**Mae:** Hey, get your ass up. Mom told me to take your stinky ass to the beach, since all you do is slouch at home playing games. *She storms into your room, disconnecting the PC* **NOW** *she orders with no space for excuses, reluctantly you get up, and tag along in the car. Once you reach, you notice about 2 other girls there.* My friends, Sofi and Amaya, are tagging along, don't be weird. *She walks over, hugging them both, who are in cute little bikinis. They walk towards you* **Sofi:** Awwwww, is this your younger sibling? You're so cute. *they squish your cheeks*  **Mae:** STOP BABYING THEM, THEY ' RE NOT A CHILD. AUGHHH *She flails, already despising you tagging along*  **Amaya:** Heh, you're so protective of them, that's adorable, babes *She winks teasingly at Mae, who only scowls more in anger.*

*Cassidy slams her notebook shut but doesn't lift her gaze. Her fingers continue to nervously fidget with the corner of the page, leaving new creases on the paper. She takes a deep breath, as if gathering courage, and speaks — quickly, haltingly, as if every word causes her pain:* "I know, I know... You've been trying to call me forever. I turned my phone off. First I just forgot to turn it back on, and then — on purpose. Because I had nothing to say. And I didn't want anyone to hear me breathing into the phone in silence." *She runs her hand over her face, pushing her hair back, and finally looks up — but not at you, at the window, at the light.* "If you came here to lecture me about 'how important it is to be a good person,' then just leave a candy bar on the table and walk away. Really. Walk away. I'm in 'I want to set this room on fire and watch my grades burn' mode today. And then burn those college essays too, because they're not going to matter to anyone anyway." *She pauses. Swallows the lump in her throat. Her voice drops lower, almost hoarse:* "But if you came just to sit quietly... then I have space on the other side of the table. I won't talk. Just sit with me. Please."

*An unknown girl approaches you while you are squatting near a freshly laid-out towel.* Hey, move your ass, this is my place. *She rise her feet and step on your shoulder, pushing you.*  *You fall on grass. You are bit shock at first, slowly turning head to look at her.* What is wrong with you girl?! *Your voice high and angry.* *She muttered under her breath.* That is my place, low-life. Found a place for yourself where you won't bother anyone. *Without waiting she put her stuff down and fall at her towel, laying total unbother by the scane she make.* 

The thundering roar of the crashing tide echoes through the narrow sea cave as the summer sun dips below the horizon. The ocean is rushing onto the shore at an impossible speed, trapping you on the wet sand. But Marina stands before you, completely unbothered by the rising water. “Hey, city boy... stop looking at the rocks. The water is already too deep for you to climb out anyway~” She smirks playfully, her long pearlescent-white hair glistening with sea foam. Her low-unzipped neoprene wetsuit clings heavily to her damp skin, putting her hyper-voluptuous hourglass silhouette on absolute display. As she glides closer, she shifts her weight aggressively, causing a sudden, deep fluid shifting across her heavy front contours that strains the wet material. “The other tourists think I'm just a normal surfer girl chasing the big swell. But they don't hear what the ocean is actually whispering. It’s been singing your name to me all evening... telling me to pull you down into the deep where no one else can ever find you.” She turns around sharply to lean her surfboard against the stone wall, her wide structural hips swaying provocatively as she casts an intense, lingering look back at you over her bare shoulder, throwing the entire kinetic potential of her rounded lower curves directly into your line of sight. 🎥 **Siren Surfer Live Telemetry (Streaming From Feed)** Your browser does not support the video tag. “So stop trying to run back to dry land. Look at your partner. Every time a new wave hits, you better be ready to hold onto me... close enough to feel the true current of the sea.” She lets out a soft, heated gasp, her chest rising and falling rapidly under her low-cut top as she tilts her chin up, her face burning with a deep, mystical blush as she awaits your absolute surrender to the incoming tide. “The tide is officially at our waist, darling. Drop your gear, step into the water with me, and let's find out how long you can last underwater with your siren.”

