It was a small and quiet island surrounded by a sea as dazzling as a blue-violet gem.

French Polynesia*, the Society Islands.

From the main island, a grand hub of luxurious lagoons designed for the chosen few—lavishly described in a famous travel guide as: [A place where you might feel disheartened, surrounded by those whose wallets appear heavier than yours]. It took two hours by boat.

Only a select few owned private villas on this small island. Among them was a beautiful overwater villa, where Kyle spent his summer vacations every year.

This year, however, it seemed unlikely that he would be able to go. Kyle was on the verge of being completely consumed by the mountain of work piling up.

Under normal circumstances, he would have packed up his workload and gone to his vacation spot anyway, but this year, the situation was different. Just two months ago, news broke that a book he had been eagerly awaiting would go up for auction. In a fit of excitement, he had abruptly ditched work without notice, leaving everything behind to travel halfway across the globe. As a result, this summer, Kyle knew he couldn’t risk further irritating James. With work already piling up, even mentioning the word ‘vacation’ would almost certainly earn him a quiet but firm resignation letter from James.

“Really? Then I’ll go. I’ll spend my vacation there.”

When Kyle’s younger brother suddenly chimed in after overhearing Kyle instruct the manager to inform them he wouldn’t be able to go this year, Kyle looked at him with a hint of surprise. Unlike Kyle, who lived a life dictated by schedules and responsibilities, his brother lived as though life itself were a vacation. Annoyingly blessed with the luxury of choosing only work that suited his tastes, the rest of his time was spent hanging out with his ‘friend’. Though, in truth, their relationship went beyond mere friendship, his brother insisted on calling it that, and Kyle begrudgingly introduced the companion to others as his ‘brother’s friend’  whenever the need arose. The idea of a vacation or getaway destination was foreign to someone who could simply hop on a plane to wherever he wanted at any time. Besides, as far as Kyle knew, his brother wasn’t particularly interested in the ocean or resorts to begin with.

That someone like him would suddenly decide to spend a vacation at a resort was curious, but Kyle simply nodded in agreement without hesitation.

“Sure, do whatever you want. But what’s gotten into you?”

“That idiot Taei.”

Kyle’s brother stopped there, pausing briefly. A displeased memory seemed to resurface, as his brow furrowed and he let out a short, annoyed click of his tongue.

Behind the living room sofa, lying sprawled on the floor and lazily flipping through a book, his brother’s friend perked up at the mention of his name: “Huh?”. Theb peeked over the back of the sofa with a curious expression, he looked at them as if to say: ‘What did I do now?’

“Apparently, Christoph went ahead and promised Taei that they’d spend the summer vacation together, without even asking me first.”

When Kyle’s brother shot a cold glare at his friend and spoke in a frosty tone, the friend, likely having already endured an earful about the incident, shrank like a turtle pulling its head into its shell. Slowly, he slithered back behind the sofa, disappearing from view. A faint voice muttered defensively from behind the sofa.

“Well, it just sort of happened…… I mean, the kid looked at me with those big tear-filled eyes, like he was about to cry, and said: ‘You’re not going to play with me? You spend all your time with that guy anyway. Can’t you at least spend a few days of summer vacation with me?’ ——And before I knew it, my mind went blank, and when I came to, I’d already made the promise……”

“It was an absolutely killer move. I mean, where did he even learn a skill like that?” – His voice now so weak and dejected, muttered further. He sounded utterly defeated, as if Kyle’s brother had thoroughly crushed him over the incident.

Kyle murmured to himself: “Ah, I see.”

Just hearing about it was enough to conjure up the scene in his mind. Indeed, if someone with that dazzling face, those deep blue eyes welling up with tears, pleaded earnestly, it would be enough to muddle anyone’s thoughts and elicit an automatic ‘Yes’.

……In the past, Kyle had once suggested to Christoph that he try using it whenever he wanted to fend off someone he disliked or needed to ask for a particularly difficult favor. It seemed he was putting it to good use now.

As the one who had taught the beautiful young Christoph that particular skill, Kyle nodded in satisfaction upon hearing of its practical application. However, wisely, he refrained from admitting aloud that he had been the one to teach him. If he did, his younger brother, who didn’t have a shred of familial loyalty, might immediately start rummaging through drawers in search of a spare pair of gloves.

As Kyle remained silent, his brother clicked his tongue in annoyance at their friend’s explanation, clearly still dissatisfied, and finally spoke.

“So.” – He began – “I was thinking about finding a decent place to spend a few days on vacation, and if that place is available, I’ll just go there.”

“Ah, I see. Well, let me make the arrangements then. But are you going alone?”

“Hmm. Richard’s coming too.”

“Richard too……” – Kyle murmured, repeating the name to himself as he nodded with a peculiar expression. What a strange combination. Still, from what Kyle had heard, Christoph and Richard’s relationship wasn’t as contentious as it used to be. That made it seem plausible, which was a good sign.

