It's true... if Chihiro-san had distributed that audio mentioned by Kushida, the situation could have gotten worse.
— "Thank you, Kushida-san..."
— "D-don't mention it, just be more careful."
— "And you, Ayanokōji-kun... I don't know what kind of witchcraft you used to convince Horikita-san to do that kind of thing with you, but at least have the decency to end things with Karuizawa-san before continuing your relationship with her..."
— "That's what I plan to do..."
— "It won't be necessary..." interrupted the black-haired girl.
— "What do you mean?" asked the brown-haired boy.
— "This incident is something that could have ended our school life in an instant. It's a clear wake-up call... it's time to stop this, Kiyot... Ayanokōji-kun."
With these words, the brown-haired boy narrowed his eyes at the black-haired girl.
The silence in the room was almost a physical assault. None of them could move properly. It wasn't the kind of awkward silence, nor the silence after a bad joke. It was the silence that only happens when something utterly absurd is said. Something so ridiculous that no one could quite process it.
And what had been said there... made no sense.
The phrase still echoed in everyone's mind:
"It's time to stop this, Kiyot... Ayanokōji-kun."
The one to break the silence was Horikita Suzune.
— "...Repeat that."
Her voice came out dry, sharp.
Ryota, still motionless until then, raised his eyebrows nervously.
— "What...?"
— "The phrase. Repeat it."
His smile was a mix of nervous amusement and genuine fear.
— "Alright, alright..." He touched the interface with a gesture, and the clip repeated as requested:
"It's a clear wake-up call... it's time to stop this, Kiyot... Ayanokōji-kun."
Silence.
Horikita's gaze sharpened. She blinked slowly.
— "...Again."
— "Uh... sure..." Ryota repeated the command, and once again:
"...it's time to stop this, Kiyot... Ayanokōji-kun."
The silence returned, but this time it was menacing.
— "...Again."
Ryota didn't respond. He just repeated.
"...it's time to stop this, Kiyot... Ayanokōji-kun."
Suzune crossed her arms, her expression still calm on the outside, but the veins at her temple began to bulge.
— "This device is defective. Replace it."
Ryota laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck.
— "Well... it's new. There's nothing wrong with it."
— "Then buy another. This one clearly came with a factory defect."
At that moment, Ayanokōji extended his hand and calmly placed it on her head, stroking her black hair almost automatically.
The response came instantly, sharp, harsh, like a cornered animal.
— "It's defective, Kiyotaka. Don't argue."
He remained still, looking at her with that typical neutrality, like watching a storm from outside the house. The touch on her head was almost an attempt to prevent her from completely exploding.
— "Calm down."
— "Calm down?!" She turned her face toward him, eyes wide open, taking a deep breath. — "Did you hear what I heard? That thing... that thing there..." — she pointed at the screen — "that's not me. It can't be me."
She leaned forward a little, her gaze now desperate:
— "Do you think I'm stupid enough to say that?! I'd rather rip my own tongue out than say that!"
Suzune was boiling.
— "Drugs. She must be on drugs. That's it. It has to be that. That girl... is on drugs. Someone put something in her drink. I didn't say that."
Kei, who had been almost mouth agape, finally reacted.
— "Dude... what was that...?"
She shook her head slowly.
— "What the hell is this? That crazy girl was almost screwing him on the screen until yesterday... and now she's talking about breaking up? Now she suddenly has a conscience? That girl is nuts!"
Ryuen was the next to let out a low, nervous laugh.
— "Hah... Hahaha... This is turning into a circus. First the scandal with Chihiro's recording, now the little princess wants to break off the soap opera romance? Hahaha... You're messing with me..."
He ran his hand over his face as if trying to wake up.
— "This makes no sense at all! You two almost screwed on the damn sofa a few minutes ago! Now she wants to act all modest?"
Suzune suddenly turned to him, eyes blazing.
— "Shut up, Ryuen."
It was the first time she spoke to him like that. Not like a polite person keeping composure. It was like a knife stabbing through the chest, not a usual tease between them, it was serious and real.
The room froze.
Ichika let out a whistle, amused.
— "Wow... she's really mad, huh..."
Ichinose was paralyzed, completely unable to react.
She looked at the screen, then at Suzune, trying to find logic where there was none.
Sakayanagi kept her polite smile.
— "Incoherent, isn't it? A half-consummated illicit love, followed by a moralistic breakup... humans are fascinating."
But Kushida dealt the last blow.
— "Looks like the perfect couple's little show has collapsed... Who would've thought, Horikita-san. Who would've thought."
Suzune stepped toward her, eyes completely aflame.
— "Kushida..."
Her voice was low. So low it was almost a whisper.
Kushida, provocative, crossed her arms.
— "What's wrong? Gonna hit me? Gonna take out your anger on me because you looked like an idiot on that screen?"
It was at that moment that Ayanokouji, still with his hand on Suzune's head, applied light pressure, forcing her to sit back down.
— "It's not worth it."
Suzune gritted her teeth but gave in.
Chihiro, lying down with her face buried in the pillow, finally let out a sentence.
— "Someone kill me... please... someone kill me..."
The muffled sound came out heavy and drawn-out. She was so broken that she no longer even felt ashamed to say it.
— "It was me... it was me... I was the one who ruined their relationship... it was me..."
Ichinose quickly crouched down beside her.
— "Stop it! You haven't ruined anything yet! Nothing's happened! This is the FUTURE! YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING YET!"
Her words echoed, but Chihiro's guilt didn't seem to ease.
Suzune, still breathing heavily, spoke in a low tone:
— "You... are not responsible for what that thing did."
She looked at the screen.
— "Is that me? No. I don't recognize that creature. I don't know who she is. But I'm incapable of acting like that. Simply incapable."
Kei was still shaking her head in stunned denial.
— "This is rotten. Everything's rotten. First, she gets involved with Ayanokouji while he was with me... now she wants to dump him because of this...? That girl's completely out of her mind."
Ryuen laughed again, trying to lighten the mood with a joke.
— "Maybe the sex just wasn't good."
The look Suzune shot at Ryuen was murderous.
— "Say that again."
Ryuen raised his hands in surrender, still smiling as always, but slightly nervous.
Ichika rolled her shoulders, amused.
— "Well, at least now we know the future gets interesting. Breakups, makeups... a soap opera mess."
Kushida added:
— "Primetime drama."
Ichinose looked at everyone, frustrated.
— "Can you all stop joking about this?!"
The desperation was almost tangible.
— "She's having a breakdown! Horikita-san is about to break something! Can you all be human for five minutes?!"
Suzune lowered her head, taking a deep breath.
She needed to stay in control. She had to.
But the anger... was eating her alive.
