Yu fumbled with the zipper of his pencil case, buying himself a second.
"…Concerned?"
He echoed.
Isuke nodded once, deliberate.
"You've been doing well since you transferred in. Better than expected, even. But dating…"
He pressed his lips into a thin line.
"Relationships can be distracting. Especially at this age. If you're not careful, your studies might suffer."
Yu's embarrassment softened, just a little. He ducked his head, fingers brushing the corner of his notebook.
"I… don't think Taichi would let me fall behind. He actually helped me study for history before, and I got an 100."
That caught the tiniest hitch in Isuke's mask of composure, though he quickly smoothed it over.
"So it's true, then."
The directness made Yu freeze again. He wasn't used to being read so easily.
"…Yes. We're dating."
Isuke's eyes narrowed, not cruelly but sharply—like a blade honed too well.
"Then it's not only your grades I'll be watching."
Yu blinked.
"…What do you mean?"
Isuke folded his arms, standing straighter, his tone dipping from academic concern into something colder, more personal.
"Arifuku. He's… different. The way he acts around you—it doesn't sit right. He's always hovering, always watching. You don't seem to notice, but everyone else does. He's not just protective. He's possessive."
Yu's heart squeezed. He wanted to argue, to defend Taichi, but his mouth felt dry.
Isuke leaned in a fraction, his voice lowered so the other classmates couldn't overhear.
"If you're serious about this relationship, then fine. But if I ever see him hurt you—"
His eyes hardened in a way that made Yu's breath catch.
"I won't forgive it."
DK01's voice flickered in Yu's mind like a sigh of static, dry and knowing.
[Interesting. A rival thread enters the weave. Careful, host—this boy's suspicion may be inconvenient, but it's also protective. Not against you… against Taichi.]
Yu swallowed hard, unsure what to say back.
Yu's hands tightened into fists on his notebook, the paper bending under his knuckles. His throat worked before the words stumbled out, stilted and breathless but undeniable.
"Y–you're wrong about him!"
His voice cracked, heat rushing to his ears.
"Taichi… he's not like that! He helps me, he—he makes me feel safe, and happy, and—and you don't even know him, so you can't just—!"
The classroom air seemed to catch in place, invisible tension stretching taut.
Isuke blinked, stunned into silence. For all the weeks he'd known Hokohayashi, the boy had been mild, timid, awkward to a fault. Seeing him flare up like this—eyes wet, cheeks flushed, body trembling with raw insistence—was like watching the moon spit fire.
"…You…"
Isuke started, then faltered, tightening his jaw. His chest felt hollow in a strange, aching way he couldn't immediately name. The sight of Yu, burning red with desperate loyalty to Arifukua, scraped something sharp inside him.
[Out of character. Warning.]
DK01 hissed in Yu's skull, urgent and metallic.
[That burst is beyond your typical parameters. Hold steady or risk world rejection.]
Yu sucked in a breath, panic hitting him even as he glared at Isuke through watery eyes.
The taller boy studied him a long, unreadable moment. He should've pressed his point. He should've reminded Yu to keep perspective. But instead he was left—surprised, unsettled, and for the first time in years—jealous. Though the word itself didn't yet form on his tongue.
"…Yu…"
Isuke muttered at last, his tone clipped, retreating into coolness. But his gaze lingered too long on Yu's trembling form, as though unwilling—or unable—to look away.
Yu slumped back in his chair, heart hammering, DK01 buzzing like static in the back of his skull.
The silence between Yu and Isuke stretched thin, taut as a wire ready to snap. Yu kept his eyes down, cheeks burning, knuckles white against the desk. Isuke, meanwhile, stood rigid by his desk, jaw tight, gaze dragging over the boy's trembling, small figure.
The door slid open.
"Yu—"
Taichi's voice cut short, sharp as glass, the sight before him freezing him mid-step. Yu, red-faced and shaken. Isuke standing far too close. The air between them heavy with something unspeakable.
"...What the hell do you think you're doing, Sasaki?"
Taichi's tone dropped low, dangerous.
Yu's head snapped up, panic flashing across his features.
"Taichi—!"
But Taichi was already moving, shoulders tense, fists clenched, storming toward Isuke with every intention of grabbing him, shoving him, anything to get him away from Yu.
