The restaurant dimmed again.
The voice announced:
"Next reveal: Saki Kawasaki."
"…Eh?" Saki blinked, stiff as a board. Her arms crossed tighter. "No. Nope. Absolutely not. This thing's broken."
"Ohhh, Kawasaki-san too?" Haruno teased, smirk wide."Whaaaat?!" Iroha shrieked, pointing dramatically. "The scary delinquent route?!""Unexpected side heroine!" Zaimokuza cried.Ebina gasped theatrically. "Yes! This is like a secret romance subplot!""Shut up," Saki growled, her face reddening.
Hachiman went pale. "…Oh no. Oh no."
"Proceed," the voice intoned.
The projection flickered.
A quiet evening. Komachi tugged at her brother's sleeve, her brows knit in concern.
"Onii-chan, one of my classmates is worried. Kawasaki Taishi-kun. He says his sister's been coming home late, and he doesn't know why. Can you… look into it?"
Hachiman groaned. "…Why do I have to?"
"Because you're you," Komachi shot back. "And because you can actually figure stuff out. Please?"
"…And that was the beginning," Saki's inner thought echoed. "Of him getting involved. Of me being seen."
Another flash.
The Service Club, gathered outside a building. A neon sign glowed: Angel.
Through the glass, they saw Saki Kawasaki — wearing a server's outfit, behind the bar
"…Kawasaki?!" Yui exclaimed!.
But Hachiman didn't say a word, his expression unreadable.
"…I never wanted anyone to find out. I hated being exposed. But he didn't laugh. He didn't judge. He just… watched quietly."
The scene shifted.
A late night. Saki walked alone after her shift, until Hachiman appeared beside her.
She bristled. "You saw, didn't you?"
"…Yeah."
"…I need the money," she muttered. "Tuition's expensive. I don't want to dump it all on my parents. They already work too hard."
Hachiman was quiet for a moment, then said: "…There are scholarships. Ways to get support without carrying it alone."
Her steps faltered.
"…No one had ever cared before Everyone just assumed I'd tough it out. But he… he looked past the surface. He cared."
Another shift.
A small restaurant. Saki sat with Keika, her little sister, trying to keep her entertained.
Then Hachiman passed by. Keika spotted him first, waving cheerfully.
"Hachi-nii!" she chirped.
Saki flushed, but Hachiman joined them anyway, crouching down to Keika's level, joking with her, buying her a small dessert.
Keika laughed, her cheeks sticky with sugar.
"…He didn't have to. But he did. He spoiled her like an older brother. And I… I couldn't stop watching him."
The final scene.
The school rooftop. Hachiman rushing past, frantic.
"Hey, how do I get to the rooftop?" he demanded.
Saki quickly explained, startled.
And then, as he sprinted away, his voice rang out — unthinking, reckless, loud enough for everyone to hear:
"I love you, Kawasaki!"
Saki froze.
The projection lingered on her stunned face, then her racing heartbeat.
"…I knew it was an accident. I knew it wasn't meant for me. But the words… they stuck. They played in my head again and again. And somewhere deep inside… I started wishing they were true."
The projection dimmed.
"EHHHHHH?!" Yui screeched."No way, no way, no way!" Iroha squealed.Ebina laughed so hard she fell against the booth. "Accidental confession route! This is gold!"Zaimokuza pointed dramatically. "Fate! Even shouted to the heavens!""…This is hell," Hachiman muttered, his face buried in his hands.
Saki crossed her arms tighter, glaring at the table, her ears scarlet. "…Don't look at me."
But the tremble in her voice betrayed her.
The voice cut in.
"Proceeding to the next reveal."
The restaurant lights brightened again, but the group was buzzing — unable to forget the image of Saki Kawasaki, the stoic delinquent, blushing from a single reckless shout.