---
The crisp morning air filled his lungs as he strolled through the town's market, trying to shake off the slight anxiety bubbling in his chest. Tsukasa had sent him on a simple errand—buying her favorite snacks. It should've been an easy task, right? Yet, here he was, palms sweaty, heart pounding, as if he were about to face some kind of life-altering trial.
"This is fine," he whispered to himself, eyeing the stall of food ahead. "You've got this. Just a normal day of getting snacks for the girl you're simping over, and definitely not obsessing over."
As he approached the vendor, his eyes locked on the freshly prepared taiyaki—Tsukasa's favorite. He smiled softly, imagining her relaxed face as she took the first bite. A small victory in his ongoing quest to impress her.
But just as he reached out to grab the treats, he felt a presence beside him. It wasn't just any random person. There was something *familiar* about this guy, standing there with a confident, yet clueless expression.
"Ah, I'll take three taiyaki, please," the young man said with a polite smile, not noticing him just yet.
His heart skipped a beat as he froze in place. *No way. It can't be him...*
Slowly, almost reluctantly, he glanced over. Short wisteria hair, a casual posture, and a certain intensity in his eyes. This wasn't just any random guy—it was *Nasa Yuzaki*.
The same Nasa Yuzaki who, in another timeline, another life, would become the husband of *his* Tsukasa.
His hand twitched, fingers brushing against the taiyaki as his mind raced. Should he freeze time and make a run for it? Could he just... prevent this moment from happening? Or should he act natural, maybe strike up a conversation and casually sabotage this fateful meeting?
As his thoughts spun out of control, Nasa turned and smiled at him, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside his head. "Hey! Are you here to grab some taiyaki too?"
He swallowed hard. "Uh, yeah. Just... getting some for someone."
"Oh, nice," Nasa replied cheerfully. "They're fresh today! Gotta love when they're still warm." He glanced over at the vendor, then back at him. "By the way, I'm Nasa. You new around here?"
There it was. The fateful introduction. The moment he could decide whether to befriend or sabotage this guy's chances before they even began. He forced a tight smile, his mind still swirling with the weight of destiny.
"Nice to meet you, Nasa. I'm Julius," he said, trying to sound casual despite the turmoil inside.
"Julius, huh? Cool name!" Nasa smiled brightly. "So, you're getting these for your girlfriend?"
He blinked. *Girlfriend?* Well, not exactly... but, he wasn't about to explain that he was essentially Tsukasa's errand boy. "Yeah, something like that," he muttered.
Nasa's eyes lit up. "Ah, I get it. I'm actually waiting for someone too! I haven't met her yet, but I feel like I'm about to soon. Isn't that weird?"
*Oh no. Oh no no no no.* His heart started racing again. Was *this* the moment? Was Nasa about to meet Tsukasa? He was so close to delivering the snacks to her, and now this guy was unknowingly standing on the edge of fate.
Keeping his calm demeanor, Julius grabbed the taiyaki from the vendor and gave a curt nod to Nasa. "Well, good luck with that. Maybe you'll meet her sooner than you think," he said, his voice tight with tension.
He turned on his heel, moving quickly before he could say anything else. The sooner he got back to Tsukasa, the better. There was no way he'd let Nasa and Tsukasa meet—not on *his* watch. Not when he had the power to bend time itself.
As he hurried down the street, his mind raced with the possibilities. What if they met today? What if *this* was the moment that would cement their relationship? And worse—what if Tsukasa started feeling for Nasa the same way she was supposed to, the same way she would have in that other timeline?
No. He couldn't let it happen. He wasn't just some bystander anymore. He had Julius's powers—time was *his* to control. And with it, he could protect his relationship with Tsukasa.
He'd just have to be... creative.
---
Back at Tsukasa's place, she greeted him with her usual calm smile. "You're back," she said softly, taking the taiyaki from him. "Thank you."
"Of course," he replied, trying to sound as normal as possible, though his mind was still fixated on the chance encounter with Nasa. "Anything for you."
She took a bite of the snack and closed her eyes, savoring the taste. But then, sensing his tension, she looked up at him. "Is something wrong?"
He froze. Should he tell her? No, he couldn't let her know about Nasa. Not yet, not when things were still uncertain. "Nothing," he said, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about... the future."
Tsukasa gave him a curious look, but she didn't press him. Instead, she took another bite of her taiyaki, her gaze drifting out the window. "The future, huh? I've always believed it's something we create ourselves."
His heart skipped a beat at her words. Did she know? Could she sense what was at stake?
He watched her quietly, determined to protect this moment, this timeline. Whatever it took, he'd keep Tsukasa by his side.
But even with all the time in the world at his fingertips, fate was a tricky thing to outmaneuver. And as much as he wanted to hold onto her, there was a nagging feeling that Nasa would soon return to cross their paths again.
---
To Be Continued...