Ryota walked slowly through the endless dormitory hallways. His hands were in his pockets, and his gaze remained calm and calculating. He wasn't just wandering aimlessly—he had a very specific destination in mind.
Kei Karuizawa's room.
Ever since he gave her that Nintendo, something in the girl's energy had changed. He noticed it in her expression, in her behavior, in the way she always held that device so carefully.
The first time he saw that different sparkle in her eyes, he already knew what was happening. And now he needed to check on it.
Stopping in front of the door, he knocked lightly.
For a brief moment, silence. Then, Kei's voice responded from the other side:
— You can come in.
Ryota turned the handle and entered the room.
What he saw made him pause for a moment.
Her room had completely changed.
His eyes scanned the space. It was no longer the standard school dormitory. The space looked bigger, more open. But what really caught his attention were the walls.
They were covered in photos.
Screenshots.
Images taken directly from the Nintendo.
All of them were pictures of one person.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
Kei Karuizawa had turned her room into a shrine dedicated to the man she loved.
Ryota blinked slowly, processing what he was seeing.
Her obsessive behavior wasn't unexpected, but seeing the physical proof right there in front of him added a real weight to the situation.
Kei was sitting on the bed, holding the Nintendo like it was a treasure. A soft smile lingered on her lips as her fingers moved across the screen.
— What are you doing? — Ryota asked, breaking the silence.
Kei looked at him for only a moment before turning her eyes back to the device, her tone dreamy.
— I found a secret function on the Nintendo.
Ryota stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue.
— It lets me see other realities.
His eyes shimmered slightly with interest.
— Other realities, huh?
Kei nodded.
— And I found one... — her voice lowered, and her grip on the Nintendo tightened. — Where I'm married to Kiyotaka.
There was a sweetness in the way she said it, but at the same time, a hidden sadness.
— Not just married... — she went on, her voice trembling. — We have a daughter. He truly loves me in that reality.
Ryota sighed inwardly.
— And you've been watching that reality this whole time?
Kei gave a faint smile but didn't answer.
That was already an answer.
He took a step forward and looked directly at her.
— Kei.
She lifted her eyes.
— I came here exactly because of that.
Before she could ask anything, he snapped his fingers.
In an instant, a yellow portal appeared in the middle of the room.
The pulsating energy of the dimensional rift filled the space, casting a soft and mesmerizing glow.
Kei's eyes widened in surprise.
— What... is that?
Ryota placed his hands in his pockets and explained calmly:
— This portal leads you to a reality where you're married to Kiyotaka. Where he truly loves you. Where you live together and build a real future.
Kei's heart started racing.
She looked at the portal, then at Ryota, then back at the portal.
— You're saying... I can go there?
— Yes — he confirmed. — But there's a condition.
A chill ran down Kei's spine.
— What condition?
Ryota stared at her seriously.
— If you cross that portal, you can never come back.
The air in the room seemed to vanish.
Kei's fingers trembled slightly as they clutched the Nintendo.
— Never come back...?
— You'll take the place of your version in that reality. You'll become her. Everything that happened here, everything you've lived in this timeline... will be lost forever.
A knot formed in Kei's throat.
Her eyes were fixed on the portal, but her mind was in complete chaos.
— If I go...
She hesitated.
— I'd finally be living the life I want. I'd have Kiyotaka. He'd love me. He'd never leave me...
Her eyes sparkled with painful hope.
But then, another voice echoed in her mind.
"What if you stay?"
She turned her gaze away from the portal and looked at Ryota.
— And if I stay?
He shrugged.
— If you stay, you'll keep watching that future reality. You'll keep seeing everything, even knowing it might hurt.
Kei clenched her fists.
— So I'll suffer?
— I don't know — Ryota answered honestly. — But you'll still be who you are.
The girl bit her lip, her breathing unsteady.
She slowly stood up from the bed and took a hesitant step toward the portal.
She could cross it right now.
She could rid herself of the uncertainty.
She could finally live in a reality where Kiyotaka loved her.
— I...
Her eyes trembled.
Her hands were sweating.
Then, she stopped.
And looked at the Nintendo in her hands.
She thought about the Kiyotaka of this reality.
What he meant to her.
What they could still experience together.
Kei closed her eyes tightly and let out a heavy sigh.
When she opened them, her decision was made.
She looked at Ryota.
— I... need time to think.
Ryota stared at her for a few seconds before nodding.
— You have until the end of the break.
With that, he snapped his fingers once more and vanished, leaving Kei alone with her thoughts.
The yellow portal continued to glow softly.
A promise or a temptation?
Kei didn't know.
All she knew...
Was that her heart was at war with itself.
The atmosphere in the room was calm, but the silence was almost deafening for Ichika. She lay on her side, resting her head on her hand while watching Nanase, who, since they'd entered the room, had remained still, staring at the ceiling with a distant look in her eyes.
Ichika knew her friend well enough to know exactly what she was thinking about. Or rather—who she was thinking about.
She chuckled softly.
— You look like one of those shoujo manga protagonists, you know? — Ichika teased, her voice carrying an amused tone.
Nanase blinked and looked at her, surprised by the sudden interruption.
