Child Ayanokouji walked silently through the dormitory, his small footsteps echoing down the empty hallway. He maintained a neutral expression, as always, while reflecting on his current situation.
He had easily deceived the others, which was disappointing. He had hoped that at least his adult version would suspect something, but apparently, everyone truly believed that he had escaped through the window.
"Unbelievable..."
Sighing, he continued walking, faintly smelling the dinner being prepared in the cafeteria. Perhaps it would be a good place to go, but at the same time, he didn't want to draw attention. After all, now that everyone knew about his existence, it was obvious that any move he made could cause a stir.
It was then that, as he turned a corner, he suddenly stopped.
A female figure was standing a few meters ahead of him, her honey-colored eyes wide in complete shock upon seeing him.
She blinked a few times, seeming confused.
"Huh...?"
Little Ayanokouji didn't move, just staring at her. He immediately noticed the girl's features:
Long strawberry-blonde hair, flowing down her back. Large, expressive eyes, radiating a friendly aura. Her body was well-developed, with large breasts and thick thighs.
He didn't know her.
Or perhaps... his teenage version did.
She rubbed her eyes, as if trying to convince herself that she was dreaming.
"Ayanokouji... as a child...?" she murmured, still perplexed.
He tilted his head slightly to the side, maintaining his impassive expression.
"Who are you?" he asked, pointing directly at her.
The girl blinked again, her eyes widening even more.
"You don't know me?! You know me, Ayanokouji-san."
There was clear indignation in her voice. She quickly pointed to herself.
"I'm Ichinose Honami! Class 2-C leader!"
Little Ayanokouji remained silent for a moment, simply observing her with a calculating look.
"And...?"
Ichinose was momentarily speechless.
"What do you mean 'and'?!"
She huffed, crossing her arms.
"Are you serious? You really have no idea who I am?"
"No."
The silence that followed was almost comical.
Ichinose blinked quickly, then let out a nervous laugh.
"Wow, that stings a little... I guess I've gotten too used to being popular with everyone knowing who I am..."
She then sighed, placing one hand on her hip while continuing to analyze him.
"But wait... is it true?"
"What?"
"The rumors. Those rumors about the Ayanokouji from the past and the future coming to the present..."
Little Ayanokouji blinked slowly.
"Rumors...?"
Ichinose nodded.
"Yes! Everyone's talking about it. About the Ayanokouji my age, he became really popular at school because suddenly a child version and an adult version of him appeared. Some people thought it was just a strange rumor, but now I'm seeing it with my own eyes..."
She smiled, seeming excited about the situation.
"So, is it true?"
Little Ayanokouji sighed.
"If you're seeing it with your own eyes, then you should draw your own conclusions."
Ichinose laughed lightly.
"You really are just like the Ayanokouji I know. Even this tiny, you still speak like a serious adult."
Little Ayanokouji didn't respond, just continued observing her.
She seemed like someone with a sociable personality, maybe even naive, but at the same time, there was something in her gaze that suggested she wasn't as foolish as she appeared.
"And what are you going to do now? Take me back to them?"
Ichinose blinked, surprised by the question.
"Huh?"
"You don't seem like the type to ignore this. So, what do you intend to do? Are you going to hand me over to my teenage version? Or maybe to my adult version?"
Ichinose laughed.
"Wow, you're very direct..."
She then tilted her head, thoughtfully smiling gently.
"Well, I should, right? After all, you're just a lost child in the middle of the school."
"I'm not lost."
She smiled gently, getting closer to little Ayanokouji, standing next to him.
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. I'm exactly where I want to be."
Ichinose laughed again.
"Wow, you really are a mini Ayanokouji."
She sighed, placing her hands on her hips.
"Look, I'm not going to hand you over. But I'm curious... why did you run away? I assume you should have been with them and not wandering alone around the school."
Little Ayanokouji didn't respond immediately.
He could simply ignore her and keep walking, but something told him she wouldn't let him go that easily, and that could be problematic.
So, he chose to tell her half the truth.
"I just wanted some peace."
Ichinose blinked.
"Peace?"
"Yes. Those idiots were bothering me, so I decided I wanted some time alone, and there was this scary girl who looked like a criminal with them."
Ichinose laughed, surprised.
"Wow, that's a weird way to talk about your 'older selves' and a strange description of some girl."
Little Ayanokouji shrugged.
"They're as naïve as anyone else."
