When the white light that had blinded everyone disappeared, they were no longer in that superhero world.
Instead, they found themselves in a huge room full of pink and white tones, surrounded by several doors all around it. Each door had professional names written on it, as if rather than a bedroom it were some kind of control room. The enormous computer embedded in the wall reinforced that impression.
Aside from that, it was a normal room, at least by Yuuji's standards. Anyone else would probably wonder why there was so much empty space or why the walls were so high.
When it came to luxury, at least, Yuuji and Lala had fairly similar perspectives, with the difference that having been born in poverty Yuuji still knew the difference between his lifestyle and that of others, unlike Lala, who had been born a princess.
"Lala's room?" Yuuji murmured, guessing where they were.
Looking around, he found the others who had been in that world, Rito, Mikan, Haruna, and Lala.
The five of them were on the floor in a circle around a device similar to a cube about thirty centimeters on each side. From it came a line of white light that struck the ceiling while slowly rotating.
Looks like a Minecraft beacon, Yuuji thought.
After reacting, he stood up and looked at the others, who were still holding their heads in confusion.
"Is everyone alright?"
"Fi-fine."
"Just a slight headache."
"I feel normal."
"Good" Yuuji nodded.
He looked at everyone before shifting his gaze to Lala, who was still staring blankly at the light from the device.
"Are you alright, Lala?"
"Me? Yes, very well! Excellent!" Lala replied immediately, overreacting when she was called.
"Are you sure?"
"Well, I do not remember anything after the World Devourer started malfunctioning... and I do not know how all of you suddenly ended up here."
Lala sighed.
"But I can imagine what happened. In the end I messed up, huh?"
Hearing her words filled with self blame, Rito reacted immediately and approached her.
"Lala!"
He called out, making her tilt her head in confusion, not understanding why he looked so agitated.
"I am really sorry. I did not mean... I did not want to hurt you. I was too upset at that moment and ended up hurting you with my words. I hope you can forgive me."
Rito lowered his head, expecting to be rejected and to have to convince her again, just like when they were inside the other world.
But to his surprise, Lala forgave him immediately.
"It is okay."
"I-it is okay?"
"I... it is strange. I am not angry. I feel like I already forgave you" Lala explained.
Most likely, even though she did not remember anything from inside that world, what happened there still affected her subconsciously.
Or at least that was what everyone thought when they heard her.
"Well, in that case..."
"Sorry for interrupting, but I have to go" Yuuji said, already wanting to leave before getting involved any further.
"Ah! Of course. Yuuji, please follow me" Mikan said, wanting to guide him to the exit since he had never been there before, but Yuuji stopped her and shook his head.
"There is no need. I have my methods. Still, thank you for the kindness" Yuuji said with a small smile.
"Now that we are neighbors, I will invite you to dinner someday as thanks for your hospitality."
"In that case, it will be a pleasure" Mikan replied politely.
Incredibly polite, Yuuji thought.
After saying goodbye, he opened a black door on the nearest wall that led directly to his new room.
"Ah, right, Lala!" Yuuji said, remembering something.
"What is it?"
"The powers in there were the same ones I have here. That is boring. Next time make something cooler, with different and strange powers."
"Noted!" Lala replied as Yuuji walked through the black door and it closed behind him.
"Brother, Yuuji seems like a good person. We should invite him more often."
Hearing Mikan's words, Rito sighed with a hint of amusement, thinking about how unlikely that idea was.
"There is no need. He will not come."
"Why?" Mikan asked, confused.
The Yuuji she had met seemed friendly and got along relatively well with everyone, so she saw no reason why he would refuse an invitation.
"It is too much trouble for him. He does not get actively involved in annoying things" Rito explained.
"But earlier he did get involved, did he not? And he seemed very excited about it."
"This..."
Rito also looked confused.
During the last few days, what he had learned about that strange classmate was that he seemed rather lazy, always sleeping during class.
However, somehow he always ended up involved in the chaos caused by Lala.
Even so, he also cared about others.
During the last week he had prevented Rito several times from being mistaken for a pervert, saving him from many of his usual accidents. He had even canceled a competition between Lala and Saki because he knew Lala had no idea about human limits of decency.
Not knowing exactly how to describe his personality, Rito decided to simply tell Mikan all of that and let her draw her own conclusions.
"...Brother."
Mikan looked toward Lala.