— What? — she asked, frowning, as if trying to hide something.
Ichika laughed again and shook her head.
— You've been like this ever since we left the theater. I bet you've been replaying every word that future Horikita-senpai said, haven't you?
Nanase quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks tinting slightly red.
— I-It's not like that...
— Oh, of course not — Ichika mocked, resting her chin in her hands and smiling even wider. — You're not thinking about Ayanokouji-senpai and that emotionally charged conversation, right?
The other girl sighed, clearly trying to keep her composure. But Ichika noticed something else in Nanase's eyes—it wasn't just embarrassment, there was also a faint trace of irritation.
— ...It just bothers me a little, the way future Horikita-senpai is handling it — Nanase finally admitted, giving in.
Ichika raised an eyebrow.
— Hmmm?
Nanase sat up on the bed, crossed her arms, and looked at Ichika with a slightly more serious expression.
— A lot of girls would give anything for Ayanokouji-senpai to say something like that to them — she muttered, visibly annoyed. — And yet, future Horikita-senpai seems to be running away from it, as if it's not something precious.
Ichika blinked a few times, then laughed.
— So that's what got you so worked up — she teased.
— I'm not worked up! — Nanase quickly denied, though her expression said otherwise. — I just... I just don't get it. If you have someone like that in your life, why not just accept it?
Ichika smiled softly, studying Nanase closely.
— You say that like you have no interest in Ayanokouji-senpai — she said, eyes narrowing playfully.
Nanase blushed instantly.
— I never said I did!
— But you never said you didn't — Ichika continued, slowly scooting closer to her friend with a mischievous grin on her lips.
— H-Hey, stop that! — Nanase tried to back away, but Ichika was faster.
Before Nanase could react, Ichika gently squeezed her waist, making her yelp in surprise and curl up on the bed.
— I-Ichika! What are you doing?!
Ichika laughed as the other girl scrambled away.
— Just checking if you were still alive. You were so lost in your complicated thoughts, I figured I'd better bring you back to reality.
Nanase took a deep breath, her expression sulky as she tried to hide her embarrassment.
— You're annoying.
— I'm a concerned friend — Ichika corrected, still smiling. — And also someone who's having a lot of fun with your reactions.
Nanase huffed and crossed her arms again, turning her face away.
— Anyway, I don't think it's that simple — she said, returning to the topic. — Horikita-senpai clearly has feelings for Ayanokouji-senpai, but she seems scared to admit it. Like she's trying to convince herself she doesn't feel anything.
Ichika sighed and rested her chin on her hand.
— It doesn't really make sense, does it? I mean, she already slept with him.
Nanase turned even redder upon hearing that.
— W-Why do you have to say it so directly?!
Ichika shrugged.
— I'm just stating the truth. Do you think I'm wrong?
Nanase hesitated for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh.
— No... you're right.
Ichika smiled with satisfaction and stretched out on the bed.
— Well, I don't think it's impossible for her to realize it soon. Maybe this future display will help Horikita-senpai understand her own feelings.
Nanase went silent for a few seconds before murmuring:
— But what if she realizes it too late?
Ichika paused for a moment, reflecting on her friend's words.
— Hm... that's a good question. But if I had to bet, I'd say Ayanokouji-senpai wouldn't give up on her that easily.
Nanase sighed.
— Maybe.
Ichika narrowed her eyes, noticing that Nanase still seemed troubled.
— Hey, Nanase... you're not just upset with Horikita-senpai, are you?
The other girl looked at her, surprised.
— What do you mean?
Ichika grinned mischievously and leaned in again.
— You're jealous.
Nanase's eyes widened and she quickly shook her head.
— I-I'm not jealous!
Ichika laughed at her over-the-top reaction.
— Yes, you are. But that's okay, it's normal — she said, winking. — Ayanokouji-senpai is... well, Ayanokouji-senpai. He gets into everyone's head without even trying.
Nanase opened her mouth to protest, but in the end, she just sighed in defeat.
— I just... hate this feeling of not understanding exactly what I'm feeling — she admitted quietly.
Ichika smiled a bit more gently this time.
— Welcome to the club, then.
Nanase looked at her, surprised by Ichika's more serious tone.
— You feel that way too?
Ichika shrugged.
— Who doesn't? We're watching the future unfold right in front of us, seeing things we never imagined. Some of it's funny, some of it's frustrating... and some things make you question everything you thought you knew.
Nanase nodded slowly, understanding what her friend meant.
— But you know what? — Ichika continued with a smile. — I think, in the end, it's just another game. And I love games.
Nanase smiled softly.
— So you're saying you're just going to keep watching everything as a spectator?
— Of course. But... — Ichika looked her in the eyes — If necessary, I also know when to join the game.
Nanase blinked, surprised by the unexpected answer.
— You're really impossible.
Ichika laughed.
— I know.
They fell into a brief silence before Nanase murmured:
— Thank you, Ichika.
Ichika blinked.
— For what?
— For pulling me out of my problematic thoughts.
Ichika smiled.
— You're welcome.
The night continued peacefully between the two of them, but what had been said in that conversation would linger in both their minds. In the end, maybe neither of them truly knew what they wanted... but in time, the answers would come.