"Wait, even as a joke and a lie, does that mean I'm humiliating myself?" Little Ayanokouji thought calmly.
Ichinose seemed slightly surprised by that response.
She then crouched down a little, bringing herself to his height.
"And what are you going to do now?"
He stared at her for a few seconds before responding.
"I haven't decided yet."
She smiled.
"How about I help you then?"
Little Ayanokouji narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Help how?"
"Oh, I don't know... we could take a walk together, wouldn't that be nice?"
He frowned slightly.
"You want to go for a walk with me?"
"Why not?"
She smiled kindly, holding little Ayanokouji's hands.
"Your teenage version never talked about his childhood, so meeting you, his child version, will be interesting." Ichinose said, smiling softly, still holding little Ayanokouji's hands.
Little Ayanokouji remained silent, contemplating this.
On one hand, walking with her could draw attention, which wasn't ideal. But on the other, he could observe how this Ichinose acted and behaved, which could be useful later, and he could still learn more about a girl his future self talked to.
Finally, he sighed.
"Alright. But I want us to go somewhere with few people, and if anyone sees us, I want you to say that I'm your little brother."
Ichinose widened her eyes, blushing slightly as she imagined Ayanokouji as her little brother.
"Honami Nee-san, I love you." Ichinose imagined Ayanokouji as her little brother saying that while hugging her at home, which made her blush slightly.
"Little brother, huh? Hmmm... That sounds cute..."
She then winked at him, smiling, holding his hands, putting him beside her.
"Alright, little brother. Let's go for a walk then."
Little Ayanokouji just sighed, resigned.
He wasn't sure if this was a good idea, something about this girl was reminding him of Ichika, and that scared him...
But maybe it would be interesting to observe this girl up close, she seemed close to his teenage version, so it was more information for him.
Little Ayanokouji walked alongside Ichinose Honami, his neutral expression hiding any thoughts that crossed his mind. The hallway was relatively empty, as many students were in their rooms or engaged in extracurricular activities, making their movement easier. Still, he kept a leisurely pace, as if he had nothing to fear.
Ichinose, on the other hand, seemed fascinated by the situation. Her gaze analyzed the little Ayanokouji with curiosity, trying to understand exactly what was happening. After all, it wasn't every day that someone saw a childhood version of a schoolmate casually walking through the halls.
She looked at him for a moment before finally breaking the silence:
"So... do you remember your childhood? Usually, kids end up forgetting their early years, so I'm curious to know if you still remember."
Little Ayanokouji looked away at her, his expression unchanged.
"Of course."
Ichinose smiled eagerly, squeezing his small hand more.
"Oh? Then, tell me... what was little Ayanokouji like? Did you play a lot when you were a kid? Did you do a lot of mischief? Or were you more of the studious type? I think you were more of the studious type, I can't imagine Ayanokouji-san doing mischief."
He kept his calm, controlled tone, as if he had already been expecting this kind of question.
"My childhood was completely normal."
She blinked a few times before letting out a soft laugh.
"'Normal'? You know that word doesn't really suit you, right?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Ichinose placed her hand on her chin, thinking back to the times she spoke with Ayanokouji.
"Well, the Ayanokouji I know doesn't seem like the type of person who had a normal childhood. You're always so serious, so observant... you seem like someone who never had time to just be a kid, always serious, kind, cute, helping others, handsome, sexy..." Ichinose said calmly, getting lost in her thoughts, which made her blurt out some of her thoughts.
"Please, ignore most of what I just said." Ichinose said, blushing slightly, her head lowered.
Little Ayanokouji kept walking, in no hurry, ignoring almost everything Ichinose had said.
"Not everyone has the same childhood, so my childhood was normal in my view."
— That's true... — Ichinose nodded, crossing her arms and deciding to pretend those sentences had never been spoken. — But something tells me your childhood was very different from most people's.
He averted his gaze momentarily, not responding.
"It's not like I can tell her that I was raised in a cold and controlled environment, where every moment of my life was decided by other people."
Ichinose noticed that he didn't seem very inclined to continue this topic, but being the friendly and persistent person she was, she decided to change her approach a little.
— Well, if you don't want to talk about your childhood, that's fine. But can I at least ask about your preferences?
He raised an eyebrow.
— Preferences?
She smiled softly, gently squeezing his small hand.
— Yes! Like... do you have a favorite food? Or something you like to do in your free time?
