- Hello Tadomeki! - Akari shouted as soon as he entered the class. After the events from three months ago, she grew even closer to him; some might even say too close. The way she attached herself to him was really unusual. Even when they were married, she never acted the same way she did now. Although some things in this timeline had changed, the story was still moving in the right direction. Tadomeki still didn't manage to enter his Asylum again, no matter how hard he tried. Every night he tried to focus on Akari, but to no avail. On the other hand, his "swordsmanship" training went smoothly. Thanks to his daily exercises, he even gained some muscle. The only problem was how much divine energy he was able to preserve by storing it in the mask. A month ago, he tried to release it just to see how much power he gained from two months of storing that energy. He released it onto a small soda can. The only result was him moving it a few inches away.
"Maybe I'll get better results after twelve years..."
- Hi Akari, how are you? - he asked with a smile when she came up to him.
- All good! Actually, there was something I wanted to ask you... - she blushed slightly, avoiding direct eye contact.
- Are you sure you don't want to ask that somewhere more private...? - he whispered, looking around the class. Everyone's eyes were focused on them. While a part of the class was smiling smugly to themselves, the others were looking at Tadomeki with a pang of jealousy. No wonder, Akari was the most beautiful first-year student after all.
- Oh right... I forgot we were in a class for a moment...
- How can you even forget something like that...? - Tadomeki sighed.
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After the lesson, they went to a secluded place where they always ate lunch. This time, only Tadomeki and Akari were present there, because Tsumigi was sick. That surely made things a little more awkward for them, because they both went silent, unable to start the conversation. Finally, Akari stood up and smiled shyly, her cheeks getting redder with each passing second.
- Listen... I was wondering... - she joined her middle fingers together - Would you like to go on a festival with me on Sunday...?
At the mention of the word "festival", Tadomeki's face turned a little pale. Memories of his every failed attempt came back to him, but as always, he pushed them away and put on a fake smile.
- Of course...! I would love to come to a festival with you. Actually, I was going to ask you if you wanted to go as well, but you beat me to it this time~
Akari noticed that something in him changed, but decided not to press further, sighing with relief.
- Every year me, Ren and Tsumigi go there and this year won't be different - he explained, as he showed some of the pictures he took one year ago with both of his friends - It's only natural that I was going to ask you to go with us since you're part of our group now.
- Is that so...? So Ren-kun and Tsumigi-san are coming too? - she asked with slight disappointment in her voice, looking at one picture when Tsumigi was particularly close to Tadomeki.
- That's right!
Akari pouted. He knew exactly why, but there was something he needed Rem to do for him in this year.
- That's okay I guess... - she finally replied - But the next festival, we are going there alone!
Tadomeki blushed, surprised by her forwardness. Even she was shocked, she blurted out something like that without thinking first.
- I-I mean... Nevermind! Forget about that! I mean don't forget, but...! - Akari tried to save herself, while Tadomeki was trying to stop himself from laughing.
- I get it, don't worry. It's a promise~ - he grabbed her pinky and crossed it with his.
For the rest of the day, she was too embarrassed to say anything to him.
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On the day of the festival, Tadomeki began preparing himself for the festival.
"I can't decide... I was never good with fashion... Maybe I should wear what I always did, or maybe I should call Ren to help me...?".
After fifteen minutes, Ren was already there, eating cookies that Tadomeki prepared yesterday.
- Sou, you awe telling me, yu need my hewp? - Ren asked with his mouth full.
- Can you at least swallow before you try to say anything?
- Sorry!
Tadomeki explained his plans of confessing to Akari to him.
- I knew it! I saw how you acted when she was around. It was almost as if you were someone else!
- As much as I hate to say it, we both know your wingman abilities are amazing - he sighed - Not counting that one time with Haruyama I heard about the other times you helped others to confess.
Haruyama was one of their older classmates, who had a crush on a girl way out of his league. Ren helped him to create a perfect scenario for them and adjusted every minor detail to set the perfect mood for him. Haruyama and the girl have been together for a year now.
- Haha, it seems my reputation precedes me! Now, let's think... A festival is already a good scenario, but we need something more to make this confession absolutely amazing. What do you think about having a well-lit roof, away from the crowds, just before the fireworks set off?