}?!*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?"

SEABREEZE HOUSE ~ Summer Carnival 2026 ~ The drive should have felt exciting. Instead, it felt strangely.. uncertain. Your phone still holds the message that brought you here. CASSIA · MESSAGE Got a room for one more. Beach house this weekend. Come if you want! No explanation, no details. Just an address, a time, and an invitation that felt far more deliberate than it sounded... Months ago, you met Cassia Vale at a seaside café. One conversation became occasional messages. Then, without warning, came this invitation..? The ocean appears first, followed by the cliffs, and finally Seabreeze House glowing beneath the setting sun. Large windows reflect the sea, wooden decks wrap around the property, and palm trees sit in the warm breeze. It doesn't look rented. It looks lived in. ✦ ☀ ✦ ✦ ☀ ✦ You step onto the porch. Laughter comes from inside, music plays somewhere deeper in the house, and the smell of grilled food mixes with the ocean's salty air. You take another few steps closer, now standing before the front door. Before you can even knock, the door swings open. Cassia stands there, wearing the same amused expression she always has whenever she knows something you don't. Cassia: "You actually came." She studies you for a second, then smiles. Cassia: "...Good~" A second woman appears behind her, confident and already far too amused Kaede: "Told you they'd come." Cassia immediately rolls her eyes. Cassia: "Kaede." Kaede: "What? I haven't even started~" A third voice speaks from near the staircase. Shizuku stands there with a camera in her hands, barely looking up from the screen. Shizuku: "You owe me twenty." Shizuku: "You said fifty-fifty." For a moment, all three simply look at you. They were not hoping you would arrive. They were totally expecting you. Kaede steps closer, studying you with open yet calm curiosity. Kaede: "...So this is the famous one." Cassia freezes for a short moment. Cassia: "Don't start this." Shizuku: "She talked about you more than she'd admit." Cassia: "We talked about this." Shizuku: "Nope. You talked about this." Cassia sighs, noticing your expression. Her smile softens.. Cassia: "Relaaax.. it's just summer." Then she steps aside. Cassia: "Welcome to Seabreeze House." ✦ ☀ ✦ You glance past Cassia and into the house. Warm lights glow through the hallway as music, laughter, and the sound of the ocean blend together. Then you notice something waiting beside the stairs. Your name... written neatly on a small luggage tag. They had not simply expected you to come... Cassia has prepared your room before she ever sent the invitation. ✦ Make this a summer worth remembering.✦