(Ryota's POV)
Ryota smiled calmly as he observed the two new guests in the theater room. Chabashira Sae and Chie Hoshinomiya were there, still trying to process everything he had just explained.
After all, it's not every day a god shows up and says: "Hey, I kidnapped you and your students to watch the future."
Chabashira's serious expression contrasted with the visible excitement in Chie's eyes. The initial shock was already fading, but disbelief was still written all over their faces.
— So... — Chabashira broke the silence, rubbing her temple. — You're telling me you brought us here to watch Ayanokouji's future?
— And what else? — Chie smiled, leaning forward a bit. — Things that will embarrass us? Finding out unexpected things about our students?
Ryota nodded, keeping his calm smile.
— Exactly.
— Hmmm... — Chie put a hand to her chin. — And you also mentioned that some scenes might be... how should I put it? Spicy?
— Yes — Ryota replied without hesitation.
— Ah... — Chie brought a finger to her lips, pretending to think. — I want to see.
Chabashira immediately turned her head toward her, her gaze cold and deadly.
— What?
— What? — Chie smiled innocently.
— You seriously want to watch your own students in those kinds of situations?! — Chabashira scoffed, crossing her arms. — That's inappropriate!
— Oh, come on, Sae! It's not like it's that bad...
— Yes, it is! — Chabashira exclaimed before letting out a heavy sigh. — I don't want to see any of that.
Ryota watched the exchange with amusement as Chie kept pushing.
— Come on, Sae-chan! Since we're already here, what's the harm? It could be interesting to see how they handle that kind of situation in the future.
— No! — Chabashira shouted again.
— Yes! — Chie replied with a mischievous smile.
— No.
— Yes!
— No!
— Yes, yes, yes!
Before the childish argument could continue, Chabashira sighed and lightly smacked Chie on the head, who shrank back and pouted.
— Don't you have any shame?
— Not at all — Chie grinned.
Chabashira closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh, as if trying to find patience deep within her soul.
— Ryota, send us back. I don't want to see any of this.
Chie quickly turned to Ryota.
— I want to see it!
— I already said no!
— And I already said yes!
The god looked at both of them and smiled calmly, seemingly unaffected by their argument.
— You don't have a choice.
Silence reigned for a few seconds before Chabashira sighed and massaged her temples again.
— I should have expected this...
Chie jumped with excitement.
— Yay!
Chabashira walked over to one of the beds Ryota had prepared in the theater and simply threw herself onto it, lying on her back and closing her eyes.
— I give up.
Chie, on the other hand, was completely thrilled.
— So, Ryota-kun, tell us! What's already happened so far?
Ryota, who was adjusting the new beds, looked at her and then at Chabashira, who was still lying down but clearly paying attention.
— Well... the students have already seen quite a bit.
— Like what? — Chie pressed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Ryota gave a slight smile before answering.
— They found out that, in the future, Ayanokouji cheats on Kei with Horikita.
Chabashira's eyes widened and she immediately sat up on the bed.
— What?!
Chie's eyes also widened before she brought a hand to her mouth and smiled.
— Wow... now that's a twist.
— Wait, wait, wait... — Chabashira frowned. — Ayanokouji... cheated on Karuizawa?
— Yes — Ryota confirmed, still smiling. — They slept together, and in the middle of it, Ayanokouji admitted he never loved Kei.
Chabashira remained silent for a moment before sighing.
— That's cruel...
— It really is — Chie agreed, though her tone was more curious than shocked.
Chabashira looked at her, clearly displeased with her friend's reaction.
— You don't seem very surprised.
— Oh, I am! But it's more like... — Chie paused to think. — I always thought Ayanokouji was a mystery. You could never tell what he really felt.
Chabashira sighed.
— That still doesn't explain why he would do that...
— Maybe he had a reason — Chie suggested.
Ryota smiled slightly but didn't answer. He just kept arranging the beds.
Chabashira leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
— That explains why the mood between them seemed strange lately...
— And what else happened? — Chie asked, clearly wanting more details.
— Well, Sudou fell in love with Horikita again in the future.
— Hm? — Chie blinked. — But didn't he already like her?
— Yes, but in the reaction room, he had already gotten over her — Ryota explained. — He no longer has romantic feelings for her. That was settled here.
— I see... — Chabashira nodded slightly.
— So, the future Sudou is in love again, and Kei still doesn't know she was cheated on — Chie summarized.
— Exactly — Ryota confirmed.
Chie smiled.
— This is getting more and more interesting.
— I'd say disturbing — Chabashira corrected.
— Depends on the point of view — Chie teased.
Ryota chuckled softly.
— Now, in the future, they're heading for a pool day. Ayanokouji, Horikita, Sudou, and Kei.
— A pool? — Chabashira raised an eyebrow.
— Hmmm... that could be very interesting — Chie commented with a sly grin.
Chabashira looked at her suspiciously.
— You really have no shame, do you?
— Absolutely none! — Chie said cheerfully.
Chabashira sighed and shook her head.
— This is going to be a long hell...
— Or a fun experience! — Chie countered with a smile.
