The awkwardness lasted several seconds, ending when Masuzu took a deep breath to calm her emotions and forced a calm smile with effort.
She gently twisted a strand of silver hair on her chest. Her eyes looked nowhere in particular, and she said softly: "Yo, what a rare guest~ Why didn't you go home with your group of friends and instead come looking for me?"
The moment those words left her mouth, Masuzu regretted them so much she wanted to scream while clutching her head, stomping her feet madly inside, desperate to crush the her from three seconds ago.
(Am I an idiot?! Why can't this mouth speak nicely and keep being sarcastic to him!)
Luckily no one knew what was in front of her; otherwise, she might have headbutted herself to death right there.
The chance for reconciliation was right before her eyes. Not having the courage to seek him first was bad enough—now her tone was so piercing—was she planning to truly give up on Yuu?
No! Don't do this!
Even tearing down his photos at home was just a thought. Her current self, filled with thoughts of him—how could she possibly do such a self-harming act!
(Now I can only pray lightning strikes me back to the past...!)
Masuzu looked hopefully at the sky, but found the thin clouds had vanished, and bright silver light spilled onto the ground. The gentle, calm full moon seemed to brighten the entire night a little.
Yet her heart was filled with frozen sorrow. Her eyes gradually dimmed. She pulled the corners of her lips, chuckling desperately.
"I just wanted to ask what you're doing here." Yuu watched her rapidly changing face but didn't care much. He asked naturally, "It's this late—aren't you planning to go home?"
"O-of course, I'm going home..."
Yuu pointed behind: "Walk together?"
"Eh?" Masuzu suddenly widened her eyes, staring at him in disbelief.
This was the first time she'd looked at him directly since earlier.
Yuu could see her sapphire-like blue eyes tinted with crystal sparkle by the moonlight. Mixed inside were surprise and unease, like a little girl whose entire box of matches was suddenly bought.
"Why... I thought you already hated me..."
Yuu asked back confusedly: "Hate? Where did you get that conclusion?"
"B-because, I said those things!"
Rarely did Masuzu look panicked. Her gaze trembled violently, like a child hurriedly explaining, stammering for reasons.
"Look, first I mocked you without regard for place, then left right after speaking... Even your sister clearly hates me—let alone you who didn't want to see me..."
"Calm down first. Your speech is already illogical." Yuu waved his hand before her, saying somewhat helplessly, "First, the one who doesn't want to see you is my sister. Of course saying those things in front of her will make her hate you more... But I think you don't care much."
After all, Masuzu was the shameless type who dared try kissing him before Sora and still came as a guest to his home.
"Second, I didn't feel those words were mockery—just facts said in a slightly sharp tone."
Yuu of course hadn't forgotten that morning's conversation.
"After all, in the end, the fact that you're dating Yukinoshita-san will be erased, and no one will remember your affair. Am I right?"
"What might not matter to you happens to be the future we fear most."
Masuzu stood from an ex-girlfriend's perspective, asking this pointed question. Thus, even then, Yuu only fell silent, with no thought of anger.
Because Masuzu was right—because he had indeed thought that way.
"Relax—I'm not that petty, to hate someone for pointing out my thoughts."
Yuu sighed. He looked down at her slightly surprised face and said seriously: "Though not yet enlightened and fully repentant—I'm also grateful to you for showing me things I didn't want to face."
"Even if the world changes and the fact we dated no longer exists... as long as you all still remember me, avoiding is the most irresponsible choice."
Avoiding Haruno's confession, avoiding Asuna's pursuit, avoiding Masuzu's obsession.
After each task ended, Yuu always wanted to just leave—even if they remembered, even if they came looking, even if they followed...
He always tried cutting ties with them, only wanting to give everything to a future sure to break, then step to the next stage with no responsibility.
Was this wrong? He didn't think so.
Because without the system meddling behind, escaping everything was the right choice.
...But now, someone told him.
That future wasn't severed—but became a past connected to the present.
No matter how he avoided, the ex-girlfriends carried strong feelings, trying to pierce his heart again.
Thus, his old thinking slowly began to waver.
(If someone's waiting for me—even once—try turning back.)
Though he couldn't do it now, Yuu was willing to change again for them.
He turned and saw the three who'd stopped and waited not far away. He smiled relievedly and shifted his gaze back.
"So, Natsukawa. Don't worry too much. Just say directly what you want to say to me... After all, in memories, we had a good relationship. I couldn't possibly ignore you."
Different from the awkwardness when they first met at the apartment, Yuu looked at Masuzu honestly.
Masuzu was silent a moment. Her moonlit-clear blue eyes blinked. She slightly opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed her lips with a slight choke.
Taking a slow breath, Masuzu suddenly turned, facing him with her smooth straight silver hair. She roughly wiped her face several times with her sleeve.
"...Saying these things—aren't you afraid they'll get angry?"
"I'm not confessing love to you." Yuu spread his hands.
"I said I love you and want to be with you—what's your answer?"
Yuu said seriously and helplessly: "Sorry—I already have someone I love... At least for now, I can't accept any girl besides them."
Of course including guys... Hmm, maybe no need to add that point.
"Haaah—is this a declaration to become a scumbag in the future?"
Masuzu couldn't hold a cynical laugh, but her trembling voice gradually grew cheerful: "Indeed, love is bullshit. All men are cheating trash."
"Maybe." Yuu also laughed, saying with hidden meaning, "After all, no one knows how the future will turn out."
Maybe he'd fall in love with all his ex-girlfriends again, drowning in their feelings unable to escape. From then, he'd skillfully take advantage, two-time, become an uncontrollable harem king.
Or maybe he'd reject everyone for Yuigahama, fully cutting ties, focusing on the girlfriend who'd never leave, becoming a faithful good man.
