Chapter 2: You Are Mine
It was Sunday, and the sun rose over the heads of the ANHS students, among whom a small group of four was heading toward the pool.
— "Y-you look really pretty, Suzune," Sudo complimented the girl with black hair.
Horikita's outfit hadn't changed much since the last time they went out as a group. The only noticeable difference was the color of her shirt, which was a striking red that made her stand out, even in comparison to Kei, who was dressed incredibly elegantly. With her gyaru aura, Kei attracted many looks from some of the men around.
— "Thank you, Sudou-kun," Horikita replied curtly.
Sudou's voice echoed through the exhibition room, and at that very moment, Ayanokouji narrowed his eyes slightly.
He calmly analyzed the screen, observing every detail. Horikita really did look beautiful in that outfit, that was an undeniable fact. But what bothered Ayanokouji wasn't the outfit itself, but rather the way Sudou was looking at her as he spoke.
Horikita, who was sitting beside him on the bed, noticed the slight change in his expression.
A small smile formed on her lips.
She liked that.
That subtle difference in Ayanokouji's behavior when it came to her... that exclusive attention he gave her. It was something new, something different from how he was with others.
She leaned slightly on the bed, moving closer to Kiyotaka.
— "Did it bother you, Kiyotaka?" — She asked softly, her voice carrying a playful tone.
Ayanokouji diverted his eyes to her but didn't immediately respond.
Horikita enjoyed the silence even more.
In the other corner of the room, Onodera sighed.
She looked away from the screen, her expression showing a slight discomfort, but not exactly because Sudou had complimented Horikita.
She glanced over at Sudou, who was sitting there. His face was serious.
Very serious.
He was watching the screen with a mix of frustration and disgust, as if that version of him on the screen was a stranger he despised.
— "Tsk... Pathetic." — He murmured.
Onodera blinked, a little surprised by his irritated tone.
— "You really hate this guy, huh?" — She commented, a small smile appearing.
Sudou grimaced, crossing his arms.
— "You think I have a reason to like him?" — He huffed. — "After everything that version of me did in the future? First messing with you, and then going straight after Suzune like nothing happened? That's disgusting."
Onodera noticed the genuine anger in his voice.
She wasn't someone who liked holding grudges, but she knew that Sudou truly cared about what had happened to her in that future.
And somehow, that made her smile faintly.
— "Well, at least you're not that guy." — She said, patting his shoulder.
Sudou sighed, trying to relax, but still shot ugly looks at the screen.
— "That Suzune there was still way too kind. She shouldn't have even thanked him."
— "She probably just wanted to keep things polite." — Onodera shrugged.
Ayanokouji, who had been listening to the conversation from the side, gave a slight nod, silently agreeing with Sudou.
On the other side of the room, Sato smiled brightly.
She turned to Kei, watching the girl next to her carefully.
— "Kei, you look beautiful in this scene!" — She complimented, referring to her friend's version on the screen.
Kei, who was calmly watching, smiled faintly.
— "Thank you."
Sato narrowed her eyes slightly.
She had noticed something.
Kei's smile wasn't that forced smile anymore. It wasn't the empty, tear-stained smile she had seen so many times before.
Now, Kei seemed lighter.
Sato smiled softly.
— "You look better now."
Kei glanced at her friend for a moment, then let out a small laugh.
— "Maybe I am."
Meanwhile, at the back of the room, the two teachers had completely opposite reactions.
Chabashira let out a long sigh, running a hand over her forehead.
— "So, I really have to watch the future of these guys?" — She murmured, not hiding the fatigue in her voice.
Chie, on the other hand, was excited.
— "Looks like we're going to see a day at the pool!" — She smiled, clearly enjoying the idea.
Chabashira looked at her in disbelief.
— "You're really excited about this?"
Chie just laughed.
And while everyone in the room continued reacting to the scene, Horikita turned back to Kiyotaka at her side.
She whispered once again to him, her voice low enough so that no one else could hear.
— "Did I look good in this outfit in the future?"
Ayanokouji diverted his eyes from the screen to her, his golden eyes meeting hers.
He didn't respond immediately, just watched her for a few moments as if analyzing every detail.
Then, he finally spoke.
— "Yes."
Horikita smiled softly.
It was a small smile, but it carried something genuine.
She liked that side of him.
— "I'll buy this outfit when we go back to our dimension then."
And without saying anything more, she returned her gaze to the screen, satisfied.
Kei, feeling a pang of jealousy from Sudou's compliment to Horikita, glanced curiously at the brown-haired boy and got a little too close to him.
— "And me, Kiyotaka, how do I look?" she asked with a big smile.
— "You're very beautiful, Kei," the boy complimented.
Horikita heard this and couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, but she took a deep breath to avoid any vengeful or, worse, possessive thoughts.
Ayanokouji, sitting next to Horikita, kept his neutral expression, showing no special emotion. He didn't care about that. Kei wasn't his girlfriend anymore, so seeing her future self saying something like that didn't affect his emotional state at all.
But the same couldn't be said for Horikita.
