[Aiden's House – 4:00 a.m.]
It's early in the morning, and Aiden is still deeply asleep in his bed.
"Bip bip bip."
Until the sound of the alarm clock interrupts the silence, forcing Aiden to crack open his eyes. He twists slightly under the blankets, trying to ignore the noise. After a few seconds of unsuccessful resistance, he lets out a groan and lazily stretches his arm to turn off the alarm.
"Ah..." he sighs, covering his face with his hands, staying like that for a moment longer before finally forcing himself to get up.
With slow, somewhat sleepy movements, he walks to the bathroom. He turns on the faucet and splashes cold water on his face, allowing the cold water to wake him up completely. When he looks up, he gazes at himself in the mirror for a few seconds, evaluating his reflection. His gaze briefly drifts into thought, but it doesn't take long before he returns to reality.
"Bip bip bip."
Another alarm rings from the room, grabbing his attention. Aiden dries his face, heads back to his room, and turns off the clock. He takes a moment to put it on his wrist before searching for something more athletic in his clothes. As he finishes getting dressed, his gaze stops on a stack of cards carefully arranged on the table. He stares at them in silence for a couple of seconds but decides to ignore them and continues with his routine.
When he's ready, he goes downstairs and heads to a room full of exercise machines. After doing some stretches, he begins his daily routine, alternating between the equipment. He puts all his effort into the training, although he spends more time on the treadmill, his favorite machine.
"Bip bip bip."
The sound of the clock interrupts him once again. Aiden turns off the treadmill, grabs a towel, and wipes off the sweat before tossing it with precision into a nearby basket. He stretches a bit to relax his muscles and exits the room, heading to the back of the house.
Upon opening the door, he finds what used to be a resting and leisure area, now transformed into a garden. Rows of well-organized crops extend across the space. Aiden grabs a watering can and pruning scissors, carefully checking each plant to ensure there are no pests. His work is meticulous, and he finds an unexpected pleasure in the process of tending to the garden.
"Bip bip bip."
The alarm sounds again, interrupting his moment of happiness and reminding him that it's time to move on. Aiden grimaces, leaves the tools by the garden, and heads back inside. This time he climbs to the rooftop, where he inspects the water purifier, making sure everything is working properly.
After a quick check, he walks over to the solar panels. As he inspects them, he notices that one of them has completely stopped working. Aiden shakes his head, visibly disappointed. "Total loss," he murmurs as he carefully unscrews it and removes it from its mount. He makes a mental note to never buy that model again and carries the damaged panel to a trash container in the back.
A quick glance at his watch tells him to hurry up. He heads to the basement, turns on the lights, which illuminate long rows of shelves filled with canned food, water bottles, and various spare parts. After searching through the supplies, he finds a replacement solar panel, one of several he keeps for emergencies. Without wasting time, he grabs it and heads back to the roof to install it.
"Bip bip bip."
The sound of the clock is heard again just as Aiden finishes adjusting and connecting the new solar panel. With a sigh of relief, he checks that everything is working correctly before quickly heading to the kitchen.
There, he grabs some ingredients and starts preparing his breakfast. He opts for something simple: toast and eggs. As he stirs the eggs in the pan, he decides to play some music to brighten up the moment. The light rhythm distracts him more than expected, and he leaves the bread in the toaster a bit too long.
A burnt smell pulls him out of his reverie.
"Not again... my toast!" he laments, turning off the toaster and hurriedly removing the toast. He inspects it with a resigned sigh. After a brief moment of doubt, he takes a bite. "It's not that bad," he says to himself, trying to convince himself as he finishes his breakfast without much ceremony.
Calmly, he prepares his lunch for later. He looks at the final result, a simple and functional dish. "Not my best work," he comments quietly, eyeing his unappetizing breakfast. "I need to improve my cooking…" he murmurs, but in the end, shrugs it off and stores the lunch in a container.
Before the alarm can go off again, he takes a quick look at his watch and turns it off with a triumphant smile. "I beat you this time," he says contentedly as he picks up the kitchen utensils.
