My Home has become a circus

I opened the door.

And immediately regretted every life decision I had ever made.

“…I knew it.”

The smell was worse.

Stronger.

More… aggressive.

“…Why does it smell like chemicals and death.”

“Welcome back, Ren.”

I froze.

Aoi stood in the center of the living room—

No.

The lab.

Wearing her lab coat again.

Hair slightly messy.

Glasses reflecting the light.

And behind her—

More equipment.

“…There’s more.”

“Yes.”

“…Why is there more.”

“I expanded the research environment.”

“…You EXPANDED it?!”

“Yes.”

“…This used to be my house.”

“It still is.”

“…It doesn’t feel like it.”

She wrote something down.

“Subject displays signs of territorial loss.”

“I DISPLAY SIGNS OF SUFFERING.”

And then—

The front door opened again.

“…She’s already here?”

Footsteps.

Calm.

Precise.

Controlled.

“…I had a feeling this would happen.”

I turned.

Rina stepped inside.

Her eyes scanned the room.

Equipment.

Wires.

Machines.

Aoi.

Silence.

“…So,” she said calmly.

“…you’ve turned a residence into a laboratory.”

Aoi didn’t even look up.

“It is efficient.”

“…I see.”

Oh no.

That tone again.

“I thought you’d say that,” Rina continued.

“…you always prioritize results over structure.”

Aoi paused.

Slowly—

She looked up.

“…Rina Takayuki.”

…

…

…

“…Aoi Narizumi.”

Oh.

This is bad.

“…You two know each other?” I asked.

Silence.

Then—

“We used to,” Rina said.

“…Past tense.”

Aoi adjusted her glasses.

“…We had different conclusions.”

“…About what?” I asked.

“…Everything.”

“…That’s not helpful.”

Rina stepped further into the room.

“You haven’t changed.”

Aoi responded immediately.

“Neither have you.”

“…You still prioritize perfection over truth.”

“…And you still disregard boundaries in pursuit of results.”

…

…

…

“…I’m in the middle of a war, aren’t I?”

“Silence.”

Both of them said at the same time.

“…I’m definitely in a war.”

Aoi stepped closer.

“…You came here to interfere.”

“…I came here to ensure stability.”

“…Stability limits discovery.”

“…Discovery without control leads to chaos.”

“…Chaos leads to progress.”

“…Chaos leads to failure.”

“…This is getting philosophical.”

Neither of them acknowledged me.

Of course they didn’t.

And then—

“…Enough.”

The temperature dropped.

Nanami stood in the doorway.

Arms crossed.

Eyes sharp.

Authority absolute.

“…This is exactly what I warned about.”

“…You didn’t warn me enough,” I muttered.

She ignored me.

Of course she did.

“Aoi.”

“…Yes?”

“You will limit your experiments.”

“…Define limit.”

“…No dangerous procedures.”

“…Define dangerous.”

“…Anything involving him.”

“…That removes most variables.”

“…GOOD.”

Nanami turned to Rina.

“And you.”

“…Yes.”

“You are here to supervise his academic progress.”

“Yes.”

“…Not to escalate conflict.”

“…Understood.”

Then—

She looked at me.

“…Sit.”

“…Why do I feel like I’m about to suffer again.”

“Sit.”

“…Yes, President.”

I sat.

At the table.

Aoi on one side.

Rina on the other.

Nanami standing behind.

…

…

…

“…This is a nightmare.”

“Begin studying.”

“…Now?”

“Yes.”

“…In this environment?”

“Yes.”

“…With THEM?”

“Yes.”

“…I’m going to fail.”

“Correct.”

Rina said.

“…I hate you.”

“That is irrelevant.”

Aoi leaned slightly closer.

“…Your stress levels are rising again.”

“…OF COURSE THEY ARE.”

She wrote something down.

“Excellent.”

“…WHAT DO YOU MEAN EXCELLENT?!”

Rina placed a book in front of me.

“Focus.”

“…I’m trying.”

“Try harder.”

“…I’m surrounded by enemies.”

“That is accurate.”

“…WHY ARE YOU AGREEING WITH ME?!”

And just like that—

My peaceful home…

Became the most dangerous place in my life.

“…Okay,” I muttered, staring down at the open textbook in front of me.

“I just need to focus.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Oppressive.

Rina sat across from me.

Watching.

Evaluating.

Judging.

Aoi sat beside me.

Observing.

Writing.

Probably planning something illegal.

And behind me—

Nanami.

Standing.

Monitoring.

Waiting for me to mess up.

…

…

…

“…I can feel all of you staring at me.”

“Good.”

Rina replied.

