(5 minutes later.) {Forgive the English mistakes, I did this chapter all night when I had a creative crisis.}
In the kitchen, adult Ayanokouji and Horikita were still washing the dishes. The silence between them was typical, but something felt different this time. Horikita, while drying the plates, occasionally glanced at him, as if trying to understand what was on his mind.
"You don't seem surprised by all this," Horikita commented, maintaining her serious tone.
Adult Ayanokouji paused briefly before responding.
"After everything I've been through, nothing surprises me much anymore."
Horikita let out a light sigh.
"I suppose so… but it's still strange to see you like this. Or rather, to see all of you like this."
He didn't reply and simply continued washing the dishes. Horikita decided not to press the matter further.
Meanwhile, in the living room, the atmosphere had become much more chaotic.
Ichika Amasawa had a mischievous smile on her lips as she held young Ayanokouji in her arms. He, on the other hand, remained completely still, his expression apathetic, but his gaze showed clear confusion and discomfort.
"Who is this girl? And why is she so aggressive?" young Ayanokouji thought, wondering how he had ended up in this situation.
Beside them, Nanase maintained her polite and calm demeanor, speaking directly to teenage Ayanokouji.
"Ayanokouji-senpai, I apologize for the intrusion," she said with a slight smile. "But with the rumors circulating around the school, I thought it best to come and check things out with my own eyes."
Teenage Ayanokouji sighed, keeping his neutral expression.
"It's fine. I already knew this would happen."
Chiaki, who had been observing everything with a confused expression, smiled nervously before asking:
"Err… so… who are these two?"
Kei, still with her arms crossed and clearly irritated, responded without hesitation:
"That one..."—she pointed at Nanase, not hiding the bitterness in her tone—"is a girl we met during the island exam. We kind of became friends after that."
Nanase smiled politely and nodded.
However, when Kei turned to talk about Ichika, her expression darkened completely. She hugged her arms against her body and grimaced before finally saying:
"And this cheeky brat here…"
Chiaki blinked, surprised by Kei's aggressive tone.
Sakayanagi, who had been silently observing until then, decided to intervene, her voice filled with curiosity and light sarcasm.
"Oh? Cheeky brat? That was quite direct, Karuizawa-san." She smiled softly before glancing at Ichika and Nanase. "Now I'm curious… who exactly are these two girls?"
Ichika chuckled softly, seeming to enjoy the situation.
"Ah, Sakayanagi-senpai, it's nice to see you here too," she said with a playful smile. "And as for your question… well, I'm just a very cute and curious underclassman~"
Sakayanagi raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Ichika's choice of words.
"Cute and curious, huh?" she repeated, her smile never fading.
"That's right, senpai," Ichika responded with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.
Kei, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and scoffed, visibly irritated.
Chiaki, still not understanding Kei's annoyance, looked at teenage Ayanokouji as if expecting an explanation. But as always, he remained indifferent.
Meanwhile, Kei clenched her fists, trying to contain her frustration.
"Damn it… I can't just tell Chiaki that I hate this girl because she was the first one Ayanokouji ever cooked for… and because she keeps hitting on him!"
Ichika, noticing Kei's reaction, smiled even wider.
"Kei-chan, you seem really irritated…" She tilted her head slightly. "Don't tell me you're jealous?"
"Hah?!" Kei immediately turned to her, her face turning red. "You're delusional, you nosy brat!"
Ichika just laughed, satisfied with the reaction.
Nanase, who had been silently observing everything, turned to teenage Ayanokouji.
"Ayanokouji-senpai, could you explain what exactly is going on here?"
"Even if I explained, it wouldn't make much difference," he replied simply.
Nanase let out a light sigh, but before she could insist, Ichika caught everyone's attention again.
"Oh, but before anything else…" She looked down at young Ayanokouji in her arms and gently pinched his cheek. "This little guy is so adorable! I could take him home with me!"