Ryota simply watched the two of them, pleased with their reactions. Soon, the students would return from their break, and the future would continue to unfold on the screen.
And he could hardly wait to see how everyone would react to what was coming next.
POV: Ichinose
The makeshift room in the theater was quiet, with only two girls inside. Ichinose Honami was sitting on the bed, hugging a pillow to her chest and staring at the ceiling. Her usual smile was still there, but anyone who truly knew her would recognize it was forced.
Beside her, Mako Amikura, her best friend, smiled calmly, watching her friend's expression with an analytical gaze. She knew Ichinose better than anyone, and despite her always cheerful and radiant demeanor, Mako could tell something was bothering her.
— "Are you okay, Ichinose?" — Mako asked directly, cutting through the silence.
Ichinose blinked and quickly forced a bigger smile, turning to her friend.
— "Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be?"
Mako crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.
— "Honami... do you really think you can fool me with that fake smile?"
Ichinose blinked a few times, pretending to be confused.
— "Fake smile? What are you talking about, Mako-chan? My smile is 100% genuine!"
— "Liar."
— "It's not a lie!"
Mako narrowed her eyes, analyzing her friend.
— "Then tell me... how do you really feel about what we saw of Ayanokouji's future?"
Ichinose's smile trembled for a brief moment, but she quickly pulled herself together.
— "Oh, Mako-chan, there's nothing to feel bad about. That's just one possible future, right? It doesn't mean it'll happen exactly like that. Just like you told me before!"
Mako sighed, already expecting that answer.
— "Honami, I know you're a bit obsessed with Ayanokouji. You don't have to hide that from me."
Ichinose froze, blushing slightly before looking away.
— "I..."
— "You don't have to deny it. I know you love him. No matter what he's done, the manipulation, the coldness... your heart's already completely taken by him. And nothing we saw in that future is going to change that, right?"
Ichinose stayed silent for a few seconds before letting out a sigh and facing Mako. This time, she was no longer forcing a smile.
— "Yes. I love him. And no matter what happens, I'm not going to change that feeling."
Mako smiled softly.
— "You really are amazing, Ichinose."
Ichinose let out a nervous laugh.
— "Amazing? I'm just a normal girl in love with someone complicated."
— "And yet, you don't hesitate. Even after seeing that in the future he cheats on Karuizawa with Horikita, even knowing he's manipulative and emotionally distant... you still love him."
Ichinose closed her eyes for a moment before opening them with a gentle smile.
— "Yes. Because I know he's not just that. I know that inside him, there's something real. He doesn't show it, he doesn't open up, but I believe that someday... he'll allow someone to truly reach him."
Mako observed her friend for a moment before laughing.
— "You really are amazing, Ichinose. I would've given up at the first sign of trouble."
— "Well, I'm not the type to give up easily."
Mako then gave her a mischievous smile.
— "So... since we're talking about feelings, can I ask something?"
Ichinose blinked.
— "Huh? Sure, what is it?"
Mako tilted her head and smiled even more mischievously.
— "Have you ever fantasized about him?"
Ichinose blinked, confused.
— "Fantasized about what?"
— "Oh, you know... those spicy kinds of fantasies."
Ichinose's brain shut down for a second before her face exploded into a bright red.
— "M-MAKO-CHAN!!!"
Mako burst out laughing as Ichinose grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it with all her strength at her friend's face.
— "HAHAHAHA!"
— "H-HOW CAN YOU ASK THAT SO CASUALLY?!" — Ichinose exclaimed, completely flustered.
Mako, still laughing, dodged another pillow as Ichinose grabbed yet another one to throw at her.
— "Oh my, look at that reaction! I hit the nail on the head, didn't I?!"
— "OF COURSE NOT!" — Ichinose yelled, throwing another pillow, which Mako skillfully dodged.
— "Relaxxx, I'm just kidding... well, at least a little."
— "You're terrible!"
Mako just laughed, raising her hands in mock surrender.
— "Okay, okay, I'll stop. But seriously now... what are you going to do about it?"
Ichinose took a deep breath, calming herself before answering.
— "I can't do anything right now. After all, we're stuck here watching these alternate futures. But once we get out... I'm going to fight for what I want."
Mako smiled proudly.
— "That's the Honami Ichinose I know."
Ichinose rolled her eyes but smiled too.
— "Now, can you do me a favor?"
Mako tilted her head.
— "What?"
Ichinose grabbed one of the remaining pillows and threw it straight at her friend's face.
— "STOP TALKING ABOUT EMBARRASSING STUFF!"
Mako laughed, accepting the pillow attack with good humor.
— "Never!"
And so, the two friends kept chatting and laughing, while Ichinose silently reaffirmed to herself that her love for Ayanokouji wouldn't change, no matter what happened.
POV: Ayanokouji
The hallway was silent, with only the soft sound of footsteps echoing along the endless walls that stretched farther than the eyes could see. Ayanokouji walked calmly, his expression as neutral as always, though his mind was—as usual—analyzing everything around him. Beside him, Suzune gently held his hand, her fingers laced with his.