“It increases performance pressure.”

“…It increases my desire to run away.”

“That is irrelevant.”

“…I hate that word.”

I looked down at the problem again.

Numbers.

Symbols.

Things that made absolutely no sense.

“…Okay.”

I pointed at the page.

“What is this.”

Rina leaned forward slightly.

“…That is a basic equation.”

“…It looks like ancient runes.”

“…It is not.”

“…It feels like it is.”

Aoi leaned in slightly.

Closer.

Too close.

“…Your brain activity is increasing.”

“…That’s because I’m confused.”

“Confusion is a valuable data point.”

“…I AM NOT DATA.”

She ignored me.

Of course she did.

Rina tapped the table lightly.

“Focus.”

“…I AM TRYING.”

“Try harder.”

“…You sound like a villain.”

“I am correct.”

“…That’s worse.”

“Perhaps,” Aoi said calmly,

“…we should test his learning response under stress.”

“…I’M ALREADY UNDER STRESS.”

“That is baseline.”

“…BASELINE?!”

Rina narrowed her eyes slightly.

“…Define your method.”

Oh no.

Why are you encouraging her.

Aoi adjusted her glasses.

“…We introduce controlled stimuli.”

“…That sounds dangerous.”

“It is efficient.”

“…STOP SAYING THAT.”

Rina crossed her arms.

“…Explain.”

“…We increase pressure,” Aoi continued,

“…and observe how his cognitive function adapts.”

“…He will fail,” Rina said immediately.

“…That is also valuable data.”

“…I AM NOT A GROUP PROJECT.”

Nanami’s voice cut through the room.

“…Denied.”

Thank you.

FINALLY.

“No experimental procedures during study sessions.”

“…Understood,” Aoi said calmly.

“…For now.”

“…WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘FOR NOW’?!”

Silence settled again.

“…Continue,” Rina said.

“…Yes, ma’am,” I sighed.

I looked down at the problem again.

“…Okay.”

Think.

Focus.

Survive.

“…I think I got it.”

Rina didn’t react.

“…Explain.”

“…Okay.”

I pointed at the equation.

“If I move this here…”

“…Incorrect.”

“…I DIDN’T EVEN FINISH.”

“You were already wrong.”

“…I HATE THIS.”

Aoi leaned closer again.

“…Your frustration is increasing.”

“…I’M GOING TO THROW THIS BOOK.”

“Do not.”

Nanami said immediately.

“…Yes, President.”

Time passed.

Again.

Slow.

Painful.

Then—

“…Correct.”

I froze.

“…Wait.”

“…That answer is correct.”

Rina said calmly.

…

…

…

“…I DID IT?!”

“Yes.”

“…I’M A GENIUS.”

“No.”

“…LET ME HAVE THIS.”

“It was acceptable.”

“…I’LL TAKE IT.”

Aoi wrote something down.

“…Subject responds positively to minor success.”

“…STOP WRITING EVERYTHING DOWN.”

“It is important.”

“…FOR WHAT?!”

“…Future experimentation.”

“…I’M GOING TO CRY.”

And then—

CRASH.

The front door slammed open.

“…NO.”

“REN!”

“…WHY.”

Hikari stood in the doorway again.

Eyes shining.

Breathing slightly heavier.

“…I had a vision.”

“…I DON’T CARE.”

She stepped inside.

“…A boy studying late into the night…”

“…YES.”

“…surrounded by two intelligent girls…”

“…YES.”

“…one strict…”

“…YES.”

“…one curious…”

“…YES.”

“…and emotions slowly developing between them—”

“…DON’T YOU DARE—”

THUD.

I hit the floor.

“…I HATE MY LIFE.”

Rina looked down at me.

“…You are highly inefficient.”

“…I WAS ATTACKED.”

Aoi looked down at me.

“…Interesting. Repeated exposure to romantic stimulus results in physical displacement.”

“…THAT’S NOT WHAT’S HAPPENING.”

Nanami stepped forward.

“…Hikari.”

“…Yes?”

“…Leave.”

“…But—”

“Now.”

“…Understood.”

Hikari bowed slightly.

“…Stay strong.”

“…STOP SAYING THAT.”

She left.

Again.

Silence returned.

I slowly sat up.

“…I think I’m losing HP.”

“…Continue studying,” Rina said.

“…I’M ON THE FLOOR.”

“…Then answer from there.”

“…YOU’RE BOTH HEARTLESS.”

And just like that—

The study session continued.

And I realized something.

School wasn’t the problem.

Home wasn’t the problem.

Everything—

Was the problem.

…

…

…

“…I’m definitely not surviving this year.”