Next, he heads to the bathroom for a cold shower. The icy water completely wakes him up, washing away any remaining traces of tiredness. After finishing, he brushes his teeth and returns to his room. There, he changes into his school uniform.
In front of the mirror, he checks himself from head to toe. Everything is clean, perfectly fitted, with not a single detail out of place. He nods in satisfaction. "Well, time to work," he murmurs to himself as he approaches the table. He picks up the cards he had ignored earlier and places them in his uniform pocket. Then, he opens a drawer, takes out binoculars, and walks toward a one-way window that faces directly into Saki's house.
He positions himself there, carefully adjusting the binoculars. It doesn't take long before he detects movement in Saki's room. From his position, he watches as she struggles to get up, slightly stumbling, still trapped in sleep. He sees her disappear into another room and knows for sure that she's in the bathroom; he remembers the layout of Saki's house perfectly.
Minutes later, Saki reappears, now dressed in her school uniform, ready to start the day. Aiden continues observing her as she leaves her room. From experience, he knows she's now in the kitchen.
Having everything recorded, he lowers the binoculars, straightens up, grabs his backpack, and the lunch he prepared earlier before heading to the gate of his house. However, he doesn't leave immediately. He stays behind, waiting patiently.
The sounds around him keep him alert. For a moment, he worries when the usual rhythm of footsteps takes longer than expected, but he soon calms down when he hears the familiar sound approaching. He calculates the time precisely, puts on his best smile, and rushes out, nearly bumping into Saki.
"Ah! Good morning, Saki," Aiden says, stopping just in time, adopting a shy expression that reflects a slight apology.
Saki lights up when she sees him. "Aiden!" she exclaims enthusiastically, closing the distance between them quickly. She gently bumps into his chest and hugs him tightly.
Aiden responds to the hug naturally, wrapping his arms around her as a serene smile crosses his face. It's as ordinary as it is precious, a routine they've repeated every morning since they started their relationship.
"How are you?" Aiden asks as they separate from the hug.
Saki smiles at him enthusiastically and raises a carefully wrapped lunch box. "I made you lunch!" she says, her tone full of excitement as she offers him the box. However, she immediately seems to hesitate, pausing for a moment. "Well... if you don't already have something prepared... I guess I should've asked first. Hehe," she adds with a nervous laugh.
Aiden takes the lunch from her hands before she can retract the offer. "I don't have anything prepared. Thanks," he responds calmly, making Saki beam with joy.
"If that's the case, I'll make you lunch every day!" she exclaims, clearly excited.
As he places the lunch in his backpack, Aiden makes a mental note to adjust his alarms and stop preparing food for himself. With discreet movements, he makes sure Saki doesn't see the lunch he had already packed earlier, quickly hiding it.
Once he's finished putting the food away, Aiden extends his hand toward her, and Saki smiles as she gently takes it. Together, they start walking, chatting and enjoying the morning stroll.
"Wouf! Wouf!"
They both stop when they hear the barks of a small dog. The puppy, visibly young and full of energy, runs toward Saki enthusiastically, wagging its tail nonstop.
"Ahhh, you're so cute!" Saki exclaims, crouching down to pet the puppy, which seems determined to stay by her side and enjoy the attention it's getting.
An elderly woman, clearly the puppy's owner, approaches quickly. "Oh, sorry for the trouble. He's still in training," she says while picking up the dog in her arms.
"It's no trouble," Saki replies kindly, giving the puppy one last pat before bidding it farewell with a smile.
They resume their walk, talking about trivial things and enjoying each other's company. However, time seems to fly, and soon they reach the point where they must part ways.
Saki stops, stands on her tiptoes, and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. Her face turns a shade of pink as she hurriedly says goodbye, walking away with quick steps. Although they've kissed on the lips before, Saki saves those more intimate moments for when no one is watching them.
"Goodbye!" she exclaims, briefly turning to wave before disappearing at the end of the street.