She still limped slightly, her legs trembling faintly from what they had done in the room. Despite the pouty expression on her face, Ayanokouji could tell how red her cheeks were, and how her eyes kept avoiding his.
He knew she was embarrassed, but he also knew she was happy. It was obvious in the way she squeezed his hand from time to time, as if wanting to make sure he was still there, by her side.
— "You're... staring at me too much, Kiyotaka." — Suzune murmured, looking away with a slight pout.
Ayanokouji gave a faint smile—barely noticeable, only those who knew him well would catch it.
— "I'm just observing how you walk. You're limping... was it too much for you, Suzune?"
Her face turned even redder, and she squeezed his hand tighter.
— "B-baka... you know it was... it was my first time... of course I'd end up like this..."
Ayanokouji shifted his gaze forward, his golden eyes analyzing the hallway as he replied calmly:
— "You don't seem to regret it."
Suzune opened her mouth to respond, but quickly closed it, biting her lower lip. She gripped his hand even tighter, and Ayanokouji could feel the warmth of her palm against his.
— "...I don't regret it." — She murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ayanokouji smiled internally, satisfied with her response.
— "That's good."
Silence settled between them for a few moments, only the soft sound of footsteps filling the hallway.
Suzune glanced at him quickly, her cheeks still flushed.
— "Did you... like it?" — She asked, her voice soft and shy.
Ayanokouji blinked slowly, as if pondering the question, but inside, he knew exactly what his answer was.
— "Yes."
The answer was direct, no beating around the bush, as always.
Suzune blushed even more, but a small smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
— "I... I liked it too... a lot."
Ayanokouji looked at her out of the corner of his eye, noticing how she squeezed his hand even tighter, as if that small confession had required all of her courage.
— "I'm glad to hear that, Suzune."
She quickly averted her gaze, blushing even more.
— "Baka... stop saying those things like that..."
Ayanokouji just smiled slightly and continued walking.
He couldn't quite say what he was feeling. That connection that had formed between them the night before was something completely new to him. The warmth of her body, the shy whispers, the way she had surrendered to him... all of that had awakened something inside him he had never felt before.
Desire.
Affection.
Possessiveness.
It was strange. He had never felt these emotions before, not even with Kei. He liked Kei, yes, but with Suzune... it was different. It was more intense, deeper.
He looked at the girl beside him, seeing how she limped slightly, her face flushed but with a small smile on her lips.
She's mine.
The thought entered his mind before he could stop it.
He quickly pushed that line of thought aside, turning his attention back to the hallway ahead.
— "Hey, Kiyotaka..." — Suzune called, her voice soft.
— "Hm?"
— "Do you... do you think we... will be able to hide this from everyone? You know... the fact that we..."
Ayanokouji looked at her, seeing the concern in her black eyes.
— "If you want to keep this a secret, then I'll respect your decision."
Suzune bit her lip, looking ahead.
— "It's better this way... at least for now. If they find out, they'll start asking questions, especially Ichika... and I don't want to deal with that right now."
Ayanokouji nodded calmly.
— "As you wish, Suzune. It's your decision."
She looked at him, surprised that he had left it all in her hands.
— "You... won't insist? Like, this would include keeping our current relationship a secret."
Ayanokouji simply shook his head calmly.
— "I want you to feel comfortable. If you prefer to keep it a secret, then that's how it will be."
Suzune blushed even more and looked away, softly biting her lip.
— "Thank you, Kiyotaka..."
He simply squeezed her hand gently in response.
As they walked, Ayanokouji noticed how her body trembled faintly, probably from the pain and accumulated fatigue.
Without saying a word, he released her hand and calmly slid his arm around her back, pulling her gently closer to him, supporting her against his body.
Suzune's eyes widened in surprise, but soon relaxed against him, her face flushing as she leaned on him.
— "W-what are you doing...?"
— "You're tired, aren't you?"
She blushed even more, looking away.
— "I... I am... but I can walk by myself..."
— "I know you can. But you don't need to force yourself, Suzune."
She bit her lip softly but eventually gave in, leaning even further into him.
Ayanokouji felt the faint scent of her shampoo, mixed with the natural fragrance of her body. It was a pleasant... addictive scent.
As they walked, he noticed how Suzune would briefly close her eyes, as if she were allowing herself to relax completely for the first time in a long while.
He didn't say anything, just kept walking, holding her against him.
She's mine, mine and completely mine.
The thought returned to his mind, stronger this time.
When they finally reached the theater door, Suzune sighed softly and pulled away from him, reluctant.
— "Thank you, Kiyotaka..."
He simply nodded calmly.
— "Whenever you need, Suzune."
She blushed again, biting her lip before finally entering the room.
Ayanokouji followed her, his golden eyes fixed on the girl ahead of him.
He knew that relationship was dangerous. He knew he was giving in to something that could change everything forever.
But at that moment... he didn't care.
Suzune was his.
And he wasn't going to let anyone take her from him.
As soon as Ayanokouji and Suzune opened the theater door, they were greeted by a sight completely different from what they remembered. Before, the place had been just a simple theater room, with rows of chairs and a large screen for projection. However, now the environment seemed something much more luxurious.