Young Ayanokouji, who was already struggling to understand the whole situation, simply sighed internally. With his apathetic expression, he slowly turned to Sakayanagi, sending a silent plea for help.
Sakayanagi noticed the look and smiled in amusement.
"Oh? It seems our little Ayanokouji already has his preferences…"
Ichika glanced between Sakayanagi and young Ayanokouji, pretending to be hurt.
"Oh, so you want Sakayanagi-senpai to save you? That hurts, you know?" she said, pouting dramatically.
But young Ayanokouji remained silent, his blank stare unchanged.
Meanwhile, teenage Ayanokouji sighed again.
"This is going to be a long day… and this is only their first day here… God, save me."
Little did he know, it was the very god of their world that had put him in this situation.
In Ichika's arms, young Ayanokouji remained still, his expression unchanged as his thoughts raced.
"Her strength… is considerable."
He felt the pressure of her arms as she held him. Calmly, he compared Ichika's physical strength to that of others he knew. Based on the data he had, he estimated her strength to be around level 4-5.
"Weaker than Yuki and Shiro, but still worthy of recognition."
That caught his attention. Her strength was far above the average student, suggesting intensive training. He then considered an intriguing possibility.
"Could she be from the White Room, but from another generation?"
The hypothesis made sense. She was clearly stronger than a regular student, but she hadn't reached the elite level of his generation. Her energy, emotional expressions, and provocative attitude indicated that if she had come from the White Room, she was likely from a later generation than his.
Then, he analyzed the way Ichika called his teenage self "Senpai."
"If she's a year younger, that would place her in the fifth generation."
That explained a lot. If she really was from the White Room but from a more recent generation, it would make sense for her to have a more expressive personality. The emotional rigidity and strict training of the White Room might not have been applied to her in the same way.
Young Ayanokouji absorbed this information and concluded that, although Ichika was "weak" compared to him, she was strong by normal standards. An opponent worth observing.
Back in the living room…
Adult Ayanokouji and Horikita finally returned after finishing the dishes. Upon entering, they found Ichika still holding young Ayanokouji while Nanase kept her polite smile beside teenage Ayanokouji.
Seeing adult Ayanokouji, Ichika's mischievous smile widened.
"Oh? So this is what Senpai looks like in the future?" She tilted her head slightly, her eyes sparkling with interest. "Looks like you got even more handsome, huh?"
Adult Ayanokouji maintained his calm gaze, but something in his posture changed. A faint smile appeared on his lips before he responded in a tranquil tone:
"I'm happy to see you again… in our school days, Ichika."
The shock was immediate.
Ichika froze for a moment, her eyes widening as she stared at the adult version of Ayanokouji.
Nanase, beside her, was also visibly surprised. Her gaze shifted between the adult and teenage Ayanokouji, as if trying to comprehend the discrepancy between the two.
— Senpai… — Ichika murmured, still processing what had just happened.
She knew the teenage Ayanokouji very well. He was cold, always indifferent, and difficult to provoke. But now, standing before her, was an adult Ayanokouji who… was smiling?
"Is he… showing emotions?"
Nanase broke the silence, her voice laced with curiosity.
— Senpai… you look different.
Ichika blinked a few times and quickly regained her composure. Her teasing smile returned, but this time, there was something different about it.
— Ah, so that's how it is… — She smiled almost seductively. — Time has really changed you, Senpai. Now I'm much more interested in what happened to you…
The adult Ayanokouji said nothing. He merely maintained that serene and controlled expression, which only heightened Ichika and Nanase's curiosity.
Meanwhile, the child Ayanokouji, still in Ichika's arms, shifted his apathetic gaze to Sakayanagi.
Without uttering a single word, his expression conveyed a clear message:
"Get me out of here."
Sakayanagi immediately understood. Her elegant smile widened, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
— Oh? It seems our little Ayanokouji already knows who to trust.
Ichika glanced at Sakayanagi, then at the child Ayanokouji, pretending to be hurt.
— Hey, that hurts, you know? — She pouted theatrically. — Am I really that bad?
