Adult Ayanokouji walked through the school corridors, his hands in his pockets and his expression serene yet slightly reflective. Being there again, in the environment where he had spent years manipulating and observing, brought a strange feeling of nostalgia. He wasn't someone easily swayed by emotions from the past, but it was undeniable that returning to his old school days made him reflect on how much he had changed.
As he approached the teachers' lounge, he paused for a moment in front of the door, his thoughts drifting to those who had once been his instructors.
Mashima was the first name that came to mind. A serious, strict, and rule-abiding teacher, but despite that, he was always fair and objective. He never showed favoritism but was also not blind to the realities of the school.
Then there was Chie Hoshinomiya. To him, one of the worst teachers. Not only was she childish in her behavior, but she also openly flirted with students, something that deeply annoyed him. However, he acknowledged that her presence had been essential to Ichinose's growth, and for that reason, he couldn't simply ignore her role in the school.
Professor Sakagami, despite being a serious man, displayed an unusual level of loyalty to his students. He would sacrifice himself to help them, even if it meant putting his career at risk. Something that, to the teenage Ayanokouji, seemed foolish, but to the adult Ayanokouji, now made more sense.
And lastly, Chabashira Sae. At first, he despised her for blackmailing him into helping the class. But over time, he learned to respect her determination. She wanted her class to reach Class A, and even though her methods were flawed, her ambition was genuine.
Taking a deep breath, adult Ayanokouji opened the door to the teachers' lounge.
As soon as he entered, the teachers, who had been discussing the situation of the "three Ayanokoujis," immediately stopped. All eyes turned to him. Mashima, Sakagami, and Chie widened their eyes upon seeing him in the flesh. The presence of an adult Ayanokouji was something that, until then, had seemed like an absurd rumor.
The silence lasted only a few seconds before Chie Hoshinomiya quickly approached him with an excited smile.
— So it's true! — She exclaimed, her gaze scanning every detail of his face. — The future Ayanokouji really ended up in our time!
She looked him up and down, biting her lip slightly.
— Hmm… you're even more handsome now, — she said, placing a finger on her chin and tilting her head. — And your aura has changed a lot. You have a more mature presence… very different from your teenage self.
Before Ayanokouji could even react, Chie extended her hand and gently touched his cheek, her cold fingers brushing against his skin.
Adult Ayanokouji blinked slowly, showing no immediate reaction. But before anything else could happen…
SMACK!
— OWW!!! — Chie jumped back, holding her head with both hands.
Chabashira Sae, holding a clipboard, looked at her with an exasperated expression.
— You need to stop hitting on students. Even if he's from the future and no longer my student, it's still inappropriate!
Chie puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms.
— But he's not a student anymore! Technically, he's an adult now…
— That doesn't matter, — Chabashira retorted, sighing.
Meanwhile, adult Ayanokouji let out a small sigh and made his way to a chair, sitting down calmly.
Mashima, who had been silently observing the interaction, finally spoke.
— Ayanokouji… can you tell us exactly how this happened?
Ayanokouji interlocked his fingers on the table and answered calmly:
— My younger self and I found a box with the word "fun" written on it. Inside, there was a strange watch. And before we knew it, we were brought to this time. Beyond that, I don't know anything else.
The teachers exchanged glances. It was an absurdly simple explanation for such an illogical phenomenon, but considering they were looking directly at an adult Ayanokouji, they had no choice but to accept reality.
Sakagami sighed, massaging his temple.
— That means there's a third party involved in this… Someone left that box there for a reason.
Mashima nodded.
— And now we have to deal with three versions of the same student. This could become a problem.
Chabashira crossed her arms, staring at adult Ayanokouji.
— Do you have any theories about who could be behind this?
Ayanokouji shook his head slightly.
— If I did, I would have already solved this situation. But it doesn't matter who it is… sooner or later, they will reveal themselves.
Chie, now recovered from the hit on her head, smiled and leaned against the table.