Aiden stays in his place for a few seconds, watching her walk away. Finally, he adjusts his backpack and heads toward the train station, mentally preparing himself for the rest of the day.
[Megurigaoka Private High School – 7:50 a.m.]
Aiden quickly arrives at the main entrance of the high school. He straightens his shoulders, adjusts his backpack, and puts on his best smile as he walks through the halls. The murmurs inevitably follow him. Some shy glances, smiles hidden behind books, and even visible blushes cross his path. He returns greetings here and there, but doesn't stop to talk to anyone.
With confident steps, he reaches his classroom and settles into his seat. He is barely placing his backpack on the back of the chair when he feels a firm hand on his shoulder. He doesn't need to turn around; he already knows who it is.
"Hello, hello!" Tsumugi greets with her usual energy. Without wasting any time, she drops her backpack on the desk next to him and pulls out a sheet of paper that she places with an agile motion on Aiden's desk.
Aiden glances at it before unfolding it. "Athletic Club Registration," he reads quietly, the title highlighted in large letters.
"No," he responds immediately, without looking up.
"Come on, please! I know you like it," Tsumugi complains, leaning toward him with a pleading look. "You were so good in middle school. Why don't you want to join now?"
Aiden leans back in his seat, sighing calmly as he folds the paper again and puts it in his backpack without haste.
"I'm pretty busy," he replies in a calm but definitive tone.
Tsumugi furrows her brow, clearly formulating a convincing rebuttal in her mind. However, her attempt is interrupted by the unmistakable sound of firm heels approaching the classroom.
"Silence, please!" commands Professor Kamiyama, entering with authority. The class's attention immediately shifts to her, and all the students return to their seats
Kamiyama, impeccable as always, carries a stack of papers in her arms. Her calculating eyes scan the room with a sharp gleam that silences any distractions.
"Put your notebooks away. It's time for a test," she announces without preamble, dropping the papers on the main desk with a sharp noise.
A murmur of surprise runs through the room as the papers begin to be passed hand to hand. Aiden takes his and calmly inspects it before pulling out his pencil.
"Begin," the professor says with a fixed gaze that seems to capture every movement in the room.
Aiden looks down and begins writing quickly. His answers flow effortlessly, and within a few minutes, he has already finished the test. However, he doesn't get up to turn it in right away. Instead, he sets the pencil aside and waits, pretending to review his answers to avoid drawing too much attention.
Finally, after a reasonable amount of time, Aiden stands and walks to the professor's desk. He hands in his test with a serene expression. Professor Kamiyama takes it, gives it a quick glance, and nods in approval.
"Good job, Aiden, you never disappoint," she says quietly, but loud enough for some of his classmates nearby to hear.
Aiden returns to his seat with the same calm demeanor he started with, while the rest of his classmates continue struggling with the test. Several minutes pass before everyone finishes, and after a few more moments, they can enjoy the long-awaited break.
From the door of the classroom, Tsumugi waves to Aiden. "You coming?" she asks, and Aiden nods, gathering his things and making sure to take both lunches: the one he made and the one Saki gave him.
When they reach the cafeteria, Tsumugi stops for a moment. "I'm going to buy something," she says as she starts to take out her wallet.
Aiden stops her before she can leave. "Take this," he says, offering her the lunch he made, keeping the one Saki made for himself.
Tsumugi sighs dramatically and places a hand on her forehead. "Ah... I knew this would happen," she says, as if facing a tragedy. "I always had my suspicions. So many years without a girlfriend made me doubt..." She leans back in her chair, with a theatrical gesture. "And while you flatter me, I'll have to decline your offer..."
"Ah, shut up already!" Aiden interrupts, pushing the lunch towards Tsumugi's hands.
Tsumugi laughs, straightens up, and starts unwrapping the food. "No, seriously. Why do you have two lunches?" he asks, taking a bite while curiously looking at the contents of the lunchboxes.
"I made that one," Aiden responds, pointing to the food Tsumugi is holding.
