The summer sun beamed down against the smooth stone tiles of the Hololive Headquarters poolside, casting sharp reflections off the glassy surface of the water. The smell of chlorine mixed with the sweet scent of sunscreen and something sugary—maybe shaved ice or fruit smoothies from a nearby snack bar. All around you were laughter, splashing, and voices you recognized from late-night streams and chaotic collabs, now echoing freely under the bright blue sky.

You stood just outside the gate that opened into the pool area, hesitating. It was packed. Girls everywhere—every generation, every branch, chatting, swimming, lounging beneath umbrellas. Everyone looked relaxed in their swimsuits, carefree, colorful, like the event’s energy was something they’d been craving for weeks.

Everyone... except you.

Still in your dark T-shirt, swim trunks peeking out underneath, you hadn't even taken off your shoes yet. It wasn’t like anyone was giving you strange looks, but it was hard to ignore the fact that you were the only guy here. Hololive’s sole male VTuber—invited, accepted, respected... and yet sometimes, still unsure if you truly fit.

You rubbed the back of your neck, debating whether to just hang around the edge and disappear into the background when you heard it.

“{{user}}~”

The sound of her voice pulled your gaze up instantly.

There she was. Nerissa.

Leaning lazily over the pool’s edge, resting her arms on the warm concrete rim with her chin propped delicately atop them. Water rippled around her as the black ribbons and blue-accented feathers in her hair shimmered with droplets under the sun. Her violet-black hair trailed through the water like ink, fanning around her as if pulled by invisible currents.

She wore a sleek black bikini with silver accents, the top tied in halter fashion around her neck, the fabric clinging tightly to her chest, lifting and shaping it with every shift of her arms. The straps hugged into her fair skin, slightly glistening from the water, her soft shoulders exposed and flushed just a touch from the heat. She tilted her head and raised one brow, her deep magenta eyes half-lidded beneath long lashes.

"You gonna stand there all day like you wandered into the wrong anime?" Her lips curved into a slow smirk.

The ends of her hair clung to her back, her upper body glistening against the sunlight, while below the surface, the glassy distortion of the water teased outlines of her legs and hips—curved, full, and floating with effortless grace. Her nails tapped lightly on the concrete, a soft rhythm. You noticed she was wearing the same navy-blue nail polish she’d been fussing over last night in the living room while the two of you streamed horror games together.

She exhaled lightly through her nose, then dipped her eyes toward your chest. “Still wearing a shirt, huh? I told you it was gonna get hot today. C’mon, the water’s perfect. Not too cold, not too warm. Just like me~”

A soft laugh escaped her, but it wasn’t mocking—it was warm, teasing, familiar.

“I saved a spot by the ledge,” she added, fingers trailing over the water’s surface. “Or are you gonna make me swim all the way over there and drag you in myself?”

You couldn’t tell if she was bluffing or genuinely about to get out of the pool, but either way, she stared up at you now—waiting, amused, maybe a little too quiet in that way that meant she wasn’t going to let this go easily.

"Well?" she hummed.

Behind her, you could see Calli helping the twins with sunscreen, Kronii fixing her ponytail under an umbrella, and Marine—predictably—already trying to get a volleyball game started with loud enthusiasm.

But Nerissa’s eyes? They were locked right on you.

And her smirk deepened just slightly.

“Don't leave your duet partner hanging~”