— So, while we haven't figured it out, how about you take this chance to relive your student days?
Ayanokouji raised an eyebrow.
— Relive my student days?
— Yes! — Chie clapped her hands. — You can spend some time at school and help us take care of the teenage and child versions of you!
Chabashira snorted.
— Don't tell me you just want him around so you can flirt more.
— Of course I do! — Chie responded, laughing.
Mashima sighed, ignoring Chie's antics.
— In any case, Ayanokouji… if you intend to stay here for a while, we need to find a solution to avoid confusion among the students.
— Feel free to decide, — Ayanokouji said simply. — I just want to solve this mystery as soon as possible.
The teachers nodded and resumed their discussion while Ayanokouji remained seated, listening.
He continued observing the teachers' conversation, the temporary silence in the room indicating that everyone was still processing the unusual situation before them. After all, it wasn't every day that past and future versions of a student suddenly appeared in the present.
Mashima, the most serious and pragmatic of the group, was the first to break the silence. He crossed his arms and looked directly at adult Ayanokouji with an analytical posture.
— Considering your experience and knowledge of the future, I believe we could put them to good use.
— How so? — Chabashira asked, raising an eyebrow.
— If we have someone who understands the potential and growth of students better than we do, we could help them develop more efficiently. That's why I suggest that Ayanokouji become a temporary school advisor.
The other teachers exchanged glances. It was a bold idea, but it made sense.
Chabashira crossed her arms, considering.
— And you? What do you think about this?
Adult Ayanokouji remained silent for a moment, calmly analyzing the proposal.
"Humans are creatures of evolution. If someone superior extends a hand to help them, they can adapt and eventually surpass even those who helped them."
That line of thought echoed in his mind, and he realized that perhaps this was an interesting opportunity to test his theory about human growth.
— I have no problem doing it, — he answered without haste. — I enjoy observing and analyzing people's growth. If I can guide them to achieve more efficient results, it might be something interesting to do while I'm stuck in this time.
Before Chabashira could respond, Chie quickly approached, a mischievous smile on her face.
— That means we'll be closer, Kiyotaka~! — She tilted her face toward him, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Ayanokouji remained impassive, but when he felt Chie's light touch on his cheek again, his expression became slightly colder.
— You look even more handsome like this, — Chie commented, smiling. — And your aura is much more mature than teenage Ayanokouji's.
Before she could go further, Chabashira hit her on the head again with the clipboard.
— Ow! — Chie yelped, rubbing her head with a small pout.
Ayanokouji simply sighed, knowing that some people never changed—especially that teacher.
— Ouch! — Chie exclaimed, bringing her hand to her head and pouting slightly.
— You really have no shame, do you? — Chabashira sighed, impatient. — Now that I think about it, you weren't very professional before either, but now you're surpassing yourself...
— What's wrong? He's already an adult, so there's no problem at all. — Chie retorted, still pouting as she massaged her head.
Mashima cleared his throat lightly, drawing everyone's attention back to the main topic.
— The real question here is: are you sure you want to accept this role?
— Yes. But it will be temporary. — Ayanokouji repeated calmly. — As soon as I figure out how to return to my timeline, this won't matter anymore. I don't see a problem in helping while I'm here… as long as I'm properly compensated.
— Compensated? — Mashima raised an eyebrow.
— I can't just live off nothing while I'm here. — Ayanokouji explained, looking at the teachers. — Now there are three versions of me in this school. That means that, besides surviving on my own, I also need to ensure that my younger version has some stability.
— He has a point. — Sakagami intervened. — If we're keeping him here temporarily, it's only fair that he has some form of support.
Chabashira looked at Mashima, who reflected for a few moments. Then, the teacher sighed and nodded.
— Alright. Mashima and I will speak with the principal to arrange this. If he approves, you'll receive some financial support to sustain yourself while you're here.
Ayanokouji nodded slightly.
— He will approve. — He said, without hesitation.