Isuke flinched, half-rising, but before impact could spark—
"Taichi, wait—!"
Yu scrambled to his feet, reaching for him—only for his ankle to catch the leg of his desk.
He stumbled.
The world tilted.
"Yu!"
In an instant, Taichi abandoned everything else. He darted forward, catching Yu just as he toppled. Strong arms swept him up in a smooth, desperate motion, holding him close against his chest.
The fury in his expression softened in a heartbeat, replaced by pure panic.
"Yu, are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?!"
Yu's face burned hotter, buried against Taichi's uniform.
"I–I'm fine! Really—!"
"Don't move!"
Taichi ordered, voice shaking in spite of his sternness. Without waiting for permission, he picked up Yu, turned on his heel and strode straight for the door.
"Arifuku—"
Isuke started, stepping forward, but Taichi didn't even glance back.
The hallway blurred around them as Taichi carried Yu in a full princess hold, each step fast and heavy until the sliding doors of the nurse's office came into view.
He shouldered them open with one sharp motion, his voice breaking with urgency.
"Sensei—Yu fell!"
The nurse looked up in surprise as Taichi gently lowered Yu onto the nearest cot, brushing stray hair from his face, eyes still stormy but fixed wholly on him.
The nurse bustled over, but Taichi was faster, already crouched at Yu's side, scanning him head to toe as if expecting to find a catastrophic injury.
"Does it hurt anywhere? Your ankle? Your knee? Your wrist?!"
His hands hovered nervously, afraid to touch but desperate to check.
Yu's face burned hotter than it had in class.
"I–I said I'm fine! It was just a trip—nothing's wrong!"
The nurse raised a brow.
"Alright, let me do my job."
Reluctantly, Taichi edged back half a step, though his hand remained clenched around Yu's, thumb stroking the back of it as though reassuring himself Yu was still there. Yu, flustered, tried tugging it free, but Taichi didn't budge.
The nurse gently examined Yu's ankle and knee, nodding after a moment.
"No swelling. Just a scare. You'll be fine with a little rest."
"There, you see?"
Yu mumbled, shrinking under Taichi's relentless stare.
Taichi exhaled, shoulders finally dropping, but his grip didn't loosen. Instead, he leaned in close, his voice low.
"Don't scare me like that again, Yu."
Yu's breath caught, heart skipping, caught between embarrassment and something warmer.
"I–It's not like I meant to…"
The nurse, wisely, busied herself with jotting notes, pretending not to notice the scene unfolding a meter away.
---
Out in the hall, Isuke Sasaki lingered by the doorway, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. Through the crack, he could see everything: Taichi hunched over Yu like a shield, the iron grip on Yu's hand, the way Taichi seemed to fold the entire world down to just that one boy.
Isuke's jaw tightened.
It wasn't simply overprotectiveness. It was suffocating. Possessive. Dangerous.
And Yu… Yu didn't even seem to notice, smiling faintly, cheeks flushed, letting himself be fussed over like it was the most natural thing in the world.
For the first time, Isuke felt a flicker of unease crawl up his spine—not just about Yu's academics, not just about his future—but about Taichi Arifuku himself.
---
The weeks blurred together, each one stitched with laughter, tests, shared lunches, and late-night study sessions. By the time spring's end neared, Yu could hardly recognize himself from the boy who'd stumbled into this world on day one.
He could cook now—actually cook—dishes that made Taichi beam and Fumiko hum with approval. His grades hadn't just held steady, they soared. First place in the entire school, unshaken, with Isuke Sasaki still at second, watching from a distance. And on top of it all, Yu's "little side hobby"—his anonymous Instagram account—had exploded. Over a hundred thousand followers, a sponsorship, messages from strangers telling him how much they adored his content.
They'd celebrated with cake in Yu's tiny apartment, Taichi sneaking extra bites, Sakura snapping photos, Fumiko tidying crumbs with her usual patience. Yamato and Souma both joking around so much that the neighbors above had to come down and ask them to tone it down. For one night, everything felt perfect.
Too perfect.
Because when Yu flopped onto his bed later that night while Taichi cleaned up, heart still warm from the celebration, DK01's voice pricked at his thoughts like a pin breaking a bubble.
[You're forgetting something.]
