Standing at the edge of time and looking back, I seem to have unconsciously considered this Dream Trial World as the real world.
Every minute and second I spent here felt like height markings on wooden blocks from childhood; although just neglected memories, I could clearly remember every detail, treasure them, and smile reminiscing about them.
Undoubtedly, all of that was Tenkuji Yuu's life.
Spring, I met her in this world. It took a month to confirm I liked her, and I confessed on the mountaintop during the lively fireworks.
Summer, I went to the sea bath with her. The lovesick couple even made the scorching summer sun surrender. The three-day two-night trip warmed their relationship to the highest point—what impressed me most was the bed quality at the hotel there was really good, and room service was also very satisfying.
Autumn, we went to Karuizawa and bought a small villa. Although she scolded me for wastefulness, after that, she enthusiastically bought lots of furniture to decorate the interior, and even deliberately searched for interior design references to try creating a Love Home full of warmth—but the bed and sofa were chosen by Yuu himself, the kind comfortable to lie on and very durable.
Winter, we went to Hokkaido. There we played snowball fights, made snowmen, and tried all the ski resort facilities. Various high-class foods we also tasted every day. Unfortunately, plans to buy a hot spring inn were stopped by his frugal self—in the end, we only chose a luxurious hot spring inn to stay at, spending a warm and ordinary winter, except the exercise portion was slightly excessive.
New Year, we went to the shrine we passed during the fireworks festival to pray. Our wishes both happened to be the same: that days like this would continue forever, until we grew old with affection.
Yuu didn't lie to Iroha. Since the moment they started dating, that was the most real feeling for him.
It had nothing to do with missions, nothing to do with reincarnation. Just because he, at this moment, had feelings of love for someone, so he prayed that their time together could continue until the end of life.
Because Iroha was Yuu's girlfriend.
So time passed, and spring arrived again.
Late March, early cherry blossoms had fully bloomed. Although they would wither soon, those flowers still decorated the branches like fire, struggling hard to burn all of Tokyo.
Inside the Student Council President's exclusive office.
Yuu stood with hands behind his back, facing the ceiling-height window that appeared transparent, his eyes sharply staring at the bustling campus scenery below.
Some people wore graduation caps and took photos with friends, there were also those holding black scrolls and patting kouhais' shoulders while giving advice.
Some were celebrating, some crying profusely; some felt relieved, some were reluctant to part.
The school gate was where most people gathered. Many parents could be seen lining up there, waiting to give mementos that might never be opened again to their children who finally graduated high school.
Yes, both laughter and tears, that was the essence of parting, right?
They were like cherry blossoms that had fully bloomed. After blooming beautifully here for three years, petals fell, leaves returned to roots. High school youth was officially declared withered.
However, this wasn't the end. After absorbing enough nutrients, they would bloom with different colored petals in a new world, becoming protagonists of the next spring.
—Except for those who didn't graduate.
"It's finally arrived huh... Graduation season."
Yuu sighed softly, holding the white notebook he deliberately brought, staring at the countdown number on it.
2:01:13.
Yes, like loose-leaf books in Harry Potter, this countdown number moved.
Now it was two fifty-eight PM. Meaning, after five PM, if he hadn't completed the trial, time would return to April 1st last year, and everything would start from the beginning again.
Originally, the premise mentioned in the notebook was if no clues were found at all, but after Yuu successfully unveiled the true face of this system with girlfriends as the key, that sentence unconsciously changed to if the trial hasn't been completed.
Yuu was also too lazy to figure out why the system had to do such extra actions. Anyway, almost a year had passed, yet he was always stuck at the fireworks festival day's progress, stagnant.
Whether called neglecting duty for pleasure, or called too sentimental...
Since falling in love with Iroha, Yuu was passive about finding ex-girlfriends, and rarely seriously tried to remember things.
He just looked forward to tomorrow every day, looking forward to intimate time with his girlfriend.
Precisely because he knew when all this would end, he treasured every second with her more than before.
"Thinking about it, I really owe Sora an apology..."
He shifted his gaze from the window, pressed the corner of his eye, and smiled bitterly.
Although before entering the trial, the system had guaranteed the time flow rates of both sides were different, the year he lived in this dream might not even have passed an hour in the real world.
But even just one minute, his sleeping self must have made Sora in the real world very worried.
Drowning in love, ignoring his sister's feelings... For the former Yuu, this was something he would never do.
"The saying that love makes people foolish, that's completely true."
Yuu shook his head self-deprecatingly, leaving the glass window, pulling up the premium leather office chair, and sitting down.
This place was once his domain, but after resigning for third-year exam preparation, this place was handed over to the next Student Council President—Iroha.
If rounded off, it was still his.
