2:00 AM.
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Kimijima Kouichi received a call from the hospital.
Just one sentence:564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplFiuG3Mwz
—“Miss Amagi Suzuran is in critical condition.”
He didn’t ask questions.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78Vpdp4dDn
Didn’t grab a coat.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFJEG9aUVu
Just ran.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNFVr0YFSI
Straight to the hospital.
Outside the ICU, the white fluorescent lights were blindingly bright.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhzgW8cdGK
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.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQXSPG6hU8
His steps accelerated, almost beyond control.
The fire in his chest surged up in a wave — of rage, of regret.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfsspzAgF0
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.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSsqEPJB0W
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.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dB77Jqcdb
Each step felt like it was landing on his own heart.
She lay there quietly.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpl0zvNMVI
Her face paler than the sheets.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAWKqywIxs
An oxygen mask covered her face.
Her chest rose and fell faintly — proof that she was still alive.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PxghLT10t
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,564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmlr4BWaR7
the only one he had ever loved —564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4i1jyELJk
Amagi Suzuran.
Or—Hanazono Suzuran.
He bit his lip, but couldn’t stop the tears.
"Why…"564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYwMY0jVbn
His voice was barely audible.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwPfeGInMY
"…did you always tell me you were doing fine?"
Why did you lie to me?564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwESoeR3ZBK
Why did you carry it all alone?564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTELlybWQCG
Why… didn’t you come to me?
In that moment, time seemed to break.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TSeDrLC3s
Only the steady, cold rhythm of the heart monitor continued.
And Kimijima — had already crumbled.
4:00 AM.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLWNONtHa0
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.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWZb0aP0Wn
Sleepy, and yet burdened with exhaustion too deep to hide.
“…Tokinaga.”
“What’s up?”564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1Lcvs44OP
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.”564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHrjiEt2ym
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?”564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1hXgxpjj4
He frowned and checked the time, sitting upright again.
“Kimijima, are you sick or something?”564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj76oW30QD
“You, of all people, saying something like that?”
There was no immediate response.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDc0NAzXMI
Just silence —564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBX80HvFd9
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.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eSgrJDIWP
This friend — always calm, always rational —564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkdldhaJG6
this time, he was shaken. Truly shaken.
Then finally, a whisper came.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppyixBvCnc
So low, it was almost inaudible.
“…She died.”
Tokinaga’s fingers froze.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2mnRTFfOy
The pen slipped from his hand.
“…She?”
He blinked.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuVCJGQkso
His voice lost its usual indifference.
“You mean… her…”
He paused.
“…Your lady?”
Silence.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHk3o6QZAOl
But that silence was the answer —564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDon2eSfYH
heavier than any words.
Tokinaga leaned back, exhaled long and deep.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OPwBtgIwf
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.564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8iprjwBBd
And murmured:
“…You’re insane, Kimijima.”
A quiet reply came through the line:
“I’ve always been insane for her.”564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡue1ydpmQ97
564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRRaZgvKin
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You made it this far—you're seriously the sweetest! 🥹💗564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJy4WVRKD0
If you liked it, don’t forget to like 👍, bookmark ⭐, and drop a little comment 📝~564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb90vpWlnsE
Your support keeps me going—and keeps the characters falling deeper in love 💞💭564Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIrJZYG2Hs
and then Add to home screen.