2:00 AM.
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdhT8ZCN5y
Kimijima Kouichi received a call from the hospital.
Just one sentence:638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc110gwG9j
—“Miss Amagi Suzuran is in critical condition.”
He didn’t ask questions.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3wL8nqldC
Didn’t grab a coat.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHTYmPLFTI
Just ran.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJNOetJN88
Straight to the hospital.
Outside the ICU, the white fluorescent lights were blindingly bright.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylpkaYZAr5
One end of the hallway was deserted, the bench completely empty.
In the corner on the other side, a lone figure stood — Amagi Yuuji.
Yuuji had his head down, hands in his pockets, shoulders trembling faintly.
Kimijima recognized that silhouette instantly.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNg71ZiXcF
His steps accelerated, almost beyond control.
The fire in his chest surged up in a wave — of rage, of regret.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIbq3bQbi6
He stormed forward, grabbed the other man by the collar, and shouted with a voice torn open:
"Why didn’t you take care of her?! You knew how fragile she was—!"
His throat was dry, but the words came out like blades, slicing the air.
Yuuji lifted his head. His face was pale, eyes rimmed red.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKDDWGhTbI
Dark circles sunken under his eyes made him look nothing like the usual golden boy.
“…I’m sorry,” he said hoarsely, his voice cracked. “I… I didn’t think it would…”
“Move.” Kimijima cut him off coldly, his tone low, like the air before a storm.
“I want to see her.”
Yuuji silently stepped aside.
Kimijima entered the room, approaching the bed one step at a time.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkwtB2Pg3w
Each step felt like it was landing on his own heart.
She lay there quietly.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAlPpdjEBb
Her face paler than the sheets.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkaK2gMFqV
An oxygen mask covered her face.
Her chest rose and fell faintly — proof that she was still alive.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO8Qzlspyl
At least, the machines said she was still alive.
Kimijima sank to his knees, trembling hands reaching for her cold fingers.
This was the girl he had cherished more than anyone,638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UTd0NPOck
the only one he had ever loved —638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTC6BJKFwy
Amagi Suzuran.
Or—Hanazono Suzuran.
He bit his lip, but couldn’t stop the tears.
"Why…"638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dIKXFoSSs
His voice was barely audible.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSolApcECy
"…did you always tell me you were doing fine?"
Why did you lie to me?638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFUyVWDi85
Why did you carry it all alone?638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUujbJfvrON
Why… didn’t you come to me?
In that moment, time seemed to break.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLInreIE5S
Only the steady, cold rhythm of the heart monitor continued.
And Kimijima — had already crumbled.
4:00 AM.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GsNUHhwEM
Tokinaga Tomohisa’s phone lit up.
He frowned and reached through the pile of documents on his desk to grab it.
“…Kimijima?”
He squinted at the name glowing on the screen, lips curling faintly.
“Kimijima, calling this late? That’s rare.”
He answered the call. On the other end came a voice — hoarse, low, like it had been scraped raw.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuci6ioPsvB
Sleepy, and yet burdened with exhaustion too deep to hide.
“…Tokinaga.”
“What’s up?”638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg0uCeaGFb
Tokinaga leaned back in his chair, voice casual, like he was still mid-data analysis.
“…Didn’t you say that human trial you were working on still needed a volunteer?”
“Yeah.”638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRMhDV7MYp
He pulled open a drawer and took out a form.
“But I submitted it to the government. They’re worried about butterfly effects or whatever — still haven’t approved it.”
A pause on the other end.
“…Then do it off the record. Can you send me back?”
Tokinaga’s pen stopped mid-air.
“…Huh?”638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bzxIscocF
He frowned and checked the time, sitting upright again.
“Kimijima, are you sick or something?”638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVXa6wxFg4
“You, of all people, saying something like that?”
There was no immediate response.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38M8O7zTib
Just silence —638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDGjQMgoIh
and the sound of someone breathing unevenly, like trying hard to hold back something.
“…What happened?”
As soon as he asked, a chill of foreboding passed through him.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOzFYEkCR1
This friend — always calm, always rational —638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQqL7mcqew
this time, he was shaken. Truly shaken.
Then finally, a whisper came.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCozEBSteKU
So low, it was almost inaudible.
“…She died.”
Tokinaga’s fingers froze.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAcMjhBJWL
The pen slipped from his hand.
“…She?”
He blinked.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZXmER5ilu
His voice lost its usual indifference.
“You mean… her…”
He paused.
“…Your lady?”
Silence.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhJDf44WHy
But that silence was the answer —638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWI08Na5qc
heavier than any words.
Tokinaga leaned back, exhaled long and deep.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt6mb6d7gC
Pressed his thumb against his brow, as if to hold back a wave of emotion.
“…You realize activating the system could create thousands of new variables?”
“I know.”
“You might not be able to save her, even if you go back.”
“…Then I’ll go back again.”
“There’s no guarantee you’ll retain all your memories either.”
“…Then I’ll fall in love with her again, every time.”
Tokinaga opened his eyes, stared at the ceiling.638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfypCyXvgyz
And murmured:
“…You’re insane, Kimijima.”
A quiet reply came through the line:
“I’ve always been insane for her.”638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsnjZoqdaU
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqeG3HwNWF
638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8js90yXJi
You made it this far—you're seriously the sweetest! 🥹💗638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5015dGkzIl
If you liked it, don’t forget to like 👍, bookmark ⭐, and drop a little comment 📝~638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjjNoEesOp
Your support keeps me going—and keeps the characters falling deeper in love 💞💭638Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡku8eNf98LY
and then Add to home screen.