The teachers exchanged glances. Indeed, given the unusual situation, the principal likely wouldn't have many options other than to agree.
After a few seconds of silence, Ayanokouji stood up calmly and looked around the room.
— I'll stay here for a bit. The coffee in this room is better than the students'.
Sakagami, who was casually drinking coffee, smirked slightly and nodded.
— Finally, someone who recognizes that.
The other teachers chuckled quietly, while Chie was still trying to recover from the clipboard hit.
Adult Ayanokouji simply sighed, accepting that, regardless of the time period, some people never changed—especially that teacher.
— She can't get near my younger version. — Adult Ayanokouji thought calmly, filling his cup with coffee while glancing at Chie, who smiled and waved at him.
Perspective Shift: Younger Ayanokouji
Younger Ayanokouji could barely move.
Chiaki was holding him tightly, wrapping him in a firm embrace, and to make things worse, her soft chest served as an involuntary pillow for his face. Meanwhile, Kei stood with her arms crossed, puffing her cheeks in frustration, stomping her foot on the floor.
— Chiaki, you've held him long enough! — Kei complained, narrowing her eyes to appear more intimidating.
— So what? — Chiaki smirked mischievously, adjusting the younger Ayanokouji in her lap. — It's my turn now, Kei-chan. You can't monopolize him all for yourself!
— B-But… — Kei hesitated, clenching her fists.
The truth was, she wanted to hold younger Ayanokouji again, but she couldn't say exactly why. After all, no one knew yet that she was dating his teenage version. If she got too angry, it might seem suspicious.
Younger Ayanokouji sighed internally, trying to move again, but Chiaki squeezed him even tighter. His face sank a little further into her cleavage, and he had to control his expression so as not to seem uncomfortable.
Unbelievable…
He turned his head slightly, discreetly glancing at his teenage version, hoping he would do something to help.
Teenage Ayanokouji, however, was calmly sitting with one leg crossed over the other, holding a cup of coffee while reading on his phone. His focus was entirely on time travel theories, and he didn't seem to care about the chaos happening around him.
— Hey! — Younger Ayanokouji called, trying to contain his frustration.
Teenage Ayanokouji didn't even lift his head. He simply took another sip of coffee and, with no emotion in his voice, replied:
— You can handle it.
Younger Ayanokouji widened his eyes slightly, seeing his own betrayal.
TRAITOR.
He wanted to say it out loud but held back. He couldn't believe he had just been abandoned to his fate, left to deal with two persistent girls on his own.
Kei was still insisting on getting younger Ayanokouji back.
— Chiaki, that's enough! — Kei huffed, stomping her foot. — He's not a toy for you to keep holding like that!
— Oh? But weren't you the one holding him before? — Chiaki raised an eyebrow, teasingly.
— I-I was just making sure he was comfortable!
— Well, then I'm making sure he's comfortable in my arms too!
— That's not the same thing, Chiaki! — Kei growled, clearly irritated.
Chiaki, laughing softly, hugged younger Ayanokouji even tighter, pressing him against herself.
Younger Ayanokouji started wondering if he should try to escape, but considering how tightly Chiaki was holding him, he didn't have many options. He was just a child, after all.
Damn… this isn't going to end anytime soon.
On the other side of the room, Horikita was calmly cooking, completely ignoring the commotion.
The only reason she was preparing food was that teenage Ayanokouji had asked her to. At first, Horikita had resisted, but she eventually agreed in exchange for a favor.
Now, she simply stirred the pot, focused, while the rest of the room turned into a battlefield between Kei and Chiaki.
Meanwhile, teenage Ayanokouji continued sipping his coffee, with no intention of helping.
Younger Ayanokouji, feeling utterly abandoned, sighed internally.
Definitely a traitor.
The kitchen was filled with the warm, comforting aroma of the freshly prepared dishes. Horikita placed the plates on the table with precision, not showing much emotion, but satisfied with the result.