The child Ayanokouji continued to stare at her emotionlessly.
Ichika chuckled softly, shaking her head before placing him on the ground.
— Alright, alright. I don't want to traumatize our little Senpai.
The child Ayanokouji simply adjusted his posture and stood beside Sakayanagi without saying a word.
The atmosphere in the room had completely changed. The appearance of the adult Ayanokouji and his unexpected display of emotions had left Ichika and Nanase deeply intrigued.
Kei, on the other hand, glanced sideways, irritated.
"Great. As if it wasn't enough for these two to show up, now Ichika is even more interested in Ayanokouji!"
Ichika wasted no time. As soon as the adult Ayanokouji appeared, she smiled mischievously and approached him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
— Senpai, senpai, tell me! What's the future like? Are you still as amazing as you are now? — She tilted her head with a teasing look.
The adult Ayanokouji remained calm, not responding immediately.
Nanase, beside him, let out a small sigh and lowered her head, clearly exhausted by her friend's antics. The way she sighed, her shoulders drooping and her expression worn, made both the child and teenage Ayanokouji look at her simultaneously.
Without exchanging words, they both instantly imagined Nanase with puppy ears and a wagging tail.
"She looks like an obedient little puppy."
Ichika continued bombarding the adult Ayanokouji with questions until her eyes landed on something interesting.
She saw a discreet glint on his hand.
— Huh?
She moved even closer, gently taking the adult Ayanokouji's hand. Her eyes widened upon noticing the silver ring gleaming on his ring finger.
— Oho? — Ichika grinned, her eyes narrowing with amusement. — Is this… a wedding ring?
Silence fell over the room.
Horikita, Kei, Chiaki, and Nanase, who had been preoccupied with their own thoughts, all turned simultaneously to look at his hand, only now noticing the ring.
"He's married?"
That question echoed in all their minds.
Kei, in particular, felt a tightness in her chest. She had a slight suspicion, but seeing physical proof that he would marry in the future unsettled her.
Sakayanagi, who had already noticed the ring before, smiled elegantly.
— Fufu~ I already asked about it before, but he refused to answer me.
Ichika pouted.
— Eeh?! Why won't you tell us?
— Because I don't think it's necessary. — The adult Ayanokouji responded calmly.
But Ichika wasn't one to give up easily.
— Come on, Senpai! Who was it? Was it Horikita-senpai? Kei-senpai? Sakayanagi-senpai?
She glanced at the three of them, seeing them visibly tense up. Kei looked away, pouting, Horikita maintained her serious expression, and Sakayanagi only smiled—but her eyes were more focused than ever.
The adult Ayanokouji sighed.
— If I give you a hint, will you stop asking?
Ichika quickly nodded.
— I promise!
He paused briefly before answering:
— The person I married… is in this room right now.
The impact of those words was immediate.
— Eh?!
Ichika, Nanase, Kei, Horikita, and even Chiaki's cheeks instantly turned red.
Kei clenched her fists, trying to stay calm. Horikita blinked a few times, processing the information. Sakayanagi, though still smiling, felt her heart beat a little faster.
The teenage Ayanokouji, who had been merely observing, looked at his adult self with an apathetic but reprimanding gaze.
"Talking about the future is already problematic. But mentioning something as important as your wife? That's unnecessary."
Meanwhile, the child Ayanokouji shifted his attention from the girls and began analyzing them one by one.
First, Sakayanagi.
"She seems intelligent. If her father had influence to place her in the White Room, it means her level of education and strategy must be high."
Then, Kei and Horikita.
"These two are the closest to my teenage self."
Kei seemed possessive. Her gaze and posture indicated she could be a jealous girlfriend. That significantly increased the possibility of her being the future wife, especially since I already suspect she and my teenage self might be dating.
On the other hand, Horikita was the only girl his teenage self seemed to trust and spend more time with. They were together when researching time travel, when washing dishes, and even when ordering food.