Maybe he'd just...
"I understand. So that's it, right?"
Suddenly, her long hair fluttered in the air—like a starry river spilling under the moon.
Masuzu abruptly turned, lips curving into a confident disdainful smile. She paid no mind to her red eyes and stared straight at Yuu.
The gloomy sad atmosphere had long vanished. Her whole self seemed revived, shining with unique light in the moonlit night.
"What?" This time it was Yuu's turn to be stunned.
Because the next moment, Masuzu suddenly placed one hand on her hip, the other pulling his uniform collar, boldly revealing white skin and cleavage. At the same time, her waist and legs moved into a rather odd pose.
Then, she spoke loudly as if no one around:
"Ayu, Natsukawa Masuzu—has a dream!"
Under this clear night sky, she shouted with a fresh expression, her tone filled with indescribable excitement.
"...Haha." Yuu could already imagine the next dialogue—he couldn't help holding his forehead, sighing like laughter.
As expected, her next line was—
"I'll make you, sooner or later, unable to live without me."
"Since dating causes lots of trouble—better skip trash feelings like that and make you mine directly. Wouldn't all problems be solved?"
Like a social studies student solving a Math Olympiad problem, Masuzu posed like Giorno, saying proudly, completely uncaring that three people nearby heard her voice—and all changed expressions. Their faces darkened as they walked toward him.
Yuu pressed his temples, sighing slightly annoyed: "The love-hating Masuzu is back. Thought the past changed you a bit..."
Masuzu shook her head: "It did change. The Masuzu who'd never like anyone became the Masuzu who only likes you."
"What an honor... Hmm?"
Realizing something off, Yuu couldn't help widening his eyes. He stared shocked, face flushing before him.
"This tone... don't tell me you've regained your memories?!"
"That—hmm," Masuzu winked, suddenly smiling mischievously. Both hands hidden cutely behind her back. She approached and whispered seductively in his ear:
"Hard to say. How about you guess? Guess right—get a prize~"
"Then no need. I don't want to guess." Yuu firmly stepped back.
"Eh? Heartless person!" Masuzu puffed her cheeks dissatisfied, but the red on her face deepened. Her strange breathing grew clearer.
Then she shivered. As if holding back some urge, Masuzu hugged her chest tightly and bent over. A slightly strained voice came from her throat.
"Ngh—!"
"W-what's wrong?" Sudden stomach ache? Or heart disease?
Before Yuu could be shocked, he heard Masuzu sigh in relief, hugging her chest, wriggling left and right like a worm: "Aduh—even with this cold Yuu, my body still reacts~ Trouble—seems I've awakened a terrible interest. Hehehe~"
"..."
The muscles at his mouth corners kept twitching. Yuu backed several steps, pulling his just-arrived sister in front. He hid behind Sora with an ugly expression.
(Damn—didn't expect this girl could be this weird... Though I seem the root cause—but who knew her character deviated more than I imagined!)
"Not deviant—this is Golden Spirit!" As if seeing his thoughts, Masuzu corrected seriously, "The hymn to humanity is the hymn to courage! JOJO gave me courage to keep going forward!"
"Do you think Araki-sensei would be happy hearing this..."
"Of course! Because JOJO loves everyone—regardless of status, gender, or wealth."
Masuzu paused, then added: "And regardless of normal or not."
"You know you're not normal?!"
Ignoring Yuu's comment, Masuzu shifted her gaze to the three women blocking before Yuu. After observing several seconds, she flicked her beautiful shoulder hair with her hand and smiled casually at them:
"I suppose you wouldn't bear seeing a weak girl walk home alone at night, right?"
Whatever their answer—she'd decided to stay with that person.
Though only small courage—not enough to light the dark unknown end ahead.
But Masuzu had decided.
A decision is opening a path that should be taken in the pitch-black desert.
(As long as I'm not hated—I can keep going forward—until he turns back.)
Masuzu smiled relaxedly, taking a deep breath of the clear fresh winter night air.
Whether just her feeling or not—the tip of her tongue, always bland, seemed to sprout a bit of sweetness.
Yes—she wouldn't humbly wait for him to come.
Instead, in the far future, she'd make Yuu love this troublesome awkward Masuzu again—and promise never to leave her alone.
Maybe—this is what an ex-girlfriend should do, right?
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Late night, in a luxury apartment.
The phone screen lighting the dark room kept showing incoming and outgoing messages.
Yui: 「Damn—all because of Masuzu. We ended up going home just like that without doing anything! The punishment and reward I thought so hard about...」
Yukino: 「Basically impossible with Sora there. She'd definitely block us...」
Yui: 「True... Then what? Find chance tomorrow? Or on holiday?」
Yukino: 「Speaking of that, Yui—I have an idea...」
Yukino: 「Though I apologize to you—I'll make it up later. I hope you give me this chance—just this once...」
Yui: 「...」
Yui: 「No need to humble yourself like that, Yukinon. We're both his girlfriends.」
Yui: 「I want to see you both happy—so I'll support you!」
Yui: 「Yukinon—I leave Yuu-kun to you. Ganbatte!」
Yukino: 「Yes—leave it to me.」
Soon after, the screen light vanished, and the phone was gently placed on the nightstand in darkness.
Blanket pulled high—and a soft sigh came from beneath.
There seemed a little anxiety—but quickly replaced by cold firm muttering.
"I will... change all this...!"
The clock ticked, and strong cold wind howled outside the window.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Though midnight, the phone on the nightstand lit silently, showing message notifications.
Yukino: 「Sorry sending this so late—hope it doesn't disturb your sleep.」
Yukino: 「Tenkuji-kun—you have no plans on December 24, right?」
Yukino: 「Christmas Eve—want to come to my house?」