She slightly rolled her eyes, diverting her gaze from the screen with a quiet sigh.
She didn't like that.
Just as Kiyotaka didn't like seeing Sudou trying to get her attention in the future, Horikita didn't like seeing Kei trying to get Ayanokouji's attention.
Without saying a word, she felt a gentle pressure on her hand.
Kiyotaka intertwined his fingers with hers beneath the blanket, squeezing gently, as if signaling for her to relax.
Horikita discreetly looked at him, seeing that he still maintained his usual calm expression.
She sighed softly but didn't release his hand.
— "This is going to be awkward now..." Kei murmured as she saw the scene, crossing her arms while watching the screen. "Watching the actions of my future self now that I'm not dating Kiyotaka anymore."
Ichika, sitting on her bed, dramatically rolled her eyes and let out a theatrical sigh.
— "You ruined the fun, Kei!" she said, pretending to be disappointed. "Now how am I going to tease you about being cheated on if you're not even with him anymore?!"
Kei shrugged, showing no regret.
— "Your problem," she simply said. "If you miss teasing someone, try someone else."
Ichika smiled slightly.
— "You really think I don't have other targets in mind?"
Kei just shook her head, laughing a little.
Meanwhile, Ichinose was visibly more at ease.
She no longer felt so pressured.
Now that Kei was officially out of the "competition," there was only one opponent left.
Horikita Suzune.
Ichinose discreetly glanced at her, who was still holding hands with Ayanokouji, even though they tried to hide it under the blanket.
It won't be easy... But at least now there's a path.
On the other side of the room, Hiyori was calmly writing in her notebook, a small smile on her lips.
Ryota had given her that notebook, asking her to write something specific.
No one knew exactly what she was writing, but she seemed to be enjoying herself while doing it.
Ryuen, sitting further back, let out a mocking laugh upon hearing Ichika's complaint.
He leaned forward a little, resting his chin on his hand, as he looked directly at Ayanokouji.
— "You two really ruined the fun of seeing this future," he commented, clearly enjoying the situation.
Ayanokouji, as always, showed no reaction whatsoever.
He just shrugged, responding calmly:
— "I don't care what you think, Ryuen. My life is mine, and I decide what I want to do."
Ryuen smiled even more.
— "Exactly the answer I was expecting."
Meanwhile, the two teachers had very different reactions.
Chabashira let out a long sigh, rubbing her face.
— For now, this is still normal... — She murmured, hoping things wouldn't get out of control.
But deep down, she knew it was just a matter of time.
Chie, on the other hand, was lying on the bed next to Chabashira, watching the screen closely.
So far, nothing had really caught her attention.
Until...
Her eyes widened slightly when the camera focused on Ayanokouji's abdomen on the screen.
— Oh... — She murmured, clearly impressed.
At that exact moment, she felt a strong slap on her head.
SLAP!
— Ouch!
Chabashira was looking at her with an irritated expression.
— You dare look at my favorite student like that?! — She grumbled.
Chie rubbed her head, still smiling.
— It's not my fault the kid's in good shape.
Chabashira just snorted, crossing her arms.
— Keep your eyes on the educational part of this, please.
Chie just laughed.
As the commotion continued around them, Horikita whispered to Ayanokouji again.
— I was bothered. — She confessed softly.
Ayanokouji gently squeezed her hand, without taking his eyes off the screen.
— I know.
Horikita looked at him, seeing that he didn't seem bothered by Kei, but...
He definitely didn't like Sudou's compliment to her.
She smiled slightly.
— I guess we're even then.
Ayanokouji briefly diverted his eyes to her before turning back to the screen.
— I think so.
Horikita held back a laugh.
Even without saying much, she understood perfectly how Kiyotaka felt.
And that was enough to make her feel satisfied.
She smiled warmly at Kiyotaka, and despite his lack of tact and experience in giving compliments, he managed to please his girlfriend, something the blonde appreciated.
The pool they visited was enormous. Not only did it have various pools for the many students who attended on weekends, but it also had a small sports center near the water attractions, with numerous basketball and soccer courts.
As soon as they entered the facilities, everyone walked to their respective locker rooms. Inevitably, there would be an awkward conversation in each scenario. Suzune with Kei... and Sudou with Ayanokouji.
As soon as the new image appeared, everyone's eyes turned to the screen, ready for another uncomfortable moment.
On the screen, Kei was smiling warmly at Ayanokouji, pleased with the compliment she had received from him.
— Hah! He actually knows how to please his girlfriend! — Ryuen laughed, enjoying the scene.
Ichika, sitting next to him, didn't waste any time teasing.
— Yes, yes! This Kiyotaka may be tactless, but at least he knows how to compliment his girlfriend.
She looked directly at Ayanokouji in the present and gave him a side smile.
— That's progress, huh?
Ayanokouji ignored the teasing as always, maintaining his calm expression and watching the scene without any apparent emotion.
Meanwhile, the screen showed the school's large pool, a huge area with various pools to accommodate the students on weekends. Additionally, there was a sports center with basketball and soccer courts.
The sight of the place made Sudou lean forward, his eyes lighting up a bit.