Without paying attention to the conversation, Lala had already started repairing the object that had taken them to that fictional world. The light, previously blue, was rapidly changing colors while it was connected to a huge computer embedded in the wall of her room as she modified lines of code at great speed.
Seeing that she was not paying attention, Mikan gestured for Rito to come closer and whispered,
"Brother... I think Yuuji might like Lala."
"What!?"
Rito was so surprised that he said it out loud.
Haruna, who was nearby, approached curiously.
The only one who ignored them was Lala, completely focused.
"What is it?"
"Haruna, Mikan thinks that..."
"That Yuuji likes Lala?" Haruna guessed.
"You heard?" Rito asked, surprised.
"No. I just think the same."
"So... what should I do?" Rito asked while looking at both of them.
Neither of them answered at first, remaining silent for a moment.
"I think that is something you should think about yourself," Haruna finally said before walking away.
"I have to go now. See you tomorrow."
"Eh? Uh... goodbye."
"Brother, you are a hopeless mess," Mikan said with the look of a disappointed mother.
"Eh? Why?"
"What do you mean why? How can you ask how to handle your relationship with your fiancée in front of the girl you like?"
Rito fell silent.
"You should decide it yourself, but you are so dense that I will tell you what you have to do."
Mikan looked directly into his eyes before speaking.
"End your engagement with Lala."
"What? I... I am not sure."
"That is your problem," Mikan interrupted. "You are too indecisive."
"You have been in love with Haruna for years and you still have not confessed even though she clearly likes you.
Knowing you, if you spend more time with Lala you will probably end up falling in love with her too... but you will still remain in love with Haruna."
"I do not think something like that..."
"I am sure," Mikan interrupted confidently. "No one knows you better than I do."
"End this before you complicate things even more and both Lala and Haruna end up getting hurt... and you too."
"But... that is not only my decision, right?" Rito said hesitantly.
"Do not worry about Lala."
Mikan looked at him honestly.
"Brother, I do not want to offend you, but you really do not have anything special besides being too kind."
"Ugh... that hurt, especially coming from my little sister."
"The only reason Lala likes you is because you are the first kind person she ever met," Mikan continued, ignoring Rito's wounded feelings.
"I... I do not think Lala would fall in love with just any kind person."
"Yes she would," Mikan replied without hesitation. "See? Even though she is your fiancée, you do not pay attention to her.
I know Lala, and I assure you she would like any kind person who treats her as herself. After that, it is enough to keep treating her well so that Lala ignores other kind people and that is it, completely in love.
Why do you think I worry so much about her? She is far too easy to deceive."
Rito remained thoughtful.
He realized that he had never really tried to understand Lala's situation. In fact, many times he had run away from her because of fear of her malfunctioning inventions and the space related problems that followed her.
"...Should I try to get to know her better?" he said guiltily.
"No!" Mikan replied immediately.
"What did I just tell you? If you get more involved, the three of you will only end up hurt."
"But even so..."
"Of course, there is one way for you to stay with Lala," Mikan added. "Just give up on Haruna."
"..."
"You will not do that, will you?" Mikan sighed. "Then before this becomes even more complicated, the best thing is for you to break the engagement and let Lala be free."
"I... I need to think a little," Rito said. "I think I never really took this situation as seriously as it deserves..."
After saying this, Rito left the room with a blank mind, almost bumping into the door.
Only Mikan and Lala remained in the room, but Mikan did not leave. Instead, she sat on the floor and watched Lala work for a while.
About twenty minutes passed.
Finally, Lala finished her modifications and smiled happily while holding the strange glowing cube.
And Mikan noticed it. Unlike Lala's usual smiles, born from her naturally cheerful personality, this one was different.
It was a smile of genuine happiness, mixed with anticipation.
"Hehe... when Yuuji sees the changes I made he will definitely be surprised. I cannot wait to see it."
While Lala murmured to herself, Mikan finally stood up and left the room, reminding her first to get ready for dinner.
'Brother... you are a fool who is far too kind'
She thought while walking through the hallway.
'If you start getting more involved with Lala, you will end up falling in love.
The only reason Haruna is still single despite your indecisive personality is because she likes you too... although you are probably the only one who has not noticed.
But Lala is not like that.
If you fall in love with her and she ends up leaving with someone who understands her better... you will only end up suffering.
Before that happens... it is better if this relationship ends'
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+15 chapters in advance on Patreon.
p-atreon.com/IAMME26
(just delete the hyphen)
80 power stones = 1 extra chapter (cumulative)