That raised another possibility.
"If he's getting this close to her now, it might indicate she's the one he chooses in the future."
The child Ayanokouji's curiosity grew.
"Which one of them is my future wife? What a troublesome situation."
The mystery was set, and all the girls in the room were wondering the same thing.
Meanwhile, Ichika, still pouting, wasn't giving up so easily.
— Nee, Senpai… just give me one more hint! Just one more! That didn't even count as a real tip! You're so cruel, Senpai!
The adult Ayanokouji only smiled softly.
— That was enough.
The room remained silent for a few seconds as everyone processed the information.
But one thing was certain: this revelation had stirred them all.
(3 hours later.)
The room was a little quieter than before, but there was still some movement.
Chiaki smiled softly as she said goodbye to the group alongside Kei.
— See you tomorrow, okay? — Chiaki waved.
— Yeah, yeah, have fun. — Horikita replied without much enthusiasm, taking a sip of her tea.
Kei placed her hands on her hips and glanced at teenage Ayanokouji.
— Tch, don't even think about hitting on other girls while I'm not here, okay?
Teenage Ayanokouji, lying on the couch, sighed expressionlessly.
— I've never done that.
Kei clicked her tongue.
— And you better keep it that way.
Chiaki chuckled softly.
— You two are funny together.
— H-Huh?! — Kei blushed and looked away. — I didn't mean anything weird!
Chiaki just smiled before pulling her by the arm.
— Let's go, Kei! Shinonara and Satou Maya must already be waiting.
And so, the two left, making the atmosphere a little calmer.
Teenage Ayanokouji remained lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling.
"It's only 6 PM... this day is taking forever to end."
He sighed again, closing his eyes for a moment.
Horikita, sitting beside him, calmly took another sip of the hot tea she held in her hands. Her gaze was distant, yet attentive to everything around her.
On the other side of the room, Adult Ayanokouji was talking calmly with Ichika and Nanase.
Ichika, as always, was lively, smiling mischievously as she tried to pry more information about the future.
— Senpai, senpai! Tell us something else about how you are in the future! I can't believe you turned out this handsome... Ah, don't tell me you became a model or something?!
Nanase, beside her, sighed again.
— Ichika-san, please...
Adult Ayanokouji simply smiled softly.
— Nothing that flashy. I just lived my life normally.
— Fuuun... — Ichika narrowed her eyes. — You keep hiding everything from us. If I didn't know you, I'd say you're trying to keep some big secret!
Adult Ayanokouji didn't respond, just maintained his serene smile.
Meanwhile, far from all this commotion...
Child Ayanokouji was locked in the bathroom.
He had been there for at least fifteen minutes, sitting calmly on the toilet lid, arms crossed, and his gaze vacant.
He didn't exactly need "alone time." But...
"That girl... bothers me."
The image of Ichika's mischievous smile flashed in his mind.
"I feel in danger every time she looks at me."
He couldn't pinpoint the reason, but her energy put him on alert. Even though she was weaker than him, she had an attitude that made him feel like any slip could lead to something unexpected.
Just in case, he preferred to isolate himself.
Outside, light footsteps approached the door.
— Nee, Senpai...?
Ichika's voice echoed from the other side.
Child Ayanokouji remained in absolute silence.
— Are you in there?
No response.
— Did you lock yourself in the bathroom just to avoid me? — She chuckled softly.
Inside, Child Ayanokouji kept his apathetic gaze, but his mind was already working on possible escape strategies if necessary.
"I need to stay here a bit longer until she loses interest."
Ichika knocked lightly on the door.
— Aren't you going to come out?
Silence.
She sighed.
— Fine... but I'll be waiting for you, Senpai.
Her footsteps faded away.
Child Ayanokouji relaxed slightly but remained on high alert.
"I need to be careful with that girl."
(Back to the other Ayanokoujis.)
Teenage Ayanokouji let out a deep sigh before getting up from the couch, his eyes scanning the room calmly.