— Damn... — he murmured. — This place is awesome! If I knew it had facilities like this, I would've come more often.
Onodera, sitting next to him, smiled lightly.
— I don't remember seeing you swimming here, Sudou.
— I wasn't going to! — he grumbled. — I don't really like pools, I prefer the court.
— Hah, what a waste. — Ichika commented, still smiling. — It'd be funny to see you all clumsy in the water.
Sudou gave her a glare.
— What am I, a sack of potatoes?
— Sometimes, yes.
Ryuen laughed loudly, while Ichika just smiled contentedly.
— "Maybe we can go swimming together; who knows, you might end up liking it?" — Onodera said with a smile, whispering to Sudou, who blushed lightly.
— "Yeah, I think it'd be good to go with you then." — Sudou said with a soft smile, still looking at Onodera.
Meanwhile, the scene on the screen changed, showing everyone heading to their respective locker rooms.
And then...
The phrase appeared in the narration.
Inevitably, there would be an uncomfortable conversation in each scenario. Suzune with Kei... and Sudou with Ayanokouji.
The room fell silent for a few seconds.
Until...
— PFFFFF HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Ryuen couldn't hold it in and burst into laughter, slapping the arm of his chair.
— This is perfect!!!
Ichika, sitting next to him, also couldn't contain her laughter and brought a hand to her face.
— What an absurd situation! The cuckold in the future alone with the girlfriend's lover, and the guy trying to steal his lover locked in the same locker room with the guy who's cheating!
She was crying with laughter, completely satisfied with the chaos this future was creating.
Kei rolled her eyes and crossed her arms calmly, looking at Ichika.
— If I'm just a cuckold in this future, then it's not funny anymore, right? I broke up just now, so technically this future doesn't even exist anymore.
Ichika wiped away a tear from laughing so much.
— Oh, don't try to get out of it, blonde! The fun of this future is exactly the chaos!
— Well, I think it's a pain.
Meanwhile, Horikita sighed heavily.
— I can already imagine the level of the conversation...
She glanced briefly at Kei, who just raised an eyebrow.
— Ah, relax, Horikita. I'm not going to bite you, nor hit you, I think.
— Hm.
On the other side of the room, Sudou seemed... irritated.
He was staring at the screen with a scowling expression.
— I can't believe this shit is going to happen in the future... — he grumbled. — I hate this version of me.
Onodera noticed his expression and gently touched his shoulder.
— You know that's not really you, right?
Sudou snorted.
— I know... but that doesn't mean I have to like him. I mean... ugh, you get it.
Onodera let out a small laugh.
Ayanokouji, on the other hand, remained calm, but his eyes were watching the screen intently.
Even he knew that this conversation in the locker room would be... at the very least, uncomfortable.
Horikita, sitting next to him, whispered to him, low enough so that no one else could hear.
— I don't like this.
He shifted his eyes from the screen and glanced at her.
— What?
She took a deep breath, her eyes showing slight discomfort.
— These conversations. How things seem to get so complicated in this future, I really didn't like it.
Kiyotaka intertwined his fingers with hers under the blanket and gently squeezed.
— No future can change our present now, Suzune.
She looked at him for a second before sighing and smiling softly.
— "Yes, you're right, Kiyotaka." —
"It seems your relationship with Kiyotaka-kun is going very well," Suzune said without looking at the blonde.
"Ki-Kiyotaka?!" the blonde was surprised. "Since when do you call him by his first name?" she asked, shocked.
"It's been a while. Is that unusual?"
"No, but... I didn't expect that. And yes, my relationship with Kiyotaka is going wonderfully well," the blonde said, flashing a wide smile.
"I see..."
Kei widened her eyes and huffed, crossing her arms.
— "You're kidding, right? 'Wonderfully well'? What a poorly told lie!"
Ryuen couldn't hold back a loud laugh.
— "Pffft, seriously! That future version of you is just trying to fool herself."
Ichika nodded, laughing too.
— "You can tell from a mile away it's pure pretending. If things were really that good, she wouldn't have given such a fake smile."
Kei furrowed her brows even more and looked at Sato next to her.
— "Was I that bad at lying?"
Sato looked at her, holding back a laugh, but ended up giving a soft smile.
— "Hmm... a little, yeah."
Kei let out a deep sigh, sinking into her seat.
— "How embarrassing..."
Sato chuckled and gave her friend a light pat on the shoulder.
— "Hey, at least now you don't have to pretend anymore."
Meanwhile, Horikita kept her eyes on the screen, watching her future self closely.
She didn't like seeing herself interacting with Kei, but one detail caught her attention.
— "At least that version of me already understood enough to call him Kiyotaka."
Ayanokouji, sitting beside her, glanced at her and whispered in a teasing tone:
— "You like it when I call you Suzune, don't you?"
Horikita felt an immediate shiver run up her spine.
She blushed slightly and looked away, trying to keep her composure.
— "D-Don't say unnecessary things."
Ayanokouji gave a faint smile, satisfied with her reaction.