Ayanokouji spoke, for the first time since the chaos began:
— "Just like Chihiro isn't guilty for what her version did..." — He looked directly at Suzune. — "...You're not guilty for what your version on the screen said either."
Suzune clenched her fists even tighter.
— "That doesn't change the fact that that girl used my face. My name. And my body... to play the role of a complete idiot."
Silence returned, heavy and suffocating.
Chihiro just sobbed, powerless.
Suzune closed her eyes and let the air escape slowly from her lips, controlling the rage.
— "...I'm not going to run from this."
She opened her eyes, resolute.
— "If this story is going to follow that path... I'm going to watch. To the end. And I'll make sure that this..." — she pointed at the screen — "...never happens."
The entire room held its breath.
Even Kushida, even Ryuen, even Ichika... they all felt the weight of that declaration.
The reaction room was on the verge of collapse.
And the worst part: it wasn't over yet.
- "Are you serious?"— "Absolutely..." she said definitively.— "I understand. If that's what you want, I won't object."After hearing those words, the black-haired girl went to the bathroom to change her clothes, taking off the brown-haired boy's shirt and putting on the clothes she had originally entered in.— "Wait, there's no need to do that..." Ibuki said, feeling guilty somehow, because due to this visit, the relationship between the two young people present could have been irreparably damaged.
Absolute silence.
The only sound heard was the dry snap of wood breaking. A sound so sharp that even Ryuen tilted his head in surprise.
Everyone looked toward the source of the noise: the edge of the bed where Horikita Suzune was sitting.
The part where she had placed her hand simply gave way and broke, cracking exactly where her fingers were pressed.
Her gaze was lost in the emptiness of the screen, as if she wanted to jump in and strangle herself.
Ayanokouji, calm as always, slowly moved closer, kneeling in front of the bed, gently holding her hand.
He turned her hand palm up, examining her palm and fingers. Some redness appeared where the wood had pressed against her skin, but nothing was bleeding.
— "...You hurt yourself."
— "No."
The answer was automatic. Without blinking. Without even looking at him.
But what truly caught attention was her tone.
It wasn't nervous. It wasn't irritated. It was cold. A coldness very much like the Kiyotaka everyone there knew.
And that scared them even more than if she had been shouting.
She took a deep breath, eyes fixed on the screen, her pupils contracted like a cornered predator's.
— "This..." — her voice trembled — "What's playing there isn't real. I couldn't have said that."
But the screen didn't stop.
"Are you serious?"
"Completely..."
Each word felt like a slap in the face.
Suzune clenched her jaw tightly.
"If that's what you want, I won't oppose it."
Then came the most humiliating part:
"The black-haired girl went to the bathroom to change clothes, taking off the brown-haired boy's shirt and putting back on the outfit she had originally worn."
A bead of sweat ran down the side of her face.
— "She... She was wearing... your shirt."
Ayanokouji looked at her with his usual analytical gaze.
He said nothing.
Suzune lowered her gaze, pressing her fingers tightly together until the knuckles cracked.
That was when the sound of wood breaking echoed again, but this time it was the snap of her bones compressing.
Ichika, who until then had been watching everything with her typical amused air, averted her eyes, uncomfortable for the first time.
Ryuen let out a low whistle.
— "Wow, president... you're handling this well, huh?"
Suzune ignored him. Completely. It was as if Ryuen didn't exist at that moment.
Ibuki crossed her arms, eyes squinting as if holding back from cursing at the whole screen.
— "...I... was the one who ruined this."
Kei, sitting near Ryota, also seemed at a loss for words. She bounced one leg restlessly.
— "Okay... this is way too rotten. Rotten."
She looked directly at Horikita.
— "Come on, Horikita! You were... with him! You were there! Both of you... you were wearing his damn shirt! What kind of person does that and then turns their back and breaks up?!"
Suzune slowly turned her face toward her.
— "You think I need to hear morals coming from you, Karuizawa?"
Her tone was low, cold, cutting.
Kei stopped. For the first time, she was speechless.
The shock even made Ryuen laugh.
— "Whoa... she's sharp today..."
Kushida, of course, didn't miss the chance to twist the knife:
— "But it's true, isn't it? You hook up with another girl's boyfriend, then once you get what you want, you dress up as a repentant pure girl? Ah, Horikita-san... you've always been full of secrets, haven't you?"
Suzune stood up.
It was a smooth, yet powerful movement.
The aura radiating from her seemed to increase the pressure in the room by several degrees.
But before she could say anything, Ayanokouji also stood up and stepped in front of her, blocking her path with his body.
It was subtle. Almost a reflex.
He looked at her.
— "It's not worth it. I already told you, she just wants to get under your skin."
Suzune bit her lower lip so hard it turned white.
Her eyes were reddening—not from crying, but from pure effort to not lose control completely.
Chihiro remained curled up on the bed, hugging the pillow as if it could shield her from reality.
She murmured repeatedly:
— "Sorry... sorry... sorry..."
Ichinose had already crouched beside her, holding the girl's shoulder and whispering words to try to calm her, but it was useless.
Ichika snorted.
— "Looks like no one here has the emotional capacity to handle anything."
Ibuki squeezed her crossed arms even tighter.
— "This is all wrong. I shouldn't have gone to that room. I caused all this shit. I... I was the last straw that made this mess overflow."
Suzune slowly shook her head.
— "No. It wasn't you."
Finally, she spoke. Rigid, dry. But she spoke.
— "The one to blame... was her."
And she pointed a finger at the screen.
— "That idiot there."
Her hand trembled.
— "That person who used my voice, my face, my body... that person who pretended to be me..."
She lowered her gaze.
— "...I would never say that."
It was at that moment that Kushida threw another venomous provocation, pulling Horikita's attention away from herself and onto Kushida:
— "Oh, really? Are you sure? Maybe, deep down, you just used him to find out how good he was and then wanted to throw him away."
The room froze.
Suzune took a deep breath and spoke in a low, yet deadly voice:
— "...Say one more thing like that and I swear you'll leave this room unconscious."
Kushida smiled maliciously.
Ryuen laughed.
— "Now that's the Horikita I know! Look at her! Finally showing her claws!"
Ichika smiled.
Kei finally broke the silence:
— "...That still doesn't answer a damn thing."
She turned her face toward Ayanokouji.
— "And you? You... aren't going to say anything? Not going to say what's on your mind?"
Everyone turned to him.
Ayanokouji looked at Kei, then at Suzune. Then his eyes returned to the screen, as if it didn't matter at all.
— "That decision was hers."
Suzune stared at him, surprised.
— "You're not... going to stop me?"
He tilted his head slightly to the side.
— "No. Because I already said before: you're free to do whatever you want."
The phrase, said so neutrally and detached, hit harder than any slap.