Yu answered back groggily.
'Huh…? Forgetting what?'
[Your mission. The reason you're here. Integration is just the first step, Yu. Don't let this comfort trick you into thinking you're done.]
Yu blinked at the ceiling, the glow of the bedside lamp at his side casting soft shadows against the wall. The quiet hum of the city outside felt suddenly fragile.
'Mission…'
He whispered, almost afraid of the word.
His hand curled into the blanket. He had gotten so wrapped up in cooking lessons, school tests, Instagram milestones, and Taichi's warm hands and warmer stares… that he'd almost forgotten why he was here at all.
The thought gnawed at him. The world had felt steady, maybe even happy. But DK01's reminder echoed in his chest like an unfinished chord.
Yu held his breath, waiting. DK01's silence stretched long enough that he thought maybe the little AI had decided to leave him alone tonight. But then the voice came, low and steady, like a teacher going over the rules of a game Yu had almost forgotten he was playing.
[Listen carefully, Yu. You are not here simply to live. You are here because the Tragic Target, Taichi Arifukua, possesses a fragment of a soul—a scrap bound to fate. To save your Demon King, you must save him. And once you do, you'll move on. World after world, Tragic Target after Tragic Target, until you've collected enough scraps to return to your own world and save your Demon King Talo.]
Yu's throat went dry. His gaze drifted sideways, to Taichi's sturdy back as he washed the last dish. The boy's lashes trembled, his arms still locked tight around Taichi's pillow.
'Just a Tragic Target…?'
[Your role is simple: make Taichi fall in love with you. His heart is the key to loosening the scrap from his fate. Only then will you move one step closer to returning.]
The words stung. Every giggle, every blush, every snuggle in their bed—it was real to Yu, wasn't it? His chest squeezed as DK01's voice rattled on.
[Current status: Love-o-meter—49%. JP total—10. That is considerable progress, especially for the short time you've been here. At this rate, you could clear the world sooner than expected.]
"Clear the world…"
Yu whispered, clutching the pillow tighter.
If he cleared it—if Taichi loved him enough—the world would eject him. Just like that. He'd leave Taichi behind, move on to the next Tragic Target, while this boy, who looked at him like he was the only thing worth holding, would be left with nothing.
Yu's stomach twisted. His chest ached.
"Taichi's not just… not just a 'target'."
He muttered under his breath. His voice was too soft, but the thought felt like shouting inside his head.
Yet DK01's response was cold, matter-of-fact.
[He is, Yu. And the sooner you accept that, the sooner you can fulfill your mission.]
Yu pressed his lips together, staring into the dark.
Forty-nine percent.
Ten JP.
So close to "success."
So close to leaving Taichi behind.
---
The alarm chirped, a too-cheerful sound that yanked Yu out of a shallow sleep. He blinked into the pale Saturday morning light, finding Taichi's arm already heavy around his waist. The boy was half-asleep still, breathing slow, lips parted.
Yu froze, the memory of DK01's midnight words rushing back like a weight dropped onto his chest.
'Just a Tragic Target. Just a scrap-holder.'
He swallowed, plastering on a small smile as he carefully poked Taichi's cheek.
"C'mon, sleepyhead… time to get up."
He murmured. His voice was soft, steady—like nothing was wrong.
Taichi grumbled, burying his face into Yu's shoulder instead of moving. The warmth pressed against him should have made Yu's heart flutter. It did, but behind it was that sharp edge now, that reminder.
Forty-nine percent. Ten JP.
A ticking clock hiding in his chest.
Yu giggled weakly, nudging Taichi again until the taller boy finally sat up, hair sticking in all directions. He looked at Yu the same way he always did: with too much devotion for such a sleepy morning.
And Yu—pretended. He let the moment play out like every other morning. Brushed teeth side by side, clumsily made breakfast, their quiet little routine. But something subtle had shifted.
Yu laughed on cue, but the sound was thinner.
He leaned into Taichi's side when they walked, but his eyes flicked away more often.
And when Taichi reached for his hand, Yu's fingers curled around his… yet there was a tiny hesitation, so small Taichi barely caught it.
At school, it bled through more. Yu's smile still dazzled their friends, but when Taichi brushed a kiss against his hair in the hall, Yu flinched—not away, but startled, like he'd forgotten he was allowed to enjoy it.
