Time truly flew by faster than Yumio ever expected.

  Before she knew it, the days she once counted one by one had turned into milestones. Yukio, Yurio, and Ariana proudly walked across the stage in their caps and gowns, officially graduating from high school. Touya followed not long after, earning his college degree. The mansion had been filled with celebration—flowers, laughter, congratulations echoing through the halls.

  Summer arrived wrapped in warmth and excitement.

  For everyone else, it was just another vacation.

  For Yumio, it was a turning point.

  After this summer, she would finally step into Ainsworth University. A future she had once only imagined from behind the gates of her home was now within reach. Ever since her parents gave their approval, she had been quietly counting—months, weeks, days—until the semester would begin.

  And now, something even more special awaited her.

  The Kishimoto children were on their way to their seaside villa to spend the summer.

  Yumio sat by the car window, watching the scenery change as they drove farther from the city. Her heart fluttered with excitement she couldn’t quite contain. This was the first time she would be going with them.

  For fourteen summers, while her siblings and cousin escaped to the sea, Yumio remained behind—staying at the mansion with servants, grandparents, and her parents. She never complained, but she always wondered what it felt like to wake up to the sound of waves.

  Now, she was finally going.

  “I’m so happy you can finally come with us, Mio!” Ariana said, turning around in her seat, her eyes sparkling.

  Yumio smiled widely. “Me too, Ria. It still feels unreal.”

  “You’ll love the villa,” Yurio added, leaning back comfortably. “The view is incredible, and the place has this really calm, beachy vibe.”

  “Plus, the sunsets are amazing,” Akari chimed in. “You’re going to want to take pictures every evening.”

  Yumio clasped her hands together. “I can’t wait!”

  The moment they arrived, Yumio felt her breath catch.

  The villa stood gracefully near the shoreline—simple in structure but elegant in its design. White walls, wooden accents, and wide windows reflected the sunlight, while the sound of waves filled the air like a gentle greeting.

  “…It’s beautiful,” Yumio whispered.

  “We’ll give you a tour inside,” Akari said with a smile. “The boys can help the servants carry our things.”

  Yumio nodded eagerly as she followed the girls inside.

  The living room was the first thing that stole her heart. Large glass windows overlooked the vast blue ocean, letting sunlight pour into the space.

  “Wow!” Yumio exclaimed, rushing closer to the window. “You can see the ocean from here!”

  Yumio laughed, pressing her palms lightly against the glass. “I already love it.”

  They moved next to the kitchen, where the space opened wide.

  “There’s so much room here,” Yumio said in awe.

  “That’s because we bake a lot during summer,” Ariana explained. “Especially during storms.”

  “I can already imagine spending hours here,” Yumio murmured, her eyes lighting up.

  They then walked down the hallway, where Akari stopped in front of the first door.

  “This is Nii-san’s room,” she said, opening it.

  Inside, shelves of neatly arranged books lined the walls. Everything was organized with precision.

  “Very Nii-san,” Yumio said with a soft laugh.

  Akari smiled. “Exactly.”

  She opened the next door. “And this is my room.”

  The room was filled with green hues—plants, pillows, curtains.

  “Wow,” Yumio said. “It feels just like your room back home.”

  Akari chuckled. “I may have a favorite color.”

  Ariana stepped forward and opened the third door. “This is Kio and Rio’s room.”

  Inside were two beds and two desks facing opposite directions. Posters decorated the walls—each side clearly reflecting Yukio and Yurio’s contrasting tastes.

  Yumio tilted her head. “They still share a room?”

  “We don’t have that many rooms,” Ariana explained, amused. “And they insisted.”

  “They’d probably feel lonely without each other,” Yumio said fondly.

  Next, Natsumi opened another door. “This is Natsu and Seito’s.”

  It was similar in layout to the twins’ room, but the decorations differed on each side.

  Then Natsumi proudly showed her own room—bright, warm, and orange. A guitar leaned against the desk, notebooks filled with handwritten lyrics scattered neatly around.

  “You write songs here?” Yumio asked, eyes shining.

  “Most of them,” Natsumi replied with a grin.

  They moved on to the youngest twins’ room—simple, clean, and quiet.

  At the end of the hallway stood two doors.

  Yumio paused. “Which one is my room?”

  Akari smiled and opened the door on the left.

  Yumio gasped.

  A large sliding window dominated the wall, offering an unobstructed view of the ocean. The bed was dressed in her favorite color—carmine. A small bookshelf stood beside a spacious desk.

  “This…” Yumio whispered, stepping inside. “It’s perfect.”