Young Ayanokouji observed her for a moment before giving a simple response:
— I don't have a favorite food.
Ichinose pouted.
— Really? Not even sweets? Chocolate? Cake?
— No.
— You're difficult, huh... — she laughed, shaking her head. — What about hobbies? Do you like reading? Sports? Games?
He shrugged.
— Reading is acceptable.
— "Acceptable"? — Ichinose widened her eyes, surprised. — Wow, you talk like you're analyzing a report instead of just saying you like something.
He remained silent.
She sighed but kept smiling—he was acting somewhat the way she expected Ayanokouji to behave as a child.
— You know, I wonder...
He glanced at her, waiting for her to continue.
— What's the most fun thing you've ever done?
Young Ayanokouji hesitated for a moment.
— Having fun is a matter of perspective.
Ichinose rolled her eyes, smiling softly.
— Ayanokouji, I'm talking about real fun. Like something that makes you smile, laugh, feel happy, and jump for joy.
He thought for a moment, then responded objectively:
— I don't remember anything that made me feel that amount of enthusiasm.
Ichinose was silent for a few seconds before letting out a long sigh.
— That's kind of sad, Ayanokouji-san...
— Why?
She crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly.
— Because childhood is supposed to be a time when we have fun, make friends, and create good memories...
Young Ayanokouji didn't respond.
Ichinose then smiled softly and gently ruffled his hair, then placed her hand on his cheek as she crouched to his eye level.
— But that's okay. You still have time to learn what fun is.
He furrowed his brows slightly but didn't push her hand away.
She pulled back, chuckling softly.
— So, since we're wandering aimlessly, how about we go to the rooftop?
He blinked calmly.
— Why?
— Because the rooftop is a calm and pleasant place. I think you'll like it, plus there won't be anyone there, just like you wanted.
Young Ayanokouji pondered.
A high and open place like the rooftop could be useful for observing the surroundings without drawing attention. Also, it was unlikely that others would be looking for him there.
Finally, he nodded.
— Alright.
Ichinose clapped her hands excitedly and then took Ayanokouji's hand, leading him.
— Great! Let's go!
The two continued walking, now with a clear destination in mind.
As they climbed the stairs, Ichinose kept making conversation.
— You've talked to me a lot, but what about other people? Is there anyone at school you like talking to more?
Young Ayanokouji took a few seconds to respond.
— I talk to whoever is necessary.
Ichinose sighed again.
— You really don't make things easy, huh?
He didn't respond.
Finally, they reached the rooftop. The wind blew gently as Ichinose opened the door, revealing the open sky and the wide view of the school below.
She took a deep breath and smiled.
— See? Perfect place! And we're alone, no one knows we're here, so we don't have to worry about anyone seeing us!
"Why do these girls say such creepy things for someone supposedly close to a child?" Young Ayanokouji thought, sighing as he looked at Ichinose.
Young Ayanokouji took a few steps forward, silently observing the landscape.
Ichinose leaned against the safety railing and looked at him.
— So? Did you like it?
He remained silent for a moment before finally responding.
— It's... acceptable.
She laughed.
— At least that's progress.
The soft breeze blew across the rooftop, making the atmosphere pleasant. The clear sky allowed the sun to shine lightly on the school structure, and the city in the distance seemed busy but far enough away for the place to still feel peaceful.
Young Ayanokouji and Ichinose sat side by side on a concrete bench, the girl smiling softly as she kept chatting. Ayanokouji, on the other hand, maintained his neutral posture, attentively listening to every word while observing the surroundings.
— It's strange talking to a younger version of someone I know... — Ichinose commented, laughing slightly.
— Why?
She tilted her head, thoughtful.
— Because normally, when we talk to a child, they tend to be more naive, more curious about the world... But you're not like that. You talk like an adult in a small body.
Young Ayanokouji averted his gaze to the horizon.
— And is that a bad thing?
— No... It's just curious. — Ichinose smiled. — You're much more direct than the Ayanokouji I know.
Young Ayanokouji turned his attention to her, his eyes analyzing her subtle expressions.
— And what's your relationship with him?
Ichinose widened her eyes for a brief moment, clearly surprised by the question. Then, her face turned slightly pink, and she looked away.
— A-Ah... Well, we're friends... — she replied, fidgeting with her fingers. — Just friends. Nothing more than that.
Young Ayanokouji observed her reaction and blinked calmly.
