Kei broken.
The room was identical to her real one, but...
It felt strange.
Cold.
Distant.
And empty.
Just like her.
Sato was sitting beside her, holding a glass of water, but...
She knew Kei wouldn't drink it.
Because Kei wasn't really there.
Not truly.
Her vacant, lost gaze fixed on some spot on the floor, no longer seeing anything.
Her lifeless face, trembling lips, and silent tears running down her cheeks...
All of it said what Kei couldn't express in words.
She was broken.
"Kei...?" Sato called softly, almost fearfully.
Nothing.
No response.
No reaction.
Nothing but a body still breathing, but a soul that seemed to have vanished.
Sato swallowed hard, her chest tightening with helplessness.
She had never seen Kei like this.
Never.
Kei had always been strong. Always vibrant. Always... alive.
But now, the girl before her seemed to have lost her very essence.
And the only thing left was a cruel thought echoing in her mind.
"He betrayed me."
"The person I loved the most... betrayed me."
More than her own parents.
More than anyone in her life.
The one she trusted blindly...
Had abandoned her.
Had torn her apart.
Sato clenched her hands together, feeling consumed by suffocating despair.
She didn't know what to do.
She didn't know how to help.
So, she tried the least she could.
"Kei, do you want me to leave so you can think alone?" she asked, her voice low and hesitant.
For a moment, there was no answer.
And then...
Kei just shook her head.
She didn't say a single word.
She just... curled up.
Her shoulders trembled, arms hugging herself, as if trying to protect herself from her own suffering.
And at that moment...
Sato felt a pang in her chest.
Kei looked like a defenseless child.
And that hurt.
A lot.
So, without hesitation, she gently pulled her into a hug, resting Kei's head on her lap.
"It's okay..." she whispered, delicately stroking her friend's golden hair.
"I'm here."
Kei didn't respond.
But something... changed.
The absolute silence broke.
Small choked sobs began to escape.
Weak at first.
But soon...
They grew.
And turned into real crying.
Raw.
Pure.
Agonizing.
The kind of crying that comes from the soul.
From someone who has suffered before...
And who, even now, continues to suffer.
Sato tightened the hug a little more, as if trying to hold Kei together so she wouldn't fall apart even further.
She didn't say anything else.
There was nothing to say.
The only thing she could do...
Was stay there.
And be the only safe harbor Kei had left.
The room was silent, except for Kei's uncontrollable sobs.
Her whole body shook, her fingers gripping Sato's clothes tightly, as if holding on to something would stop her from sinking completely.
The adrenaline had passed.
Now, only the emptiness remained.
The emptiness... and the crushing pain of betrayal.
"Did I do something wrong, Sato...?" Kei's voice was low and broken, almost swallowed by her sobs.
Sato bit her lip, her heart heavy in her chest.
"Was it my fault?" Kei buried her face in her knees, her voice trembling and desperate. "Should I have been a better girlfriend?"
"Kei..." Sato began, trying to find the right words.
But how could she answer that?
"It was my fault, wasn't it?" Kei continued, tears flowing relentlessly. "I wasn't good enough for him."
"No, Kei, stop." Sato held her friend's shoulders gently but firmly. "This wasn't your fault! You know that!"
"Then whose fault was it?!" Kei raised her red, swollen eyes to Sato, her voice heavy with anguish. "His? Do you really think it was his fault? Ayanokouji?"
Sato bit her lip but didn't answer.
"He never loved me." Kei laughed bitterly, curling up again. "He just wanted to test if he could love..."
Sato swallowed hard, feeling a lump in her throat.
"That doesn't mean it's your fault..."
"Yes, it does!" Kei screamed, curling even more over herself. "I failed, Sato!"
"No, you didn't!"
"Yes, I did!" Kei clutched at her friend's dress, soaking the fabric with her tears. "If he didn't love me, it's because I wasn't enough!"
Sato felt her stomach sink.
"Kei..."
"Damn it...!" Kei squeezed her eyes shut, her sobs growing louder.
"The only thing I taught him..." her voice broke in half, and then came the final sentence, filled with pure pain:
"...is that dating only means having sex."
Sato froze.
She felt her breath hitch, her chest tightening at the sight of her friend in such a state.
So...
She just held Kei even tighter.
She stroked her hair more gently.
And held her firmly, as if trying to keep her whole.
"You didn't fail, Kei."
"You didn't fail..."
Kei didn't respond.
She just cried even harder in her arms.
With every passing second, the emptiness inside her seemed to grow.
Her body felt heavy, as if she were being crushed by an invisible weight.
A weight called betrayal.
And an even greater weight called self-blame.
Sato kept stroking her hair, her fingers gently running through the golden strands.
She didn't say anything.
But Kei knew she was there.
And somehow, that kept her from completely falling apart.
"If it's not my fault..." Kei whispered, her voice weak and hoarse from crying, "then why... does it feel like it is?"
Sato closed her eyes for a moment before answering.
"Because you love him," she said softly.
Kei swallowed hard.
Love.
The word that should be sweet...
But now, all she felt was pain.
"If it's not my fault..." Kei repeated, her voice breaking at the end, "then why does it feel like he gave me more than I gave him?"
Sato frowned.
"What do you mean by that?"
Kei hid her face, her hands clenching into fists.
