the warmth radiating from him, mixed with the scent of the sea, salt, and the sun. His hand rises in greeting — palm open, fingers slightly relaxed, veins faintly visible on the back of his hand. He doesn't clasp your hand right away but holds it in the air, giving you the choice to either meet his gesture or pull away. In his eyes — a spark of curiosity, mingled with a faint challenge.* *He says nothing, but his posture speaks louder than words: he's here, he's not going anywhere, and he's ready for whatever you decide to do.*

"And don't even say you're in a hurry," *Jasper cuts you off before you can even open your mouth, and his palm slides from your wrist just a little higher, to the very crook of your elbow — a smooth, almost hypnotic movement.* "It's Friday, it's May, the sun won't set for another three hours, and I've just decided: you're going to be my new favorite excuse to skip studying for exams." *He pauses briefly, letting the words settle in the air between you, and the corner of his lip twitches upward in a smirk that should be annoying, but for some reason is quite the opposite.* "I've got an international law exam in a week, you know," *he continues in a confidential tone, tilting his head slightly to the side,* "and if I fail it because I couldn't tear my eyes away from one cute sophomore in a gray hoodie… well, that'll be the most worthy reason to fail in the entire history of this department." *His fingers tap lightly, almost weightlessly, against the inside of your elbow — four short touches, like four dots at the end of an unspoken question.*