"It can't be something supernatural, right?!"
The thought made Hayato laugh despite himself. At this point, it was practically a reflex.
Still, he kept his guard up. Better safe than sorry.
When the second doorbell chimed, Hayato got to his feet, adjusted his bathrobe, and headed for the door. He opened it slowly.
Standing outside was a delicate girl with long purple-black hair, waiting quietly.
Hoshino Ai.
She looked up at him, her expression neutral as her lips parted.
"Sorry, there's something I need your help with."
The hesitant look on her face made Hayato step aside and let her in first.
After she entered, Hayato closed the door behind her.
"You know, Hoshino-san, you really have zero sense of danger. Coming to a guy's room this late at night... something bad could easily happen."
The moment those words left his mouth, Hoshino Ai jumped back two or three steps.
"Um, um... forcing yourself on someone is illegal, you know... not good..."
She hugged herself defensively, eyes filled with wariness.
"I, I know you really like me, but... but you can't... get me through that kind of method."
Hayato let out an exasperated sigh.
"The 'me' from before might've really liked you, but I don't anymore."
Strictly speaking, even those old feelings weren't really his. And Hoshino Ai without her memories? Even more uninteresting. If she still remembered the hotel, he'd at least feel something. They'd survived hell together as partners, after all.
"Eh, how... how can that be?"
Hoshino Ai's voice rose in shock.
"You, you're Ai-chan's fan."
"Not anymore."
"Hayato-kun, Ai-chan will be sad."
"That's not my..."
He froze mid-sentence. His hand stopped halfway to the water bottle he was reaching for.
What did she just call him? Hayato-kun?
His head snapped up. His gaze locked onto Hoshino Ai's eyes, now sparkling with starlight and barely suppressed laughter.
This was... could it be...
"Surprised? Happy? Hayato-kun, hehehe..."
Hoshino Ai tilted her head with a radiant smile. She couldn't hold back the joy bubbling up inside her anymore.
So happy!
She'd finally gotten to see Hayato's shocked reaction, just like she'd hoped!
"It's the Ai-chan you know! How was my amnesia act? Pretty convincing, right?! Even Hayato-kun didn't notice! Hehe, my acting must be better than Sakurajima Mai's now. I can definitely become a popular actress in the future, too!"
Hayato's expression shifted instantly. The dark look that crossed his face made Hoshino Ai's heart skip a beat.
Oh no. Did I go too far?
Tap tap...
Hayato took two steps forward. Hoshino Ai instinctively backed up until she bumped into the bed and fell onto it with a surprised yelp.
"Um... Hayato-kun, don't be angry. I, I was just joking. I really didn't mean to tease you like that."
She watched as Hayato raised his right hand high. Reflexively, she squeezed her eyes shut, her body curling up and trembling.
Thud...
His hand suddenly slowed and landed gently on her face. His thumb and index finger pinched her cheek and twisted.
"Ow ow ow..."
Hoshino Ai whimpered. But relief washed over her. Hayato wasn't truly angry. If he were really furious, he wouldn't just mess with her like this.
"Why did you do that?"
"Um! This... wasn't this supposed to be a surprise for Hayato-kun?! I wanted to see your shocked face."
Her voice came out nervous.
Hayato's grip on her cheek loosened. His voice dropped an octave.
"I'm asking why you didn't choose to refuse the invitation and leave the death game."
The playful atmosphere evaporated.
"Once you become a player, you'll die in the next instance. You should understand your own abilities well enough to know that."
Hoshino Ai blinked. Then massive joy swept through her.
"So... Hayato-kun is worried about my safety!"
Her heart soared. The first time in her life someone had genuinely cared about her like this.
Hayato-kun was really gentle and kind, really so good to her. This feeling... could this be what love feels like?
"Don't dodge the question. Answer me, Hoshino Ai."
The seriousness in his tone made her shrink back a little.
She shifted position, crouching on the bed with her knees pulled to her chest. For a moment, she looked incredibly small and vulnerable.
"This is because... I promised Hayato-kun something. After leaving the hotel, I'd wear black stockings and dance for you."
Silence.
Hayato stared at her, processing what he'd just heard.
Just because of that promise?
He wasn't sure whether to feel touched or annoyed.
"Do you understand what you're doing? The next instance game... how will you survive? You don't actually think there'll be another player like me to carry you through every single game, do you?!"
"Eh, isn't there?"
She blinked innocently.
"No. There isn't."