Suzune felt it like a punch in the stomach. She didn't know what was worse: the absurd things her version on the screen was doing... or the way he accepted it with the calmness of a windless lake.
Kushida chuckled softly.
— "Look at that. She's worthless. And he doesn't care."
Silence.
Suzune closed her eyes.
— "...This isn't over."
The whole room held its breath again.
Suzune opened her eyes once more, with the same intensity as before.
— "I'm going to see this through to the end. Everything. Until the last second of this disgusting future. Because I'm going to fix it."
She looked at Chihiro, then Ibuki, then Ayanokouji.
— "And I'll make sure this story has an ending we decide."
That was when Ryota, finally recovering from his nervousness, commented, half laughing nervously:
— "Damn... this really turned into a play..."
Ryuen laughed loudly.
— "Ha! A play?! This is the best soap opera I've ever seen. I want more!"
Suzune glared at him.
— "You want more? Fine. Then watch. But remember: I'm the one who will decide the ending."
Kei crossed her arms.
— "I hope so. Because like this, you two on the screen look like a pathetic couple."
Ichika smiled, excited.
— "Now we're talking. Let's see where this goes."
Ayanokouji? He just remained still, like a statue. After all, he already understood exactly what that bastard version of himself was doing, and he was definitely crazy to risk a plan like that.
— "Don't worry, Ibuki-san. I was also thinking about ending this relationship..." Hearing those words, the brown-haired boy didn't stay silent and spoke. — "Hooh, so you were planning to leave me without saying anything..."— "That's right. Originally, that was a mistake, and I think you know that. You shouldn't be surprised."— "I see... so that's how you saw it all this time... If that's the case, it really was a mistake."
The silence in the room was shattered by the sound of glass hitting, cushions flying, and small objects ricocheting against the screen. Mugs, water bottles, books—anything within reach was thrown brutally.
If the screen weren't indestructible, it would've surely shattered into pieces.
Suzune was out of control.
— "ERROR?! ERROR?!"
Her voice echoed loud and sharp, a mixture of pure hatred and desperation.
Kei's eyes widened, and she threw herself to the side to dodge a cushion that almost hit her head.
Ibuki was already on her feet, surprised, as if about to intervene, but unsure what to do.
Even Ryuen lost his smile for a moment.
But the most terrifying thing wasn't the noise or the flying objects.
It was the sound of her breathing. Broken, uneven. The breath of someone slipping into a panic attack mixed with absolute rage.
That's when Ayanokouji, who had been calmly observing everything, moved.
In two steps, he positioned himself behind Suzune and hugged her around the waist, crossing his arms over hers and holding tightly, restraining her movements.
She tried to break free.
Tried hard.
But the physical difference between them was clear.
— "Let go! LET GO!" she screamed, struggling.
Ayanokouji spoke softly next to her ear, low and firm:
— "No."
It was just one word. But it was enough.
Suzune kept struggling for a few more seconds until she simply... collapsed. Her legs gave out slowly, as if they had no strength left.
Ayanokouji lowered with her, holding her without squeezing too hard, but firm enough so she wouldn't do anything reckless.
Chihiro, still in the corner, curled further into the pillow, eyes wide, pale, too scared even to breathe loudly.
Ichika watched everything silently, her smile now more discreet, analyzing the situation like someone observing an interesting scientific experiment.
Even Kushida, always full of venom on her tongue, was silent—for the first time since the chaos began. It wasn't fear for her physical safety—it was something else.
She realized.
If she provoked Suzune any further... Suzune would really hit her.
And this wasn't a controlled fight. It wouldn't be a slap or a threat. It would be pure hatred. Eye to eye. Savage. Unfiltered. The kind that leaves marks and broken teeth.
The tension became so dense it was almost hard to breathe.
Suzune lowered her face, trembling, the sound of her teeth chattering against each other.
And at that moment, the cursed words from the screen echoed in her mind as if trying to rip away the rest of her sanity:
"I was also thinking about ending this relationship..."
"Oh, so you were planning to leave me without saying anything..."
"That's right. Originally, it was a mistake, and I think you know that. You shouldn't be surprised."
"I understand... so that's how you saw it all along... If that's the case, it really was a mistake."
The words echoed through the room like gunshots.
Suzune's expression, hidden behind her messy hair falling over her face, looked like someone betrayed by herself.
Kei was the first to speak:
— "Error...? You called it an error? Seriously? Horikita..."
Her voice was choked but filled with pure disbelief.
— "You gave yourself to him... You went there... did all that... went through all that... and then just throw it away saying it was a mistake?"
She pointed at the screen, nearly trembling too.
— "You have no idea how disgusting that is."
Ibuki bit her lip hard.
— "It's like... you used him. Like a disposable toy."
Suzune didn't answer. She just breathed. Heavy. Almost gasping.
Ayanokouji still held her, but now easing his grip a little.
He glanced at the screen for a moment. No surprise crossed his face. No anger. No sadness.
It was that damn calculated emptiness as always.
Ryuen broke the silence with a low, nervous laugh.
— "Damn... this is better than I imagined. Looks like one of those trashy Mexican soap operas."
But even he had no energy left to really provoke. That scene wasn't funny. It was ugly. Grotesque. The kind of thing you can't stop watching but are ashamed to see.
Suzune finally spoke, her voice hoarse:
— "I... am not that person."
She lifted her face a little. Her eyes watery—not from crying, but from pure hatred mixed with frustration.
— "I'm not that... that thing... that's on the screen."
She looked straight at Ryota.
— "This is a glitch. A recording error. Some damn virus, interference, hack, whatever crap. Change that garbage. Redo it. Fix it. NOW."
Ryota swallowed nervously, laughing awkwardly.
— "That's the future... I can't change it..."
Suzune sharply inhaled, as if swallowing her own pride.
She looked at Ayanokouji over her shoulder.
He stared back. Unfazed.
At that moment, Kei stepped forward, losing patience:
— "Ayanokouji! Say something! You can't just let her spiral alone!"
He turned his face toward her, still holding Suzune.
— "It doesn't matter."
The response was immediate. Cold.
Kei froze.
— "...Doesn't matter?!"
He explained:
— "She's not to blame for what that version of her said. Just like I'm not to blame for letting that happen on the screen. It's just one possible future. That's all."
Suzune clenched her jaw once more.
— "But that's a... betrayal of my own feelings."
Finally, tears slipped down. But they were few, subtle, almost dry. Tears of someone who doesn't cry because she's sad. She cries because she's so furious that her body can no longer hold back the internal collapse.
Chihiro, quiet until then, finally spoke:
— "It's me... the one to blame for all this... it's my fault..."
Suzune didn't even look at her.
— "You being quiet already helps."
Chihiro bit her pillow, trying not to scream.
The tension was so heavy that Ichika slowly got up and went to the back of the room, crossing her arms and watching from afar.