On the other side of the room, Ryuen was completely relaxed, a large bucket of popcorn on his lap.
He grabbed a handful and tossed it into his mouth before looking over at Ichika and Nanase.
— "This is still kind of boring. I want to see when the bomb drops."
Ichika grabbed a handful of popcorn and popped it into her mouth before replying:
— "Agreed. But it's going to be fun watching the little blonde freak out later."
Nanase, sitting beside them, didn't look as enthusiastic, but Ichika pulled her closer.
— "Come on, eat some popcorn. You're here, so take part."
Nanase sighed, but accepted, taking a bit.
On the other side of the room, Ichinose and Mako were calmly playing cards.
Ichinose seemed carefree, but every now and then glanced at the screen.
Sakayanagi, however, kept her eyes fixed on it, watching intently.
She wasn't interested in gossip or romantic drama.
What truly mattered to her was understanding what would happen to Ayanokouji in the future.
As everyone watched, two people were having a private conversation.
Chabashira crossed her arms and looked at Chie, who was relaxed beside her.
— "So, do you still think watching the students' drama is fun?"
Chie gave a sly smile.
"Ah, Sae-chan, admit it, you're interested in this too."
Chabashira sighed.
— "I can't deny it's curious... but I still think it's kind of ridiculous."
Chie raised an eyebrow, looking at the screen.
— "Ridiculous? Or do you just not like seeing certain interactions happening?"
Chabashira looked away but didn't respond.
Chie laughed and leaned forward, picking up a piece of chocolate from the small table beside them.
— "Ah, relax, I'm not gonna judge you."
Chabashira just sighed again and kept watching.
In contrast to Horikita's calm demeanor, Kei's sudden irritation became apparent.
— "Kiyotaka was my first friend... and he also..." she stopped before continuing. "Forget it."
— "Also?"
— "Forget it, okay? This has nothing to do with you. I'm leaving. See you at the pool."
Kei, sitting in the armchair with her arms crossed, let out a long sigh and rolled her eyes.
— "This future version of me is pathetic," she muttered, staring at the screen as if speaking directly to her copy. "She can't even finish a sentence properly."
Sato, sitting beside her, tried to lighten the mood with a gentle smile.
— "But it was kinda cute, wasn't it..."
— "Cute? CUTE?!" Kei turned to her friend, outraged. "She basically gave half a confession and then ran away from the conversation like a child! I'm not like that!"
Sato laughed, placing a hand on her shoulder.
— "Girl, you were exactly like that. At least before you got the courage, right?"
Kei sighed, letting her body sink into the back of the armchair.
— "That were is giving me a headache. I just broke up with Kiyotaka in the present, and now I'm watching my future self implode in real time."
Ichika clicked her tongue, shaking the popcorn bucket.
— "See why I said you ruined the fun?" she pointed with a butter-covered finger. "I wanted to provoke the original cheated girlfriend! But now that you broke up with him, it's not even fun."
Ryuen burst into laughter beside her, clearly entertained.
— "Yeah. Watching the cheated girlfriend confront the mistress was peak entertainment. Now it just feels like a teenage drama rehearsal."
Kei, unfazed, simply shrugged.
— "Sorry if my mental health is worth more than your little show."
Ichika huffed, but chuckled.
— "Ugh, you got boring now."
On the other side of the room, Horikita kept her eyes fixed on the now-dark screen, deep in thought.
The conversation from the scene still echoed in her mind. She wasn't exactly bothered by what had been said, but something about how Kei mentioned Ayanokouji gave her a slight sense of discomfort.
That unfinished sentence: "Kiyotaka was my first friend... and he also..."
"And he also..." what? A love? A first kiss? The first man she truly trusted?
Horikita didn't like loose ends.
She let out a quiet sigh and murmured under her breath:
— "She should've finished the sentence."
Ayanokouji, beside her, glanced over, noticing the small furrow between her brows.
He calmly murmured, intertwining his fingers with hers beneath the blanket they shared:
— "Would you like to know what she was going to say?"
Suzune looked away.
— "Not out of jealousy. It's just that... I don't like incomplete information."
Ayanokouji nodded slightly and replied.
— "Of course."
— "Don't be sarcastic," she murmured, blushing faintly.
Further ahead, Ichinose and Mako-chan were now watching with more focus.
Ichinose leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, discreetly looking at Kei and Sato.
— "It's sad, you know?"
Mako turned to her.
— "What is?"
— "Seeing Kei like that. You can tell she still likes him a lot, but she's swallowing it all because of pride."
Mako shrugged.
— "Welcome to the club of people who swallow their feelings."
Ichinose gave a humorless smile.
— "You're more blunt than I am."
Meanwhile, Hiyori was writing attentively in the notebook Ryota had given her.
Her notes were detailed — not only about the content of the scenes, but also the visible emotions in the expressions and body language of those involved.
She murmured to herself:
— "Kei seems trapped between pride and vulnerability. That kind of fluctuation is interesting to observe... and dangerous, if left unresolved. But maybe it's already been resolved without anyone knowing? How fascinating..."