He quickly noticed that his younger self was nowhere to be seen.
— Where is he? — He asked, his usual apathetic tone carrying a slight trace of curiosity.
Ichika, still sitting, smiled mischievously and replied casually:
— Oh, he locked himself in the bathroom and won't come out.
Adult Ayanokouji, who had been conversing calmly with Nanase, paused and raised an eyebrow.
— Locked himself in the bathroom? — He repeated.
— Yeah. — Ichika shrugged. — But I don't know why.
Horikita, who had been quietly sipping her tea, sighed heavily.
— How childish... — She murmured, placing her cup on the table before standing up.
However, the next moment, she abruptly stopped and furrowed her brows, as if something had crossed her mind.
The image of Teenage Ayanokouji teasing her in the student council room surfaced in her memory.
"Don't you think we look like a couple, Horikita?"
He had said that just to annoy her, with that cold gaze and that irritatingly calm expression.
She narrowed her eyes, sighing once again.
"Definitely, he has always been childish."
Nanase, noticing her expression, tilted her head slightly.
— Horikita-senpai, is everything alright?
— Yes, it's nothing. — Horikita shook her head before heading to the bathroom door.
She knocked a few times.
— Ayanokouji, come out.
No response.
Teenage and Adult Ayanokouji exchanged glances.
— He didn't respond when I called him earlier either. — Ichika commented casually.
Horikita frowned and, without hesitation, turned the doorknob.
To her surprise, the door wasn't locked.
She hesitated for a moment before slowly pushing the door open.
When everyone looked inside the bathroom, they noticed something strange.
Child Ayanokouji... was gone.
The window was open, the cool evening breeze silently flowing through the gap.
The group remained motionless for a few seconds.
Teenage Ayanokouji blinked, processing the scene.
Adult Ayanokouji, on the other hand, looked slightly surprised.
— He escaped through the window? — Nanase asked, sounding concerned.
— Fufu... — Sakayanagi chuckled softly, her sharp eyes gleaming with a mix of surprise and amusement. — I never imagined Ayanokouji had such a childish side... how adorable.
Ichika also laughed.
— I think he's running away from me.
— Not hard to imagine. — Teenage Ayanokouji murmured.
— So he was like this even as a child? — Nanase asked, looking at Adult Ayanokouji.
He sighed, crossing his arms.
— I knew I was strong as a child, but I don't remember making such impulsive and risky decisions.
— Impulsive? — Horikita looked out the window.
The height from the fourth floor was considerable. Even for someone with Child Ayanokouji's skills, the descent wouldn't be simple.
Teenage Ayanokouji placed a hand on his chin, his gaze growing distant as he tried to recall memories from that time.
"Was I always this childish?"
Horikita sighed and crossed her arms.
— Either way, we have to find him. He could be anywhere now.
The group exchanged glances, silently agreeing.
The search for Child Ayanokouji was about to begin.
The group quickly left teenage Ayanokouji's room, the tension evident in their exchanged glances.
Sakayanagi, who had accompanied them to the door, maintained her serene expression and theatrical tone as she spoke:
— Well, this has certainly become an interesting problem. But I think I'll stay out of it. Good luck with the search.
She then gave a slight smile, twirled her cane, and calmly walked away toward her own room.
The group was in such a hurry that they didn't even bother closing the door behind them.
Now in the hallway, Nanase was the first to break the silence:
— Do you guys have any idea where he might be?
Their eyes met, but the answer was the same for all of them.
— No idea. — Ichika said, putting her hands in her pockets.
— He hasn't shown interest in anything specific since he arrived. — Horikita added, her brow slightly furrowed.
Adult Ayanokouji brought a hand to his chin, thoughtful.
— If he ran away, he might be exploring the building... maybe the areas near the classrooms would be a good starting point.
— Makes sense. — Nanase agreed.
Teenage Ayanokouji, on the other hand, sighed deeply as he took his phone out of his pocket.
He dialed a number and put the device to his ear.