Ibuki clenched her fists.
— "...She doesn't deserve this."
Suzune looked up at her, surprised.
Ibuki looked away, embarrassed.
— "You can be a jerk, stuck-up, annoying... but even you don't deserve to go through this shit."
Kei let out a heavy sigh, crossing her arms, unsure what else to say.
Kushida, sensing the atmosphere was dangerously close to exploding, chose to stay silent.
And Ryuen? He just watched everything, like a spectator who knew there were still more chapters to come.
Suzune, trembling, turned her head slightly, resting her forehead on Ayanokouji's shoulder.
He remained still.
She murmured, almost inaudible:
— "...Let me see it through to the end."
Ayanokouji nodded.
And the screen kept going.
There was still much more emotional destruction to come.
— "It's time to go, Kushida-san, Ibuki-san," the black-haired girl said without looking at the brown-haired boy.Once outside, the beige-haired girl couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure about this, Horikita-san?"— "I'm... sure..." She didn't finish her sentence before tears started streaming down her face.— "Wait, Horikita-san!?"— "Let's go to my room quickly," the blue-haired girl said. "Let's use the stairs; we don't want anyone to see Horikita-san in this state."
The muffled sound of her version crying on the screen was the trigger for something strange to happen to Suzune.
This time, she didn't scream. Didn't curse. Didn't try to throw anything else at the screen.
She simply averted her gaze. Slightly. Like someone who doesn't want to see.
The only thing Suzune did was stare at the floor for a moment, and in her mind, understanding began to come like a bitter, heavy wave.
Now she understood.
Now she understood what Sudou had felt in that humiliating situation involving Onodera.
That mix of shame, anger, incomprehension and... understanding. Yes. She understood.
— So that's what he felt... when he saw that grotesque future of himself?
The anger Sudou felt toward his own version, the indignation, the feeling of being trampled by something he hadn't even done, but at the same time the damn realization that such a possibility could exist.
She wasn't stupid. Never was. She knew what that version of herself was feeling.
The pain wasn't just because the relationship was ending.
The pain came from the fact that it was being done by herself. It wasn't a betrayal from the outside. It was self-betrayal. Something that broke you from the inside.
And Suzune also understood that Kiyotaka wasn't a good person in the traditional sense.
She knew that from the moment she discovered he was capable of planning and practically almost sending Kei to her death just to protect her, Horikita Suzune, from his own father. Cold. Calculating. Manipulative.
But up until that moment, he had never done anything directly against her. Nothing unforgivable.
In the first year, he had manipulated situations — but she hadn't been a good friend back then either. They built a relationship of mutual respect over time. Friendship, then trust, then affection... and finally romance.
So how?
How... how the hell did that woman on the screen have the nerve to have sex with him, give her own body... and then just want to throw it all away?
Suzune bit her lower lip hard.
That scene made her look like an empty woman, someone who just used him. A person interested only in the moment, in pleasure, and then discarded him.
It wasn't that.
It wasn't like that.
She wanted to stand up, wanted to break something else, but...
She felt it.
She felt him move. Gently. The mattress sinking a little beside her. A warm heat nearby. A subtle scent of neutral soap mixed with his aroma.
Ayanokouji's arm came slowly over her shoulders and, without saying a word, gently guided her head until it rested against his chest.
The gesture wasn't abrupt. It wasn't invasive. It was...
Simple.
Natural.
It almost seemed like they always did this — even though they didn't.
Suzune took a deep breath, her face slightly hidden in his shirt, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. Neither fast nor slow. Steady.
His voice came low. Warm. Calmly into her ear:
— "Relax a little. This... has already changed. This won't happen anymore."
Suzune blinked slowly. She felt her chest ache.
Why did he have to be like that?
Why did he have to be so absurdly calm and steady? Why did he never panic? Why was he always the one giving security, even being the source of so much chaos?
She clenched her teeth, but let her body lean against his. She had no strength left to fight now.
The atmosphere in the room was unbearable.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even Ryuen was quiet, which was almost an anomaly. Not even he could find this funny anymore.
The most ironic thing was that it had all started with jokes, provocations, mischievous smiles, especially after the near-sex scene between Horikita and Ayanokouji in the previous images.
But now? Now it was different.
Now it was ugly. It was painful. It was too real.
Kei looked to the side, breathing slowly. She didn't even know what to say anymore. That version of Horikita... really looked destroyed.
Ibuki, standing, crossed her arms and closed her eyes, as if trying to hold something inside herself.
It was Ayanokouji, observing everything with that icy calm, who noticed the subtle movement of another person there.
His eyes slid slowly, as if not wanting to be noticed.
Kushida.
She was curled up in her bed, legs pulled to her chest, arms wrapped around, discreetly looking at Suzune.
When she noticed his gaze on her, she immediately looked away, almost embarrassed.
But Ayanokouji understood.
It wasn't guilt. It wasn't shame about herself. It was something else.
She had done that on purpose.
She deliberately provoked Suzune. She knew it would make her snap.
But why?
Why risk getting slapped? Why provoke hatred like that?
To redirect the hatred.
Ayanokouji understood what she was doing. She wanted Horikita to focus her anger on Kushida, not on herself.
It was even a "good" plan, psychologically speaking. Using the history of rivalry between them to ease Suzune's emotional self-aggression and direct it toward an "external enemy." But...
It was poorly executed.
That could have really exploded if he hadn't held Suzune back.
But still...
He found her move interesting. Maybe, behind that venomous smile and manipulative personality, there was still some strange thread of real concern left.
Or maybe just fear of seeing Suzune completely collapse.
He sighed softly.
— "She needs some time for herself..." Ayanokouji murmured, almost inaudible.
Suzune heard him. Felt it. But didn't respond.
The screen continued:
"It's time to go, Kushida-san, Ibuki-san."
The version of Suzune on the screen didn't look at Ayanokouji.
And then...
"I'm... sure..." — tears streaming down.
Suzune looked away once again. But she didn't try to run. Didn't try to get up.
She accepted to watch.
Kei, on the other side, bit her lower lip, her expression hardened.
— "Tsk... She can't even finish the sentence without crying."
Ibuki, on the other hand, just murmured:
— "You can't even get mad watching this. It feels like an emotional death scene."
Kushida remained silent.
The sound from the screen went on.
"Let's go to my room quickly," said the blue-haired girl. "Let's take the stairs; we don't want anyone to see Horikita-san in this state."
The final sentence was like a stab.
Suzune pressed herself lightly against Ayanokouji.
Now she understood.
Now she knew very well what it was like to want to disappear when someone saw your weakness.
With her eyes still downcast, Suzune finally spoke, her voice hoarse:
— "...I... hate... this."