— You're blushing.
Ichinose's face turned even redder, and she pouted, crossing her arms.
— So what?!
— It means your answer might not be entirely true, or you're embarrassed to admit something.
She looked both indignant and amused.
— Wow, you're more direct than he is! Teenage Ayanokouji always speaks neutrally, as if he's hiding what he thinks. But you have no filter!
— I see no reason to hide obvious truths, and your cheeks reveal that you're hiding something.
Ichinose sighed and ran her hands over her face, as if trying to hide her embarrassment.
— This is so unfair... You're just a kid, yet you can make me flustered this easily. Life is unfair.
Young Ayanokouji kept his expression unchanged.
— So, you like him, don't you?
She remained silent for a few seconds before answering.
— I... I think I do, but I'm not sure...
He tilted his head slightly.
— What do you mean?
Ichinose took a deep breath before continuing.
— The Ayanokouji I know is... different from everyone I've met. He always seems distant, as if he doesn't care about anything around him. But at the same time, he's always there when we need him. He's helped me a few times, even though he had no obligation to do so. And I think, deep down, I just want to understand him better...
Young Ayanokouji was silent for a moment, processing her words.
— But you haven't succeeded, I presume.
She shook her head, smiling slightly, but with a hint of melancholy.
— No. He never fully opens up. He always gives vague answers or changes the subject. I wish he trusted me more.
Young Ayanokouji observed her expression, noting every detail.
— And what would you do if he did trust you?
Ichinose blinked, surprised by the question.
— What do you mean?
— If he told you everything about himself. Do you think you'd still like him the same way?
She hesitated.
— I... I think so...
— Are you sure?
Ichinose hesitated again.
— Well, I guess it depends on what he's hiding… But in the end, I like him for what he has already shown himself to be. Even if he has secrets, that wouldn't change who he is in my mind. I think I would still love him no matter what he's hiding.
Child Ayanokouji remained silent, just looking at the city below, lost in thought.
— If you knew what he really is, would you still say that? —
Ichinose sighed and smiled softly.
— But I guess he'll never fully trust me enough to talk about his personal life outside of school…
Child Ayanokouji turned his attention to her.
— And why do you think that?
— Because he's too closed off. He's always one step ahead, always analyzing everything… As if he's planning every move before even needing to act. It's hard to get close to someone like that.
Child Ayanokouji thought for a moment before responding.
— Maybe he just doesn't want to get attached to anyone.
Ichinose looked at him, curious. She was seriously taking advice from a child.
— Do you think he's afraid of getting attached?
He didn't answer immediately.
— Fear wouldn't be the right word.
She was intrigued.
— Then what would it be?
Child Ayanokouji averted his gaze again, as if he didn't want to delve too deep into the conversation.
— Maybe he just learned that it's easier to live without relying on others. Maybe he realized that life is better when you only have to trust yourself.
Ichinose slightly furrowed her eyebrows, looking concerned.
— That sounds a little sad…
— It's just a way of living.
She sighed again but then smiled.
— Well, either way, he won't get rid of me that easily. I'll keep trying to understand him, even if he resists.
Child Ayanokouji observed her for a moment before looking up at the sky.
The breeze remained gentle, and the silence between them had now become comfortable. Without realizing it, Ichinose had opened up to him, unaware that deep down, she was talking to someone who had already accepted that he would never have a real bond with anyone.
And so, they continued sitting there, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility.
Child Ayanokouji calmly looked at Ichinose and, without hesitation, said:
— I'm hungry.
Ichinose blinked a few times, slightly surprised by the sudden change of topic. Checking her phone, she confirmed the time before nodding.
— Ah, the cafeteria just opened. If we go now, there probably won't be a line.
Child Ayanokouji gave a small nod, but before following her, he looked around the rooftop as if considering something.
— Do you have paper and a pen?
Ichinose furrowed her brows, finding the request odd.
— Huh?
— Paper and a pen. — He repeated in the same monotone voice.
Even though she didn't understand, Ichinose rummaged through her bag and handed him a small notepad and a pen. He took them and crouched down, using the bench to quickly write something.
Ichinose tried to peek, leaning slightly.
— What are you writing?
Child Ayanokouji finished, tore the page out, and placed it under a weight on the bench. Then, he handed the pen and notepad back to Ichinose.
— Just a note.
— For who?
He looked at her for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the horizon.
— For my teenage self. In case they're looking for me.