"It was with Kiyotaka that I overcame everything I suffered in the past."
Sato's eyes widened slightly.
"Kei..."
"I've been bullied all my life, Sato." Her voice sounded empty, but at the same time, it was loaded with overwhelming emotions. "You know that."
Sato pressed her lips together, feeling her heart heavy in her chest.
She did know.
But hearing Kei say it with such sadness...
She didn't know how to respond.
"But with him..." Kei continued, ignoring the pain in her dry throat. "I was able to overcome it."
The blonde smiled bitterly, tears still streaming down her pale face.
"Because with him, I felt safe."
Sato's eyes widened.
Safe.
That word carried so much weight...
Kei closed her eyes, curling up even more against Sato.
"I knew he would always be there."
Sato swallowed hard.
"I knew he would protect me."
Kei's chest heaved uncontrollably, her breathing still irregular.
She felt herself sinking.
It was as if a black hole was inside her chest, sucking everything in.
The pain.
The anger.
The betrayal.
The love.
Everything was being consumed.
But at the same time...
The emptiness only grew.
She couldn't breathe properly.
Her lungs felt too small, incapable of drawing in the air she needed.
Her head was spinning, the world around her becoming more distant.
"I... lost him..." Her voice came out weak, trembling.
Sato, sitting next to her on the bed, felt her heart tighten.
"Kei... don't say that..."
But Kei didn't seem to hear.
"Now I have nothing left."
Her gaze was empty, tears streaming relentlessly down her cheeks.
Sato clenched her fists.
She couldn't let Kei think like that.
"Hey, that's not true!"
But Kei shook her head violently.
"YES, I DID!"
Her scream echoed through the room.
Her body trembled, a deep sob escaping her lips.
"I lost the person I loved most in my life..."
Sato felt a lump in her throat.
She had never seen Kei like this.
So... fragile.
The Kei she knew was strong, confident.
She made jokes.
She teased others.
She grabbed life with both hands, never letting anyone see her weaknesses.
But now...
She looked like a broken child.
"Kei... look at me."
The blonde didn't respond.
Sato touched her shoulder, gently squeezing it.
"You haven't lost everything."
But Kei laughed, a bitter and lifeless sound.
"Oh, really?"
She raised her head, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
"Then tell me, Sato. What do I still have?"
Sato opened her mouth but couldn't find the words.
Kei smiled without humor.
"I was just an experiment to him."
Sato's stomach churned.
"Don't say that again!"
But Kei didn't stop.
"He just wanted to see if he could love someone. And you know what happened, Sato?"
Her lips trembled.
"He couldn't."
A warm tear slid down her face, dripping onto her shirt.
"And you know what that means?"
Sato swallowed hard.
She didn't want to hear the answer again because she didn't know how to counter it.
But Kei gave it anyway.
"It means I failed."
Her breathing quickened.
"He didn't love me because I wasn't enough."
Sato felt her chest tighten.
"Kei, that's not true!"
But the blonde shook her head again.
"Yes, it is! If I were a better girlfriend... if I had done the right things..."
She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her own skin.
"If I weren't so selfish, so greedy..."
The air began to run out.
Her chest rose and fell too quickly.
"Maybe he would have loved me..."
Sato felt her blood run cold.
Kei's eyes were wide, her hands trembling violently.
"Kei! Breathe!"
But the blonde couldn't.
Her lungs wouldn't work.
The world around her grew blurry.
Her body felt like it was floating.
Sato panicked.
"KEI!"
She held her friend's face, trying to get her attention.
"Look at me! You need to breathe!"
But Kei didn't respond.
"DAMN IT!"
Sato pulled Kei into a tight hug, pressing her against her chest.
"Kei, you're not alone!"
Her voice trembled.
"I'm here with you! You HAVEN'T lost everything!"
She began rubbing Kei's back slowly, trying to calm her.
"Breathe with me, okay?"
Kei was still trembling, but Sato didn't let go.
"Take a deep breath... slowly... come on..."
She took an exaggerated deep breath, hoping Kei would copy her.
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
But then...
A small sigh escaped Kei's lips.
Sato closed her eyes, relieved.
"That's it... again... very slowly..."
Kei tried to breathe.
She was sobbing between breaths, but little by little, the air was returning.
Her body was still weak, but at least...
At least she was breathing.
Sato, feeling her friend's fragility, gently laid her down on the bed, keeping her head resting on her lap.
With care, her fingers slid through Kei's blonde strands, stroking them slowly.
"Shhh... breathe slowly, okay?" she murmured, her voice soft but worried.
Kei didn't respond.
Her vacant eyes stared at some point in the room, as if her mind was somewhere else.
Her chest rose and fell irregularly, each breath feeling like a struggle.
Tears still streamed down her face, but the panic attack was slowly losing its grip.
Even so...
The pain remained.
Heavy. Suffocating. Cruel.
Kei felt as if something essential had been ripped out of her.
Something she would never get back.
Sato sighed deeply.
Her heart was racing as she tried to process everything that had happened.
Her mind was in chaos.
Her eyes wandered to the ceiling as her fingers continued stroking Kei's hair.
And then, inevitably, she thought of him.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
The boy she...
Fell in love with.
The one she confessed to.
And the one who...
Rejected her.
Sato gave a humorless smile.