Let alone the Student Council, with the vast network of connections he mastered, the entire school was basically under his control. Moving up to third year only made him change from a public figure to a behind-the-scenes mastermind, making it easier for him to consolidate power. He could be called Sobu High's underground emperor.
He did this not for anything else, but just wanted, in this short one year time, to let his girlfriend lead a cheerful school life, enjoy the Student Council President's power without problems being President, and feel more comfortable being intimate with him.
The Student Council President voting was controlled by him behind the scenes, and other Student Council members were also carefully selected by him—this office was the President's exclusive office, ordinary Student Council members worked in other offices.
As for why divided into two rooms... Don't misunderstand, it wasn't to make it easier for him to cheat with his girlfriend while working.
Although in this office there was a secret partition inside which contained a sofa bed, that was only prepared so the Student Council President could rest well when tired from work, and no forbidden things were done inside!
"Haaah, battlefields really are everywhere..."
While stroking the smooth solid wood desk, Yuu couldn't hold back from muttering, his smile slightly lewd.
At that moment, knocking sounded at the door.
Yuu immediately eliminated the curve at the corner of his mouth, slowly leaned on the chair back, clasped his hands together, showing calmness and seriousness like Commander Ikari.
"Please come in."
"Hah~ I knew Senpai was here."
The one who pushed the Student Council President's office door open was a sweet girl with shoulder-length hair.
After a year passed, her well-maintained ash blonde hair fluttered gracefully behind her. Although her appearance was still young and sweet, her aura became far more mature and capable. Her face wearing light makeup looked fresher and more radiant than before, and her eyes radiated confident and gentle light.
Iroha sighed tiredly while closing the door.
"Geez, the graduation ceremony is more troublesome than I imagined... Lucky there aren't many things the Student Council President must handle, the rest can be left to other members."
Yuu's expression sagged, he silently mocked her, "You're really openly lazy."
"Ehehe!" Iroha cutely hit her head, sticking out her small tongue, "Eh, it was Senpai who taught me~"
"Don't blame me, I'm a very serious and responsible person, you know."
While remembering how nimble and sweet that girl's tongue was, Yuu waved toward her, "Everything's finished, right? Come here, charge first."
Not only him, Iroha, who just had time alone with her Senpai since morning, indeed deliberately came to charge with him.
So, after those words were spoken, the girl ran closer, her skirt fluttering in the air, and impatiently jumped into his embrace.
"Hoiip!"
Yuu steadily caught her, letting her sit sideways on his lap, adjusting her to a position comfortable to lean on his chest.
Surrounded by familiar aroma, the ash blonde-haired girl also showed a gentle smile. Both her hands naturally encircled his neck, her curved eyes and eyebrows filled with affection special for him, lazy and satisfied, as if wanting to linger there.
Then, she said while smiling mischievously, "Although charging is okay, Senpai can't become a beast and do naughty things to me here, okay? Everyone at school hasn't left yet, you know~"
"As long as you don't tease me, I won't do anything." Yuu rolled his eyes, showing his resolve wasn't that weak.
But before she could answer, Yuu slowly tightened his embrace, lowered his head, and buried his entire face in that warm and soft chest, inhaling the girl's aroma with force that wouldn't hurt her, as if wringing a rag.
Iroha was stunned, his breath through clothes caused a strange itchy sensation on the skin below.
She unconsciously stroked the back of Yuu's head with her palm, like a mother calming a crying baby, and asked somewhat confusedly, "Senpai, what's wrong with you?"
Taking a deep breath, Yuu said softly, "Just like this is enough... Right now, this is already enough."
"..."
Slowly, those slender and sweet fingers sank into his hair. Iroha actively hugged him tightly, letting him hear her heartbeat, letting their body temperatures merge again.
"It's okay, Senpai."
The girl combed the ash blonde hair at the corner of her mouth, smiled gently and sweetly, "Although we're separating now, we'll meet again soon... University of Tokyo isn't far from Chiba. Didn't you already buy a house there? Weekends I'll go there and stay with you~"
"Indeed so..."
Yuu lowered his head, sighing soundlessly.
With grades dominating all of Japan, he basically could enter any university inside or outside the country, except those with gender restrictions. He just filled in University of Tokyo carelessly, anyway he wouldn't wait until the day classes started.
Iroha didn't know about this. She thought Yuu was moved because she was willing not to study abroad and chose to stay domestic for her sake, to the point he bought her more than ten cosplay costumes to wear.
After all, on the day he confessed, Yuu once said he would study abroad after graduation... Although at that time she answered firmly, that still became a shadow difficult to eliminate in the girl's heart for a long time.
Until now, she still knew nothing about the world after five PM. She always held joyful and warm hope for their future, planning tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that, including where they would meet after she went to college.