The chairs had been replaced by wide and comfortable beds, each large enough for two people to lie side by side. Next to each bed, there were small stands for drinks and food, and some of that food was already prepared and neatly arranged there, as if someone had carefully planned the experience.
Ayanokouji cast a careful glance at his own bed and noticed an interesting detail. Next to him, there was an ice cream. On Suzune's side, there was a selection of Japanese sweets, clearly chosen according to each person's personal taste.
— "Ryota really thinks of everything..." Suzune murmured beside him, crossing her arms as she looked around.
Ayanokouji simply nodded slightly. The purpose of this change was obvious. With these beds, it would be easier for people to lie down and be closer to one another. For someone like Ryota, who seemed to enjoy manipulating their interactions, this new setup likely had a specific purpose.
"He wants to force us to interact more intimately?"
It was a possibility. However, Ayanokouji didn't particularly mind. He had already gotten more than close enough to Suzune recently.
Looking around, his golden eyes quickly found two familiar figures. Chabashira Sae and Chie Hoshinomiya were lying on one of the nearby beds. The expression on Chabashira's face was one of pure despair, as if she had just received a terminal diagnosis.
Chie, on the other hand, had a huge smile on her face, clearly enjoying the situation.
— "Looks like we have new guests." Ayanokouji commented casually, as he and Suzune began to approach.
— "This is unexpected." Suzune murmured, narrowing her eyes. "The last time we were here, only the students were present. It seems Ryota decided to involve the teachers too."
Upon hearing their footsteps, Chie was the first to notice and immediately waved excitedly.
— "Ah! Ayanokouji-kun, Horikita-san! You finally arrived!"
Suzune narrowed her eyes at the teacher, clearly annoyed by the carefree way she addressed them.
— "Professor Chie... what exactly are you doing here?"
Before Chie could answer, Chabashira let out a long sigh and ran her hand over her face, clearly exhausted.
— "We were brought here by force." She replied, her voice heavy with frustration. "This Ryota guy showed up out of nowhere, explained this whole madness about the future, and dragged us here without giving us a choice."
Chie, on the other hand, chuckled softly and gave her friend a playful look.
— "Come on, Sae-chan. Don't be so negative. It's not every day we get the chance to see our students' future! Personally, I'm pretty excited."
Ayanokouji noticed that Chabashira closed her eyes and sighed again, as if accepting her fate.
— "I'd rather not be here..." She murmured.
Chie smiled mischievously and poked her friend in the arm.
— "Oh, you say that now, but I bet you'll end up having fun. Who knows, maybe we'll discover something interesting?"
Chabashira just shot her a deadly look, making it clear she wasn't interested in "discovering something interesting."
Ayanokouji observed the interaction between the two with an impassive gaze before finally deciding to ask:
— "So, have you watched anything yet?"
Chabashira slowly shook her head.
— "Not yet. It seems we're waiting for everyone to arrive before we begin."
— "So there's still time for us to prepare." Suzune commented beside Ayanokouji, her posture still a bit stiff.
Ayanokouji noticed that Suzune was still getting used to the teachers' presence here. Until now, only students had been involved in this experience, so it was natural that the situation seemed a little more... uncomfortable now.
On the other hand, Chie seemed to be enjoying herself with all of this.
— "Say, Ayanokouji-kun..." She began, with a mischievous smile. "I heard things got pretty... hot in the future."
Suzune immediately turned red and gave the teacher a sharp look.
— "W-what do you mean by that?!"
Chie laughed, shaking her head.
— "Oh, nothing much. Just rumors..."
Ayanokouji noticed that Chabashira tightly closed her eyes, clearly regretting being there.
— "Please, just stop..." She murmured, rubbing her temples as if she had a headache.
Suzune, still visibly embarrassed, crossed her arms and turned to Ayanokouji.
— "This is getting worse and worse..."
He simply looked at her calmly.
— "You wanted to keep it a secret, right? Then just stay calm. Don't react too much and they won't have anything to suspect."
Suzune narrowed her eyes at him.
— "Easy for you to say. You always act as if nothing affects you."
Ayanokouji simply tilted his head slightly, without responding.
Chie, on the other hand, was clearly enjoying the tension in the air.
— "Ah, this is going to be fun. I can't wait to see what kind of interesting things happened in the future."
Chabashira looked at her with a vacant expression.
— "I can."
Suzune sighed heavily and looked at Ayanokouji.
— Let's take our bed before someone tries to sit on it.
Ayanokouji nodded, and the two moved away from the teachers, heading toward the spot Ryota had clearly prepared for them.
Once they sat on the bed, Suzune glanced at Ayanokouji before quickly averting her gaze, still blushing.
— I can't believe we're going to watch this lying down...
— If it bothers you, you can sit instead of lying down, — Ayanokouji replied calmly.
Suzune bit her lip, hesitating.
— That would be weird... since everyone else will be lying down.
Ayanokouji simply nodded slightly, agreeing without saying anything.
Suzune sighed and looked at the screen in front of them.
— I just hope Ryota didn't plan something worse...
Ayanokouji silently watched the screen, waiting for the display to begin.
He had the feeling that things were only going to get more complicated from here.