Tsumugi chews slowly, glancing at the lunch Aiden kept for himself. It definitely looks better. "Well, I don't want to sound ungrateful, but... I thought you cooked better," he says, teasingly. Then he points to the other lunchbox. "Who made this one?"
"My girlfriend," Aiden replies calmly, without looking up.
The comment causes a brief silence in the cafeteria. Upon hearing the words, Tsumugi immediately chokes, falling to the ground and coughing violently, while others look on indifferently, showing no intention of helping. After a long struggle, he manages to compose himself, wiping his tears and taking a deep breath.
"Phew!" he exclaims, staring at Aiden as if he just got hit. "Would you be so kind as to repeat that?"
"I said, my girlfriend made this one," Aiden repeats, completely calm, taking another bite of his food without changing his expression.
A girl, who clearly overheard the conversation, runs out of the dining area, crying. Tsumugi briefly watches her leave before turning his attention back to Aiden, a mixture of shock and confusion on his face.
"How? When?" he asks, still in disbelief.
"Some time ago," Aiden responds, as if it's not a big deal, continuing to eat at his own pace.
Tsumugi places a hand on his forehead, exaggeratedly, clearly offended. "And you didn't tell me? Why? Why didn't you tell me anything?"
"You didn't ask," Aiden replies, amused by his friend's exaggerated reaction.
Tsumugi leans back in his chair, staring at Aiden while processing the new information. "Wait! Is that why you didn't join the track team? And why are you always so busy?"
Aiden nods while gathering his things, already preparing to leave. "Well, not entirely... but partially," he responds, not really in the mood to continue the conversation.
Tsumugi watches him, still not fully understanding, and places both hands on the table with a theatrical sigh. "That controlling woman! It's your first girlfriend and she's already taking you away from your friends!" he says, raising his hands to the sky dramatically.
Aiden lets out a chuckle, knowing Tsumugi isn't serious, though he can't help but feel a twinge of regret inside for his inevitable death, as he genuinely values him as a friend.
The day passes normally until classes end. Aiden walks calmly toward the lockers where he stores his shoes. Upon opening his locker, he finds a carefully folded pink letter, scented.
He sighs upon seeing it. It's not the first time he's received a letter like this, and it probably won't be the last. Aiden unfolds the letter and quickly reads the words: another love confession, full of sincere and hopeful phrases. If he didn't have to keep up appearances, he would simply ignore it and leave, but he decides it's only right to respond.
"You know you can ignore these letters, right?" comments Tsumugi, who has been watching him closely with his arms crossed, a teasing smile on his lips.
"It took her the effort to write it. It would be rude not to reply," Aiden responds without taking his eyes off the letter, as he begins walking toward the back of the building, the location specified in the letter.
It doesn't take long for him to find the girl. She stands nervously, her cheeks flushed, while a group of friends awkwardly hides around a nearby corner, spying on the encounter with interest.
"You're going to break another poor girl's heart," murmurs Tsumugi from a safe distance, a mix of pity and amusement in his voice. "How cruel!"
The girl, clearly determined, takes a deep breath before speaking. "I really think you're amazing! Please, go out with me!" she says quickly, closing her eyes as if she couldn't bear to see what would happen, offering him a handkerchief with an expectant expression.
Aiden sighs internally, knowing what he's about to do. He leans slightly toward her in an apology. "Sorry, but I'm in a relationship," he replies calmly and without hesitation.
The girl seems devastated instantly. She lowers the handkerchief, her face lighting up with a mix of surprise and sadness, clearly struggling to hold back tears. Without saying a word, she takes a step back and turns away, running quickly toward where her friends are waiting. They surround her, and as they disappear, Aiden hears Tsumugi's laughter, who witnessed the entire scene.
"You're ruthless," Tsumugi comments as he follows him, shaking his head with a mix of amusement and disapproval.
"I'm just honest," Aiden responds, not bothering to look back.
They walk in silence for a moment, but Tsumugi can't hold back for long. "So... about the track club?" he asks, with a mix of hope and persistence in his voice.
