Ch-4: Love,Love,love

Utsuyo had always been lazy.

Too lazy to do his homework.
Too lazy to stand up for himself.
Too lazy to even lift a glass of water when he was thirsty.

But today?

Today was different.

As he slouched at his desk, his head barely propped up by his hand, he noticed something… off.

The usual sluggish atmosphere of Chestnut Academy had vanished.

No more tired faces.
No more students dragging their feet through the hallways.

Instead, the air buzzed with excitement.

Colorful posters plastered the walls.

Banners, bright and dazzling, fluttered from the ceiling.

Even the cool boys—the ones who spent most of their time in the restroom pretending to ignore girls—were now combing their hair, applying gel, and straightening their uniforms.

Utsuyo blinked.

“What the hell…?”

For once, curiosity managed to overpower Utsuyo’s ever-present sloth.

His head lifted a little higher, his gaze drifting toward the hallway where the buzz was louder.

“Did I miss something?” he mumbled to himself, squinting at the posters.

They weren’t about exams or club activities.

No.

They were introductions.

Each one showcased a different student, highlighting their talents, achievements, and—of course—popularity.

“Vote for me!”

“Support your favorite!”

The captions were as cringy as they were desperate.

Utsuyo raised an eyebrow. Is this a competition?

If anyone had the answers, it was Noah.

Leaning casually against his locker, Noah had that same smug grin plastered on his face.

Utsuyo dragged himself toward him, his feet feeling heavier with every step.

“Noah,” he drawled, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Hmm?” Noah glanced up, noticing Utsuyo’s slouched posture.

“Why does the school look like a dating show all of a sudden?”

Noah’s grin widened. “Ah, so even you noticed.”

Utsuyo’s eyebrow twitched. “Obviously. It’s impossible not to.”

With a sigh, Noah pushed himself off the locker, stretching lazily.

“A new transfer.”

That was all he needed to say.

Utsuyo’s stomach sank.

“A transfer?” Utsuyo’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“Yup.”

Noah’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Rumor has it…” He leaned closer for dramatic effect. “…she’s insanely pretty.”

Utsuyo’s face twitched.

More people.
More attention.
More chances to be bullied.

He could already imagine it.

A new face meant more eyes wandering toward him.

And when those eyes got bored?

They’d find their entertainment.

“Great,” Utsuyo muttered, forcing a weak chuckle. “Can’t wait.”

But his body had already started moving toward the restroom.

Escape mode: Activated.

The restroom was Utsuyo’s sanctuary.

It was where he went when things got too overwhelming.

Where he could hide, away from prying eyes and cruel laughter.

Leaning over the sink, he splashed cold water on his face.

Maybe if I stay here long enough, they’ll forget I exist.

But fate wasn’t so kind.

Just as he began to calm down, voices echoed through the door.

“Yo… my dude, that girl is something else.”

“Yeah, man. Whenever she opens her mouth, it’s like she’s spilling honey and gold.”

Utsuyo’s eyes rolled so hard they almost fell out of his head.

Seriously?

He pressed himself against the stall door, hoping they wouldn’t notice him.

“Gonna ask her out?”

“Pfft. You think she’d go for me? Nah, I’ll just watch from a distance.”

Utsuyo clenched his jaw, waiting for them to leave.

When the coast was clear, he slipped out.

Back in the classroom, Utsuyo took his usual seat at the back, hoping to stay invisible.

But then—

He saw her.

Kyite.

Her presence was… unreal.

Her beauty wasn’t loud or flashy like the popular girls.

No.

It was elegant.

Her long, silky hair cascaded down her back, catching the light just right.

Her skin was flawless, her features delicate yet commanding.

And her eyes?

Sharp.

Cold.

Uninterested.

Kyite stood at the front of the classroom, surrounded by mountains of flowers.

Roses. Tulips. Orchids.

Gifts from admirers who had already fallen under her spell.

But Kyite?

She didn’t care.

Her face remained expressionless as she swept the flowers off her desk and into the trash.

“Pathetic.”

The single word echoed in the now silent room.

Utsuyo didn’t flinch.

He had seen plenty of beautiful girls before.

None of them had ever cared about him.

And Kyite wouldn’t be any different.

Utsuyo knew better than to get involved.

He planned to avoid her like the plague.

But fate?

Fate had other ideas.

Kyite turned too quickly, her steps colliding with Utsuyo as he tried to slip past.

“Ah—”

Her body tilted, about to hit the ground.

And despite every instinct telling him to let it happen…

He caught her.

His arms moved on their own, pulling her to safety.

For a moment, time froze.

Her scent—a mix of roses and something… strange—filled his senses.

Her eyes, wide with surprise, locked onto his.

But before either of them could speak—

A flash of gold.

A tug.

And then—

Darkness.

Utsuyo blinked.

His body felt… weightless.

He was no longer in the classroom.

Instead, he stood in a vast, empty void.

The air was heavy, pressing down on his chest.

Shadows twisted and curled around him, whispering words he couldn’t understand.

“Where… am I?”

His voice echoed, swallowed by the emptiness.

And then, she appeared.

A girl.

But not just any girl.

Her.

Her eyes burned like molten crimson.

Her hair cascaded like liquid gold.

Her presence was overwhelming—beautiful and terrifying all at once.

Utsuyo’s breath caught in his throat.

“Do you love her?”

Her voice echoed, smooth and chilling.

“W-What?”

“Kyite.”

Her gaze pierced through him, as if she could see right into his soul.

“Do you love her?”

Utsuyo’s mind went blank.

“...I don’t even know her.”

The moment the words left his lips, the air grew thick.

The ground beneath his feet shook.

The girl’s expression darkened, and the void began to crack.

“You don’t know her?”

Her tone was softer, but far more dangerous.

“Then…”

The world twisted.

Suddenly, Utsuyo was no longer in the void.

He was… everywhere.

A sunlit meadow, where Kyite laughed freely.
A stormy night, where she cried in silence.
A battlefield, where her hands were stained with blood.
A library, where she sat reading, her face serene.

A thousand lives.
A thousand moments.

Each one flooded his mind, overwhelming his senses.

“What… is this…?”

The visions stopped as suddenly as they had begun.

The void returned.

And she was there.

Closer.

“I will give you a chance, Utsuyo.”

Her hand touched his chest.

A pulse of energy.

“If you fail to make Kyite fall in love with you…”

The air grew heavy.

“She dies.”

Utsuyo’s breath caught in his throat.

“But…”

Her lips curled into a smile.

“If you succeed…”

The space around them shifted.

“I will give you my name…”

Her voice echoed, her words sinking into his soul.

“And a power over… time.”

Utsuyo’s mind spun.

This was impossible.

How could someone like him make a girl like Kyite fall in love?

But if he failed…

She would die.

“So, Utsuyo…”

Her voice was soft, yet laced with danger.

“Do we have a deal?”

To be continued…