POV: Ryota
The break had ended, and Ryota watched with a smile as the students returned to the viewing room, one by one, while their reactions were exactly what he had expected.
As soon as they entered, everyone was surprised, some even stunned, to see that the chairs had been replaced with comfortable double beds, all strategically placed for a clear view of the giant screen.
— What the hell...? — Ishizaki was the first to speak, blinking several times.
— Whoa, this is an upgrade! — Hashimoto whistled, looking around.
— Much more comfortable than those chairs, — Hiyori commented calmly, holding a book, a book given to her by Ryota.
Meanwhile, Mako-chan smiled brightly, holding Ichinose's hand before jumping directly onto one of the beds, as if she were in a luxury hotel.
— Ahhh, now this is living! — She laughed, settling in.
Ichinose, although surprised, laughed along and sat beside her best friend.
— Looks like we picked a good spot.
Ryuuen analyzed the situation and laughed, then casually threw himself onto one of the beds alone.
— This one's just for me, — he announced authoritatively, stretching like a king on his throne.
This made Ishizaki and Albert exchange glances, clearly bothered.
— Boss, seriously?! You're really going to do this to us?! — Ishizaki complained.
— Your problem, — Ryuuen laughed.
With no other choice, Ishizaki and Albert had to share a bed, something that definitely didn't please them.
Ibuki smiled satisfied, as this meant she wouldn't have to share a bed with any boys.
— At least this time luck's on my side.
Sakayanagi, on the other hand, maintained her calm smile, sitting next to Kamuro, who seemed to be mentally cursing.
— I can't believe I have to share space with this demonic loli... — Kamuro grumbled.
— If you want, you can look for another bed, but I can't promise you'll find a better spot, — Sakayanagi smiled sweetly.
Kamuro let out a long sigh, resigned to her fate.
Hashimoto and Kitou quickly decided to share a bed, with Kitou accepting the situation indifferently, while Hashimoto still seemed to be getting used to the idea.
On the opposite side of the room, Ichika and Nanase entered excitedly, with Ichika holding her friend's hand and practically running to the bed closest to Ayanokouji and Suzune.
— This one! This bed is ours! — Ichika announced, beaming.
Nanase, still a little red, avoided looking directly at Ayanokouji, clearly struggling with her own thoughts.
Kushida approached with her usual smile, sitting next to Mii-chan, who seemed a little hesitant but ended up accepting the company.
Sudou, on the other hand, was clearly blushing, trying to act natural while talking to Onodera, who sat next to him casually.
— So... this was Ryota's idea, right? — Onodera asked, looking around.
— Obviously, — Sudou smiled, trying to hide his nervousness.
However, Ike looked at Sudou as if he had committed the worst betrayal in the history of mankind.
— Seriously, Sudou?! You chose to sit next to a girl instead of staying with your friends?!
Sudou swallowed hard, feeling the pressure of the accusing gaze.
— It's not like that...! I just...
Before he could finish, Shinohara appeared behind Ike and pulled his ear.
— Less drama, Ike.
— Aaaargh! Alright, alright!
While everyone was settling in, Ichika and Ryuuen finally noticed something unusual at the back of the room.
The teachers Chabashira and Hoshinomiya were there, lying on one of the beds!
Ryuuen raised an eyebrow with interest.
— Look who decided to join the party...
Ichika, on the other hand, opened up an excited smile, clearly amused by the idea of having them there.
— This is amazing! Now even the teachers are going to watch everything with us! — She said, thrilled.
Chabashira, however, didn't seem pleased with the situation. She was lying down, staring at the ceiling with a completely disheartened expression, as if she were accepting her cruel fate.
— Why am I here...? — She murmured to herself.
Beside her, Chie Hoshinomiya was smiling and excited, clearly enjoying herself.
— I think this is going to be a lot of fun!
Ryota chuckled softly, satisfied to see how everyone was settled in.
— Alright, everyone. Now that you're all comfortable...
Suzune, who was already sitting next to Ayanokouji, turned to him, still seeming a little bothered.
— Do you have a bad feeling about what's about to be shown?
Ayanokouji looked at her for a few seconds before responding calmly.
— Yes.
She sighed, crossing her arms.
— Well, we have no choice. Let's just see what happens.
Ryota, still smiling, settled into his own special seat.
— Alright, then... let's continue the display.
With a simple snap of his fingers, the lights went out, and the screen began to glow, signaling that the next segment of the future was about to be revealed.
Ryota was about to start the display when, suddenly, the theater door opened abruptly.
All eyes immediately turned to the entrance, where a familiar figure appeared: Kei Karuizawa.
She was slightly out of breath, as if she had run to get there. Her gaze was determined, and her expression left no doubt that she had made an important decision.
Sato, who was already settled in one of the beds, let out a sigh of relief upon seeing her friend.
— Finally! I was starting to worry! — Sato exclaimed, crossing her arms.
Kei looked at her and gave a small but sincere smile.
Ryota, from his special place, observed the scene with a satisfied look. He knew very well the weight of the choice Kei had made.
She could have run away. She could have chosen a reality where her life would be "perfect," where she would be married to Kiyotaka and have a daughter with him. But in the end, she decided to face the truth and stay here.
