Sunlight slanted through the gap in the hotel curtains, carving warm, golden patches across the floor.
Amano Hina lay buried in soft bedding, staring blankly at the ceiling.
She felt like she'd… just died once.
No—several times.
Some lingering, indescribable tremor still pulsed deep in her body.
Her legs felt like they didn't belong to her anymore; even wiggling a fingertip took effort.
Thank goodness Mitsuha and Miki joined in later.
Otherwise… she might've genuinely broken.
Just thinking about it made her cheeks burn again.
"You still alive, Hina?" Mitsuha's voice came from beside her, smiling through the words.
Hina turned her head and saw Miyamizu Mitsuha propping up her cheek, watching her.
Her hair was a mess, and there was a lazy flush lingering at the corners of her eyes.
"I… I almost—" Hina mumbled, burying her face in the pillow. Her voice came out muffled, drenched in embarrassment.
"You'll get used to it," Miki said gently from the other side.
She was calmly combing through her long hair, movements graceful—though her breathing was still a little uneven.
"Rei Ao's… well, his abilities really are pretty unusual."
Unusual didn't even begin to cover it, Hina thought.
It felt like a typhoon had swept through her, like a tidal wave—washing away every last scrap of her composure.
"But," Okudera Miki rolled closer, leaning in to whisper by Hina's ear like she was sharing a secret, "it felt… pretty good, didn't it?"
Hina's ears turned bright red in an instant.
She didn't dare answer, only shoved her face deeper into the pillow.
But her body's honest reaction had already betrayed her.
Even recalling it now made her shiver faintly.
"Are you two whispering about me?" Rei Ao's voice suddenly came from the direction of the bathroom.
He walked out towel-drying his damp hair, a robe draped casually over his shoulders.
Water beads slid along the line of his collarbone and disappeared into the fabric.
Hina immediately squeezed her eyes shut, pretending she didn't exist.
"As if we'd dare," Miki said with a grin as she sat up.
"We're praising you, actually. Like—really praising you."
She emphasized the words, mischief sparkling in her eyes.
Rei Ao raised an eyebrow, tossed the towel over his shoulder, and walked to the bedside.
He reached out and ruffled Hina's hair.
"If you're still alive, make a sound."
His fingers threaded through her hair—surprisingly gentle.
"…Squeak," Hina replied weakly from the pillow.
Mitsuha burst out laughing.
Miki covered her mouth, eyes crinkling.
Rei Ao chuckled and sat down at the edge of the bed.
The mattress dipped slightly—and Hina's heart lifted with it.
"I've got a proposal," he said, his voice returning to its usual clear tone.
"Hina—do you want to be with me? For real."
The air went still for a beat.
Hina snapped her face up from the pillow, eyes wide, cheeks red as a ripe tomato.
"B-Be with you…?"
She stammered so hard she couldn't finish the sentence.
"I mean officially," Rei Ao added, matter-of-fact.
"You won't need to worry about the rain anymore. Or housing, or money. I'll take care of you."
He said it lightly, like he was commenting on how nice the weather was.
Hina's head buzzed.
Be with him?
Did that mean… every day would be like today?
Just imagining it made her legs go weak again.
"E-Every day… like that?" she asked softly, voice trembling.
Rei Ao blinked, then laughed—low and warm, the sound vibrating faintly in his chest.
"Of course not."
His eyes held a playful gleam.
"But if you wanted to… I wouldn't object."
"More importantly—"
He leaned down closer to her burning face.
"I'll take care of you."
Three words, spoken clearly and decisively.
Hina's face went whoosh—completely red.
T-Take care of…?!
Isn't that… that kind of relationship?
TV scenes flashed through her mind—luxury apartments, designer bags, and—
"N-No, not that—" she waved her hands in a panic, words tangling.
"I know," Rei Ao cut in, his gaze turning more serious.
"Not a transaction. A relationship."
"You can keep going to school. You can do what you want. You'll just have a man in your life who happens to solve all your problems."
He was so blunt that Hina didn't even know how to respond.
Inside, it was like someone had knocked over an entire rack of seasonings—everything mixed together.
Embarrassment. Unease.
But also… a faint, secret flicker of anticipation.
Because he was Rei Ao.
The man who could make a downpour reverse course with a flick of his fingers.
The man who could bring sunlight into her despair.
"I…"
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Rei Ao didn't rush her. He waited patiently.
His gaze rested on her trembling lashes—gentle and calm.
Just then—
Mitsuha spoke up, breaking the delicate silence.
"Um—"
She raised her hand like a student asking a question in class.
"Rei Ao-sama… are you… building a harem?"
Her tone was curious, with the tiniest hint of jealousy.
Miki looked over too, gentle but clearly probing.
Rei Ao turned his head, looked at Mitsuha, then at Miki, and curved his lips into a meaningful smile.
"I've always had one. But in this world… I'm planning to have the three of you together."
He stood and walked to the window, then yanked the curtains open in one swift motion.
Afternoon light flooded the room—bright enough to make them squint.
He stood backlit, his outline edged in gold.
"Mitsuha. Miki. Would you mind… the three of you living together?"
The question came out of nowhere.
Mitsuha and Miki exchanged a look, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes.
"Living together?" Miki asked softly.
"Mm." Rei Ao turned, leaning back against the window ledge.
The sunlight behind him blurred his expression, but his voice was clear.
"I'm going to unify your timelines."
"That way, Hina can live with you. No more worrying about where to stay—and you'll have each other to rely on."
He said it like it was nothing.
As if adjusting timelines were as easy as adjusting the air conditioner.
Mitsuha blinked.
"Unify… timelines?"
She repeated the phrase, trying to process what it meant.
"You mean…"
"Let the versions of you from different times live in the same present," Rei Ao explained.
"Mitsuha, you're from the year in Itomori."
"Miki, you're from an earlier Tokyo."
"Hina, you're from a later Tokyo."
"I'm going to weave the three timelines together."
"So you can live in the same time and place—together."
After he finished, the room stayed quiet for several seconds.
Only the sunlight seemed to drift through the air.
Hina was completely lost.
Timelines? Weaving?
Those words were way beyond her understanding.
But Mitsuha and Miki's expressions gradually turned serious.
"Can you really do that?" Mitsuha asked softly, something complicated flickering in her eyes.
"If I said I can, then I can," Rei Ao shrugged.
"The important question is—are you willing?"
His gaze swept across all three of them.
"Live together. Look after each other."