Younger Ayanokouji, still in Chiaki's lap, glanced at the food with curiosity. He had never seen such a variety of dishes before.
After a few seconds of contemplation, he moved quickly, slipping out of Chiaki's arms and walking to the table.
— Eh? — Chiaki widened her eyes, surprised by how easily he escaped.
She had really been holding him tightly, as if he were a pillow she didn't want to let go of. But somehow, he had simply slipped away effortlessly.
— How did he do that…? — She murmured to herself, impressed.
Before Chiaki could react, Kei took the opportunity and quickly sat next to younger Ayanokouji, boxing him in on one side of the table.
Chiaki, unwilling to give up, smirked playfully and sat on his other side, effectively trapping him between the two.
Younger Ayanokouji sighed internally.
They really don't leave me alone…
Meanwhile, teenage Ayanokouji closed his phone, finishing his research on time travel. He calmly stood up, pulled out a chair, and sat with his perfect posture.
— Thanks for the meal. — He said, looking directly at Horikita.
Horikita shrugged, unimpressed.
— No need to thank me. — She responded neutrally. — It was something simple. Besides, you still owe me a favor, so it's just a fair exchange.
Teenage Ayanokouji simply nodded, accepting without argument.
With everyone seated, the group began eating.
The young Ayanokouji picked up his chopsticks and began to experiment with the dishes, carefully testing the flavors. He chewed slowly, savoring the taste for the first time.
Chiaki noticed his interest in the food and smiled gently.
— So, Ayanokouji-kun? What do you think? — She asked, leaning slightly toward him.
The young Ayanokouji swallowed his food and replied calmly:
— It's good. I've never eaten anything like this before.
Kei, who was busy eating, quickly turned her head to him, surprised.
— Wait a minute! — She said, raising her eyebrows. — What do you mean you've never eaten food like this? This is just regular Japanese food!
Chiaki blinked a few times, also intrigued.
— It's true... — She said, resting her chin in her hands, watching the young Ayanokouji with curiosity. — You grew up in Japan, right?
The young Ayanokouji maintained his neutral expression, but internally, he pondered how to respond.
The teenage Ayanokouji, who was chewing calmly, observed the scene and sighed inwardly.
"It's impressive how people like to snoop into my personal life..."
Horikita glanced briefly at the teenager beside her and rolled her eyes discreetly.
"These girls really have the nerve to interrogate his child self about his personal life, as if he were some rare animal."
Chiaki, however, continued to smile gently, intrigued.
— Ayanokouji-kun, was your childhood difficult? — She asked, in a kind but curious tone.
Kei immediately narrowed her eyes, feeling a slight discomfort.
— What kind of question is that, Chiaki? — Kei grumbled, crossing her arms. — Don't you think you're asking too much?
Chiaki laughed softly, raising her hands in surrender.
— I'm just curious! He said he's never eaten anything like this, so I thought maybe he had a different childhood.
The young Ayanokouji kept his expression unchanged, but beside him, the teenage Ayanokouji cast a discreet, serious look in his direction.
The silent message was clear: don't talk about the White Room.
The young Ayanokouji understood the warning immediately and, without hesitation, responded naturally:
— My father kept me on a very strict diet. I never had the opportunity to try foods like this.
Chiaki and Kei blinked a few times, processing the answer.
— Really? — Kei asked, furrowing her brow.
— So, you never got to eat sweets, junk food, or regular food? — Chiaki asked, leaning in a little more.
— No. — The young Ayanokouji replied simply.
Kei looked indignant.
— Is your father crazy?
The young Ayanokouji didn't answer, just picked up some more food and continued eating calmly.
Chiaki laughed lightly.
— You know, Ayanokouji-kun... you're quite mysterious. I'd love to know more about you.
Kei narrowed her eyes again, feeling a nagging jealousy.
— Tch. You just want to keep asking him things because you think he's cute, don't you?
Chiaki laughed again, neither confirming nor denying.
