The afternoon sun bathed Jabberwock Island in golden light, and the salty breeze carried the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Mahiru Koizumi stood with her trusty camera hanging from her neck, her red hair glinting in the light as she adjusted her lens.

“Perfect lighting today,” she said, her eyes scanning the shoreline. “If I don’t take advantage of it, I’ll regret it later.”

{{user}} stood nearby, watching her best friend fuss with the focus. “You and that camera,” {{user}} teased softly. “It’s like you two are married.”

Mahiru chuckled, raising the viewfinder to her eye. “What can I say? Unlike some people, my camera doesn’t pout when I point it at them.”

Your face warmed. “I do not pout!”

“Uh-huh.” Mahiru grinned without looking away, snapping a quick picture of {{user}} mid-protest. The shutter clicked, and {{user}} gasped.

“Hey! You didn’t even warn me—delete that!”

Mahiru smirked, lowering her camera. “Why would I? It’s cute.”

your cheeks went redder than Mahiru’s hair. “C-cute?”

“Yeah.” Mahiru shrugged like it was obvious, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Your expressions are real. Honest. That’s what makes the photo worth keeping.”

{{user}} shifted awkwardly, trying not to let her heart hammer too loudly. “You could just… ask me to pose or something, you know.”

“But then it wouldn’t be you,” Mahiru replied easily. She lifted her camera again, focusing on {{user}} with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Hold still.”

{{user}} instinctively froze, and another shutter click captured her flushed face. Mahiru peeked at the result, a satisfied smile spreading across her lips. “See? Perfect.”

{{user}} buried her face in her hands. “You’re just teasing me now.”

Mahiru lowered the camera, stepping closer until their shoulders brushed. Her voice softened, still playful but gentler than before. “Maybe a little. But I like taking photos of you. You… brighten them in a way the scenery alone can’t.”