Chisaki's voice cut through the cheerful clamor of the school festival. "Ren-kun!" she called, waving him over from the entrance of her class's cafe. Ren smiled, a polite, easygoing expression that had become second nature to him, and made his way toward her. The maid cafe was a sight to behold, not with the typical French maid uniforms, but with elegant, stylish kimono maid outfits that blended traditional Japanese aesthetics with a touch of modern chic. As he approached, Chisaki's smile was radiant, but he could sense a hint of nerves beneath her perfect composure.
"I'm so glad you came," she said, her voice a soft murmur as she took his arm, a gentle, possessive gesture. "I want you to meet someone."
It was then that Ren noticed the woman standing beside Chisaki. She was undeniably beautiful, a more mature, refined version of Chisaki herself. Miyazaki Hiyori had thigh-length orange hair tied in a low ponytail, her bangs swept to the left side, and a presence that commanded attention. Her eyes held a knowing glint, and a faint smirk played on her lips.
"Mother, this is Ren-kun," Chisaki said, her voice a little too casual. "He's a special friend of mine."
The phrase "special friend" was a silent agreement between Ren and his lovers. With a full ten of them now, including Chisaki, they had decided this was the only way to introduce him without causing a social earthquake. Society, as Ren well knew, was not ready for the kind of relationship he cultivated.
Hiyori's smirk deepened. She looked Ren up and down, her gaze both appraising and amused. "Is that so? Just a friend, Chisaki?" she asked, her tone light but pointed. It was the kind of tone a mother-in-law would use when teasing her future son-in-law.
Chisaki's cheeks flushed a delicate pink, and she remained silent, afraid to give away anything more. Ren, ever the master of calm, offered a small bow. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miyazaki-san. I'm Shigeno Ren."
"The pleasure is all mine, Ren-kun," Hiyori replied, her voice warm and friendly. "Please, take care of my daughter for me."
She looked at Chisaki, then back at Ren, a look of genuine happiness crossing her face. Hiyori had worried that her daughter, so quiet and diligent, might take a long time to find someone. But seeing how easily the two of them fit together, how Chisaki's smile seemed so genuine in his presence, she was relieved. It seemed her daughter's future was secured. Hiyori then placed her order, asking for Chisaki to be her personal maid for the duration of her visit. Chisaki wanted to die from embarrassment, but Hiyori merely found it amusing, pulling out her phone to snap a photo of her mortified daughter.
After enjoying her takoyaki, Hiyori bid them farewell, wanting only to support her daughter's class. She saw Ren in the hallway as she was leaving and gave him a final, knowing smile. "Goodbye, Ren-kun," she said.
"Goodbye, Miyazaki-san," Ren replied politely, but his mind was already moving in a different direction.
Ren secretly followed Hiyori. She walked briskly through the halls, eventually slowing as she looked for a restroom. Ren stayed a discreet distance behind her, his senses heightened, his thoughts racing. He was already planning his next move, a cruel but necessary step to secure his future.
Hiyori found a quiet restroom and went inside. Ren waited patiently outside, counting the seconds. He heard the toilet flush, the sound of the door creaking open. Hiyori stepped out of the stall and walked toward the sink to wash her hands. Her reflection in the mirror was a quiet blur, and then her eyes went wide. Behind her, standing in the doorway, was Ren. Before she could utter a single word, her vision warped, the world twisting into a kaleidoscope of colors. Her mind went blank for a few seconds, a total void of thought. The effect of the reality ticket was instantaneous and absolute.
When her vision returned, her heart was hammering in her chest. A wave of intense, unbidden emotion washed over her, and her eyes, once filled with surprise, now shone with an urgent longing. She found herself alone with him in the girls' restroom. Ren slowly took a step forward. Hiyori instinctively retreated, her back hitting the cold, tiled wall. Alone together, trapped by an unseen force, Ren leaned in, his face just inches from hers. Like a magnet, her lips were drawn to his, and they met in a kiss.
This was a secret that could never be revealed. Ren and Hiyori were now secret lovers. The how and why was a product of one of Ren's reality tickets—the "Ticket of Relationship." In this newly created reality, Hiyori's life had been subtly altered. One day, she had found her husband cheating on her, not with another woman, but with a young girl barely older than Chisaki. Heartbroken, Hiyori had not confronted him. Instead, she had fled to a quiet park and cried alone.
It was there that Ren, in this new, rewritten timeline, happened to pass by. He saw her and asked if she was okay. She said she was, but her tear-streaked face told a different story. Ren sat beside her, silent for a full hour, until Hiyori finally broke, pouring out the story of her husband's infidelity to the kind stranger who had simply listened.