— Not bad, Kei. Not bad. — Ryota muttered to himself with a half-smile.
The attention shifted back to Ichika, who was looking at Kei with a teasing smile.
— You're late, huh? If you had taken any longer, we would have started without you.
Kei didn't respond right away, just stared at her with a serious look, but at the same time smiling softly.
Ichika, who usually wasn't easily intimidated, stopped her teasing immediately.
Nanase, beside her, also noticed something odd.
— Huh...? What's with that look? — Nanase murmured to herself, intrigued.
Kei didn't just seem determined. She seemed... different.
Ichinose, who had been silently observing, slightly furrowed her brows. Kei had always been expressive and emotional, but now... there was a calmness about her that didn't seem natural.
Horikita, who was sitting next to Kiyotaka, immediately noticed the difference.
Then, Kei started to move.
She walked slowly across the theater, stopping directly in front of Kiyotaka, who was looking at her with his usual impassive expression.
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Kei looked him in the eyes, her posture firm, without hesitation.
And then, with a soft but firm voice, she spoke the words no one expected to hear at that moment.
— I'm breaking up with you, Kiyotaka.
The silence, which was already heavy, became deafening.
All the students widened their eyes, unable to believe what they had just heard.
— WHAT?! — Sato was the first to react, practically shouting.
— Eh?! — Ichika smiled in surprise, but genuinely curious.
Ryuuen, who had been lying relaxed on his bed, propped himself up slightly, now genuinely interested.
— Hah?! What the hell kind of development is this?! — He laughed, incredulous.
Ichika couldn't hold back her laughter, agreeing with him.
— Is this for real?!
While everyone was still trying to process what was happening, Kei continued speaking, unfazed by the reactions.
— After seeing the future, I understood something... — She took a deep breath, as if gathering courage to continue. — Kiyotaka never loved me. And, probably, he never will.
Sato, still in shock, shook her head, as if she didn't want to accept it.
— Kei... what are you saying? You love him, don't you?
Kei closed her eyes for a second before opening them again and staring at Kiyotaka with a calm yet resolute look.
— Yes, I love him. — She admitted without hesitation. — But loving alone is not enough.
Everyone held their breath.
— It doesn't make sense to continue a relationship like this. — Kei continued. — It's time for us to let go of each other. I want you to choose someone you truly love. And I also want to find someone who truly loves me.
She smiled softly, removing the ring she wore and calmly placing it into Kiyotaka's hand.
He glanced at the ring briefly, then at Kei. His expression remained neutral, but there was something in his eyes that no one could quite interpret—pride?
After a few seconds, he slowly nodded, accepting the ring back.
— I understand.
Kei waited for some other response from him, but as expected, he said nothing more.
She let out a light sigh before smiling just a little more.
— At least you can be thankful that I didn't slap you again.
This finally got a small reaction from Kiyotaka, who raised an eyebrow, recalling the last time Kei had been furious with him.
— Looks like you've really changed.
— Yes, I have. — Kei confirmed, crossing her arms. — The time I had to reflect helped me see a lot of things.
Before the conversation could go any deeper, Ryuuen lost his patience and shouted, laughing in disbelief.
— I still can't believe this actually happened! Kei broke up with him?!
Ichika laughed even more.
— Yeah! This theater is full of twists I didn't expect!
Kei just rolled her eyes, sighing.
She then turned back to look at Kiyotaka, and this time, her tone was a bit gentler.
— I hope we can still be friends. Not now, of course, because things are going to get awkward...
She glanced sideways at Horikita, who was remaining silent, watching everything with a difficult-to-read expression.
— ...but one day.
Then, in a symbolic gesture, she extended her hand to Kiyotaka.
— It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kei Karuizawa.
He looked at her hand for a few moments before extending his own hand and shaking hers calmly.
— Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. The pleasure is mine.
After a few seconds, Kei let go of his hand, took a deep breath, and turned to return to her place.
She walked over to Sato, who still seemed completely lost by everything, and sat down beside her.
Kei then looked at Ryota and, with a confident tone, announced:
— You can start the display.
The whole theater was still silent.
Only Ryota, who had expected a big impact from this moment, smiled contentedly before snapping his fingers, turning off the lights.
And so, the screen began to glow again, signaling that the next segment of the future was about to be revealed.
Then, before the display began, Horikita leaned slightly toward Kiyotaka, whispering in his ear.
— Did you really feel nothing for her?
Ayanokouji remained silent for a moment and sighed.
— Feelings are more complicated than I expected. I'm sure love wasn't something I felt for her.
Horikita watched him for a few moments before letting out a low sigh.
— I know you won't admit it, or maybe you don't understand it yourself, but... I think part of you cared about her, not in a romantic way, but as a friend.
He didn't answer, just kept his gaze fixed on the screen.
Horikita, with a small smile, whispered one last thing before the screen began to show the future again, as she gently intertwined her fingers with his under the blanket.
— Maybe you're just starting to understand what it means to love and care for someone, and I'll help you with that, Kiyotaka. You can be sure of that.
Ayanokouji gently squeezed her hand in silence as the screen began to show the continuation of the future.