The teenage Ayanokouji took a sip of his coffee calmly, suspecting this wouldn't end anytime soon.
(A few minutes later.)
Dinner had finished, and the atmosphere in the room was slightly calmer... at least for some.
The teenage Ayanokouji finished his coffee and, without saying a word, stood up from his chair, calmly and calculatedly picking up some dishes from the table.
— Huh? — Horikita looked at him with an arched eyebrow, surprised that he had taken the initiative to clear the dishes.
— I'll wash this. — He said simply.
Horikita sighed, crossing her arms.
— Since you insisted on asking me to cook, I think it's fair that I help with this as well, since I used the ingredients from your house.
She then grabbed the remaining dishes and followed him to the sink.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, the young Ayanokouji looked at his teenage self with a look of pure despair.
His gaze: :-:
"You can't just leave me here!"
His look pleaded for help. :-:
But the teenage Ayanokouji just stopped for a moment, looked at his younger self, and... gave him a thumbs up, as if saying "figure it out."
The young Ayanokouji's eyes widened, as if he had just been stabbed in the chest.
"I can't believe I was betrayed... by myself."
Horikita, who was glancing at the scene, sighed deeply.
"This is starting to get ridiculous..."
Kei, on the other hand, was radiant.
Taking advantage of Chiaki's distraction, she pulled the young Ayanokouji into her lap, holding him possessively and wrapping her arms around him.
— Hah! Now it's my turn! — She said, smiling victoriously.
Chiaki furrowed her brows for a second but soon smiled in an amused way.
— Wow, Kei-chan, you're really attached to him, huh?
Kei stopped for a moment, surprised by the provocative tone in Chiaki's voice.
— W-what? — She blinked, trying to maintain her composure. — I just don't want you to treat him like a toy, that's all!
— Hmm... — Chiaki tilted her head slightly, a playful smile on her lips. — Or is there another reason?
Kei narrowed her eyes.
— What are you implying?
Chiaki laughed softly, resting her face in her hand.
— I'm just curious. You're acting like he's your property. It almost looks like... I don't know, someone protecting their boyfriend or something.
Kei froze.
For a brief moment, she felt a chill down her spine.
But she soon forced a laugh, trying to keep the tone casual.
— Don't be ridiculous, Chiaki! What an absurd idea!
Chiaki narrowed her eyes playfully.
— Really?
Kei bit her lip, feeling her face heat up.
"Damn, this girl is smarter than she looks..."
She took a deep breath and crossed her arms, still holding the young Ayanokouji firmly in her lap.
— I just think he looks better with me, that's all.
— Oh? — Chiaki smiled even more.
— Stop looking at me like that! — Kei grumbled.
Meanwhile, the young Ayanokouji just sighed inwardly.
"These two aren't going to let me go anytime soon..."
Change of POV: Adult Ayanokouji.
The teacher's lounge was quiet, the aroma of coffee hanging in the air as adult Ayanokouji held his cup calmly. His gaze was serene, but there was something different about him. A slight curve of his lips, a small smile that seemed genuine.
Sitting across from him, Sakayanagi Arisu observed this change with a subtle gleam in her eyes. She was slightly surprised — and perhaps a little happy. It wasn't something she had expected to see in that man, someone who, in his adolescence, was a cold and distant presence.
"So, in the future... you finally experienced human warmth?" — She thought to herself, satisfied with this realization.
Her eyes moved discreetly to Ayanokouji's left hand, where a golden ring gleamed softly.
"Married...?"
This revelation made her heart flutter slightly. Who would be the person who managed to break that impenetrable barrier?
Before she could reflect more on this, adult Ayanokouji slightly tilted his head to the side and spoke naturally:
— I have to say... both you and Kamuro are as beautiful as I remembered perfectly.
For a brief moment, Kamuro and Sakayanagi were slightly surprised.
Kamuro, always so restrained and cold, felt her face heat up a bit.
— Hmph... — She looked away, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes with a slightly embarrassed expression.