Ayanokouji, with an almost inhuman patience, simply replied:
— "That's understandable."
Suzune breathed in slowly, trying to pull her pride back from her guts, stitching the broken parts of her dignity.
She wasn't going to fall here.
Not yet.
Kei looked at all this and let out a defeated sigh.
Even she, who always had issues with Horikita, couldn't take any pleasure in seeing that situation.
Chihiro remained hugged to the pillow, silent.
The only thing left there was an urgent need for a break.
Ayanokouji knew.
Kushida knew.
Suzune knew.
It was the end of that chapter. But it was also the beginning of a wound that wouldn't heal anytime soon.
Ayanokouji looked at the screen one last time.
They needed to talk.
All of them.
But mostly...
Those two needed to talk.
And soon.
Because the future? The future could be changed.
But the internal scars... those took time.
He sighed deeply.
For now, all that was left was to hold her tighter.
When they reached Ibuki's room, Horikita completely broke down... "Why, why do I feel like this?" "Why does it hurt so much, Kushida-san?" she said through tears as she cried deeply into the girl's chest. "Because you really love him, idiot..." "How could you not realize...?" She knew, she knew it from the moment she was hugged, no... that was just the trigger. In truth, she had felt something special for the brown-haired boy for several months, but she refused to believe it and accept it. She knew that if she accepted these feelings, she would end up hurt...
Silence.
Not the good kind of silence.
Not that comfortable silence that exists between friends or people who don't need to talk all the time.
It was a heavy silence, uncomfortable, almost suffocating. It felt like the air inside that reaction room had thickened. As if someone was holding the air there, forcing everyone to remain in that state of emotional suspension.
And then, another stab:
"Why, why do I feel like this?"
"Why does it hurt so much, Kushida-san?"
Those words cut Suzune from the inside.
She stared fixedly at the screen now, her eyes glazed, as if she wanted to jump inside it and crush her own version on the screen for saying that.
— "...But of course it hurts, you idiot..." — she murmured, her voice trembling and low.
Her voice didn't even sound angry. It was pure contained despair.
And then came the final blow:
"Because you really love him, idiot..."
"How did you not realize...?"
Kushida's words on the screen sounded like they were spoken by someone who hated Suzune — and at the same time by someone who knew her better than anyone else there.
Suzune bit her lower lip until she tasted a slight metallic flavor. She knew. Knew very well.
It wasn't like it was news. She wasn't surprised.
But hearing it out loud... in front of everyone... was like having your own feelings ripped out and displayed like merchandise at a fair.
Her version on the screen knew.
And now everyone in that room knew.
She loved Kiyotaka, even if that was obvious.
It wasn't just attraction. It wasn't just respect. It wasn't just trust. It was love.
And that desperate cry trapped inside Kushida's chest...
Suzune in the room clenched her fingers against Ayanokouji's shirt, who was still there with her, silent, calm, letting her simply use him as an anchor.
The most ironic thing of all was that Suzune had never been the type who needed that. She didn't consider herself someone who needed that. She was always the one who kept a serious face and didn't break, the one who maintained serious composure. She was the one who kept others standing, not the others holding her feet.
But there? Now?
No.
She was in ruins.
The screen continued and the thoughts of her version in the image spilled out:
"She knew, she had known since the moment she was embraced, no... that was just the trigger. In truth, she had felt something special for the brown-haired boy for several months, but refused to believe and accept it. She knew that if she accepted those feelings, she would end up hurt..."
The Suzune in the room clenched her teeth.
She wanted to scream. Wanted to punch herself. Wanted to punch that bed.
That version on the screen had already known.
Had known for months.
So why?
Why did she do that?
Why have sex with him? Why cross that line knowing exactly where it would lead?
She knew.
She wasn't an idiot.
She knew Kiyotaka was still with Kei at that time. She knew that if this leaked, it would tarnish her name, haunt her, and the damage to her reputation would be immense.
It couldn't be.
It couldn't be that she — Suzune Horikita herself — had done that without calculating, without foreseeing, without understanding the consequences it could cause.
It couldn't be.
But at the same time, it was possible.
Because, for the first time in her life, Suzune had put her heart before reason.
And she was paying the price now.
She took a deep breath, fighting to hold back the tears. She wasn't going to cry there. No. Not in front of them. Not after everything.
Suzune discreetly glanced sideways and noticed the room.
The silence said everything.
Everyone was exhausted.
Ichinose was slumped in her chair, face pale, staring at nothing. Those words had been an open wound for her too.
The girl just wanted to get out of there. Just wanted to go to her room, lie down, and forget that the boy she had feelings for was completely involved with another — and worse: that other was Suzune.
Kei wasn't better.
She sat sideways, her face resting on her hand, eyes heavy. The tiredness wasn't just physical. It was emotional. Since that chapter began, everything had been a whirlwind.
She was no longer with Kiyotaka and didn't love him anymore. But even so... seeing that? Seeing a possible future shown to her face, the mistakes, the betrayals, the stupid decisions? It hurt.
(Let's be honest, even if you break up and don't love someone anymore because that person betrayed you or stuff like that, you wouldn't like to watch them cheating on you in a video for hours straight, right?)
Kei took a deep breath, without looking at anyone, and murmured:
— "...This needs to end soon."
Ibuki sat with her arms crossed, eyes closed, like trying to disconnect from everything. Even she — who was usually the one to jump into everything — was tired.
Chihiro hugged the pillow tightly. Didn't know if she wanted to cry or sleep, she just wanted to be alone now.
Rokusuke leaned against a corner, silent, ignoring everyone as always.
And Ryuen?
Surprisingly, silent. He watched everything with a neutral expression, analyzing. There was no amusement. No mockery. Only analysis.
Ayanokouji watched all this calmly. His mind working, processing everything. But on the outside? Serene. Not a muscle on his face twitching.
And Kushida?
She was there. Leaning against the corner of the bed, knees drawn up, arms wrapped around her legs. Not smiling. Not provoking. Not acting.
She just watched Suzune.
And her gaze... was strange.
It was no longer hate. No longer superiority.
It was pity. Mixed with guilt. Mixed with... something like regret.
She had stopped provoking. She knew she had gone too far. Knew she had almost caused something worse.
But still... she had done it because she thought she was helping. That she was deflecting Suzune's anger away from herself.
But it didn't work.
And now everyone there was emotionally drained.
Suzune sighed. Closed her eyes.
She wasn't going to fall there.
She wasn't going to break down.
But the worst part was knowing that...
It was all her fault.
Not Kiyotaka's.
Not Kushida's.
Not Kei's.
Not anyone's.
Hers.
She had fallen in love. She had crossed the line. She had done it knowing the risks.
Suzune murmured, quietly, just for Kiyotaka to hear:
— "...I deserve this."