  Akari smiled warmly. “Dad wanted you to have the room with the biggest window.”

  “That’s really thoughtful,” Yumio said softly.

  She then turned toward the other door. “What about that room?”

  Akari gestured toward it. “Come see.”

  Yumio opened the door—and froze.

  The room was filled with yarn. Shelves of every color imaginable. Crochet tools, a yarn spinner, baskets neatly arranged.

  Her eyes widened. “Is this…?”

  The girls nodded.

  Yumio’s smile trembled with emotion. “Dad really prepared all this… for me?”

  Akari nodded. “He wanted you to feel at home.”

  Yumio felt her heart swell. She wiped her eyes and laughed softly.

  “This will be the happiest summer vacation ever.”

  Yumio wandered closer to the shore, her bare feet sinking slightly into the cool, damp sand. The ocean stretched endlessly before her, shimmering under the sunlight like a vast sheet of glass. Gentle waves rolled in, one after another, their white foam dissolving as they kissed the shore. The rhythmic splash of water and the soft hush that followed felt almost like a lullaby—quiet, calming, and full of unspoken stories.

  She stood there for a while, simply watching. The way the waves rose and fell, the distant cries of seabirds, the salty scent carried by the air—it all felt surreal, as if she had stepped into a dream she’d waited years to enter.

  A small smile curved her lips as she closed her eyes. The breeze brushed against her cheeks and tangled itself in her hair, cool and refreshing. She let out a slow breath, allowing herself to relax, letting the ocean wrap around her senses.

  But then, without warning, a familiar ache tugged gently at her chest.

  Liam.

  Her smile softened as his face appeared in her thoughts, clear and vivid, like he was standing right beside her. The laughter they shared, the quiet moments spent reading together, the comfortable silence that never felt awkward—it all came rushing back.

  Her gaze drifted toward the horizon, and before she realized it, her mind slipped into a memory.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Yumio sat beside Liam, her knees pulled close to her chest. Her eyes were fixed on the floor, unfocused, and she absentmindedly played with the hem of her sleeve. Liam, seated across from her with a book in hand, noticed the unusual quiet.

  He glanced up from the page, studying her expression. “What’s wrong?” he asked gently.

  Yumio hesitated, then sighed. “I won’t be able to come here for a month.”

  That caught his attention. Liam closed his book and placed it beside him. “Hm?” He tilted his head slightly. “Why?”

  “My family goes to this seaside villa every summer vacation,” she explained, her voice soft. “And this year… I’ll be going with them for the first time.”

  Liam raised an eyebrow. “That sounds like a good thing,” he said with a small smile. “Aren’t you happy?”

  “I am,” Yumio answered quickly, then sighed again, her shoulders slumping. “I really am. But…” She looked up at him, worry flickering in her eyes. “I’ll be leaving you here for a whole month. Thinking about that just—” She paused, searching for the right words. “It stresses me out.”

  Liam chuckled softly and leaned closer, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You don’t have to worry about me,” he said warmly. “Besides, I’m going to a family villa too this summer vacation. We’ll both be out of town.”

  Yumio blinked, surprised. “You are?”

  He nodded. “Yeah. So it’s only fair.”

  Her expression relaxed, and a smile slowly returned to her face. “Then… promise you’ll contact me,” she said, half-serious, half-hopeful.

  Liam smiled back, his eyes gentle. “Only if you do the same.”

  “I promise,” Yumio said softly.

  The memory faded, replaced once more by the endless blue of the sea.

  Yumio opened her eyes and exhaled, her heart feeling a little lighter. She hugged her arms around herself, smiling faintly.

  “Just a month,” she murmured to the wind. “I’ll be back before I know it.”

  As another wave rushed toward the shore, Yumio stood tall, letting the ocean bear witness to both her excitement and her longing—certain that, no matter the distance, some promises were strong enough to carry across the sea.

  Yumio was still smiling to herself when a soft vibration interrupted the quiet rhythm of the waves. She blinked, then reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. The screen lit up, and when she saw the name flashing across it, her smile instantly widened.

  Liam.

  She answered the call almost immediately.

  “Liam! How are you?” Yumio asked, her voice bright and warm.

  “I’m doing good,” Liam replied, a hint of a smile evident in his tone. “It’s been a while since I’ve been to our family villa, but it’s actually really nice. We’re by the seaside too.”

  Yumio’s eyes lit up as she glanced back at the ocean in front of her. “Oh! That’s nice! So we’re both near the sea,” she said with a soft laugh. “My dad had my room prepared especially for me. It has the best view of the ocean—you can see the waves even from my bed.”