Sakayanagi, farther away, observed the dark screen with her usual calm.
— "Honesty is a rare gift, even among people who claim to be close," she remarked aloud, her eyes still fixed on the screen. — "Kei is learning that the hard way."
Hashimoto, overhearing, chuckled softly.
— "You talk like you're above it all."
Sakayanagi smiled, enigmatically.
— "I'm not. I just see the board more clearly."
On the other side of the room, Chabashira and Chie continued watching, now with teacups in hand.
Chabashira took a sip and commented:
— "I figured this kind of situation would pop up sooner or later. Students getting romantically involved... it always ends in conflict."
Chie laughed with an innocent smile, nudging her colleague's arm.
— "You talk like you never had a fling back in school."
Chabashira shot her a sharp look.
— "And if I did, it's none of your business."
Chie grinned.
— "Relax, I'm just saying maybe you should give Kei some advice. You understand pride."
Chabashira sighed, glancing at Kei, who now kept her eyes down.
— "She wouldn't listen to me. She's still caught in the storm."
Chie shook her head.
— "Maybe, but sometimes that's exactly when we need someone to talk to the most."
In the center of the room, Ryuen let out one last laugh and stretched.
— "I can't wait for the bomb to drop. That love triangle's barely started."
Ichika clapped her hands, excited.
— "I'm betting on a nasty fight between the two. Like, poolside argument, slap to the face, everything."
Nanase scoffed.
— "Don't be ridiculous."
— "Oh, come on, let me dream."
The room returned to its usual buzz of voices and rising anticipation.
Everyone knew that the pause in the dialogue between Kei and Suzune wasn't the end.
It was only the beginning of something much more complicated.
This didn't go unnoticed by the blonde; she wasn't stupid. While she might be academically inferior to Horikita, she had a significant edge when it came to personal relationships compared to the black-haired girl. Besides, she was already well aware that her boyfriend was a magnet for other girls. However, she had never considered her class leader a potential rival, since Suzune had never shown any interest in such matters. But with Horikita's recent behavior, her threat level had increased considerably—especially given her position as class leader and how much time she spent with her boyfriend, far more than the blonde was comfortable with. Up until now, she had let it slide, but with this new development, she knew she could no longer ignore it...
The silence that took over the room after the scene ended was heavy—like everyone was holding their breath, waiting to see who would be the first to speak. Kei, who had initially just kept her gaze fixed on the screen, gradually lowered her head, her blonde strands falling in front of her face as her shoulders trembled slightly—not from crying, but from pure frustration and secondhand embarrassment.
— "I can't believe I was that stupid in that timeline," she muttered, her voice low and heavy.
Sato, sitting beside her, looked at her with a sympathetic smile. She leaned in and gently began stroking her friend's hair, as if trying to soothe a skittish cat ready to pounce.
— "Take it easy, Kei. That's not you anymore."
But Kei wasn't about to calm down that easily. She slowly raised her head, eyes narrowed with indignation.
— "How is it that my future version is still stuck on 'maybe Horikita is a threat'? Seriously? Kiyotaka already fucked her, already cheated, already... already passed the flirting stage!"
Suzune coughed discreetly, looking away with a slight blush on her face, but didn't argue.
Kei continued, even more outraged:
— "What more do I need? For them to shower together in front of me so I get the hint? For them to get caught almost fucking in front of me so I finally realize he's cheating?!"
The room exploded with reactions.
Ichika, with a mischievous smile, leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
— "So it's confirmed: the cheated-on girl is always the last to know." — she said with a musical laugh. — "The theory lives on!"
Ryuen, thoroughly entertained, burst out laughing as he tossed popcorn into his mouth.
— "This room is worth every second," he said, nearly choking from laughing too hard. — "And people say the future is boring!"
Across the room, Ichinose was just about to laugh quietly at Ichika's joke, but stopped halfway when she noticed Mako-chan's glare. The girl was staring at her with such a threatening look it was like she was about to hurl an invisible flip-flop at her.
Ichinose quickly coughed and straightened her posture, putting on an innocent little smile.
— "N-Nothing funny about this, right? It's a... delicate situation."
Kei huffed, crossing her arms.
— "It's more than delicate. It's humiliating. And the worst part... is that I can feel her pain. That feeling that something's wrong... but you try to ignore it, try to trust, try to lie to yourself."
Sato, still gently stroking her friend's hair, spoke softly:
— "But what matters is that you're not that girl anymore."
Kei sighed, more relaxed now, leaning back into the couch.
— "Yeah. I'm not. That version of me from the future was... dumb." — she let out a faint chuckle. — "With all due respect to myself."
Ayanokouji, who had remained silent until now, merely observing everything unfold, turned to Suzune beside him. She was still quiet, a faint blush on her face, her hands resting on her lap, eyes distant.
She then let out a soft sigh and rested her head on his shoulder.
— "I think we're going to see this kind of thing a lot more times."
Ayanokouji gave a small nod.
— "Probably. And with even worse jokes."
— "You gonna get used to it?"
— "Already am."
