2:00 AM.
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Kimijima Kouichi received a call from the hospital.
Just one sentence:162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvwz2BN6oi
—“Miss Amagi Suzuran is in critical condition.”
He didn’t ask questions.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3qQexCIxR
Didn’t grab a coat.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnybmgbbAxG
Just ran.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZfGVm8Fck
Straight to the hospital.
Outside the ICU, the white fluorescent lights were blindingly bright.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFBDF2MKml
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOhoMzPrbV
His steps accelerated, almost beyond control.
The fire in his chest surged up in a wave — of rage, of regret.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TxhYNMa6p
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMEaPytWyv
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwphuIVTUz
Each step felt like it was landing on his own heart.
She lay there quietly.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡid3k40Daqx
Her face paler than the sheets.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xMSYgaEvG
An oxygen mask covered her face.
Her chest rose and fell faintly — proof that she was still alive.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpYuFLgsPW
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,162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcypqRcMm6A
the only one he had ever loved —162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtIEQZw89U
Amagi Suzuran.
Or—Hanazono Suzuran.
He bit his lip, but couldn’t stop the tears.
"Why…"162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZHHFdpyiy
His voice was barely audible.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH6flwKXPV
"…did you always tell me you were doing fine?"
Why did you lie to me?162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkSkZ5SEhT
Why did you carry it all alone?162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhGUZ1XSQP
Why… didn’t you come to me?
In that moment, time seemed to break.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkBuSJ1zrE
Only the steady, cold rhythm of the heart monitor continued.
And Kimijima — had already crumbled.
4:00 AM.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Rh4jC0c73
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqQjEN5OuH
Sleepy, and yet burdened with exhaustion too deep to hide.
“…Tokinaga.”
“What’s up?”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtX7ZjcQz1
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.”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGltFVUsS2k
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?”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1NKLuLdus
He frowned and checked the time, sitting upright again.
“Kimijima, are you sick or something?”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiSGT88wTG
“You, of all people, saying something like that?”
There was no immediate response.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfVH5k30HM
Just silence —162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXPXTf8Yp2
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeQnIbZKea
This friend — always calm, always rational —162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCoKDRvDox
this time, he was shaken. Truly shaken.
Then finally, a whisper came.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8N2rr3ZsQ
So low, it was almost inaudible.
“…She died.”
Tokinaga’s fingers froze.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuNHpwewCM
The pen slipped from his hand.
“…She?”
He blinked.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBss736AXiN
His voice lost its usual indifference.
“You mean… her…”
He paused.
“…Your lady?”
Silence.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZia7pnJqO
But that silence was the answer —162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFehgtPxFZM
heavier than any words.
Tokinaga leaned back, exhaled long and deep.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGGBqbskk2
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.162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOGrQtmdSh
And murmured:
“…You’re insane, Kimijima.”
A quiet reply came through the line:
“I’ve always been insane for her.”162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJhZm22FPT
162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGn1PRMhEj
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You made it this far—you're seriously the sweetest! 🥹💗162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3bllkOd4z
If you liked it, don’t forget to like 👍, bookmark ⭐, and drop a little comment 📝~162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHF2XgO3Vw
Your support keeps me going—and keeps the characters falling deeper in love 💞💭162Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjS8nrxSHH
and then Add to home screen.