Tadomeki already knew about the place that Ren described, but he still needed him to make it available to him.
- Sounds perfect! What do you think I should wear?
- She's probably going to wear a yukata, right? I think you should go more casual so that she can feel more natural around you.
- That's a good point, thanks! - he replied, already pillaging through his wardrobe.
- You'll thank me when she accepts - Ren smirked - For now just relax, I'm going to make some calls. Once everything is ready, I'll send you a memo.
- Sure thing! - Tadomeki smiled.
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A few hours later he was already dressed, already on his way to Akari's house. Even though it was his ninth time confessing to her, he was still stressed about it.
"I can't fail this time. I'll save them all..."
- It's so good to see you again, Kano-kun! - Akari's mother smiled to him as she opened the door - Are you going to propose to my little Akari today~?
- Mom! Stop it, you're going to make him feel awkward! - Akari shouted from another room.
- Good evening, Miss Nakamura. You'll need to ask Akari later, if I proposed or not - he replied jokingly.
- Oh my! - she giggled and allowed him to come inside. Not long after, Akari came up to him with a blush. She was wearing a blue yukata with white flower patterns, eerily reminiscent of the one she was wearing on that fateful day.
- Hello Akari. You look... Beautiful - he replied, his cheeks slightly getting red as well.
- Thank you... Now let's get going, others are waiting - she whispered with a blush, trying to quickly leave the house before her mother took a picture of them. After saying goodbyes, they took a train to meet Ren and Tsumigi at their usual meeting spot - the Ouroboros statue.
- Why exactly did you start meeting there? - Akari asked.
- I just thought it was cool as a kid and it stuck with us since then... Anyway, is that your first festival?
- Is it that obvious?
- Nope, I just thought it may be this way... - Tadomeki smiled, feeling a little ashamed of himself, since he had prior knowledge of everything about Akari.
- Yes, it's my first time... But I'm glad I get to spend it with you! - she smiled cheerfully.
Tadomeki got flustered by her comment, that could have been easily misunderstood, but he didn't turn his gaze away like he usually did in an embarrassing situation. He watched her warm smile intently.
"That's what I need to protect... I'm going to use every means necessary to guarantee a future for her"
Akari also couldn't take her eyes off of Tadomeki.
"His smiles and eyes always seem so warm, but... "
Thinking back, she didn't really know much about Tadomeki's past self, except for the stories Ren and Tsumigi told her. They told her he used to be very mischievous as a child, but he always cared for his friends and would never let anyone hurt them.
"Though Tsumigi said that he has definitely changed since we started high school. According to her, he became more mature and responsible... Is it… because of me…?! No, stop being stupid..."
Akari blushed even more just by thinking about it.
She finally noticed they both had been looking at each other for quite some time.
- I-I'm sorry, I just got lost in my thoughts... - she hastily looked away.
- Me too. Sorry if it made you uncomfortable - he replied.
- It's okay... Can I... - Akari hesitated for a second, but then she faced him directly again - Can I ask you something...?
- What is it?
- If something was troubling you... Something that made you really sad, maybe even in pain… You'd tell me, right?
"No" was the truthful answer. Since the first timeline, he has always prioritized others before himself. He never told anyone about his problems or the pain he felt. Even before everything, he never told anyone if something was wrong.
- Only if it was really important. Right now I'm actually feeling better than ever, since we're going on a date~
- Hmph, it's not a date if there are other people with us! - Akari pouted. Despite his answer, she knew he was lying.
"He probably has his reasons...".
She wanted to help him. He accepted her so quickly and had been nothing but nice and caring for her since they met.
"I decided. I'm going to be always by your side and help you as much as I can... That's why today I will..."
Tadomeki still thought about her question.
"Why do I always hide everything from them? They are my best friends, and yet I'm not even honest with them... Time and time again, I always brushed them off with a fake smile... Did she notice that I'm struggling? She was always like that...".
Once more he looked at her, his heart swelling with love for her.
"I want to save her, I need to do it. That's why today I will..."
"I will confess to him" Akari thought to herself.
"I will confess to her" Tadomeki thought to himself.