Suzune let out a quiet nasal chuckle but said nothing more. She knew that, despite all the jokes, there would be moments when the emotional weight would hit her too.
Kei, now calmer, turned to Ichika and raised her middle finger with a mocking smile.
— "For you, you unbearable brat."
Ichika burst out laughing, clearly delighted.
— "That's the Kei I like! Angry and sassy."
Chabashira, sitting at the back of the room with a cup of coffee in her hands, closed her eyes for a moment and let out a long sigh.
— "They're teenagers, but it feels like we're watching an emotional reality show."
Chie, beside her, giggled quietly.
— "And we've got front-row seats." — she took a sip of her tea and added with a smile — "I don't regret agreeing to watch this future one bit. It's gonna be a delicious drama."
Chabashira rolled her eyes.
— "You just want gossip. You're not fooling anyone."
Chie laughed even more.
— "And you pretend not to like it, but here you are, watching everything without blinking."
On the other side of the room, Hiyori was intensely taking notes in her notebook.
— "It's interesting to observe how the unresolved jealousy of the future Kei distorts her perception of threat. She's still trying to rationalize the risks, but she's ignoring the obvious signs of the emerging relationship between Horikita and Ayanokouji."
Hashimoto, curious, glanced over her shoulder.
— "You write like you're doing a field study."
— "I am," she replied plainly.
Kei caught part of that and scoffed.
— "You don't need to study that hard. Just use your eyes. Kiyotaka cheated on me. I should've been kicking his face in that scene."
Ayanokouji, still calm, simply looked at her from the corner of his eye.
— "You already broke up with me in the present. No need to beat me up in the future too."
Kei rolled her eyes.
— "Shut up. I'm mad at dumb Kei, not you. I mean... maybe a little bit at you too."
Sato giggled quietly, and even Ichinose smiled more genuinely now that Mako seemed less hostile.
Sakayanagi, who had been silent until then, finally spoke:
— "What fascinates me is how human emotions ignore logic. Kei knows what's happening, but refuses to accept it out of fear of being right."
Ryuen pointed at Sakayanagi with a handful of popcorn.
— "You sound like a psychologist from a horror movie."
— "Thank you," she replied with a polite nod.
In the center of the room, the screen lit up again for a moment, signaling that another scene was about to begin. But before the new image appeared, Kei took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing.
She muttered, more to herself than to anyone else:
— "I'm not that girl anymore. And you know what? Thank god."
Suzune heard it, and without saying a word, glanced at Kei... with an expression hard to decipher. Maybe a hint of pity for the girl, since she hadn't done anything wrong.
But the next scene was already appearing on the screen, and everyone shifted their focus back, knowing this drama was far from over.
— "It wasn't that I wanted to hold hands with Ayanokōji, or that I longed for hugs or affection without a reason... It just bothered me how easily Karuizawa could do those things with Kiyotaka."Or so Suzune told herself, but deep down, she knew she was lying.In truth, she wanted that and more; she wanted that kind of treatment to be hers and hers alone. But she couldn't bring herself to say it or show it.It was a feeling that kept gnawing at her from the inside.To Suzune, Karuizawa Kei was just another ordinary girl who somehow ended up becoming Ayanokōji Kiyotaka's partner—something she simply couldn't tolerate.She had always seen Ayanokōji as someone amazing, almost untouchable, and that's exactly why seeing him with someone as ordinary as Karuizawa Kei made her feel irritated and restless.
Suzune pressed her lips together lightly, averting her gaze with a faint blush rising on her cheeks. That... that was supposed to have died inside her. It was the kind of thing that should never have been revealed, let alone exposed in front of everyone, like an unwanted confession forcibly dragged from a secret corner of her soul.
She sighed, trying to maintain her composure, but she could feel the weight of Kiyotaka's gaze beside her. She didn't need to look at him to know he was watching her, probably with that typical neutral expression, hiding everything and revealing absolutely nothing—the calm look that both irritated and seduced at the same time.
Suzune struggled against the urge to cover her face. She hated feeling vulnerable, but those words... they laid bare a desire that she refused to fully accept: she didn't just want his attention—she wanted to be the only one to have it.
— "Wow, Horikita..." Kei's voice broke the silence, sarcastic but visibly uncomfortable. "Thanks, really. Loved being called 'ordinary girl.'"
Kei rolled her eyes and sat up straighter, her expression a mix of sarcasm and disappointment. Though she was trying to seem calm, there was a hurt gleam in her eyes, as if, for a moment, she had felt small, diminished by someone she had always seen as just an academic rival.
— "Hey, calm down," said Satō in a soft voice, running his fingers through his friend's hair in a comforting gesture. "It's not worth fighting over again, alright? You know who you are."
Kei let out a tired sigh and leaned back again against the makeshift bed, trying to relax. "I know... I just keep thinking about how far Horikita's obsession goes, you know?"
Suzune sighed discreetly, trying to defend herself, but... even she didn't know for sure.
Ichinose closed her eyes, thoughtful. As much as she tried to stay impartial, those words had struck a sensitive chord within her.
— "I understand..." she murmured, almost to herself.