Fumiko Fujimori frowned faintly, sensing something off.
Sakura Sato teased as usual, but her sharp eyes lingered a beat too long.
And Taichi? He didn't say a word. He just watched. Watched Yu act the same as always—except not quite. Like there was a thread pulled taut between them now, vibrating with some tension Yu wasn't voicing.
Yu thought he was hiding it. Pretending well enough. But Taichi wasn't stupid.
---
The sun was dipping when they reached the apartment complex, orange light spilling across the pavement. Yu was fumbling for something to say—anything—when Taichi's hand suddenly closed around his wrist, not hard, but firm enough to stop him at the stairwell.
"Yu."
The name came low, steady, but there was a tightness in it that made Yu freeze. Taichi's eyes weren't soft or teasing this time. They were sharp, cutting through every smile Yu had worn that day.
"What's going on?"
Yu blinked, playing dumb out of instinct.
"W-what do you mean? Nothing's going on, Taichi. I'm fine."
But Taichi shook his head, jaw clenching.
"No. You're not. You've been different since this morning. You laugh, but it doesn't reach your eyes. You look away when I touch you. You're… pulling back."
Yu's chest tightened. His instinct was to deny again, but Taichi's gaze was too steady, too honest. He couldn't lie outright, not to him. So instead—he reached for something that felt almost true.
"I just… I don't know."
He bit his lip, fumbling.
"Sometimes it feels like—it's too much. All of this. Everyone looking at us at school, people talking, expecting things. I feel like I'm not… enough. Like I'll mess up. Like…"
His voice dropped, trembling.
"…like I'll lose you if I don't figure out how to do everything right."
Taichi's grip softened immediately, shock flickering across his features. Then his whole posture shifted—less towering, more boyish, vulnerable. He took a step closer, his free hand coming up to brush lightly against Yu's cheek.
"Idiot,"
He said softly, but the word was drenched in affection.
"You don't have to do anything right. You don't have to earn me. You're already—everything."
Yu's breath caught, heart squeezing. His words were clumsy, incomplete, but Taichi was swallowing them whole, twisting them into reassurance instead of suspicion.
And still—Yu couldn't look him in the eye. Not fully. Not with DK01 whispering numbers and missions in the back of his mind.
But he leaned into Taichi's hand anyway. Because that part was true. He didn't want to lose him. Not in this world. Not in any.
Taichi let the silence linger, thumb brushing over Yu's cheekbone in a way that made the world feel too quiet, too close. Yu couldn't lift his eyes, but he didn't pull away either, and for Taichi—that was enough.
"Alright."
Taichi murmured at last, voice soft but steady. He bent a little closer, closing the gap between them without crowding.
"If you don't want to tell me everything yet, that's fine. We've got time. We've got our whole lives to figure things out—together."
Yu's head snapped up at that, eyes wide, face going scarlet.
'Whole lives?'
Taichi smiled faintly at the expression, though his gaze carried a rare seriousness.
"When you're ready, I'll listen. Whatever it is, I'll accept it. As long as you…"
He hesitated, a flash of fear breaking through before he smoothed it away.
"…as long as you don't leave my side."
Yu swallowed, throat tight. He wanted to say something—anything—but the words tangled in his chest. So instead, he nodded, just once, the tiniest gesture.
It was enough to light up Taichi's face, the weight in his eyes softening into warmth. He ruffled Yu's hair gently, then leaned in and pressed a brief kiss to his forehead.
"Good. That's all I need."
He straightened again, tugging Yu's bag from his shoulder with his usual ease and heading up the steps. And Yu followed, heart a mess of guilt and relief and longing, clinging to the warmth of that promise even as DK01 hummed coolly in the back of his head.
---
Saturday came slower than usual, soft and heavy with the smell of rain in the air. Yu blinked awake to the muted light spilling through the thin curtains, his cheek pillowed against Taichi's arm. For a moment, he just lay there, listening to the steady beat of Taichi's heart beneath his ear. It was… grounding, in a way that made him both warm and unbearably aware of himself.
When Yu stirred, Taichi's eyes cracked open. No growl, no possessive tightening of his hold—just a faint, lazy smile.
"Morning."