"Tch... what an irony of fate, huh?" - she murmured softly, not expecting an answer.
Kei didn't react.
She just slowly closed her eyes, exhausted.
But Sato's mind wouldn't stop.
Because...
She still loved him.
Even after the rejection...
Even knowing he would never see her that way...
She still liked him.
And now...
Now she saw what he did to Kei.
Her best friend.
The person who trusted him more than anyone.
The girl who gave herself entirely to him.
And what did he do?
He threw it all away.
He betrayed Kei.
And the worst part...
Kei still loved him.
That made a lump rise in Sato's throat.
How could someone love a person who destroyed them like that?
And then came the question she didn't want to face...
Why did she still love Ayanokouji after everything?
Her stomach twisted.
She wanted to hate him.
Wanted to never look at him again.
But at the same time...
Her heart still beat faster just thinking about him.
"Damn..." - she muttered, covering her face with one hand, frustrated.
Kei shifted slightly, murmuring something inaudible.
Sato looked at her, worried.
Kei's eyes were red and swollen, and her expression...
Was one of pure pain.
Sato felt her chest tighten.
Kei had always been so full of life.
So vibrant, so confident...
And now, lying there, she seemed so small.
So broken.
Sato bit her lip.
She wanted to say something.
Something to make Kei feel better.
Something to help her understand her own feelings.
But nothing came to mind.
All she knew was that...
She couldn't leave Kei alone.
And somehow...
She needed to figure out what she felt for Ayanokouji.
---
(POV change: Nanase)
Ichika's room was a stark contrast to the heavy atmosphere that hung over the rest of the dorm.
The ambiance inside was... different.
Nanase sat curled up on the floor, her face burning red as she avoided looking at Ichika.
She pressed her hands against her face, trying to hide her embarrassment.
But...
It didn't help.
The images Ryota had shown...
The scenes of Ayanokouji and Horikita in the future...
They wouldn't leave her mind.
The way he held Horikita's waist...
His gaze...
That serious, dominant look...
That low, husky voice...
Her heart raced just thinking about it.
What the hell was that?!
She knew Ayanokouji-senpai was cold, distant, someone who didn't show emotions easily.
But now...
Now she couldn't see him the same way.
Nanase bit her lip, frustrated.
And Ichika?
Oh, Ichika was having a blast.
Sitting on the bed, smiling mischievously, she watched Nanase with clear amusement.
"You were really quiet during the reaction, Nanase-chan," - Ichika teased, laughing softly.
Nanase curled up even more.
"I-I wasn't quiet...!" - she retorted, her voice trembling.
Ichika raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"Oh? Then why didn't you say a word?"
Nanase opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out.
She knew why.
She simply couldn't react.
She had frozen.
And now, just remembering it...
Her face was on fire.
Ichika leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand.
"Hmmm..." - she murmured, pretending to think.
Then, with a teasing smile, she asked:
"Tell me, Nanase-chan... did those images... excite you?"
Nanase's eyes widened.
"W-WHAT?!" - her voice came out high-pitched.
Ichika laughed softly.
"You know what I meant."
Nanase swallowed hard, looking away, not knowing how to respond.
She wanted to deny it, to argue back, but...
The problem was...
She couldn't completely deny it.
The truth was...
She had felt something strange watching those scenes.
But admitting that?!
No way.
Ichika noticed the silence and grinned even wider.
"Oh? Why aren't you denying it now?"
Nanase shrank even more.
"I-I just... don't know what to say," - she murmured, embarrassed.
Ichika laughed again.
"You know what I found interesting?"
Nanase looked at her, suspicious.
"What...?"
Ichika crossed her arms and gave a sly smile.
"As soon as we got to the room, you went straight to take a shower. Without saying anything. That was pretty suspicious, you know?"
Nanase's face burned even more.
"THERE'S NOTHING SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THAT!" - she shouted, completely flustered.
Ichika laughed harder.
"Did those scenes Ryota showed... affect you in a certain way between your legs?"
"ICHIKA!!"
Nanase yelled in despair, throwing a pillow at her friend.
Ichika dodged it easily, still laughing.
Nanase panicked, covering her face with her hands.
"Why are you saying these things?!"
Ichika grinned, amused.
"Because you're hilarious like this."
Nanase let out a frustrated groan.
It didn't seem like Ichika was going to let her rest.
---
(POV Change: Ryota)
The theater room was completely empty, the silence absolute.
The students had only 30 more minutes of rest before everything started again.
Ryota, as calm as ever, sat in the center of the room, watching the stage with a slight smile.
He stretched lazily.
"Well, I guess it's time to check on that guy."
And in the blink of an eye...
He disappeared.
---
When Ryota reappeared, he was not in Ayanokouji's room.
In fact...
It didn't even look like a room.
It was a luxurious pool area, illuminated by a soft golden light.
The atmosphere was relaxing, with the gentle sound of water moving softly.
And there, floating in the pool, was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
He looked...
Like a completely carefree child.
With his eyes closed, he floated calmly in the water, indifferent to everything around him.
Beside the pool, on a table, there was a mysterious bowl.
Inside it...?
Ice cream.
An endless ice cream.
No matter how much was consumed, it always regenerated.
Ryota raised an eyebrow, watching the scene with an amused expression.
"You really know how to enjoy a break, huh?"