Sakayanagi, on the other hand, smiled gracefully, bringing a hand to her chin before letting out a small characteristic laugh:
— Fufufu... how unexpected, Ayanokouji-kun. I didn't know you could be such a gentleman, thank you for the compliment.
Adult Ayanokouji took a sip of his coffee, still smiling slightly.
— People change over time, don't they? I was just polite to two beautiful girls.
Hashimoto, who had been watching the scene with an amused look, let out a nasal laugh and shook his head.
— Looks like the "king" hasn't changed that much, huh? Still surprising everyone with these unexpected comments.
Adult Ayanokouji let out a short laugh, shaking his head slightly.
— "King," huh... it's been a while since I've heard that nickname, since the end of my school life, I haven't heard that nickname.
Hashimoto gave a small sideways smile, leaning back in his chair.
— Well, it's nostalgic, isn't it? You were always the guy who was above everyone else, always a step ahead. Even now, it seems like nothing has changed... or maybe it's changed too much.
Adult Ayanokouji looked at his cup for a moment, as if contemplating Hashimoto's words.
— The truth is, some things never change... and others change before we even realize it.
Sakayanagi continued to analyze every nuance of his expression.
— How poetic. I like this new version of you, Ayanokouji-kun.
— And I like the fact that you remain the same, Arisu.
She smiled even more at this answer and blushed slightly when he called her by her first name.
Kamuro, who hadn't fully recovered from the previous compliment, huffed and looked away again.
— Tch. If you're so nostalgic, why don't you tell us a bit about this mysterious future?
Adult Ayanokouji arched an eyebrow slightly, keeping a discreet smile.
— Oh, but that would ruin all the fun, don't you think? Besides, I obviously can't do that, there are things you should discover in due time.
Kamuro rolled her eyes again.
— Typical of that apathetic bastard...
Hashimoto let out a short laugh.
— There he is. The good old Ayanokouji, always avoiding direct questions.
Sakayanagi kept smiling as she watched the conversation unfold.
"So this is how he turned out in the future... interesting."
Even without getting all the answers she wanted, she felt that this was a version of Ayanokouji she liked even more.
Adult Ayanokouji calmly took another sip of his coffee when the teacher's room door opened, revealing Chabashira Sae entering with a neutral expression and a pile of documents in hand.
Her eyes briefly scanned the room before settling on Sakayanagi, Kamuro, and Hashimoto, who were sitting at the table with adult Ayanokouji. She raised an eyebrow, surprised to see them there.
— I didn't expect to find you here. — Chabashira commented, placing the paperwork on her desk.
— We were just confirming if the rumors were true. — Sakayanagi responded with an enigmatic smile.
Chabashira nodded slightly, understanding the situation.
— I imagine. After all, it's such an absurd thing, you'd have to see it to believe it.
She then approached adult Ayanokouji, took one of the papers from the pile, and placed it directly in front of him.
— Here. Sign this.
Ayanokouji looked at the paper calmly before raising his eyes to Chabashira.
— What is this?
— A contract. Once you sign, you will officially be a school counselor.
Silence filled the room for a few seconds.
Kamuro, Hashimoto, and Sakayanagi stared at Chabashira with surprised expressions.
— Counselor? — Hashimoto was the first to break the silence. — You're saying he'll work here?
Chabashira crossed her arms, looking at the trio with a serious gaze.
— I don't see why not. He has more life experience than any other student in this school... and if there's anyone who can guide the students effectively, it's him.
Kamuro snorted softly, crossing her arms.
— Well, that's unexpected...
Sakayanagi, on the other hand, smiled faintly, resting her chin on one hand.
— Actually, it makes a lot of sense.
All eyes turned to her, waiting for her to continue.
— If we consider that this Ayanokouji-kun is a future version of himself, it means he's already gone through everything we're still experiencing. Besides, if he accepted this position, it must mean he has a clear vision of how to help students grow. In other words... no one would be more qualified than him.