— "Hm?" Mako glanced at her, suspicious.
Ichinose gave a faint smile, masking the inner turmoil. "I was just... reflecting."
But the truth was, she understood exactly what Horikita felt. The desire to be the only one who could reach Kiyotaka. The discomfort of seeing him smile, even if subtly, at someone else. The silent anger that burned when he seemed to care for someone who, in their eyes, wasn't worthy.
Ichika, leaning against the wall with a faint cynical smile on her lips, watched the screen attentively. She didn't speak right away, but her gaze said everything. She too recognized that feeling. In silence, she agreed with Suzune.
— "Ordinary people really shouldn't have something so valuable..." she whispered to herself, but loud enough for Nanase to hear.
— "Are you okay?" Nanase asked gently.
Ichika smiled softly. "Yeah, I was just thinking about the value we give certain people."
Nanase nodded, though she didn't fully understand. But Ichika was clearly reflecting, and that spoke volumes.
Meanwhile, Sakayanagi watched silently, the enigmatic smile on her face growing gradually. This was interesting. Very interesting.
— "So this is how she feels..." she murmured, more to herself.
She looked at Horikita with new eyes now. The firm and rational leader of Class A was showing deep, almost primal emotions. Desire, jealousy, the need for exclusivity. But above all, pride. The way Suzune saw Karuizawa as "ordinary" and herself as someone above—someone who deserved Ayanokōji's attention—was revealing.
— "Is this pride? Or is it love masked by pride?" she murmured.
— "Hm?" Kamuro looked at her.
— "Nothing, just... enjoying the drama." Sakayanagi replied with a mysterious smile.
At the back of the room, Hashimoto was more interested in observing the reactions than the content on the screen. But even he couldn't help but let out a light whistle.
— "Whoa... the drama's going to escalate," he commented, putting a bit more popcorn in his mouth.
Hashimoto then extended the bucket of popcorn to Ryuen, who accepted it eagerly, a malicious smile on his lips.
— "This is better than a soap opera. And it hasn't even gotten to the part where someone throws a glass of water in someone's face," he laughed.
Kei, still visibly affected, let out a bitter laugh, discreetly flipping Ichika the bird.
— "You're next, Ichika. I bet in your head, you think you're worthy of him too, right?"
Ichika smiled as if accepting the challenge, raising an eyebrow.
— "Well, aren't I?"
Kei rolled her eyes with a mocking laugh but didn't respond. The rivalry was boiling, but there was something deeper there. Something that dragged on in silence: an invisible competition for the heart of someone who pretended not to notice, for someone she was in love with, but knew she would never have his love.
Chie laughed discreetly in the background, as if watching a play that mixed tragedy and comedy.
— "You're having way too much fun," Chabashira commented, crossing her arms and sighing, exhausted from the mass emotional exposure.
— "How could I not?" Chie responded with a spark of excitement in her eyes. "I don't regret for a second agreeing to stay here. This is going to be a rollercoaster. Better than any TV show."
Chabashira sighed, tired.
Suzune, on the other hand, felt her heart race. Not just from the embarrassment of being exposed, but because, in some way, it made her feelings more real. She was losing control. Kiyotaka had always been close but unreachable. Now, she felt that if she didn't act, he would slip completely through her fingers.
She glanced at him discreetly. As always, Kiyotaka was quiet. But this time, his eyes were locked on her with attention.
— "Are you going to say something?" she asked, her voice low and dry, trying unsuccessfully to sound firm.
He only tilted his head slightly, his eyes still fixed on her.
— "You're not ordinary, Suzune. Not at all, and never forget that you are special to me." He spoke in his calm, serene voice, but it carried an immeasurable weight.
She felt her stomach twist. That wasn't a tease. That was recognition. A compliment... was he showing his love for her?
She looked away again, clenching her hands lightly in her lap. Her feelings were becoming impossible to ignore. Very impossible.
Kei, on the other hand, observed the silent exchange between the two and sighed. She knew there was something very strong between them, she didn't need any more evidence for that. She had been blind before by her love for Ayanokōji to see how he looked at Horikita and talked about her. Even if Suzune denied it. Even if Kiyotaka never confessed anything. She wasn't stupid. And seeing that hurt. It hurt more than she would like to admit because she hadn't even realized that her boyfriend/ex-boyfriend liked another girl.
But then she took a deep breath, relaxing her shoulders.
"Yeah... I'm not that girl anymore," she murmured to herself. "I just hope that, when this timeline moves forward... the future version wakes up and doesn't let herself be broken by something like this."
Because if she didn't wake up... she knew she could lose everything in that timeline.
And that, no matter how much she tried to pretend otherwise, terrified her deeply, because she had almost become that same girl on the screen.
Even though this last feeling was out of place, someone with Kei's personality could get whatever she wanted simply by acting "cute."
."Did you see Karuizawa-san?" Sudou asked as he took off his shirt.
"Yeah..."
"She looked completely in love with you," he said teasingly.
"Looks like it..."
"And... did you see Horikita?"
A twitch appeared in the brown-haired boy's eye.