Ayanokouji opened one eye, looking at Ryota without moving.
"Since I don't have much free time, I thought I should make the most of it."
Ryota chuckled.
"Makes sense."
He then approached the pool's edge, hands in his pockets.
"So, are you good now?"
Ayanokouji took a deep breath and, in a completely relaxed tone, replied:
"Yes, I'm fine now."
There was a brief pause before he continued:
"It's just... I'll probably be single when we finish watching this chapter."
Ryota smirked.
"Oh, so you've already accepted that fate?"
Ayanokouji didn't answer immediately.
He simply continued floating in the water, his gaze fixed on the ceiling.
Ryota then teased in a mischievous tone:
"Well, at least in the future, you already have another girlfriend... Maybe you should take your future self's lead and start dating Horikita?"
Silence fell over the scene.
Ayanokouji didn't respond.
But...
His lips curled up slightly.
A nearly imperceptible expression, but one Ryota immediately noticed.
The demi-god smirked, amused.
"Oh? So you didn't deny it... and even smiled a bit. That's already an answer, Kiyotaka."
Ayanokouji closed his eyes again, saying nothing.
But he also didn't deny it.
Ryota chuckled softly, satisfied.
He then turned away, starting to leave.
"Well, enjoy your last few minutes of rest. You still have 25 minutes before we return to the theater."
Ayanokouji just waved a hand slightly, confirming he heard.
And so, Ryota disappeared once more.
The pool returned to silence.
Ayanokouji remained floating, lost in thought.
Even without saying anything...
He knew.
He knew that small smile had revealed something even he hadn't realized until now.
(POV Change: Horikita Suzune.)
Horikita lay on her bed, her body hot, lips parted, breathing irregularly. The room Ryota recreated was soundproof-a detail that had seemed insignificant until now but now made her feel... safe. Alone. Free to surrender to what she was feeling.
And she knew exactly what it was.
It wasn't fatigue. It wasn't a fleeting whim. It was pure desire.
Her heart raced, and every time she closed her eyes, the same image replayed in her mind. The future video.
Her and Ayanokouji.
His mouth on hers, intense, possessive. His hands gripping her waist firmly, as if he wanted her for himself, as if there was nothing else in the world but them. She could see his eyes-always so cold, so unreadable-now carrying something different. A silent desire, a contained fire that seemed ready to consume everything.
Her body reacted to the thought before she realized it. Her chest rose and fell with her ragged breath, her thighs pressing together, trying to contain the insistent pulse between her legs. But it was impossible to ignore. The wetness had already gathered there, betraying her excitement.
Slowly, as if testing her own courage, her fingers slid downward, brushing over her heated skin until they reached her most sensitive spot. A shiver ran down her spine the instant she touched herself, and a small gasp escaped her lips.
"Ah..." Her voice came out almost as an involuntary whisper.
The sheet shifted softly beneath her body, following the small tremors of her legs as they moved instinctively with each new touch.
"This is irrational."
Her mind screamed, trying to regain control, but it was hard to concentrate when her own breath was broken by trembling sighs. Her touch deepened, and a soft moan escaped her lips before she could hold it back.
"Kiyotaka..."
His name slipped out without her realizing, broken by another heavy sigh. Her thighs squeezed around her hand, seeking more contact, more friction. Her entire body was hot, pulsing, and her mind drowned in the image of him holding her body, kissing her as if she belonged to him.
"He held me so tightly... as if he was claiming me."
Her fingers quickened, and the wet, muffled sound mixed with the light rustling of the sheets beneath her. Her hips arched slightly against her hand, as if following an instinct she didn't want to admit she had.
"This shouldn't be happening... but I don't want to stop."
Her eyes squeezed shut, the muscles in her legs trembling slightly as she let herself sink deeper into the sensation. Her whole body craved something she couldn't name, something that only intensified the more she thought of him.
"Kiyotaka..."
His name escaped her lips again, more trembling, more laden with a desire she could no longer deny.
And at that moment, she knew.
It wasn't just a whim. It wasn't a momentary weakness.
It was something much deeper. Something she wasn't sure she could control.
Her body was burning, pulsing, craving something she had never experienced but that felt so addictive. The scene from the video she had seen earlier kept replaying endlessly in her mind. Her future with Ayanokouji-the two of them kissing intensely, his arms around her body, holding her firmly, pressing her against him. The way his fingers slid possessively over her skin, as if he had every right to her.
"Haa..." A low, soft moan escaped her lips as her hand slid over her own body, her fingers finally reaching her damp intimacy.
It was inevitable.
She bit her lip hard, but couldn't hold back another sound as her fingers began moving more boldly. Her other hand gripped the sheet beneath her, pulling it instinctively as her hips started to follow the rhythm of her movements. Her legs twitched softly, folding and rubbing against each other in a futile attempt to ease the burning need consuming her entire being.
The sheet crumpled beneath her body with each movement, the soft rustle of fabric blending with her sighs. Her body was so hot that she writhed on the bed, pressing her head against the pillow as her half-closed eyes imagined the scene unfolding before her with greater clarity.
Ayanokouji wasn't just holding her.
He was pulling her against him firmly, his eyes locked on hers, filled with something intense and overwhelming.