As the kind older brother that he was, Kyle willingly offered up his villa for his beloved younger brother, his brother’s friend, and their childhood acquaintances. 

And so, Christoph – the instigator of the whole plan – his friend who had fallen for the scheme, Kyle’s brother who followed said friend like thread trailing a needle, and Richard, who somehow ended up involved (later sending a polite thank-you note and a gift via mail), all ended up occupying Kyle’s villa for a few days.

At first, of course, Kyle had his concerns.

Was it really okay to let those four stay there? He couldn’t help but worry about the safety of his beloved villa. Still, in the end, he handed over plane tickets with a ‘Have a good trip!’ and mentally prepared himself for the possibility of hefty repair costs.

Surprisingly, however, several days passed without any news of incidents or accidents. Instead, when Kyle called to check in, his brother’s friend cheerfully reported that they were thoroughly enjoying a very comfortable vacation.

“It’s such a lovely place—leisurely but not overly quiet. The people here are kind too. At the villa, Kyle’s room on the second floor is the most popular. The outdoor terrace attached to it is particularly well-loved; whenever someone feels drowsy, they end up lying on the long chair out there for a nap. Haha, of course, not everyone at the same time. It’s first come, first served when it’s empty. As for the unlucky ones who miss out, there are plenty of other comfortable spots to rest, like the outdoor beach benches or hammocks. Thank you, Kyle, for letting us stay in such a wonderful place.”

Hearing the cheerful and lively voice, Kyle couldn’t help but feel gratified, even as he was being crushed under the weight of his work.

It seemed his brother and the others were enjoying a peaceful relaxing time there.

There were some who didn’t get along, and others with awkward relationships, so Kyle had been a bit concerned. However, judging from the way his brother’s friend spoke, it seemed they were managing just fine. (Or perhaps some of them were simply ignoring each other altogether, but as long as there were no incidents, that counted as getting along in Kyle’s book.)

Feeling reassured, Kyle nodded in satisfaction and decided to set his worries aside and focus entirely on his work.

But life rarely goes as planned.

It wasn’t long after that peaceful phone call—just the very next day, in fact.

Kyle fell silent as he looked at the yellowing tabloid James placed in front of him.

The headline: [Scandalous Rendezvous of a Multinational Corporation CEO, Mr. K?!] blared provocatively next to a photograph unmistakably showing Kyle’s villa—its beautiful overwater structure nestled on the tropical island.

The photo was taken as a close-up of Kyle’s room on the second floor, capturing a shadowy scene. Although the image was too dim for clear identification, the silhouettes were unmistakably distinct: One figure reclining lazily in a chair, while another leaned down, bending at the waist, to kiss the first.

The article went something like this:

[Mr. K, a prominent conglomerate owner known for his impeccable manners, striking looks, and exceptional ability to lead a massive enterprise, has always been an enigma for remaining single despite his immense wealth and influence. This time, however, the mystery has unraveled. It appears that he secretly spent his summer vacation at a private villa, which he had reportedly prepared as a romantic getaway for his lover……]

Kyle, who couldn’t care less which famous actress ‘Ms. A’ was supposedly spending her vacation with ‘Mr. K’, barely skimmed the article. Instead, his eyes were glued to the photo.

He couldn’t make out who the two people in the picture were. The positioning of a rubber plant nearby had conveniently obscured their faces; even if it hadn’t, the photo was taken from afar with a telephoto lens, and was shot at dusk, rendering the figures nothing more than shadowy silhouettes.

Still, even from the silhouettes alone, it was unmistakable: The posture clearly suggested they were kissing.

“Why didn’t you catch this before the article came out?”

Kyle furrowed his brows in confusion and looked up at James.

Most of the few villa owners on that island were celebrities, so it wasn’t unusual for paparazzi to lurk around. Still, an article like this wasn’t exactly cause for alarm.

After all, the names were only partially revealed with initials – though anyone in the know would easily figure them out – and the piece was published by a third-rate tabloid notorious for scraping together baseless rumors. There was no need to take it too seriously.

Besides, there weren’t even any faces shown, and the subject of the article ‘Mr.K’ was; in fact, right here, stuck in his office buried under a mountain of paperwork for nearly a month straight.

A romantic rendezvous? He hadn’t even managed to properly open the precious book he had painstakingly acquired, let alone entertain a romantic partner. (James couldn’t help but feel pity for the tabloid reporter, who clearly had no idea that this very attitude was the real reason Kyle unintentionally remained single.)

So, it wasn’t anything to get worked up over. Ignoring it would suffice, and the story would soon fizzle out. But still.