Ichinose watched him, intrigued.
— And what did you write?
— Just enough for him to find me.
She narrowed her eyes, suspicious, but before she could ask more, he started walking.
— If we take too long, the cafeteria will get crowded.
Ichinose huffed but let it go.
— Fine, fine. Let's go before a line forms.
Beside her, Child Ayanokouji took her hand.
Ichinose froze for a moment, feeling a slight warmth rise to her face.
— H-Huh?
Ichinose hadn't expected Child Ayanokouji to be the one to hold her hand. She had been the one doing it before, but when he was the one initiating it, it felt completely different.
He looked directly at her.
— If you act weird, I'll run.
Her eyes widened as she blushed.
— W-Wait… You think I…
He just observed her with that cold, analytical expression.
— I'm just being cautious.
Ichinose sighed but smiled, still blushing.
— Hah… Fine, fine. I won't act weird. Can we go now?
He nodded and continued holding her hand as they walked through the nearly empty hallways.
Curious, Ichinose started a conversation.
— Hey, how does it feel to meet your teenage self and even your adult self?
Child Ayanokouji didn't look surprised by the question. He just answered with his usual calmness.
— The teenage version is fine. He's obviously a version of me that changed a bit, especially since he's studying at a school.
Ichinose blinked.
— And that's strange to you? What's wrong with that?
He averted his gaze slightly, as if forming his response.
— I was always homeschooled, with private tutors. So it's strange to know that, in the future, I'll be studying with other students.
Ichinose nodded, seeming thoughtful.
— Ah… That makes sense. I always thought teenage Ayanokouji wasn't great at communication, so if he was homeschooled his whole life, that explains a lot.
Child Ayanokouji remained silent for a few moments before thinking to himself:
"Yeah, it's not because I spent over 14 years since my birth locked away in a facility/laboratory, isolated from society. No way that's the reason."
He kept his neutral expression, but his mind drifted for a moment, recalling his true childhood. The isolation. The tests. The cold instructors. The relentless learning.
Ichinose noticed the subtle change in his expression.
— Hey… — She gently squeezed his small hands. — Are you okay?
Child Ayanokouji refocused on reality, looking at his hands being held by Ichinose. He didn't pull away or resist, he just observed.
— Yes, I'm fine.
She furrowed her brows.
— Are you sure? You went silent for a while, like you were far away…
— I was just thinking.
Ichinose smiled slightly.
— You know, Ayanokouji-kun… You can tell me what you're thinking. You don't have to keep everything to yourself.
He stared at her for a moment, as if analyzing her words.
— I know.
And with that, he started walking again.
Ichinose sighed and followed him, but she couldn't shake the strange feeling that there was something much deeper behind his words.
They arrived at the cafeteria. The smell of warm food filled the air, and a few students were scattered at the tables.
— Alright, let's get our food before it gets too crowded! — Ichinose said, trying to keep an upbeat tone.
Child Ayanokouji let go of her hand as soon as they entered the cafeteria and headed toward the counter to grab their trays.
Ichinose picked a balanced meal with rice, grilled fish, and vegetables. Child Ayanokouji chose something simpler: rice, meat, and soup.
They sat by a window, and Ichinose started eating while watching Child Ayanokouji, who was staring at his food without touching it.
— Huh? What's wrong? Something off with the food?
He slowly picked up his chopsticks.
— No. I'm just thinking.
She raised an eyebrow.
— Thinking about what?
He looked at her.
— If my teenage version already saw the note.
Ichinose frowned.
— Seriously... What did you write on it?
The child Ayanokouji picked up a piece of meat and responded before bringing it to his mouth:
— The necessary to make him find me.
POV: Teenage Ayanokouji (Present)
The group arrived at the terrace, not in a hurry but with a clear goal in mind: to find the child Ayanokouji. The place was silent, with only the sound of the wind whistling through the metal railings. The sun was beginning to set on the horizon, painting the sky with a soft orange hue.
Teenage Ayanokouji was the first to look around, his eyes scanning every corner of the terrace. Nothing.
Adult Ayanokouji frowned and sighed.
— As expected, he didn't stay waiting patiently.
Teenage Ayanokouji crossed his arms and let out a soft sigh.
— That was obvious from the start. It's not like I would stay still waiting for someone to find me if I were in his place.
Horikita walked around the terrace a little, her eyes scanning for any possible clues.
— Does this mean we're back to square one?