"Do you want me to continue, Horikita?" His voice was deep and slightly hoarse, as if he knew exactly the effect he had on her.
Her heart raced, and a fresh shiver ran down her spine.
"Yes..." she whispered, not realizing she had let her response slip aloud.
Her fingers moved faster, and her legs opened a bit more, allowing her touch to deepen. Her breathing grew heavier, and her moans, once stifled, began escaping louder, freer. Her entire body reacted to her own imagination, as if she could really feel his hands on her, exploring every inch of her skin with a firm, possessive touch.
"Haa... Ahh... Kiyotaka..." Her moan came out broken, laden with desire.
She could imagine him lowering his head, whispering against her ear, letting his warm breath caress her sensitive skin.
"If it were him... if it were his touch..."
The thought made her body even hotter.
Her fingers gripped the sheets tighter as her other hand moved to her chest, fingers curling around her soft skin. Her body was completely surrendered to the sensation, and she no longer cared about holding back her voice.
"Kiyotaka... Ahh... Ahnn..."
She imagined herself lying under him, his firm hands holding her waist, his mouth exploring every inch of her. Her body arched involuntarily, her hips moving against her fingers on their own, seeking more.
The heat in her abdomen intensified rapidly, her pleasure building to an unbearable point. The friction, the rhythm, the moans filling the room-all contributed to pushing her over the edge. Her eyes were watery from the excess of pleasure, her body trembling as she approached climax.
And then, it happened.
A wave of overwhelming pleasure hit her, causing her mind to go blank for a few seconds. Her entire body arched against the mattress, her back curving as a louder moan escaped her lips. His name echoed in the dimly lit room as pleasure consumed her completely.
"Ahhh... Kiyotaka...!"
Her fingers dug into her sensitive skin as spasms coursed through her body, her breathing became erratic, and her heart pounded against her chest. She felt her energy drained, her entire body relaxing on the mattress, still sensitive, still trembling.
The room was warm. The sweet, subtle scent of her own arousal hung in the air.
The sheets were rumpled beneath her, and her body still lightly pulsed with the remnants of pleasure. Her breathing began to calm, but her mind was still taken by what had just happened.
And then, as silence finally filled the room, one certainty remained in her thoughts.
She wanted more.
And that... was dangerous.
---
POV Switch: Ryota, 25 Minutes Later
The theater was filling up again.
The break was over, and the students were returning to their seats.
Ryota sat at the center of the stage, smiling calmly as he watched the students file back in one by one.
He noticed every little detail in their expressions.
Ryuuen and his group were already seated, with Ryuuen slouched in his chair as if completely relaxed, but his sharp eyes betrayed his interest in what was to come.
Ichika smirked slightly, amused, while Nanase sat beside her, visibly blushing.
Ayanokouji sat next to Horikita, who avoided looking directly at him.
Her eyes were slightly lowered, her cheeks lightly flushed.
It was obvious.
She was thinking about certain things she had done in the room...
Thinking about Ayanokouji.
Meanwhile, Kushida was sitting on Ayanokouji's other side.
Taking advantage of the distance Kei had put between herself and her ex-boyfriend.
Kei was distanced from Ayanokouji at Sato's recommendation.
Her eyes were still slightly red, showing she had cried a lot.
But at least...
She looked a little better.
She didn't want to talk.
Didn't want to look at anyone.
But she was doing a little better than before.
Sato sat beside her, attentive to any sign of weakness.
If Kei broke down again, she would be there to comfort her.
Ichinose was seated with Kanzaki and Mako.
She smiled slightly, trying to seem normal.
But Ryota saw through her mask.
She was still jealous of Horikita.
She was still thinking about those scenes.
Those damned future scenes...
Ryota let out a small sigh, observing the nearly full theater.
But then...
He frowned slightly.
Two people were missing.
Manabu Horikita and Tachibana.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Hm? Strange... I don't see Manabu around."
He then closed his eyes, concentrating his psychic power to check his room.
And then...
A sound.
A soft moan from Tachibana's voice, followed by a low sigh from Manabu.
Ryota's eyes widened instantly.
And at that moment, he completely shut off his psychic power.
"....."
"You saw something you shouldn't have, I presume. Traumatic, was it?"
"I'm not sure how I feel, narrator. '...'"
His eyes trembled slightly.
His lips twitched.
His face was slightly flushed.
".....It's better to let them have their time. Manabu will show up later."
He then shook his head, trying to erase the image from his mind.
"I really didn't need to see that..."
Taking a deep breath, he resumed his calm smile.
He raised his head and looked at the students.
Then, in an animated tone, he announced:
"All right, everyone! It's time to continue."
The students turned their attention to him.
"Now we'll see... one of the possible futures."
He then spread his arms.
"The continuation of what we saw before!"
The lights went out.
The theater plunged into total darkness.
And then...
The giant screen lit up again.
The future was about to be revealed once more.
The next morning, Kiyotaka woke up feeling slightly heavier than usual. His surprise was evident when he saw a certain black-haired girl sleeping soundly on his bare chest. Recalling the events of the previous night, he understood why they were both without clothes. What he didn't quite understand was why he couldn't let go of her; there was an unknown force inside him preventing him from removing his arms from around her. His arms were wrapped around her in a warm embrace as she peacefully slept on him. Seeing the sleeping girl's face, he couldn't help but lean in and take her lips again. To his surprise, the kiss was reciprocated... the gentle touch on her lips woke Suzune, who, before fully understanding what was happening, felt strong arms around her and soft lips kissing her, making her lose herself in the moment. Gradually, the warmth began to rise, and Suzune's consciousness seemed to return suddenly. After opening her eyes, she pulled away from the brown-haired boy, covering herself almost entirely with the sheets.
