The last two lessons flew by unexpectedly fast.
Or, to be honest…
I spent half the time thinking about anything but studying.
History.
Math.
Social studies.
The teachers explained something at the blackboard, students took notes, someone answered…
And from time to time, I involuntarily glanced toward the window.
More precisely…
Toward the group by the window.
They barely changed positions all day.
Hayato.
Yuki.
Mio.
Rin.
As soon as the bell rang, the three girls naturally gathered around Hayato’s desk.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
And, probably, it was.
»
— Hayato, did you solve the math problem?
Yuki stood next to his desk, lightly pressing her notebook to her chest.
— Um… I think I did.
— Really?
— Show me?
— Sure.
Without hesitation, he slid the notebook toward her.
Yuki smiled gratefully.
— Thank you…
She always spoke quietly.
Almost in a whisper.
But as soon as Hayato responded with a smile…
Her shoulders noticeably relaxed.
Just one smile.
And the girl’s mood was already better.
I silently watched from the side.
»
During the next break, Mio noisily plopped down on the neighboring desk.
— Hayato!
— After school today, shall we drop by the arcade?
— You promised me a rematch!
Hayato smiled guiltily.
— Did I promise?
— You did!
— I don’t remember…
— You jerk!
Mio lightly tapped his shoulder without any real anger.
— Cheat!
— Then I guess we have to go.
— Exactly!
She triumphantly raised her fist.
As if she had won an entire competition.
And again…
Hayato just laughed.
Without irritation.
He really enjoyed seeing his friends happy.
»
During the next break, Rin approached them.
She was holding a phone in her hands.
— Hayato.
— It’s already almost fifteen thousand views.
— That fast?
He was genuinely surprised.
— That’s awesome!
— Congratulations.
Rin smiled with satisfaction.
— Thank you.
— I think there will be even more soon.
— Of course there will.
— You always have good content.
He said it completely calmly.
Without hints.
Without trying to please her.
Simply because he genuinely thought so.
Rin barely noticeably looked away.
— Thank you…
I immediately caught that moment.
A very small pause.
A barely noticeable smile.
She clearly valued his words much more than she wanted to show.
»
I slowly leaned back in my chair.
“Now I get it…”
When I played Yokubou no Gakuen: Ochita Jun’ai, I thought the writers had simply made the protagonist too perfect.
For some reason, all the girls fell in love with him.
Without any particular reason.
But now…
Watching him in real life…
I realized how wrong I had been.
Hayato wasn’t some incredibly handsome guy.
He wasn’t the smartest.
He wasn’t a national-level athlete.
He was simply…
A good person.
The kind who always listens.
Always helps.
Always sincerely rejoices in someone else’s success.
And the scariest part…
He didn’t even realize how strongly he affected those around him.
That was exactly why Yuki looked at him so warmly.
That was exactly why Mio smiled next to him more often than with anyone else.
That was exactly why Rin still blushed slightly after ordinary praise.
They didn’t love the hero.
They loved the person.
Probably…
That was exactly why this story had once become so popular.
Because it was impossible to hate Hayato.
Even for me.
Although it was precisely because of him that I now had to break the original plot.
The last lesson finally ended.
— That’s all for today. Don’t forget to prepare for tomorrow’s classes.
A wave of noise immediately swept through the classroom.
Someone sighed with relief.
Someone was already packing their textbooks into their bag.
Several people instantly ran out into the corridor.
I remained seated.
Not because I wasn’t going home.
I was waiting.
“Come on…”
“If my memory isn’t failing me…”
“Now.”
Hayato closed his pencil case and was about to stand up when Mio appeared next to him like a whirlwind.
— Hayato!
— Let’s go to the new café after school!
She smiled widely and slapped her palms on his desk.
— They say they have such huge strawberry parfaits there that one person can’t even finish one!
Hayato smiled awkwardly.
— Sounds delicious…
— Right?!
— But…
He thoughtfully scratched the back of his head.
— We were supposed to meet up with Yuki.
The moment he said her name…
Yuki, who had been calmly packing her textbooks, slightly lifted her head.
She had heard everything.
Mio immediately waved her hands.
— We’ll make it in time!
— We’ll just sit for a little bit!
— Then we’ll meet up with Yuki!
Rin also came closer.
— To be honest…
She smiled slightly.
— I got curious about this café too.
— Everyone’s talking about it right now.
Mio nodded with satisfaction.
— See!
— Even Rin wants to go!
Hayato turned his gaze to Yuki.
— Yuki…
— You don’t mind?
Yuki lowered her eyes for a moment.
Just briefly.
So quickly…
That probably no one except me even noticed.