  “That sounds peaceful,” Liam said. “I can already imagine it.”

  “And that’s not all,” Yumio continued excitedly. “He also prepared a yarn room for me. An entire room just for yarn—different colors, textures, everything. I almost cried when I saw it.”

  Liam chuckled. “That definitely sounds like something made just for you. Your dad really went all out.”

  “He really did,” Yumio said, her voice softening with gratitude. “I feel… really happy here.”

  “I’m glad,” Liam replied sincerely. “You deserve it.”

  Before Yumio could respond, she heard her name being called from inside the villa.

  “Mio!” someone shouted. “Come here!”

  Yumio flinched slightly and pulled the phone away from her ear. “Ah—” She laughed softly. “I think they’re calling me.”

  “I’ll let you go, then,” Liam said. “We can talk again later.”

  Yumio smiled, warmth spreading through her chest. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

  “Alright,” Liam replied. “See you.”

  “See you,” Yumio echoed before ending the call.

  She slipped her phone back into her pocket, her smile lingering as she turned and walked back toward the villa. As soon as she stepped inside, she spotted everyone gathered around the coffee table in the living room. Cards were spread everywhere, and laughter filled the air.

  Natsumi looked up and waved a handful of colorful cards. “Wanna play?” she asked, grinning. “We’re in the middle of UNO.”

  Yumio chuckled and walked closer, sitting down with them. “Sure!” she said brightly. “I’m down.”

  The group made space for her, handing her a stack of cards. As Yumio joined in, the room filled with playful groans, teasing complaints, and bursts of laughter—marking the perfect start to a summer she knew she would never forget.

  Liam smiled to himself as he lowered his phone, the screen going dark in his hand. The faint echo of Yumio’s voice still lingered in his thoughts, warm and reassuring, like sunlight that refused to fade even after clouds passed.

  He slipped the phone into his pocket and lifted his gaze toward the sea stretching endlessly before him. The water shimmered under the afternoon light, waves rolling in slow, steady rhythms that felt almost hypnotic. The salty air brushed against his face, cool and familiar, and he breathed it in deeply.

  Not far from where he stood, his eyes caught sight of another house along the coastline—a massive seaside villa standing proudly a few kilometers away. Even from this distance, it was impossible to miss. Its white walls gleamed against the blue backdrop, and tall windows reflected the sky like glass mirrors.

  “That villa’s always occupied during vacations,” Liam murmured to himself.

  He narrowed his eyes slightly, thoughtful. “They must also be there… since it’s vacation.”

  The idea didn’t stir much emotion—just a passing observation—before his attention drifted back to the sea. He adjusted the straps of his sandals and began walking along the shore, letting the water kiss his feet as he moved. The sand shifted beneath each step, grounding him in the moment.

  Soon, he reached the huge piles of rocks that marked the natural boundary between his family’s villa and the neighboring one. The rocks rose high and uneven, stacked like ancient sentinels shaped by time and waves. This place had always been special to him.

  Liam carefully climbed onto one of the flatter stones and sat down, resting his elbows on his knees. He let out a quiet sigh, shoulders relaxing as the tension he hadn’t realized he carried slowly melted away.

  This was his favorite spot whenever they visited the villa.

  It was quiet. Isolated. Safe.

  The sound of the sea filled the space around him—until another sound joined it.

  A guitar.

  Liam froze for a moment, then tilted his head slightly, listening. The melody drifted over from the other side of the rock wall, soft but clear enough to hear. Each strum was gentle, unhurried, as if the person playing had nowhere else they needed to be.

  It must be one of the kids from that villa, he thought.

  A small smile tugged at his lips as he leaned back against the rock, closing his eyes. He didn’t try to see who it was. Somehow, not knowing made it better. The song flowed naturally, blending with the rhythm of the waves, and Liam felt himself relax even further.

  The tune resonated with him in a quiet, unexplainable way. It wasn’t loud or flashy—just sincere. Warm. Comforting. His breathing slowed, and for a moment, he felt like he could fall asleep right there, wrapped in sound and sea breeze.

  Halfway through the song, the music suddenly stopped.

  Liam opened his eyes as the final chord faded into silence. A few seconds later, he heard footsteps retreating—light, unhurried—moving away from the rocks.

  “They must’ve gone back to their villa,” he murmured.

  He stood up, brushing sand from his hands and clothes, and glanced once more at the rock wall before turning back toward his own villa. As he walked away, the melody lingered in his mind, replaying softly like a memory he hadn’t lived long enough to forget.