"Good morning, Ayanoko... no, good morning, Kiyotaka-kun."
"W-What?!" Horikita's voice shattered the heavy atmosphere but did nothing to help her situation. Her face was completely red, her eyes wide, and her lips trembling. She was already extremely embarrassed by the previous scene, but now finding herself naked in Kiyotaka's arms only heightened her shame.
"Looks like you two had quite a bit of fun, huh?" Ryuen grinned with amusement, his eyes gleaming mischievously as he crossed his arms. "I'm curious to know how many hours you two were having fun, kukuku."
"S-Shut up!!!" Horikita snapped back immediately, but her tone of voice didn't help hide her embarrassment.
Ryuen raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Just seeing your embarrassed face here already brings me the joy and satisfaction I deserve, kukuku."
Horikita gritted her teeth, her hands clutching the fabric of her skirt as she averted her gaze. She knew that arguing with Ryuen would only make things worse, but she couldn't simply ignore him. Meanwhile, Ichika observed the scene with a mischievous smile before turning to the girl beside her.
"Horikita-senpai... you completely gave in to the moment, huh? Who would've thought you were so passionate."
"S-Shut up, Ichika!" Horikita tried to retort, but her voice came out weaker than usual, as if she were shrinking.
Nanase, who was beside Ichika, covered her eyes with her hands... or at least tried to. Between her fingers, it was clear she was leaving a small space to peek. Her face was red.
"This... this is more than I expected..." she murmured quietly, unable to take her eyes off the screen.
On the other side of the theater, Ichinose visibly pouted, crossing her arms with irritation. It was obvious she was displeased with what she saw. Her gaze alternated between the screen and Ayanokouji, clearly unhappy.
"Honami, your face is really easy to read," Mako-chan chuckled softly, looking at her friend.
"What do you mean by that?" Ichinose immediately shot back, her voice louder than intended.
"You're jealous, aren't you?" Mako smiled teasingly.
"N-No way!" Ichinose immediately blushed, shaking her head. "I just... found it unexpected..."
"Sure, sure." Mako let out a little laugh, watching her friend pout even more.
Further ahead, Sakayanagi observed everything with a smile of pure amusement. She looked directly at Ayanokouji, who had yet to react, and delivered her provocation.
"Very bold of you, Ayanokouji-kun... kissing a lady while she was still asleep, even if she was the girl you spent the night with. Don't you think that's a bit opportunistic of you?"
Ayanokouji tilted his head slightly, his expression neutral, and responded calmly. "On the screen, Horikita looked very beautiful and cute, so it makes sense that my future self would feel like kissing her, imagining she would want that too, as we saw."
The entire theater reacted.
Sakayanagi chuckled, but Ryuen was the first to burst out laughing loudly. Shortly after, Ichika and Hashimoto joined in.
"Hahaha, this guy really has no shame." Ryuen held his stomach, as if he were hearing the funniest thing in the world.
Nanase looked at Ayanokouji in surprise, her face blushing slightly. Did her senpai really say something like that so naturally? Ichinose, on the other hand, pouted even more, lightly stomping her foot.
But no one was more affected than Horikita.
She froze. Her face turned completely red. Her heart was beating too fast for her liking, and she didn't know how to react.
She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. When she finally managed to move, she turned abruptly, covering part of her face with her hand, feeling the heat of her own skin.
"Kiyotaka... i-idiot!" The words escaped her mouth before she realized it.
The problem? She called him by his first name.
And Ayanokouji noticed immediately.
His eyes fixed on her for a brief moment before he simply responded softly and naturally.
"Alright, Suzune."
The impact was immediate.
Horikita stopped breathing for a second. Her heart skipped a beat. Her face, which was already red, reached an even deeper shade. And, without realizing it, her lips curved slightly upward.
She smiled.
Trying to hide it...
But the smile was there.
And Ayanokouji noticed.
But meanwhile, away from the main commotion, Kei had her ears covered. She didn't want to hear.
She couldn't hear this.
Her heart hurt. Even though she tried to hide it, it was impossible. Seeing the man she loved more than anything flirting with another girl...
It was a nightmare.
Beside her, Sato noticed what was happening and, without saying anything, gently ran her hand through her friend's hair, a silent gesture of comfort.
Kei didn't look at her.
She didn't need to.
The simple touch said everything.
The sudden shift from surname to first name surprised the brown-haired boy. He knew it was just a simple name, but he couldn't deny the joy he felt hearing his name from the lips of the woman beside him.
"Good morning, Suzune..."
Hearing her name, the girl blushed deeply, and her embarrassment only intensified as she realized their state-both of them naked and lying on top of each other.
"I think it's a little too late to be embarrassed, don't you think?"
The theater erupted with more intense reactions as the new scene appeared on screen. The impact of Ayanokouji's words and Horikita's heightened embarrassment only fueled the amusement of some... and the frustration of others.
