2:00 AM.
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Kimijima Kouichi received a call from the hospital.
Just one sentence:61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLtS2dVJrq
—“Miss Amagi Suzuran is in critical condition.”
He didn’t ask questions.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3Oat33QN6
Didn’t grab a coat.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FWX1zc7Gq
Just ran.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILcX3DdY2P
Straight to the hospital.
Outside the ICU, the white fluorescent lights were blindingly bright.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7nlmJtMhO
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwBMvlctiz
His steps accelerated, almost beyond control.
The fire in his chest surged up in a wave — of rage, of regret.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy0r09vIKf
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWm04S5Jah
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmC4G4Mz1bB
Each step felt like it was landing on his own heart.
She lay there quietly.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQbpxaOxUt
Her face paler than the sheets.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0iGmxX8gE
An oxygen mask covered her face.
Her chest rose and fell faintly — proof that she was still alive.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAviX8i3gC
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,61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWCbOMgnio
the only one he had ever loved —61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhf4Huohdog
Amagi Suzuran.
Or—Hanazono Suzuran.
He bit his lip, but couldn’t stop the tears.
"Why…"61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWIJl3tx1d
His voice was barely audible.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVM9MWTQpf
"…did you always tell me you were doing fine?"
Why did you lie to me?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CCEZJ3qCr
Why did you carry it all alone?61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQ9dcBqWos
Why… didn’t you come to me?
In that moment, time seemed to break.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCDMf028Mn
Only the steady, cold rhythm of the heart monitor continued.
And Kimijima — had already crumbled.
4:00 AM.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjL1pv20bpa
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtX7ztPLzrd
Sleepy, and yet burdened with exhaustion too deep to hide.
“…Tokinaga.”
“What’s up?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChg7Os2kFv
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.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTKUxbatLJ
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?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8n8FUZ8gFG
He frowned and checked the time, sitting upright again.
“Kimijima, are you sick or something?”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bEEyjvzCZ
“You, of all people, saying something like that?”
There was no immediate response.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxUdAP3JLZ
Just silence —61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGeORexPYO
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm022ymZhZg
This friend — always calm, always rational —61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz023nrDqw
this time, he was shaken. Truly shaken.
Then finally, a whisper came.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFo7eev5jUh
So low, it was almost inaudible.
“…She died.”
Tokinaga’s fingers froze.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNcaz1ScrC
The pen slipped from his hand.
“…She?”
He blinked.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAO0NaDnPO
His voice lost its usual indifference.
“You mean… her…”
He paused.
“…Your lady?”
Silence.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEuJswKpTL
But that silence was the answer —61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4GfNDRg9X
heavier than any words.
Tokinaga leaned back, exhaled long and deep.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Lwe2qq8vB
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.61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFrgbht1BO
And murmured:
“…You’re insane, Kimijima.”
A quiet reply came through the line:
“I’ve always been insane for her.”61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcOGmrANJr
61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMw5rEug33
61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwq3jI6tCW
You made it this far—you're seriously the sweetest! 🥹💗61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXjOap7RO1
If you liked it, don’t forget to like 👍, bookmark ⭐, and drop a little comment 📝~61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkntoNkZRn
Your support keeps me going—and keeps the characters falling deeper in love 💞💭61Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnofQpAicGW
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