The final morning of the Maui vacation dawned with a brilliant, golden Hawaiian sunrise that painted the ocean in shades of lavender and peach. On the expansive marble terrace of the Grand Wailea penthouse, the breakfast table was overflowing with fresh papaya, fluffy pancakes, and an absurd number of tropical pastries that Do-hyun had insisted were "vital for post-volleyball recovery."
Sitting across from Ji-won were Leo and Maya, who had gladly accepted Do-hyun’s roaring invitation to join them for a final farewell breakfast.
"I'm just saying, Maya, if you drop out of your university business program, Kang Shipping has plenty of entry-level logistics positions available where you can yell at shipping manifests all day," Min-jun noted smoothly, sliding a plate of sliced mango toward Maya with all the casual authority of a corporate CEO trying to headhunt college students over cereal.
Maya blinked, looking down at the mango and then up at Min-jun, who was wearing his usual crisp black shirt—though thankfully without the trench coat. "Uh... thank you, Mr. Kang? But I think my finance professor back in California would probably prefer I graduate first."
"California," Ji-ho muttered, tapping away on his tablet. "A geographical distance of approximately six thousand miles across the Pacific basin. Real-time communication will be subject to a seventeen-hour time zone differential."
"Which just means Ji-won can beat us in late-night multiplayer co-op games when we're pulling all-nighters for finals," Leo grinned, nudging Ji-won’s shoulder.
Ji-won smiled, though a slight, bittersweet pang tugged at his chest. They were flying back to California tomorrow, while he was heading back to Seoul to face the unpredictable storm of his university classes and the shadow of Lu Sheng. They didn't live in the same city, they didn't share his family's chaotic world, and until a few days ago, they had been total strangers.
Yet, as Leo slid his phone across the table with their contact cards and gaming tags already filled out, Ji-won realized how much those few days meant.
"We're exchanging handles, right?" Leo asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because if you think getting rid of us is that easy just because an ocean is in the way, you're crazy, Ji-won. You're stuck with us now."
Maya rolled her eyes, though she was smiling warmly. "What my brother means is, we're setting up a group chat. And you better reply to our memes, Ji-won, or we'll fly to Seoul and let your brother in the turtle suit interrogate your professors."
Ji-won let out a bright, genuine laugh, taking his phone and typing in their numbers. For the first time in his life—in *both* of his lives—he had friends. People who didn't care about the Kang family name, who didn't look at him with corporate suspicion, and who liked him simply because he was Ji-won.
Across the table, Do-hyun was watching the exchange with misty, emotional eyes, aggressively dabbing at a dry corner of his eye with a linen napkin.
"They grow up so fast," Do-hyun sniffled dramatically, leaning over to whisper loudly to Min-jun. "Our baby is establishing an international network of social associates. I am so proud I could cry."
"Control yourself, Do-hyun," Min-jun said, though a fond smile played at the corner of his mouth as he looked at Ji-won's glowing face.
"Don't worry, Leo. Don't worry, Maya!" Do-hyun announced, standing up from his chair with a grand, sweeping gesture. "As a token of my profound gratitude for making my brother laugh, I have ordered two custom, bulletproof, monogrammed Rimowa luggage sets shipped directly to your dorms in California! And if you ever visit Seoul, my private jet is at your disposal!"
Leo and Maya stared at Do-hyun in absolute, jaw-dropping silence.
"Um... Mr. Do-hyun, you really don't have to buy us bulletproof suitcases," Maya said, blinking rapidly.
"Nonsense!" Do-hyun insisted, waving a hand dismissively. "In this world, one can never have too much structural luggage security!"
Ji-won buried his face in his hands, laughing as his ears turned bright red. "Ignore him, guys. He does this whenever he's happy."
As breakfast wrapped up and it was time for Leo and Maya to head back to their resort wing to pack for their flight home, they gave Ji-won a tight, warm hug by the penthouse elevator.
"See you online this weekend, Ji-won!" Leo grinned, adjusting his sunglasses. "Don't let your overly protective brothers work you too hard!"
"Text us when you land in Seoul!" Maya added, waving as the elevator doors slid shut.
Ji-won watched them go, clutching his phone tightly in his hand. The screen lit up with a new group chat named *'Maui Survivors Club (and the Turtle)'*, already buzzing with a goofy selfie Leo had just sent.
When Ji-won turned back around, his three brothers were standing behind him in the foyer, surrounded by a mountain of neatly packed luxury suitcases. The private Gulfstream jet was waiting on the tarmac once again, its engines humming with quiet power.
Seoul was waiting. Lu Sheng was waiting. The real world, with all its dangers and complications, was right around the corner.
But as Min-jun placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and Do-hyun tossed a travel pillow at his head with a playful grin, Ji-won didn't feel the paralyzing dread he used to carry. He had his brothers, he had his new friends across the ocean, and for the first time, he knew he wasn't walking into the dark alone.