Ayanokouji answered in the same tone, calm, almost cold:
— "No. You don't deserve needless suffering."
She shook her head, inconsolable.
— "You don't understand..."
He looked at her.
— "I understand more than you think."
Her eyes met his. There was anger. There was pain. There was love. But there was also something strange there: a desperate wish to believe what he said, because she was so hurt and angry at herself now.
Suzune looked away.
The room remained silent.
They wanted this to end soon.
Ichinose was practically collapsing in her chair.
Kei wanted to leave.
Suzune wanted to be alone with Kiyotaka.
Everyone wanted a break.
It wasn't much longer.
They could hold on a little more.
Just a little more.
It seems that accepting them wasn't necessary, as she ended up devastated anyway... She knew it was for the best, that it might hurt for a while, but eventually, she would heal... She couldn't risk her stay at this school for a relationship like this, that didn't seem to have a future in the first place. Still, she couldn't stop wondering if she had made the right decision. At least, she hoped so. — "If that's how you saw it all this time... it really was a mistake." Remembering the brown-haired boy's words, a sharp and unbearable pain pierced her chest, making her cry even harder. — "Kiyo...taka..." She said his name, trying to let her tears wash away the memories and moments she had with him. Unfortunately for her, all her tears did was relive every moment they had together, every kiss, every caress, every hug the brown-haired boy gave her. They were engraved deep into her being, and forgetting them was practically impossible.
The screen finally went dark.
It wasn't a sudden cut, but a slow, drawn-out fading, almost as if even the recording itself was exhausted from existing.
And the silence that followed was... complete.
It was such a heavy silence that it could almost be felt physically.
No one had the strength to say anything.
Even Ryuen was quiet, leaning back with his arms crossed and his gaze lost on the wall, as if thinking about anything else to avoid diving into the emotional weight that had been thrown onto them.
It was then that Ryota's figure appeared again, floating in the center of the room, that slightly nervous smile on his face.
He looked at everyone, his gaze drifting over each person as if deciding where to start speaking, but then giving up because the tired expression on every face spoke louder than anything.
— "Well..." — he tried to break the silence, running his hand through his hair and laughing awkwardly. — "I guess this calls for a break, right? You all need it."
His words were followed by a snap of his fingers, and the room's lights gently came on, dispelling the darkness.
Soon after, the door opened.
— "You all know the way to the rooms," — he said, still half-laughing, trying to break the oppressive mood hanging in the air, but unsuccessfully.
No one answered. No jokes. No sarcastic comments. Not even Ibuki, who usually had some provocation ready. Not Ryuen.
The group started moving slowly, each at their own pace, as if the exhaustion had turned into a literal weight on everyone's shoulders.
Ichinose was one of the first to leave, walking slowly with dragging steps. She didn't look at anyone. Her gaze was lost on the floor.
Kei followed, also silently, her face pale, dark circles forming. She just wanted to sleep.
Just wanted to erase that day from her mind.
Most just wanted to get out of there. Lie down. Close their eyes. Escape that suffocating feeling.
But as everyone headed to the rooms, Horikita saw.
She noticed.
Kushida discreetly tried to blend in with the group, slipping sideways, almost sliding along the wall, like someone who didn't want to be noticed.
But Suzune stretched out her arm.
Grabbed her hand.
It was a calm touch, but firm enough to stop any attempt to escape.
Kushida stopped, feeling the cold contact of that hand on her fingers.
— "...You're coming with me." — Suzune's voice was low but filled with determination.
Kushida slowly turned her face, a nervous smile appearing at the corner of her mouth, as always.
— "Hey, Horikita-san... can't it be tomorrow? We're tired, right? The issue isn't going anywhere..."
Suzune shook her head slowly, still holding her hand.
Ayanokouji stood right beside her, calm, watching everything like a silent anchor. His posture was relaxed, but there was something in his eyes that made it clear: he was paying attention to everything.
It wasn't a threat. Not intimidation. It was just... his presence there. It would be impossible for Kushida to try to hide anything with him nearby.
Suzune didn't let go of her hand, and without another word, gently pulled Kushida toward the door of their room.
Kushida laughed, more nervous than ever, looking around to see that no one else was paying attention to them. Everyone just wanted to disappear.
— "Hahaha... really? You two kidnapping me to the couple's room now? If I'd known, I'd have brought wine..."
Suzune didn't respond.
Ayanokouji didn't respond.
They just walked in silence.
The door closed behind them.
Ayanokouji's room was large, spacious, and organized. The atmosphere seemed even cozier with the dim, soft lights. Almost a refuge after the chaos that had been the reaction room.
Kushida looked around and, as always, couldn't resist provoking:
— "You two really have a bigger room than mine. That's unfair... pretty couples get privileges."
No one replied.
Ayanokouji sat on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, calmly grabbing a bottle of water and taking a sip. He maintained the almost supernatural calm that was already his trademark, but clearly was waiting for what would come next.
Horikita walked over and sat beside him. She didn't touch him, but didn't keep distance either. She was simply there. Exhausted. Sitting. Head down.
Kushida stood uncomfortably.
Finally, Suzune took a deep breath and looked directly at her.
— "Why did you do that?"
Her voice didn't come with shouting or apparent anger. But there was fatigue. A deep fatigue. An almost tangible weight in her words.
Kushida kept her smile for a moment. Almost convincing.
— "Did what? I don't understand..."
Suzune kept looking directly at her. Without blinking.
— "Don't try that with me."
Kushida smiled a little more, trying to put on that sarcastic mask again.
But Ayanokouji's gaze met hers.
It was like a silent shot.
Her expression broke instantly.
It was no use. Not there. Not with both of them together.
Not with that look.
She swallowed hard, looking away.
— "...Alright. Alright. No use lying to you two."
She crossed her arms, the fake smile fading little by little, and finally told the truth.
— "I did that because... you were hating yourself."
Suzune blinked, surprised. That wasn't what she expected to hear.
— "What?"
Kushida huffed, frustrated.
— "Do you think I wanted to see you in that shitty state? You were falling apart there, Horikita. I know that feeling very well, okay? You were about to start destroying yourself. So I thought..."
She looked directly at Suzune now. Her gaze full of sincerity and wounded pride.
— "...If you were going to direct hatred at someone, let it be at me."
Suzune was silent, digesting that.
Kushida continued:
— "I'm great at being the villain, remember? That's what I did my whole life. It was easier for you to hate me than to hate yourself. That was it."
Ayanokouji remained silent, watching.
Suzune opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her head was so tired, so full, that the simple idea had completely escaped her notice.
Had she really not realized?
Was she so drowned in her own guilt and pain that she couldn't see such an obvious plan?
She lowered her head, feeling her forehead weigh heavy.