Hayato felt a headache coming on. Was this girl's problem limited to just her mental state, or did it extend to actual intelligence?
But seeing she still looked calm, he realized something worse: Hoshino Ai genuinely hadn't grasped how dangerous her choice was.
A mix of regret and pity welled up in Hayato's chest.
A girl who chose to accept the death game invitation, willing to risk her life in future instances, just to keep a promise she'd made to him. If he said he wasn't moved by that, he'd be lying.
For the first time in his life, a girl like Hoshino Ai had been willing to sacrifice this much for him.
But honestly? He'd rather she hadn't. Black stockings and a dance? None of that was worth her life. If Hayato really wanted to see it that badly, he had other methods available.
"Sigh."
Hayato let out a heavy breath.
"When you die, don't worry. I'll burn incense for you every year."
"Hayato-kun, don't just decide I'm going to die! I cleared one instance game at least!"
She actually sounded proud of that.
"You don't even realize who carried you through that game."
Hayato shook his head.
"With this level of awareness, even without the death game, I think you'd end up dead somewhere in reality anyway."
Hayato leaned back, his voice taking on an almost clinical tone.
"First, you'll be tricked by some scumbag into giving up your body. Then you'll get pregnant with twins. After struggling to give birth and raise them for a few years, you finally return to the stage to restart your career. But then the scumbag shows up at your door and stabs you to death."
His voice stayed flat, matter-of-fact.
"The bright life of a girl named 'Hoshino Ai' ends just like that. Probably makes the news for a day or two before everyone forgets about you."
Hoshino Ai stared at him, completely stunned into silence.
"Hayato-kun, don't curse me like that!"
That's literally your future in the original story, Hayato thought, but kept to himself.
Though considering her current age and how things had changed, maybe this world's timeline had already diverged from that path.
"I'm not cursing you. I genuinely think with your awareness level and emotional intelligence, being tricked by a scumbag is pretty much inevitable. Forget twins... I feel like I could personally trick you into having four or five kids."
"Ugh..."
Hoshino Ai's face turned completely red, a whimpering sound escaping her throat.
Four or five was way too many! One at a time meant at least three years! How could I be an idol then?!
Hayato covered his face with one hand. Just looking at her blushing now, he could guess exactly what was running through her head.
This girl...
"Listen carefully."
He dropped his hand and met her eyes with a serious look.
"This month, eat well, drink well, enjoy yourself. Do whatever you want to do. If the next instance somehow puts us together, I'll help you out."
Too naive. Too innocent. So pure it was both adorable and frustrating.
Named "Ai" (love), but a girl who'd never received any real love herself.
Hayato didn't mind helping her, but he knew he couldn't protect her forever. In some future instance, she'd probably die. The death game didn't care about promises or pure hearts.
"Um... Hayato-kun?"
"What?"
"I have a blessing."
"Hm? What kind of blessing?"
His interest perked up slightly.
"My Fans Support!"
Hayato froze. A bad feeling crept up his spine.
Hoshino Ai continued, her voice gaining confidence.
"I got something called 'Fan Interaction.' The system said I received support from a fan through the entire game and cleared it because of that. So it gave me a blessing called 'My Fans Support!"
She looked up at him with those starlit eyes.
"Once per month, I can summon an external game player to participate in my instance and help me."
The pieces clicked together in Hayato's mind.
The death game forced players into at least one instance per month. Which meant Hoshino Ai could summon backup for every single mandatory game.
And who would she summon?
Obviously me.
Every. Single. Time.
"You're kidding me."
"It's true! The voice said it was a very rare achievement, a really good blessing, and that clearing games wouldn't be a problem with it!"
Hayato felt the headache intensifying.
"And you just... believed it? Without questioning anything?"
"Mm."
Hayato walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression a blend of resignation and disbelief.
"You know what? I take it back. I could definitely trick you into having seven or eight kids. Maybe even ten."
Hoshino Ai's mouth dropped open, her face burning bright red.
But despite his complaints, Hayato felt some of the worry ease up.
This "My Fans Support" blessing changed the equation. Hayato could participate in her instance games as backup. And if the death game's instance refresh rate was normally low outside mandatory missions, this actually worked in his favor.
One extra instance per month. More experience. More rewards.
Having already accepted becoming a player, his attitude toward instances was straightforward: bring them on. More instances meant more rewards.
Still...
Hayato eyed Hoshino Ai, who was now fidgeting nervously on the bed, clearly hoping he'd agree to help her.
Let her get my help for free without giving anything in return?