Ryuen was the first to react. He rolled his eyes and let out a loud, mocking laugh, crossing his arms with a malicious grin.
"Tch... seriously? You're embarrassed about your first name now?" He shook his head, still laughing. "After everything you two did? After spending the entire night together, completely naked, and now you're blushing over a name? Come on, Suzune, that's ridiculous."
"Y-You... shut up, Ryuen!" Horikita retorted instantly, her voice slightly trembling but not strong enough to sound intimidating. Her face was on fire.
Ichika, who had already been laughing softly, seized the opportunity to tease even more.
"Suzune-senpai..." She leaned forward slightly, looking directly at the black-haired girl with an amused smile. "You've already done so many things together... sleeping cuddled up, sharing each other's warmth, exchanging passionate kisses..." She paused, watching Horikita's expression worsen with every word before finishing with a mischievous glint. "And now you're getting embarrassed just because he called you by your first name? What's with the sudden purity?"
"I-Ichika!" Horikita turned to the younger girl, clearly indignant, but her voice faltered halfway. Her embarrassment was so overwhelming that she couldn't even form a proper argument.
Nanase, still trying to cover her eyes but peeking through her fingers, muttered quietly to herself, as if trying to understand the situation.
"This doesn't make sense... why is she more embarrassed now than before?"
Ichinose, on the other hand, looked ready to explode. She still had a huge pout, arms crossed, and an irritated glare. The whole scene was too much for her to swallow.
Mako-chan noticed her friend's state and didn't miss the chance to tease her again.
"You really can't hide it, huh, Honami?" she said with an amused smile.
"H-Hide what?" Ichinose averted her gaze immediately.
"The jealousy."
"J-Jealousy?! I'm not jealous!" Ichinose replied too quickly, which only made Mako laugh harder.
"Sure, sure. Your reaction is totally normal."
"I just... I just think he could've called me that first!" Ichinose mumbled quietly, as if talking to herself.
Meanwhile, Sakayanagi observed Ayanokouji with an enigmatic smile.
"What an unexpected declaration from you, Ayanokouji-kun..." she said calmly. "Or should I say... Kiyotaka-kun?"
Ayanokouji, as always, didn't seem affected in the slightest. He simply looked at Sakayanagi and replied naturally.
"Use whatever you want. It doesn't matter to me."
"Hmm... is that really true?" Her gaze sparkled with interest.
Horikita frowned at Sakayanagi. She didn't like how she said Kiyotaka's name.
But amidst all this, Kei still had her back to the screen, her ears covered. She couldn't hear anything anymore. Her heart hurt too much to endure what was happening in front of her.
Sato remained by her side, saying nothing, just keeping her hand in her friend's hair. She understood. She knew what Kei was feeling.
After all, she remembered feeling the same way when she saw Kei and Kiyotaka together.
"C-Close your mouth! Don't look at me!"
"That's a bit unfair, considering how you looked at me last night..." The brown-haired boy was cut off by a strong punch to the abdomen.
However, without letting it bother him, Kiyotaka began hugging the girl from behind, who was now lying on her back, still in bed.
Without a word, the girl made no attempt to escape the embrace; on the contrary, she snuggled even closer to the brown-haired boy. Although she didn't show her face, her flushed state was visible in the tips of her ears.
Suzune, who had been trying to remain impassive, couldn't help but blush slightly, a small smile escaping her lips. It was hard not to feel something watching herself being hugged that way... The way the future Ayanokouji held her older version was so warm, so intimate, that even she, with all her resistance, felt something stir inside her.
"Such a cute scene, isn't it, Suzune?" Ayanokouji, standing next to her, broke the silence with his usual calm tone.
Though his tone was neutral, there was something there... a small hint of teasing. He had noticed her slight change in expression and, as if wanting to confirm her reaction, tilted his head slightly to observe her up close.
Suzune immediately looked away, her cheeks heating up even more.
"S-Shut up, Kiyotaka."
"Hmm. But you're smiling."
"I am not!"
"Then why did you blush even more just now?"
Suzune widened her eyes and pursed her lips, realizing he was playing with her. Trying to regain control of the situation, she forced a serious expression, but it was no use-her flushed face gave her away.
On the other side of Ayanokouji, Kushida smiled softly, but inside, her mind was a chaotic mess.
"Why should I care about this? It's not like I want to be in her place. This doesn't bother me. Not. At. All."
That's what she wanted to believe. But then her eyes involuntarily returned to the screen, watching Ayanokouji's arms around future Horikita-so natural, so possessive, so warm.
"Damn it."
Without meaning to, she blushed discreetly, a small image flashing in her mind... herself in his arms, feeling the warmth of his body, the safety of that strong embrace...
"NO, NO, NO! Stop it, Kushida! You don't feel anything for him, okay? He's just an irritating, boring guy! There's nothing sexy about his cold gaze... or those muscles... or that deep voice-"
"Ahhh, so even Kushida-senpai is blushing now?" Ichika noticed right away and smiled mischievously.
"What? I'm not-" Kushida tried to deny it, but Ichika had already leaned in to get a better look at her face.
"Sure, sure... you're not jealous, are you?"
"Of course not! Why would I be jealous of that... that emotionless robot?!"
"Hmm..." Ichika narrowed her eyes. "Then why is your face red?"
