1. The Announcement That Ruined My Sleep Schedule
It began with a pink glittery envelope shoved into my locker.
Front: "To Kazuki Arata, You Lucky Fool ♥"
Back: "Open Before Regret™ Happens"
Inside was a flyer that read:
⚡ Official Romantic Training Camp! ⚡
Get ready for a 3-day, 2-night emotional development experience in the mountains!
Featuring:
– Forced cohabitation!
– Bathhouse misunderstandings!
– Emotional flashback arcs!
– And way too much shared sleeping space!
At the bottom, someone had drawn a chibi of me fainting while nosebleeding.
Lilith, Ayaka, Sayuri, and Mizuki had all signed it with variations of "Bring extra underwear."
2. The Ride to Chaos
The school van was piloted by none other than Principal Tanaka, who was definitely driving like she was trying to end us all early.
Sayuri, sitting beside me, was polishing throwing stars. Ayaka hummed to herself while organizing bento boxes labeled "Kazuki Emergency Nutrition Plan." Lilith stared out the window like she was preparing for war.
And Mizuki, who insisted on chaperoning, was already in beachwear.
"Why are you in a bikini under a lab coat?" I whispered.
"It's important to create contrast," she winked.
By the time we reached the secluded forest lodge, I was 90% stress, 10% carbonated water.
3. Camp Rules of Doom
Lilith gathered us by the lake.
"Kazuki," she said, "this camp is your final warning."
"For what?"
"For being too romantically indecisive," Ayaka added, smiling sweetly like a yandere about to snap.
Sayuri crossed her arms. "There are tests planned. Emotional ones."
Mizuki threw confetti. "And cooking battles! With affection!"
"I'm starting to miss detention," I muttered.
4. Challenge #1: The Confession Obstacle Course
Yes, that's real.
Lilith handed me a map. "To win, you must complete each girl's emotional confession station without passing out or running away."
I blinked. "That's a THING?"
Sayuri smirked. "You'll see."
Station 1: Ayaka's Love Tent of Emotional Honesty
She sat on a velvet cushion, bathed in soft sunlight.
"I've known you since you cried over your math grade in 3rd grade," she began.
"That wasn't crying. That was eye sweating!"
She ignored me. "And every time I tried to confess, you'd ruin the moment. Like when you threw up during our summer fireworks festival."
"In my defense, I ate 12 takoyaki balls."
She took my hand gently.
"I still like you. Every awkward, ridiculous part of you."
My brain bluescreened. My face went red.
She leaned in.
"Next station," I choked, bolting.
Station 2: Sayuri's Blade of Vulnerability
Sayuri stood in a circle of glowing flowers. Behind her, a target dummy with my face exploded.
"I don't like emotions," she muttered. "They're… inefficient."
"You don't say."
"But somehow, you're… tolerable."
"…Thanks?"
She approached, pulled out a kunai, and—gently brushed a leaf off my shoulder with it.
"I'm not used to liking people. But if I had to… I'd probably choose you."
Suddenly, a ninja dove from a tree and screamed "BETRAYAL!"
She knocked them out cold.
"I may have unfinished business," she added, "but you… you're distracting."
My heartbeat karate-kicked my ribs.
Station 3: Lilith's Trial of Tsundere Flames
Her station was literally on fire. Magic fire.
"I only like you because you're slightly less pathetic than everyone else," she growled.
I raised a brow. "That's… oddly sweet, coming from you."
She glared. "Don't read into it. This camp is just protocol. That's all."
Her cheeks were pink.
She stepped closer. "If I say I want to spend time with you… it's only for evaluation. Got it?"
"Loud and clear, General Emotionally Repressed."
She turned her head. "Idiot."
"I heard that."
Station 4: Mizuki's Hot Spring Confession
…And somehow I was shirtless again.
Because of course her station was in a steaming bath carved into a cliffside.
Mizuki lounged across from me, legs in the water.
"Did you bring a towel?" she purred.
"I brought regrets."
She flicked water at me. "You've grown up a lot, you know. Not just physically."
"Please don't make this weird—"
"You're still an idiot. But a charming one. And I…" she trailed off, voice soft.
"I might've loved your dad. But somehow… I've started looking at you too."
I slid deeper into the water.
"Too real. Too real!"
She laughed. "Just think about it."
5. Post-Challenge: Emotional Damage Assessment
I stumbled out of the last station, soaked in hot spring water and confusion.
"Did I just get emotionally ambushed 4 times in one hour?"
Principal Tanaka appeared from behind a tree. "Yes."
"…Why are you hiding in the forest?"
"Budget cuts."
6. The Midnight Vote
The girls gathered around a campfire. Each held a flower. Only one would give theirs to me.
Lilith stood. "Kazuki, it's time. Choose someone, or we'll choose for you."
"I—"
Suddenly, thunder crackled. A gust of wind blew the flames sideways.
From the shadows emerged…
A NEW GIRL.
Long silver hair. Glowing red eyes. Cloak billowing dramatically.
She smiled darkly.
"Hello, Kazuki. I'm your fiancée. From the future."
Everyone stared.
Lilith dropped her flower.
Mizuki cursed. "Oh come on!"
End of Chapter 16
✅ Call to Action:
💬 Who is this new mystery girl?!
🔥 Should Kazuki finally make a choice… or run screaming into the future?
📌 Save for Chapter 17 – "My Future Wife Declared War on the Harem, and I'm the Battlefield"!