Kushida took advantage of the silence and added:
— "I'm not a saint. I'm not pretending to be nice. I'm not your friend. But at that moment... you were breaking. And even me, the way I am, couldn't watch that quietly."
Suzune couldn't process everything at once. Her head throbbed.
It was Ayanokouji who finally spoke, with the sharp calmness he always used:
— "It was a good plan."
Kushida looked at him, surprised.
He took another sip of water before continuing:
— "But poorly executed."
She let out a nervous laugh.
— "Yeah... I know, idiot."
Silence.
For a brief moment, that room, that space — that bubble — seemed disconnected from the rest of the world. Like three people trying to deal with an emotional hurricane in the most awkward way possible.
Kushida, out of pride, stood with arms crossed, trying to keep her stance.
Suzune, out of exhaustion, was defenseless.
And Ayanokouji... as always... was the figure balancing everything.
Suzune finally raised her eyes.
— "...Thank you."
The word came out with difficulty. As if it was ripped from her.
Kushida blinked, genuinely surprised.
— "...What?"
Suzune took a deep breath.
— "You did it the wrong way. But you did it for the right reason. And... I thank you for that."
Kushida smiled sincerely for the first time.
Not a fake smile. Not a cynical smile. But a small, real, almost shy smile.
— "...Damn. That was the strangest thing I've ever heard from you."
Suzune sighed.
— "Get used to it."
Ayanokouji looked between the two of them and said calmly:
— "Now you both need to rest."
Kushida smiled and rolled her eyes.
— "I think I'll leave you two in your love nest."
She walked to the door, opening it slowly but stopping before leaving.
She looked back over her shoulder.
— "...And Horikita..."
Suzune lifted her gaze.
— "...You'll be okay."
Without waiting for a response, she left, closing the door behind her.
The room fell silent again.
Suzune turned her face and leaned on Ayanokouji's shoulder, finally allowing her body to relax a little.
(Pov switched to Ryota)
Man, I swear...
I knew they'd be a bit down after that chapter.
But this?
This silence?
This funeral-like atmosphere?
I'm floating in the middle of the theater, looking at this bunch, and all I think is:
Man, I miss the days when the problem was them getting hard and pretending they weren't.
I sighed.
Again.
Sigh number six today alone.
Maybe I should've given a bigger break between chapters, but honestly, who'd have imagined that seeing their own future love life in ruins would suck their souls this fast?
— "How long are you going to stay there?" — I asked lightly, turning slowly as I hovered, arms crossed behind my head, staring at the hidden corner of the theater.
Of course. There he was.
Horikita Manabu.
Quiet, leaning behind one of the beds as if he had a front-row seat to everything, coldly analyzing every move like a special spectator of a tragic play. Honestly, I couldn't say since when he'd been watching everything silently; it's genuinely surprising.
Manabu adjusted his glasses with that classic move of his and answered without hesitation:
— "There really is no hiding from you here."
I smiled.
— "No, there isn't."
I began to float slowly toward him. Not because I wanted to act superior or anything, but... out of pure curiosity.
This guy was always a walking question mark. So proper, so calculated... but full of holes in the mask. Holes that few saw, and I find the reason he left his "honeymoon phase" with Akane-san interesting.
— "So... where's Akane-san? You two were stuck together since the first chapter," — I asked, more to provoke than out of real curiosity. I knew the answer. Everyone reading this story knew.
Manabu didn't hesitate.
— "She's resting in her room; she's tired."
Of course. And the look on his face said, "Don't ask me why."
But I knew why.
Everyone reading our conversation now knew.
I sighed again, floating in circles, thinking. My God, I'm really going to die of boredom if these guys don't get back to normal soon. It was fun when the fight was because someone wanted to have sex or when Ryuen and Ayanokouji exchanged looks of who'd kill who first.
Now it felt like group therapy.
— "So why were you hiding there instead of helping your little sister with her nervous breakdown?" — I challenged, cutting the silence, this time looking directly at him.
Finally, a bigger reaction. Manabu adjusted his glasses with two fingers and looked straight ahead, as if the words had been ready for hours.
— "My sister has to learn to handle her personal problems without my help."
That one I expected.
— "In less than a year, she'll turn eighteen," — he continued, serious, calm as always. — "She can't expect me to always be around. But... I see progress. She's learned to trust others. Made friends. Developed bonds."
He took a deep breath, posture impeccable as ever. Even sitting, he looked like a general giving invisible orders.
— "And that is something I am genuinely proud of."
I stayed silent for a second. Not because I agreed or disagreed, but because... okay. I wasn't expecting to hear that so directly from him now.
He wasn't one to gush over feelings much.
But then came the part that caught me even more by surprise:
— "Now... this matter is more delicate," — he said, looking at his own hands, thoughtful. — "It's not just a school problem. It involves her seeing actions of herself in a future... actions that could happen, but now we're sure won't."
He paused.
— "She needs to understand that the person on that screen is, and at the same time, isn't her. She needs to accept that some of her own actions can hurt herself."
I blinked slowly. That was deeper than I expected for a post-chapter like this.
He continued:
— "And I don't want her to face this alone. She has a boyfriend now. A partner. Someone who, no matter how calculating he is, chose to stay by her side. And there's also a friend..."
I noticed the way he said "friend." Not with disdain. Nor with doubt. But like someone still trying to believe in the concept.
— "...a friend who was willing to sacrifice herself just to protect her from herself."
He turned his gaze to me now, direct, cold eyes, but with a sincere undertone that couldn't be denied.
— "She learned to trust. Learned to ask for help. And that's what makes me satisfied. She's becoming the best version of herself... and did it without my help."
I shook my head slowly, smiling to the side.
He wasn't done yet.
— "And I want her to keep it that way. She's at a phase of life where she needs to discover her own independence... alongside those she's chosen to be with."
Okay. Now I was genuinely impressed.
It wasn't just big brother speech pretending to be rational.
It was sincere.
I floated closer to him, spinning lightly in the air, arms crossed, thinking. The room was still silent. Outside, you could hear some footsteps, doors opening and closing. The others heading to their rooms. Probably needing a psychologist more than a pillow.
But here...
Here was the first honest conversation I'd seen in a long time.
— "Interesting..." — I murmured, blinking slowly, staring at him with amusement.
Manabu raised an eyebrow, curious.
— "What is it?"
I chuckled quietly.
— "Nothing. Just found it curious to see the difference between you... and your future version on that screen. It's like watching two twin brothers with opposite philosophies. One still trying to help his sister with advice, and the other realizing sometimes you have to let the one you love walk on their own and be completely independent."
Manabu didn't smile, but his gaze softened. A rare trait on that always closed-off face.
— "Visions change, that future is something that will never happen again," — he said calmly.
I laughed again.