After a few seconds, a familiar voice answered.
— Chabashira.
— Hey, sensei... — He began, hesitant.
— What is it?
Teenage Ayanokouji closed his eyes, trying to phrase his words correctly.
— I... got lost.
The silence on the other end of the line was immediate.
— What? — Her voice sounded confused.
— You got lost? Are you telling me that after more than a year studying here, you still manage to get lost at school?
He sighed, realizing he had expressed himself poorly.
— No. What I meant is... I lost the child version of myself. He ran away from my room.
This time, Chabashira was completely silent.
For a moment, he thought the call had dropped.
Then, a deep sigh came from the other end of the line.
— Alright. I'll alert the teachers and school staff. We'll start a search to find him.
— Thank you. — Teenage Ayanokouji replied, relieved. — And... sorry for the trouble.
— It's not like I'm not used to your problems. — Chabashira grumbled before hanging up.
Ayanokouji put his phone away and turned back to the group.
— Now we have the entire school helping with the search.
Horikita crossed her arms.
— Even so, we need to act fast. If he went somewhere isolated, even the staff might not find him easily.
— Then we should split up. — Adult Ayanokouji suggested.
The group nodded, and without further delay, each went in a different direction.
The search for child Ayanokouji had begun.
But no one knew what awaited them.
The group quickly decided to split up.
Adult Ayanokouji went alone, trusting his experience to track down his younger self.
Ichika and Nanase stayed together, an interesting contrast between Ichika's playful energy and Nanase's silent concern.
Teenage Ayanokouji and Horikita also formed a duo, maintaining an efficient pace as they walked through the school corridors.
Tension filled the air.
They didn't know how long it had been since child Ayanokouji had run away. They didn't know where he could have gone.
And, most importantly, they didn't know why he ran.
---
(Ichika and Nanase - East Wing of the Dormitory)
Walking side by side through the corridors, Ichika had a smile on her face, shaking her head slightly as if she found it all amusing.
— This is so funny. I never thought I'd see Ayanokouji running away like a little kid.
Nanase, on the other hand, kept a serious look.
— I don't see anything funny about this. He's just a child now, and we're talking about Ayanokouji. If he ran away, there must be a reason.
— Oh, relax! — Ichika waved her hand dismissively. — He probably just went to find a hiding spot so no one would bother him. He seemed like he wanted to escape from me earlier, right?
Nanase sighed, rolling her eyes.
— What if he's somewhere dangerous?
— What dangerous place could there be in this school?
— For example, what if he went to the construction site? Or if he left the dormitory and went somewhere isolated?
Ichika blinked a few times, realizing that Nanase actually had a point.
— Alright, alright. Let's take this more seriously then.
Nanase nodded, quickening her pace as she checked every corner and door along the way.
---
(Teenage Ayanokouji and Horikita - Dormitory Corridors)
The walk between teenage Ayanokouji and Horikita was silent, but there was a slight tension in the air.
Horikita glanced around sharply.
— I don't understand why he would escape through the window. That was a completely irrational move.
Teenage Ayanokouji maintained a neutral tone.
— I don't think it was irrational. He might have thought it was his only way out.
Horikita frowned.
— Escape from what? From us?
— Or maybe... from someone specific.
The two stopped simultaneously and looked at each other.
The answer was obvious.
— Ichika.
Horikita let out a sigh.
— I don't know how, but she always has a way of bothering others without even realizing it.
— It's a rare talent. — Teenage Ayanokouji commented sarcastically.
Horikita shot him a side glance but chose not to respond.
They continued walking, checking the dormitory's common areas for any possible hiding spots.
---
(Adult Ayanokouji - Academic Building, Main Campus)
Meanwhile, adult Ayanokouji had decided to expand the search outside the dormitory.
He walked silently, his eyes analyzing every detail around him.
Time seemed to drag on as he moved through the empty corridors.
If his younger version was anything like he remembered, then there were two possibilities:
1. He wanted to hide completely to avoid being found.
2. He wanted to observe something.
The second option was more likely.