Kyle didn’t particularly appreciate seeing a photo of his villa (however small a corner of it) in such a trashy newspaper. Moreover, having the reality of his brother’s improper relationship with his ‘friend’ thrust so blatantly in front of him, even though he had already suspected as much, made him want to avoid the issue altogether. Kyle tossed the newspaper onto the desk with a sigh.

“I’m sorry. Apparently, the PR department did get word about this in advance, but the amount they were being asked for was absurd, and since you’re here, they figured there was no way you’d be in such a photo and decided to ignore it.”

Knowing full well that this wasn’t a serious issue, James didn’t look particularly apologetic as he glanced down at the newspaper. After a moment of silence, he added:

“Also, according to what I’ve heard from the paparazzi who took the photo, the man in the picture fled the scene immediately after the kiss. It seems someone snuck up on the person sleeping, stole a kiss, and then ran off.”

“……Who kissed whom?”

“I couldn’t say…… not exactly……” 

James replied, maintaining his usual impassive expression. Despite being fully aware of the four individuals currently at the villa, he didn’t so much as blink. Truly, he was a secretary one could count on.

“Still, using a process of elimination, one could make a reasonable guess.” – He added.

“Hmm…… let’s see……”

Kyle frowned slightly, studying the photo again. As he examined it, he began running through the possible scenarios in his head.

At present, there were two possible pairs among the group staying at the villa.

The 1st possibility: Ilay kissed Taeui.

……Not a chance he would flee.

If anything, it might have been the one being kissed who woke up mid-act and tried to escape. (And even if that were the case, any attempt at escape would have been utterly futile.)

The 2nd possibility: Taeui kissed Ilay.

……Also impossible that he’d flee.

Kyle knew his younger brother all too well.

The kind of person who, even while asleep, could sense someone merely passing by his door wasn’t likely to remain unaware if someone kissed him. Moreover, there was no way he’d let someone who tried to run away get away.

If Taeui had indeed tried to flee and been caught by Ilay, that paparazzi would have hit the jackpot for sure.

“Which means it can’t possibly be those two. So, the remaining possibility is……”

Kyle rubbed the bridge of his nose. At some point, a frown had formed, leaving wrinkles from his brow to the bridge of his nose.

The 3rd possibility: Richard kissed Christoph.

“………………”

Kyle shook his head.

No matter how hard he tried to imagine it, it simply didn’t add up.

Leaving aside their rocky history, the idea of Richard sneaking a kiss and then running away like some lovestruck and immature youth……was utterly unthinkable.

If that twisted man ever wanted to kiss someone, he would undoubtedly wait for an opportunity, find some excuse – or even create one – then forcibly but confidently steal the kiss. Running away or fleeing? That would never happen.

If it had been anyone else, Richard would have approached directly, effortlessly coaxing them with a gentle smile, then securing a kiss – or more – without breaking a sweat. But with Christoph, it was a different story. Despite rumors that their relationship had somewhat improved, there still seemed to be lingering awkwardness between them.

That left the 4th and final possibility: Christoph kissed Richard.

“………… This one’s hard to imagine too…… Come to think of it, has Christoph gotten over his aversion to physical contact?”

“I couldn’t say. I haven’t gone out of my way to check, but I did hear that a minor incident occurred last month in Riyadh. Apparently, a royal who touched Christoph’s waist had their shoulder dislocated by him.”

“……Their shoulders?”

“Yes, dislocated. It seems Christoph doesn’t take kindly to uninvited contact.”

“Right? I mean, I’d heard he was trying hard to work on it, so I thought maybe…… But even setting aside his aversion to touch, the idea of Christoph sneaking a kiss on Richard is still hard to picture. ……If I had to pick, it’s probably the most plausible of the four scenarios, though.”

“Agreed.” – James nodded.

Seeing James nod, Kyle found himself nodding as well.

Right. Exactly. And with that, their pseudo-conversation, where they had been volleying short comments back and forth, came to an abrupt end.

The two of them had been silently staring at the photo, and seemed to arrive at the same conclusion simultaneously. Having eliminated the other possibilities, they considered the remaining scenario and its implications—extending their thoughts to what might be happening at that very moment. Almost in unison, they lifted their eyes from the newspaper. In moments like this, they were surprisingly alike.

Without so much as a glance, Kyle crumpled the newspaper and promptly tossed it into the trash.

“That’s enough. What’s done is done. It doesn’t matter. No one takes the nonsense from a paper like this seriously. And even if they do, it’s none of my business. I don’t care to dwell on the kind of articles that end up in trashy tabloids. Let’s just get back to work. The sooner we’re done, the sooner we can take a few days off and actually enjoy a proper vacation.”

“Of course. You’re absolutely right.” – James replied.

He briefly glanced at the corner of the crumpled newspaper sticking out of the trash, where a small advertisement for a second-hand book exhibition was printed, before giving a firm nod and falling silent. Without another word, he placed a new stack of documents in front of Kyle.

**************************

*French Polynesia: