《Love Acceptance》


 Bond

    Yoyogi Parkview High School is a modern and vibrant educational institution located just a stone''s throw away from the serene Yoyogi Park in the heart of Shibuya. The school''s front view is dominated by sleek, contemporary architecture, with large glass windows that reflect the bustling city life surrounding it. A tall, elegant building with three floors, the school stands out amidst the urban backdrop, offering students an impressive view of the park''s greenery.


    At the entrance, a set of wide, automated doors open to a spacious courtyard, where students often gather in the mornings. The school''s logo, a stylized tree symbolizing growth and knowledge, is displayed prominently above the entrance. On the left side, a row of cherry trees marks the seasonal changes, with vibrant blossoms in spring and lush greenery in summer.


    The school''s design is a blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal, with clean lines and modern materials. Students walk through the open-air courtyard before entering the main building, where classrooms, a library, and club rooms await. The front of the school is always buzzing with life, with students chatting, laughing, and hurrying off to their next class. Despite being located in one of Tokyo''s busiest districts, Yoyogi Parkview High School feels like an oasis, offering students a calm and inspiring environment to learn and grow.


    The classroom was quiet, bathed in the soft morning light filtering through the windows. In the middle of the second-year classroom, a boy sat on a desk chair, his posture relaxed yet tense with anticipation. He wore the standard black gakuran, a crisp white shirt underneath his navy blazer, the school emblem proudly embroidered on his chest. His black trousers were neatly pressed, and he wore simple black leather shoes. On his thighs, a girl perched delicately, her knees bent to either side of him. She was dressed in the traditional female uniform¡ªa navy blazer over a white blouse with a sailor-style collar, a soft ribbon tied neatly at her neck. Her pleated skirt, a deep plaid pattern of navy and red, brushed just above her knees, and she wore knee-high socks with black loafers. Her hands cupped his face gently, and their faces were close, their gazes locked in an intimate moment.


    Their eyes locked, the distance between their faces mere inches, and it seemed as though the world around them had dissolved. The boy''s arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close in a tender embrace that spoke volumes of their unspoken feelings. His heart raced as he felt her warmth against him, and she, too, felt a flutter of nervous excitement, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.


    They were so close, their breaths mingling, as if on the verge of a kiss, yet both too shy to take the next step. Their connection was palpable, an electric charge filling the air between them.


    Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered by the creak of the door. A classmate stood at the entrance, frozen in place. His eyes widened slightly as he took in the scene before him, the pieces falling into place in his mind. A knowing smirk crept across his face as if he finally understood why these two always arrived at school earlier than the rest.


    The sudden intrusion broke the intimate moment as Tanaka stepped into the classroom, his eyes widening slightly at the scene before him. He cleared his throat, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.


    "Yuki, Yuno, sorry I came earlier today. Had my own reasons," Tanaka said, his tone light, though it carried a hint of mischief. "Looks like I ended up interrupting something. Guess I finally understand why you two always show up so early. Not that I was ever curious, but, well, here we are." His expression reflected a mix of amusement and admiration.


    Yuki and Yuno, still in each other''s arms, exchanged a brief, embarrassed glance before Tanaka, now standing in the middle of the classroom, cleared his throat. His voice carried a teasing note, but his face showed a hint of bashfulness. "Well, now that I''m here, shouldn''t you two... stop that?"


    Yuno tilted her head slightly, a smirk playing on her lips. "We can''t," she said, her tone soft but confident.


    Yuki tightened his hold on Yuno, a playful grin spreading across his face. "You know, Tanaka, I have to do whatever she says. That''s how you keep a relationship healthy," he declared, his voice filled with a mock-seriousness, as if he were the world''s greatest boyfriend.


    Tanaka sighed, shaking his head as he sat down. "Never mind," he muttered, a hint of resignation in his tone, as though he was gradually getting used to their antics. He leaned back, his eyes studying them with a calm, impressed expression. "I have to admit, you two made a great choice falling in love. Much better than those couples who keep breaking up around here."


    Yuki and Yuno''s eyes widened in surprise, and in unison, they blurted out, "It''s not true!" Their synchronized outburst made them pause and look at each other in astonishment, realizing they had spoken at the same time.


    Tanaka''s brow furrowed, and he leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "Huh? What do you mean by that?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine confusion.


    Before Yuki and Yuno could respond, three students appeared in the doorway, their expressions a mix of shyness and awkwardness upon seeing the intimate scene in front of them. Tanaka, still standing near his seat, broke the silence. "Hana, Rin, Haruto, why are you all together?" he asked, curiosity piqued.


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    Before any of them could reply, Yuno quickly slid off Yuki''s lap and made her way to her seat, her expression betraying a sense of misfortune, as though their luck had just run out. Yuki followed suit, pulling his chair close to his desk, wearing a similar look of resigned bad luck.


    Rin stepped forward, glancing at Tanaka. "It''s just a coincidence that we''re together," she explained, her tone casual but her eyes darting around the room.


    She turned to Tanaka, "Why did you come to school earlier today?"


    Tanaka shrugged. "No particular reason," he replied nonchalantly. Then, noticing Hana''s flushed cheeks, he added, "Hana, your face is still red, unlike Rin and Haruto."


    Hana gave a small, helpless shrug, her expression speechless. "I have no words," she muttered, clearly overwhelmed.


    The trio moved toward their seats, Haruto shaking his head as he walked. "What if someone else saw Yuki and Yuno sitting like that and reported it to the teacher?" he wondered aloud, his voice filled with concern. "Stuff like that only brings trouble."


    Yuno sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "It''s the first time anyone has seen us like that. Luckily, it was just friends," she said, her tone relieved. She turned to Yuki, her expression serious but softening. "No more risks, okay?"


    Yuki chuckled nervously, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Haha, you''re asking me like it was my ide¡ª" he began, but Yuno''s sharp glare cut him off. Her eyes warned him to tread carefully.


    Clearing his throat, Yuki quickly backtracked. "Ah, I mean, even if it wasn''t my idea, it would still be my idea because my Yuno is innocent," he said with an air of pride, though inwardly he was relieved he hadn''t said more. Remember, the key to a healthy relationship is always listening to your partner, he reminded himself.


    Yuno nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Yes, yes, that''s correct," she agreed, her voice sweet.


    The others exchanged glances, their expressions betraying their thoughts: What terrible acting. They each thought the same thing, What an obvious lie! but remained silent, opting to let the moment pass.


    The sun cast a warm glow over Yoyogi Parkview High School as students trickled into their classrooms, ready for the morning lessons. The buzz of conversation filled the corridors, a prelude to the day''s events. In Class 3-B, Haruto stretched his arms wide, yawning as the lunch bell chimed.


    "Finally, it''s lunch break," Haruto declared, rubbing his eyes. "I can finally eat and recharge my brain for the rest of the day."


    Hana, sitting nearby, smiled with a sparkle in her eye. "Just hearing about lunch makes me even hungrier!" she exclaimed, her expression lighting up as if touched by magic.


    Tanaka chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Hana, you''re such a rare gem," he said, clearly impressed.


    Curious, Rin tilted her head. "Tanaka, what do you mean by that?" she asked with genuine interest.


    Tanaka grinned. "Well, most girls don''t like to show how hungry they are, unlike Hana."


    Realization dawned on Rin''s face. "Oh, so that''s why she''s rare. Does that mean I''m not?" she asked, a hint of insecurity in her voice.


    Hana laughed softly. "I''m just more expressive, that''s all," she said, waving her hand dismissively. But then, a strange feeling prickled at her senses. She glanced around, her expression shifting to one of fear. Someone was staring at her¡ªshe could feel it¡ªbut when she looked, no one seemed out of place.


    "You''re the sweetest girl in class, Hana," Haruto reassured her calmly. "It''s normal for people to notice you."


    Rin and Tanaka nodded in unison. "That''s right," they chorused, exchanging amused glances at their synchronicity.


    Hana sighed, though a worried frown still marred her face. "Maybe, but it didn''t feel safe," she admitted.


    As students began to file out of the classroom, leaving only a handful behind, Hana''s gaze wandered. She noticed Yuki and Yuno at the back, their faces close as they leaned over their desks. To avoid being seen, Yuki held a book up to shield them.


    Haruto, Hana, Tanaka, and Rin all froze, their jaws dropping in disbelief as they caught the kissing moment. But Hana wasn''t the only one being observed. A shadow lingered near the door, someone watching her with intense anger¡ªyet her focus remained on Yuki and Yuno.


    The narrator''s voice echoed in her mind: Who could this mysterious person be, and why was he or she so furious with Hana?


    Ten minutes later, the friends gathered for lunch, the earlier tension fading into the background. Yuno''s cheeks flushed as she giggled, "My Yuki couldn''t wait anymore."


    "Yeah, yeah," Yuki said smugly. "I can''t wait to make babies with you."


    Everyone''s eyes widened in shock, and Yuno playfully swatted Yuki''s arm. "See? He has no self-control! But I love that about him."


    Yuki grinned sheepishly, attempting to recover. "No, no! I mean, if you were this nice to me, you''d let me¡ª"


    Yuno''s sharp glare cut him off, her eyes promising retribution. Panicking, Yuki added with a smirk, "Kisses make girls pregnant, right?"


    Yuno stared at him, confused. "What was that?"


    Haruto and Tanaka burst into laughter, while Hana covered her mouth, her face turning pink from suppressed giggles. Rin, however, was too shy.


    "Yuno, are you pregnant?" Rin asked innocently, her cheeks reddening.


    Yuno''s face turned bright red. "Is that supposed to be a joke?"


    Tanaka chuckled, realization dawning. "Rin, you''re so innocent. Kisses don''t make girls pregnant."


    Rin lowered her gaze, embarrassed. "It was a compliment¡­?" she whispered, her face still flushed.


    Tanaka leaned closer. "Did you say something?"


    Rin quickly shook her head. "No, no. Never mind."


    Unable to resist, Rin asked softly, "Then¡­what does make a girl pregnant?"


    Tanaka paused, caught off guard. The group leaned in, anticipating his answer. He hesitated, then turned to face them. "My bad, I forgot," he said, awkwardly.


    Rin smiled shyly. "You can tell me later if you remember," she offered, her face a deeper shade of red.


    Tanaka nodded, visibly relieved. "Sure, later."


    Their mischievous expressions faded when a voice drifted through the room. A student whispered to his friends, "Did you hear? Someone saw the devil¡­" The news spread like wildfire. By the time the last bell rang, the entire school was buzzing with rumors about the devil.


    Haruto shrugged. "Doesn''t concern me."


    "I hope the devil is kind and doesn''t make people do bad things," Hana mused.


    "Good or bad, it''s a moral dilemma," Tanaka added.


    "That''s complicated," Rin agreed.


    "Does the devil have a wife?" Yuno wondered aloud.


    Yuki smirked. "Is the devil even male?"


    Tanaka laughed. "Our questions suit our personalities. We''re all pretty predictable."


    To be continued¡­

 Life

    Haruto walked through the familiar streets, his mind still lingering on the events of the day at college. As he approached his house, he noticed a familiar pair of shoes neatly placed at the entrance. It was a common sight¡ªHana''s parents often visited, given that his father and Hana''s father were best friends.


    Stepping inside, Haruto found them seated comfortably in the living room, chatting with his parents. He smiled and offered a polite bow. "Good evening," he greeted warmly.


    Hana''s mother returned his smile, her eyes crinkling with warmth. "Haruto, how''s your study going?" she asked kindly. "And is Hana being nice to you?"


    Haruto chuckled softly, nodding. "Yes, we''re good friends."


    The room seemed to brighten with their shared laughter. Then, Hana''s father spoke, his tone lighter but carrying a certain weight. "Haruto, your parents and we have talked, and we''ve decided that when the time is right, you and Hana will get married."


    The words hung in the air, changing the atmosphere in the room, leaving Haruto momentarily speechless.


    Haruto blinked, processing the unexpected news. "That was... so random," he muttered, trying to maintain a calm demeanor. But then, with a hint of worry in his voice, he asked, "Does Hana know about this?"


    Hana''s father nodded, his expression reassuring. "Yes, she knows."


    Haruto''s eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, but she never mentioned it to me."


    "She wanted us to tell you first," Hana''s father explained gently, "to avoid any confusion."


    Haruto exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Ah, that makes sense," he said, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. Then, with a curious tilt of his head, he added, "So, I guess Hana agrees with this?"


    "Of course," Hana''s father replied, his face glowing with pride. "She believes in her parents'' decisions and trusts they are always right."


    "That''s nice," Haruto said, a soft smile playing on his lips, the relief evident in his voice.


    Haruto''s parents chimed in, their voices warm with affection. "We understand how Hana thinks because our Haruto is the same."


    Hana''s parents exchanged knowing glances, nodding in agreement. "Yes, we noticed Haruto''s expressions and realized they matched Hana''s perfectly. They truly are alike. What do you think, Haruto?"


    Haruto gave a small laugh, nodding. "I agree with that."


    Feeling a whirlwind of emotions, Haruto excused himself and headed to his room. As soon as he sat on his bed, he grabbed his phone, his fingers flying over the screen. He couldn''t wait to share the news in their online chat group.


    In the group chat, Haruto''s closest high school friends were already buzzing with activity. As he typed, **"I''ve got something interesting to tell you guys,"** his thoughts raced. *I can only share this with my friends, but hopefully, no one at school¡ªespecially the boys who might get jealous¡ªfinds out,* he mused. Before he could finish his train of thought, a notification popped up.


    Hana had beaten him to it, her message reading, **"What, what?"** followed by a red cheeks emoji.


    The group quickly came alive, everyone joining the conversation. Tanaka was the first to respond, typing, **"That''s rare that you send any message here, Haruto."**


    Rin chimed in next, simply typing, **"Waiting."**


    Then Yuki, always one for teasing, added, **"No message from Yuno?"**


    Almost on cue, Yuno responded, **"I''m here, babe,"** with a string of hug emojis.


    Haruto smiled at their playful banter and finally decided to drop the news. **"Now that you''re all here,"** he began, **"the thing is, Hana''s parents are at my house. They, along with my parents, have decided that Hana and I will get married when the right time comes."**


    The chat went silent for a moment, everyone processing what he had just revealed. Haruto continued, **"And I found out that Hana and I are really alike in many ways. Even our parents noticed it. Plus, you guys might not know, but Hana''s father and my father are best friends."**


    The chat exploded with responses as his friends reacted to the surprising news, filling the room with a flurry of messages and emojis.


    Hana quickly typed, **"So finally my parents decided to tell you,"** adding a blush emoji.


    Haruto responded with a simple, **"Yup,"** followed by the same blush emoji.


    Yuki, ever the joker, added, **"Haruto, once you get married to Hana, just do whatever she says to keep your married life healthy,"** punctuating it with a glasses emoji.


    Yuno jumped in, **"But Yuki, you don''t listen to me,"** she complained, using a crying emoji.


    Yuki shot back, **"I always listen to you."**


    **"No, you don''t,"** Yuno retorted.


    **"I do,"** Yuki insisted.


    "No, you don''t," Yuno countered,  "Hence proved, because you''re still not listening to me,"  again using a crying emoji.


    Yuki groaned,  "Huh, a trap," and added an angry emoji.


    Breaking through the playful argument, Rin typed, "Congratulations to both of you!" with a smile emoji.


    Tanaka, ever the curious one, asked, "So you both agree to get married to each other?"


    Haruto took a moment before replying, "At first, I was worried if Hana knew about this because, in my case, I was depending on my parents'' decision. But once I found out Hana was also relying on her parents'' will, I wasn''t worried anymore," adding a relief emoji.


    Hana responded with excitement, "Woah, we are really alike!"  using an excitement emoji.


    Suddenly, without any warning, the screen flickered. Haruto, Hana, Tanaka, Rin, Yuki, and Yuno felt a strange sensation pulling them away from their surroundings. In an instant, they found themselves standing in a dense, unfamiliar forest, the hum of nature replacing the buzz of their phones. The group stared at each other, wide-eyed and bewildered, as the reality of their sudden teleportation sank in.


    Haruto gasped, his voice trembling with shock. "What just happened?!"


    Tanaka, his face pale and eyes wide with disbelief, stammered, "Is this even possible?"


    Hana, Rin, Yuki, and Yuno stood frozen, their minds struggling to grasp the reality that had just unfolded. Suddenly, a memory sparked in Tanaka and Rin''s minds, and they shouted in unison, "Devil!"


    Their exclamation shattered the fragile silence, jolting everyone out of their stupor. "What?" the others asked, their voices laced with fear and confusion.


    Tanaka, regaining some composure, replied, "Remember the rumors we heard about the devil in our school?"


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    Rin nodded vigorously, her expression tinged with dread. "Exactly. In this situation, the only rational explanation might be... the devil."


    Hana, her eyes filled with fear, moved closer to Haruto and clung tightly to his arm. "Don''t worry, Hana," Haruto said, his voice trembling with worry. "There must be a way to get out of this place."


    Yuno turned to Yuki, her voice quivering. "Yuki, we always tried to find a random place to spend time together, but we always failed. Now we''ve found one..." Her fear overwhelmed her, and she threw her arms around Yuki, squeezing him so tightly that he struggled to breathe.


    "Yuno," Yuki gasped, "I... I''m going to die!"


    Yuno''s face softened into a strange mixture of fear and resignation. "It''s okay. At least we''ll die together." Then she noticed Yuki''s face turning pale and quickly loosened her grip. "Breathe, Yuki! Breathe!"


    Yuki took a deep, relieved breath, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, I can now... just barely."


    Rin, her mind racing, suddenly posed a question that hung heavily in the air. "Random... Even if this is the work of the devil, why us? Why only us? If it''s us, there must be a reason..." Her words trailed off, leaving everyone to ponder the terrifying mystery that surrounded them.


    "Rin, yeah, that makes sense," Tanaka agreed, his thoughts racing. As he spoke, his gaze fell on a leaf drifting down from a nearby tree. But as it fell, it seemed to hit something unseen, bouncing off as if it had struck a solid surface.


    Curious, Tanaka walked closer to the spot where the leaf had hit, his heart pounding in anticipation. Slowly, he lifted a finger and reached out to touch the seemingly empty air. His eyes widened in shock as his finger met an invisible barrier. Though the path ahead looked clear, it was as if an invisible wall stood in their way.


    "What is this?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. He turned to the others, his expression mirroring their collective disbelief.


    Rin, her face clouded with confusion, murmured, "At this point, anything is possible."


    Hana, lost in thought for a moment, suddenly snapped into action. She spun around and dashed in the opposite direction, away from the blocked path.


    "Hana, wait! Where are you going?" Haruto called after her, panic creeping into his voice. Without hesitation, he sprinted after her.


    "Everyone, follow me!" Hana shouted over her shoulder, urgency lacing her words.


    The group exchanged anxious glances but quickly fell into step behind her. As they ran, Tanaka leaned toward Rin. "Do you think Hana just had the same thought we did?"


    Rin nodded, a glimmer of hope flickering in her eyes. "If there''s a wall blocking us, maybe there''s a way out of this place."


    Hana abruptly stopped, and the rest of the group skidded to a halt beside her. She was staring at the ground, where a red line was drawn across the surface. The others followed her gaze and noticed something written beside the line, their breaths hitching in unison as the realization set in.


    Tanaka crouched down, his fingers tracing the faint red line on the surface. His eyes narrowed as he began to read the words etched into the ground, his voice low but steady as he spoke aloud for everyone to hear.


    Tanaka crouched down, his fingers tracing the faint red line on the surface. His eyes narrowed as he began to read the words etched into the ground, his voice low but steady as he spoke aloud for everyone to hear.


    "Yes, this is the path to get out of this place. By reaching the end of this straight path, you will see another red line similar to this one. Once you cross that line, you will be out of this place. Even after many hours, you all will exit this place at the same time when you first arrived here."


    Tanaka paused, his heart pounding in his chest as the words sank in. He continued reading, "Additionally, you can get anything you want here, except for the things I reject. To receive what you desire, simply specify what you want and say it aloud. For example, if you want food, specify which type, and it will appear immediately."


    He finished reading, lifting his head to look at the others, their faces a mixture of hope and confusion. The message seemed clear, yet the strangeness of it all made them question its authenticity. Tanaka''s mind raced with the possibilities, unsure of what to think or what to expect next.


    Haruto, his brow furrowed, said hesitantly, "It... it doesn''t sound dangerous." His voice was laced with confusion as he tried to process the strange message.


    Suddenly, Yuno shouted, "Ramen!"


    In an instant, a steaming bowl of ramen appeared in her hands. Her eyes lit up with excitement as she exclaimed, "It worked!"


    Rin''s eyes widened in amazement. "So, this is true," she murmured, the reality sinking in.


    Tanaka, still wary, shook his head. "Even if it is true... what''s the purpose of this?" His confusion deepened as he tried to make sense of the situation.


    Hana, eager to test it further, called out, "Sushi!"


    Just as before, a plate of fresh sushi materialized in her hands, leaving everyone stunned. The eerie convenience of it all only added to the growing mystery surrounding their predicament.


    Hana swallowed the sushi, savoring the taste, but the moment it slid down her throat, a translucent screen materialized in front of them, the words flashing ominously:


    [Sushi contains poison. To remove the poison, someone has to suck it from her mouth, remembering that you also might die from it.]


    A heavy silence settled over the group, the weight of the words sinking in. Everyone stood frozen, unable to grasp what was happening. Tanaka, his voice sharp with urgency, yelled, "Whether it''s a trap or not, we can''t risk it!" But before he could finish, Haruto, without hesitation, rushed to Hana''s side and began to suck the poison from her mouth.


    The sight of him so close to her, their lips meeting in such an intimate and desperate act, made the others turn away awkwardly, their faces flushing with embarrassment and concern. Worry for both of them filled the air as Tanaka clenched his fists, anger bubbling up. Was this really a trap? He struggled to make sense of it, his mind racing.


    Then, a sudden realization struck him. "Yuno," Tanaka said, his voice cutting through the tension. "You ate the ramen, but no window appeared."


    Yuki, Yuno, and Rin all exchanged puzzled glances, confusion clouding their thoughts. "Why wasn''t the ramen poisoned?" Rin asked, her voice trembling.


    Rin''s eyes widened as the horror of the situation began to set in. "Does it mean someone wants to kill Hana?" she asked, her face reflecting the shock and fear they all shared.


    Meanwhile, Haruto, his face contorted with strain, continued to suck the poison from Hana, spitting it out repeatedly. The effort was clearly exhausting him, but he didn''t stop. His actions were making everyone worry even more.


    Suddenly, another window popped up, and the words displayed:


    [Poison has been removed from Hana but transferred to Haruto.]


    Shock rippled through the group as they read the message. Haruto''s eyes widened in realization¡ªhe was now poisoned. But despite the danger to himself, Haruto looked at Hana with concern. "Hana, are you alright?" His voice was filled with worry.


    Hana didn''t respond. Instead, without thinking, she immediately began sucking the poison from Haruto''s mouth, spitting it out just as he had done for her. She was desperate to save him.


    Rin, her voice laced with confusion, asked, "Now Haruto too?"


    Tanaka, deep in thought, tried to piece it all together. "So it''s happening randomly... No, let''s wait. If Hana gets poisoned again, it will confirm whether Haruto got poisoned because he sucked it out of her."


    They stood in the midst of the dense forest, the shadows of the trees surrounding them, waiting for what would come next. Then, another screen appeared:


    **[The poison has been removed from Haruto.]**


    A collective sigh of relief escaped the group, though confusion still lingered. What kind of twisted game were they being forced to play?


    Hana, overwhelmed with emotion, threw herself into Haruto''s arms, her tears soaking his shirt. "I thought I lost you," she whispered through her sobs. Rin and Yuno stood close by, their own eyes filled with tears.


    Tanaka and Yuki let out relieved breaths, but the forest around them felt heavier than ever. Haruto, despite the exhaustion in his voice, smiled at Hana and spoke with unwavering determination. "Hana, don''t worry. We can''t die here. Not for the sake of our loved ones."


    His words, filled with resolve, cut through the tension in the air. The forest was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves, but the mystery of their situation was far from over.


    Tanaka stood silently for a moment, his mind spinning with questions. "Hana didn''t get poisoned this time, yet she did the same as Haruto, but Haruto got poisoned," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Does it mean it''s random?" He paused, thinking deeply. "No, let''s confirm it again."


    Tanaka took a breath, then raised his voice. "Cold drink!"


    Almost immediately, a cold drink appeared in his hands. He took a sip, but no screen appeared. The others watched in silence, unsure what to make of it.


    Rin, her mind racing, decided to test it herself. "Chocolate!" she called out.


    A bar of chocolate materialized before her, and she ate it without hesitation. But once again, no screen appeared.


    Yuki, still trying to piece everything together, added his own request. "Apple!"


    As soon as he spoke, an apple appeared in his hand, and he took a bite, but again, no screen appeared.


    The group stood in stunned silence, the realization slowly creeping in: why was this strange phenomenon only happening with Hana and Haruto? Why them? The unease in the air grew thicker as the mystery deepened.


    Tanaka, still deep in thought, suddenly blurted out, "Poison."


    Everyone turned to him in shock. Rin, her eyes wide with concern, yelled, "What are you doing, Tanaka?" Her voice was filled with worry.


    Despite Tanaka''s loud request for poison, nothing appeared. The group exchanged confused glances. The situation was growing more bizarre by the second.


    Haruto, trying to make sense of it all, spoke up cautiously. "Maybe the poison is only in food... Maybe that''s why it appears with certain things."


    Tanaka turned to Haruto, a serious expression on his face. "Haruto, ask for poison."


    Haruto''s heart pounded in his chest, but he nodded and, with a determined voice, called out, "Poison!"


    Almost immediately, a vial of dark, menacing liquid appeared in front of him. The others stared in shock, their faces pale with disbelief.


    Everyone had hoped for an explanation, but instead, the mystery deepened further. The tension in the air was suffocating, and now they knew: something far darker was at play.


    To be continued...

 Emotions

    Tanaka''s face darkened as he spoke, his voice heavy with worry. "Now it''s confirmed. Someone holds hatred toward Haruto and Hana."


    Haruto frowned, confusion and unease evident in his eyes. "Why would someone do this to us?"


    Suddenly, Hana''s expression shifted, fear creeping into her voice. "This morning, in the classroom... I felt like someone was staring at me, filled with anger. Could it be that person doing all this?"


    Yuki, eyebrows furrowed in thought, interjected, "But even if that''s true, it''s strange. Why is Haruto being targeted too?"


    Yuno shrugged, her tone light but her words serious. "Maybe it''s to confuse us?"


    Tanaka sighed, rubbing his temples. "The possibilities are endless. We need a definite reason." His eyes drifted to Rin, who stood silent with his eyes closed. "Rin, why are your eyes closed?"


    Rin opened one eye, her voice flat. "I''m just sleepy."


    Yuki glanced at Haruto and Hana, concern lining his features. "They need to rest."


    "That''s a good idea," Tanaka agreed, nodding. "Let''s ask for small houses."


    At that, a collective shout of "house" echoed, and six small houses materialized before them. Without further ado, they each retreated into their respective houses to rest.


    However, rest was fleeting. Barely five minutes passed before they found themselves gathered near the ominous red line that marked their boundary. A strange pull had summoned them there. Their hearts pounded as they saw Tanaka¡ªacross the red line. But the real shock came as they turned to find another Tanaka standing right beside them.


    As if the situation wasn''t surreal enough, a girl stepped forward from the shadows, a knife gleaming in her hand. It was Miyu, their classmate, her eyes filled with an unreadable emotion.


    Rin, always sharp, already had his gun drawn, aimed steadily at the Tanaka across the red line.


    Before Yuki, Yuno, or Haruto could utter a word about the two Tanakas, Hana''s voice rang out in a sudden, desperate shout. "Now I remember! It was Miyu who was staring at me!"


    In an instant, Miyu charged toward Hana, her knife gleaming dangerously. But just as the blade was about to strike, Haruto moved. His hand shot out, gripping Miyu''s wrist with such force that she couldn''t even flinch. The knife clattered to the ground as pain overtook Miyu, and the intent to harm drained from her eyes. She collapsed to the ground, her body trembling as tears flowed freely.


    "Why, Miyu?" Hana''s voice was choked with emotion, her own tears spilling down her cheeks.


    Haruto, his voice tense and edged with confusion, asked, "What is happening? And why are there two Tanakas?"


    Yuno blinked, the words barely making sense in the chaos. "Miyu? Two Tanakas?"


    Yuki echoed, the disbelief evident. "Miyu? Two Tanakas?"


    Hana, still trying to process everything, murmured, "Two Tanakas?"


    Yuki turned toward Rin, noticing the gun still aimed. "Wait, why is Rin pointing a gun at Tanaka? And... which one is the real Tanaka?"


    The confusion was a thick fog clouding their minds. Yuki, Yuno, Haruto, and Hana stood frozen, unable to piece together any possibility in the face of such overwhelming complexity. Even Miyu, despite her tears, watched the unfolding scene with wide, observant eyes.


    Rin''s voice cut through the tense air, sharp and filled with anger. "Tanaka, why did you hurt your friends?" she demanded, her eyes blazing with intensity.


    Tanaka remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor. Around them, Hana, Yuki, Yuno, and Haruto exchanged bewildered glances, the shock evident in their expressions. Haruto was the first to break the silence, his voice a mix of confusion and concern. "Rin, what do you mean by that? Miyu was the one who wanted to kill Hana."


    "But wait," Yuki interjected, a frown creasing his brow. "Haruto was poisoned too, but it didn''t seem like Miyu wanted to kill him."


    The realization hit Hana and Yuno simultaneously, their eyes widening in shock. Rin''s patience snapped as she turned to Tanaka, her voice rising. "Tanaka, speak already!"


    Before Tanaka could respond, Miyu''s voice rang out, sharp and defensive. "Why wouldn''t Tanaka do such a thing?"


    All eyes turned to Miyu, who stood rigid, her fists clenched at her sides. She took a deep breath, her gaze hardening as she continued. "But you need to understand the whole story."


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    A flashback flickered through her mind. It was a day that had changed everything. Her boyfriend had come to her, his expression cold and distant. "I want to break up," he said abruptly. "My choice could have been better."


    Miyu had stared at him, disbelief and hurt etched across her face. "What do you mean by that?"


    "You''re totally opposite of Hana," he replied, his tone indifferent.


    "So what?" Miyu retorted, her voice shaking.


    "See, anyway, from now on, we are done for," he said, turning away from her.


    "Come back if you don''t get Hana," Miyu had called after him, but he didn''t respond, disappearing from her life without another word. The rejection stung, and though Miyu tried to brush it off, she couldn''t ignore the painful reality. Her boyfriend had left because of Hana¡ªor so she thought.


    In the days that followed, Miyu couldn''t help but notice Hana more. She observed how Hana spoke to boys, the way her words seemed to make them feel special, as if they were the only ones who mattered. It wasn''t intentional on Hana''s part¡ªshe was too naive to understand the subtleties of her actions. But Miyu saw it, and it gnawed at her.


    Miyu''s voice trembled as she continued, her emotions raw. "Tanaka has no family. He lives alone, no relatives in contact with him. We both work at the same caf¨¦, and that''s when I learned about his situation. One day, I noticed that Tanaka was attracted to Hana, and I warned him to stay away from her. I told him what had happened to me, hoping he''d understand."


    Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of unspoken truths and concealed pain.


    Miyu continued, her voice trembling with emotion. "I''ve always believed that Hana unintentionally attracts boys. My boyfriend left me because, after talking to Hana, his standards soared. That''s why I never hated Hana or my boyfriend, even when our situation seemed helpless. I thought he would return to me after realizing he couldn''t have Hana, but he didn''t. Instead, he started a relationship with someone else. That''s when everything changed. The pain became unbearable, knowing it was because of Hana and my boyfriend. I could have endured it if he had come back, but he didn''t. He chose someone else."


    In her room, just thirty minutes earlier, Miyu had learned the truth. Her resentment towards Hana and her ex-boyfriend swelled to an unimaginable level. The anger consumed her, to the point where she contemplated ending their lives. As the dark thoughts spiraled in her mind, a sinister figure suddenly materialized before her¡ªa devil, with eyes that burned with a malevolent fire.


    Miyu froze in shock, her eyes wide as the devil appeared before her. Trembling, she let out a scream, loud and piercing, but her body refused to move. The devil''s voice was cold, almost mocking. "Humans are evil. Humans are their own worst enemies. Do you want to kill Hana and your ex-boyfriend?"


    Miyu''s mind raced, struggling to process the surreal reality¡ªdevils were real, and one stood before her. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Her thoughts returned to Hana and her ex-boyfriend, and the devil''s question echoed in her mind. Her hatred surged, overwhelming any sense of caution or reason.


    "Yes," she growled through clenched teeth. "I want to kill them."


    The devil grinned, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "How do you want to kil¡ª"


    Before he could finish, Miyu snapped, "Shut up and take me to Hana!"


    The devil''s laughter filled the room, a chilling, bone-deep sound that sent shivers down her spine. He hadn''t even moved when Miyu grabbed a knife from a nearby plate, her hand steady despite the turmoil inside her.


    As she clutched the blade, the devil''s voice cut through the tension. "Once you kill Hana and your ex-boyfriend, you will die. That''s the price."


    But Miyu didn''t care anymore. Her hatred left no room for fear or regret. She nodded, and with a wicked smile, the devil whisked her away to where Hana was.


    Miyu had laid everything bare, leaving everyone in stunned silence. Faces turned pale, and breaths hitched as the weight of her words settled over them. Rin''s voice broke the tension, a mix of sorrow and disbelief in her tone. "Tanaka doesn''t have any family or relatives, and he lives alone?!" Her eyes filled with concern as she turned to Tanaka. "Why didn''t you ever tell us? We''re your friends, aren''t we?"


    Yuki, deep in thought, spoke up. "Miyu, are you saying we''re here not because of you?"


    Miyu nodded, her expression somber. "Yes, it wasn''t me."


    Rin''s eyes flared with anger as she shouted at Tanaka, "Tanaka, make this fake Tanaka that''s with Yuki, Yuno, Haruto, and Hana disappear!"


    Tanaka responded swiftly, his voice loud and commanding. "Disappear!" In an instant, the fake Tanaka vanished, leaving Yuki, Yuno, Haruto, and Hana stunned. They exchanged glances, slowly piecing together the truth behind the torment they had endured.


    All eyes were on Tanaka now. After a few tense moments, Tanaka spoke, his voice laden with regret. "Everything Miyu said about me is true. A few months ago, I started liking Hana. One day at school, I saw her standing alone and approached her. We talked for a while, and then I asked, ''Hana, do you have a crush on anyone? There are so many boys who like you.'' She laughed and said, ''That''s troublesome for me because I''m not into relationships or crushes.'' I asked about marriage, and she replied, ''I could even marry you.'' Then her friends called her, and she left."


    Before Tanaka could continue, Hana interrupted, her voice urgent. "Tanaka, wait! I just remembered something. When I said I could even marry you, I was about to say something more, but my friends interrupted."


    Tanaka''s eyes widened in shock. "What?!"


    Hana hesitated before continuing, "I was going to say, ''If my parents choose you.''"


    Tanaka''s face fell, his voice trembling. "But... but you could have told me this anytime."


    Hana''s expression mirrored his regret. "I-I forgot."


    Tanaka''s shoulders sagged under the weight of their shared regret, and Hana''s sadness deepened. Haruto let out a sigh. "So, it was all a misunderstanding."


    Yuki and Yuno exchanged looks of disbelief. "That''s tragic!" they echoed.


    Rin, her voice steady once more, commanded, "Disappear the gun." And just like that, the gun vanished, leaving a collective sense of relief in the group.


    Miyu, her eyes heavy with sorrow, spoke softly. "When fate isn''t on your side, even someone as intelligent as Tanaka can fall into darkness."


    Rin, her expression filled with anger once again, demanded, "Tanaka, continue your talk."


    Tanaka took a deep breath, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. "When I found out that Hana and Haruto were going to marry each other, even after what Hana said to me, I felt sad and alone. Now we know it was a misunderstanding, but back then, I didn''t get angry. Instead, I felt a deep sadness. I went outside to a green hill under the full moon, expecting that a devil would show up, so I¡ª"


    Before he could finish, Rin interrupted, her eyes wide with shock. "Wait, what?! Why did you expect that a devil would show up?!"


    To be continued...

 Differentiate

    After Rin''s words hung in the air, a heavy silence fell over the group. Everyone''s eyes turned to Tanaka, their gazes sharp and questioning, as if trying to pierce through the veil of mystery that surrounded him. How did he know a devil would appear? What did he know that they didn''t? The weight of their collective curiosity pressed down on him, and for a moment, Tanaka seemed to shrink under their scrutiny. But then, he straightened his posture, his expression calm yet tinged with something darker, something unspoken.


    "It''s not like only on Green Hill a devil would show up," Tanaka began, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of something deeper, something almost melancholic. "If devils exist¡ªand if they choose to reveal themselves to people¡ªthen I had to guess under what conditions they might appear. And my answer would be¡­ in darkness."


    Rin''s eyes narrowed as she processed his words. "In darkness? You mean¡­ being bad? No, wait¡ª" She paused, her brow furrowing as she tried to piece together his meaning. "Does it mean falling into despair? Like, reaching a certain level of hopelessness?"


    Miyu, ever blunt and unflinching, cut in with her own interpretation. "It means being able to kill someone," she said, her tone matter-of-fact, as if the conclusion were obvious.


    Yuno, ever the voice of reason, shook her head. "I don''t think Tanaka would kill someone," she said, her voice soft but firm. "There must be another condition."


    Yuki nodded in agreement. "That''s true. Tanaka isn''t like that. There''s got to be more to it."


    Haruto and Hana exchanged glances before nodding, their silent agreement adding to the growing consensus. But then, Miyu''s voice broke through the tension, sharp and insistent. "But when it comes to me, when I was able to kill someone, a devil showed up. So what I''m saying is the more logical reason."


    Yuno turned to Miyu, her expression thoughtful. "Things can be different for everyone," she said gently. "Just because it happened to you that way doesn''t mean it''s the same for Tanaka."


    Yuki''s gaze shifted to Rin. "Rin, what do you think about it?" she asked, her voice carrying a note of expectation.


    All eyes turned to Rin, the group''s unofficial leader, the one they always looked to for clarity and insight. Rin hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering between Miyu and Tanaka. Finally, she spoke, her voice measured but with an edge of something unspoken. "Miyu, you''re so confident in your answer, but the truth is, we don''t really know anything about you. On the other hand, we know Tanaka. We''ve been friends with him for a long time. Even if what you''re saying is true, it doesn''t necessarily mean Tanaka would kill someone. And besides, we don''t really know anything about devils. Not really."


    Hana nodded in agreement, her expression softening. "I don''t want to think negatively about my friends," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "Tanaka has always been there for us. Why would we doubt him now?"


    Haruto chimed in, his tone resolute. "We''ve always believed in our friends. Why stop now?"


    Yuno smiled faintly, her eyes meeting Rin''s. "As expected from our intelligent Rin," she said, her voice tinged with admiration. "You always know what to say."


    Yuki turned back to Tanaka, his expression serious. "So, should we hear the answer from Tanaka?" he asked, his gaze locking onto his.


    Once again, all eyes turned to Tanaka. But this time, something was different. Tanaka''s eyes were wide, his face pale, as if the weight of their trust had struck him like a physical blow. His lips trembled, and for a moment, it seemed as though he might break down entirely. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he fought to hold them back, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.


    Rin noticed his struggle and stepped closer, her voice gentle but firm. "Tanaka, take a deep breath, you crybaby," she said, her tone teasing but laced with affection. "You''ve got this."


    Tanaka managed a shaky smile and did as she said, drawing in a deep, steadying breath. When he spoke again, his voice was stronger, though still tinged with emotion. "By ''in darkness,'' what I meant was¡­ being able to kill someone. Like Miyu said, but¡ª" He paused, his words cut off as Miyu immediately interjected.


    "See? What I told you was true!" Miyu exclaimed, her voice triumphant.


    But before she could continue, Rin shot her a glare so sharp it could have cut glass. "Miyu, let him finish!" she snapped, her voice ringing with authority.


    The group fell silent once more, the tension so thick it felt almost suffocating. Even the sound of leaves rustling and falling to the ground seemed amplified in the stillness. Tanaka took another deep breath and continued, his voice quieter now, almost a whisper. "But¡­ you could kill anyone. Even if it''s¡­ yourself."


    The words hung in the air, heavy and unyielding. Rin''s eyes widened in shock, as did Haruto''s, Hana''s, Yuno''s, Yuki''s, and even Miyu''s. Tanaka''s smile returned, but it was a smile filled with sadness and despair, a smile that spoke of a pain too deep to put into words.


    Rin clenched her fists, her mind racing. "According to the situation, I believe things have changed," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her eyes. "Let''s hear out what Tanaka has more to say."


    The others nodded, their expressions a mix of concern and determination. Tanaka felt their gazes on him, intense and unwavering, but he pressed on, his voice gaining strength as he spoke. "I left my house because, based on my expectations, I had to fall into darkness. I needed a space where I wouldn''t be distracted by my phone, where I could think clearly. I didn''t want to think terrible things in my home. So I went to the hill."


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    He paused, his gaze distant, as if reliving the moment. "Once I reached the hill, a question came to my mind: Why would a devil show up to an evil person? An evil person wouldn''t need a devil to help them with their bad actions. They could do anything on their own. But even if a devil did show up to an evil person, what would they do? The worst-case scenario would be to kill everyone on Earth. But there are 8 billion people alive on this planet. That means there must be a condition that I have to fulfill for a devil to show up."


    Tanaka''s voice grew quieter, more introspective. "Then I realized something. I was making a distinction between an evil person and myself. An evil person could do anything on their own, but someone like me¡­ someone who isn''t inherently evil¡­ would need a strong reason to become evil. And even then, that person would hold back as much as they could. That would be the perfect time for a devil to show up, to lure them into becoming evil."


    He looked up, his eyes meeting theirs. "At that moment, I started thinking about my life. About how much I''ve struggled. But I always told myself that struggle is a part of everyone''s life. What really got to me was the loneliness. The thought that I would never have Hana¡­ I just couldn''t bear it. That''s what pushed me to the edge. That''s what fulfilled the condition."


    Tanaka''s voice broke, and he took a moment to compose himself before continuing. "Before the devil showed up, the world around me seemed to stop. The trees, the falling leaves¡­ everything froze. And then, in front of me, a black aura began to grow. Within seconds, it took shape. A strange, black creature stood there, staring at me."


    He paused, his gaze distant. "People say you get afraid when you see your death. But what if you''re already waiting for it? Would you still be afraid? I wasn''t. I had already fallen into darkness, and I knew I might never get out of it."


    The devil had spoken to him then, its voice dripping with malice. "Tanaka, why aren''t you afraid?" it had asked.


    Tanaka had replied, his voice calm, "A person wouldn''t be afraid of what they''re waiting for. Am I not right?"


    The devil had laughed, a sound that sent shivers down his spine. "You''re an exception, Tanaka," it had said. "So, whom do you want to kill? I can make the process¡­ interesting for you."


    But Tanaka had surprised even the devil. He had pointed to a frozen leaf and asked, "Why has this leaf stopped? Why hasn''t it fallen to the ground?"


    The devil had smirked. "You''re within a domain where time is stopped."


    Tanaka had pressed further. "What is the purpose of this domain? Who created it?"


    The devil''s smirk had widened. "The purpose is so we can talk as much as we want. No one can disturb us here. As for who created it¡­ that''s a mystery even to us. We can take it with us, use it, and then merge it back when we''re done."


    Tanaka had nodded, his mind racing. "So, devils don''t want to show themselves to everyone. I was chosen because I''m not an evil person, but I needed to be pushed to become darkness."


    The devil had laughed again. "Our reason to live is to make people do bad things. But when humans can kill on their own, we''re not needed. Why would we show ourselves to them?"


    Tanaka had absorbed this, his mind working furiously. "So, devils are always near good people, luring them to do bad things."


    The devil had nodded, its expression darkening. "That''s our reason to live. So, how can I help you, Tanaka?"


    Tanaka had smirked then, a glint of something dangerous in his eyes. "What are you capable of?"


    The devil had leaned in, its voice a low growl. "Say anything you want me to do. If I can do it, I will."


    Tanaka had paused, his mind racing. "Can you take my friends and me into the domain? And can you make a clone of me, one that will wander around with my friends in the domain?"


    The devil had raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Interesting. And?"


    Tanaka had continued, his voice steady. "Take me to the end of the domain and my friends to the opposite end. And¡­ can I ask for food in the domain?"


    The devil had chuckled. "What''s the purpose of all this?"


    Tanaka had sighed, his expression awkward. "Who thought I''d have to explain my intentions to a devil? Anyway, you''re the one who told me to say whatever I want. So, are you going to do your job or not?"


    The devil had laughed, its voice echoing in the stillness. "Talk about the interesting part. I''m getting bored."


    Tanaka had smirked, his mind racing. "The girl I love is taken by another boy. I want to confirm if he deserves her or not. So, there will be a test in the domain."


    The devil had laughed again, its voice dripping with malice. "I can control people, you know."


    Tanaka had hesitated, the temptation clear in his eyes. But then he had shaken his head, his resolve firm. "So what?"


    The devil had leaned in, its voice a whisper. "You can have the girl you love. I can make her fall in love with you."


    Tanaka had smirked, his expression dark. "By controlling her? You mean, her consciousness would be gone, right?"


    The devil had laughed, its voice filled with admiration. "You got me there, human."


    Tanaka had smiled, a glint of something dangerous in his eyes. "Oh, why don''t you call me by my name now?"


    The devil had smirked. "You made me this way."


    Tanaka had nodded, his expression triumphant. "I''m happy then."


    The devil had leaned back, its expression dark. "So, let''s start the plan. Ask for whatever you want. If I can do it, I''ll do it."


    Tanaka had smirked, his voice filled with confidence. "You don''t dare to run from your words. If you do, I''ll have to change my plans, and you won''t like that."


    The devil had laughed, its voice filled with malice. "I can''t run from my reason to live. But I wish you could ask for yourself. You didn''t. That means I''m a failure."


    Tanaka had smirked, his expression filled with confidence. "I''m not a narcissist, but be proud. You''re up against an intelligent person."


    The devil had growled, its voice filled with hatred. "I hate you humans! Once you accomplish your purpose, you''ll be dead. Only the friends in the domain will remember you. No one else. We don''t want every human to know about our existence. We''re not some fantasy characters."


    Tanaka had kept his silence, his expression unreadable. The devil had leaned in, its voice a whisper. "Human?"


    Tanaka had smirked, his voice filled with confidence. "Okay, let''s go."


    As Tanaka finished his story, the group sat in stunned silence. Rin''s eyes were wide with shock, her mind racing. "As intelligent as ever," she said, her voice filled with admiration. "But to think that you were on the edge of falling into darkness¡­ and then your bad luck pushed you over¡­ it makes me feel guilty."


    The others nodded, their expressions filled with sadness. But before anyone could speak, Rin quickly added, "What I meant is¡­ people say I''m intelligent, so I wish I could have figured out what Tanaka was feeling. We could have helped him."


    The others nodded, their expressions filled with determination.

 Truth

    Tanaka''s voice broke the silence, sharp and deliberate, cutting through the natural symphony of the woods. "The test wasn''t over," he said, his tone laced with confusion and a hint of accusation. His eyes scanned the faces of his companions, their expressions a mix of awkwardness and unease. The moonlight caught the edges of their features, highlighting the uncertainty etched into their expressions.


    Miyu was the first to respond, her voice steady but tinged with defensiveness. "It''s not because of me," she said, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her gaze flickered to Hana and Haruto, who stood side by side, their usual synchrony on full display.


    "Then who caused it?" Hana and Haruto asked simultaneously, their voices overlapping perfectly, as if they were two halves of the same thought. Their eyes darted between the others, searching for answers.


    Yuno and Yuki remained silent, their faces thoughtful as they tried to piece together the puzzle. Yuno''s brow was furrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line, while Yuki''s eyes darted around the group, as if he were mentally cataloging every detail. Before either of them could voice their thoughts, Rin stepped forward, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.


    "Uhm, uhm¡­ perfect timing," Rin stammered, her voice trembling slightly. "I was just about to tell you guys¡­ I caused it." Her words hung in the air, heavy and unexpected. She avoided eye contact, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.


    Tanaka''s eyes widened in shock, his usual composure slipping for a moment. "Rin, whom do you wanna kill?" he asked, his voice rising slightly. The question echoed through the clearing, causing the others to freeze in place.


    Hana''s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief. "What? Why would Rin kill someone?" she exclaimed, her voice trembling. Her shock was mirrored by Haruto, who stood beside her, equally stunned.


    Miyu, however, seemed to piece things together faster than the others. Her eyes narrowed as she studied Rin, her expression a mix of curiosity and understanding. "You didn''t get it, did you?" she said, her voice calm but probing. "The only logical possibility we can think of is that a devil helped Rin. That means she had the intention to kill someone. That''s how the condition was met, and a devil showed up to her, helping her bring you guys and herself to this location. Am I right, Rin?"


    Tanaka''s mind raced as he processed Miyu''s words. "I get it," he said slowly, his voice steady but tinged with realization. "Like how you figured out that the fake one wasn''t me. I couldn''t tell the fake one about what kind of person I am because even I can''t describe myself better than an observer. I knew this might cause me trouble, but to think an observer was there in my friend circle¡­ and that it would be Rin¡­ makes me wonder why?" His gaze locked onto Rin, his eyes searching hers for answers.


    Rin, however, refused to meet his gaze. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she shifted uncomfortably under the weight of his stare. Tanaka and Miyu exchanged a glance, their minds clearly working through the possibilities. Tanaka, ever the pragmatist, decided to take the direct approach.


    "Rin," he said, his voice firm but not unkind, "what action of the fake one made you think it wasn''t me?"


    Miyu''s eyes flickered with understanding, as if she had already guessed the answer. She had two possibilities in mind, and one of them was too embarrassing to voice aloud. She could see Tanaka struggling with the same thought, his reluctance to say it out loud evident in the way he hesitated. Instead, he turned to Rin, waiting for her to explain.


    All eyes were on Rin now, the forest around them fading into the background as the group focused on her. She swallowed hard, her nervousness palpable. "The way Tanaka looked at Hana was different compared to what he usually does," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Her words were met with stunned silence.


    Rin''s gaze flickered to Tanaka, her eyes pleading with him to understand what she couldn''t say aloud. Her blush deepened, and she quickly looked away, unable to hold his gaze. Tanaka''s eyes widened in realization, and for a moment, he was too stunned to speak. He stared at Rin, his mind racing as the pieces fell into place.


    Miyu, ever the observant one, broke the tension with a dry remark. "Tanaka and Rin, please do this another time. We''ve got better things to do right now," she said, her tone laced with amusement.


    Rin''s face turned crimson, and she stammered, "Huh? You didn''t have to say it so loudly!" Her embarrassment was evident, and she buried her face in her hands.


    Tanaka, however, was still reeling from the revelation. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, and he couldn''t tear his eyes away from Rin. The others exchanged knowing glances, their expressions a mix of amusement and curiosity.


    Hana and Haruto, ever in sync, spoke simultaneously. "What was that?" they asked, their voices overlapping perfectly. Their clueless expressions only added to the awkwardness of the situation.


    Yuki couldn''t help but chuckle at their synchrony. "Hana, Haruto, are you two one person or what? You speak simultaneously and say the same words," he teased, his tone lighthearted.


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    Hana grinned, her usual cheerfulness returning. "People say that once two people get married, they start to look alike. But in our case, it''s speaking simultaneously," she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.


    Haruto smiled, his gaze softening as he looked at Hana. "What you just said makes me think we''re already married," he replied, his tone warm.


    Yuki laughed, and even Yuno couldn''t suppress a small smile. But Yuno''s mind was still working, trying to piece together what had just happened between Rin and Tanaka. Before she could voice her thoughts, Rin spoke again, her voice trembling.


    "Once I realized that something was wrong with Tanaka, I needed time to think. I wanted to be alone to pull the strings of this situation," Rin explained, her words coming out in a rush. "When I was in one of the houses we asked for, the most logical possibility to me was that this was all done by Tanaka. That''s when I decided to kill Tanaka and m-m-myself¡­" Her voice trailed off, her face burning with shame.


    Yuno''s eyes widened in realization, and a mischievous smile spread across her face. "You would kill yourself after killing Tanaka," she said, her tone teasing but not unkind.


    Rin''s shock was evident, her face turning fully red as if her deepest secret had been exposed. She stammered, unable to form a coherent response. Tanaka, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice filled with disbelief.


    "Rin, I never realized that," he said, his tone soft but tinged with shock. His eyes searched hers, trying to understand the depth of her feelings.


    Rin''s composure finally broke, and tears welled up in her eyes. "Because I couldn''t say it¡­ I couldn''t give any hints¡­ I''m sorry, Tanaka. I''m late," she said, her voice choked with emotion. The tears spilled over, streaming down her cheeks as the weight of her unspoken feelings finally came to the surface.


    Miyu couldn''t resist a teasing remark. "Ah, I''m jealous of you, Tanaka. Like how much a person loves you that she would even kill herself after killing you," she said, her tone playful but her words carrying a hint of sincerity.


    The others nodded in understanding, their expressions softening as they realized the depth of Rin''s feelings. Hana, Haruto, Yuno, and Yuki exchanged glances, their silent communication urging Tanaka to take the next step. Tanaka, still processing everything, finally understood what he needed to do.


    He stepped closer to Rin, his movements slow and deliberate. Gently, he reached out and wiped the tears from her cheeks, his touch tender. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world around them faded away. Rin, desperate to express herself, opened her mouth to speak, but Tanaka pulled her into a hug before she could say anything more.


    The embrace was warm and comforting, but also intentional. Tanaka wasn''t ready to hear what Rin wanted to say, not yet. Rin, overwhelmed by her emotions, clung to him, her tears soaking into his shirt. She was in a state of desperation, unable to think clearly, but also relieved that her feelings were finally out in the open.


    Yuno, ever the mediator, broke the silence once more. "Friends," she said, her voice calm but commanding attention. "Yuki isn''t my first boyfriend."


    The statement caught everyone off guard, and all eyes turned to Yuno. Even Rin and Tanaka pulled away slightly, their attention shifting to her. Hana and Haruto exchanged curious glances, while Miyu''s expression softened, as if she understood the weight of Yuno''s words.


    Yuki nodded, his gaze steady as he looked at Yuno. "Yuno, so you''re gonna tell them?" he asked, his voice gentle.


    Yuno smiled, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and resolve. "I think it''s the best time. Maybe it''ll be useful to someone," she said, her gaze lingering on Rin and Tanaka for a moment before she continued.


    "Yuki is my third boyfriend," Yuno began, her voice steady but tinged with emotion. "Before Yuki, the two were just after my body. The first one was my first crush. Somehow, I managed to propose to him, but I was certain I''d be rejected. He was popular among girls, good at sports, and handsome. I didn''t believe I was special, but when he accepted me, I was happy¡­ until one day, I saw a girl yelling at him while crying, saying he used her body and left her. After that, I broke up with him."


    She paused, her eyes distant as she relived the memory. "When I told him I wanted to break up, it was after school, and no one was around. He got angry and tried to fulfill his desires, but a student saw us and pushed him away. He was tall, so my ex got scared and ran. I started crying, but the student helped me up and asked if I was okay. I thanked him, and he said it was nothing. A few days later, he proposed to me, but I wasn''t interested in relationships anymore. I didn''t want to make him sad, so I accepted. But one day, he messaged me, and I realized he was after my body too. I broke up with him."


    Yuno''s voice grew stronger as she continued. "I was naive, but after what happened, I made myself strong¡ªphysically and mentally. A few months later, when my friends and I got to school early, I was sitting on a desk. A boy came in and said it was his desk. I moved, but the way he spoke was different. I turned to see him, and despite the desk being clean, he gave it a filthy look and cleaned it. That''s when I wanted to know more about him."


    She turned to Yuki, her smile soft. "Yuki, continue it," she said, her tone encouraging.


    Yuki nodded, his gaze steady as he took over the story. "Yuno isn''t my first girlfriend. My two ex-girlfriends were after my body, but I told them we''d wait until marriage. They didn''t agree, so I broke up with them. I lost interest in relationships, but a few months later, a girl came to talk to me in class. She said she wanted to talk about something, so I waited for her after school. I expected her to ask for a relationship, but she asked a weird question instead. She wanted to confirm something and said if she was right, I should say ''yeah,'' and if not, forget the conversation."


    He paused, his eyes meeting Yuno''s. "She asked if I remembered the day she was sitting on my desk and if I''d given it a filthy look. She wondered if I wasn''t interested in girls'' bodies. She was so nervous and shy, but I realized she was different from my exes. I told her she was right and ended up sharing my past. She started crying and said it was relatable. She had two ex-boyfriends who were after her body, and she''d broken up with them. She said it was a relief to find someone like me and asked if we could be friends."


    Yuno smiled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "And here we are," she said softly, her gaze sweeping over the group.


    The forest seemed to hold its breath as the weight of their stories settled over the group. Each of them had their own struggles, their own secrets, but in that moment, they were united by the bonds of friendship and understanding. The moonlight bathed the clearing in a soft glow, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch toward the future¡ªa future filled with uncertainty, but also hope.

 Desperation

    Yuki said, I understood her feelings because I felt the same. So when she extended her hand in friendship, I accepted without hesitation. Over time, our bond deepened, and one day, as if guided by the same thought, we proposed to each other simultaneously. That girl was Yuno.


    "Hehe," Yuno giggled. "I always tease him, saying, ''Let''s do it,'' but he always insists, ''After marriage.'' But he knows I''m just teasing him. We both understand that we''re different from who we used to be." She spoke with a cheerful expression, her eyes gleaming with warmth.


    Miyu, watching them, thought to herself, *This is useful for me too.*


    Haruto sighed. "Sometimes I think finding the right partner is just luck, so I never really tried."


    Hana nodded. "Haruto, I feel the same way."


    Meanwhile, Tanaka turned to Rin, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. "Rin, when did you fall in love with me?"


    Rin hesitated for a moment before answering. "You all know Tanaka always gets full marks in exams, but I never do. Before we became friends, it used to frustrate me. I''d watch him excel while I struggled in certain areas, particularly in giving advice. Despite all my knowledge, I always felt inadequate at guiding others.


    "But one day, I saw two of our classmates asking Tanaka, ''What is love?'' One of them added, ''We mean romantic love.''


    "Tanaka smiled and said, ''Thanks for the clarification. I was about to ask what kind of love you were referring to. Anyway, love must be unconditional. It might sound ridiculous, but that''s how it should be. Suppose you love someone for their looks¡ªwhat if those looks change? Would you still love them as much as before? You love your parents not because they provide for you, but simply because they are your parents. Life has its ups and downs, and true love reveals itself during hardships.


    "''To love someone, you need a reason. In the case of parents, the reason is obvious. But when it comes to a stranger, you have to find that reason. Now, think about what I said earlier¡ªif you love someone for their looks and those looks fade, would your love remain? If one person leaves and another stays, whose love is true?''


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "One of our classmates answered, ''The one who stays.''


    "Tanaka nodded. ''Exactly. That''s what unconditional love is. When you love someone not because of their appearance, wealth, or status, but simply because you want to stay by their side forever, that is love.''


    "I was shocked by his words, and suddenly, my frustration disappeared. I realized that Tanaka wasn''t just the best student academically¡ªhe excelled in understanding emotions too. From that moment, I admired him.


    "After school, I approached him, and we became friends. Over time, I realized that intelligence can be isolating. When you speak, you expect others to engage at the same level. But Tanaka¡­ he could adjust his conversations depending on the person he was talking to.


    "I couldn''t help but fall for him¡ªmore and more, every day. But I never told him. I feared rejection¡­ feared losing our friendship. And now, here we are." Rin''s voice wavered as she looked into Tanaka''s eyes. "I know this isn''t the right time, but¡­ Tanaka, I lov¡ª"


    Before she could finish, Tanaka gently placed his hand over her lips, silencing her.


    Rin understood. It wasn''t the right time. But the desperation in her heart refused to fade.


    Tanaka sighed. "Even if I''m good at giving advice, I end up hurting everyone because of my selfishness. I''m sorry¡­ I wish I could ask for forgiveness in a better way, but all I can say is¡­ I''m sorry." His voice carried a deep sadness.


    Hana shook her head. "Tanaka, it''s not entirely your fault. I''ve made mistakes too."


    Miyu added softly, "I can''t fully blame either you or my ex-boyfriend. What happened was unintentional, so¡­ don''t worry about it. And I''m sorry too."


    Haruto gave a reassuring smile. "At the end of the day, what matters is that everything is resolved and we''re all okay. So let''s move on, friends."


    Yuki nodded. "I agree. The stronger the relationship, the more challenges it faces. But that''s normal. Let''s just forget about it and move forward."


    Tanaka looked around at his friends, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you¡­ all of you."


    Just then, Yuno clapped her hands together. "Wait a second¡­ I just remembered something! Tanaka said that the devil once warned: ''Anyone who seeks help from the devil will die. And only we will remember who Tanaka is.''" She gasped. "Wait¡­ Rin and Miyu both asked the devil for help too!"


    A heavy silence fell over the group.


    Tanaka, however, smiled. "Don''t worry. No one is going to die."


    Yuno furrowed her brows. "Then what was that warning about?"


    Rin suddenly recalled something. "Tanaka¡­ are you saying that someone survived this ''devil''s mess'' and spread the rumors in our school?" She hesitated. "But¡­ that doesn''t necessarily mean the one who spread those rumors was the survivor. After all, we''ve been hearing stories about devils since childhood¡­"


    Tanaka''s expression darkened as he looked at her. "Rin, you''re right, but¡ª"

 Love Acceptance

    Tanaka took a deep breath, his gaze steady as he looked at Rin. "You''re right, Rin. But first, calm yourself. Think clearly, and the answers will come to you naturally."


    Rin let out a slow breath, nodding. "Calmly... Come to think of it, we now know that devils reveal themselves to those who are innocent but are pushed toward having a killing intent. But what if they don''t actually end up killing anyone... like us? If that''s the case, then the devils shouldn''t harm us either, knowing they failed in their purpose."