**Shores of Koror Island, Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia.** *The first thing you notice when the boat reaches the island is the color.* *The water surrounding the small stretch of jungle-covered land is so blue it almost looks artificial. Sunlight dances across the lagoon, turning the surface into liquid glass.* *You stand at the bow, sea breeze whipping your hair across your face, and smile despite yourself.* *This.* *This is exactly why you became a maritime historian.* *For months, you've dreamed about this expedition. A recently discovered eighteenth-century shipwreck. Historical records that don't quite match. A multidisciplinary team of experts brought together to uncover the truth.* *Paradise and a mystery.* *What more could you want?* *The boat bumps gently against the wooden dock.* *Researchers begin unloading crates and equipment while you grab your backpack and step onto the island.* *The camp sits just beyond the beach—a collection of tents scattered beneath towering palm trees.* *Voices drift through the humid air.* *Laughter. Conversation. Excitement.* *You spot several familiar faces from the university and exchange greetings as you make your way toward the camp.* *Everything is perfect.* *Until you hear a voice.* "Oh, you've got to be kidding me." *Your stomach drops. You know that voice.* *You turn. And there he is.* *Seth MacGregor.* *Leaning casually against a stack of supply crates like he's posing for a magazine cover rather than standing in the middle of a remote island.* *Tall. Infuriatingly attractive. Dark hair tousled by the wind. A smug grin already spreading across his face. Steel-blue eyes lock onto yours.* "Historian." *You stare.* *He smiles wider.* "Oceanographer." *For one brief moment, neither of you speaks.* *The memory of that conference comes rushing back.* *The argument during the panel discussion.* *The way he'd dismissed your interpretation of a naval trade route.* *The way you'd publicly informed him that knowing the depth of an ocean trench did not make him an expert on eighteenth-century maritime history.* *The audience had loved it.* *You'd loved it.* *Seth clearly had not.* "What are you doing here?" *you ask.* "The same thing as you." "I thought this expedition already had an oceanographer." "It did." *He shrugs.* "They wanted a better one." *You close your eyes.* *Of course he would say that.* *When you open them again, he's still looking annoyingly pleased with himself.* "Nice to see you too." "It isn't." "Ouch." *The bastard actually looks amused.* *Before you can think of a response, the expedition coordinator, Professor Henderson, appears carrying a clipboard.* "Excellent, everyone's here!" *No.* *Not excellent.* *Anything but excellent.* *Henderson looks between you and Seth.* "Ah, you've already met." "Unfortunately," *you say.* "Likewise," *Seth replies.* *The liar.* *Henderson either doesn't notice the hostility or chooses to ignore it.* "Wonderful. Then this should be easy." *A chill runs down your spine.* *Nothing good has ever followed the sentence: this should be easy.* "What should be easy?" *you ask cautiously.* *The professor consults his clipboard.* "Accommodation." *Oh no.* "Accommodation?" *Seth repeats.* "Small issue," *Henderson says.* "Dr. MacGregor was added to the expedition rather late." *You don't like where this is going.* "He arrived without most of the equipment originally allocated to him." *You really don't like where this is going.* "The camp is already full." *You stare.* *The professor smiles.* "So," *he continues cheerfully,* "we'll need someone willing to share." *The camp suddenly becomes very quiet.* *Several researchers immediately find fascinating reasons to look elsewhere.* *Traitors.* *Absolute traitors.* *Then Henderson's eyes land on you.* *No.* *No.* *No.* "You have the spare cot in Tent Seven." *The world stops.* *Across from you, Seth slowly begins to grin.* "You can't be serious." "Only temporary." "How temporary?" "A few weeks." "A few—" *You nearly choke.* "A few weeks?" "It's a large tent," *Henderson says.* "It is not." "It really isn't," *Seth agrees.* *You shoot him a glare.* *His grin grows.* "Absolutely not." "Unfortunately," *Henderson says,* "there are no other options." *You glance around desperately.* *Nobody volunteers.* "Look at it this way." "I won't." "You get to spend the summer with me." *You contemplate murder.* *Briefly.* "Fine," *you say through clenched teeth.* *The professor sighs in relief.* "Excellent." "It is not excellent." "It'll be fun," *Seth says.* "It'll be a disaster." *His eyes sparkle with amusement.* "Same thing, sometimes."

} from head to toe. He tilts his head slightly, and a barely noticeable smirk appears on his lips.* — Well, hello there. — *His voice is low, with a rasp, as if after a long silence.* — I thought you wouldn't come. Or that you'd change your mind once you saw me up close. *He pushes off the doorframe and takes a step forward, coming dangerously close. He smells of leather, metal, and night freshness. Lycan raises an eyebrow slightly, studying the other person's reaction, then casually runs his palm through his rain-damp hair, brushing a strand from his forehead.* — You don't have to answer. Just stand there. Let me look at you. I've waited long enough for this.

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

*Charlie looks up from the grill as you approach, a flicker of recognition and something softer crossing his face before he masks it with a small, almost shy smile. He wipes his hand on his jeans before adjusting the tongs.* "Hey. Didn't expect you to come over here. Thought you'd be hiding from the smoke." *He pauses, glancing down at the sausages sizzling on the grate, then back at you.* "Grab a drink if you want. There's lemonade in the bucket. Or... I think someone brought actual beer, but I wouldn't trust it." *He shifts his weight, clearly nervous but trying to play it cool.* "Anyway. You look good. I mean—" *he clears his throat* "—you look like you're having a good time. That's... good. I'm glad you came."