In the distance, a set of monkey bars glistened under the beach lights, calling for someone to take them on. Seeing them, Yui gave a mischievous grin. "Maybe," she teased. "But I'll only confess if you can do 20 pull-ups."

His brow arched, challenging her words. "20? You underestimate me. I can do 40. But you will have to confess out loud how awesome I am."

With a mischievous glint in her eyes and an alcohol-induced boldness, she said, "Do them with your shirt off and I'll tell the world Adam Stroe takes the prize for most impressive man on this beach."

"Deal."

With a speed reminiscent of military precision, he quickly shed his shirt.

"See, I can follow your instructions, if they make sense to me," he winked and jumped to grab the bars. "You wanna count?" he asked, already starting his effortless display of athletics. He made it look like he weighed nothing and even put on a show for her, using only one arm at some point. But while it looked effortless, it did cover his tanned torso in a subtle sheen of sweat.

In that moment, Yui had never been more fascinated by anatomy, the contours and planes of Adam's body sending her mind spiraling. He was a work of art, a testament to the beauty of human form. She wondered if the glory of that visual treat was courtesy of the mountain climbing he loved so much.

Caught in her reverie, she barely registered the cool sensation running down her fingers. Counting seemed like an impossibly complex request at that moment.

"1, 2, 3..." she began idly, using as little of her brain computing power on that, so the rest could focus on the glorious sight. At the same time, her fingers fumbled to pull out her phone, catching a short video for Minami, her friend back home who was going to demand proof.

"12, 13, 14...14," she mumbled, stumbling over the numbers as her gaze traced the flex of his muscles with each pull-up. His body was like a perfectly sculpted statue, and for a second, she couldn't help but imagine what it would feel like to trace the lines of his muscles with her fingertips.

She was brought back to reality when Adam dropped from the bars, grinning and wiping his hands on the back of his jeans. "Wanna try?" His tone was teasing, but the offer was genuine.

Without a word, she pocketed her phone and approached the bars. Jumping up, her fingers barely grazed the cool metal of the ones Adam had been using. "A bit of help please," she said, her eyes rolling at the smirk on Adam's face.

"You can go for the smaller ones, you know? There's a kiddie one over there," he teased, but his hands were already wrapping around her waist, lifting her as if she were as light as a feather. "Ready?"

"Mhm," was all she managed as she reached up and gripped the bars, the feel of Adam's hands on her waist sending a shiver through her. Pulling herself up, she tossed over her shoulder, "Count for me," her voice filled with the bubbly courage that seemed to have seized her.

Adam was quick to join in on the fun, "One, two, twenty," he started, his fingers hovering over her waist, ready to catch her if she slipped. "Twenty-one, twenty-two, forty-four...damn, you beat me."

Laughter burst from her lips and she let go of the bars, finding herself still held up by Adam's strong arms. He turned her around, letting her slide down against him. The electric friction between them was undeniable, and neither could pretend otherwise. He dug his fingers in her hair, making her stretch on her toes as he leaned over. She closed her eyes instinctively, and it made the moment that much more intense when his lips took hers. It felt like a supernova bursting in her head. His lips tasted of Whiskey and Redbull, blending perfectly with the remnants of her ice cream.

The sound of clapping pulled them apart. A group of young men and women, who seemed to be Indian, were cheering enthusiastically. One of them approached with a camera in her hand. "You want me to take a picture? For the occasion?"

"Wh... what occasion?" Yui stammered, her brain needing a few moments to recalibrate and make sense of the world around her that had spun out of control from that kiss.

"Aren't you two engaged? It looked like a proposal followed by a kiss," the woman explained.

Adam didn't miss a beat. "Oh yeah, the future mother of my children said yes. I'm a lucky dude!"

Yui blinked in surprise, a bemused smile spreading across her face. She played along, handing her phone to the woman. "Sure! I wouldn't want to forget this moment." She leaned closer to Adam, offering a conspiratorial wink. To her surprise, he scooped her up into his arms, bridal-style.

After the photo was snapped and congratulations were exchanged, Adam refused to put her down, instead managing to grab both their shoes and his shirt. Despite her protests, he responded with a firm, "This is your life now."

Breezily accepting the change in her circumstances, Yui settled comfortably against Adam's chest. It was surprisingly inviting, she found, and something she could see herself getting used to.