Adult Ayanokouji, still holding the pen, glanced sideways at Sakayanagi before letting out a small smile.
— You overestimate me, Sakayanagi.
— Fufufu... not at all. — She laughed softly. — I'm just stating a fact.
Hashimoto chuckled softly, leaning an elbow on the table.
— Well, this is kind of bizarre, but at the same time... interesting. The school king is now going to be our counselor?
Adult Ayanokouji held the pen between his fingers for a moment, calmly scanning the lines of text on the contract, absorbing every detail before finally starting to sign.
The silence in the teacher's room was filled only by the sound of the pen scratching the paper, while Sakayanagi, Kamuro, and Hashimoto carefully observed every move he made. When he finished, Ayanokouji put the pen down on the table and slid the document back to Chabashira, who took the paper and quickly checked his signature.
Then, something unexpected happened—she smiled.
— Well, it's official now. — Chabashira said, crossing her arms and watching him with a slight curiosity in her expression. — I'm looking forward to seeing how you will help the students, Ayanokouji.
Ayanokouji raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this.
— I haven't even started yet, and you already have expectations for me?
— Considering who you are, it would be strange if we didn't. — Sakayanagi intervened, her voice full of amusement.
She tilted her head slightly, her evaluating gaze fixed on him, as if trying to decipher something.
— I'm particularly curious to see what kind of advice you can give me, Ayanokouji-kun. — She smiled faintly, her eyes sparkling with interest. — I imagine your experience in the future must have taught you many things. Perhaps even valuable lessons that could be useful to me.
Ayanokouji stared at her for a moment, his expression remaining calm, but with a hint of provocation in his response.
— If you ask me as a simple student, I might have something useful to say. But if it's with the mindset of Sakayanagi Arisu, who always has a hidden plan behind every action... — He paused, sipping his coffee before continuing. — Then perhaps I should be careful with the words I choose.
Sakayanagi chuckled softly, her smile widening slightly.
— Fufufu... very perceptive. Does that mean you're starting to understand me?
— I think so. — Ayanokouji answered indifferently.
Meanwhile, Kamuro crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, letting out a soft sigh of boredom.
— Tch. I don't know why you're treating him like some kind of life guru. But... — She turned her gaze away for a moment, thoughtful. — Maybe I'll have a session with you... just to see if it's really worth it.
Ayanokouji noticed the hesitant tone in her voice but didn't comment. Instead, he just watched as Hashimoto let out a cheerful laugh, leaning on the table.
— I'll definitely want a session with our dear new counselor. — Hashimoto said with a playful smile. — It'll be interesting to see what kind of advice the school king can give me. Who knows, I might learn some new tricks?
— "School king"... It's been a while since I've heard that nickname. — Ayanokouji murmured, a faint hint of nostalgia in his voice, remembering that Hashimoto gave him that nickname in their third year for his deeds helping their class.
Sakayanagi noticed the small smile that appeared on his face for a brief moment and wondered to herself if he really missed the time when he was a student.
— So, Ayanokouji-kun... when do your consultations start?
Ayanokouji placed the coffee cup on the table, giving a glance at Chabashira.
— It depends on the boss.
Chabashira raised an eyebrow, blushing slightly, and let out a small sigh, as if she had expected this.
— I'll organize your schedule and let you know when you're ready to receive the students. But it looks like... there are already people interested.
She cast a glance at Sakayanagi, Kamuro, and Hashimoto, who simply smiled back—each in their own way.
— Looks like it. — Ayanokouji murmured, a faint glint of interest in his eyes.
Sakayanagi kept her usual enigmatic smile, crossing her legs as she observed adult Ayanokouji, her sharp gaze analyzing every detail of the man in front of her.
— By the way... Where is your teenage version? — She asked, tilting her head slightly, as if just asking a trivial question.
Kamuro and Hashimoto, beside her, gave a small nod, indicating they were also curious to know.