Then she smiled in her usual way.
With that same soft smile.
— Of course not…
— Don’t worry.
— If you want, go ahead.
— We can meet up later.
Hayato smiled with relief.
— Thank you.
“What a guy…”
I slowly closed my eyes.
Most players chose the first option.
Because the game presented it as a completely harmless decision.
At the same time, it was also a kind of trap for the player.
If you went to the café with Mio and Rin — your relationship with both heroines would immediately increase.
If you stayed to wait for Yuki — your bond would only grow with her.
For most people, the choice was obvious.
“What’s the big deal?”
“We’ll sit for half an hour.”
“Then we’ll meet up.”
But…
I remembered the continuation all too well.
After classes, Yuki would briefly stop by the library.
She wanted to return a book and read a little while the others were out.
And then…
Because of her personality.
Because of her constant shyness.
Because of the fear of bothering someone…
She would decide not to go to the café at all.
“I won’t distract them…”
“They’re probably having a good time…”
And she would head home alone.
On the way, she had to pass through a small alley.
That was exactly where three upperclassmen would stop her.
In the game, this episode lasted only a few minutes.
But it was the first time it showed how cruel the world could be outside the school walls.
In the game, the situation quickly spiraled out of control.
Yuki ended up cornered.
And that was when Aya would appear in the alley.
She didn’t try to reason with them.
She didn’t listen to excuses.
She immediately raised a fuss and rushed to protect Yuki, forcing the delinquents to retreat.
That was how her own route began.
For the player, it was simply a way to meet a new heroine.
But now…
I looked at Hayato, who still had no idea what choice he was about to make.
And I understood only one thing.
“If I leave everything as it is…”
“In a few dozen minutes, Yuki will be alone against three guys.”
I silently watched the group as they left the classroom.
Mio was literally dragging Hayato along with her.
Rin just quietly laughed.
Yuki headed in the other direction.
Toward the library.
“So far everything matches…”
I didn’t move from my spot.
The corridor grew quieter and quieter.
Students gradually dispersed home.
Some went to clubs.
Some — to training.
In a few minutes, the floor was almost empty.
I glanced at my watch.
“Still early.”
If my memory served me right, Yuki spent about twenty minutes in the library.
Returning the book.
Reading a little.
And only then heading home.
I wasn’t going to intervene earlier than necessary.
“While events are following the script…”
“Let them.”
The fewer changes…
The easier it would be for me to predict further events.
I should only intervene when it was truly necessary.
…
About twenty minutes passed.
I slowly went downstairs and left the school.
The spring wind pleasantly cooled my face.
It was only a few minutes’ walk to that same alley.
I deliberately chose the route through the neighboring street.
To arrive there a little earlier.
And I made it.
Hiding behind the corner of a small store, I calmly watched the empty alley.
“Now…”
“If nothing has changed…”
A minute passed.
Then another.
A familiar figure appeared from around the corner.
Yuki.
She walked slowly, pressing a library book to her chest.
Her gaze lowered to her feet.
Completely alone.
“So far everything matches…”
Yuki had almost reached the middle of the alley…
When three guys came out to meet her.
One blocked the path ahead.
The second slowly circled around from the right.
The third stayed slightly behind, as if cutting off the way back.
Yuki stopped.
Even from here, I could see how she nervously clutched the strap of her bag.
One of the guys said something.
She awkwardly bowed.
Replied.
Tried to walk around.
But he stepped sideways, blocking the way again.
“It’s starting…”
I slowly exhaled.
My hand clenched into a fist on its own.
“Just a little longer…”
“According to canon, Aya should appear now…”
“But…”
I carefully looked around.
“This time…”
“She won’t be needed.”
I noticed another schoolboy.
He looked like a first-year.
He was walking on the opposite side of the street and had surely already seen what was happening in the alley.
But he was deliberately pretending not to notice.
He lowered his head.
Quickened his pace.
“A normal reaction.”
“No one wants to get involved with scum like that.”
I quickly walked up to him and blocked his path.
The guy flinched.
— E-eh?..
I silently shoved my phone into his hands.
— Hold this.
He caught it automatically.
— W-what?..
I looked him straight in the eyes.
Calmly.
Firmly.
In a tone that left no room for argument.
— You’re going to follow me now.
— Record everything you see.
— Don’t interfere with anything.
— Just film.
The guy looked back and forth between the phone and me in confusion.
— B-but…
— Do you understand?
He was silent for a few seconds.
Then nervously swallowed.
— …Yes.
I gave a short nod.
— Good.
I turned around and unhurriedly headed toward the alley.
Hurried footsteps sounded behind me.
He had followed after all.