He murmured, voice rough with sleep.
Yu's ears burned.
"M-Morning."
Instead of dragging him closer like usual, Taichi carefully loosened his arm, letting Yu roll away if he wanted. The gesture startled Yu more than if he'd pulled him back in. Taichi sat up, stretching like a cat, then offered Yu a hand.
"Breakfast? I'll help…better this time."
Yu blinked at the hand, then at Taichi's face. There was no teasing glint, no smug demand. Just… earnestness. Slowly, Yu took it.
In the kitchen, Taichi kept to his word. He hovered, yes, but not in that suffocating way. He held the bowls when Yu cracked eggs, rinsed rice without Yu asking, even fetched a towel when Yu nearly burned his fingers on the pan. When Yu scolded him for crowding, Taichi only chuckled and stepped aside—still close, but not pressing in like a wall of heat.
It was strange. Strangely nice.
By the time they sat down with a simple breakfast—rice, miso soup, and perfectly cooked eggs—Yu found himself sneaking glances at Taichi, almost waiting for the usual overbearing moves. But instead, Taichi only leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm.
"You're amazing, you know that?"
He said softly.
Yu nearly dropped his chopsticks.
"W-What? No, I just… followed the recipe."
"Still amazing."
Taichi's grin was small but sincere. He didn't reach across the table, didn't grab Yu's hand. He just ate, as if being allowed to sit there and share a meal was gift enough.
The rest of the day followed that strange rhythm. Studying, with Taichi quizzing Yu gently instead of distracting him. Cooking together, where Yu realized Taichi could actually chop vegetables evenly when he focused. Even walking side by side to the corner store—Taichi didn't reach to sling an arm over his shoulder in public, but he stayed close enough their sleeves brushed with every step.
It was quieter. Lighter. And yet, Yu felt his chest tighten more than ever before.
That night, as Taichi sprawled next to him on the bed with his phone, Yu caught himself watching him. The boy who once scared him, now carefully reining himself in, trying so hard not to scare him again.
Yu pulled his blanket tighter and turned away, cheeks hot.
'Why does it hurt… to see him like this?'
---
The rain finally came on Sunday afternoon, drumming soft and steady against the window. Yu sat cross-legged on the floor, notebook open, pencil tapping as he worked through practice questions. Beside him, Taichi had flopped onto his stomach with a manga, flipping the pages lazily.
For a long while, the only sounds were the scratch of Yu's pencil and the patter outside.
"...Yu."
Yu glanced over, distracted.
"Hm?"
Taichi's cheek was pillowed against his arm, his hair messy, his eyes half-lidded in that lazy way that made him look more boyish than intimidating.
"Can I…?"
He trailed off, voice low, uncertain.
"Can you what?"
Instead of answering, Taichi shifted closer. Inch by inch, until Yu's pencil stilled and Taichi's arm brushed his. Taichi didn't stop there—he curled against Yu's side, head pressing into Yu's shoulder, heavy and warm.
"Taichi—"
Yu stammered, ears flushing.
"I'm trying…"
Taichi muttered, his voice muffled against Yu's sleeve.
"I swear I'm trying. But sometimes… I just wanna hold you. Just like this. Just for a bit."
Yu froze, heart thundering. Taichi's grip tightened, not crushing, not overwhelming, but steady—like if he let go, Yu would vanish.
The possessiveness was there, raw and unpolished, spilling through despite all his restraint. But it wasn't scary. Not this time.
Slowly, Yu set his pencil down. His hand trembled, but he let it hover, then lightly rested it against Taichi's hair.
Taichi's breath caught.
"You don't have to try so hard all the time."
Yu whispered, cheeks blazing.
"I… I don't mind this."
For a long moment, Taichi didn't move. Then, with a shaky laugh, he buried his face deeper into Yu's shoulder, shoulders trembling with relief.
"Don't say things like that, dummy. I'll never let go if you do."
Yu wanted to roll his eyes, wanted to push him off, wanted to do anything but feel his chest go warm and tight at the sheer honesty in Taichi's voice. Instead, he let his fingers comb, just once, through Taichi's messy hair.
The rain kept falling. Their books lay forgotten. And for the first time, Yu didn't flinch at Taichi's need to keep him close. He simply let himself be held.