Before anyone could respond, Nanase, who was standing a little further away, raised her eyebrows when she noticed something on one of the benches.
— Wait... I think I found something.
She bent down and picked up a small folded piece of paper, which seemed to have been purposely placed under a weight to prevent it from flying away with the wind. The group quickly approached.
Teenage Ayanokouji took the note from her hands and unfolded it, starting to read aloud:
"If you're reading this, it means one of me has stopped acting like an idiot, stopped playing around, and started taking this a little more seriously. Which is good... 3 points for me. I hope you can find me. If not, it'll be disappointing. But that's okay, 1 point for trying. 6 if you at least get the hint. 5 if it takes too long. 20 if you've already figured out where I am. 5 if you figured it out without needing to reread. 18 if you're still thinking. 9 if you've finally connected the dots. 1 if you're still confused. 0 ready for me if this was obvious from the start."
A brief silence fell over them as they processed the content of the note.
Nanase tilted her head slightly, her expression showing confusion.
— Why is he calling himself — or rather, you — idiots?
Horikita took the note back and read it again, furrowing her brows.
— And what's with this point system? It seems completely random...
Ichika shrugged, a faint amused smile on her lips.
— Maybe it's just a prank? Like, he wants to see who takes the longest to figure out where he is.
Nanase gave Ichika a more serious look.
— I don't think it's that simple. The child Ayanokouji clearly doesn't like you, but he seems calm with the others. So if he made this system, there must be a real reason behind it.
Adult Ayanokouji, who had been observing until now, decided to speak.
— He did this on purpose. No matter how childish it seems, everything he does has a goal.
Teenage Ayanokouji held the note more firmly, analyzing the numbers and trying to identify a pattern. He took a pen from his pocket and started writing some sequences on the back of the paper.
The others watched him closely as he wrote the numbers in order:
(3) (1) (6) (5) (20) (5) (18) (9) (1)
After a few seconds, he finally spoke, explaining his thought process:
— If we assign numerical values to the letters of the alphabet — A being 1, B being 2, C being 3, and so on — we can convert these numbers into letters.
He began replacing the numbers with letters, speaking as he wrote:
C (3) A (1) F (6) E (5) T (20) E (5) R (18) I (9) A (1)
Once finished, he looked up at the others.
— Cafeteria.
Nanase's eyes widened slightly.
— Wait... Are you saying this was a riddle?
Horikita took the note back and reread it, now understanding the code.
— The numbers were hidden in the text to make them look like part of the joke... But, in reality, he was telling us exactly where he went.
Ichika let out a low laugh, crossing her arms.
— This brat really knows how to mess with people's patience. He basically challenged you to solve a riddle while making it seem like a simple tease.
Adult Ayanokouji smiled slightly and shook his head.
— Not bad.
Teenage Ayanokouji put the pen away and stood up.
— If he left this clue behind, then he wants us to go there.
Horikita also stood up, adjusting her uniform.
— Then let's not waste time. If we take too long, he might leave the cafeteria before we get there.
Nanase nodded quickly.
— If we're fast, maybe we'll still find him there.
The group left the terrace and began walking down the hallway toward the cafeteria.
Along the way, Ichika looked at Teenage Ayanokouji with an amused look.
— You know, I never thought I'd see you literally chasing yourself.
Teenage Ayanokouji kept his neutral gaze.
— This definitely wasn't something I expected to experience.
Ichika tilted her head slightly.
— And what do you think of all this?
He was silent for a few moments before answering.
— It's... interesting.
Ichika raised an eyebrow.
— Interesting how?
Teenage Ayanokouji looked ahead, his expression unchanged, but his gaze a little distant.
— He's still me... but at the same time, he's not.
Ichika furrowed her brow slightly.
— Are you saying he's already different from you?
He thought for a moment before responding.
— Yes. I've changed over the years. He's still the pure product of the creation we had. But I've gone through experiences he hasn't lived yet. He still doesn't understand certain things the way I understand them now.
Ichika smiled faintly.
— Hm... really interesting. So he's like a more "raw" version of you?
— Something like that.
The conversation was interrupted when they reached the hallway that led to the cafeteria.
Horikita quickened her pace, keeping her focus on the objective.
— If he's really here, we need to find him before he moves again.
Teenage Ayanokouji nodded.
They were closer to finding him, but he knew this hunt for his own past was still far from over.