Yuu didn't want to tell her the truth.
Although only two hours remained, he wanted to face this life that would soon end, together with her smile.
"How about I quickly skip grades, graduate from university as fast as possible, and return to become teaching staff at Sobu High?"
Gathering back his spirits, Yuu raised his face and said while smiling.
Iroha looked at him with disgust, "That's too underestimating your talent, right? And after Senpai finishes skipping grades, I've already graduated, you know? Please don't make such unrealistic assumptions."
"Your words are still excessive... But I like Iroha-chan like this." Yuu looked pleased.
Iroha sighed.
"Yes yes, I also like Senpai the most~"
After answering carelessly, she suddenly raised her small face, pulled Yuu's head down again, and kissed him dominantly.
In Yuu's surprised eyes, the girl's cheeks flushed, and the corner of her mouth curved mischievously.
"No, I love you most!"
That sentence quickly drowned in the couple's daily banter.
Getting down from Yuu, Iroha tidied her clothes, then spun in front of the mirror beside, confirming there were no traces others could find, only then did she feel relieved.
Then she placed hands on hips, sneered unhappily at her boyfriend, "I just said I love you, that shouldn't count as teasing!"
"No, that's why I also didn't go all the way~" Yuu said slowly, his chair back tilted slightly backward, enjoying the charming view of his girlfriend after excitement.
Iroha snorted loudly, turned her face away as if not wanting to pay attention to him, but muttered in a melancholic tone, "Senpai is such a pervert! Sometimes I really doubt whether I alone can really satisfy Senpai's needs... I wouldn't be surprised if someday you cheat because of insufficient satisfaction..."
"How could that be? There's no man more faithful than me." Yuu laughed confidently. "Although it's impossible, but if someday I really betray you, and approach other women, please come and solve the problem yourself. Physical or chemical castration is fine. If I dare resist, I'm not a man!"
"You said it yourself." Iroha finally looked at him, her expression very serious, as if recording those words in her heart.
"When it's time to act, I won't hesitate... Anyway I'm already mentally prepared to support Senpai for life!"
Yuu's expression tensed, he laughed dryly, "I didn't do anything, why are you making such a decision..."
"Because I love you so much~"
Raising a sly smile again, Iroha said lightly.
Her skirt swept her smooth white thighs. She turned around, looking around this very familiar Student Council President's office.
Since joining the Student Council, whether afternoons after school, or work days or holidays, the two often spent intimate time in this office, like their own love nest or secret base.
Sometimes chatting, sometimes playing games, sometimes also going to the partition room inside to try more positions, then lying down and wasting lots of time, and only sneaking out after school closed to have dinner.
This place was full of her memories, and also full of his aura—and now, one of them would leave this place, starting a journey where there wasn't her by his side for a while.
Perhaps, there was no more need to come to this office to spend time, right?
Her mood somehow became sad, fortunately Senpai behind her didn't see.
Iroha continued casually looking at the entire office layout, suddenly remembering something and froze for a moment, then furrowed her brow and tilted her head.
"Wait, why does it feel like something's stran..."
"What's strange?"
Yuu left the office desk, stood beside her, and repeated the movements Iroha just made with a confused gaze.
"Nothing strange? Don't tell me you saw a ninja on the ceiling."
"Senpai, I'm not joking."
Iroha touched her chin, sunk in thought. She didn't turn to look at him, but concentrated fully, trying to understand the strange feeling that appeared just like that.
After a while, she furrowed her brow, and said in a very uncertain tone, "Senpai, is this office really only the two of us using it... I just realized, isn't this place a bit empty? It feels like there's someone missing..."
"Someone missing?"
Yuu froze, at the same time, he remembered the mystery laid since summer and still unsolved.
Unexpectedly, Iroha also felt the same thing as him now?
His thoughts spun a thousand times. He asked carefully, "You mean, that disharmony is like suddenly losing one hand, but feeling it's normal if humans only have one hand?"
Iroha immediately denied, "Not that scary! It's just like... the feeling that there's a very close friend, often playing together, but suddenly can't remember their name and face, only vaguely remember they once chatted with us here."
"Here?" Yuu furrowed his brow and rummaged through his memory, "Besides us, no one can enter this office... When I called Student Council members to handle matters before, those were just official business conversations, not chatting at all."
Iroha pressed the bridge of her nose, looking headache-stricken and annoyed, she bit her lip.
"I know, but it feels..."
She felt she really forgot someone very important. If she left this office, it meant she really said goodbye to them.
...But, perhaps that was just an illusion?
Iroha sighed, dropped her hands, and decided to ignore unnecessary worries, so as not to be affected by that strange illusion anymore.