Kushida's eyes widened, and she immediately looked away, crossing her arms.
"I-It must be the screen reflection! Stop making things up!"
Suzune, still trying to recover from Ayanokouji's teasing, didn't miss the chance to shift the focus.
"Kushida... you really are red."
"Don't get full of yourself just because someone mentioned your name, Horikita!"
Meanwhile, Ryuen chuckled low, watching the entire scene with amusement.
"Hah... so that's how it is? Looks like our prodigy is messing with all the girls' heads."
"Tsk..." Nanase, already covered in embarrassment from continuing to watch the scenes, looked away with irritation and a hint of jealousy.
"Senpai, you could at least pretend to be a little affected by all this."
Ayanokouji looked at her for a moment, his eyes as impassive as ever.
"I'm just being honest. Suzune really is beautiful and adorable in that scene."
Ichika burst out laughing as Ryuen and Hashimoto enjoyed Ayanokouji's unexpected boldness.
"The King really doesn't waste time flirting with the girls," Hashimoto said, chuckling softly.
"Quite daring, Kiyotaka-kun," Sakayanagi added with a soft laugh.
Suzune, for her part, felt heat rush to the top of her head.
"KIYOTAKA, YOU IDIOT!"
The room erupted in laughter again, while Kei, in the corner, clamped her hands over her ears, wishing the whole scene would just disappear. Meanwhile, Ichinose was barely holding it together, with Mako-chan doing her best to calm her down.
As the scene continued, chaos and embarrassment filled the room, each person struggling with their own thoughts about the future shown before them.
Realizing this, the brown-haired boy gave her a soft kiss on the cheek and began to get out of bed. The girl's attempt to hide her gaze was quickly noticed by him, but he had no problem being observed by the intense gaze of the black-haired girl. However, he couldn't let this opportunity pass.
"See, I knew you were staring at me intensely..."
"S-shut up, that's not true!"
"I don't mind if you look, especially after everything we did last night..."
The girl hid under the sheets.
As soon as the scene appeared on the screen, Suzune blushed instantly, her eyes fixed on how her future self reacted to Ayanokouji's teasing. When she saw her older self hide under the sheets, she couldn't help but pout slightly, annoyed that she seemed so vulnerable to him in the future.
"Why are you teasing me so much...?" she muttered softly, not realizing she was speaking out loud.
Ryuen was the first to burst out laughing.
"Hah?! This just keeps getting better!" He leaned forward, too amused by the situation. - "So, Suzune... you say you don't like the guy, but it's clear you're in love with him in the future. And look how he's making you all embarrassed. This is gold!"
Suzune shot a deadly glare at Ryuen, but her red face only made him laugh even harder.
"S-Shut up, Ryuen! You don't know anything!"
Ichika chuckled softly, crossing her arms while giving Suzune a teasing look.
"You're so cute, Horikita. Always with that serious, tough facade, but when Ayanokouji-kun teases you, you turn into a tomato. Are you always like this when he says sweet things to you?"
Suzune clenched her fists, clearly fighting the urge to respond, but the heat rising to her face betrayed her.
Sakayanagi, who had been watching with a satisfied smile, decided to join in on the teasing.
"Oh my, I didn't expect Horikita-san to be so vulnerable to provocative words. Ayanokouji-kun seems to know your weaknesses quite well, doesn't he?"
"This has nothing to do with weakness!" Suzune shot back, trying to regain control. - "I-I was just... just surprised, that's all!"
Nanase, who had been quietly observing, blushed softly as she glanced at Ayanokouji.
"Senpai... he's much more provocative than I imagined. He always seems so calm and serious, but in the future... he makes these bold comments without hesitation..."
Her fingers lightly touched her lips, as if imagining what it would be like to be in Horikita's place. However, the moment she realized this thought, she shook her head quickly, banishing the idea.
"N-No! I shouldn't be thinking about these things!"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Ichinose couldn't hide her irritated expression.
"Unfair... unfair... unfair!"
Her gaze was fixed on the screen, her chest tightening as she saw Ayanokouji acting so intimately with Horikita.
"Why her?! Why not me?!"
She bit her lower lip lightly, holding back the urge to make a bitter comment.
Mako-chan, noticing her friend's state, smiled slightly and gave her a soft pat on the shoulder.
"Hey, Ichinose-chan, relax. You're letting this get to you, you know? It's just a future possibility."
"But..." Ichinose murmured, crossing her arms, still pouting.
Mako-chan chuckled softly, tilting her head a little.
"Are you saying you wouldn't want to be held like that by him?"
Ichinose froze on the spot, her stern expression crumbling for a moment.
"T-That's... none of your business, Mako-chan!"
While all this was happening, Kei was firmly focused on avoiding looking at the screen, doing her best to detach herself from that cruel reality.
She turned to Sato and started pulling any random conversation she could think of.
"So, Sato, what was that romance movie you mentioned the other day? Do you think it's worth watching?"
Sato blinked a few times, surprised by Kei's sudden interest in the topic, but quickly caught on and decided to play along.
"A-Ah, yes! I think you'd like it, Kei! It's really sweet, and the main couple has great chemistry!"
"Great! Let's just talk about that, then!" Kei forced a smile, completely ignoring the world around her.
"If I completely ignore it, maybe this torture will pass faster..."