  Still… it was pretty nice, though.

  And with that thought, Liam headed home, the sound of the sea following him all the way back.

  Yumio let out a long, weary sigh as she set the crochet hook down beside her. The yarn rested neatly on her lap, the project only a quarter finished despite the time she had spent on it. Normally, crocheting calmed her—each loop and pull steadying her thoughts—but today, her mind refused to settle.

  She stared at her work for a moment longer before gently placing it on the table.

  “I’ll finish this later,” she murmured to herself.

  Rising from her seat, Yumio stretched her arms above her head and walked out of the villa, craving fresh air. The warmth of the late afternoon greeted her as she stepped outside, and she noticed how the sky had begun to change—soft shades of orange and pink blending into pale blue as the sun slowly descended.

  The sun’s almost setting…

  The sight made her chest feel oddly tight. Without really thinking about it, she decided to walk toward the shore. Maybe the sound of the waves would help clear her thoughts.

  Her sandals sank lightly into the sand as she walked farther from the villa, the distant chatter from inside fading behind her. The air grew quieter, calmer, until it was just her, the sea, and the gentle whisper of the wind. She stopped when she found herself near the rock wall—not too close, but close enough to feel secluded.

  Yumio lowered herself onto the sand and hugged her knees, letting the cool grains slip through her fingers. She closed her eyes as the ocean breeze brushed against her face, lifting strands of her hair and carrying the familiar scent of salt and water.

  It’s peaceful…

  Then, uninvited, a name surfaced in her mind.

  Liam.

  Her eyes flew open.

  “What…?” she whispered, startled by her own thoughts.

  She frowned slightly, staring ahead at the horizon. How could she suddenly think of him now? She pressed her lips together, trying to reason with herself.

  Maybe it’s because I haven’t seen him since I left.

  That explanation made sense—at least, it should have—but it didn’t ease the way her heart seemed to ache just a little. No matter how hard she tried to focus on the sound of the waves or the colors of the sky, her thoughts kept drifting back to him.

  His smile.

  His voice.

  The way he looked at her when he listened.

  “I really can’t stop thinking about you…” Yumio murmured softly, almost embarrassed by the confession, even though no one was around to hear it.

  She shook her head and let out a quiet, nervous laugh. “Why are you always in my thoughts, Liam?”

  Her hands moved instinctively to her cheeks, warm beneath her palms, as if she were trying to ground herself. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to the setting sun, watching as its golden light reflected across the surface of the water, turning the waves into ripples of fire.

  The view was beautiful—breathtaking, even—but her chest felt heavy in a way she didn’t quite understand.

  As the sun dipped lower, Yumio remained there, bathed in fading light, caught between the calm of the sea and the unfamiliar feelings quietly growing in her heart.

  Liam’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, the glow of his laptop screen reflecting faintly in his eyes. He had been scrolling aimlessly, barely paying attention to what was on the screen, when a sudden thought struck him so hard that he froze.

  …Mio.

  His hands slowly fell away from the keyboard.

  “I wonder how she is right now…” he murmured under his breath.

  The realization hit him a second later, and his brows furrowed in confusion.

  “What the heck?” he muttered, leaning back in his chair. “Why am I thinking of her all of a sudden?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly unsettled. He had been doing fine—busy, distracted, surrounded by family—but somehow, out of nowhere, she slipped into his mind as naturally as breathing. The image of her smile, the sound of her laugh, the way she always looked so calm yet thoughtful lingered far longer than he expected.

  With a quiet sigh, Liam pushed his chair back and stood up. He walked toward the window, resting his hands on the frame as he looked outside. The sun was already halfway below the horizon, its warm orange light spilling across the sea. The water shimmered, reflecting the sky like liquid gold.

  “So you’re watching the sunset too, huh?” he said softly, as if Yumio could hear him from miles away.

  The gentle waves rolled endlessly, calm and steady, yet something in his chest felt restless. He stared at the horizon, lost in thought, replaying memories he hadn’t meant to revisit—quiet conversations, shared silences, the way she always listened like every word mattered.

  He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

  “You always conquer my thoughts…” Liam whispered, his voice barely louder than the sound of the sea.

  A small, helpless smile tugged at his lips. He shook his head, half amused, half frustrated with himself, yet unable to deny the warmth that followed her name whenever it crossed his mind.

  As the sun continued to sink, Liam remained by the window, watching the sea darken—wondering if, somewhere far away, Yumio was looking at the same sunset and thinking of him too.