For now, the cafeteria was the next step.
The cafeteria was busy, filled with students scattered around the tables and food counters. The smell of freshly prepared meals mixed with the hum of conversations. Teenage Ayanokouji and the group entered the place, their eyes quickly scanning the chairs and food courts in search of the child Ayanokouji.
Nanase sighed, crossing her arms.
— Are you sure he really came here? What if that note was just a prank?
Teenage Ayanokouji shook his head, his expression still neutral.
— No. If he left that message, then he came here. But that doesn't mean he's still here.
Adult Ayanokouji nodded, reinforcing the idea.
— He probably passed through here and left before we arrived. He's leading us somewhere specific.
Horikita, who was carefully observing the environment, interjected.
— If he was really here, he might have left us another clue. Maybe another note.
The group looked around. The cafeteria was crowded, making the search for a small piece of paper nearly impossible. Ichika let out a small ironic smile.
— You really think you're going to find a little piece of paper in this sea of people? That would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Before they could continue discussing, a waitress approached the group. She seemed a little nervous, and her face was slightly flushed as she looked at Adult Ayanokouji. Her gaze showed admiration and a bit of shyness.
— E-excuse me... A little boy along with Ichinose asked me to give this to you.
She handed a folded piece of paper to the group. Adult Ayanokouji calmly took the note, giving the waitress a slight smile.
— Thank you. You've been very helpful.
The waitress's face turned even redder, and she quickly walked away, a small smile on her lips.
— It's the first time someone has thanked me like that... — she murmured to herself as she returned to work.
Teenage Ayanokouji opened the note in front of the group, expecting to find another provocative message. However, what he saw was a series of dashes and dots.
... .----. -- / --. .-.. .- -.. / -.-- --- ..- / -- .- -.. . / .. - / - .... .. ... / ..-. .- .-. .-.-.- / .... --- .-- . ...- . .-. --..-- / .. .----. -- / -. --- / .-.. --- -. --. . .-. / .. -. / - .... .. ... / .-.. --- -.-. .- - .. --- -. .-.-.- / .. -.-. .... .. -. --- ... . / .- -. -.. / .. / .- .-. . / . -.. -..- .--. .-.. --- .-. .. -. --. / - .... . / -.-. .-.. .- ... ... .-. --- --- -- / .- .-. . .- ... .- .-.-.- / .. ..-. / -.-- --- ..- / .-- .- -. - / - --- / ..-. .. -. -.. / ..- ... --..-- / .-- . ---- .-.. .-.. / -... . / .. -. / .. -.-. .... .. -. --- ... . .----. ... / -.-. .-.. .- ... ... .-. --- --- -- .-.-.- / ... .... . / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / .. -. - .-. --- -.. ..- -.-. . / -- . / - --- / .... . .-. / -.-. --- .-.. .-.. . .- --. ..- . ... / - --- --- .-.-.-
Horikita sighed, crossing her arms.
— Is he using Morse code now? How does he know something like that being so young?
Teenage Ayanokouji shrugged, trying to come up with a quick excuse.
— When I was a child, I used to create codes like that for fun.
Ichika chuckled softly.
— So, you two can translate this, right?
Adult Ayanokouji picked up a pen and began to decipher the message, reading aloud as he wrote the translation:
— "I'm glad you made it this far. However, I'm no longer in this location. Ichinose and I are exploring the classroom areas. If you want to find us, we'll be in Ichinose's classroom. She will introduce me to her classmates."
The group sighed at the same time.
— So, should we head to Ichinose's class now? — Nanase asked, already showing signs of exhaustion.
— If we don't hurry, he might leave before we get there, — teenage Ayanokouji replied.
Horikita and Nanase sighed, visibly tired.
— It's been over an hour since we started running around this school... — Nanase murmured.
— I hope we finally find him this time, — Horikita added.
Ichika, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying herself.
— Well, at least this brat knows how to keep us busy.
Adult Ayanokouji smiled faintly.
— It's all part of his game. He wants to see how far we can keep up with him.
Nanase shook her head.
— If he were any other kid, I'd say he's just playing around... But, considering who he is, this definitely has a bigger purpose.
Teenage Ayanokouji nodded.
— He wants to test something. What exactly, we don't know yet. But we can find out if we keep following him.
The group then began walking toward the classrooms, their steps quickening. They needed to find him before he disappeared again.
The hunt continued.
---
End of Chapter 6.