— "Looks like even Manabu evolved in this theater. Who would've thought..."
I landed slowly on the floor, uncrossing my arms and stretching my back. I was tired too, but at least my mood was improving a bit with this conversation.
I looked at him, curious again:
— "Want some coffee? Maybe you'll surprise me with even deeper philosophy."
He snorted a laugh through his nose. Almost imperceptible. But I noticed.
— "I accept," — he said simply.
He pulled over a nearby chair, adjusted his posture, and sat down with that elegant manner of his. Like someone about to start an important meeting.
The posture said it all.
This guy had something to say.
And I was curious.
— "So... what do you want to talk about now?" — I asked, snapping my fingers and making a small cup of hot coffee appear in my hand. He looked, but wasn't impressed. Of course. Manabu isn't impressed even by an earthquake.
He stared at me seriously.
— "Ayanokouji Kiyotaka."
I raised an eyebrow.
— "What about him?"
Manabu took a sip of the coffee — like we were at some damn educational conference — and continued, calm as always:
— "I want to discuss how we can help him... and, of course, how we can help my sister. When we return to our dimension, I was still researching, checking those other dimensions through your rooms and devices, and I discovered some very important things."
Ah. Now we're talking.
Finally, an interesting conversation.
I smiled.
This chapter ended heavy.
But the next one?
The next one's guaranteed fun. Lots of fun.
I adjusted myself in the air, floating slowly to the chair beside him, spinning lightly like I already knew this conversation was going to be good.
Time to begin.
(pov changed to third person, Ayanokouji and Horikita's room.)
The atmosphere in Ayanokouji's room was calmer now, but there was still that heavy feeling hanging in the air, as if the recent past was trying to drag the two back into the chaos they had just witnessed on the screen.
Horikita was there, nestled in his arms. Kiyotaka's chest rose and fell at a calm, controlled rhythm, as always. But she knew that control well. She knew that behind that calm expression and apathetic look, there were layers and layers of thoughts no one would ever fully reach.
She gently squeezed his shirt between her fingers, breathing slowly, trying to absorb that good feeling. His scent, the warmth of his body against hers. That was what kept her connected to reality now.
She sighed, her lips curving into a light, genuine smile for the first time in hours.
— "I'm calmer now..." — she murmured softly. — "Being in your arms helps. A lot."
He didn't answer immediately. He just looked at her, his deep brown eyes enigmatic, but with that trace she now recognized: he genuinely cared.
Horikita lifted her gaze, staring at him silently for a few seconds. She always thought his eyes were beautiful. Not a striking or conventional beauty, but one born of depth, hidden intelligence. She had always liked getting lost in those eyes when she was alone with him like this.
For a moment, she wished everything would stop right there. She wanted to ignore what they had seen on the screen, ignore the future that no longer existed, ignore the pain. But they knew they needed to talk.
— "I wish I could stay like this longer," — she confessed, almost a whisper. — "But... we both know we need to talk."
He nodded slowly. He knew that too.
His calmness almost made her angry sometimes, but today, in this situation, it was a relief.
Ayanokouji looked at her directly, waiting for her to start.
Horikita took a deep breath, gathering courage to ask what had been hammering in her mind since that damn moment on the screen.
— "Why..." — she began, voice low but firm. — "Why did your version on the screen accept so easily that absurdity my version was saying? Why didn't you question it, didn't try to stop it? You're smarter than that, Kiyotaka."
She wasn't accusing him. It was more a frustrated outburst than anything else.
Ayanokouji stared at her for a moment, pondering whether to be completely honest or soften things. But she was his partner, his girlfriend, and she had made it clear she didn't want half-truths. She deserved the truth.
— "Probably... he was doing it to protect you."
Horikita blinked slowly, surprised.
— "Protect...? What do you mean?" — she asked, not understanding where that was going.
Ayanokouji looked away for a brief second. It was rare for him to do that, and because of that, the impact was even greater. When he looked back at her, there was something in his eyes... something heavy.
— "Remember... what we saw on the screen? That absurd plan where he was willing to use Kei as bait for my father..."
She felt a chill run down her spine just remembering. It was disgusting. Dangerous. But somehow, she also understood why. She knew his father wasn't a man who played fair. He had no scruples. And Kiyotaka... Kiyotaka was someone who would do anything for a victory, even if it meant something horrible like that.
But the problem was... why break up with her?
Then, she started connecting the dots, and her expression changed gradually, from confusion to shock.
— "You... you mean he used our breakup as a strategy? As a way to keep me away from him... to take me off your father's radar?"
Ayanokouji confirmed with a slight nod.
— "If you were apart, the risk would decrease considerably. My father doesn't usually waste resources on something that doesn't seem important. An unstable relationship, full of problems, would be enough for him to lose interest in you as a target."
Horikita let her body fall slowly against his chest, closing her eyes.
Damn it.
That version of him... that idiot on the screen.
She wanted to hit him, curse him, but at the same time...
— "You know you're crazy, right?" — she said softly, smiling tiredly.
He didn't respond. Didn't deny. Didn't agree either. He just let her speak.
— "I don't think anyone in that room thought about that. Everyone just saw us breaking up because of the crap my version said. But... in the end, you used that to protect me."
Her chest was tight, but also full. Full of that cursed mix of anger, understanding, and... admiration.
Damn, how she hated that she loved this idiot.
— "No one else in this school would think that," — she added, now looking directly at him, cheeks flushed but with a serious gaze. — "Only you."
She shook her head, confused, tired, but also... proud.
He didn't answer, and that annoyed her, but at the same time... calmed her. That was him. Always would be.
Horikita felt tears almost forming again, but she held them back. Not out of pride, but because she didn't want to cry anymore over something that no longer existed. They had already changed the future. That wouldn't happen anymore. They both knew that.
Still... it sucked.
— "Damn..." — she murmured. — "Your version on the screen did all that to protect me and... that idiot... me... destroyed everything thinking I was protecting myself."
Her anger wasn't just at the situation anymore, but at herself. It was almost unbearable to realize how weak that version of her had been.
But there, in that bed, with him, things seemed to make sense again.
She couldn't help it. She moved closer, entwining her arms around his neck and kissed him. Not a desperate kiss, but a calm one. A kiss full of everything she couldn't say in words. Respect. Love. Gratitude. Anger. Desire.
All mixed.
When she parted her lips, she rested her forehead against his, breathing heavily.
— "You're a damn pain in the ass," — she said, almost laughing, but still feeling her heart heavy. — "But you're my damn pain in the ass."
Ayanokouji smiled softly. Almost imperceptibly. But she saw it. And that was enough.
— "I wouldn't let anything happen to you," — he replied simply.
She smiled, this time truly.
Yes, that future no longer existed.
But the present?
The present... was theirs.
And that was enough.