"Yeah, I saw her too."
A brief silence hung in the air as the screen froze.
Ryuen was the first to speak up, a crooked, malicious grin on his face. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as though he were about to savor an emotional feast.
— Look at that — he began with a low laugh —, so even the heartless genius has a jealous side? Interesting... very interesting.
Horikita immediately looked away, a faint blush rising from her neck to the tips of her ears.
She crossed her arms, trying to maintain composure, but the slight curve of her lips betrayed the truth.
"He... had a reaction. A real reaction to my name being mentioned by another guy..."
She didn't need to confirm with her eyes. She knew. Kiyotaka was looking at her. He always did. Even with his neutral face, even with his seemingly apathetic gaze, she could feel it.
"He got angry. For me."
It was just a tic. A tiny detail. But for someone like Ayanokouji, that was practically shouting.
— Tsk — Ayanokouji sighed low, adjusting himself in his chair. — Teasing never ends here.
— Was that a little jealousy, Ayanokouji? — Ichika spoke with a sweet voice, but one full of disguised venom. Her half-closed eyes were as sharp as razors. — How cute. Never thought I'd see the day.
She quickly glanced at Horikita and smiled with a touch of irony.
— Lucky you, Suzune.
Horikita didn't respond, but the gleam in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Internally, her heart seemed to be celebrating. That tiny reaction had the power to silence all the insecurities she tried to hide... especially when comparing herself to Kei.
Kei, on the other hand, was visibly more tense than before.
She crossed her arms and sank a little deeper into the mattress of the bed she was lying on, her eyes fixed on the frozen screen. When she finally spoke, her voice came out cold:
— Hm... so that's it, huh?
No one responded. She glanced sideways at Kiyotaka, waiting for some denial, some words, any defense.
But he remained silent. The same silence as always. The same silence that had hurt before, and continued to hurt now.
"He didn't even blink when he saw me with Hirata at the festival..."
"But a tic appeared in his eye just from hearing that Horikita was looking good..."
She smiled bitterly.
— You know — she said, staring at the ceiling —, I find it curious... He never cared to see me with another guy. Not a reaction. Nothing.
Sato, sitting next to her, tried to lighten the mood. She chuckled lightly, reaching her hand out to smooth her friend's hair, but even the gentle gesture couldn't hide the slight discomfort she felt.
— Don't worry about it, Kei... He's like that with everyone... or at least he used to be...
But Kei didn't respond.
She was lost in her thoughts.
Sato then turned her gaze elsewhere.
She had gone out with Ayanokouji once. It was a simple, casual outing, but still...
He didn't show anything. Not anger. Not discomfort. Not surprise.
Just that damn absolute neutrality.
And now, with Horikita?
A tic. A muscle twitching.
It seemed small. But in reality, it was everything.
Sato made a slight pout and whispered something barely heard:
— I wish someone would look at me like that... just from seeing me with someone else.
Sakayanagi, who had remained silent until then, let out a brief laugh.
— Hmm... so even the stoic underground god has weaknesses — she said elegantly, her blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. — But what's more fascinating isn't the reaction... it's who he had this reaction to.
She looked directly at Horikita, with a calm yet sharp smile.
— Do you consider yourself... someone worthy of that attention, Horikita-san? Or have you, perhaps unconsciously, always seen yourself as someone special by his side?
Horikita remained silent. But she didn't deny it.
And she didn't need to.
Ichinose watched everything silently.
She kept her eyes closed, as if meditating on it all. But her mind was far away, heavy.
She too had known the bitter taste of loving Ayanokouji and feeling invisible beside him.
"When I kissed him... he didn't resist. But he didn't reciprocate either."
"But just hearing Horikita's name, he..."
She bit her lip discreetly. The anger was silent. But the sadness... that was deafening.
Nanase noticed.
She looked at Ichinose with concern.
— Are you okay, Ichinose-senpai?
Ichinose slowly opened her eyes and forced a gentle smile.
— Yes, just... thinking about a few things.
Nanase nodded lightly, but her eyes remained vigilant.
She didn't need to ask. It was clear that that name — Horikita — was affecting everyone there.
Ichika smiled discreetly.
She too recognized Ayanokouji's worth. And yes, that irritated her.
— In the end... it's always like this — she commented, almost like a whisper. — The "ordinary" girls fall for him. But only a few actually affect him.
She looked at Horikita with a mixture of respect and envy.
Ryuen laughed again.
— You're all losing your minds over a tic in the guy's face? How pathetic — he said, but there was genuine amusement in his voice. — But, honestly... if I had to bet on who he would protect with everything he has... it'd be you, Horikita.
Ayanokouji snorted, averting his gaze.
But he said nothing.
Horikita felt her heart race.
She knew she wasn't the type to show emotions. That she didn't ask for affection. That she didn't take the initiative.
But just the thought that Ayanokouji might feel genuine anger at the idea of her with another man made something in her chest warm.
"Maybe... I really do belong to him. And he to me."
Silence returned to the room, but it was a silence filled with thoughts, internal rivalries, and unspoken emotions.