    Tanaka gave a small smile. "That''s right. But if there''s evil, there must be good as well. We call something bad because it is the opposite of good. Now that we know devils exist, it only makes sense that angels must exist too. And if devils tempt people to do bad, then angels must be there to help those who choose the right path."


    Rin''s eyes widened in realization. "That makes sense. And if angels do exist, then I can''t think of a more fitting situation for them to help us than this one."


    Miyu crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "Now that you mention it, the devil gave Tanaka a lot of information... yet he never mentioned a scenario that matches ours. That means devils are devils after all¡ªuntrustworthy."


    Tanaka exhaled. "I could have asked the devil back then, but I knew he would try to dodge the question. I didn''t ask because I never believed him in the first place."


    Yuno sighed. "So... we have to wait?"


    Yuki muttered, "Our first and last experience."


    Hana smiled softly. "I''m just glad no one got hurt."


    Haruto nodded in agreement. "True. But let''s hope we find a way out of here."


    Tanaka''s gaze remained firm. "We will. Sooner or later."


    Just as those words left his lips, something caught his eye¡ªa white feather, drifting down from the sky. It landed gently before him. Picking it up, he studied it with curiosity before a small smile formed on his lips.


    "Guys," he said, holding up the feather, "I''m not saying this belongs to an angel, but¡­ this could be a sign that help is on the way."


    Suddenly, seven portals materialized in front of them. Everyone gasped, their expressions shifting from shock to joy.


    "Finally! We can get out of here!" Hana exclaimed.


    Haruto grinned. "Yeah, let''s go now!"


    Yuki cheered, "Yeah, let''s go!"


    Yuno laughed, nudging Yuki playfully. "Yuki, now we can get married, hehe!"


    Miyu smirked. "Hmm¡­ what a day."


    Meanwhile, Rin turned to Tanaka. Their eyes met, and for a moment, they shared a silent understanding. Tanaka smiled, then turned to the others.


    "Guys," he said seriously, "don''t tell anyone about the devils being real. If people find out that devils appear to those with a killing intent¡­ it might tempt them to embrace that darkness."


    Everyone nodded in agreement.


    As they stepped through the portals, Tanaka suddenly grabbed Rin''s hand. "Rin, wait for me."


    Rin instantly understood. A bright smile spread across her face. "Okay. Let''s meet again at school tomorrow."


    And with that, they both stepped forward.


    ---


    Tanaka found himself standing on a green hill¡ªthe same place where he had spoken to the devil. Without hesitation, he sprinted home. The moment he reached his room, he collapsed onto his bed, thoughts swirling in his mind.


    *Rin... it''s not that I loved Hana because she was Hana. I loved her because being beside her brought me peace, a way to escape loneliness. But now, knowing it was all a misunderstanding, that feeling has crumbled. The moment you confessed to me, I had already fallen for you¡­ because with you, I felt true peace and love. The kind that could end my loneliness. But I didn''t accept your love back then because¡­ it wasn''t the right time. It would''ve been too soon, too unnatural. I was afraid you''d find it weird, too. But no matter how many days or months pass, I already have my answer. I just hope you''ll understand¡­*


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    He sighed, shaking off his thoughts. Then, an idea popped into his mind, and a mischievous grin formed on his lips.


    *I should record a voice message about how to make babies and send it to Rin¡­ there''s no way she''d forget something like that.*


    He picked up his phone and started recording.


    ---


    Meanwhile, Rin lay in her own bed, deep in thought.


    *Yuno and Yuki told us their story, saying it might help someone. I know she was talking about us. They fell in love because they had strong reasons, just like how I fell for Tanaka. But Tanaka¡­ he needs a reason to love me back. He wants someone who will stay by his side¡­ and I''ve done that. But he still didn''t let me speak that day. Why?*


    Then, it clicked.


    *Wait¡­ was it because not much time had passed since he moved on?*


    Her eyes softened. *Tanaka¡­ I understand now.*


    Before she could dwell on it further, her phone buzzed with a new message. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the sender¡ªTanaka.


    "A voice message?" she murmured.


    As she opened it, another message popped up from Tanaka.


    **"I love you too, Rin."**


    Rin''s eyes widened. Then, pure happiness burst inside her like fireworks. Without wasting a second, she typed back.


    **"So, Tanaka, when are you going to marry me?"**


    His response came almost instantly.


    **"Rin, whenever you want. I mean, you remember Miyu mentioning that she and I worked at the same caf¨¦? I started working there two years ago, but after one year, I began making more money from writing stories. I couldn''t quit immediately because of my contract, but now that my two years are up, I''ve left that job. Writing is my career now. So¡­ whenever you''re ready, I''ll talk to your parents."**


    Rin''s heart swelled with joy. She felt like the happiest person on Earth.


    **"Okay, my hubby Tanaka."**


    ---


    The next morning, at Yoyogi Parkview High School, Tanaka entered his classroom only to witness a familiar scene¡ªYuno sitting on Yuki''s lap, their faces dangerously close. The moment they noticed Tanaka staring, Yuno smirked.


    "Tanaka, you''re early again?"


    Tanaka walked to his desk. "Unlike yesterday, I have a reason today."


    Yuki sighed. "Yuno, let''s continue this another time."


    Yuno giggled. "Yuki, you''re getting better at being a hubby."


    "You deserve the best," Yuki replied smoothly, though in his mind, he thought, *I have no other choice.*


    As Yuno took her seat, Hana and Haruto entered, greeting their friends. Tanaka suddenly stood up.


    "Hana. Haruto," he called.


    They turned to him.


    "Congratulations to both of you on your engagement. I''m late to say it, but I mean it."


    Their faces lit up, as did Yuno and Yuki''s. Hana and Haruto thanked him warmly before sitting down.


    Then, Tanaka felt a shift in the air. Everyone''s eyes subtly drifted toward the door as if someone important was arriving. He turned just in time to see Rin standing right in front of him¡ªher face mere inches from his.


    Before he could react, she grabbed his cheeks and tugged. "Good morning, my hubby Tanaka~" she chirped playfully.


    The entire classroom fell silent in shock.


    Tanaka winced. "G-Good morning, my wife Rin!"


    Murmurs filled the room. *So Tanaka finally accepted Rin''s proposal¡­?*


    As Rin took her seat, Yuno''s eyes gleamed mischievously. "Rin, did Tanaka tell you how to make babies?"


    Rin blinked, then turned to Tanaka expectantly.


    Tanaka sighed. *As expected from Yuno¡­ I have no other choice.*


    Rin pulled out her phone and earbuds, causing everyone to watch in curiosity. As she listened to Tanaka''s message, her expressions changed rapidly¡ªfrom neutral, to blushing, to completely flustered. By the end of the five-minute recording, her entire face, including her ears, was crimson.


    Yuno grinned. "So, Rin¡­ now you know?"


    Rin stammered, "Y-Y-Yuno, is that true?!"


    Yuno laughed. "Yes!"


    Rin turned to Hana, seeking confirmation. Hana, blushing slightly, nodded.


    Then, Tanaka placed a hand on Rin''s head and said calmly, "Rin, relax. Everyone''s parents did *that*¡ªotherwise, we wouldn''t be here."


    Rin froze. *H-HUH?! Our parents did¡­ THAT?!*


    Tanaka let out a small sigh, placing a reassuring hand on Rin''s head. "Rin, we really don''t need to do *that*, so get a hold of yourself."


    Rin blinked, then took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. The warmth in Tanaka''s voice, steady and unwavering, helped ground her. Around them, their friends couldn''t help but smile at Tanaka''s words, a sense of relief and amusement filling the room.


    But just as the atmosphere settled, Rin suddenly stood up. Without hesitation, she leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Tanaka''s cheek.


    Silence fell over the classroom.


    Tanaka''s face immediately turned red, his eyes widening in shock. The rest of the class, save for Yuno, sat frozen in disbelief. Yuno, however, watched with a smirk, thoroughly entertained by the unfolding scene.


    Then, with a bright, cheerful expression and a deep blush on her face, Rin declared, "Tanaka, I want 200 babies!"


    Another wave of stunned silence washed over the classroom.


    Everyone''s jaws nearly dropped to the floor, their brains struggling to process what Rin had just said.


    Except for Yuno¡ªwho was now grinning ear to ear, barely holding back her laughter.


    Tanaka, still blushing, gazed at Rin for a long moment. Then, slowly, a smile formed on his lips¡ªa smile no one had ever seen before.


    Without another word, he pulled Rin into a warm embrace. His voice was soft yet filled with quiet amusement as he whispered, "We''d need seven lifetimes to make that many."


    Rin''s eyes gleamed with determination. "They say there are seven lives," she whispered back.


    Laughter and smiles spread throughout the classroom. The once-tense atmosphere had completely shifted, now filled with warmth, joy, and a deep sense of companionship.


    Just outside the classroom, standing by the doorway, Miyu watched the scene unfold with a small, knowing smile.


    Beyond the school, high up in the sky, ethereal figures floated in the clouds. Their radiant forms shimmered like the sun, each of them adorned with countless long, feathered wings¡ªlike celestial birds watching over the world below.


    They gazed upon the school in silent observation.


    A gentle breeze swept through the air.


    And with that, the story came to an end.


    The End.