Kamuro, however, averted her gaze for a brief moment, lightly biting her lower lip as she felt her cheeks warm.
"I kinda wanna see the child version of Ayanokouji... He must be cute..." — She thought to herself, before shaking her head to dismiss the ridiculous thought.
Chabashira, who had been listening silently, finally spoke, her tone direct and professional as always.
— Speaking of which, Ayanokouji... Where exactly are they now? — She asked, turning her gaze to adult Ayanokouji. — I need to talk to the younger versions of you about some school decisions. There are some specific situations involving the child version.
Adult Ayanokouji, showing no concern, brought the coffee cup to his lips, savoring the hot liquid before calmly responding.
— The teenage Ayanokouji is taking care of the child Ayanokouji. There's no reason to worry.
He paused briefly, as if pondering his next words, before continuing.
— Actually, he should be handling it just fine. Especially considering he has the help of Horikita, Kei, and Chiaki in his room.
Sakayanagi raised an eyebrow slightly, her interest growing.
— Kei and Chiaki...? — She repeated, a small smile playing on her lips.
Hashimoto, on the other hand, chuckled softly and crossed his arms, seemingly enjoying the situation.
— So, he's surrounded by girls and still having to deal with a miniature version of himself? This is getting interesting.
Chabashira let out a sigh, rubbing her temples with an exhausted expression.
— If he's really well taken care of, then I can wait a bit before talking to him.
Sakayanagi, on the other hand, was already formulating her own plans.
"Maybe I should pay a visit to teenage Ayanokouji's room..." — She thought, maintaining her calculated smile as she planned her next move.
Ayanokouji's Room – Ayanokouji Child
"I'm not okay. Someone save me."
These words echoed in the mind of child Ayanokouji as he was carried against Kei's chest, who held him tightly as if he were a prize.
— Hey! Stop running, Kei! — *Chiaki protested, with a determined look as she tried to catch up with Kei.
Kei, however, smiled victoriously, holding child Ayanokouji firmly while jumping onto the bed to avoid being caught.
— If you wanted him, you should've been faster, Chiaki! — She teased, laughing with a gleam of amusement in her eyes.
Child Ayanokouji let out a resigned sigh, accepting his fate.
"How did this turn into a competition...? I just wanted peace."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, teenage Ayanokouji remained completely indifferent to the chaos around him.
He was sitting in the desk chair, his gaze fixed on his phone screen as he researched time travel.
Horikita, beside him, was also focused, sliding her finger across her own phone screen while analyzing information.
After a few minutes, Horikita broke the silence.
— I found some articles on quantum theories and time paradoxes... — She said, furrowing her brow slightly. — But nothing that exactly explains how to get rid of alternate versions of yourself that traveled through time.
Teenage Ayanokouji kept his neutral expression but typed something on his phone before responding calmly.
— What I've found so far are just hypotheses. Some talk about parallel realities merging, others suggest that events caused by time travelers might correct themselves over time.
Horikita crossed her arms, analyzing the information.
— So, basically, we don't have a concrete solution yet.
— Exactly.
The two sighed simultaneously, sharing a moment of silent frustration.
On the other side of the room, Kei continued holding child Ayanokouji while running, with Chiaki still trying to catch her.
— Horikita, want to play too? — Kei asked with a mischievous smile, looking at the girl who was watching the scene with boredom.
Horikita shot a sharp look at her.
— I'm busy with something more productive than this childishness.
— As serious as always, huh? — Kei laughed, before jumping to the other side of the bed to avoid being caught by Chiaki.
Teenage Ayanokouji completely ignored the mess around him and refocused on his phone.
"If I can find some useful information, maybe I can make these versions of mine go back to their original timeline..."
Meanwhile, child Ayanokouji just closed his eyes, accepting his fate of being carried around like a pet by the two girls.
"I've become a pet." Child Ayanokouji thought, accepting his fate while in this timeline.
End of Chapter 3.