Before Aiden can respond, his alarm goes off insistently. "Beep beep beep."
Aiden quickly glances at the time and turns off the alarm, sighing internally. The time he spent rejecting the confession has made him lose valuable minutes. "Sorry, I'm late," he says as he picks up the pace, walking away from his friend.
"It's that woman, isn't it?! It's got to be her!" Tsumugi shouts behind him, his voice full of drama.
Aiden doesn't respond, but he can hear Tsumugi's mocking laughter growing more distant as he walks away.
He runs to the train station, arriving just as the doors are about to close. When he reaches his destination, as soon as the train stops, Aiden shoots out, dodging people on his way as he swiftly navigates the streets. Finally, he stops in front of a specific corner, breathing deeply to calm himself.
"Beep beep beep!"
The familiar sound of his alarm reminds him it's time. Aiden quickly checks that there are no traces of sweat on his clothes, making sure he looks presentable before focusing on the most important thing: from his position, he can see Saki approaching with her friends, just in time.
Aiden steps out from the corner with a relaxed attitude. When Saki sees him, her face lights up instantly, and she quickly breaks away from her group to run towards him. Meanwhile, her friends keep a respectful distance, though not without showing some interest. Takae, one of them, covers her mouth with her hand to hide a small laugh, amused by the scene.
Finally, Saki's friends decide to say goodbye and go on their way, leaving the couple to have their moment. Saki, grateful, smiles softly as she watches them walk away.
"How was your day?" Aiden asks naturally, as they begin to walk together.
Saki smiles, animated, and starts enthusiastically telling him about all the activities she did, from her classes to the little details of her day. Aiden listens attentively, nodding and responding from time to time, making an effort to remember every word she says.
Soon, they arrive at Saki's house, where Aiden takes out the lunch container she had prepared for him earlier and hands it back to her with care.
"Thanks for the food, it was delicious," he says with a slight bow, returning the container.
Saki takes it with a radiant smile. "I'm glad you liked it," she replies, putting the container in her bag. After a brief exchange of words and a warm farewell, Saki enters her house, leaving Aiden at the door.
Aiden stays there for a few seconds, watching as the door closes softly behind her. Finally, he turns around and begins walking back, satisfied that everything went as expected.
When he gets home, he shuts the door behind him, walks upstairs to his room, and places his backpack on the chair. He pulls out the cards from his pocket, setting them on the table as he takes a breath. "Ah…" he exhales deeply, feeling a little more at ease.
After changing clothes and taking a few minutes to rest, he feels ready to go back downstairs. He reaches the first floor, stops in front of the main door, looks at it silently for a moment, and places a hand on the doorknob. "Throne of Nannyra," he says aloud, turning the handle and opening the door. However, all he sees is his usual yard.
He frowns and closes the door, determined to try again. "Paris, China…" he murmurs, opening and closing the door repeatedly, hoping the view on the other side would change. But it didn't. No matter how many times he tried, the door kept showing him the same familiar front yard. Resigned, Aiden let out a sigh, leaned against the wall for a moment, then walked away, no longer interested in continuing to try.
He headed to the kitchen, ready to prepare something simple for dinner. As he took out the utensils, he briefly considered going upstairs, grabbing the cards, and preparing a four-course meal worthy of the best chefs. The idea sounded tempting, but he dismissed it immediately. He shook his head, pushing the thought from his mind.
He remembered well that he had done this during his first year. Everything went great… until it didn't. Perfection quickly turned frustrating, lacking the feeling of progress and triumph. Here, within these walls, he didn't need the cards as long as he was alone. He could afford to take a break from them.
With that in mind, Aiden started preparing a simple meal, made by him.
-//-
*evil laugh*
I see I've confused people, but I refuse to give more hints. See you later—I'll be busy for a few weeks.
Author's note: I think there are two chapters left before this world ends. The next one should be +18, and then there will be a time jump before it finishes. Leave your comment, it helps and motivates me to keep going. See you!
Hugs and kisses.