As a child, he was already extremely analytical. He used every opportunity to gather information about his surroundings.
Adult Ayanokouji paused for a moment.
— If I were in his place... where would I go?
He closed his eyes for a few seconds, recalling his childhood.
The answer came almost immediately.
He turned quickly and began walking toward a specific location.
(Returning to the Group – Dormitory Entrance)
After about 40 minutes of searching, the group reconvened at the dormitory entrance.
Ichika stood with her arms crossed, slightly frustrated.
— I didn't find anything. That kid is fast.
Nanase stood beside her, still with a worried expression.
Teenage Ayanokouji and Horikita arrived as well, and Horikita sighed.
— We didn't find anything either. He's completely disappeared.
The group turned to adult Ayanokouji, expecting an answer.
He stared at them for a moment before speaking.
— I have a suspicion about where he might be.
Everyone's eyes shifted to him.
— And where would that be? — Nanase asked.
Adult Ayanokouji put his hands in his pockets and answered calmly:
— The rooftop of the academic building.
Silence fell over the group.
— The rooftop? — Horikita repeated, surprised.
Adult Ayanokouji nodded.
— If he still has the same instincts I did as a child, then he must have sought a high place where he could observe everything without being seen.
— But how would he get up there? — Nanase questioned.
— If he managed to climb down from the fourth floor window without any problems, then getting to the rooftop wouldn't be that difficult for him.
The group exchanged glances.
— Then we're heading there now. — Teenage Ayanokouji stated.
Adult Ayanokouji nodded.
— Let's go.
And without further hesitation, the group set off toward the academic building.
If his suspicion was correct… then child Ayanokouji was much closer than they imagined.
---
(POV Shift: Child Ayanokouji – 40 Minutes Ago)
Child Ayanokouji slowly opened his eyes, feeling the warm water of the bathtub around him.
For a brief moment, he just stayed there, listening to the muffled sounds of the outside world.
Then, he emerged, taking a deep breath as droplets ran down his face.
His plan had worked perfectly.
While the others were busy running through the hallways, he had never actually left the bathroom.
The trick was simple, almost obvious:
1. When he first entered the bathroom, he filled the bathtub with water, got in, and submerged himself, holding his breath.
2. He opened the window to make it look like he had escaped that way.
3. He waited patiently until everyone left to search for him.
And now, finally… he was alone.
He sighed, feeling a slight disappointment.
— They really fell for it...
Child Ayanokouji slowly stepped out of the bathtub, his uniform still a bit damp, but nothing that bothered him.
He walked to the bathroom door and peeked into the hallway.
Not a soul in sight.
He was completely free.
And now came the real question: What should he do?
He didn't exactly have a goal. He just wanted to avoid that noisy group surrounding him.
— Do they really think I'm childish enough to run away in a panic?
He rolled his eyes, feeling a slight annoyance at the thought.
Not that he cared what they thought of him, but still… he wasn't an ordinary child.
He was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
And now that he had the freedom he wanted, he needed to decide what to do.
---
He put his hands in his pockets and began walking silently through the dormitory, his steps light and calculated.
It would be easy to simply hide and wait for the search to end.
But that would be boring.
He wanted to observe.
He wanted to see how those fools were handling his supposed "escape."
A small trace of anxiety—no, a faint sense of excitement—stirred within him at the thought.
If his older version was as brilliant as he seemed, then he should be able to figure out the truth. He should uncover the reality.
He couldn't underestimate himself just because he was a child.
No one knew him better than he knew himself.
He was curious to see if he could catch himself.
— Well, I guess I'll see how far they get.
With that thought, he decided his next destination.
It was just them against him.
And in the end… would they really be able to find him?
He doubted it.
Even if it was him against himself, he still believed he could win.
But it would be fun to watch.
With one last glance at the empty dormitory, child Ayanokouji disappeared into the darkness of the hallway.
End of Chapter 5.